Author: Gordon Govier

Pastor Josh Miller says his heart breaks when he reads political discussions on social media. “We have gotten really good at sharpening our knives,” said Miller, who leads a South Side church called The Bridge. That’s one reason why Miller joined with two other community leaders to create Selfless Ambition, a new faith-based organization that aims to bring together members of Dane County’s churches, along with business and nonprofit officials, in an effort to tackle some of the area’s thorniest issues.

Two congregations in Fitchburg had to set up overflow seating for worship June 4, but Pentecost wasn’t the only special occasion being marked with music and a potluck that day. All Saints Lutheran Church heard Rich Johnson preach his last Sunday service, and Memorial United Church of Christ held its centennial celebration with pastor Phil Haslanger, who will retire later this month.

From band teacher to pastor to leading Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan Inc., David Larson has always made plans. Around a year and a half ago, Larson began formulating what he called his next rolling, five-year plan, trying to figure out where he might take the nonprofit. His wife, Judy, listened and suggested that perhaps he might want to consider something new: retirement.

A Madison couple who moved to Minnesota lost more than $200,000 in a sophisticated email scam authorities say is sweeping the country. “People in other countries are using our system – our banking system – to rob U.S. citizens,” says Steve Tadevich.

Tim Mackie’s friends in Portland, Oregon, have no clue about how awesome Madison’s Brat Fest celebration can be. Mackie is a pastor at Portland’s Door of Hope church and teaches Old Testament at Western Seminary. He developed a local following while he was studying for his PhD in Hebrew at the University of Wisconsin and was a teaching pastor at Blackhawk Church a decade ago. Mackie said he had a lot of conversations with Portland friends about going to Madison for the weekend to preach a sermon at Brat Fest’s Sunday morning community worship service. “I couldn’t convince people that…

It’s relatively easy to sit in a large room with 250 folks – most of us white – and listen to the stories of slavery and segregation and civil rights and to feel horrified and then ashamed and then inspired. It’s not so easy when all that history bumps up against today’s realities.

Imagine this: you’re a parent. And like most parents, you’re constantly worrying about your kids. Only, your worries are more daunting than most, and they keep you up at night—at least, you think they do. After all, it’s hard to get a good night’s sleep in the front seat of your family’s Toyota Camry, especially with the kids in the back. So, you lay there, awake, trying to find a solution to your family’s problems.

The Wisconsin State Capitol grounds were not packed (as they are for Concerts on the Square). Only a couple of hundred people gathered at the King street entrance for today’s noon hour prayer observance, but even just two or three would have made it a significant prayer meeting. Joleen Helbig, Wisconsin National Day of Prayer State Coordinator, introduced musicians Leotha and Tamera Stanley, from Madison’s Mt. Zion Church, and Julaine Appling of the Wisconsin Family Council. Appling introduced the theme of this year’s National Day of Prayer: “For Your Great Name’s Sake! Hear us. Forgive us. Heal us!” The theme…

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV)—Many families in our area struggle with providing needs like medical and dental care, groceries, clothing or even a haircut. Felicia Pendleton and Krysta Wetzel talk about an event that’s happening this Saturday where Dane County residents can receive these services for free.

Since settling in Madison eight years ago, Don Tubesing has been a Big Brother volunteer with Big Brothers/Big Sisters, a supporter of the Lussier Family Center and member of the leadership team of its statewide gospel choir, a volunteer with the literacy program at the Dane County Jail, a stone carver and a history-maker in the Madison theater community.