To be notified about future networking events, please send an e-mail to events@concernedchristians.ca indicating you would like to be added to events newsletter.  We will keep you updated as new announcements are made.

On Monday, January 11 at 7:00 pm Concerned Christians Canada will hold its all new CCC Connecting in Business Event in Calgary. We are sending the word out about this event as there are many in Calgary who are looking to connect; to increase business, to find employees or to find work.

Today there are many doom sayers who would claim that the economy is demolished and that we can do nothing about it. Well, our Connecting in Business Events are designed to help you obtain a new outlook. The event will start and end with group prayer and we will also have a dedicated time of one-on-one prayer where individuals will pray specifically for one another's needs and goals and encourage each other.

A primary purpose of these events is to connect the body of Christ throughout the business community, to bring Christ centred unity and to build a network of individuals focused on helping each other to further the kingdom and to ensure that none are in need among us.

Acts 2:44-47 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; (45) And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. (46) And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, (47) Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

The event schedule is as follows:

- open in prayer (10 minutes)

- CCC Introduction (20 minutes)

- individual introductions - take 30 seconds to briefly introduce yourself, to name a couple of desired outcomes from attending the event, to indicate a desired key contact (industry contact) lead, to indicate if you are a business owner or a person looking for work

- directed networking - working through a set of objective based questions, together, in order to build business, increase contacts and encourage fellowship (business card swap)

- expert brain share session - a question and answer time where individuals in the room get to ask brief questions and experts in the room provide answers

- group feedback - opportunity for the group to present ideas for group advertising and for the leveraging of group talents

- one-on-one prayer time (10 minutes)

- end in prayer (10 minutes)

Contributing to the Kingdom

We are asking any attendees, who are interested in the less fortunate, to bring some extra money, from five dollars, to as much as you are willing to give. We are in the process of helping many who are in need, with food and necessities of life, and your contribution is both desired and needed in order to continue this important work.

We are serving widows, orphans, divorcees, children, immigrants and refugees, disconnected families who have no support network but who need prayer, resources and financial support, and are providing couples ministry support for marriages in crisis. We are praying that God will expand our efforts, allowing us to have a broader reach in serving and blessing, and in demonstrating the love of Christ, while at the same time spreading the gospel of the Kingdom.

If you cannot attend the event, please consider contributing to CCC. Many Christian organizations have stopped preaching the gospel and have become social service agencies. Some Christians are saying, "actions speak louder than words" we say "displaying the love and righteousness of Christ adds credibility to us as we share the gospel". Please consider blessing our helps ministry in some way, either with your time, resources or finances.

If you have unwanted furniture, beds, pots and pans, kitchenware, clothes, entertainment equipment, vehicles, computer equipment, desks, chairs, appliances, small appliances, cleaning supplies or anything else, in good condition, that a person would need when starting a life in an apartment or house, we would really appreciate receiving them. Some of the people we are serving have been abandoned and are in forced move scenarios, and these items are a God send for these individuals.

CCC now has a storehouse which we are using to sort and redistribute goods to people as we bring them God's love and message of redemption.

For those interested in contributing financially, you may do so quickly and easily through our website. Just look for the "Contribute to CCC" area located on the left hand side of the site to quickly and easily contribute any amount you feel led to give.

Here's what to look for on our site:

Let us know you are coming

Please RSVP for our upcoming CCC Connecting in Business Event right away so we know how many people to expect at the event.  Beverages and cold plates will be provided and it is our sincere desire to make sure that there is enough for everyone.

Who: Business owners, sales reps, employers seeking employees, employees seeking work opportunities or lead building

What: CCC Connecting in Business Event

When: 7:00-8:30pm January 11, 2010

Where:

Kustom Design Business Centre
221 18th Street SE
Calgary, AB

Cost: $10 per person

If you have any questions please contact me directly at 403-690-4636 and leave a message if we are not able to receive your call.  We will return your call right away if we are not able to receive your call directly.

RSVP by phone at 403-690-4636 or via e-mail to events@concernedchristians.ca.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

- December 7, 2009 -

Judge Rules Calgary Preacher Acted in Good Faith

Calgary Bylaws Ruled Unconstitutional

For years, Street Church Ministries has been fighting to have its rights restored. In 2005 and 2006 the ministry applied for, and received, permits to hold church services in Triangle Park. In 2007, the ministry had its permit revoked, allegedly due to noise concerns. The ministry repeatedly claimed that it had never once received a single ticket for exceeding acceptable noise levels. The ministry also repeatedly pointed to written statements by attending officers that, they had “found the ministry to be in compliance with the issued park permits”. Today's ruling by Judge A. A. Fradsham has vindicated the ministries claims to innocence.

Judge Fradsham stated, “While finding that the acused acted in good faith, I am concerned by the actions of certain City officials.” He further wrote that “the City's attempts, through Bylaw Officers and police officers to limit the scope of the efforts by the accused to minister to his congregants, fall precariously close to being excessive and, to any reasonable observer, an abuse of power.”

In reference to the City Bylaws that were deemed of no force or effect and unconstitutional, Judge Fradsham found that some of the bylaws were “impermissibly overboard or vague”. The judge further found that these bylaws “infringed the accused's right of freedom of religion”. He also found that the bylaws “infringed the accused's right of freedom of expression”.

“There are at least eight violations of my Constitutional rights and 2 Bylaws and one provincial law declared to be of no force or effect because of those violations. Hopefully our city officials will take note of this outcome and perhaps this will mean that the City will deal with us differently in the future”, stated Artur Pawlowski of Street Church Ministries.

Judge Fradsham finished his 91 page decision summary with this statement, “Does the evidence support a finding of abusive conduct by City of Calgary Bylaw Officers or Police Officers?” The answer? “Yes...”

After years of battling with the City of Calgary to have their rights restored, Street Church Ministries is greatful to have received such a landmark decision and victory for freedom of religion, and freedom of expression.

“We fought and we won. Today, when I heard the words of the Judge, 'I find the accused not guilty of all charges', I thought of all the countless conversations I had with so many different people, telling them the stories of the City's abuse of power, and now we have the courts telling us that we were right from the very beginning. This is truly amazing and a great blessing. This is not only our victory, today's ruling is a victory for all Canadians. Democracy is something that we should all cherish and hold dear. For these rights, our forefathers bled and died all around the world. Now as their successors, we have a responsibility to continue to stand for those rights, since that is what made our country glorious and free. In this growing recession, with so many hurting people, let's join our efforts together to help and save as many Calgarians as possible, and please, let's stop wasting tax payers money on these kinds of battles”, proclaimed Pawlowski.

The ministry is inviting all interested parties to join them in a victory champagne (sparkling apple juice) celebration at the steps of City Hall this Wednesday at noon. For more information, please contact Street Church at 403-607-4434.

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November 24, 2009

Calgary Police Officer Charged

Pastor delivers message of forgiveness

Artur Pawlowski Pastor of Street Church Ministries was found innocent of seven criminal charges levied against him in 2006, including “obstruct in public place, petty trespass act, obstruct, omit to assist a public/peace officer, causing a disturbance, loiter, and resist”, relating to the reading of a Bible in a public park. But the story continues. Pawlowski recently received a subpoena to appear at the arresting constable's disciplinary hearing for four days starting on November 30, 2009. Mr. Pawlowski has been asked to appear at the hearing to give evidence relating to the police department's findings of misconduct on the part of the officer during the 2006 arrest.

One would understand a person, who had undergone such a threatening and intimidating experience, to be angry and bitter, what is surprising is that Mr. Pawlowski is not. In a recently released statement, posted on the Street Church website (www.streetchurch.ca), which Pawlowski indicates he will read to the parties present at the upcoming hearing, he comes out with some impressive and striking remarks of forgiveness and co-operation.

“I am grateful for this opportunity to look into this man's face, look into his eyes, and from the bottom of my heart and say, 'you are not only forgiven now, but I forgave you in that police car when you arrested me'. There are always consequences for our actions, but I wish that we all could put this unfortunate incident behind us. I am not after this constable's job, everyone does wrong at one point or another, we are just human beings, and we all make mistakes. My only desire today is that we all would learn from these kinds of difficult situations and come out edified and better for it, making sure that similar incidents will not happen again,” stated Pawlowski.

What's even more surprising is that after four years of heavy pressure and up to 30 officers and 11 emergency vehicles, at a single Street Church event, and more than 80 summons and tickets, and over 30 court appearances, Pawlowski's message is seemingly unwavering; love, forgiveness, and mercy. He hasn't backed down from his convictions, oh no, in fact, he stands firm for them, yet at the same time he demonstrates many qualities desperately lacking in our society.

“In the end what I want all of us to remember, is not the officer's clearly wrong actions, but that there is power in forgiveness, and power in love. That is what should motivate us to move forward,” concluded Pawlowski.

The full content of the statement that Mr. Pawlowski will read at the hearing can be read at http://tinyurl.com/message-of-forgiveness.

To watch the video from the arrest, visit http://tinyurl.com/arrest-video.

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