A Prayer for Holy Week from EFC President David Guretzki
As we walk the path with Jesus to Calvary and the empty tomb this week, may you know and experience the unsurpassed love, mercy and grace of the Father and his Son Jesus in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
Imagine There’s a Heaven: Commissioning Address by New EFC President
EFC President David Guretzki delivered an address at his commissioning service in Mississauga last week. Read the full text online.
Protection of Vulnerable Canadians: The EFC and WEA Raise Issues at UN
The EFC and the World Evangelical Alliance are calling for better protection of persons with disabilities in Canada, for prostitution laws to be upheld, for protection for children from online pornography, and for conscience protection for healthcare professionals. The EFC and the WEA jointly submitted a brief to the UN in its review of human rights in Canada. The brief asked the UN committee to hold Canada to international standards on religious freedom, sexual exploitation and persons with disabilities. Read the brief.
Ignite Prayer Summits—Calgary Signup Deadline Tomorrow
Christians in four regions will hold Ignite Prayer and Worship Evenings this April and May to pray for unity, spiritual awakening, church vitality and healing. Earlier the same day, pastors and other church leaders will gather in a seminar to focus on cultivating a strong culture of prayer in each local church.
The Ottawa prayer summit takes place next week, April 14. You can still register for the afternoon seminar, but unfortunately, we have reached the registration limit for the dinner, so you will have to bring your own dinner. The evening prayer and worship is open to the public and no signup is required.
Registration is still open for Calgary (April 20 event, seminar/meal signup deadline tomorrow), Kelowna (April 28) and Regina (May 5). There are no fees for the events including the meal, although advance signup for the meal is required. Co-hosts include the EFC, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association of Canada, National House of Prayer, Peace & Reconciliation Network, and Vineyard Canada.
For more details and to register for an afternoon seminar/dinner, visit TheEFC.ca/Ignite.
Hastened Death for Mental Illness Delayed—But Needs to Be Stopped
A bill has passed that will delay MAiD for mental illness from taking effect for one year, until March 2024. The justice minister introduced Bill C-39 to give doctors more time to prepare. The EFC welcomes the delay but does not believe a delay is enough. The EFC is asking for MAiD for mental illness to be stopped altogether.
The EFC supports a new private member’s bill that would reverse the law allowing MAiD for mental illness alone. MP Ed Fast introduced Bill C-314 in the House of Commons in February. See the EFC’s letter of support and a sample letter you can use to contact your MP at TheEFC.ca/C314.
Interfaith Conference on Politics and Religion Coming May 7-8
EFC senior ambassador Bruce J. Clemenger and EFC director of research Rick Hiemstra will be speaking at the upcoming Our Whole Society Conference being held May 7-8 by the Canadian Interfaith Conversation. Participants will explore how to address the causes of division within our society and how to foster dialogue, justice and find common ground in Canadian civil society along with academic, community and religious leaders. The registration page includes more details (two days of keynote addresses, plenary panels, workshops and lunches for $125). Student rate is $65. There’s an online option with limited access. In-person events are at Martin Luther University College, Waterloo, Ont.
Good News in our Digital World
Many people nowadays distrust the effects of social media on the mind and soul, but our columnist Joanna la Fleur highlights many good news stories surrounding digital media, including the Bible reaching unreached people groups, people meeting Jesus on YouTube, the Chosen series breaking records, and more.
Sign up at FaithToday.ca/SubscribeFree for a print subscription to read more articles like this. A sampling of articles from the latest issue are also available at FaithToday.ca.
We Are Those Who Mourn: Reconciling Blog
“Every person who dies in war is one too many.” In a new reflection at FaithToday.ca/AllThingsReconciled, coauthors Phil Wagler and Johannes Reimer call for the first Sunday after Easter to be marked as a day of mourning for victims of war. Wagler is global liaison for the EFC and global director of the Peace & Reconciliation Network. Reimer is director of the World Evangelical Alliance’s public engagement department.
This Week’s Prayer Prompts
This week’s prayer request is about new reproductive technologies. Pray for laws that limit practices that turn children into technologies or change the structure and understanding of families. Pray for voices that will advocate for the protection of and respect for human life.
Catch up with some of the EFC’s latest initiatives in this area at TheEFC.ca/ReproductiveandGeneticTechnologies (click “What’s Happening”).
This week's EFC affiliate highlight focuses on Christian Horizons. Christian Horizons supports people with exceptional needs.
You can always find the week’s prayer prompts at TheEFC.ca/TakeAction.
→ Communication Workers’ Watercooler Break (CCCA), online, Apr. 14
→ Recalled: Getting Back to Jesus-style Disciplemaking (Navigators/West Highland), Hamilton, Apr. 14-15
→ Ignite Prayer Events: Ottawa, April 14; Calgary, April 20; Kelowna, April 28; Regina, May 5
→ Earth Week Events (For the Love of Creation), nationwide, April 16-23
→ New Survey Results: Young Christians Want Church Action on Creation Care (Tearfund), online/Winnipeg, Apr. 18; Vancouver, Apr. 19; Toronto, Apr. 20
→ Hold Me Tight Couples Weekend Workshop (Shalem), Hamilton, Apr. 22-23
→ Secularism and the Pursuit of Transcendence: A Church & Culture Conference, Hamilton, Apr. 27
→ Business as Mission Global Summit (BAM Global), online, Apr. 27
→ Awakenings: Disruption in the Life of the Church (Missio Alliance), online/Evanston, Ill., Apr. 27-29
→ Hopeful Living in an Anxious Age (Grandview Church), Kitchener, Apr. 28-29
→ Canadian Sexual Exploitation Summit (Defend Dignity), online, May 3-5
In Case You Missed It
→ Job Openings: pastor (Montreal, Brampton, Toronto, Ottawa, Sault Ste Marie); Montreal director of leadership programs; and more (FaithToday.ca/Classifieds)
→ Fostering a Culture of Creativity at Church (Faith Today column)
→ EFC President’s Vision for Ministry (Faith Today podcast)
→ New articles in French // Des nouveaux articles traduit de « Faith Today »