- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Manning Centre Builds Dictator Democracy

Christians Expelled from Manning Convention Due to Religious Beliefs

Street Church Ministries is deeply concerned about the roll Christians will play in Canada's democracy, in the future, if the Manning Centre has its way. The ministry was recently expelled from being an exhibitor at the Centre's 2010 convention on the basis of their religious beliefs. Artur Pawlowski, the lead pastor of Street Church Ministries stated that he was appalled and shocked at the boldfaced arrogance and prejudice that the Manning Centre for Building Democracy showed by telling him that a political convention was no place for a church.

“What kind of a democracy is the Manning Centre building if they are telling churches, and their leaders, that they are not allowed to have a table at their convention, to address moral and social issues that our Country is facing today, since political events are 'not the proper forum for a church'? Is not democracy allowing people to share their divergent viewpoints on matters of policy making, that will ultimately effect the future of Canada, no matter what background you are from? I understood that in our country our Charter of Rights grants all people equality and that we are even guaranteed freedom of religion and expression. Surely an organization as influential as the Manning Centre with its stated goal of shaping the future of democracy in Canada, should adhere to the spirit of our nation's Charter.” charged Pawlowski.

In the spring of last year, Street Church Ministries was an exhibitor at the Manning Convention in Ottawa. This year Street Church received invitations to both attend the event and to once again be an exhibitor at the 2010 convention. On November 11th, 2009, Mr. Pawlowski pre-paid his exhibitor package using the sign-up form on the Manning Centre website, looking forward to a second year at the event. On November 20^th, 2009 his purchase was refunded without explanation. After phone calls with the Manning Centre it was revealed that the Manning Centre, now, does not feel that a “political event is the proper forum for a church”. Pawlowski proceeded to call different contacts at the Manning Centre only to be ultimately told by Nicholas Gafuik the Managing Director of the Centre that it was none of his business why he was refused a table and that the matter was considered closed.

The issue was further complicated by the fact that Concerned Christians Canada, a Christian political lobby group, was also refused exhibitor status when it applied for a table shortly after hearing from Street Church that they were expelled, based on their religious beliefs.

“When I heard that a church was rejected as an exhibitor after being allowed the previous year to run a table at the event, due to their religious beliefs, I wanted to see if they would reject CCC since we are also a Christian organization, or if their issue was just against Street Church. I was actually shocked that when I applied to have a table, that my payment was refunded shortly thereafter and that our exhibitor status was also rejected. When I called to find out the reason why, they refused to give me a valid answer but merely told me that 'my friend had already applied and that he was already told no and that the matter was closed'. I find this response bizarre since I filled in the form for CCC not for Street Church. What an absurd way to deal with things. Christians should, like every other citizen, have the right to speak on issues facing the future of their nation and they most certainly should not be denied a table on the basis of their religious beliefs. It is a violation of our Charter protected freedoms and an insult to Christians across our nation,” stated Jim Blake National Chairman of Concerned Christians Canada.

Concerned Christians Canada and Street Church have spoken with the chairman of the board of directors of the Centre and have made several attempts to contact Preston Manning himself by phone, e-mail and registered letter to try to clear this matter up privately.

“I tried to deal with this behind closed doors, using all measures possible, but they wouldn't have it. They have have forced me to expose the hypocrisy of an organization that states that it is building a democracy for all when in fact they are dictating who is in and who is out. I have a personal question to Mr. Manning, 'What kind of democracy are you building? Obviously, not the kind that I would want my children to grow up under, and I pray to God that you would not have your way.”

Street Church has made their letter to Manning public, now that the Manning Centre has refused to change their stance. It can be read on their website at http://www.streetchurch.ca/manning-letter . For more information contact Artur Pawlowski of Street Church Ministries 403-607-4434.

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As followers of Christ, Bible believing Christians, we believe that the Bible is the word of God.  We also believe that what the Bible instructs us to do, we are to do.  The Bible, and in fact Jesus himself, told us to go out into the highways and byways and preach the good news that Jesus told us to share, giving hope to the hopeless, clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, and loving the unlovable (outcasts of society, drunkards, drug addicts, prostitutes, etc)

Street Church is a gathering of Bible believing Christians from churches throughout the City, ministering under the umbrella of Street Church, with the same heart of compassion; to provide the needy, poor, and homeless with a message of hope and daily necessities.  The Bible clearly states what a believer is obliged (commanded) to do.  To follow the Bible is not an option for a Christian, according to Jesus’ words in John 14:15 – “If you love me, you will obey my commandments”.

According to the Bible we are commanded to go out and reach the people where they are.  Most of the people that we minister to would never enter a church because of their condition (their look, smell, language, behaviour, addictions).  They feel unwanted and unwelcomed in a “traditional” church environment.  Through the repetition of the message of hope, music that literally changes the atmosphere, and testimonies of people that were where they are today, impacts their self-worth, changes their mood, and in many cases their entire life and future, from troublemakers (in and out of jail) into healthy contributing citizens.

With the large crowds that come to our services, and the noise from traffic, planes, C-Trains and other disturbances that happen all the time in the down town area, amplification is an important and necessary aspect of our work and ministry.  Think, for example, about when a speaker comes to Calgary to give a speech, and they give that speech in an auditorium where there is a controlled environment which keeps outside noise out, amplification is used on every occasion in order to ensure that the message is communicated properly, not with shouting, but with proper and straight forward speech.  How much more is amplification needed outside with all of the excessive noise to contend with?  Without the use of amplification, we have to resort to shouting in order for people to hear, which changes the tone of the message, is much less effective, and at times stirs people up negatively, which is not what we desire.

Here are some passages from the Bible, although there are a great many more, that instruct us not only in what we are to do, but how we are to do it.  This instruction is the basis and foundation for all that we do at Street Church.

Mark 16:15-16:  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.  (16)  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Matthew 25:32-40:  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divided his sheep from the goats:  (33)  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.  (34)  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  (35)  For I was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:  (36)  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.  (37)  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?  (38)  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?  (39)  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?  (40)  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 

Luke 14:16-23  Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:  (17)  And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.  (18)  And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.  (19)  And another said I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.  (20)  And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.  (21)  So that servant came, and showed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.  (22)  And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.  (23)  And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

James 1:27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

James 2:14-17 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?  (15)  If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food,  (16)  and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?  (17)  So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Even the Lord Jesus himself said, I did not come to be served but to serve.  As his followers we must do the same.

Luke 4:18-19  The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,  (19)  To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

The commandments of Jesus Christ our Lord are very clear, we are to go out and do what He did.  The regular North American method of church is very different from how the first century church operated.  Churches soon after Christ rose from the dead where most often outside, since that was where the needy were located.  When it comes to poverty and hopelessness, nothing has changed.  A couple of examples of those that ministered outdoors more recently, are William Booth founder of the Salvation Army, who ministered and preached once a day outside and once a day inside, and Mother Theresa who for a great deal of her ministry was helping the poor outdoors.

DEBORAH GYAPONG

CANADIAN CATHOLIC NEWS OTTAWA

Calgary's King's Glory Fellowship lost its charitable status for failing to file its annual financial report, according to an official from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

Its controversial lay pastor Artur Pawlowski admitted he did miss the deadline. He believes, however, King's Glory Fellowship's charitable status has not been restored because of his vocal defence of Christian teaching.

Last October, King's Glory Fellowship received a letter from Dian Prodenov of Revenue Canada expressing concerns that "members of the board of directors espouse strong negative views about sensitive and controversial issues, which may also be viewed as political, such as abortion, homosexuality, divorce, etc."

PRIVACY CITED

CRA spokesman Philippe Brideau would not confirm or deny the letter or its contents, saying he was bound by law not to discuss the confidential tax status of any taxpayer, charity or business. But Brideau said the revocation of charitable status was public knowledge and posted on the CRA website last year.

Pawlowski said King's Glory Fellowship had grown so fast that it began to house a number of other ministries under its roof, including Street Church Ministries and some overseas outreaches to orphans and the disabled. He and his accountant wanted to know if all four should file separately or together. "If you've ever dealt with the gove rnment, it takes forever to get an answer," he said.

After a year and a half of effort, they missed the deadline, though Pawlowski said they were assured the process was just a formality.

The letter revoking the fellowship's charitable status was "very clear," said Pawlowski. "It's plain and simple: you do not qualify to be a charitable organization because of your views and political activities." The tax act allows for up to 10 per cent of a charity's resources to go to political activities, but Pawlowski said no investigation was ever done.

Calgary Bishop Fred Henry said, "The simplest thing would be for Revenue Canada to say a mistake was made." Henry said CRA's actions should send a message to every religious person in the country about the "enshrinement of political correctness." Yet he's concerned the message is not getting out. Pawlowski's latest battle with the CRA has received hardly any mention in the mainstream media.

WARRIOR MODE

The bishop described Pawlowski as being "in full warrior mode."

He described the Polish immigrant's style as "in-your-face" and confrontational. "Right now he's on fire and he's doing a heck of a lot of good feeding people and looking after their spiritual wellbeing," said Henry. "It's hard to fault him."

Pawlowski runs a Street Church Ministries that feeds the hungry and ministers to the homeless in downtown Calgary.