Around Town: Lost souls, REconneXion, KAIROS: Fracking, Entrepreneurs . . .

Jamie Taylor (James Hudson Taylor IV) was in town last weekend to help OMF Canada celebrate the 150th anniversary of James Hudson Taylor calling out to God on Brighton Beach for workers to help him take the gospel to the unreached inland provinces of China.

I was only able to catch his final talk at Evangelical Chinese Bible Church, but I was impressed with his recapitulation of the life and significance for our generation of his famous great-great grandfather, missionary James Hudson Taylor.

Most striking was Taylor’s plea for a reclamation of Hudson Taylor’s passion for lost souls. He pointed out that Hudson Taylor couldn’t stand being part of a group of a thousand Christians “thanking God for their eternal salvation” when there were 250 million Chinese who didn’t know the gospel, who were passing hour by hour “into a Christless eternity.”

Jamie Taylor stated: “The church in the 21st century desperately needs to reclaim this passion. Jesus is not a way, a truth and a life; Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life.”

‘Passion’ was the first of five ‘P’s. He added:

* Prayer: Quoting Hudson Taylor: “The only way to enter [the province of] Hunan is upon your knees.”

* Pioneers: Again quoting Hudson Taylor: “It wasn’t God intention that there be one more Christian and one less Chinese.” His followers went without much theological training, but they were committed to dressing and living in the same manner as the Chinese people – a revolutionary concept at the time.

* Partnership: Jamie Taylor said, “There is too much partisanship in the church today, and not enough partnership.” The China Inland Mission was “undenominational.”

* Preeminence of Jesus Christ: Hudson Taylor famously said (though it was not necessarily his quote initially): “If Jesus Christ is not Lord of all He is not Lord at all.”

Evangelism training: REconneXion

Starting November 3, and running throughout November, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association of Canada (BGEAC) will be offering seven REconneXion seminars throughout the Metro Vancouver area.

Presenters David Macfarlane and Derrick Mueller of BGEAC say participants will learn to:

• Be creative in influencing your community with the Gospel
• Use a variety of idea-gathering techniques and tools
• Help focus your church on our mission of evangelism
• Develop an outward-focused church environment
• Influence others through mentoring
• Use a Community Outreach Kit (distributed to all seminar participants)
• Influence through effective teams
• Transform your ministry into a major influence

The REconneXion seminars will take place at Calvary Worship Centre in Surrey November 3; Hillside Baptist Church in North Vancouver November 4; Maple Ridge Community Church November 5; HillCity Church in Abbotsford November 6; Broadway Church in Vancouver November 18; Evangelical Chinese Bible Church in Burnaby November 19; and Southgate Church in Langley November 20.

KAIROS: Forum on Fracking

KAIROS Canada will sponsor a Forum on Fracking this weekend that will take place simultaneously in Vancouver and Moncton. It will take place Friday evening (October 30) and Saturday at the Unitarian Church at Oak and 49th. KAIROS is made up of 11 Christian denominations and organizations that “work together in faithful action for ecological justice and human rights.”

Following is a description of the background and purpose of the event:

Over the past two years KAIROS has investigated the ecological and Indigenous rights issues raised by hydraulic fracturing (or fracking), the practice of injecting water, sand and chemicals deep underground at high pressure to fracture rocks containing natural gas or oil.

The goal of the forum is to raise the profile of the social, ecological and human rights concerns of Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities across Canada and to facilitate action regionally and nationally.

Fracking activities have led to problems with respect to water consumption, air and water contamination, greenhouse gas emissions and induced seismic activity. . . .

Indigenous peoples in BC have resisted the expansion of shale gas fracking projects and pipelines across their territories even though the industry is already established in parts of the province. The Unist’ot’en people are maintaining a camp to prevent surveyors for the Pacific Trails gas pipeline from entering their unceded territory.

The keynote speaker will be Caleb Behn, Indigenous lawyer, Treaty 8 Territory, northern BC. There will also be a preview of A Culture of Life, the new KAIROS video on ‘free, prior and informed consent.’ Other speakers include Grand Chief Stewart Phillip; Toghestiy, Hereditary Chief, Likhts’amisyu; and Jennifer Henry, executive director of KAIROS Canada.

Entrepreneurial Leaders Conference

Lord Robert Edmiston will be the keynote speaker at this year’s Entrepreneurial Leaders Conference, November 4 at the Pan Pacific Hotel. He will discuss My Faith and Entrepreneurial Journey in his evening address.

He will also be presented with the ELO Entrepreneurial Leaders Award. The purpose of the award is to honour a person who “exemplifies the qualities of entrepreneurial leadership that are embedded in a Christian worldview [and] has international stature with significant influence.”

Here is part of Lord Edmiston’s story:

Born in India in 1946, Lord Edmiston, the son of a war-time fighter pilot, came to the UK at the age of three and subsequently spent, from the age of 10, five years in Kenya before returning to the UK in 1962 where he has remained to this day. He started his career as a bank clerk. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. Today he owns a number of companies in the property, motor and finance sectors with a combined turnover of approximately £500 million. . . .

In 1988, [he and his wife Tracie] founded CV, an international charity with offices in 22 countries working to support the Christian church in the areas of evangelism and discipleship in both the online and offline space. In the UK, Lord and Lady Edmiston have sponsored, and are governors, of three schools, called Grace Academy with around 3,000 students aged between 11 and 18 years.

Go here for more detail.

The day-long event will include presentations from several other entrepreneurs. For example, Peter G. Hall, chief economist, Export Development Corp., Ottawa, will discuss ‘What Every Christian Entrepreneur Needs to Know About the Economy’ and Timo Plutschinski, from Hamburg, Germany, will offer ‘Lessons from Christian Entrepreneurs in a Post-Christian Europe.’ Go here for the full agenda.

Business By the Book: John Fluevog

If you can’t make it to the Entrepreneurial Leaders Conference, you could still hear from an impressive local businessman with a very creative spirit.

John Fluevog will be this month’s speaker at Business By the Book, also on November 4.

From the organizers:

John Fluevog is an independent designer and retailer of forward-thinking footwear and accessories. Since 1970 he has been steadfast in creating unique soles for unique souls that have been seen everywhere from the feet of Madonna and Jack White to the runways of high fashion. Speaking of runways, Fluevogs are now the official uniform shoe of flight attendants on Air Canada rouge, the world’s fastest growing airline.

John was recently recognized as The Canadian Footwear Industry’s Shoe Person of the Year (but it hasn’t gone to his head). John Fluevog Shoes was also recently named one of the world’s most innovative fashion companies by creative business experts Fast Company.

Sep 2015

Speaking My Mind Toastmasters Club – September 28, 2015 - December 14, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Oct 2015

The Illustrated Alice: Celebrating 150 Years of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – October 29, 2015 - October 31, 2015 at All Day
Joel Thiessen: The Meaning of Sunday: The Practice of Belief in a Secular Age – October 29, 2015 at 9:00 am - 10:30 am
Janet Epp Buckingham: Magna Carta, Rule of Law and Religious Freedom – October 29, 2015 at 1:10 pm - 2:30 pm
Creatures of God: Human Nature and Evolution for Evangelicals and Catholics (part one) – October 29, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Keep Anglicans Talking – October 29, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Panel Discussion: How should Canadians Respond to the Problem of Religious Freedom in Iraq and Syria? – October 29, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Smoke on the Mountain by Alan Bailey and Connie Ray – October 29, 2015 - November 1, 2015 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
KAIROS Canada: Forum on Fracking – October 30, 2015 - October 31, 2015 at 6:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Hallelujah Night – October 30, 2015 at 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Chapel North Shore – October 30, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Chapel Tri-Cities – October 30, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Chapel Vancouver – October 30, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Creatures of God: Human Nature and Evolution for Evangelicals and Catholics (part two) – October 30, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Ignite Worship! – October 30, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Soulkitchen Fundraising Dinner – October 30, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Rod's Roots and Rock Gospel Jam – October 30, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Growing In Faith Through Worship: Celebrating and Nurturing Differing Abilities in the Church (Part I) – October 31, 2015 at 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Dramatic Reading: The Man Born to be King (Dorothy L. Sayers) – October 31, 2015 at 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
'Red-Black-Yellow' Gospel Night (Cantonese) – October 31, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Nov 2015

Tass Saada: Once an Arafat Man – November 1, 2015 at 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
The Refugee Crisis: Ways to Respond – November 1, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
David Collins: Digging Deeper (Mondays) – November 2, 2015 at 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
REconneXion – November 3, 2015 at 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
The Inklings Institute: Owen Barfield on Idolatry – November 3, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Jazz Evensong: Holly Burke – November 3, 2015 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Leon Bridges in Concert – November 3, 2015 at 8:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Entrepreneurial Leaders Conference 2015 – November 4, 2015 at All Day
REconneXion – November 4, 2015 at 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Vancouver Pastors Prayer Fellowship – November 4, 2015 at 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Business By the Book: John Fluevog – November 4, 2015 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Iranian Ministry Conference – November 5, 2015 - November 7, 2015 at All Day
The Diary of Anne Frank – November 5, 2015 - November 7, 2015 at All Day
REconneXion – November 5, 2015 at 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Fireside Apologetics: Do All Religions Lead to God? – November 5, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Pius XII and the Jews: Problems of Memory and Moral Judgment in History – November 5, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
REconneXion – November 6, 2015 at 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Rob Des Cotes: An Introduction to the Theology and Practice of Contemplative Prayer – November 6, 2015 at 9:15 am - 3:30 pm
Perogy Night in Vancouver – November 6, 2015 at 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Audible: An Evening with Regent's Artists – November 6, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Greg Drummond – November 6, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Songs of Hope: Fundraiser to Sponsor a Refugee Family – November 6, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm
The Canadian MK Network presents: Stories Redeemed Conference – November 6, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Leadership Breakfast with Rev. Darrell Johnson: The Heart of Leadership – November 7, 2015 at 7:30 am - 9:30 am
Educator's Conference: Up, Up & Away – November 7, 2015 at 8:00 am - 4:15 pm
SCSBC Leadership Conference: Christianity in the Crosshairs – November 7, 2015 at 8:30 am - 3:00 pm
Darrell Johnson: Making 'Some' Sense of Suffering – November 7, 2015 at 9:30 am - 2:30 pm
Hummingbird Ministries: Peace Through the Arts / Dance Festival – November 7, 2015 at 11:30 am - 8:00 pm
Delight: A weekend of concerts by the SAMC Chamber Singers – November 7, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Hymn Festival: This is My Father's World – November 7, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Music at Queen's: Bridge Musicians International – November 7, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
True North Troubadours – November 7, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
IDOP Sunday: International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church – November 8, 2015 at All Day
Mozart Requiem – November 8, 2015 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Apostolic Weekend: Special Guest John Alley – November 8, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Public Lecture Series: Competing Paradigms: Christianity and Naturalism – Evidence for a Resurrection – November 10, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Hans Boersma: Harmonious Reading: Early Christian Interpretation of the Psalms – November 10, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Jazz Evensong: Andrea Menard – November 11, 2015 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Dan Law: Visions from the Slash - Sculptural Meditations on Heaven & Hell – November 12, 2015 - November 19, 2015 at All Day
Eyes & Wings Prophetic Conference 2015 – November 12, 2015 - November 15, 2015 at All Day
African Children's Choir – November 12, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
JustWork: A Taste of Dignity – November 12, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
SPARK Pre-Teen Conference – November 13, 2015 - November 14, 2015 at All Day
City in Focus: Women Lead – November 13, 2015 at 7:00 am - 8:30 am
African Children's Choir – November 13, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Chelsea Amber – November 13, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Dialogos Ensemble: Swithun - A Medieval Miracle Play – November 13, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Youth Unlimited Presents: This is My Story – November 13, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 11:30 pm
Vancouver Chamber Choir: New Wave - The Latest in Choral Music – November 13, 2015 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
'War and Peace and the Struggle for Shalom' Symposium and Brian Doerksen Concert – November 14, 2015 at 9:00 am - 9:30 pm
Come Away & Rest Awhile: Sabbath-Keeping & Self-Care Retreat – November 14, 2015 at 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Keystone with Preston Pouteaux – November 14, 2015 at 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Pre-Law Student Conference Sponsored by CLF and TWU – November 14, 2015 at 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Ten Thousand Villages Fair Trade Christmas Market – November 14, 2015 at 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
VST's Official Grand Opening Ceremony – November 14, 2015 at 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Spotlight on Taiwan – November 14, 2015 at 10:30 am - 1:00 pm
Wills & Estate Workshop (FREE!) – November 14, 2015 at 10:30 am - 3:00 pm
The Stork and the Sparrow Book Launch – November 14, 2015 at 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Journey Canada Annual Fundraiser – November 14, 2015 at 6:45 pm - 9:30 pm
Chantele Delaine: 5 & 2 Benefit Concert – November 14, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Book Launch for 'Thomas Merton and the Noonday Demon' – November 15, 2015 at 12:00 am
Restorative Justice Week 2015 – November 15, 2015 - November 22, 2015 at All Day
Songs for Syria Benefit Concert – November 15, 2015 at 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Stile Moderno Baroque Camber Ensemble Extravaganza – November 15, 2015 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
African Children's Choir – November 15, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Speaker from Jerusalem: Christian Friends of Yad Vashem – November 15, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Samaritan's Purse National Collection Week – November 16, 2015 - November 22, 2015 at All Day
Forum on Climate Change: Causes, Impacts & Prospects – November 16, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Future Prospects for Higher Education: Key Drivers of Sustainability – November 17, 2015 at 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Family Sing-along Concert – November 17, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Public Lecture Series: Competing Paradigms: Christianity and Naturalism – Persons: Identify & Re-identify – November 17, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Archie Spencer Book Launch: The Analogy of Faith – November 17, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Preaching Workshop with Darrell Johnson – November 18, 2015 at 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
REconneXion – November 18, 2015 at 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Christmas Shopping and Fireside Chats – November 18, 2015 - November 20, 2015 at 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm
REconneXion – November 19, 2015 at 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Climate Conversations – November 19, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Amish Project by Jessica Dickey – November 19, 2015 - November 21, 2015 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Al Massira Training Event – November 20, 2015 - November 21, 2015 at All Day
Worship Central Conference: Tim Hughes, Christy Nockels and more – November 20, 2015 - November 21, 2015 at All Day