UBC president Santa Ono will be the keynote speaker at the BC Leadership Prayer Breakfast March 24.
UBC’s new president will address the BC Leadership Prayer Breakfast Friday morning (March 24) at Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. Dr. Santa Ono will address the 1,000 people – largely from the business and professional community – who attend the event.
The sponsor, City in Focus, points out that “We offer support and prayer for those who serve in elected positions in our community at municipal, provincial, federal and international levels.” Every year, many politicians attend the breakfast.
Ono became president of UBC last year. Born in Vancouver, his academic career focused on biomedical research. He was on faculty at Emory University, Johns Hopkins University, Harvard University and University College London; he was president of the University of Cincinnati before moving to UBC.
I wrote about Ono last June, pointing out that he has been public about his Christian faith over the years. One portion noted:
For another insight into his faith, go to InterVarsity’s Alumni site, which says, in part:
“I actually think it’s very healthy for the university community to know of the religious beliefs of faculty and administrators,” he said. “I see no reason why I as a Christian should hide Christ in my life, as long as I show respect for those with different faiths. . . .
“Students learn from diverse perspectives across the university community and they can only learn from the richness of a multi-faith community if they can actually see people thinking about, struggling with and practicing their faiths.”
Ono will be no doubt have some particular comments for younger participants at the prayer breakfast and following events. For several years, City in Focus has offered a special program for students to enjoy the breakfast and attend the post-breakfast Q&A discussion.
It is probably too late to get a ticket for the breakfast (though there does still seem to be a waitlist).
José Figueroa aims to clear his name
José Figueroa was forced to spend two years in sanctuary at Walnut Grove Lutheran Church.
José Figueroa spent more than two years in sanctuary at Walnut Grove Lutheran Church before being able to leave it December 23, 2015. Now attending law school in Victoria, he will appear in the Federal Court of Appeal this morning (March 23), to clear his name.
A March 20 story in The Vancouver Sun said:
He had applied for refugee status in 1997, and acknowledged his ties to Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front, a leftist guerrilla group which fought against the military junta that ran El Salvador before a peace accord in 1992.
The FMNLF became one of two major political parties in democratic El Salvador, but in 2010 Canadian immigration officials said it was a terrorist group. Figueroa, who by this time was married with three children, was ruled inadmissible and told to leave Canada.
When an arrest warrant was issued by the Canada Border Services Agency in October, 2013, he sought sanctuary in the church, where he slept in a room that measured about two by three metres.
He stayed there until then-Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship John McCallum said there were compassionate and humanitarian considerations and granted Figueroa a rare deportation exemption.
I wrote about Figueroa’s situation in the fall of 2013, based on a conversation with his pastor at Walnut Grove, Karl Keller.
Spartans volleyball champs, again
The Trinity Western University Spartans are U Sports national men’s volleyball champions for the second year in a row.
The Trinity Western University Spartans repeated as U Sports national men’s volleyball champions last Sunday (March 19) in Edmonton, defeating the Alberta Golden Bears in the final.
Writing in The Province, Steve Ewen said:
TWU has earned four straight championship banners the past two years, capturing the Canada West crowns as well as the national honours. Along the way, they’ve won 14 playoff games in a row. The win over Alberta marked their third straight title celebration on their opponents’ home court, following their Canada West win this year against Manitoba and the U Sports win last year versus McMaster.
Blake Scheerhoorn finished Sunday with a game-high 22 kills on 43 attempts, committing only three attacking errors, and earned player of the match for his efforts. Setter Adam Schriemer contributed 48 assists on Sunday and was later named tournament MVP.
2017 U Sports player of the year Ryan Sclater finished his TWU career Sunday with a 12-kill performance, adding eight digs and five block assists.
The women’s team did very well too, winning a bronze medal at the U Sports national championships. It was the third year in a row that they have won a medal; they won silver last year and gold in 2015 (when the TWU men’s team came in second).
Briefly noted
Pacific Theatre: Valley SongValley Song runs March 24 – April 8 at Pacific Theatre: “Torn between the hope of the new South Africa and the familiarity of all he has known, Abraam ‘Buks’ Jonkers tills land he will never own while his granddaughter dreams of the Johannesburg stage. A heartfelt story of tradition, change, and the resilience of the human spirit.”
Vancouver Presents take a look at PT’S newly announced 2017/2018 season here.
Kamloops pastor hopes to become Zimbabwe’s president
Richard Kanyangu works as a psychiatric nurse at Royal Inland Hospital, and pastors House of Destiny Church – but he now plans to return to his native Zimbabwe to challenge dictator Robert Mugabe for the presidency. See this story which recently ran in The Vancouver Sun.
On Sunday (March 26), Melissa Skelton, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of New Westminster, “will receive and recognize the priestly orders of Ayoob Shawkat Adwar. Father Ayoob is understood to be the first Chaldean priest to become an Anglican priest in its history.” Go here for the full story.
Mar 2017
Art + Design Alumni Exhibition: Bayit / Lament – March 23, 2017 - March 27, 2017 at All DayMade in God's Image – March 23, 2017 at 12:00 am
Violet Behzadian: Song of Salvation – March 23, 2017 at All Day
Provincial Leadership Dinner – March 23, 2017 at 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Dr. Sam Reimer: Why Canadians aren’t Going to Church and What that Means for Evangelical Churches in Canada – March 23, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Why Do People Stop Believing? – March 23, 2017 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
BC Leadership Prayer Breakfast – March 24, 2017 at 7:30 am - 9:00 am
Dr. Sam Reimer: Is Canada Becoming More Religiously Polarized? – March 24, 2017 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Rhythm & Cello – March 24, 2017 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Connect Conference – March 25, 2017 at 9:30 am - 3:00 pm
Together in Christ: Lutheran-Catholic Dialogue – March 25, 2017 at 9:30 am - 12:00 pm
Brian Doerksen Concert – March 25, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Gibson and Gretsch Jazz Band – March 25, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Brentwood Concert Series: The Gleusteen Duo – March 25, 2017 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
The Choir of King's College Cambridge – March 26, 2017 at 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Jazz Vespers: Darlene Ketchum Quartet – March 26, 2017 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Jazz Vespers: Diane Lines – March 26, 2017 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Unmasking the Truth – March 27, 2017 at 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Canadian Gospel Music Celebration Spring Concert Tour, with Legacy Five – March 27, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Hope for the Sold: Over 18 - A Documentary About Pornography – March 27, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Life Compass Society Launch Event – March 27, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:15 pm
Vancouver Faith Alliance Luncheon – March 28, 2017 at 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Jazz Evensong: Cory Weeds Trio – March 29, 2017 at 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Jane Eyre: The Musical – March 30, 2017 - April 1, 2017 at All Day
Karina Svalya: Encountering Darkness, Painting Light – Opening Reception – March 30, 2017 at 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Give it Up for the Earth! Lenten Prayer Evening – March 30, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Premiere of 'Facing Darkness' – March 30, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
(go) Deeper Conference with Gord & Jan Whyte – March 31, 2017 - April 2, 2017 at All Day
Journal of Missional Practice Webinar: Around the Table – March 31, 2017 at 8:00 am - 9:00 am
Evangelical Missiological Society: Engaging Theology from the Majority World – March 31, 2017 at 9:30 am - 8:00 pm
Elevate Conference 2017 – March 31, 2017 - April 1, 2017 at 5:00 pm
Chapel North Shore – March 31, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Chapel Richmond-Delta – March 31, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Chapel Surrey – March 31, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Chapel Tri-Cities – March 31, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Chapel Vancouver – March 31, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Road to Ayin: An Exploration in Music and Mythopoeia by Corey Janz – March 31, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Chapel Langley – March 31, 2017 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Ambrose Akinmusire with "A" Band & NiteCap – March 31, 2017 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Apr 2017
Peace of Mind: Mental Wellness & the Church with Sandra Wong, Doug Johnston & Paul Pearce – April 1, 2017 at 9:00 am - 3:00 pmThree Biologos 2017 Highlight Lectures – April 1, 2017 at 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Way of the Cross for Migrant Workers – April 1, 2017 at 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Celebrate the Festival – April 1, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Story of MRI with Dr. Raymond Damadian – April 1, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Douglas Todd: Vancouver – Discerning the Spirit of the City – April 1, 2017 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Choir Concert: For God So Loved the World – April 2, 2017 at 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Re-Sounding Harmony – April 2, 2017 at 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
MVA Provincial Election Accountability Assembly – April 4, 2017 at 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Business By the Book: Rosemary Siemens – April 5, 2017 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Jazz Evensong: Bryn Kinders & Solescape Sound – April 5, 2017 at 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Lenten Soup n' Bun Series (Thursdays) – April 6, 2017 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Book Launch for 'Keeping Faith in Fundraising' by Rod Wilson and Peter Harris – April 6, 2017 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Valley Song by Athol Fugard – April 6, 2017 - April 8, 2017 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Our Land Our Rights Our Peace: Philippine Leaders Visit Canada – April 7, 2017 at 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Cheryl Bear – April 7, 2017 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Time After Time: TWU Concert Band & Orchestra – April 7, 2017 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Iron Sharpens Iron Men's Equipping Conference – April 8, 2017 at 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
The Beauty and Complexity of Marriage, with Randy and Hannah Hamm – April 8, 2017 at 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Make Time for Life – April 8, 2017 at 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Book launch: The Honour Drum Book, featuring Cheryl Bear & Tim Huff – April 8, 2017 at 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Celebrating the Chan Centre at 20: A Song of Joys – April 8, 2017 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Silence – April 9, 2017 - April 12, 2017 at All Day
Jazz Vespers: Jennifer Hodge – April 9, 2017 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Poetry for Holy Week and Easter – April 10, 2017 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
DVD on Reinhold Niebuhr – April 11, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Jazz Evensong: Dan Reynolds & Friends – April 12, 2017 at 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Stations – April 13, 2017 - April 15, 2017 at All Day
Journey 101 (Thursdays) – April 13, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
PeaceMeal: Songs and Story to Feed a Troubled World – April 13, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Testament – April 13, 2017 - April 15, 2017 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Meet Me at the Cross & March for Jesus – April 14, 2017 at 8:30 am - 10:00 am
Way of the Cross Walk – April 14, 2017 at 12:15 pm - 1:30 pm
Good Friday Contemplative Evening of Sung Prayers – April 14, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
United Voices and Chamber Orchestra presents Mozart’s Requiem – April 14, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Vancouver Chamber Choir: Aeterna – April 14, 2017 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Easter Bash – April 15, 2017 at 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Easter Egg Hunt – April 15, 2017 at 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
United Voices and Chamber Orchestra presents Mozart’s Requiem – April 15, 2017 at 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Ecological Stations of the Cross – April 15, 2017 at 2:30 pm - 5:00 pm
PeaceMeal: Songs and Story to Feed a Troubled World – April 15, 2017 at 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Jazz Evensong: Doe Bender & Friends – April 19, 2017 at 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Stone's Throw Productions: The Wolves – April 20, 2017 - April 22, 2017 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Open House at the Gardens of Gethsemani – April 21, 2017 - April 22, 2017 at 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
St. Andrew's Celebrates Earth Day – April 22, 2017 at 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Stronger Together: Bridging the Gaps – April 22, 2017 at 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
The Way of Light: A Journey Through the Story of Easter, with Catherine M. Kelly – April 22, 2017 at 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Ratanak International Emerald Gala – April 22, 2017 at 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
First Nations Cultural Awareness Dinner – April 22, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Good Seed Sunday, delivered by A Rocha – April 23, 2017 at All Day
Godspeed: The Sun Run Service – April 23, 2017 at 8:00 am - 9:00 am
Jazz Vespers: Hot Mammas (Arntzens) – April 23, 2017 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Salvation Army Harbour Light Open House – April 25, 2017 at 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Milleraires Concert for PWRDF – April 25, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Jazz Evensong: Juhli Conlinn & Friends – April 26, 2017 at 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm