Not many movies present Africa in a positive light. Missionaries normally don’t fare well either. But Queen of Katwe casts a positive light on both – and it’s showing in Vancouver right now.Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga) was a 10 year old living in the slums of Kampala, Uganda when she met Robert Katende (David Oyelowo), a soccer player turned missionary who teaches children how to play chess. He recognized her aptitude for the game, and under his tutelage she became an excellent player, winning tournaments which allowed her to imagine a way to help her family escape from poverty.
Response to Queen of Katwe has been very positive, with 92 percent of critics and 87 percent of audience members giving it the thumbs up on Rotten Tomatoes. Their Critics Consensus: “Queen of Katwe is a feel-good movie of uncommon smarts and passion, and outstanding performances by Lupita Nyong’o and David Oyelowo help to elevate the film past its cliches.”
Kenneth Morefield wrote about Queen of Katwe for Christianity Today; in part he looked at its treatment of the main characters’ Christian faith:
Any time Hollywood makes movies about Christians, it is inevitable that questions will arise about whether the faith content is played down to make the film more palatable to a mass audience.
Both Mutesi and Katende confirmed that they were satisfied with the way the film depicts their faith. The latter refers to himself as a “relational evangelist” who “does not compromise other people’s faith” or tell them how to act. “I know I can be a blessing,” he says, and he believes he has exercised a greater spiritual influence through service than he might through preaching.
The movie is showing in several local theatres.
Go here to read about the actual characters: Phiona Mutesi, Robert Katende and the SOM Chess Academy.
Worship Central
Tim Hughes will be one of the leaders at the Worship Central Conference.
There are a couple of significant events this Saturday (October 22) – one for the worship life of the church, the other for the protection of our environment.
The Worship Central Conference has some fairly big names again this year – Kim Walker Smith (Jesus Culture), Ben Fielding (Hillsong Australia, ‘Mighty to Save,’ etc) and Worship Central Global executive director Tim Hughes.(also minister of St. Luke’s Gas Street in Birmingham, writer of ‘Here I Am to Worship’ and more).
But there will be many familiar local faces as well, including Darrell Johnson (Carey Theological College / Regent College), Jason Ballard (Alpha Canada), Andrea Yeung (Tenth Church), James Fam (Coastal Church), Vania Levans (Regent College), Eric Damewood (Village Church), Amy Lenny (Central Heights Church), Hendrik Bisschoff (Pneuma), Jon Velasquez (Christian Life Assembly) and Jonathan Mitchell (Chapel Vancouver).
The conference takes place at Westside Church (Centre for the Performing Arts) downtown.
Converge & Catalyze
“Climate change is real.” That’s a reminder from Earthkeepers: Christians for Climate Justice, and they are asking: “How are followers of Jesus supposed to respond to perhaps the single biggest threat facing all of us?”
On Saturday, at Converge & Catalyze (Tenth Church), Earthkeepers say:
We’ll be unveiling a few possibilities. Join us as we unveil our strategic plan for 2016/2017, which will include ways you can get involved so that we all work together towards climate justice. Come meet new people or reconnect with old friends over food, discussion, prayer, and more!
Earthkeepers is “an ecumenical group in Vancouver working out biblical teachings on issues of ecology, love of neighbor, and climate justice.”
Oct 2016
Epiphany Sacred Arts Guild Exhibit: The Way of Beauty – October 14, 2016 - October 23, 2016 at All DayThe Global Leadership Summit – October 20, 2016 - October 21, 2016 at All Day
The Global Leadership Summit – October 20, 2016 - October 21, 2016 at All Day
Faith Day: Behind the Scenes – October 21, 2016 at 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Inaugural lecture by Rev. Dr. Jason Byassee – October 21, 2016 at 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Rise of the New Warriors Revival Meetings – October 21, 2016 - October 23, 2016 at 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
David Asscherick: Why God? – October 21, 2016 at 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Integrate: Sex Trafficking, Justice and the Gospel – October 21, 2016 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Ten Years: A Community Screening – October 21, 2016 at 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Dr. John Baumgardner: The Genesis Flood - Understanding the Earth's Rock Record – October 21, 2016 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Worship Central Conference – October 22, 2016 at 8:00 am - 9:00 pm
Promise Keepers: Legacy Equipping Conference for Men – October 22, 2016 at 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Building Blocks of Faith-Based English Language Ministry – October 22, 2016 at 9:00 am - 3:30 pm
Saint of Calcutta: Mother Teresa Exhibit – October 22, 2016 - October 23, 2016 at 9:30 am - 6:30 pm
Converge & Catalyze: Working Toward Climate Action as People of Faith – October 22, 2016 at 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Dr. John Baumgardner: Language Falsifies Philosophical Naturalism – October 22, 2016 at 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
BC Lions: Faith and Family Night – October 22, 2016 at 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Dr. John Baumgardner: The Vast Geological Transformation of the Earth – October 22, 2016 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Vancouver Private School Expo – October 23, 2016 at 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Jazz Vespers: Sanctuary All Stars (big band) - Bob Liley – October 23, 2016 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Together: City Church Worship and Prayer Gathering – October 23, 2016 at 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Iain Provan: Seriously Dangerous Religion – October 23, 2016 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
BC Student Leadership Conference – October 24, 2016 - October 26, 2016 at All Day
C2C Fall Celebration Banquet – October 24, 2016 at 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Dr. Joseph D'Souza: Dalit Freedom Network 10th Anniversary Dinner – October 24, 2016 at 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Leaders' Series: Dr. Allyson Jule - Performing Gender in the Classroom: What Gender Tells Us About Education – October 25, 2016 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Earth & Spirit Speaker Series: Nigel Haggan – October 26, 2016 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Jazz Evensong: Hip Pocket Trio – October 26, 2016 at 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
The Grand Embrace Retreat. Workshop. Concert with Wm. Paul Young – October 27, 2016 - October 29, 2016 at All Day
Corey Janz Gives Conway Holy Land Presentation – October 27, 2016 at 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
5th Annual Fluevog Shoes and Music Event – October 27, 2016 at 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Sexual Identity hosted by Indoubt:Live – October 27, 2016 at 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Geneva Lectures: Bill DeJong – Restoring Virtue to Protestant Ethics: Why Character Matters as Much as Conscience – October 27, 2016 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
'Living on Shared Territory' Art Show – October 28, 2016 - October 29, 2016 at All Day
Nightshift: 10th Annual Gala of Light – October 28, 2016 at 6:00 pm - 10:30 pm
Fall Family Carnival – October 28, 2016 at 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Chapel North Shore – October 28, 2016 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Chapel Richmond-Delta – October 28, 2016 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Chapel Surrey – October 28, 2016 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Chapel Tri-Cities – October 28, 2016 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Chapel Vancouver – October 28, 2016 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Rosemary Siemens: CD Release – October 28, 2016 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
West My Friend – October 28, 2016 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Y2Y Nite: To Whom Much is Given – October 28, 2016 at 7:15 pm - 9:30 pm
Famine or Feast: Connecting Faith, Food & People in Vancouver & Beyond – October 29, 2016 at 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Paul Stevens & Paul Pearce: Reframing Retirement – October 29, 2016 at 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Mental Health Workshops: Understanding Mental Illness from the Inside – October 29, 2016 at 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
OMF Heart For Asia Conference – October 29, 2016 at 9:30 am - 3:00 pm
Saint of Calcutta: Mother Teresa Exhibit – October 29, 2016 - October 30, 2016 at 9:30 am - 5:30 pm
Stress Management Workshop for Parents – October 29, 2016 at 9:30 am - 11:30 am
Peace Through the Arts Festival – October 29, 2016 at 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
LiveLoud Worship Concert – October 29, 2016 at 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Trace Bundy in Concert – October 29, 2016 at 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Community Hymn Sing-A-Long – October 30, 2016 at 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Mennonite Church BC Symphony of Hymns – October 30, 2016 at 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Jazz Vespers: Siobhan Walsh Group – October 30, 2016 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Physician Assisted Suicide Discussion – October 30, 2016 at 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Challenges to Building Community Within Canadian Diversity – October 30, 2016 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Lecture Tour: Dr. Tom McLeish in BC's Lower Mainland – October 31, 2016 - November 3, 2016 at All Day
Tom McLeish: A Medieval Big Bang Theory – An Interdiciplinary Tale – October 31, 2016 at 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Mr. Darwin's Tree – October 31, 2016 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Nov 2016
JOB FAIR for New Immigrants – November 1, 2016 at 12:00 am - 3:00 pmStory, Stillness and Song, with William Paul Young – November 1, 2016 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Death Cafe – November 1, 2016 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Tom McLeish: Science and Religion Over Two Millennia – A Long History of Shouting? – November 1, 2016 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Christian College & University Fair – November 2, 2016 at 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Vancouver Pastors Prayer Fellowship – November 2, 2016 at 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Business By the Book: Matt Choquette – November 2, 2016 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Jason Lepojarvi: C.S. Lewis's Famous Disagreement with Augustine on Love – November 2, 2016 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Tom McLeish: Investigating the Deep Structure of Modern Science – The Search for Wisdom – November 2, 2016 at 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Tom McLeish: Investigating the Deep Structure of Modern Science – The Search for Wisdom – November 2, 2016 at 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Christian College & University Fair – November 2, 2016 at 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Rosemary Siemens: CD Release Concert – November 2, 2016 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Christian Life & Witness Course (Wednesday evenings) – November 2, 2016 at 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm
CPJ's East Van Talks: Karri Munn-Venn – November 2, 2016 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Jazz Evensong: Dawn Aitken – November 2, 2016 at 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
CPJ: An Evening at A Rocha – November 3, 2016 at All Day
Showtimes for 'I'm Not Ashamed' – November 3, 2016 - November 8, 2016 at All Day
Christian College & University Fair – November 3, 2016 at 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Tom McLeish: Noon Hour Discussion – November 3, 2016 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Celebrating the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation – November 3, 2016 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Making Sense of Anxiety in Children and Youth – November 3, 2016 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Tom McLeish: A Modern Scientist in the Footsteps of Job – November 3, 2016 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Trinity Western University's production of SMASH, a British comedy – November 3, 2016 - November 5, 2016 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
In the Flesh by Paige Louter – November 3, 2016 - November 5, 2016 at 10:00 pm - 11:30 pm
Christian College & University Fair – November 4, 2016 at 8:30 am - 10:30 am
The Compassion Experience – November 4, 2016 - November 7, 2016 at 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
An Honest Conversation About Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) – November 4, 2016 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Cheers to Awareness – November 4, 2016 at 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Eugene Cho & David Ruis – November 4, 2016 at 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Trinity Western University’s Chamber Singers night, “In Every Season” – November 4, 2016 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Discerning Your Call: Praying with the Apostles & Ignatius of Loyola Retreat – November 5, 2016 at 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
SCSBC Leadership Conference – November 5, 2016 at 8:30 am - 3:00 pm
Ken Shigematsu: God in My Everything - Life-Giving Rhythms for Connecting with God Every Day – November 5, 2016 at 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Christian Advocacy Society Dinner Banquet Fundraiser – November 5, 2016 at 6:30 pm - 9:15 pm
Eugene Cho & David Ruis – November 5, 2016 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Hymn Festival: Holy Spirit Breathe On Me – November 5, 2016 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Trinity Western University’s Chamber Singers night, “In Every Season” – November 5, 2016 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Jazz Vespers: Geoff Claridge Quartet – November 6, 2016 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Dr Rita Nakashima Brock: The Invisible Wounds of Trauma and Pathways to Recovery – November 6, 2016 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm