Christian community, and particularly the leadership, must take note that the Muslim population in Canada is on the increase. Here are some numbers from Statistics Canada: in Ontario the number of Muslims from 52,110 in 1981 increased to 352,525 in 2001; in Alberta from 16,860 went up to 49,045; in British Columbia 12,720 swelled to 56,215; and in Quebec 12,115 rose to 108,620. After 2001, the US war against Afghanistan and US occupation in Iraq with not much of change in US policies with regards to Middle East is only pushing these numbers higher and much quicker.
Christians have nothing to rejoice, or whine about these growing numbers. For these events are only a clarion call for Christians to consider reshaping of their minds and missions. Christians must ask the question: What is the Christian Mission in Canada in the context of a rising tide of “Islamophobia”?
Anglican Bishop Kenneth Cragg (formerly of the Diocese of Oxford, now retired) has been reminding the Christian Community for over four decades that “not to care for Muslims” does entail “not to care for Christ”!
Christians have nothing to rejoice, or whine about these growing numbers. For these events are only a clarion call for Christians to consider reshaping of their minds and missions. Christians must ask the question: What is the Christian Mission in Canada in the context of a rising tide of “Islamophobia”?
Anglican Bishop Kenneth Cragg (formerly of the Diocese of Oxford, now retired) has been reminding the Christian Community for over four decades that “not to care for Muslims” does entail “not to care for Christ”!
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