EFC president at WEA meetings
EFC President David Guretzki is in Asia for World Evangelical Alliance International Council meetings until May 2. Please pray for wisdom for and consensus of the Council as they make important strategic decisions for the coming year.
EFC calls for revisions to new limits on international students
The EFC has sent a letter to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship expressing concern about the consequences of the ministry's recent cap on international students, specifically its impact on Christian educational institutions in Canada. “We ask that you exempt students who are preparing for church ministry from these restrictions,” states the letter. It also asks for a return to the previous study permit program for US students.
The Faith Today website has an updated report about the impact of this policy on Canadian Christian postsecondary schools.
Faith Today awarded by international association
Three Faith Today articles were commended recently by the Evangelical Press Association, an association of magazines, websites and professional communicators. Join us in congratulating writers Karissa Sovdi, Darryl Dash and our designer Janice Van Eck, who all placed in the EPA’s annual contest.
EFC board and staff at National Prayer Breakfast
The EFC Board will be meeting on May 6-8 at the EFC Ottawa office. Please pray for wisdom for the board as they meet. EFC President David Guretzki along with other EFC staff and board members will attend the National Prayer Breakfast Leadership Dinner on May 6 and the National Prayer Breakfast the following day in Ottawa.
Faith Communities Report launch
EFC Researcher Rick Hiemstra is speaking as part of a response panel at the Cardus Faith Communities Research Report Launch on May 7 in Ottawa. The panel will discuss the internal state of the Canadian church and also how Canadian Christians engage with the broader culture.
New Faith Today TV episodes on spiritual abuse, singleness in the church
Abuse investigators Bob Stenhouse and Randal Rauser explain what happens during an investigation, how they carry out their work and why they feel called to do it. This conversation from episode 224 of the Faith Today Podcast is also available on video at FaithToday.tv.
Our wide-ranging conversation about singleness and sexuality with Karissa Sovdi, a counsellor and writer in Victoria, B.C., and Barry Danylak, the Calgary-based director of the ministry SEE Global, is now also available on video at FaithToday.tv. You can also find it as episode 222 of the Faith Today Podcast.
Supporting families with back-to-school backpacks
Would your church want to give away backpacks before the start of each school year as a way of supporting single-parent families in their neighbourhood? Read about such a program at the Set the Captives Free Outreach Centre Canada in Gatineau.
→ North Korea Never Abandoned Tour (Open Doors), Kemptville; Regina, May 4; Moose Jaw, May 5; Swift Current, May 7
→ Church Planting Rhythms & Rituals (Centre for Missional Leadership), Vancouver, May 2-4
→ Leadership Summit for Young Adults (Apologetics Canada), West Guilford, Ont., May 3-5
→ Change Conference Alberta (YFC/Youth Unlimited), Calgary, May 3-4
→ Ontario Christian Home Educators Connection conference (OCHEC), Hamilton, May 3-4
→ Connecting the Church: Fruitful Relationships in Diaspora Congregations (Newcomers Network), online, May 4
→ Young Canadian Leaders Summit (Ottawa), online, May 4
→ NPB National Leadership Dinner, Ottawa, May 6
→ National Prayer Breakfast, Ottawa, May 7
→ Embracing Grief with Hope (Dr. Alan Wolfelt/Tyndale), Toronto, May 7-8
→ Kentro Forum 2024, (Jayakumar Christian/Kentro Christian Network), Mississauga, May 8-10
→ Western Regional Conference on Christianity & Literature 2024 (TWU), Langley, May 9-11
→ BC Leadership Prayer Breakfast and Dinner (City in Focus), Vancouver, May 9-10
→ National March for Life, Ottawa, May 9
→ Business as Global Mission Summit (BAM Global), online, May 9
→ Day of Renewal – Church Leadership Alberta (Strategic Renewal Canada), Calgary, May 9
→ Youth Quake Jr. High Retreat (Briercrest), Caronport, May 10-11
→ Deep & Wide: Ecclesial Engagement with Disability (McMaster Div), online and in-person in Calgary, Hamilton and Vancouver, May 10-11
→ Atonement and the Divine Presence – Scripture and Theology Colloquium (Wycliffe), Toronto, May 10