Around Town: Case for Christ, Honour Drum, MVA, Festival reflections . . .

Surrey-based film critic Peter Chattaway does an amazing job keeping up with the movies in his FilmChat blog, and he has just posted an exclusive interview with The Case for Christ author Lee Strobel “on facts and feelings, and seeing your life turned into a movie.”

The movie – same name as the book – opens at several local theatres this Friday (April 7).

Here’s how the interview starts out:

They often say that people can’t be argued into the faith, but based on the film and my memories of reading your book many years ago, it seems that you kind of were. Is that fair to say, that you were argued into the faith?

Lee Strobel: I think what the evidence did was give me a rational basis for believing, and I think it sort of knocked down the barriers I had between me and God. In other words, I don’t feel like I was argued into the faith, but I feel like the evidence knocked down a succession of objections and issues and questions and doubts that I had, that sort of cleared the pathway for me to come to the faith.

Okay. So simply demonstrating that the evidence points towards the Resurrection, that itself wouldn’t make somebody a Christian, then.

Strobel: No, I think we can be in intellectual agreement with the faith and subscribe to the apologetic evidence and even recite the Apostles’ Creed, but John 1:12 says that as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in his name. So I think there’s a faith formula in that verse: believe plus receive equals become.

So I think believing’s important, having intellectual agreement with Christian doctrine is important, but there has to be a time when we receive God’s gift of grace – not that we’ve earned it or merit it or deserve it – but receive this free gift of forgiveness and eternal life that Jesus purchased on the cross for us. I think the evidence can get us to the point of being in intellectual agreement, but ultimately, coming to faith and being as the Bible refers to it born again requires receiving this gift of grace.

“I always had a sense that I was not participating enough in the discussion of First Nations issues,” says Tim Huff, best-selling author and Youth Unlimited Toronto youth worker.

“As a white guy who spent my adult life involved in social justice issues, when the Truth and Reconciliation Commission started to establish in Canada, I began to ask myself ‘Okay, Tim, how are you going to step up here?’”

It was that initial tug that brought longtime friends Tim Huff and Cheryl Bear – award-winning singer, songwriter, storyteller and Indigenous advocate – together in an exceptional book-writing partnership, birthing The Honour Drum: Sharing the Beauty of Canada’s Indigenous People with Children, Families and Classrooms.

Not a regular kid’s book, this uniquely crafted tool was created to reach children, families and classrooms across Canada with a message of great beauty and truth. On each page is a discussion with dynamic curriculum that teaches empathy and introduces youth to this challenging part of our nation’s history.

“This book is almost like a call to action to sit up, pay attention and to begin a new relationship, (which) has to be done with mutual respect,” said Bear in an interview with the Toronto Star.

Huff is the creator of the Compassion Series, which offers books in a similar teaching pattern. His first book in the series is the best-seller, The Cardboard Shack Beneath the Bridge: Helping Children Understand Homelessness.

Bear is from the Dumdenyoo (Bear) Clan of the Nadleh Whut’en First Nations in northern BC, and holds a doctorate from the King’s University. She has won three Indigenous People’s Choice awards, two Covenant Awards and a Native American Music Award.

Both writers will speak and Bear will perform at the book launch. Admission is free, but tickets are required. 

Hundreds of delegates from faith, union, community and educational groups took part in MVA’s Provincial Election Accountability Assembly.

There were a lot of people, and a lot of things going on, at the Metro Vancouver Alliance Provincial Election Accountability Assembly – Tuesday evening (April 4) at the Italian Cultural Centre.

All three provincial leaders were invited to the MVA’s Provincial Election Accountability Assembly. Only two came.

1. All were invited; two came

Metro Vancouver Alliance focused on four main areas: transit, poverty, housing and health care.

2. A novel experience; politicians listening

Celebrate the Festival looked back – but also forward to Voices Together – at Glad Tidings Church April 1.

A crowd gathered at Glad Tidings Church April 1 to Celebrate the Festival. The event was “a time of thanksgiving for the Festival of Hope [March 3 – 5],” featuring worship, testimonies and other highlights from the Festival.

Giulio Gabeli, executive leader of the Festival (pictured, right), described the Festival in an article in the current issue of The Light magazine as “a defining moment,” saying:

Now consider the practical impact of this event in our city; 34,400 people came to Rogers Arena, 2,774 decisions were made for Christ as a result of this initiative. [Apparently, 65,000 watched online.]

As well, take into account the long-term impact of many coming to Christ as a result of these individuals in the future. When you consider the marriages, the families and the homes that will experience a change because of the light of the Gospel coming into their world resulting in changed lives; this compound effect alone is immeasurable.

Consider the impact of 3,000 believers that took the Christian Life and Witness Classes in preparation for the Festival of Hope who have been inspired to be a bolder witness for Christ; their faithfulness and commitment to the local churches have been strengthened and this will contribute significantly to the very life of the church continuing to bring in the harvest of souls and much more…