ChristianWeek

Churches close for Christmas While evangelical churches in the U.S. faced media criticism for not holding services on Sunday, December 25, their Canadian counterparts who quietly followed suit wondered what all the fuss was about. read the full story>

Ex-pastor learns the rewards
of “being small”
VANCOUVER, BC—A major part of Gordon Wiebe’s pastoral duties at Christian Life Assembly, a 3,500-member Pentecostal church in suburban Langley, was to partner with several community-based ministries in B.C. and overseas.

That ended two years ago, when Wiebe realized if he was serious about sharing the love of God, he had to live out the gospel—not just speak it. So he quit his job, sold his house and moved with his wife into a rooming house in Vancouver’s notorious Downtown Eastside, the most poverty-stricken neighbourhood in Canada. read more>

Fuel aid for needy Nova Scotians
Nova Scotians struggling with rising energy costs will get a break this winter thanks to a huge increase in the Good Neighbour Energy Fund (GNEF).

The GNEF is a provincial emergency winter heating program sponsored by Nova Scotia Power Corporation, its customers and employees; and administered through the Salvation Army. It expects to provide needed fuel or energy credit for about 1,000 Nova Scotians this winter. read more>

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Scott Mission’s toy store makes Christmas merrier

TORONTO, ON—Some 2,300 Toronto children had a merrier Christmas last year, thanks to The Scott Mission’s free toy store for needy families.

Early in December, the mission’s Sweet Repeat’s free clothing store underwent a transformation as its shelves were stocked with brand new toys, games, books, hats, scarves and mittens.

More than 1,800 needy parents pre-registered for the privilege of shopping for their youngsters—by appointment and free of charge—at the toy store. Each shopper was able to select one large item as well as a book, game, craft item, socks, hats and mittens.

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Kempling denied human rights hearing

VANCOUVER, BC—The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal will not take up a case filed by Christian teacher-counsellor Chris Kempling alleging religious discrimination.

Tribunal chair Heather MacNaughton said they decided that given Kempling’s “stereotypical and discriminatory attitudes about gay men,” he stood no chance of winning his complaint against his employer, the Quesnel School District.

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Fellowship pursues open doors

MONTREAL, QC—The French Mission Board (FFM) of the Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Churches (FEBC) has optimistic plans for church planting in Quebec this year.

“God is opening doors for the proclamation of the gospel and for church planting in Quebec,” states the FFM 2006 prayer calendar. “Doors that were previously closed now stand wide open thanks to the faithful prayers of God’s people.”

Several FEBC pastoral couples are striving to plant and build healthy churches in some very different areas of Quebec.

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