Hockey, music and faith

A high profile cross-border couple who tied the knot in Greensboro, Georgia July 10 are well known in their respective fields. Ottawa Senators alternate captain Mike Fisher and American Idol winner Carrie Underwood are both public about their Christian faith.

Born and raised in Ontario, Fisher is known as a devout believer. Underwood, who scored a big hit with ‘Jesus, Take the Wheel,’ has endured some public questioning over the depth of her faith commitment.

However,  she credits her husband with strengthening her spiritually. She told People magazine that Fisher “has improved my walk with God.”

Four centuries of faith

On June 24, 1610, Mi’kmaq Grand Chief Henri Membertou – hoping to improve relations with Nova Scotia French settlers – became the first native Canadian baptized as a Catholic. He was joined by 20 family members – and within 50 years the entire Mi’kmaq nation had become Christians.

The 400th anniversary of that historic baptism was celebrated in a public showcase June 24 – 28 that paid homage to Mi’kmaq culture, and the important contribution made by Membertou and the Mi’kmaq nation to the spread of Catholicism in Canada.

The celebrations included a recreation of Membertou’s baptism.

Every year the Mi’kmaq in Antigonish organize a pilgrimage on the feast day of St. Anne. Quebec’s Cardinal Marc Ouellet is scheduled to attend this year’s pilgrimage August 1.

– The Catholic Register

Back from Afghanistan

After visiting Canadian troops in Afghanistan in 2007, One Free World International founder Majed El Shafie spent three years planning a return mission, assembling a delegation including a Canadian member of parliament. Despite many challenges, the mission took place in late June.

The delegation met with some Canadian soldiers and presented them with cards of support. They encouraged the troops and prayed with them, letting them know they are not forgotten and that their hard work and sacrifices are appreciated back home.

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They met with Afghan government officials and opposition leaders, as well as women’s rights activists and victims of human rights abuses. El Shafie spoke to the government regarding allegations that some Afghan officials have made efforts to have converts from Islam executed.

The Nazarite Call

Are you considering a calling as a Nazarite? If so, the National House of Prayer (NHOP) wants to talk to you. Its next internship session, The Nazarite Call, begins September 17; deadline for applications is August 31.

NHOP director Rob Parker stated: “For several years now I have been burdened to see the level of prayer increase across our nation.” A Nazarite in biblical times, he wrote, “was one who voluntarily set aside an unspecified period of time to seek the Lord. Nazarites sought to live to a high degree of purity for the set amount of time.”

50 years of helping kids

Christian Children’s Fund of Canada (CCFC) is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a gala celebration September 11. It originated as the China Children’s Fund in 1938,  and established the first plan allowing donors to support a specific child.

CCFC is now one of 12 organizations working under the banner of the ChildFund Alliance, assisting more than 15 million children in 56 countries.

Muslims defend Jews

The Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN) has commended the decision by law enforcement agencies to lay charges of incitement to genocide against Salman Hossain of Toronto. Hossain has allegedly been posting online malicious commentary against the Jewish community.

CAIR-CAN executive director Ihsaan Gardee described Hossain’s comments as “the hateful and hurtful rants of a person completely ignorant of basic Islamic principles of justice and compassion.”       – Jim Coggins

August 2010