“My rolodex is full of people you introduced me to,” pastor Amanda of Madison’s Edan Center told Diane Hanson, CEO of United Madison Christian Givers, as she explained the impact of UMCG on her ministry to survivors of sex trafficking. At last Tuesday’s UMCG fundraiser she explained how attending a UMCG workshop opened “a floodgate of community support and aligning with like organizations.” All of those connections come into play when, for example, a couple living in a rental car in a church parking lot have nowhere else to turn. Other UMCG grant recipients like Shelter from the Storm and…

By Chris Rickert – Wisconsin State Journal – A year after he was shot four times at Abundant Life Christian School — including twice in the head — Samy Garduno-Martinez is able to talk, is regaining his memory and is relearning how to walk. It’s a recovery that his physicians didn’t think was possible, but that his family never stopped believing in. “I always say that when the science says no, God says yes,” said Samy’s mother, Gabriela Martinez, who ascribes Samy’s ongoing recovery to “many miracles.” Read more of this story.

By Erin Gretzinger – Madison Capital Times – On the evening of Dec. 16 last year, Marcio Sierra Jr., the senior pastor of Lighthouse Church, felt his faith being tested.  That morning, a 15-year-old student at Abundant Life Christian School opened fire on her teachers and classmates, leaving two dead and six more injured before she died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Among those most gravely wounded was then 17-year-old Samy Garduno-Martinez, who attended Lighthouse and went to the church’s school up until he went to high school at Abundant Life. More than a dozen other alumni and other students from Sierra’s congregation…

By Chris Rickert, Wisconsin State Journal – The success of Dane County’s private voucher and independent charter schools on the state report cards released this week varied greatly, with scores oftentimes reflecting differences in student body demographics. Among the 10 schools rated, scores ranged from a high of 84.7 at Eastside Evangelical Lutheran Elementary in Madison, to a low of 56.3 at Westside Christian School in Middleton. The scores correspond to a rating of “significantly exceeds expectations” for Eastside and “meets few expectations” for Westside Christian. Read more of this story.

By Barry Adams – Wisconsin State Journal – Paul Lang thought his job was going to be fairly straightforward. In 2022, he began work inside St. Bernard Catholic Church on Madison’s East Side to refurbish the choir loft and create space for pipes behind the alter so two restored vintage pipe organs could be installed. But the $3 million project is now a small part of what has become a $33 million transformation for the nearly 100-year-old church building and the 150,882 members of the Diocese of Madison. In February, the diocese hopes to consecrate St. Bernard’s as a cathedral…

Using biblical principles to save lives is the eligibility criteria for the local ministries that have been recognized and rewarded in the four quarterly gatherings this year sponsored by United Madison Christian Givers, the organization that evolved and merged a year ago from the Madison Christian Giving Fund and United Madison. The fourth and final Grant Award Event of 2025 was held October 28th at the InterVarsity building. Six pre-selected ministries presented their mission and were rewarded with financial support to further their work. When the votes of the 40 members were counted, the top three ministries were awarded checks…

By Nicole Pollack – Wisconsin State Journal – Luther Memorial Church on Madison’s Near West Side is asking the developer of a planned 15-story student apartment building to compensate it for what it projects will be lost output from the church’s new solar panels and damage to its century-old sandstone exterior by leaving the church covered in shadow for much of the day. The apartment building would be taller than the peak of the church roof, and church officials said it would shade the church — and the church’s solar panels — far more than the four-story structure the building…

By Juliana Tornabene and Leigh Mills MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – It’s a parent’s unending love and faith in God, that’s held the Garduno-Martinez family together in the 10 months since the shooting at Abundant Life Christian School. The Madison family has experienced some of the most painful times imaginable, as then 17-year-old Samy Garduno-Martinez, who loved cross country and spending time with friends, was one of the students critically wounded following the school shooting. Read more of this story.

By Christ Rickert – Wisconsin State Journal – Becky Mack had a rough start to life. Raised along with her four siblings by a drug-addicted, “nomad” father, she suffered abuse and was intermittently removed from his care by child welfare workers until she went into foster care for good at the age 8 when the family moved to Madison. But 28 years later, Mack is proof that a rough start doesn’t have to define the finish. With some help from sources both earthly and divine, Mack got her high school diploma, then her certified nursing assistant license, then her nursing…

Nationally recognized Christian Hip Hop artists Steven Malcolm and George.Rose are headlining an afternoon of music at Madison’s Olin Park this coming Saturday, September 27. The concert runs from 11:00 am to 5:00pm, and will also include local artists. Clear Hits Radio, an internet radio station is sponsoring this concert, with financial support from United Madison Christian Givers. Clear Hits Radio was one of the first winners in a new granting procedure started earlier this year by United Madison Christian Givers, formerly the Madison Christian Giving Fund. Their winning proposal featured a “Welcome Back Hip Hop” concert for UW students…