After the meeting in November 2010,  I have had to re-think the Gabriel project for Halifax.  After considerable publicity etc, we only had 14 people at the workshop, and only one was new to me.  Other words the others were already related to the project from personal contact.  It would appear the willingness to help a pregnant women is not as prevalent as one would have thought.  Perhaps it was dreaming on my part.  Yet plenty of people will offer cash, clothing and prayers.

There is a fear for direct contact?  Perhaps the project should be restricted to a parish level where there can be a pregnancy mentor program, a listener, a mother, a friend who won’t condemn but help.  This friend would be a listener and confidant, a person of prayer, a person who will be able to direct a pregnant girl, woman to a source of help, life giving help.  The parish could be the back-up for some material needs and prayer.     Parishes and church communities need to be making statements affirming life, and this would be a big step by taking action to protect children in the womb who might otherwise be lost because of the lack of help and support needed at a crucial moment.

herm

It is with wonderment that I sit and consider al the new and beautiful churches that are being built by various religious groups and how our government can so boldly go forth to earmark millions of dollars for new convention centers, ice arenas for a shrinking and aging population.  It makes no sense to me at all, for our greatest asset should be in making families strong and dependable to raise the next generation.  What I see and feel is just the opposite, with the proliferation of pornography in the news, in commercials, and the internet.  It is destroying families like a cancer, it grows day by day and consumes as it goes.  Whatever happened to morality in the news?  Headlines of sexual escapades this summer in detail in the local paper read like a paperback novel.  Please Chronicle Herald spare me the details.

Exciting good news. Project Gabriel first workshop is to be held in the Halifax region (Dartmouth) this November and registration is open to any woman who would like to participate as a Gabriel Angel.  You can contact us at clcns@clcns.com for details and we will see that you are called and enrolled in the workshop.

What is Gabriel you may ask?  It is a mentoring program: A friend walking with a friend, during a pregnant woman’s time of difficult decisions or a stressful pregnancy to obtain all the help they need:  physically, spiritually and emotionally. A comment from a participant, “I felt alone.  It was so good to have a support person to talk to.  I could tell her anything without being judged or told what to do. She helped me find places that could help, but it was always up to me.”  We invite you to visit our short overview at www.clcns.com/gabriel.htm or contact us for more information.  It is an opportunity for pro-life minded people to become involved in a very positive way to assist women in need at a crucial time in their life.  You can be that (Good News) she is anxiously waiting to hear.  She can make a decision without being coerced or cajoled.  Be an angel!

From: ARPA Canada
To: Robert Jason

From my mailbox June 25th, 2010

Sent: Friday, June 25, 2010 2:17 PM
Subject: Something to consider as you go into the summer

Dear Robert Jason

The past two decades should teach us that if Christians want to make a meaningful difference in Canadian society on issues like marriage, family, and the sanctity of life, we have to be proactive. It isn’t enough to hold big rallies or send thousands of letters when our governments or courts are making devastating changes. If we are engaged in public life on an ongoing basis, even when there are no “big” issues before our courts or governments, we are able to promote positive ideas and work toward seeing these ideas implemented. That is what being salt and light is all about.

It is quite clear that the push for the legalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide will only strengthen in Canada in the years to come. We are very grateful that the Reformed church community played an important role in speaking out against Bill C-384 – not just when it came to a vote in Parliament, but also in the entire year prior to that. Because of your ongoing prayers and action, we are turning from cynicism and apathy to proactive engagement.

Action Challenge: As you go into the summer months, consider setting some time aside to think about how you can use your talents and gifts for God’s Kingdom in a way that promotes a proactive engagement with public life. Nobody is excluded from having a role. You don’t have to be “political” to do this. But it does require us to give it some thought and perhaps leave our comfort-zone for a while. For example, if you enjoy helping the elderly you can play an important role in affirming the value of their lives by making visits to a nursing home. If you are part of a young people’s Bible Study you can take the time to introduce your peers to the reasons why people are requesting euthanasia and assisted suicide and what we can do in response (showing the DVD Turning the Tide might be a good way to do this). Regardless of our age, there are many public non-profits, charities, boards, and causes that would be thrilled to benefit from your involvement. For example, a new organization called “Living with Dignity” was recently founded in Quebec to proactively affirm the value of life in that province.

ARPA Canada is also trying to lead by example in this regard. This week we sent in a 12 page submission to the Quebec government’s special committee on “dying with dignity”. You can read our submission here.

The ARPA Action Meter hasn’t been moving up much lately. That is understandable, given that summer is a time to take a step back from some of our regular activities. But keep in mind that two of the options on the meter are “I got involved with a social or political event, organization, or party” and “I did something else, not listed above.” Prayerfully consider how you can fulfill your civic and Christian duty in the public square through the summer and in the months to come.

For the glory of our King,

ARPA Canada

Welcome to thoughts about Family and Life in today’s world.  This is a new venture for me and just in the testing stage.