Global and Local Reflections on Ukraine One Year After Russian Invasion
Global evangelical groups have issued a joint statement to mark one year since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion. Co-authors include the World Evangelical Alliance, the European Evangelical Alliance, and the Council of Evangelical Protestant Churches of Ukraine.
The EFC urges prayer that God would bring peace to this region and that the Church in both Ukraine and Russia would live worthy of their calling to the gospel.
Canadians Phil Wagler and Vern Neufeld Redekop have collaborated with several other writers to reflect on the same one-year mark at FaithToday.ca/AllThingsReconciled. Wagler is the EFC's global liaison and the global director of WEA's Peace and Reconciliation Network.
Four Updates on Assisted Dying
Assisted dying for children and teens recommended by committee. A committee of MPs and Senators recommends expanding the law to allow hastened death for mature minors whose natural death is reasonably foreseeable and advance requests. The EFC has consistently urged that MAID should not be extended to mature minors or those with mental health issues alone. Please pray and ask your local MP not to change the law.
Christian leaders lament assisted death, commit to show care. More than 50 leaders of Christian organizations have signed a statement lamenting assisted death in Canada. The EFC encourages churches to use the Declare and Resolve statement in local congregations. See TheEFC.ca/DeclareAndResolve.
Supporting Canadians to live: An update on MAiD and how the Church can engage. What's happening with MAiD in Canada? Is there anything individuals and churches can do? In this webinar recording, hear from the EFC and the Christian Medical and Dental Association of Canada about advocating for changes to the law, supporting alternatives to MAiD and practical ways to reach out.
Bill C-314 would reverse the law on MAiD for mental illness. 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 on Feb. 10, 2023. 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 -- Earlybird Deadline Today
Miroslav Volf, Kathleen Wynne and EFC senior ambassador Bruce J. Clemenger will be speakers at the upcoming Our Whole Society Conference being held May 7-8, 2023 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. The early-bird rate is $99 by Feb. 28 (for two days of keynote addresses, plenary panels, workshops and lunches). Starting March 1 cost rises to $125. Student rate is $65. There's an online option with limited access. In-person events are at Martin Luther University College, Waterloo, Ont.
Faith Today Podcast: We Need More Christians in Movies, Theatre and TV
Calgary theatre director/professor/playwright Val Lieske joined us for a lively conversation about the importance of training Christian actors and storytellers. She argues these professions are hugely influential in our society but that many Christians make the mistake of avoiding them for a variety of misguided reasons.
The Big Idea of the World Evangelical Alliance
Canadian Janet Epp Buckingham, the director of global advocacy for the World Evangelical Alliance, writes about the roots of this international movement in the latest History Lesson column in Faith Today.
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're Hiring a Research Assistant -- Deadline Next Week
The EFC's Centre for Research on Church and Faith is hiring a research assistant to work in our Ottawa office. The application deadline is March 8. Learn more at TheEFC.ca/Jobs.
This Week's Prayer Prompts
This week's prayer request is about sanctity of life. Pray for our culture to be life-affirming and for strong social and economic supports for those facing unplanned pregnancy. Pray for women contemplating abortion and those who have had abortions; for doctors and nurses who may be pressured to end life or at risk of losing employment for their refusal to participate in abortion; and for legislators to recognize fetal rights and for an end to abortion.
Catch up with some of the EFC's latest initiatives in this area at TheEFC.ca/Abortion (click What's Happening).
This week's EFC affiliate highlight focuses on Pregnancy Care Canada, which equips, connects, and empowers pregnancy care centres to serve their communities effectively with gold-standard centres of care.
You can always find the week's prayer prompts at TheEFC.ca/TakeAction.
→ Shaping Disciples Who Practice the Jesus Way in a Judgmental World (Jesus Collective), online, Mar. 2
→ Spring Charity & Not-for-Profit Law Webinar (Carters), online, Mar. 2
→ MAiD in Canada: Have We Lost Our Way? / Legal Update / Q&A (Apologetics Canada), online/Langley, B.C., Mar. 2
→ Rethinking Identity (Apologetics Canada), online/Abbotsford, B.C., Mar. 3-4
→ Women's World Day of Prayer (WICC), various locations, Mar. 3
→ Men's Conference (Impactus), Edmonton, Mar. 4; Winnipeg, Mar. 10-11
→ YA Conference (Outpour), Scarborough, Mar. 4
→ 50th Anniversary Hymn Sing (TWR Canada), online/London, Ont., Mar. 4
→ A Night with the Persecuted Church (Open Doors), Mar. 7, Orleans
→ Awesome KidMin Conference (AKMC), Winnipeg, Mar. 10-11
→ Communication Workers' Watercooler Break (CCCA), online, Mar. 10
→ Undivided: Leadership Conference 2023 (Steinbach Bible College), Steinbach, Mar. 17-18
→ EFC Denominational and Congregational Affiliates Prayer, online, Mar. 22
Discounted Tickets for Outpour YA Conference This Saturday
Know someone who'd love to attend a Christ-focused young adult conference on March 4 in Scarborough, Ont.? Love Is Moving?(the EFC's publication for young adults) is offering 50% off tickets for Outpour (formerly Fluid). Young adults attending a church affiliated with the EFC can purchase tickets using the discount code LOVEISMOVING23. Find out if your church is an affiliate by searching for your church's name on this list.
In Case You Missed It
→ Ignite Prayer and Worship Summits Coming to Ottawa, Calgary, Kelowna and Regina
→ How to Help with Earthquake Relief in Turkiye and Syria (blog post)
→ Job Openings: Vice president academic (Hamilton); pastor (Lethbridge, Montreal, Brampton, Toronto, Ottawa, Sault Ste Marie); Montreal director of leadership programs; and more (FaithToday.ca/Classifieds)
→ New All Things Reconciled Podcasts Reflect on Everyday Reconciliation
→ What One Person Can Do to Help a Community Address Our Laws on MAiD (EFC website article)
→ Putting God's Glory Ahead of Avoiding Lawsuits (Faith Today column by John Stackhouse)
→ Social Support, Not MAiD: a Crucial Time for the Church to Step Up (six-minute video update on MAiD)
→ Trauma-friendly Church Mini-Course (free resource from Peace and Reconciliation Network)
→ The Story Behind the EFC's New Life Together Disability Resource (two-minute video)