• BC Christian News • OCTOBER ISSUE 1999 • VOL. 19 #10 • Formerly "Christian Info News" •

Top Stories
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Tour a reminder that disabled have a role

By Timothy Bloedow

SHE MAY NOT have the profile of her heroes Terry Fox and Rick Hansen, but Stephanie McClellan has just successfully completed a three-month tour to raise awareness of disability issues.

Her 'On Wings Like Eagles' campaign took her from Vancouver to her home in Fonthill, Ontario. Along the way, she visited some 80 Canadian cities and towns; her efforts were primarily directed towards the Christian community. - MORE
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Anglican Church found liable for abuse

IN YET ANOTHER case of 'vicarious liability,' the Anglican Church and the Canadian government have been found liable for abuse suffered by a resident of one of the church's residential schools.

The ruling further strengthens the precedent of vicarious liability, as thousands of similar cases await judgement across Canada.

Floyd Mowatt attended St. George's Indian Residential School in Lytton, B.C. from 1969 to 1973 and suffered sexual abuse as a nine-year-old. His abuser, dorm supervisor Derek Clarke, is currently serving time for his actions.

The British Columbia Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that, while the Anglican Church and the government are jointly liable for the abuse Mowatt suffered, the church "bears greater fault" -- because it knew about the abuse, but covered it up. - MORE
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ChristianWeek launches new design

Canada's only national Christian newspaper has undergone major design changes. ChristianWeek has expanded from tabloid format to the standard newspaper broadsheet size. The new paper features bigger photographs, new sections, and an overall brighter look.

In addition to the regular news coverage, the paper now features an entertainment-oriented page, combining movie and TV reviews with cartoons and crosswords. Every second issue features CW Life, a magazine-style supplement which explores themes such as missions, and presents profiles of current artists. Call toll-free: 1-800-263-6695.
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Christian perspective on unions

Key labor issues were addressed this summer at the Canadian Industrial Relations Association Conference, by a representative of the Christian Labour Association of Canada. Ray Pennings, CLAC public affairs director, gave a speech on the subject of 'Advancing Democratic Trade Unionism.' The speech was published in the Summer issue of WRF Comment, a newsletter produced by the Work Research Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting a Christian perspective on industrial relations. The complete article is available on the BCCN website, at: www.bcchristiannews.org
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'Free speech' at UBC

PRO-LIFE ACTIVISTS are accusing the University of British Columbia of discriminating against them and suppressing their freedom of expression after a planned on-campus display, which compared abortion to the genocide practised by the Nazis, was cancelled late last month.

The pro-life student club Lifeline had invited representatives of the California-based Center for Bio-Ethical Reform (CBR) to bring their Genocide Awareness Project (GAP) to the UBC campus in the last week of September. The GAP is a "graphic anti-abortion photo exhibit," according to a CBR press release, that juxtaposes images of aborted fetuses with images of Holocaust victims and lynching victims.

But the university would not permit the display unless the CBR paid at least $10,000 per day to cover security costs. CBR representatives said they could not afford this. - MORE
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Calm, principled approach needed for boat people

By Harry J. Kits

CITIZENS FOR Public Justice (CPJ) adds its voice to those calling for a calm, principled approach to the arrival of boats from China in recent weeks.

Media coverage, and the subsequent national debate about what to do with the migrants on those boats, have focussed on three assumptions:

1. that the Chinese people on the boats are illegal migrants and/or 'bogus' refugees;

2. that Canada is being 'invaded' by these refugees; and

3. that our refugee and immigration system must be toughened up to stop this invasion.

When we examine the facts concerning refugee movements and policies, however, these assumptions turn out to be unfounded. - MORE
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Parish nursing concept links health and faith

By Sharon Leng R.N. and Julia Emblen Ph.D., R.N.

WHAT IS the best advice for someone receiving bad medical news? "Be an active member of a vital church congregation for a few years." This comment by a church leader implies that the community of faith provides prayer and fellowship during hard times, as well as tangible care and casseroles at special points of need.

Matthews and Clark, in their book The Faith Factor, and the work of Dr. David B. Larson, president of the National Institute for Healthcare Research, indicate that faith, with associated religious practices, is a major factor in healing our bodies and minds. - MORE
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Kenoly leads worship

POPULAR WORSHIP leader and recording artist Ron Kenoly will be the featured attraction at Glad Tidings Church October 15. His appearance will be the focal point of 'Canada Arise,' a praise and worship conference at the church October 14 - 16.

The conference will also feature the skills of several B.C. worship leaders and recording artists, including Glad Tidings' Mark Cole; Pat Sczebel, of Surrey's West Coast Chapel; Andy Park of the North Langley Vineyard; and B.C.-born, Texas-based, worship leader LaMar Boschman.

One of the key artists of the Integrity Hosanna label, Kenoly has won awards and acclaim for various CDs and videos; his releases include Welcome Home, Lift Him Up, Sing Out With One Voice and High Places. His latest video is Majesty, and he will release We Offer Praises in December.

For information about the concert and the conference, call (604) 873-3621. Website: www.vcn.bc.ca/praise

LaMar Boschman will also lead a one-day equipping seminar at Peoples Full Gospel Church in Surrey October 14. Call (604) 581-3525.
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Richard Foster featured at RenovarČ conference

A major conference aimed at personal spiritual renewal is scheduled October 15 - 16 in Lynden, Washington. Sponsored by a number of churches, the RenovarČ Northwest Conference will be led by RenovarČ founder Richard J. Foster, author of Celebration of Discipline and Streams of Living Water. Also featured will be Siang-Yang Tan, professor of psychology at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena.

The conference will offer practical strategies for sustaining long-term personal growth by exploring six Christian traditions, or 'streams.' These streams include: developing a contemplative, 'pray-er-filled' life; pursuing holiness; accessing the charismatic gifts, to develop a 'spirit-empowered' life; expressing compassion through social justice; the 'word-centred' life, focussing on evangelism; and the 'sacramental life.'

Call (360) 354-5346.
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Conference promotes Jewish evangelism

(EP) -- The Lausanne Consultation on Jewish Evangelism (LCJE) met for its sixth international conference, at Hofstra University on Long Island, New York.

The delegates reaffirmed their commitment to the evangelization of Jewish people, to coordinate global strategies, and to exchange information and resources, and produced a statement which highlighted developments in the field of Jewish evangelism, sounding a note of affirmation for the task of bringing the Good News of Yeshua (Jesus) to the Jewish people and the world.

Other conference topics included outreach to the Hasidic community, efforts for reconciliation between Jews and Arabs, and the rise of messianic congregations in Israel, Germany and the former USSR.
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'Root of Jesse' keeps branching out around the world

In the second of a three-part series, Merv Watson comments on the dramatic growth of the Messianic Jewish movement.

PETER must have been taken aback when, after his first sermon, 3,000 Jewish people identified with Yeshua (Jesus) and became part of the Nazarene community.

Believers were referred to as Nazarenes --not just because of the town Jesus was from, but also because Nazareth means 'root.' The early Jewish believers considered themselves as an extension of the 'root of Jesse' (David). Jesus said of himself: "I am the root and you are the branches." - MORE
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Jews protest Baptist prayer guide

(EP) -- A new Southern Baptist prayer guide that urges Christians to pray for the conversion of Jews has angered Jewish leaders, who condemn the guide as anti-Semitic.

Jewish activists expressed outrage over the 'Days of Awe' prayer guide, which urged Southern Baptists to pray for Jews during the Jewish high holy days, from Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) until Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). This year, those dates were Sept. 11-20. The Washington Post called the prayer guide "an aggressive campaign aimed at converting Jews to Christianity." London's Guardian called it "an instruction manual on how to convert Jews to Christianity." - MORE
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Statisticians attack 'Bible code' concept

(EP) -- An international team of statisticians has dismissed the 'Bible Code' theory, which claims that the Old Testament contains secret messages which can be deciphered by computer analysis.

The idea of a 'Bible Code' has been popularized through best-selling books, as well as through TV shows and news articles.

The concept can be traced to a 1994 article in the academic journal Statistical Science. An article published in the same journal in mid-September of this year highlighted challenges to the theory brought by three researchers.

"Despite a considerable amount of effort, we have been unable to detect the codes," the researchers concluded. - MORE
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