Christian Herald - October 2023 by ChristianHeraldNews

INSIDE: 2023 Word Awards • Praying for the Persecuted Church

Christian

HERALD EFC launches campaign to stop MAiD for Mental Illness Page 4

Journey to Bethlehem musical coming to theatres Page 10

The Coming

Education Revolution

Can Christians rebuild Ontario’s Education System?

OCTOBER 2023

Page 6

October 2023 www.christianherald.ca Christian Herald / 1

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OCTOBER 2023

Christian

HERALD Volume 30, No. 6 • October 2023 Founded in 1994, Christian Herald serves the Christian community across the Southern Ontario region, and is published ten times a year.

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Fazal Karim, Jr.

Contributing Writers

Canon J. John, John Sorensen

Volunteer Distributors

Edgar Daniels, Michelle Foster, Elaine Frith, Rochan Goonoo, John Howes, Rick Pacholko, Terence Roberts, Henry Stevens. To inquire about volunteering in your town or city, email info@christianherald.ca or call 905-874-1731.

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Christian Herald welcomes submissions and feedback from the Christian Community or other interested parties, in the form of Letters to the Editor, Press Releases, Opinion columns, Calendar of Events listings etc. Viewpoints expressed in articles are not necessarily those of the publishers. The Management of Christian Herald reserves the right to refuse or edit submissions and advertisements on the basis of legal, space or taste considerations.

Circulation

Christian Herald’s general circulation (print edition) presently stands at 21,000 copies per issue. [October 2023]

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Personal copies are available free of charge in over 500 Christian churches, retail stores, colleges and businesses across Southern Ontario. To request delivery to your church or business location, send your name, address and estimated number of copies needed by email (see below.)

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Christian Herald /

NEWS

“Before it’s too late” PRO-LIFE

EFC launches campaign to stop MAiD for mental illness; • Action Kit available to inform and equip church groups

he Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC) has launched a campaign calling for the repeal of the law allowing medical assistance in dying in Canada for those suffering with mental illness alone, due to take effect in Canada in March 2024. “Before It’s Too Late” is an awareness and resourcing campaign to encourage individual and church action to stop an expansion of MAiD that the EFC – and many other concerned voices – considers a dangerous mistake. “As we near the March 2024 date when medical assistance in dying will become available to our fellow Canadians suffering from mental illness alone, we are inviting Christians and churches to become educated on this issue, and then act,” says EFC President David Guretzki. “All through the journey of MAiD becoming legal in Canada, the EFC has consistently stood up for the value of human life and for the strongest possible safeguards to protect Canadians in moments of vulnerability. We’ve asked for things like more

4 / Christian Herald

accessible palliative care and better medical and other supports for people living with disability or terminal illness, and we’ve worked to help churches consider how they can play a part in that,” says Guretzki. “Now we are approaching an even more dangerous path, one that would make us the most permissive society in the world when it comes to death for our own citizens. For someone suffering from a mental illness to have euthanasia readily available is unacceptable. It’s time for the Church to speak again.” The EFC invites churches across Canada to pray together on Sunday, Oct. 22, for a stop to euthanasia for mental illness.

“It’s especially troubling to imagine a severely depressed 18-year-old being eligible for euthanasia.”

Resources are available at TheEFC.ca/ MAiDPrayer. The EFC also offers a Church Action Kit with additional resources to inform and equip churches and individuals to pray and engage. The kit has been carefully written to be concise and easily understood, allowing readers to quickly be brought up to date and move into action, including contacting MPs and other ways of speaking out against the further expansion of MAiD. “There are no additional legislative safeguards around MAiD for mental illness. This is deeply concerning given the immense complexity of mental health,” says Julia Beazley, director of the EFC’s Centre for Faith and Public Life in Ottawa. “It’s especially troubling to imagine a severely depressed 18-year-old being eligible for euthanasia. That could be the reality in Canada this coming March if nothing changes.” TheEFC.ca/TakeActionOnMAiD

Euro summit sets goal of equipping 110,000 new pastors

s nearly 400 European ministry leaders and pastors gathered September 4-6 in Zurich, Switzerland, for the Global Church Network’s FINISH Europe Summit, there was a resounding theme – synergize and mobilize to finalize the Great Commission. For more than 20 years, the Global Church Network (GCN) has synergistically partnered with thousands of organizations and more than 700,000 churches, spanning virtually every denomination and world region. In 2017, they added a finish line: 2030 — the 2,000th birthday of the Church. Referred to as FINISH 2030, the collaboration includes regional FINISH 2030 Summits, where targeted leaders gather to establish a collective goal of the number of pastors and ministers needed to be trained in the next 10 years to complete the Great Commission in their region. “A vision becomes a goal when it has a deadline,” stated Dr. James O. Davis, Founder and President of GCN. “One of the reasons the Great Commission hasn’t been fulfilled yet is because we never established a deadline. FINISH 2030 offers a new overarching strategy — one that is synergistic, global in scope and capable of getting the Church to the finish line sooner than we ever dreamed possible.” www.FINISH2030.com

OCTOBER 2023

MINISTRY UPDATES Thousands of Christians in Jerusalem for Feast of Tabernacles

More than 3,000 Christians from over 80 nations recently arrived in Jerusalem to take part in the 44th annual Feast of Tabernacles celebration, sponsored by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem. The eight days of festivities will run from September 29 to October 6 and will constitute this year’s largest Christian gathering in Israel and the largest solidarity mission to Israel of 2023. The ICEJ’s Feast will kick off on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, with two nights of worship concerts beside the scenic harbor at En Gev on Friday and Saturday evenings, 29-30 September. The festival then moves up to Jerusalem for six days of events, including the colorful “Roll Call of the Nations” at the Jerusalem Pais Arena on Sunday evening, October 1, Israeli Guest Night on Tuesday, October 3, and the popular Jerusalem March through the streets of the capital on Wednesday afternoon, October 4. Feast 2023 will conclude with 1,000 Christian pilgrims visiting the western Negev for a mass solidarity rally with local Israeli communities along the Gaza border, and a special ceremony with Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael to dedicate the new “Christian Embassy Nature Park” in the Be’eri Forest. www.icej.ca

CEF aims for 100 Million

According to the Barna Group, just 4% of Gen Z have a biblical worldview. Meanwhile, atheism is on the rise as 13-to-18-year-olds are twice as likely as adults to say they are atheist (13% vs 6%). That is why Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) has been sharing the Gospel with children since 1937. CEF is organized in 175 countries, making it the largest children’s ministry in the world. In 2019 CEF ministered to over 25 million children in its face-to-face teaching ministries. Now, more than ever before, children need to hear the good news of the gospel. So CEF is gearing up for an incredible goal, which is to reach 100 million children every year with the gospel, in the near future. www.cefcanada.org

Christian Horizons rebrands to Karis Disability Services

To bring clarity to what they do and to ensure more people feel welcome to their services, Christian Horizons is changing its name to Karis Disability Services. While the organization’s name will change, its values, vision, and mission, rooted in the Christian faith remains the same. Over the past year and a half, Karis Disability Services (formerly Christian Horizons) engaged in extensive research and testing, guided by research professionals, to arrive at this important decision. “We believe that communicating a place of belonging and welcome begins with our name. Our hope is that this new name will open the doors for more people to both come work with us and for others to find the support they need,” said Janet Noel-Annable, Chief Executive Officer of Karis Disability Services. “Karis comes from a Greek word meaning grace, favour, loving-kindness, and is related to the word ‘gift.’ Karis believes that all people have value and unique God-given gifts. Everybody is a gracious gift to their communities, and their communities are not whole without them or their gifts,” said Noel-Annable. www.karis.org

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EDUCATION

The New Christian School

The Third Education Revolution is coming soon to a church near you.

he last several months have been marked by parental pushback to the radical changes taking place in Canadian schools, based on our society’s deep dive into gender confusion. Activist educators, bureaucrats, politicians, union officials, and others are urging schools not to report to parents that their children may be experiencing gender confusion, or that they might be being counselled into gender confusion. This culminated in last month’s “1 Million March 4 Children”, an event that saw tens of thousands of Canadian parents protesting at marches and rallies across the country. The 1MM4C movement was started by a Muslim, but it garnered support from across the religious spectrum, even from non-religious parents who understand that sexual education should be discussed in school at age-appropriate times, with the knowledge and support of parents. During the early 2000’s, when same-sex marriage was being legalized by the Liberal government of the day, Christians openly claimed that Canadian society’s further debasement of marriage as a heterosexual institution primarily for child-rearing would lead to a slippery slope that would threaten Canadian families. Less than 20 years later, Canadian children are sheepwalked into gender confusion and dangerous surgical mutilations. Broken Beyond Repair? While a variety of efforts are being undertaken to fight this particular insanity, it has added further fuel to the idea that Canada’s government school systems

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by Fazal Karim, Jr. are broken beyond repair. During the pandemic, the effects of quarantine measures on children’s learning were dismissed with disastrous consequences for the most vulnerable kids. Post-pandemic, reports of violent outbreaks in Toronto public schools have become commonplace. In the U.S., reports from districts in deeply progressive cities are showing increasing numbers of students who are graduating without the ability to read and write. Is there really anyone who believes that a single Toronto school bureaucracy can properly administer almost 600 schools to a truly high degree of excellence? And the progressive factions of our society are always on the lookout for a way to kill off the Catholic system and merge those 200 schools into this bureaucracy. The same people who insisted that amalgamation was a bad idea for the City of Toronto, seem to want to create a mega school board. A bureaucracy that would be further removed from real parental oversight. A mega school board would not raise quality levels, but it would enhance government control. That’s why it’s desirable to certain groups. Christians and Education Ontario’s educational system was built by Christians, a fact that those same groups are eager to obscure (and is really why Egerton Ryerson must be removed from public view.) In fact, the educational system at-large in North America is a legacy of Christian

faith. From our earliest days, Christians have always made it a priority to ensure that the masses could read and understand the Bible, and when that right was under siege by the Catholic Church itself in the modern age, the answer was the Protestant Reformation. Christians here in Ontario built two school systems, one Catholic and one Protestant. The Protestant one was more varied and welcomed outside groups, eventually becoming the ‘public’ school option we have today. It served faithfully for a long time, but more and more families and thought leaders are coming to the realization that the present educational system needs to be rebuilt from the ground up. Can Christians do it again? The answer is yes. A New Educational Revolution Vishal Mangalwadi is a Christian thinker and expert on the Bible’s impact on his native country, India. Mangalwadi, who toured Ontario this past spring, is a proponent of a complete revolution in education, coming soon to a church near you. Mangalwadi’s latest book ‘The Third Education Revolution’ is a compilation of essays from Christian leaders chronicling the rise and fall of the Western educational

Can Christians revolutionize education again? The answer is yes.

system, and its replacement by a churchguided, family-based homeschooling movement that is not only possible, but practical. While details will differ in different implementations, the basic idea is that instead of setting up individual private schools that compete with free government schools, churches would work together in a city to set up and empower local homeschooling collectives. Congregations would employ an Academic Pastor, who would shepherd their families through the homeschooling process. Churches would come together to create best-in-class educational facilities that could be utilized by all homeschooling families in the area. Facilities would include gyms, libraries, STEM labs, and other resources that homeschoolers need, but now have to rent piecemeal for themselves. Technological innovations would mean that courses could be taught remotely by some of the world’s brightest minds and made available to all homeschooling collectives. Since the methodology is to have parents as the primary educators of their children, a primary homeschooling parent would receive an applied educational degree at the end of their child’s studies. Since homeschooling isn’t for every family, Christian schools would continue, but would be a much smaller slice of the Christian education pie. The idea is to turn every Christian congregation into a Centre of Education (and not just elementary and high-school, but eventually university as well.) In a city like Toronto, constructing one homeschooling support centre in each of the city’s 25 wards would allow tens of thousands of families to leave the government school option for a more personal, safe, and effective one. Mangalwadi is hardly the only one cheering on the rebuilding of Canada’s education system. In B.C. COMPASS Community Learning Centres are already up and running, providing a unique alternative to government and private schools. The Canadian Christian Education Movement [CCEM] was started in 2020 to promote Christ-centred educational choices. The organization has a host of edu-focused groups in its corner, including ACSI, Teach Beyond, The Oak Centre, Cardus, OCHEC, Edudeo, and Parents as First Educators. Marching for government school reform has its place, but the bigger goal is for Christians to upend the present Babylonian system and once again replace it with a family-focused, Christ-centred alternative. The Lord empowered us to do it before, and He’s just as faithful now, as He was then. www.thirdeducationrevolution.com www.cemovement.ca OCTOBER 2023

EVENTS

The annual Jesus In The City Parade on September 9 brought Christians from hundreds of church families from all over Southern Ontario, joining together at Queen’s Park in downtown Toronto for a day of worshipping the Lord outdoors. (Photo courtesy: the Jesus in the City Facebook page.)

The first annual Durham Region Prayer Breakfast took place on September 15, with hundreds showing up to pray for the region’s leaders, and share a hot breakfast with fellow believers from across the cities of Ajax, Pickering, Whitby and Oshawa. Pictured is the Transform Our World table. (Photo courtesy: Transform Our World)

IDOP 2023 to be held Nov. 5

Gospel Music Association of Canada (GMA Canada), a nonprofit organization that exists to celebrate and encourage excellence in Canadian Christian music. The award ceremonies take place annually in various cities across the nation with the goal of connecting Canadians working in the Christian music industry with one another.

Every year, Christian congregations across Canada join together on the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) to pray for our brothers and sisters around the world who are enduring persecution just for believing in Jesus. Christianity is the most persecuted faith on the planet. As detailed on the Cru ministry website, “Christian persecution comes in the forms of martyrdom, arrests, abductions and abuse, just to name a few. Every day, 13 Christians worldwide are killed because of their faith, 12 churches or Christian buildings are attacked, 12 Christians are unjustly arrested or imprisoned and another five are abducted. And these numbers are growing. According to the Open Doors Annual World Watch List, one in eight Christians worldwide experience high levels of persecution.” IDOP Sunday is an opportunity to lift up the needs of the Persecuted Church in

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prayer, as we ask the Lord for guidance on how we can help. IDOP Canada is coordinated by a group of Christian organizations in Canada that are serving the Persecuted Church worldwide, including The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, Intercede International, International Christian Response, Open Doors Canada, Take Heart and The Voice of the Martyrs Canada. www.idop.ca

Covenants coming to Ontario

The 43rd Covenant Awards will occur on November 17 and 18, 2023, at Bethany Evangelical Missionary Church in Kitchener. The live event celebrates excellence and artistry in the Canadian music industry. The two-day event will feature two evenings of awards, showcase performances, a conference portion, and after-parties at local restaurants. The Covenant Awards are awarded to the Canadian gospel music industry by the

www.covenantawards.ca

Missions Canada shifts from Markham to Mississauga

Shifting from its location in Markham last year, the Missions Canada/Transformative Times conference will take place November 3-4 at the Heartland Community Church, 1100 Canadian Pl, Mississauga. The event will feature more than 60 missions exhibits and speakers including Kevin & Julia Garrett and Peter Lublink. Musicians Matt Brouwer and Chelsea Amber will also perform.

Grey Cup Breakfast and Impactus conference on Nov. 18

Athletes in Action will host the 2023 Grey Cup Breakfast at the Sheraton Hamilton Hotel on November 18. Football fans, friends, and family are given the opportunity to hear from some of the CFL’s most influential athletes, coaches, and wives, both past and present. Speakers give a glimpse into their lives and share about the role their faith has played in creating success and handling their failures. Also on November 18, Impactus (formerly Promise Keepers Canada) will hold its one-day Impactus Men’s Conference in Burlington. Speakers include Steve Carter, Rick Reed, Andrew Beresford and Dr. David Macfarlane. www.greycupbreakfast.ca www.impactus.org

www.missionscanada.org

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Photo: VOM International

FOR THE PERSECUTED

ASIA EUROPE

NORTH AMERICA

Kazakhstan Azerbaijan

Uzbekistan

Turkmenistan Tajikistan

Turkey Tunisia

Morocco Algeria

Libya

Burkina Faso

Nigeria

Benin Cameroon

Colombia

Ethiopia Central African Republic Uganda Kenya Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Zanzibar Tanzania (Tanzania)

Pakistan

Tibet Nepal

AFRICA

Bhutan Laos

Bangladesh India Burma

(Myanmar)

Sri Lanka

Vietnam

Mindanao (Philippines)

Brunei Malaysia

Maldives Indonesia

Comoros Islands

zam

biq

SOUTH AMERICA

Niger

Afghanistan

lia

Mali

China

Mauritania

Mexico

Syria Lebanon Iran Iraq West Bank Kuwait Jordan Gaza Qatar Bahrain Egypt Saudi Arabia U.A.E. Sudan en Eritrea Yem Djibouti

Cuba

North Korea

Kyrgyzstan

AUSTRALIA

PERSECUTED REGIONS

In these areas, Christians encounter varying degrees of repetitive, persistent and systematic suffering, and deprival of basic human rights, because of their faith in Jesus Christ – a belief their persecutors will not tolerate.

www.vomcanada.com

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Christian Herald / 11

ON SCREEN MOVIES

Journey to Bethlehem will have theatre-goers singing along

Angel Studios feature ‘After Death’ premieres October 27

ngel Studios, the studio behind the summer blockbuster Sound of Freedom, has announced their next theatrical release, the feature-length film. After Death will premiere in theaters on October 27. “The Angel Guild found After Death to be a compelling cinematic experience,” said Jared Geesey, CDO of Angel Studios. “Life’s biggest question deserves the biggest screen.” “I’ve found that there are a lot of people in this world who are hurting and searching,” said Stephen Gray, Director of After Death. “I have a deep personal connection to the stories we’ve included in our film, which is why I’ve dedicated the past 6+ years of my life exploring these questions so that it might become a beacon of hope for others. For skeptics, this film opens the door to begin to ask haunting questions.”

Highly anticipated musical will be in theatres Nov. 10

www.angel.com/watch/after-death

Documentary coming to Canada in November

Photo courtesy Affirm Films

Photo: Fiona Palamo and Milo Manheim star as Mary and Joseph in Journey to Bethlehem. The film also stars Antonio Bandaras as King Herod, Joel Smallbone as Antipater, and Lecrae as the Angel Gabriel

ony Pictures’ Affirm Films and Monarch Media are gearing up for the launch of their newest film, Journey to Bethlehem, on November 10. The official trailer and key art were released in late September. The movie, filmed in and around the coast of Spain, is an epic musical sharing the Christmas story in a fresh, inspiring, and entertaining way, from award-winning music producer Adam Anders, in his feature directorial debut. (Anders’ musical hit credits include “Glee,” “High School Musical”, “Descendants”, “The Passion”.) The film stars Fiona Palomo and Milo Manheim, along with Academy Award® nominee Antonio Banderas. The supporting cast includes MŌRIAH, Stephanie Gil, 4x Grammy© award-winning Joel Smallbone from the pop duo For King + Country, and

multiple Grammy© award-winning Lecrae. “I have had a dream to create a Christmas musical for years, and to see it come to life with a stunning cast has exceeded every expectation,” said Anders. “We could not be more excited for this film to be a classic for years to come.” “I hope this music goes down in history because I’m going to be listening to it for a long time, said actor Milo Manheim. “It’s one of the best musicals I’ve ever been a part of.” Journey to Bethlehem is a story about a young woman carrying an unimaginable responsibility. A young man torn between love and honour. A jealous king who will stop at nothing to keep his crown. This live-action Christmas musical adventure for the entire family weaves classic Christmas

melodies with humour, faith and new pop songs in a retelling of the greatest story ever told, the story of Mary and Joseph and the birth of Jesus. A unique new entry into the collection of holiday classic movies, this Christmas musical is unlike anything traditional Christmas moviegoers have seen before. “This is Affirm Films’ first musical in 17 years and over 65 films, and the opportunity to work with one of the most successful music producers and songwriters for our first outing has resulted in a film that far exceeds our expectations. We’re looking forward to sharing this accessible and amazing musical journey with audiences around the world,” said Head of Affirm Films Rich Peluso.

conic Events Releasing, Edify Films, and Thinking Man Films have announced God of Heaven and Earth, a feature-length documentary offering compelling evidence as to what the Star of Bethlehem really was, as well as additional proof for the date and circumstance of Christ’s crucifixion. For years, scholars have debated whether the celestial event known as the “Star of Bethlehem’’ actually happened. Many have wondered if the phenomenon was a comet, a supernova, or even a meteorite. Now evidence has been discovered that can reveal this biblical sign as something far more miraculous that was put into motion since the creation of the universe.

Follow the movie on social media at @JTBmovie or visit journeytobethlehemmovie.com

At presstime, the film was to debut in U.S. theaters Nov 5-6, but Canadian release details were still in the process of being worked out.

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Heartland, A Church Connected Nov 4-5 Mississauga

Men’s Conference

Compass Point Bible Church Nov 18 Burlington OCTOBER 2023

BOOKS

2023 Word Awards winners announced The Word Guild celebrates the best of Canadian Christian writing

he Word Guild hosted the 35th annual Word Awards on Saturday, Sept. 16, in honour of Canadian writers who are Christian. Co-hosted by Heather Stuart and Bill Fledderus, the event celebrated the power of the written word and excellence in Christian writing. The event, which took place online for the fourth consecutive year, recognized unpublished work by new writers as well as work published in 2022 for both Christian and mainstream audiences. Winners received awards in over 60 genres and categories including books, articles, novellas, short stories, song lyrics and more. In addition, winners were also announced for several specialty awards, including The Harvey/Mackey New Journalism Award, The Debra Fieguth Social Justice Award, and the Leslie K. Tarr Lifetime Achievement Award. This year, the Guild chose two Best books: In Good Time: 8 Habits for Reimagining Productivity, Resisting Hurry, and Practicing Peace by Jen Pollock Michel took the honours as Best Non-Fiction book, and Lilly’s Promise by Terrie Todd was named the Best Fiction book. A highlight of the evening included the formal recognition of Flyn Ritchie, as the recipient of this year’s Leslie K. Tarr Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of an outstanding contribution to Christian writing and publishing in Canada. “There are so many wonderful Christian writers in our country and we need to cel-

NEW RELEASES

Knowing God: 50th Anniversary edition By J.I. Packer InterVarsity Press 304 pages, Softcover or half a century, J. I. Packer’s classic has helped Christians around the world discover the wonder, the glory, and the joy of knowing God. Stemming from Packer’s profound theological knowledge, Knowing God brings together two key facets of the Christian faith—knowing about God and knowing God through a close relationship with Jesus Christ. Written in an engaging and practical tone, this thought-provoking work seeks to renew and enrich our understanding of God. Knowing God was named by Christianity Today as one of the top fifty books that have shaped evangelicals. With a companion Bible study, devotional journal, and study guide, readers can explore these biblical themes for themselves in this new fiftieth anniversary edition.

ebrate them,” said David Kitz, Chair of the Board of The Word Guild. The Word Awards were established to encourage the pursuit of excellence in the art, craft, practice and ministry of writing, and help raise the profile of Canadian writers who are Christian. For more information about The Word Guild, visit www.thewordguild.com. The complete list of winners for The 2023 Word Awards is available at www.thewordguild.com

The Great Disappearance: 31 Ways to be Rapture Ready By Dr. David Jeremiah Thomas Nelson Publishers 320 pages, Softcover The Great Disappearance is a culmination of decades of Dr. Jeremiah studying the end times throughout the Bible. In this definitive volume, he explains the meaning of the word rapture, the difference between the rapture and the second coming, and the joy of expecting our Saviour to come at any given moment. Dr. Jeremiah answers questions, not with sensationalism or stories ripped from the headlines, but with solid, biblical truth.

OCTOBER 2023

One God, One Way: Christ or Muhammad By Asher Chanan-Khan Bridge Logos 240 pages, Hardcover he promise and importance of God’s Messiah is undisputedly acknowledged by the Jews, the Christians and the Muslims. Who is this Messiah? The Bible and the Quran both recognizes Christ Jesus as the promised Messiah and directs their followers to accept the Gospel brought to mankind through Him. However, while the Quran commands to recognize the teachings of Jesus, an average Muslim remains unknowledgable to Christ’s proclamation and promises. This book unravels the Islamic precepts pertaining to Jesus in the Quran itself, while bluntly showcases the bold statements of divinity and the offering of one singular path to man’s eternal salvation made by Christ Jesus.

NLT Hands-On Bible, 3rd Edition Tyndale House Publishers 1376 pages, Hardcover pdated with a fresh, colorful new design, the Hands-On Bible features loads of exciting hands-on activities and unique experiences to help children want to read and explore the Bible. Jesus taught with hands-on lessons and illustrations. The Hands-On Bible uses the same experience-based learning to communicate God’s Word in an active, understandable way. With hundreds of fun, memorable activities, the colorful Hands-On Bible is packed with activities and experiences that invite kids to crawl inside the Scriptures and do God’s Word!

Christian Herald / 11

Christian

HERALD

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Greater Toronto’s most comprehensive guide to Christian events

BUSINESS Canadian Christian Business Federation Monthly Morning Meetings Local chapters of The Canadian Christian Business Federation host monthly morning breakfast meetings for Christian business and professional leaders, men and women, in select Southern Ontario cities. For more information, or to inquire about starting a CCBF chapter in your community, visit www.ccbf.org.

CONCERTS & MUSIC The River - Season 7 Tuesdays @ 7:00pm [begins Sept 12, 2023] Midweek worship has arrived in the Durham Region! You’ll find us at the Canada Christian College auditorium, 300 Water Street, Whitby. The River exists so you can come before God in the middle of the week, leave everything else at the door, and encounter Him in a personal and meaningful way. Expect to hear your favourite current worship songs and get ready to worship. Things might get a little loud! www.theriverworship.ca. Whitby Christian Coffeehouse Saturdays; 7:30-9:30pm The Coffee House is an outreach ministry of Durham Full Gospel Church focused on spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was established over thirty-eight years ago and is still going strong. Halfway through the evening there is a 15-minute break for refreshments and fellowship. Each night there is a different Christian group ministering through songs and testimonies of what the Lord has done in their lives. Held at 419 Brock St North, Whitby. For the current schedule of performing artists, visit www.durhamfullgospelchurch.org. The Collinsworth Family: Best of the CFAM Tour Saturday, October 7, 2023; 6;00pm Excitement, spiritual anointing, family-emphasis, and musical excellence are what you can expect to find when you step across the threshold of the auditorium for an Evening of Family Worship and Praise with The Collingsworth Family. Held at Global Kingdom Ministries, 1250

Markham Road, Toronto. Tickets $25 General Admission, Gold Circle and Artist Circle also available. www.thecollingsworthfamily.com.

Life Community Church, 46 Denison Avenue East, Toronto. Free Admission. www.lifecomcog.com.

Amber. Held at Heartland Community Church, 1100 Canadian Pl, Mississauga. Free admission. www.missionscanada.org.

Steve Bell in concert Friday, October 13, 2023; 7:30pm An evening of story and song, featuring music from Steve’s latest album, “Wouldn’t You Love to Know,” as well as Steve Bell classics and favourites. Featuring special guest Mike Janzen. Tickets $26. Held at Little Trinity Anglican Church, 425 King Street East, Toronto. Tickets available at www.stevebell.com/events Or through Little Trinity Anglican (425 King Street E | 416-367-0272 x 224). For phone orders, call Signpost Music toll-free at 1-800-854-3499.

CFX 2023 - Dallas, Texas October 9-11, 2023 Featuring over 180 exhibiting companies and brands, The Church Facilities Expo (CFX) presents a 360-degree display of the products and services involved with the building, managing, and operation of churches today. Packed with manufacturers and service providers who know and understand the needs and challenges of churches, CFX events educate church leadership and ministry teams in the critical areas of worship technology and production, church building improvement, building projects, safety and security, communications, volunteer development, and church administration. www.churchfacilitiesexpo.com.

2023 Brampton Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast Tuesday, November 14, 2023; 6:45-8:45am The 2023 Brampton Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast will include a great breakfast with good friends, a guest speaker, enjoyable music, and, of course, prayer. It is going to be a great morning! We will be at the Pearson Convention Centre, 2638 Steeles Avenue, Brampton. Tickets for the event are $20. Hosted by the Brampton & District Ministerial Association.

Gospel Music Industry Hub Monday, October 16, 2023; 7:00pm Monday, November 20, 2023; 7:00pm GMI Hub is a monthly gathering and networking opportunity for Christians in the music industry. The event features a panel discussion with successful gospel music industry leaders discussing the state of the gospel arts industry and sharing their experiences and knowledge. Held at 3434 Cawthra Road, Mississauga. www.gmihub.ca. The Reunion Tour Tuesday, October 17, 2023; 7;00pm Featuring Kirk Franklin, Tye Tribett, Clark Sisters, David and Tamela Mann, and Israel Houghton. At the Coca Cola Coliseum in Toronto. Tickets available at Ticketmaster. Gospel Music Industry Hub Artist Showcase Friday, October 27, 2023; 7:00pm Held at 3434 Cawthra Road, Mississauga. (Mississauga City Baptist Church) Featuring Kevin Adams, Jah Pickney, Andrew Gonoude, Elio Alcindor, The Hillbirds. Ticketed event: $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Advance tickets go on sale October 1. www.gmihub.ca.

CONFERENCES/MEETINGS Rally Quake 2023 Saturday, October 7, 2023; 6:00pm Featuring Food, Music and fundraising. Held at

Career Planning Seminar Saturday, October 28, 2023; 10:00am-4:00pm On behalf of the IEC family, we would like to invite you to participate in this Career Planning Seminar where we aim to equip and empower youth & young adults within the GTA as they begin their career journey. Our theme for 2023 is “Plan 2 Succeed”, taken from, Proverbs 15:22, “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers, they succeed.” Registration starts at 9:00am. (Food: Complimentary refreshments available during registration. Patties and beverages available for sale during lunch break.) Please send your questions to plug@iecfamily. com or give us a call at 416- 747-7208. www.iecfamily.com. Missions Canada/ Transformative Times conference November 3-4, 2023 The purpose of the Transformative Times Conference is to unify believers from every tribe and nation, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world, and to create and develop a Spirit-inspired, kingdom-focused, transformational movement in Canada and beyond. This is driven by the Great Commission of Jesus in Matthew 28:19, “Go and make disciples of all nations.” With featured speakers Kevin & Julia Garratt, Peter Lublink and others. Worship leaders include Matt Brouwer and Chelsea

2023 Grey Cup Breakfast Saturday, November 18, 2023; 8:00am The Athletes in Action Pro Week exists to help people have a life-changing experience with the Christian faith by working in communities associated with the Grey Cup through AIA chaplains, CFL players, wives, and coaches. The AIA Pro Week is concluded with our marquee event, the Grey Cup Breakfast. Football fans, friends, and family are given the opportunity to hear from some of the CFL’s most influential athletes, coaches, and wives, both past and present. These men and women give us a glimpse into their lives and share about the role their faith has played in creating success and handling their failures. At the Sheraton Hamilton Hotel. Tickets available online at www.greycupbreakfast.ca. 2023 Markham Prayer Breakfast Friday, November 24, 2023; 7:00-9:00am The Markham Prayer Breakfast is a gathering of more than 600 people. We gather to support and encourage each other in faith. We gather to pray for our leaders and the people of Markham. We gather to honour God in our community. There will be special music by Vanessa Hernandez, a message from The Right Honorable David Johnston (Former Governor General of Canada), and prayers offered. The program promises to be inspiring and faith building. Join us for a wonderful hot buffet breakfast! Dress is casual to business attire. New location: Angus Glen Golf Club! Tickets $45., only 450 seats available. www.markhamprayerbreakfast.ca.

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OCTOBER 2023

COMMUNITY CALENDAR The 2023 Oakville Prayer Breakfast Wednesday December 6, 2023; 6:30am Started in 1984, Oakville Prayer Breakfast has been organizing meaningful mornings of prayer and reflection every December. this year’s special guest is Executive Director of Kerr Street Mission, Gary O’Neill. Join us for another special live breakfast and an opportunity to connect and share fellowship in advance of the advent season. www.oakvilleprayerbreakfast.com.

MEN Impactus Men’s Conference Saturday, November 18, 2023; 8:30am-4:00pm Presented by Impactus (formerly Promise Keepers Canada.) A one-day conference to encourage men to be steadfast in their walk with God. With speakers Steve Carter, Rick Reed, Andrew Beresford, and David Macfarlane. Pricing: Early Bird $60/Pre-event $70/Door $75. Group rates available. Held at 1550 Kerns Road, Burlington. www.impactus.org.

MOVIES After Death Theatrical release: October 27, 2023 After Death is a captivating and thoughtprovoking exploration into the enigmatic question that has fascinated humanity for centuries: “What happens when we die?” Through personal accounts, philosophical discussions, and scientific research, the film takes viewers on a profound journey of discovery. The film is produced by Angel Studios, the studio behind the summer blockbuster Sound of Freedom. www.angel.com/watch/after-death. Journey to Bethlehem Theatrical release: November 10, 2023 A young woman carrying an unimaginable responsibility. A young man torn between love and honor. A jealous king who will stop at nothing to keep his crown. This live-action Christmas musical adventure for the entire family weaves classic Christmas melodies with humor, faith, and new pop songs in a retelling of the greatest story ever told—the story of Mary and Joseph and the birth of Jesus. A unique new entry into the collection of holiday classic movies, this epic Christmas musical is unlike any before it. Featuring Fiona Palomo, Milo Manheim, MŌRIAH, Joel Smallbone, Lecrae, and Academy Award® Nominee Antonio Banderas www.journeytobethlehemmovie.com.

PRAYER 24 Hour Worshippers Toronto Monthly The mission of 24HW is to exalt God through worship and prayer as one body, while standing in the gap for the city, the country and the church. Worship and prayer teams from congregations in Toronto take 2-hour slots and pray through a weekend each month, starting on Friday at 7:00pm and running for 24 hours. www.24hourworshippers.com. 40 Days for Life September 27 to November 5, 2023 The visible, public centerpiece of 40 Days for Life is a focused, 40-day, non-stop, round-theclock prayer vigil outside an abortion facility in your community. It is a peaceful and educational OCTOBER 2023

presence. Those who are called to stand witness during this 24-hour-a-day presence send a powerful message to the community about the tragic reality of abortion. www.40daysforlife.com.

SUPPORT GROUPS Alpha Alpha is an 11-week course that creates a space, online or in person, where people are excited to bring their friends for a conversation about life, faith and Jesus. The same Alpha content is run all over the world, by Christians of all traditions, and provides a common expression of faith. Over 1 million people in Canada have experienced Alpha, and millions more have taken Alpha in over 100 countries and over 100 languages around the globe. Find a local Alpha course at www.alphacanada.org. DivorceCare DivorceCare is a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences. Don’t go through separation or divorce alone. Find a local group at www.divorcecare.org. DivorceCare for Kids (DC4K) Are your children angry, hurt, and confused about your separation or divorce? A DivorceCare for Kids (DC4K) support group is a safe, fun place where your children can learn skills that will help them heal. DC4K groups blend, games, music, stories, videos and discussion to help kids process the divorce and move forward. Groups meet weekly and are designed for children ages 5-12. Find a local group at www.dc4k.org. GriefShare GriefShare is a weekly support group for those facing the loss of a loved one through death. You will be most welcomed into a warm caring environment in which you can receive hope and encouragement by relating to others who are facing similar emotions. Find a local GriefShare group at www.griefshare.org. Parents of Human Trafficking Victims: Online Support Group First and Third Thursdays, 7:00-9:00 pm (Family members suffer greatly when a loved one becomes entangled in the sex trade. If you are a parent or family member of a young person exploited in this way, we offer a safe space for you to be understood. Zoom in or meet with us in person to process your feelings without fear of judgment. We also work with families, individually, to bring an end to the exploitation. Parents Hope is part of the Christian ministry of Lifeworthy - SIM Canada. For more info, please email Lynda at parents.hope@lifeworthy.ca or visit: www.lifeworthy.ca. Pure Desire Pure Desire Ministries International is a biblically-based and clinically-informed ministry committed to true revival in the church through the healing of the present day epidemic of sexual brokenness. Pure Desire groups offer a roadmap to recovery from sexual addiction, betrayal, and relationship issues by providing a safe, confidential place to process your life story: learning how family of origin, traumatic experiences, and wounding messages impact relationships. www.puredesire.org/join-a-group.

Sharing The Burden There is Hope! Come and take life-healing steps. Addiction, anxiety, depression, co-dependency. Don’t be alone with it any longer. Group support, all welcome. email: scott@sharingtheburden.ca or visit www.sharingtheburdenradio.org.

TV 2023 Feast of Tabernacles from Israel September 29-October 6, 2023 The Online Feast of Tabernacles, presented by International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, will be available on ICEJ’s exclusive streaming platform and will include live streaming of all Feast events, plus over 80 seminar teachings and other unique online content viewable on demand. www.icej.ca.

WOMEN PraiseMoves PraiseMoves, called the Christian alternative to Yoga, is a series of stretching and strengthbuilding postures, each linked to a verse of Scripture we focus upon while doing the posture. Classes include PraiseMoves Gold (for seniors and anyone with limited physical mobility) PraiseMoves, PraiseBarre (a fusion of PraiseMoves and Barre exercises to Power up your workout with low impact high intensity exercises) and MIRA! (dance as a celebration of Praise to the Lord.) Classes are held at Richview Church, 1548 Kipling Ave., Etobicoke. An exercise mat is recommended. Held at Richview Baptist Church, 1548 Kipling Ave, Etobicoke. Cost: Free. For more info contact: Inez Cann RN, CPI, CMI (Certified PraiseMoves and Mira Instructor) 416-237-1794 or email inezcann@ hotmail.com. www.praisemoves.com. Moms in the Making Christian Infertility Support Group First and Third Tuesdays; 7:00pm Moms in the Making exists to support and en-

courage women on their journey to becoming a mom by sharing the hope and truth of God’s Word. One way we accomplish this mission is by hosting in-person groups, which meet twice a month as we together focus on scripture and our hope in Jesus. Moms in the Making groups are for married women who, in partnership with their husband, are looking to expand their family. Whether you are taking a natural approach or pursuing treatments, adoption, foster care or a different route, you are welcome. The Newmarket, Ontario group which meets at 7pm on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month. www.momsinthemaking.com/ontario. That You May Know: Encountering God in Exodus November 16-18, 2023 In a time when nothing seems stable and under control, the Bible reminds us that the Lord will reign forever. And on November 16–18, Mary Willson Hannah, Wendy Stringer, and Angie Velasquez Thornton will unfold the message of the Book of Exodus. In this book, we come see more clearly what it means when God says, “I Am the LORD” (Exod 6:7). Held at Morningstar Christian Fellowship, 7601 Sheppard Avenue East Scarborough. Consider joining us for a retreat or as a church. We offer group rates. ca.thegospelcoalition.org.

YOUTH 2023 Change Conference October 13-14, 2023 The Change Conference vision is for every youth in Canada to hear, respond and live out the message of Jesus in their lives. The conference is geared to Junior Highs and High School-age youth. Featuring OJ the DJ, Hulvey, Brooke Nicholls, KB, Micah Mac, Sharon Witton, Andrew Beresford and more. Held at Church on the Queensway, Toronto. www.changeconference.com.

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Send by mail, along with cheque or money order. Be sure to include the text of the ad & the cheque, along with your name, address and phone number to the address on page 3. The Management of Christian Herald reserves the right to refuse or edit submissions and advertisements on the basis of legal, space or taste considerations. In order to appear in our next edition (November 2023), ads must reach Christian Herald (with payment) by October 20, 2023. COMPUTER SERVICES/WEBSITE DESIGNING Small Business Website for only $199. Free website hosting for one year. Rank on the first page of major search engines. Call 1-888- 491-1211 Ext. 3 or visit YourDreamWebsite.com. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SCHOOL SUPPLY LIQUIDATION SALE Liquidation sales -School contents, JK-Grade 8. Furniture, sports & musical instruments, library, books, etc. Contact: 416-385-1012. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Christian Herald / 13

How to personally know God Realize that you are a sinner. No matter how good a life we try to live, we still fall miserably short of being a good person. That is because we are all sinners. We all fall short of God’s desire for us to be holy. The Bible says, “No one is good—not even one” (Romans 3:10 NLT). This is because we can not become who we are supposed to be without Jesus Christ. Recognize that Jesus Christ died on the cross for you. The Bible tells us, “But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while were still sinners” (Romans 5:8 NLT). This is the Good News, that God loves us so much that He sent His only Son to die in our place when we least deserved it. Repent of your sin. The Bible tells us to “repent and be converted” (Acts 3:19 NKJV). The word repent means to change our direction in life. Instead of running from God, we can run toward Him. Receive Christ into your life. Becoming a Christian is not merely believing some creed or going to church on Sunday. It is having Christ

Himself take residence in your life and heart. Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door (of your life) and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in . . . .” (Revelation 3:20 NKJV).

IT HELPS!

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If you would like to have a relationship with Christ, simply pray this prayer and mean it in your heart. Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe you died for my sins. Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and life. I confess you as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank you for saving me. Amen. If you just prayed that prayer and meant it, Jesus Christ has now taken residence in your heart! Your decision to follow Christ means God has forgiven you and that you will spend eternity in heaven. The Bible tells us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 NKJV). To put your faith in action, be sure to spend time with God by reading your Bible, praying, getting involved in a Bible-preaching church, and telling others about Christ.

PASTORS & MINISTRY LEADERS TOUR and Envision Conference Jan.

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info@icejcanada.org

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| icej.ca | 1-866-324-9133

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CH UR

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CH Y IT UN KEVIN & JULIA GARRATT

"JOSEPH" AND "ANIKA"

PETER LUBLINK

FEATURED MUSIC

NO HE VE AR M TL BE AN R 3 D -4 CO TH M M

FEATURED SPEAKERS

MATT BROUWER

CHELSEA AMBER

MISSIONSCANADA.ORG/EVENTINFO OCTOBER 2023

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