News briefs

Contaminated water (left) is turned pure through a BioSand Water Filter. See: 'Turning on the tap'

Geoff Tunnicliffe, Canada-based international director for the World Evangelical Alliance, spoke at a press conference on the evangelical response to the Virginia Tech massacre April 18, in Washington, DC. "Today as a global community we stand with you," he said. "You are not alone . . . We also point you to a hope of a better tomorrow; a hope that God promises that he will bring. So we pray with you and ask God to give a deep sense of his presence, grace, and his love at this time of national tragedy." -- Christian Post

Age of consent at stake

Christian-based lobbying group MY Canada is urging Canadians to send emails to MPs, in favour of legislation to raise the age of sexual consent from 14 to 16 years of age. The group believes Bill C-22 will go to final vote in the House of Commons on April 27 or 30. Within this short time frame, the group's website states, "we [can] influence this decision and see Canada's youth, 16 and under, protected from sexual predators."

Turning on the tap

Samaritan's Purse (SP) Canada launched its 'Turn on the Tap' initiative April 25, to enlist Canadians to donate BioSand Water Filters to households in the developing world. SP has built and installed more than 70,000 of the filters over 10 years; they have proven so effective that SP hopes to install another 65,000 during the next three years. "These filters . . . transform contaminated water into drinkable water in seconds," says Fred Weiss, executive director of the Calgary-based ministry. "They are a low-cost, sustainable solution for many of the one billion people who are forced to risk their lives by drinking contaminated water."

reFocusing on Christ

Hundreds of pastors, elders and Bible students attended the reFocus conference at Willingdon Church in Burnaby, BC, April 18 - 20. The event, whose theme was 'Christ: No Other Name,' emphasized the all-sufficiency of Jesus, as the only way of salvation. According to Willingdon senior pastor John Neufeld, the goal was to "unite pastors around a resurgent historical evangelicalism, and equip them to preach the full counsel of God in an age of relativism [and] pluralism." Videos of the speakers are available at the conference's website.

Catholics mark Vocation Day

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops is promoting the 44th World Day of Prayer for Vocations, scheduled April 29. The central focus will be on a message from Pope Benedict XVI, which states in part: "It is important that pastoral activity be attentive to the mystery of the Church as communion; because whoever lives in an ecclesial community that is harmonious, co-responsible and conscientious, certainly learns more easily to discern the call of the Lord. The care of vocations, therefore, demands a constant 'education' for listening to the voice of God."

Celebrate!

"Prayer is the backbone of the Celebration 2007 movement to impact Canada with the love of God," writes David Macfarlane of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. He is urging churches across the country to make plans for reaching out to their communities May 26 - June 10, through city-wide prayer, filling food banks, staging arts festivals, volunteering at women's shelters, mowing lawns for shut-ins and any number of other 'random kindness' initiatives.

2010 outreach planned

In 2010, thousands of athletes and millions of visitors will descend upon Vancouver and Whistler, BC for the Winter Olympics, and Christian leaders have been strategically planning roles the church might play in serving this influx of visitors. Over the past three years, more than 200 pastors and heads of ministry organizations have consulted. The result is the Vancouver Whistler Games Network. The purpose, according to the initiative's mission statement, is to "connect, coordinate and create the Christian community's volunteer involvement for the 2010 Olympics." The group is planning a major event for this fall, involving many denominations; and business leaders, such as Jim Pattison and Angus Reid, are also expected to participate.

Calgary prepares to pray

On Pentecost Sunday in 2005 and 2006, believers in Calgary joined people worldwide to ask for God's blessing. In Calgary, Christians are preparing for Global Day of Prayer (GDOP) 2007, scheduled for May 27. Five city churches have invited Christians to pray in five zones. There will be an emphasis on prayer led by church and community leaders; and different traditions of worship will be incorporated. Beginning May 18, Christians will be invited to pray together 24/7 at designated churches; the initiative is also calling for many volunteers. -- City Light News

DVD promotes adoption

Lorraine Hartsook, an award winning Canadian singer, songwriter, conference speaker and author, has released a unique country music video entitled Bring That Child to Me. It traces her personal story of adopting two children. Hartsook hopes the DVD "will save the life of the unborn, but also remind those of us who already have children that they are a precious gift from God." Her story is a poignant one, involving repeated miscarriages and much pain. She was inspired by the title song, written by Steven Paul Chapman, which caused her to realize, "I could not have a child, but there was a child that needed me."

Fighting the good fight

The prevalence of sexual images in mass media has prompted best-selling author Fred Stoeker to produce resources to help young men battle temptation. The latest, a CD entitled Win This War, is available through Edmonton-based Crown Video. The CD features musicians such as Mike Weaver of Big Daddy Weave; downhere; and Michael O'Brien, formerly of Newsong. The songs address sin, deception, confession, repentance, genuine love and worship. Samples are available at the album's website.

April 26/2007