ChristianWeek

Don Schiemann (left) and his son Michael are hoping Canadians will turn on their lights in support of a national campaign calling for reforms to the justice system. Their son and brother, Peter Schiemann, was killed along with three other police officers during a drug raid in Mayerthorpe, Alberta last March. (Photo: Shaughn Butts/Edmonton Journal) Families of slain officers launch national campaign MAYERTHORPE, AB—The families of four slain police officers want to turn on the lights in their fight for an effective national drug strategy and a review of the justice system. And they want to involve all Canadians. Those organizing the Referendum of Light initiative hope to see all Canadians turn on the front lights of their home on the third day of each month between the hours of 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. until March 3, 2006, the first anniversary of the tragedy that saw four mounties gunned down during an investigation. read the full story>

“Why are we being treated differently?” Grant asks. “Simply because we have chosen or cannot afford to own the building, we have to pay.”

Property tax error shocks congregation
WINNIPEG, MB—A Winnipeg pastor hopes to challenge a city bylaw that requires his church to pay property taxes because it doesn’t own the building where the congregation meets.

New Beginnings Church rents space in a strip mall in south Winnipeg, and pastor Ivor Grant was shocked to find out this spring that the non-denominational church owed $23,000 in property taxes dating back to 2000, when the church opened. He had no idea that in Winnipeg, if a church rents facilities, it is not exempt from property taxes as are most churches. read more>

Special needs students get
full funding
VICTORIA, BC—A recent decision by the province’s ministry of education to fully fund special-needs children enrolled in an independent or private school spells relief for many parents.

In September, education minister Shirley Bond announced that in the interests of “equity,” independent schools now get the same level of funding as public schools to cover the extra cost of providing services and programs to 850 special-needs students.

The decision means an additional $8.3 million for independent schools--80 per cent of which are religious—and a successful conclusion to four years of lobbying by independent educators. read more>

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Church occupies former strip club

MARKHAM, ON—Two years ago a group of 28 people met to discuss their desire for a church that would be a “safe place” to bring their non-believing friends. They didn't know it at that time, but that place would be a former strip club. Today The Olive Branch Community Church is 350 members strong, and are meeting in the renovated sanctuary after coming up with a $2 million down payment on the almost $4 million property in only two weeks and investing thousands of volunteer hours into the task of making it new. On September 25, 2005—exactly two years to the day after that first meeting—TOB celebrated their first service in their newly renovated, permanent facility.

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Mould forces food bank closure

HALIFAX, NS—West End Ecumenical Food Bank, one of the biggest food banks in the Halifax area, has been forced to close its doors because of mould. About 550 people visited the food bank at St. John’s Anglican Church each month. Its Thursday afternoon food distribution provided food supplies for about 1,000 people.

St. John's rector Randy Townsend is unsure whether the food bank will be able to return to its home in the church basement. Meanwhile Feed Nova Scotia is helping clients at another food bank on MacAlpine Avenue, three or four blocks away from the church.

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Student ministry groups celebrate “strategic partnership” in Quebec

MONTREAL, QC— Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF) and Youth With a Mission (YWAM) ministries are celebraing a 12-year strategic partnership—and the opening of brand new joint offices. While the English Quebec chapter of IVCF shares office space with Christian Direction in downtown Montreal, the French chapter, which works under the name of Groupes Bibliques Universitaires (GBU) has been working in close proximity with YWAM for many years. Marc Débanné, general director of the GBU in Quebec, explained that the movement began in French Quebec when IVCF first launched a group at Université de Montréal (University of Montreal) in 1965.

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