Organizations that watch worldwide religious freedom launched a global campaign calling for prayer for Sri Lanka, an
Asian country in the midst of a civil war.
The “Toronto Statement” made by
the Religious Liberty Partnership was
prepared at a major conference attended
by EFC representatives in Toronto in
March. The partnership is the world’s
newest and largest group of religious
liberty organizations. Members include
Open Doors International (Holland),
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (United
Kingdom), The Voice of the Martyrs
(Canada), HMK (Switzerland) and the
Religious Liberty Commission of World
Evangelical Alliance (representing 128
countries).
The Toronto Statement notes some
positive elements in Sri Lanka, including
the role the church is playing, but expresses deep concern about the ways in
which humanitarian efforts are currently
being handled. It calls on the worldwide
Church to pray for the religious rights of
all Sri Lankans and to support peace efforts. Details at persecution.net/weblog.
htm and www.worldevangelicals.org.
India and Vietnam
The EFC Religious Liberty Commission
released two reports this spring, one on
India and another on Vietnam. Faith
and Freedom Collide in India: A Report
on the Rise of Recent Violence Against
Christians in Orissa and Other Indian
States is a 25-page document that looks
closely at the recent escalation of ten-
sions between Hindus and Christians.
Religious Freedom in Vietnam: Welcome Progress With Notable Exceptions is a 10-page update on internal
church developments and government
policy developments from 2008 and
early 2009. Both reports are available
at www.evangelicalfellowship.ca.
EFC AFFILIATE NEWS
Best Christian Workplaces
The Best Christian Places to Work in
Canada program recently announced its
finalists for 2009. The program is offered
by the Canadian Council of Christian
Charities each fall and administered by
the Best Christian Workplace Institute.
The program celebrates excellence
and helps improve Christian workplaces. Organizations that scored at least
4.0 out of 5.0 on the survey as a whole
included: Canadian Conference Mennonite Brethren Churches, B.C.; Centre
Street Church, Alta.; Linden Christian
School, Man.; Medeba Adventure Learning Centre, Ont.; Partners International
Canada, Ont.; Power to Change Ministries (formerly Campus Crusade for
Christ), B.C.; and Waterloo Mennonite
Brethren Church, Ont.
The survey covers job satisfaction,
organizational commitment, Christian
witness, supervisory effectiveness, work
satisfaction, personal growth and development, management effectiveness,
customer/supporter satisfaction, teamwork, communications, pay and benefits.
Details at www.cccc.org/workplace.
The EFC has been a finalist twice but
did not enter this year.
EFC Ambassador in Thunder Bay
The efC is seeking volunteer ambassadors for various regions across Canada, and
now it has one in Thunder bay, ont. scott beange will seek to grow the efC’s affiliate
and support base in the greater Thunder bay area and beyond. he can be reached at
beanges@efc-canada.com or 807-629-0701.
beange is a retired employee of the ontario Ministry of natural resources who
has lived in Toronto, Mindemoya (Manitoulin island) and espanola. over a 15-year
period he, his wife, Joanne, and three children have been involved in short-term
missions to 15 countries. he has also visited israel twice.
beange remembers asking Jesus Christ to forgive his sins and be his lord and
saviour one hot summer evening in 1969 while a student working in Manitouwadge,
ont. at present, he and Joanne attend fort william baptist Church. n
BEINFORMED
aNd savE Up To 34%
Connect
with others
who share
Your faith
1-866-302-3362 x234
wellerr@efc-canada.com
www.faithtoday.ca
Go to https://www.evangelicalfellowship.ca/NetCommunity/SSLPage.aspx?pid=1243
