Beth Moore’s Living Proof

‘Living Proof Live’ (February 29 – March 1 at Vancouver’s Pacific Coliseum) will attract thousands of women from churches in the Pacific Northwest. Beth Moore (pictured above) is a speaker and author of best-selling Bible studies and other books for women. Joining her is worship leader Travis Cottrell. For registration and more information contact: 1-800-665-8828 or www.lifeway.com/women.

Sanctuary victory

North Vancouver’s St. John the Evangelist Anglican church has been home to Allan (Ali) Monemi, age 31, for the past 18 months, as he sought sanctuary from deportation back to Iran. Dan Meakes, rector of the church, informed the media that an appeal to the Minister of Immigration was successful, and Monemi – a convert to Christianity – can now apply to become a landed immigrant. Amir Kazemian, a fellow Iranian and convert who also sought sanctuary in another local Anglican church and won his case after 32 months, has been a frequent visitor of Monemi’s. Topic

UBC student loses lawsuit

Cynthia Maughan, who claimed “ongoing discrimination” by a UBC teacher and leaders of the English Department, has had her $18 million lawsuit  dismissed.  Her teacher refused to change the day of a seminar from a Sunday. Maughan, who also cited derogatory comments made about Stockwell Day’s Christian beliefs in 2000, acknowledged in a January 14 Vancouver Sun article that she did not regularly attend church, but felt that attending the Sunday seminar violated her religious beliefs. In his ruling, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Austin Cullen dismissed her lawsuit, saying, “This is a case which in the final analysis fails because it relies on speculation, innuendo and conjecture, rather than inferences based on evidence.”                                 Vancouver Sun

Join the homeless count

David Diewert of Streams of Justice is calling for Christians to be involved in the Homeless Count 2008 in Vancouver. Every three years a new homeless count is taken. It requires hundreds of volunteers to count the number of people who are homeless in a 24 hour period. This year the count will take place March 11. If you are interested in volunteering for the Homeless Count, contact Catrina Chisholm at 604-718-7751or homelesscount@sparc.bc.ca.  

Continue article >>

New bookstore in New Westminster 

ChristRox Books is a 5,300 sq ft faith-centre owned and operated by Krystal Edin that has been open for two months. There has been a positive response from the community, and surrounding churches. ChristRox offers current books and music and seeks to provide something for every age. A coffee shop is being built, and a stage for performances is also in the works. Kids’ clubs, Christian exercise classes and crafting classes are being planned. The store is located at 478 East Columbia Street. Contact 604-395-7724.

New Hope, new home

New Hope Community Services has just opened a second home close to its first facility. This home is exclusively for women who are making the difficult transition to life in Canada. Following extensive renovations, the original home – New Hope Welcome House – provides transitional housing to needy newcomers arriving in Vancouver. New Hope has housed over 70 adults and children since its inception, the majority being refugee claimants escaping religious, racial or political persecution. Contact: www.newhopecs.org.

St. Peter’s, Rosedale closes

The parish of St. Peter’s, Rosedale, in the Fraser Valley closed at the beginning of the year after serving people for 96 years.  A special membership meeting, with 16 of the 22 people on the parish rolls present, voted to close the church. “There was sadness on the part of many people,” said Don Rodger, the People’s Warden. “I’m 71 and I’m one of the youngest guys in the congregation.” He said the building is in need of a new roof, windows and wiring. Rodger  expects most congregants will worship either at St. Thomas in Chilliwack or St. John’s in Sardis.       vancouver.anglican.ca

Painting presented to Harper

Shortly before Christmas, Abbotsford artist Steve Stanzyk presented Prime Minister Stephen Harper with a painting ‘God Keep Our Land.’ He was part of a youth delegation organized by ‘MyCanada.’ They met with MPs and Senators in the Parliament buildings in Ottawa. Stanzyk and his painting are pictured here with Abbotsford MP Ed Fast.   – Peter Biggs

February 2008