Jim Blake, the now national chairman of Concerned Christian Canada is all too happy to share his trip away from the safety of Calgary and to the heathen of the east.
Blake and controversial street minister Art Pawlowski went to godless Ontario and among other things met with Conservative Minister of International Trade, Stockwell Day.
We then left for Ottawa (via Quebec). Art was on a sight-seeing trip, I guess (inside joke). When we finally arrived in Ottawa, we met with the Ottawa branch of the Campaign Live Coalition and then met with Minister Stockwell Day. After four check points, and a bit of a wait, we were able to see him. It was a good time to connect with a Christian in politics and was an opportunity to encourage him to be strong for Jesus despite the strong attacks from some who would love to shut him down. Due to confidentiality issues we are not able to disclose what was discussed, but let’s just say that Minister Day was very helpful.
The deliberate use of polarization of regionalism, labelling, the remarks about Tyndale and Ontario law are meant to spark outrage.  The CCC partnership/fundraising drive is underway. That the CCC is back in the business of telling the rest of us how backsliding and immoral we are is no surprise. Someone or something ’outside’ is always the problem. Grandiosity, entitlement, begging for money and hyper-vigilance along with a persecution complex is standard modus operandi. The CCC does not have tax exempt status. I’ve written about Pawlowski’s street theatre before. In 2007 he partnered with Victory Outreach which has ties through it’s training centre to C. Peter Wagner’s New Apostolic Reformation.
The CCC was involved in an Alberta Human Rights Complaint ruled on in 2007.
The CCC planned to file one back aginst the Alberta Conservative Party.
Art Powlowski, a street preacher has decided Calgary City bylaws are to be continually challenged and recently he posted a video of his ‘arrest’ and ‘harassment’ in February. I don’t see how this video is getting him support in the larger community or how it will help his legal pileups. His martyrdom and persecution complex will possibly become profitable as he gains attention in outer social conservative circles. Â
On the positive side, although the persecution proceeds and it seems that the Goliath is getting bigger, I can’t but smile. The bigger the Goliath, the greater the sound will be when it falls. The greater the opposition, the greater the victory will be when it comes. At the same time, as we were pushed around and the devil is getting furious, God opened enormous doors. Our TV show, that is aired every Saturday, at noon, on Miracle Channel, through satellite, cable and Internet, has been elevated. We were approached by a TV station in Norway, which broadcasts through 110 million satellite dishes, and we have now signed a one year contract, with them. Not only that, but since they like the program so much, they offered to broadcast the program at no charge for that year. Now you can see why the devil is so mad.
I don’t think it’s the devil who is mad.
Why would Jim Blake and Art Powlowski need time with the federal Trade minister?
Ottawa can keep him. These types of organizations will slowly fade away. Number one reason? The people who support monetarily will find better uses for their money (or they’re just dying off).
Don’t forget, Day was a minister in Ralph Klein’s cabinet before making a run at federal politics under the Alliance banner.
He comes from the buckle of Alberta’s Bible Belt, and is better known here for being among those who believe that man and the dinosaurs co-existed. (Thus the jokes about the Flintstones being a documentary)
He’s closely allied with the hardline right wing in Alberta. If I had to make a guess at what “secret matters” they were discussing, I would suspect that they were lobbying to get S. 13 of the Canada Human Rights legislation repealed.
Blake and Powlowski would have been well served to go to http://www.streetlevel.ca/
There might be a bit more reality checking and a bit less gum flapping.
Fundamentally, CCC is a political organization. They might use the language of “Christian Charity”, but that doesn’t change their fundamental nature.
They were founded by Craig Chandler, and mysteriously still use the same PO box that Chandler uses for his enterprises … even though Chandler ostensibly stepped away from the picture a while ago.
PO Box 44068 Southcentre RPO Calgary
The recent return of this group to political posturing on a variety of issues is likely as not a clue that they are returning to their old habits – regardless of how much involvement Chandler has.