You know, sometimes at Christmas time, you know we have a wonderful and glorious time but actually also for many of us at Christmas time it can be a reminder of the lament of the world, perhaps the wars or you know, violence. The violent things that are happening in the world cause us to lament or perhaps we just remember the losses, you know, another year is rolling around and we see who isn't there at the Christmas table. We're grieving over the death of loved ones and Mary's Song of Hope, the Magnificat focuses us on who Jesus is, what He has come to do, that He will set all things right in the end. And I just think that is such a beautiful reminder. At Christmas if we're in a season of lament, if we're feeling hopeless about the state of the world, Jesus is the One who will bring the oppressor down from their throne.
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Listen to international Christian author Dr. Amy Orr-Ewing being interviewed by veteran journalist Lorna Dueck. They discuss Amy's new book, Mary's Voice: Advent Reflections to Contemplate the Coming of Christ as we prepare our hearts for Christmas - to connect with the Lord and His Word and celebrate Jesus in a deep and meaningful way. Mary's Voice guides the reader through each day of Advent from Mary's point of view, exploring who she knew Christ to be and includes passages from the Gospel of Luke, prayers and art pieces to engage readers' hearts, minds and senses.

Dr. Amy Orr-Ewing is an international author, speaker and theologian who addresses the deep questions people have about the Christian Faith. She is the author of multiple books including ‘Where is God in All the Suffering?’ and bestselling, ‘Why Trust the Bible?’

Over the last twenty years, Amy has given talks and answered questions on the Bible for university students, Parliamentarians, business leaders, churches, conferences and many more. Amy enjoys broadcasting and working with the media and giving public lectures. A mother of three sons, Amy is kept busy engaging their lives while wrestling out the Christian faith for tomorrow’s leaders.

Amy is interested in the intersection of meaning and faith within the marketplace, education and policymaking. Amy holds a doctorate in Theology from the University of Oxford. But this year, Amy is tackling the season of Advent with new eyes for a new generation of those looking for Holy Wonder in the Christmas season.

• Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca
• Help people hear God speak: biblesociety.ca/donate
• Connect with us on Instagram: @canadianbiblesociety
• The Bible Course: biblecourse.ca

Listen to international Christian author Dr. Amy Orr-Ewing being interviewed by veteran journalist Lorna Dueck. They discuss Amy's new book, Mary's Voice: Advent Reflections to Contemplate the Coming of Christ as we prepare our hearts for Christmas - to connect with the Lord and His Word and celebrate Jesus in a deep and meaningful way. Mary's Voice guides the reader through each day of Advent from Mary's point of view, exploring who she knew Christ to be and includes passages from the Gospel of Luke, prayers and art pieces to engage readers' hearts, minds and senses.

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Mary's Voice: Advent Reflections to Contemplate the Coming of Christ:  biblescanada.com/marys-voice

Learn more about the Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca

Help people hear God speak: biblesociety.ca/donate

Connect with us on Instagram: @canadianbiblesociety

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Dr. Amy Orr-Ewing is an international author, speaker and theologian who addresses the deep questions people have about the Christian Faith. She is the author of multiple books including ‘Where is God in All the Suffering?’ and bestselling, ‘Why Trust the Bible?’

Over the last twenty years, Amy has given talks and answered questions on the Bible for university students, Parliamentarians, business leaders, churches, conferences and many more. Amy enjoys broadcasting and working with the media and giving public lectures. A mother of three sons, Amy is kept busy engaging their lives while wrestling out the Christian faith for tomorrow’s leaders.

Amy is interested in the intersection of meaning and faith within the marketplace, education and policymaking. Amy holds a doctorate in Theology from the University of Oxford. But this year, Amy is tackling the season of Advent with new eyes for a new generation of those looking for Holy Wonder in the Christmas season.

• Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca
• Help people hear God speak: biblesociety.ca/donate
• Connect with us on Instagram: @canadianbiblesociety
• The Bible Course: biblecourse.ca

It's the first three verses of Hebrews 11, which says, "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for, and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for." And it's this verse here, verse three, that rocks my world, every time I read it, "By faith, we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible." And the way I read that in the past was always that, oh, God called into existence, stuff that did not exist. But it doesn't say that. It says, "what is seen was not made out of what was visible." So, He called into the visible what was not yet visible. So, there are things already existing in God's imagination that by faith get called into the visible. And with that I would just encourage people to as they pick up the Bible, as they pray, as they interact with the Holy Spirit to ask what's in God's imagination for any particular moment so that by faith we can call and cocreate with Him to bring that into the visible reality that everyone around us can experience.
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Listen to Kevin Burgess, the Director of Global Communities and Labs for FaithTech being interviewed by veteran journalist Lorna Dueck. They talk about Kevin's journey and his passion for seeing God blurring the boundaries between faith, vocations, and work in peoples' lives. What can you cocreate with Him? How are you using the gifts God has given you? What is your unique identity as a child of God?

Kevin arrived in Canada from the UK in January 2018, has a background in Digital Design, Church Ministry,  and National Health Service tech. In addition to being a Director at FaithTech, he is also a Director at and runs NovaNova, a creative services virtual agency including web, graphic and multimedia events design alongside his wife Ellie. Kevin's business experience in National Health Service tech includes consulting, commissioning (funding systems) and business intelligence implementations.

Until May 2019, Kevin was worship pastor at the Yonge Lawrence Fellowship Church plant in North Toronto, where he set up and developed a Missional, Worship-Focused community, which included bringing the first Recovery Course (a Christian 12-step program for addictions) to Canada. He is married with two young children and is currently living in Guelph, Canada.

• Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca
• Help people hear God speak: biblesociety.ca/donate
• Connect with us on Instagram: @canadianbiblesociety
• The Bible Course: biblecourse.ca

Listen to Kevin Burgess, the Director of Global Communities and Labs for FaithTech being interviewed by veteran journalist Lorna Dueck. They talk about Kevin's journey and his passion for seeing God blurring the boundaries between faith, vocations, and work in peoples' lives. What can you cocreate with Him? How are you using the gifts God has given you? What is your unique identity as a child of God? 

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Learn more about the Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca

Help people hear God speak: biblesociety.ca/donate

Connect with us on Instagram: @canadianbiblesociety

Whether you’re well-versed in Scripture or just starting out on your journey, The Bible Course offers a superb overview of the world’s best-selling book.  This eight-session course will help you grow in your understanding of the Bible. Watch the first session of The Bible Course and learn more at biblecourse.ca. 

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Kevin arrived in Canada from the UK in January 2018, has a background in Digital Design, Church Ministry, and National Health Service tech. In addition to being a Director at FaithTech, he is also a Director at and runs NovaNova, a creative services virtual agency including web, graphic and multimedia events design alongside his wife Ellie. Kevin's business experience in National Health Service tech includes consulting, commissioning (funding systems) and business intelligence implementations.

Until May 2019, Kevin was worship pastor at the Yonge Lawrence Fellowship Church plant in North Toronto, where he set up and developed a Missional, Worship-Focused community, which included bringing the first Recovery Course (a Christian 12-step program for addictions) to Canada. He is married with two young children and is currently living in Guelph, Canada.

Learn more about Kevin Burgess

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kevinjburgess1

Organization: FaithTech.com

YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=GcLe21wfTIE&t=183s

• Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca
• Help people hear God speak: biblesociety.ca/donate
• Connect with us on Instagram: @canadianbiblesociety
• The Bible Course: biblecourse.ca

It takes a small bit of light to light up a very dark room, Lorna. We don't need to have fire. We don't have to have a blazing fire in the middle of the room. We don't have to feel the warmth. We just need a matchstick of light and that's what God often sends. So that's what I embrace. I don't look for adversity, but I don't hide away from that. And perhaps that's what led me to being in places where fools fear to tread in terms of peace and conflict resolution.
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Listen to Michael Perreau, former Director General of the United Bible Societies being interviewed by veteran journalist Lorna Dueck. They discuss the power of listening and taking pauses, especially during conflict situations, availability and accessibility to the Bible - everyone who wants it should have it - and being aware of how available and accessible we make ourselves when He calls. Are we listening? Is there something we can do to make ourselves more available and accessible to Him? Do we realize when we have encounters with Him and through Him? 

For twelve years Michael Perreau was the Director General of the United Bible Societies serving over 240 countries and territories through 154 member societies including the Canadian Bible Society whose mission is ‘The Bible for Everyone’. Michael is a proven leader with a track record in business and social transformation. He is passionate about building good-to-great organizations that impact for the long-term and provide spiritual and social capital. 

Michael is of mixed European-Asian origin, having spent his early formative years in a Muslim country in Asia. Soon after local race riots he moved to the UK with $50 life savings to study at a prestigious UK university. Initially an Industrial Psychologist, he subsequently achieved post-graduate business qualifications at Master's Level and beyond, in the UK and overseas. In the late 1980s he founded his own global strategic advisory business. He sold that company 15 years ago, and with his wife, Deborah, released most of the proceeds from the sale equity towards a kingdom building social and transformational initiative.

Michael’s growing passion in physical and social transformation through enterprise, job creation and equity has led him to develop and personally fund a number of enterprises, business start-ups and mission projects. He is a founding Board member of Transformational Business Network (TBN). TBNs vision is to seek to facilitate spiritual and physical transformation through enterprise globally. In partnership with local people, TBN focuses on supporting sustainable enterprises that can create long term socio-economic wealth amongst the poor and destitute. He serves on the board of several organizations both in the UK and overseas in non-executive, board or trustee roles including advisory roles to government.

Michael and his wife, Deborah, are kingdom builders with a difference, journeying their lifestyle from a life of success to significance based on a faithful walk. Deborah serves as Founding Executive Director of a medical charity sending health equipment to the poorest of nations. Michael and Deborah have 3 adult children, 2 donkeys, several dogs and chickens and they live in west Somerset, UK. Their vision is to see men and women release their potential as Kings and Priests for the Kingdom.

• Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca
• Help people hear God speak: biblesociety.ca/donate
• Connect with us on Instagram: @canadianbiblesociety
• The Bible Course: biblecourse.ca

Listen to Michael Perreau, former Director General of the United Bible Societies being interviewed by veteran journalist Lorna Dueck. They discuss the power of listening and taking pauses, especially during conflict situations, availability of and accessibility to the Bible - everyone who wants it should have it - and being aware of how available and accessible we make ourselves when He calls. Are we listening? Is there something we can do to make ourselves more available and accessible to Him? Do we realize when we have encounters with Him and through Him? 

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Learn more about the Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca

Help people hear God speak: biblesociety.ca/donate

Connect with us on Instagram: @canadianbiblesociety

Whether you’re well-versed in Scripture or just starting out on your journey, The Bible Course offers a superb overview of the world’s best-selling book.  This eight-session course will help you grow in your understanding of the Bible. Watch the first session of The Bible Course and learn more at biblecourse.ca. 

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For twelve years Michael Perreau was the Director General of the United Bible Societies serving over 240 countries and territories through 154 member societies including the Canadian Bible Society whose mission is ‘The Bible for Everyone’. Michael is a proven leader with a track record in business and social transformation. He is passionate about building good-to-great organizations that impact for the long-term and provide spiritual and social capital. 

Michael is of mixed European-Asian origin, having spent his early formative years in a Muslim country in Asia. Soon after local race riots he moved to the UK with $50 life savings to study at a prestigious UK university. Initially an Industrial Psychologist, he subsequently achieved post-graduate business qualifications at Master's Level and beyond, in the UK and overseas. In the late 1980s he founded his own global strategic advisory business. He sold that company 15 years ago, and with his wife, Deborah, released most of the proceeds from the sale equity towards a kingdom building social and transformational initiative.

Michael’s growing passion in physical and social transformation through enterprise, job creation and equity has led him to develop and personally fund a number of enterprises, business start-ups and mission projects. He is a founding Board member of Transformational Business Network (TBN). TBNs vision is to seek to facilitate spiritual and physical transformation through enterprise globally. In partnership with local people, TBN focuses on supporting sustainable enterprises that can create long term socio-economic wealth amongst the poor and destitute. He serves on the board of several organizations both in the UK and overseas in non-executive, board or trustee roles including advisory roles to government.

Michael and his wife, Deborah, are kingdom builders with a difference, journeying their lifestyle from a life of success to significance based on a faithful walk. Deborah serves as Founding Executive Director of a medical charity sending health equipment to the poorest of nations. Michael and Deborah have 3 adult children, 2 donkeys, several dogs and chickens and they live in west Somerset, UK. Their vision is to s

• Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca
• Help people hear God speak: biblesociety.ca/donate
• Connect with us on Instagram: @canadianbiblesociety
• The Bible Course: biblecourse.ca

We have a hope that is eternal. It was C.S. Lewis, in Mere Christianity who said, "If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world." And that's exactly what the narrative of Scripture is, you know, our hope is not here. Our hope is eternal, and it's in a right relationship with God. That doesn't mean that the here and now is not important. You know, we can care about the environment because we were entrusted as stewards of creation. And that can give a strengthening and an undergirding for caring about the world around us, caring about people. And I think ultimately, these desires that we have for stewardship, for ideas like justice well, those are inherently Christian ideas. That's the air we breathe in the Western Hemisphere because of our Christian heritage.
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Listen to Wesley Huff, Central Canada Director of Apologetics Canada being interviewed by the British and Foreign Bible Society’s Rev. Dr. Andrew Ollerton as they discuss some common questions about faith and Scriptures. Can we trust the New Testament? Are these texts reliable?

Wesley Huff is currently working on a video series called “Can I Trust the Bible?” and is doing a PhD in New Testament and Christian origins at the University of Toronto’s Wycliffe College. He has participated in numerous public dialogues, debates, and interfaith events on issues of faith, belief, and religion across North America. 

Wes was born in Multan, Pakistan and spent a portion of his childhood in the Middle East. After being diagnosed with a rare neurological condition at the age of eleven that left him paralyzed from the waist down, Wes experienced a miraculous recovery that the doctors themselves said they had no medical explanation for. This experience, along with a great deal of study and soul searching in his later teens solidified his interest in the subjects of faith and engaging the beliefs and worldview perspectives of others. Currently he lives in Toronto, Canada with his wife their three children.

• Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca
• Help people hear God speak: biblesociety.ca/donate
• Connect with us on Instagram: @canadianbiblesociety
• The Bible Course: biblecourse.ca

Listen to Wesley Huff, Central Canada Director of Apologetics Canada being interviewed by the British and Foreign Bible Society’s Rev. Dr. Andrew Ollerton as they discuss some common questions about faith and Scriptures. Can we trust the New Testament? Are these texts reliable?

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Learn more about the Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca

Help people hear God speak: biblesociety.ca/donate

Connect with us on Instagram: @canadianbiblesociety

Whether you’re well-versed in Scripture or just starting out on your journey, The Bible Course offers a superb overview of the world’s best-selling book.  This eight-session course will help you grow in your understanding of the Bible. Watch the first session of The Bible Course and learn more at biblecourse.ca. 

---

Wesley Huff is currently working on a video series called “Can I Trust the Bible?” and is doing a PhD in New Testament and Christian origins at the University of Toronto’s Wycliffe College. He has participated in numerous public dialogues, debates, and interfaith events on issues of faith, belief, and religion across North America. 

Wes was born in Multan, Pakistan and spent a portion of his childhood in the Middle East. After being diagnosed with a rare neurological condition at the age of eleven that left him paralyzed from the waist down, Wes experienced a miraculous recovery that the doctors themselves said they had no medical explanation for. This experience, along with a great deal of study and soul searching in his later teens solidified his interest in the subjects of faith and engaging the beliefs and worldview perspectives of others. Currently he lives in Toronto, Canada with his wife their three children.

Learn more about Wesley Huff

Website: wesleyhuff.com

Apologetics Canada: apologeticscanada.com 

• Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca
• Help people hear God speak: biblesociety.ca/donate
• Connect with us on Instagram: @canadianbiblesociety
• The Bible Course: biblecourse.ca

If you don't know who Jesus Christ is, that means you're not engaging Scripture. And if you're not engaging Scripture, you might come to a false understanding of who Jesus Christ is. Oh, Jesus Christ was a prophet. He was a social justice advocate. No, He's the incarnate Son of God. And that is revealed in Scriptures. And it's through that revelation that we come to know about who He is, the Saviour of the world, the Promised Messiah, the fulfillment of the law, the prophets, and the covenants. But He is also for us, He is our Lord and God and He has changed everything. And it's continuing to change things through the incarnation to the resurrection. And if you don't know those things, first of all, how can you live out your faith as a Christian? And how can you possibly come to understand the nature of the world and the nature of yourself as a human person made in His image and likeness? So, without engaging the Bible, we simply cannot be Christians.

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Rev. Dr. Andrew Bennett is the Program Director of Faith Communities at Cardus. He is an ordained deacon in the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church in the Eparchy (Diocese) of Toronto and Eastern Canada. Andrew is Program Director, of Faith Communities at Cardus. 

A champion of religious freedom domestically and internationally, he has served as Canada’s first Ambassador for Religious Freedom and led Global Affairs Canada’s Office of Religious Freedom from 2013 to 2016. He simultaneously served as Canada’s Head of Delegation to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). When not praying, studying, or advocating, Fr. Andrew can be found with his fly rod in a stream, listening to bluegrass or Beethoven.

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Rev. Dr. Andrew Stirling was the Senior Minister of Timothy Eaton Memorial United Church in Toronto, one of Canada’s largest United Church congregations and was responsible for leadership and administration at Timothy Eaton from 1998 until his more recent retirement. Overseeing staff, providing visionary leadership, acting as the public representative of over 1,500 members and managing a dynamic and ever-evolving ministry to the city of Toronto and beyond.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Law from the University of Cape Town, South Africa, a Master of Divinity from the Atlantic School of Theology in Halifax, Nova Scotia and a Doctor of Ministry in preaching from Acadia Divinity College, Wolfville, Nova Scotia. In 2008, Wycliffe College, Toronto, recognized his contribution to preaching with an honorary Doctor of Divinity.

Rev. Dr. Andrew Stirling is now the Ambassador for the Canadian Bible Society building relationships with churches, academic institutions and individuals across Canada.

• Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca
• Help people hear God speak: biblesociety.ca/donate
• Connect with us on Instagram: @canadianbiblesociety
• The Bible Course: biblecourse.ca

So, I've followed Jesus now for more than 60 years, and always, there have been a few days life has been too busy to do it, just impossible, but every day. I mean I was reading this morning, and I just love that time every day in the Bible, in the Scriptures. And what's amazing is I read it now, well, more than 60 times, you always, every year see something fresh, that you didn't see before. And you think, my goodness, why didn't I see that? And of course, the simple fact is that life is raising different questions all the time. And you bring those at least in the back of your mind to what you're reading, and you suddenly see again, and again, the incredible relevance of Scripture. I love it.

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Listen to Dr. Os Guinness, prominent social critic, a senior fellow at the Oxford Center for Christian apologetics, and author or editor of more than 30 books being interviewed by veteran journalist Lorna Dueck. Os discusses his newest book, Signals of Transcendence - which describes God's voice to us - and challenges us to listen for the voice of God speaking into our lives. Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.

Great-great-great grandson of Arthur Guinness, the Dublin brewer, Os Guinness was born in China in World War Two where his parents were medical missionaries. A witness to the climax of the Chinese revolution in 1949, he was expelled with many other foreigners in 1951 and returned to Europe where he was educated in England. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of London and his D.Phil in the social sciences from Oriel College, Oxford. 

Os has written or edited more than thirty books, including The Call, Time for Truth, Unspeakable, A Free People’s Suicide, The Global Public Square, Last Call for Liberty, Carpe Diem Redeemed, and The Magna Carta of Humanity. His latest book is The Great Quest: Invitation to the Examined Life and a Sure Path to Meaning, published in 2022. Since moving to the United States in 1984, Os has been a Guest Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Studies, a Guest Scholar and Visiting Fellow at the Brookings Institution, and Senior Fellow at the Trinity Forum and the EastWest Institute in New York. 

• Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca
• Help people hear God speak: biblesociety.ca/donate
• Connect with us on Instagram: @canadianbiblesociety
• The Bible Course: biblecourse.ca