ChristianWeek

Smarter disaster-response network proposed
Mark Orr wants to clean up inefficient emergency aid with better infrastructure Frank Stirk BC Correspondent Mark Orr wants to gives Christians around the world a more intelligent way of responding to major disasters than just sending money to missionary or disaster-response organizations. “What is needed are not more superstructures,” says Orr, who heads a new British Columbia-based ministry called Global Mission Innovation (xGMI). “What we’re talking about is infrastructure: the underlying framework needed for networking, distributing money and providing information from anywhere in the world.” read the full story>

Social justice: a new priority for Canadian Baptists

Canadian Baptist Ministries (CBM) is seeking new ways to be effective in the area of social justice. To that end, former missionary Marilyn Smith has become CBM’s director of advocacy and public engagement. Smith spoke at the Atlantic Baptist Women’s Convention held in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, August 21 to 23.

Smith’s new job is to broaden Canadian Baptist focus to become champions for justice at the local, national and international level, as well as reacting to short-term disasters and needs.

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Lebanese evangelical speaks about conflict

As a Lebanese evangelical Christian observing the crisis in the Middle East, some would say Nadeem Serhal is caught in a catch-22 situation. He is part of a small minority of Lebanese Catholics turned evangelical, living in a place where religion and politics often go hand in hand.

“Many Maronite Catholics take evangelicals to be on the side of the enemy,” says Serhal, “because evangelical Christianity is seen as part of a Western power that supports Israel.”

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Quebec Mennonite seminary changes gear

École de Théologie Évangélique de Montreal (ETEM) is celebrating its 30th anniversary this fall in a new facility better suited to fulfil its mandate—and the budget.

On September 4, the school’s 30 full-time students returned to larger, better-equipped classes, a comfortable lounge and an impressive library space with a wall of glass that overlooks one of the city’s most scenic parks.

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Tithing unchanged in Alberta’s boom

Some church leaders across the province say Alberta’s tithing is skyrocketing just like the economy. The population boom means greater giving, but for many, the high cost of living is reducing potential generosity.

Dale Irving, minister at Millwoods United Church in Edmonton, feels people involved in the oil and gas sector are the ones with the big salaries in Alberta, and that the cost of housing is hitting the rest of population hard.

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Army attacks human trafficking

Most would scoff if they heard Canada was involved in the trafficking of humans for profit. Yet in what some call modern-day slavery, thousands of mail-order brides are purchased every year in North America.

To raise awareness of the issue, the Salvation Army is announcing September 29 to October 1 to be the first annual weekend of prayer and fasting for the victims of human trafficking.

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