The EFC Argues in Support of Current Prostitution Laws in Court
The EFC was in an Ontario court two weeks ago to argue in support of the prostitution laws. The lawyer acting on EFC’s behalf argued that the act of purchasing sexual services is exploitative in and of itself and that the laws protect human dignity and equality. Please pray for the judge as he makes his deliberation.
The EFC Calls for Urgent Action about Medical Assistance in Dying
A change in the law allowing medical assistance in dying (MAiD) for mental illness alone will come into effect this March. The EFC is calling on Canadian Christians to ask their Members of Parliament to stop the expansion. See the EFC's media release and action kit for more information.
Did You Know? EFC Ambassadors Available to Speak
The EFC has ambassadors across Canada who are available to speak at your church or event. Ambassadors can speak on issues relating to religious freedom; sanctity of life; church and mission; and more. You can browse our list of speakers, which also has a topic filter so you can narrow your list to see only the speakers associated with a particular topic. Requests for individual speakers are dependent on availability. Request a speaker now!
The Peacebuilders of Sarajevo (Faith Today blog)
The peacebuilding work in Sarajevo among a small band of Orthodox Serbs, Muslim Bozniaks and Catholic Croats is inspiring, writes Phil Wagler in the latest post at www.FaithToday.ca/AllThingsReconciled
Correct Coffee in Canada (Faith Today column)
Have you ever felt unsettled or alarmed by recent social changes or found yourself asking, “What is the world coming to?” Faith Today columnist John Stackhouse shares his advice for Christians who feel uncomfortable with social change: “When injustices are righted, we should offer our support or at least cheer from the front row.”
Sign up at FaithToday.ca/SubscribeFree for a print subscription to read more regular columns and articles like this. Anyone can now read a limited selection of articles from the latest issue online at www.faithtoday.ca.
BGEA Evangelism Summits
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association of Canada is holding two more free evangelism summits for pastors and church leaders, one on Oct. 18 in Halifax, and the other Oct. 20 in Toronto. Lunch and summit materials are provided. Register and get more info at www.billygraham.ca/evangelism-summit.
This Week’s EFC Prayer Prompts
Prayer is essential to any effective action. Each week at TheEFC.ca/TakeAction we rotate through a prayer request from each of these five areas: Sanctity of Life, Care for the Vulnerable, Church and Mission, Family and Community, Religious Freedom. We also list an EFC affiliate group to pray for.
This week’s prayer request is about care for the vulnerable, especially children in care. Pray for children and youth in government care needing a permanent home. Pray for their emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being, and that they may be placed in loving, Christ-centred homes.
This week, pray for Defend Dignity. Defend Dignity exists to end all forms of sexual exploitation in Canada. Defend Dignity believes prostitution is detrimental to a healthy society and that there is an over-representation of Indigenous women and children and children in care.
The EFC regularly partners with Defend Dignity, an initiative of The Christian and Missionary Alliance (an EFC affiliate denomination).
Also, we offer pandemic-focused prayer ideas we call Friday@4, which we suggest you pray through on Fridays at 4 p.m. local time. Find new ones each month at TheEFC.ca/Covid-19.
→ Evangelism Summits (BGEA), Halifax Oct. 18; Toronto Oct. 20
→ Sex Trafficking and the Demand Issue (SA Justice), online, Oct. 18
→ Why Should I Pay for Your Covid Vaccine? Public Goods and Government Action in an Era of Individualism (TKU/Gerda Kits), online, Oct. 18
→ Picturing the Bible: How Artists Tell the Story (CMU/Robin Jensen), Winnipeg, Oct. 18-19
→ Shifting Patterns in British-American Protestant Globalism 1800-2000 (Regent College/Brian Stanley), Vancouver, Oct. 19
→ How Reading the LXX Helps Us to Read the New Testament (Northwest S&C/Larry Perkins), online, Vancouver, Oct. 19
→ Intercultural Outreach in the GTA Workshop (TWR/Lausanne), Markham, Ont., Oct. 19
→ Small Church Pastors’ Retreat (Sm. Ch. Connections), Cambridge, Ont., Oct. 24-27; Cornwallis Park, N.S., Nov. 14-17
→ Global Leadership Summit 2022, simulcast, various locations, Oct. 20-21
→ Business as Mission: Connect (BAM Global), online, Oct. 20
→ Kentro Workshops for Relief and Development Orgs, Mississauga Oct. 21
→ Inspiring Testimony (Loving Muslims Together), online, Oct. 22
→ Human Rights Codes for Charities (CCCC), online, Oct. 26
→ The Trinity as the Root of All Being (Regent College/John Milbank), online, Oct. 26
→ New Resources for Churches on Biotechnology (CCCC), online, Oct. 26
→ EFC Presidents Day, Toronto, Oct. 27
→ Unbound: The Path to Change (Village Church), Surrey, Oct. 27
→ Apologetics Canada Leadership Summit (AC), Agassiz, Oct. 28-30
→ Palestine Christians Living Under Occupation (MC Canada), Winnipeg, Oct. 30
→ Artist Showcase with Fresh IE & One8Tea (GMIHub), online/in-person in Mississauga, Oct. 31
→ Adoption and Fostering Awareness Month, Nov. 1-30
→ Entrepreneurial Leaders Organization Forum (ELO), online/in-person Winnipeg, Nov.1; Vancouver, Nov. 15; Toronto, Nov. 30
→ Stories about Religion in Public Office (Chester Ronning Centre), Camrose, Nov. 1
→ Does Everything Really Happen for a Reason? With Prof. David Robinson (Coquitlam Alliance Church), online, Nov. 1
→ Seeking Sanctuary, Finding Shalom: Pastors Workshop (Regent College/Sanctuary Mental Health), online, Nov. 2
In Case You Missed It
→ Job Openings: Justice and mercy coordinator; leadership centre director of programs; pastor (Montreal, Brampton, Toronto, Ottawa, Sault Ste Marie, Uxbridge); director of human resources; and more (FaithToday.ca/Classifieds)
→ The Exponential God (Faith Today column by David Guretzki)
→ MAiD Expansion Takes Us to a Dark Place (Catholic Register interview with EFC Director of Public Policy)
→ Bill to Clarify Law on Child Sexual Abuse Materials
→ Bill to Verify Age and Consent on Pornography Sites
→ Sanctity of Life Is Priority for Health Care (Faith Today column by Bruce Clemenger)
→ Mental Illness: How We Can Help Instill Self-Esteem (Faith Today blog)
→ Technology, Ministry, and Keeping People’s Attention, with Rick Hiemstra (Can This Work in a Small Church? Podcast)