Author: Gordon Govier

When Blackhawk Church opened its 42,000 square foot facility in December, providing space as a community resource was a part of its plans. But its leaders found unexpected ways to bring those plans to fruition after the spread of coronavirus forced churches and congregations to close. The building, which can seat over 750 people during gatherings at 5935 Astor Drive, is closed for church services until Dane County reaches at least Phase 3 in its Forward Dane plan, but it’s been open to a Red Cross blood drive and YMCA child care services, and lead pastor Daniel Owen said he’s…

MADISON (WKOW) — Sunday brought another pair of drive-up and virtual services at Mount Zion Baptist Church. This Sunday also included church leaders launching a fundraising effort to pay off the church’s remaining debt. “It’ll be amazing for us to say ‘that’s our property, that’s ours, it belongs to us,” said Rev. Marcus Allen, the church’s pastor. “That we paid off the debt, that we accomplished that goal.” Currently, a little more than 10 percent of Black families in Dane County own their own homes. It’s one of the worst rates in a state that ranks among the nation’s worst…

WAUKESHA – The presidential race finally arrived in the Wisconsin battleground Tuesday as Vice President Mike Pence sought to improve enthusiasm for the president in a reliable Republican stronghold. Pence kicked off President Donald Trump’s campaign against former Vice President Joe Biden with a pair of appearances in Waukesha County to focus on issues important to the Wisconsin GOP: school choice, religious faith and security.

The pastor of a 121-year-old Wisconsin church told Fox News it’s been a long process moving the building on wheels to its new location. Burke Lutheran Church in Madison held online services like a lot of other churches amid the coronavirus pandemic, but over the weekend the congregation made an even bigger change. The 121-year-old sanctuary was raised up and moved Saturday. The move — about 300 feet, Neubert said — will give the church, which was surrounded by a cemetery, more parking, full handicap accessibility and greater capacity.

In response to heightened awareness surrounding issues of racial injustice and disparity, 65 Madison pastors and church leaders have co-signed an open letter to the African American community and local pastors pledging to preach “against the sins of racism.” “We felt like it was very important for churches to stand, specifically with the African American churches and community, and express sorrow for all that has happened and ask for forgiveness,” said City Church Pastor Tom Flaherty, who developed the letter. “These things keep happening in our country and we want to step up.”

Madison Christian radio station Life 102.5 (WNWC) has been named 2020 Christian Music Broadcasters Station of the Year in the medium market category. The award recognizes stations demonstrating a commitment to excellence and dedication to serving their communities. Three nominees in small, medium, and large market categories are selected by judges within the Christian music format. Radio professionals primarily outside of the CMB industry then select one station in each category to receive the Station of the Year award.

I had an interesting encounter yesterday while grocery shopping, and it’s been in my head ever since and so I need to share it. I tried twice to tell this story verbally and both times I ended up cutting it short because I got weepy. Not sad, just overcome with emotion because this exchange broke my heart in a good way. Just busted it wide open. I can’t tell the story without my voice wavering, but I also can’t NOT tell the story. While I was shopping I noticed a black woman and a small child. The kid was strutting…

They are pastors of four churches in downtown Madison, religion lived out in the heart of Wisconsin’s capital city. They are United Methodist, Episcopalian, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America by denomination. They have worked together on issues of hunger and homelessness in the city.And now they are working together in a new way, sharing ideas and concerns as they plot the plans for their congregations in the coming months of this season of pandemic.

Christians, Muslims, Jews, nonbelievers and more gathered in Downtown Madison Sunday to show that the Black Lives Matter movement transcends any religious boundaries. Several thousand participants took part in a Black Lives Matter solidarity march that made its way from the intersection of University Avenue and Park Street all the way to the Capitol building. The march was yet another peaceful gathering of its kind in Madison and across the nation protesting police brutality and white supremacy after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers. The march was sponsored by the African American Council of…

Churches in Madison and Dane County can now follow the same rules as any other local business regarding in-person attendance after the Madison Catholic Diocese challenged as unconstitutional earlier this week the limitations for places of worship in the local coronavirus reopening plan. Also, Public Health Madison and Dane County officials said Friday the county will not move to the next phase of reopening businesses and other entities to 50% capacity before June 12, and even if data looks good, the shift likely won’t happen for a few days to give time to prepare. City and county officials announced Friday…