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Badlands Passion
The Canadian Badlands Passion Play (pictured right)
runs every summer near Drumheller, Alberta. Created in 1994, it has gained
international prominence. The event provides its audiences with a dramatic
retelling of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The 200+
performer play is presented in a 30-acre natural canyon bowl whose stark
and dramatic geographical surroundings mirror those of ancient Israel.
Dates: July 4 – 6 and 11 – 13. canadianpassionplay.com
Ratanak rewarded
The Bridgeway Foundation gave its top award of $25,000
this year to the Ratanak Foundation (see story on page 22). The other
nominees – for innovative projects by non-profit groups –
were CBM Canada, Focus on the Family Canada, International China Concern
and the Wellspring Foundation for Education. Ratanak was recognized for its
Transitions Housing and Services Project, which focuses on providing safe
houses for young girls rescued from enforced prostitution in Cambodia. The
project helps women leave the sex trade and gain valuable skills.
www.ratanak.org
In the long run . . .
Erin VanWiltenburg and Reuben Jentink, two students at
the University of Victoria, are in the midst of a long run across Africa
– from Walvis Bay in Namibia to Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania. Their plan
is to covering 4,200 kilometres in 100 days, from April to September. This
is the equivalent of one marathon per day. The goal of their See Them Run
project is to raise money to support sustainable education in the countries
they run through. The project was inspired by a three-month Youth For
Christ trip to Kenya in 2004.
See-Them-Run.com
Mission poems
An Ontario poet has published a book paying tribute to
the work of China Inland Mission – specifically focusing on his
grandparents. So the Moon Would Not Be
Swallowed, by Brampton resident D.S. Martin, is
based on correspondence sent home to Canada by missionaries Ernest and
Marian Davis. The work reflects the turmoil experienced by China from 1923
to 1951, when all foreigners were expelled. Martin is also a music critic
for ChristianWeek.
Behind the Great Wall
The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada’s Religious
Liberty Commission recently released ‘Broken Promises,’
subtitled: ‘The Protestant Experience with Religious Freedom in China
in Advance of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.’ The 27-page report
identifies the general extent of persecution faced by the Protestant house
church movement in China. It also documents trends which indicate that
repression of freedom of religion is continuing. The report was presented
by the EFC at a symposium, ‘The People’s Republic of China:
Foreign Policy Risks and Opportunities,’ held on Parliament Hill in
Ottawa. evangelicalfellowship.ca
YooPad
An ambitious project to facilitate networking among
Christians is being launched in a low-key fashion, with a prototype
currently available online. The stated purpose of YooPad.com is to
“enable Christians from every corner of the world to find each other,
work together, share ideas and information, and support each other. It will
include . . . job searching, disaster response, online meetings, publishing
and much more.” Organizers are inviting feedback, and hope to be
fully operational in September.
Power to Change
Power to Change, formerly Campus Crusade for Christ
Canada, recently opened a new facility at its headquarters in Langley, B.C.
The ministry held an open house May 31, to mark the grand opening of the
Block Ministry Centre. Entertainment was provided by Canadian Idol finalist Greg Neufeld.
The organization encompasses 15 ministries which promote the gospel
through many means – including drama, campus evangelism,
marriage campuses and sports. powertochange.org
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Warren vs Goliath
Megachurch pastor Rick Warren (seen below with wife
Kay) recently launched a global network of pastors, business leaders and
other institutions that aims to tackle what he deems as the most pervasive
problems in the world today. The P.E.A.C.E. Coalition will be an
international alliance of churches, businesses, ministries, universities
and other institutions which will work together to address five
‘Global Giants’ which affect billions of people worldwide:
spiritual emptiness, lack of servant leadership, extreme poverty, pandemic
diseases and illiteracy.
ProWoman
“Canada without abortion – by
choice” is the motto of ProWomanProLife. It is described online as
“a news and commentary blog on all things related to women’s
rights and freedoms, life and abortion.” Organizers say they
endeavour to “encompass a broad array of views, all of them pro-life,
in response to the news.” Further, the site declares that pro-lifers
“hold their own nuanced views on the abortion debate and come from
both the left and right wings of the political spectrum.” prowomanprolife.org
Kampuchea for Christ
Setan Lee and other founding members of Kampuchea For
Christ survived Cambodia’s infamous Killing Fields. In May, Lee
visited Halifax, Moncton, Toronto, Winni-peg, Calgary, Edmonton and
Vancouver, sharing his testimony at Mission Cafe Evenings hosted by
Intercede International. Founded in 1995, the primary purpose and goal of
KFC is to evangelize and disciple all of Cambodia. It has planted 56
churches and 86 cell groups. KFC missionaries personally witness to about
2,000 people a month, and see an average of 150 conversions each month; the
organization also rescues prostitutes and abused women.
intercessor.ca
Lausanne 2010
The Lausanne Movement will host its third Congress on
World Evangelization in Cape Town, South Africa, in October 2010.
Cape Town 2010 will provide a global forum – before, during and
after the Congress – in which leaders from around the world will
explore issues facing the church. It is anticipated that more than 4,000
leaders from 200 countries will attend Cape Town 2010. Lausanne Canada
carries out the Lausanne mandate in a Canadian context, and is promoting
conversation and action on issues currently on the Lausanne agenda. People
wishing to participate in Cape Town 2010 can contact: lausanne.ca
Golf with Huldah
Canadian-born Huldah Buntain has operated her Calcutta
Mission for more than five decades, ministering to the poor of India. The
organization is having its first annual Buntain Festival of Golf later this
year. The event will be held at the Coeur d’Alene Golf & Spa
Resort, in Idaho. The entry fee for the September 15 – 17 event
includes meals, accommodations – and, according to the website,
“a little extra pampering.” Expenses are being underwritten by
a donor, which means all the money raised goes to the ministry. For more
information, or to register, go to: buntain.ca.
– DFD
Summer/Fall 2008
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