Around Town: The Girl in the Picture, a Stanley Park home, Bruce Cockburn . . .

Her image is iconic, her story dramatic – and she will be in the Vancouver area this weekend to help draw the attention of the local church to the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (Sunday, November 9).

Known internationally as ‘The Girl in the Picture,’ Kim Phuc was photographed running naked down a road, her skin on fire from a napalm bomb, during the Vietnam War. She will describe how she survived the war, converted to Christianity and has become a symbol of victory in the face of persecution. She will tell her story at Surrey Pentecostal Assembly this Sunday (November 9), in the evening.

 

The event is being held in recognition of the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP).

 

Following is a description of the day from the Canadian IDOP site:

 

Today around the world more than 200 million are suffering for their faith in Jesus Christ. Each year, Christians in more than 130 countries stand in prayer with our persecuted sisters and brothers through the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Join with us as Christians across Canada unite for our brothers and sisters who suffer because they declare their faith in Christ.

 

An offering will be received for the Persecuted Church by the organizer, ICR Canada (International Christian Response).

 

 

Who says there are never any good news stories in the media? The Province told the story of one fortunate couple which has found a way to live in Stanley Park.

 

Here is a portion of the article:

David and Normande Waine feel “blessed” to be living at what could arguably be called the most exclusive piece of real estate in Vancouver, if not in all of Canada. It’s a fully detached 1,200-square-foot house on 1,000 acres just steps away from the ocean.

Great water and mountain views and no neighbours, except for the odd coyote or raccoon.

The couple has been living in the cozy decades-old cottage in Stanley Park in exchange for housekeeping duties: Booking public use of the adjacent Brockton Oval sports field, cleaning the field’s washrooms and change rooms, patrolling the grounds at least three times a night, and coolest of all, loading the iconic Nine O’Clock Gun with gunpowder and detonators.

For more than 20 years they have served as the live-in caretakers since taking residence in 1994 after their name came up after sitting for 14 years on a waiting list “as thick as the Bible” for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“We never looked back,” said David. “It’s a privilege to be here.”

“Every day we wake up and we say, ‘Thank you, Lord,’” said Normande. “We’re blessed to be here.”

There aren’t many downsides to living in Stanley Park, though David and Normande pointed out a couple. They sold their Richmond home when the moved to the park, thus missing out on building equity in a hot market, and they have to stay home every night to make sure there is a human presence in the east end of the park.

That doesn’t mean they can’t ever get away though. Every year they take off six weeks to travel to South Africa for missionary work.

The point of the article – apart from making us jealous – was to report that Vancouver will no longer be replacing any park caretakers when they move out. No problem said David: “We can stay here until we pass, and that’s our intention.”

Brian Postlewait, executive director of Mission Possible, said “Enactus really rescued this program,” which had started up three years ago, but languished when it lost an earlier partner.

 

Mission Possible describes itself as “a Christian humanitarian agency that transforms lives by helping those challenged by homelessness and poverty achieve a renewed sense of dignity and purpose through meaningful work.”

 

 

For those who have turned to Bruce Cockburn over the years, for his music and the character which shines through his music, these are the best of times. Not only has he just released a nine-disc box set of his music and a book of memoirs, but he will also be in Vancouver next Monday (November 10).

 

Cockburn will talk with Vancouver Writers Fest artistic director Hal Wake at St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church about Rumours of Glory – “a chronicle of faith, fear and activism that is also a lively cultural and musical tour through the late 20th century.”

 

HarperCollinsCanada, his publisher, has this to say about his book:

 

As an artist with 31 albums, Cockburn has won numerous awards and the devotion of legions of fans across America and his native Canada, where he is a household name. Yet the man himself has remained a mystery. In his memoir, Cockburn invites us into his private world, sharing his Christian convictions, his personal relationships and the social and political activism that has defined him and has both invigorated and incited his fans.

 

 

Well actually to Langley, though there will be a spillover worship night in Vancouver. The 36th annual Covenant Awards will take place at Christian Life Assembly next Thursday (November 13). The Covenant Awards feature performances from nominees and the presentation of several awards of distinction. Shane and Angela Wiebe (The Wiebes, based in Abbotsford) will host the evening.

 

Among this year’s Covenant Awards performers are Jon Neufeld Music, Amanda Cook, The Royal Foundry, Brian Doerksen, Dan Bremnes, Coalmont, The SHIYR Poets, Drew Brown, Love & the Outcome, Revolution Worship, Sebastian Demrey and Ryan McAllister.

 

An Artist Summit will be held during the day before the awards ceremony (November 12), also at Christian Life Assembly. Regent College prof John Stackhouse and award-winning singer/songwriter Carolyn Arends will lead “a provocative exploration of the intersection between faith and art.” 

 

A Night of Worship will take place at Coastal Church in Vancouver on the 12th, with Amanda Cook (Bethel), Jon Neufeld (Starfield) and Dan Bremnes at Coastal Church in Vancouver. The event is free and open to everyone.

 

 

The president of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada has written a good response to the very unfortunate October 31 decision by the Law Society of BC – based on a province-wide vote by BC lawyers – to reverse its earlier decision to accept graduates of Trinity Western University’s proposed law school.

 

Here is a selection from Bruce Clemenger’s comment:

At the heart of the issue is TWU’s community covenant which students and staff sign. Among other things, it prohibits sexual intimacy outside of heterosexual marriage. The Supreme Court of Canada had previously ruled that the covenant should not hinder the recognition of TWU’s teacher’s college. The covenant is not contrary to human rights law in BC.

The issue is not whether the education will meet provincial standards; TWU has a proven record of academic excellence. . . . Rather, the issue is that TWU is a Christian community that seeks to maintain a Christian code of conduct among its members. Some find the standards offensive and presume that holding to a Christian code of conduct should disqualify TWU from having a law school, or individuals graduating from the proposed law school from practicing law.

The issue is about beliefs, not abilities. It is the faith orientation, not the academic qualifications, that is being challenged. It is the ability of a Christian community to define its standards and to practise its faith that is being undermined.

Evangelicals are significant contributors to the public good. In a truly pluralist society there will be disagreement about many matters, including matters of sexual ethics. But in a free and democratic society these differences make up the mosaic of Canada. It is no accident that religious freedom is the first freedom identified in the Charter. It is the bellwether for all other freedoms.

Check here for updates on the proposed Trinity Western School of Law.

 

 

“Don’t miss the opportunity to experience some of the greatest preaching and teaching of our day. Participate in an exciting mix of sermons, seminars, lectures and other events led by our keynote speakers, and other well-known professors of preaching and clergy from across North America.”

 

So said Yorkminster Park Baptist’s invitation to the Lester Randall Preaching Fellowship in 2014, held October 26 – 28 in Toronto. Rev Dr. Barbara Mutch was one of four keynote leaders, along with Rev. Dr. Walter Brueggemann, Rev. Dr. Danielle Ayana James and His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins, Archbishop of Toronto.

 

Barbara Mutch is Charles Bentall Professor of Pastoral Studies and director of the Doctor of Ministry Program at Carey Theological College. She has also been the academic dean of the college for 10 years. For comments from other members of Carey faculty on her preaching, go here.

 

Nov 2014

Canadian Mennonite Health Assembly 2014 – November 2, 2014 - November 4, 2014 at All Day
Christian Legal Fellowship National Conference – November 3, 2014 - November 5, 2014 at All Day
Reading the Bible for All Its Worth (Taught in Cantonese) – November 3, 2014 at 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
St. James and Oculus Choirs: All Souls Day High Mass – November 3, 2014 at 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Christian Advocacy Society of Greater Vancouver Autumn Dessert Banquet 2014: Andrea Mrozek & Carolyn Arends – November 3, 2014 at 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Experience Regent – November 4, 2014 at 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
C2C Fall Cadre: Ray Bakke – November 5, 2014 at 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Vancouver Pastors Prayer Fellowship – November 5, 2014 at 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Israel . . . The Jews . . . Why Should I Care? – November 5, 2014 at 12:15 pm - 3:30 pm
Images of Rwanda - Vancouver – November 5, 2014 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
After the Asylum: Legacies of Community Mental Health – November 6, 2014 - November 8, 2014 at All Day
Don't Lose Hope: Moral Formation and Ethical Decision-Making in a Fragmented Culture – November 6, 2014 at 9:00 am - 3:30 pm
The Regent World Redux: Freedom in the Busy: Celebrating Sabbath in a World That Never Stops – November 6, 2014 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Tools for Neighbourhood and City Transformation – November 6, 2014 at 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
John Stackhouse: Is the Bible Sexist? – November 6, 2014 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Sharing Our Stories: The Gift of Poetry – Featuring Robert Martens and Pat Christie (Dene) – November 6, 2014 at 7:00 pm - 8:45 pm
Biblical Basis for Creation Care – November 6, 2014 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
A Hard Act to Follow with Walter Mustapich and Jim Crescenzo – November 7, 2014 at 7:30 am - 8:30 am
Vision Sharing: Cross Cultural Adoption and Identity – November 7, 2014 at 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Poverty Revolution Boot Camp – November 7, 2014 - November 8, 2014 at 6:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Chapel North Shore – November 7, 2014 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Chapel Tri-Cities – November 7, 2014 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Chapel Vancouver – November 7, 2014 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Friday Night Talks: Jeff Adams - Rediscovering the Classical Virtues With C.S. Lewis – November 7, 2014 at 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
MVA Leadership Institute – November 7, 2014 - November 8, 2014 at 7:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Building Blocks of Faith-Based ESL Ministry – November 8, 2014 at 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Peace Thru the Arts: All My Relations Festival – November 8, 2014 at 10:30 am - 8:30 pm
Zambia 2014: Abbotsford Male Chorus Benefit Concert – November 8, 2014 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Creation Care: An Integral Part of Missions? – November 8, 2014 at 7:15 pm - 9:30 pm
International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church – November 9, 2014 at All Day
Jazz Vespers: Amanda Wood – November 9, 2014 at 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
IDOP Day Service: Kim Phuc, 'The Girl in the Picture' from the Vietnam War – November 9, 2014 at 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Crowder's Neon Steeple Tour – November 9, 2014 at 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm