New logo has dignity

Dignity for All, a campaign established four months ago by Canada Without Poverty and Citizens for Public Justice with the goal of eliminating poverty in Canada, has developed a new logo. The circular element of the logo is meant to represent inclusiveness, comprehensiveness and wholeness, while the check signals affirmation, action and rising up.

Justice we are

Two secular organizations have published a 55-page legal information handbook called 'Just As We Are: A resource for Christian women and church leaders on abuse and family law issues.' The two groups have also printed a bookmark with information on places where women can go for help. Metro Action Committee on Public Violence Against Women and Children (METRAC) was founded in 1984 in cooperation with city officials in response to a number of brutal sexual assaults and murders of women in Toronto; while Family Law Education for Women (FLEW) evolved more recently from the No Religious Arbitration Coalition, a coalition of more than 100 women's and community agencies that opposed an Ontario government proposal to allow religious arbitration -- particularly, Islamic sharia law -- in family law in Ontario. The resources will be officially launched at a celebration to be held September 9 in Bloor Street United Church in Toronto. The event will include a welcoming prayer, guest speakers, and poetry reading.

Why not? Christians believe in fellowship

Trinity Western University (TWU) has become the 42nd member of the Royal Society of Canada (RSC). The RSC was founded in 1882 to encourage education and the advancement of knowledge in the natural and social sciences and humanities. TWU, a Christian university based in Langley, BC, is the first private university to be accepted into the RSC. As part of the RSC, TWU may now nominate its professors for about 20 prestigious academic awards and for possible selection to the elite status of Fellow. Currently over 1,900 scholars from across Canada have been named Fellows of the RSC for outstanding contributions in the arts, humanities and sciences.

Shall we gather at the river?

About 100 churches, groups and Christian organizations across Canada are expected to show the film, From the River to the Ends of the Earth: The Destiny of the Nation of Canada, on September 18. The 52-minute documentary looks at Canada's historical spiritual foundations and explores trends that suggest Canada is "moving swiftly towards an unprecedented spiritual revival" that could impact the world. The documentary was produced by Acts News Network, which was launched in Toronto in 2003 to report "cutting-edge, faith-based news stories" that demonstrate what God is doing and saying. The producers hope the film will "ignite a passion for increased prayer for Canada" and are encouraging churches which show the film to schedule a prayer time afterwards.

It never rains but it pours

Early inter-monsoon rains hammered refugee camps in northern Sri Lanka in mid-August, causing latrines to overflow, flooding thousands of temporary shelters and communal cooking areas, ruining food supplies, and contaminating drinking sources. The Sri Lankan government has asked Christian Blind Mission Canada and its local partner to feed 2,000 more people, in addition to the 11,400 refugees they have already been feeding. More than 280,000 people have been crowded into temporary refugee camps since the government defeated the Tamil Tigers in May, ending a decades-old civil war. It is feared the situation may become worse when the regular three-month monsoon season begins in September.

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A moving festival

Street Church Ministries held a festival on the front steps of City Hall in Calgary, August 9 and 12. The ministry fed crowds of homeless people, gave out gifts and preached the gospel. City officials ordered ministry leaders to remove their flags, their cross and other equipment from city property. However, in the end officials agreed that they could stay if they moved the cross only a few feet. The ministry and city officials are involved in numerous court cases over whether the ministry can use loudspeakers to preach to the homeless or feed them on public property.

United evangelicals

The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada's Centre for Research on Canadian Evangelicalism has given a research grant to Kevin Flatt to study 'A Mainline Minority: Evangelical Renewal Groups within the United Church of Canada, 1966 - 2009.' The research is a follow-up to his PhD dissertation, 'The Survival and Decline of the Evangelical Identity of the United Church of Canada, 1930 - 1971.' Flatt earned his doctorate from McMaster University in 2009 and is now assistant professor of history at Redeemer University College in Ancaster, Ontario.

Shape up again

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association of Canada (BGEAC) is presenting a major youth conference called 'Reshape' at Christian Life Assembly in Langley, BC, November 6 - 7. Through large group sessions, learning labs and conversations, junior high, senior high and university students will explore new ways of sharing their Christian faith with friends. The conference will also include a Friday night concert featuring The Revolution Band. Phil Cann, a former Youth for Christ staff member, will be the featured speaker for students, while Matt Wilks, North American director of youth-worker initiatives for Barefoot/Sonlife Ministries, will lead sessions for youth workers. Other speakers include Darrell Furgason, international ministry director at Summit Ministries; Tim McCoy, director of youth ministries for the Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec; Jaeson Ma, president of Campus Church Networks; Mark van Vliet, youth director at Every Nation Church in Vancouver; Jason Ballard, student and speaker; and Clayton Imoo, director of the Youth Ministry Office for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver. The event is expected to attract students from across BC. Saturday's program will be webcast to other churches across Canada. This will be the 10th annual 'Reshape' conference organized by Campusfire, which is the newest addition to the BGEAC's family of ministries.

There is no free lunch

More Than Gold, the inter-church organization from Christian outreach during the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games, is sponsoring a conference "to unite and equip the body of Christ for purposeful prayer and evangelism." The One Voice Conference, which will take place at Glad Tidings Church in Vancouver October 23 - 24, will include prayer, worship, over 35 training workshops in prayer and evangelism, a youth rally, a separate training track for children in grades four to seven, and a commissioning celebration. The conference is free except for meals.

Three steps forward

Trinity Western University's Centre for Religion, Culture and Conflict is presenting its third 'Faith Forward' symposium September 23 - 24. One of the keynote speakers will be political philosopher Jean Bethke Elshtain, who has written on everything from changes in gender roles to international politics. She is a professor of social and political ethics at the University of Chicago Divinity School and has published over 500 essays and 20 books.

September 3/2009