Out of sight!

Norma Bastidas of Calgary has just completed a 777 Run for Sight-running seven ultra-marathons on seven continents in seven months, becoming the first person in history to do so. Inspired by her 14-year-old son Kurt, who has cone-rod dystrophy, a progressive incurable condition that often leads to significant vision loss, she undertook the challenge to raise awareness about blindness. So far, she has raised $140,000 for Operation Eyesight, Foundation Fighting Blindness and the CNIB. Seventy-five percent of the world's blindness is preventable or treatable, and 90 percent occurs in the developing world. Founded in 1963, Calgary-based Operation Eyesight has helped restore sight to more than two million people and prevent blindness in nearly 33 million others. Bastidas wore out 14 pairs of running shoes and 49 pairs of socks and lost seven toe nails during her runs. Beginning in March 2010, she next hopes to climb the highest mountain on each of the seven continents in seven months, which would also be a record.

Fun on the Road

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association of Canada (BGEAC) has kicked off a radio campaign to promote the KidzFest children's outreach tour. KidzFest is a travelling ministry of BGEAC that partners with local churches to host a fun, family-oriented event with a positive message for children three to 12 years old. Each stop on this year's tour begins with a community carnival, followed by a concert featuring music, animation, dance and drama by the group God Rocks! The tour will visit eight communities in Ontario: Trenton (August 14), Brockville (August 15), Pembroke (August 18), Kawartha Lakes (August 19), Grimsby (August 20), Stratford (August 21), Owen Sound (August 22) and Simcoe (August 24). KidzFest toured western Canada last summer.

Mennonites convince university they're worth studying

The University of the Fraser Valley (UFV), based in Abbotsford, BC, signed an agreement in June with the Mennonite Faith and Learning Society (MFLS) to establish a Centre for Mennonite Studies at the university. The centre would encourage research and study of Mennonite beliefs, traditions and contributions. Mennonites originated as a persecuted Christian sect in Europe in the 1500s. Significant numbers of Mennonites began migrating to the Fraser Valley in the 1930s and 1940s, and about a quarter of the population of Abbotsford are now considered religious and/or cultural Mennonites. The MFLS is a registered society of Mennonite businesspeople, academics, clergy and others which was formed about a year ago to develop a vision for such a centre.

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Cry all day long

The Cry, an interdenominational prayer movement of young Canadian Christians, is hosting a major prayer event in Vancouver on August 15, the 40th anniversary of the famous Woodstock rock concert. About 5,000 prayer warriors are expected to gather at Lumberman's Arch in Stanley Park for prayer and worship and then move into the city for a prayer walk. Prime Minister Stephen Harper is sending a letter of blessing to the event. Faytene Kryskow, head of My Canada, says the intention is to "drench the city in prayer." A pre-event launch will be held the evening before. An arts outreach will take place on Sunday afternoon, followed by a Sunday evening rally. The weekend has been endorsed as a 'More Than Gold' event, part of the coordinated Christian outreach leading up to the 2010 Olympic Games.

A step towards reconciliation for Chinese Canadians

The New Westminster, BC, city council passed a motion July 13 to enter a process of reconciliation with the Chinese Canadian community. The motion commits the city to research the history of discrimination against the Chinese community and the city's role in this, and to 'conduct a consultation process with all Chinese groups and peoples involved in the city as to appropriate measures to be taken to address these long standing issues.' The motion is a result of the advocacy of the Christian-based organization, Canadians for Reconciliation.

Coming soon to a brothel near you

Judge Ted Matlow has denied the request of several Christian organizations to intervene in an upcoming prostitution case in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. The case has been brought by former sex trade workers who claim the current prostitution laws endanger sex trade workers by forcing them to work from outside environments rather than the safety of their own homes. Matlow turned down a request from the Christian Legal Fellowship, REAL Women of Canada and the Catholic Civil Rights League for intervenor status, saying the groups "would be liable to turn the trial into a soapbox for spiritual views, which would be out of place in a strictly legal proceeding." Jim Hnatiuk, leader of the Christian Heritage Party, said, "Many believe that a ruling in favor of the prostitutes will also open the door to public advertising and brothels."

The envelope, please

BC Christian News, based in Langley, BC, has won seven Fellowship of Christian Newspapers awards, tied for the most number of awards in a competition that includes Christian newspapers from across North America; the awards included an award of merit in the overall excellence category, a first place award for Peter Chattaway's movie review columns, and a first place award for John Cody's personality profile of Billie Joe Shaver.

July 30/2009