Author: Gordon Govier

Merry Christmas! If this seems like an unusually early greeting when Thanksgiving is still more than two weeks away, you must not be a member of the Wisconsin Assembly. Tuesday was the final day of a very short Assembly floor session for 2019 and the two dominant themes were religion and December holidays — and religious December holidays.

College is a time of self-exploration for students. Many students are entirely on their own for the first time and they are looking for places and ways to learn about themselves and the world around them. College campuses support and host many groups and organizations for its students to experience and join if they choose to. One of these organizations is the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF). IVCF is an interdenominational, faith-based, student-led ministry group that has chapters located all over Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The ministry chapter at UW-Whitewater has over 100 members and its mission is…

As you walk into Redeemer City Church on Fitchburg’s north side, there are no crosses, pictures of Jesus or stained glass windows. A communal kitchen is at the heart of the 11,000 square foot building, with office space and an auditorium-style room to the side for its services. The only indication that the 5356 King James Way facility houses a church is the portable banner that reads “Welcome.” Redeemer City, formerly set up and torn down weekly at Chavez Elementary School, has been in the new location for seven months, and its lack of religious decor is intentional, pastors Casey…

Just in time for the holidays, the perennial debate over church and state has returned to the state Capitol. Breaking with his Republican predecessor, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers on Friday declared the coniferous fixture to annually grace the Capitol rotunda a “holiday tree.” Gov. Scott Walker called it a “Christmas tree.” And in a seemingly opposite declaration of their own, Assembly Republicans on Tuesday are set to proclaim the week of Thanksgiving as “National Bible Week,” a move that has already irritated proponents of secularism.

An animated video outreach called The Bible Project has been successfully reaching millions of people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the support of crowdfunding and its promotion on YouTube. The outreach tool was started by longtime friends Timothy Mackie and Jonathan Collins who met at Multnomah Bible College. The pair wanted to help people read through scripture while avoiding common pitfalls of misunderstanding the Bible. Combining Mackie’s doctorate in Hebrew and Jewish Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his deep understanding of the Hebrew Bible with Collins’ ability to simply communicate complex topics and his passion for…

One local church is taking steps to build energy, excitement and commitment within its congregation, when religious organizations are seeing falling attendance in pews nationwide. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church has an app, does a live stream, and on Sunday it held a giant service at a performing arts center.

On a blustery afternoon with evening snow in the forecast, vehicles began arriving at Madison’s City Church on Buckeye Road as the sky began to grow dark. Grills were being fired up, tailgating tents were assembled, music began playing across the parking lot, and this year’s Trunk-or-Treat would soon be underway!   The security team was in place, bundled to greet and direct traffic and monitor safety. Pumpkin-clad teenagers were constructing a maze to rival all mazes. Shivering excitement and anticipation began to grow as car trunks and entire vehicles underwent a festive, decorative overhaul.   Meanwhile, creamy hot chocolate…

Gloria Edwards, a client and patient at City on a Hill since 2011, dabs the corner of her eyes with a tissue when she talks about the impact the nonprofit has had on her life. “I don’t think I’d still be alive if I hadn’t been coming here. I didn’t have any insurance,” Edwards said. According to Kids Forward, an advocacy group for Wisconsin communities and families, Edwards is one of 323,000 Wisconsinites without insurance.

BEAVER DAM – No alcohol was served, unless the wine during Communion counts, and there was no dancing, but otherwise Sunday morning’s concerts were just another gig for the Goodtime Dutchmen polka band. First Lutheran Church of Beaver Dam held its first polka services on Sunday, which, judging by the swaying and toe-tapping parishioners plus the applause at the end, were a hit.

What defines the identity of a city? When you picture a typical town or suburb, maybe you see the community rallying their support for the school, whether at a sports competition, concert, or other school event. Or perhaps you picture a quaint downtown or city center with local businesses that define the flavors and services that are so beloved by their neighbors. These central staples of a city build a bond between citizens across age and racial lines. Well, Fitchburg is not your typical Madison suburb. Though its population is just about thousand shy of Middleton and Verona combined, there is…