Quebec fellowship joins WEF
WEF release
SINGAPORE–The World Evangelical Fellowship has granted member status to the French Evangelical Protestant Alliance in Quebec (AFPEQ), making it the 112th national member of World Evangelical Fellowship.
The AFPEQ was born out of the desire of Protestant evangelicals to unite into a common voice capable of influencing policy-makers in Quebec society on issues evangelicals consider important, says chair Roland Grimard.
"The idea that Christianity is disconnected from the reality of daily life and inadequate to meet, in practical ways, the needs of the Quebec society is widespread among Quebecers and even among Protestant evangelicals," says Grimard. "We, at AFPEQ, recognize that Jesus Christ is the Lord of Quebec society. We see the importance for evangelicals to unite and to work together. Therefore, AFPEQ will give a unified voice and the ability to influence society to evangelicals in Quebec."
On the eve of the 21st century, Quebec evangelicals have found enough common ground to unite and establish this concerted effort. AFPEQ gives French evangelicals a solid voice in society and permits them to establish a credible structure in a culture where religious institutions have been marginalized during the last four decades. AFPEQ represents its members before the governments (in Quebec and Canada), the media and the courts. Nine denominations and 12 parachurch organizations are represented.
WEF North American director Dwight Gibson commented, "It is my prayer that the French Evangelical Protestant Alliance in Quebec be the body of Christ in Quebec. With God’s help, the goals established by this new fellowship will bring a transforming Christian witness to Quebec."
The new fellowship has created two commissions, for family and social action, each with the mandate to recommend a strategy of action. AFPEQ will send a delegate to the Protestant Partnership on Education, the official voice of Protestants to the Quebec government on educational matters.
The AFPEQ and the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC), also a member of World Evangelical Fellowship, work together closely and have delegates sitting on each other’s board of directors.
