EFC Update Newsletter October 17

New polling reveals Canadians' views on medical assistance in dying

Only half of Canadians (51%) are aware that Canadians will be eligible for medical assistance in dying (MAiD) on the basis of mental illness in March 2024, according to a new Angus Reid Forum poll undertaken for the EFC. Read more details on our website. 

MPs vote tomorrow on rolling back MAiD for mental illness 

On Wednesday, Oct. 18, MPs will vote on Bill C-314, which would roll back MAiD for mental illness. If the bill passes, it will advance to a committee to be studied. If it does not pass, people suffering with mental illness will become eligible for MAiD in March 2024. See the EFC’s new blog on why it is so important to contact your MP’s office and what to say when you call, leave a message, send an email or write a letter. 

Will your church pray Oct. 22 to stop MAiD for mental illness? 

The EFC is inviting your church to pray on Sunday, Oct. 22 for a stop to euthanasia for mental illness. Unchecked, MAiD for mental illness will become legal in Canada on March 17, 2024. Please mark October 22 in your Canada for this time of national prayer. For resources, visit TheEFC.ca/MAiDPrayer. 

Can we agree to disagree as Christians? 

An ongoing discussion about growing intolerance for minority positions in faith communities led to this compelling dialogue in Faith Today between authors and professors Mark Buchanan and Gordon T. Smith of Ambrose University in Calgary. 

Sign up for a free bi-monthly Canadian subscription to Faith Today: Canada’s Christian conversation FaithToday.ca/SubscribeFree.

Can we see you at Vancouver prayer event? 

Join us Nov. 17 at Broadway Church for Ignite Vancouver, a prayer gathering for unity and awakening. Free seminars in the afternoon for pastors/ministry leaders lead to an evening public prayer and worship summit. The EFC.ca/Ignite has all the details. (Co-sponsored by the EFC, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, National House of Prayer, Peace and Reconciliation Network, and Vineyard Canada.)

New look for EFC Update 

We hope you enjoy the design refresh our team has completed for this weekly update. Our commitment is to keep it fresh, short and readable. Thank you for reading! 

Coming at TheEFC.ca/Calendar 

→ Global Leadership Summit (various sites, simulcast from Illinois), Oct. 19-20

→ Preachers’ Refresher (Timothy Trust), Canmore, Oct. 21-23

→ Canadian Youth Pastor Summit West, Vancouver, Oct. 23-25

→ Church Planting Congress 2023, Calgary, online/in-person, Oct. 24-26

→ Three Ways a Small Church Can be an Effective Church (CCCC), online, Oct. 25

→ Kentro Regional Workshop West, Abbotsford, Oct. 25 

→ EFC Presidents Day, Calgary, Oct. 26

→ Café and Artist Showcase (GMI Hub), Mississauga/online Oct. 27

→ Edvance Annual Gathering (Redeemer) Hamilton, Oct. 26-27

→ Apologetics Canada Leadership Summit, Sasquatch Mountain, B.C., Oct. 27-29

→ Life Shared Summit (Alpha/Groundswell), Truro, Oct. 27

→ Change Conference (YFC/Youth Unlimited), Ottawa, Oct. 27-28 

→ MEDA Convention 2023, Toronto, Nov. 2-5 

→ GTA Missions Conference (Missions Canada), Mississauga, Nov. 3-4 

→ Rethinking Identity (Apologetics Canada), Burlington, Nov. 3-4

→ Youth Worker Conference (Winnipeg), Nov. 3-4 

→ Toronto Children’s Ministry Conference (North York), Nov. 4