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The third annual National Student Forum took place May
14 – 15 in Ottawa, bringing together students, civil servants and
Members of Parliament from coast to coast. Discussion centred on the theme
‘Unity through the person of Jesus Christ.’
Day one took place inside the old National Press Club
Building across from Parliament Hill.
A panel discussion, ‘Service in
Government,’ featured leaders who serve in various areas of
government. Many gave examples of Christ impacting their daily decisions
and relationships at work.
Students visited Parliament Hill, attending Question
Period and a round table discussion with Christian MPs from various
political parties. Some shared very personally while others gave their
views on the interface between faith and politics.
The day concluded with a dinner in the West Block.
Eleanor Clitheroe, who delivered the keynote address, spoke movingly about
her personal journey as president of Prison Fellowship (Canada) and what
her faith means to her.
On the second day, students joined MPs, Senators,
Cabinet Ministers, diplomats and more than 800 other guests at the Ottawa
Congress Centre for the 43rd annual National Prayer Breakfast and Seminar.
The National Prayer Breakfast chair, David Anderson
(Conservative MP of Cypress Hills-Grasslands, Saskatchewan) stressed the
event is for all political parties and all faiths to gather in the spirit
of Jesus Christ to pray together.
Prayer Breakfasts, which exist all over North America,
call men and women to God, and then entrust them with the application of
what it means to live out God’s grace as leaders.
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Head table guests included Speaker of the Senate,
Speaker of the House of Commons, NDP, Bloc Québécois, Liberal
and Conservative MPs and other distinguished community leaders.
Over the years, the National Prayer Breakfast has
become more inclusive, with invitations not only to those in senior
positions in our country, but also to emerging leaders and students, who
feel privileged to be a part of this prestigious event.
The keynote address was given by Judy Graves. A well
known Vancouver advocate, she spoke about her personal experience with the
poor and the homeless on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and how Jesus
can ultimately change lives. At the conclusion of her remarks she received
a standing ovation.
The forum concluded with Jamie McIntosh, executive
director of International Justice Mission Canada, and Shauna Simmonds,
executive producer of Make-YouThink TV.
She challenged students to pursue their God-given
talents to create justice among the poor, and to bring about grace, unity
and reconciliation among the leadership of the world.
Modeled after the National Student Leadership Forum in
Washington D.C., Canada Student Forums has gathered hundreds of students
and leading Christian professionals since its inception in 2002.
www.canadastudentforums.com
www.bcstudentforum.com
www.canadaprayerbreakfast.ca
Options Fall 2008
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