Merry Christmas from the EFC
Merry Christmas to you from The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. We value your participation with us in gathering Evangelicals to bless Canada in the name of Jesus. We pray you will experience the joy of celebrating once again the birth of our Saviour. Our president David Guretzki shares video greetings.
Government considering delay of MAiD for mental illness
If nothing changes, people with mental illness as their only medical condition will be eligible for euthanasia on March 17, 2024. But new comments by the justice minister give hope for a delay. Learn more including how you can take action. (Also, don’t miss this recent Apologetics Canada Podcast where EFC President David Guretzki shares the latest updates on MAiD for mental illness.)
Bill to protect youth from online pornography
Bill S-210, an Act to restrict young person’s online access to sexually explicit material, has passed its second of three votes in the House of Commons. It will now go to be studied by a parliamentary committee. Learn more at TheEFC.ca/S-210.
Letter to Human Rights Commission on intolerance
The EFC and the Canadian Centre for Christian Charities have written a joint letter to the Canadian Human Rights Commissioner about a recent CHRC discussion paper on religious intolerance. “It is timely and important to have a discussion on religious intolerance. Canada is widely known as a country with religious and cultural diversity, yet the climate is increasingly intolerant to religious adherents and beliefs.” The letter recommended a positive vision for tolerance and treating all religions fairly.
Make a charitable donation before Dec. 31
The busiest time for charitable giving is upon us. At the EFC, we are praying that the extra generosity of our supporters during this Christmas season will allow us to boldly move forward in our work to “unite Evangelicals to bless Canada in the name of Jesus.” We have accomplished so much in 2023, and with your help we can do even more in 2024. To get a charitable tax receipt for 2023, please ensure that the envelope is post-marked no later than December 31, or make your donation online or by phone at 1-866-302-3362 (toll-free) before midnight on the 31st.
EFC hiring an accounting clerk
The EFC is hiring a part-time Accounts Payable Clerk to work in our Scarborough office during a parental leave (up to 18 months). The work is performed over 3 days in the week, one of which must be a Wednesday. The job starts in mid-January to allow several weeks of training with the incumbent. Details: TheEFC.ca/Jobs.
Pondering the imponderable
Have you ever wondered what Mary was thinking when she “treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart?” (Luke 2:19). EFC President David Guretzki reflects, “The Incarnation…is not so much something to be understood as much as it is to be pondered.” Read his full column in the Jan/Feb Faith Today.
Podcast: The longing of our soul...and our longing for books
In the latest episode of the Faith Today Podcast, Faith Today editor Karen Stiller speaks to Jeff Crosby, president and CEO of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. He shares his expansive understanding of the issues facing Christian publishing today, and he also speaks as the author of the newly released book, The Language of the Soul: Meeting God in the Longings of our Heart.
→ Stories of Transformation in Canada (Transform Our World Canada), online, Dec. 26, Jan. 23
→ Canada Chinese Winter Conference, Vancouver, Dec. 27-31
→ Communication Workers’ Watercooler Break (Canadian Christian Communicators), online, Jan. 12
→ The Stories We Tell (Flourishing Congregations Institute), North York, Jan. 13
→ Suffering Well & Suffering With (Salvation Army Ethics Centre), online, Mondays Jan. 15-March 18
→ EFC Presentation and Prayer Gathering, online, Jan. 25