Author: Gordon Govier

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans said its members have approved selling insurance products to other Christian denominations for the first time in its 111-year history. The change will enable the fraternal benefit organization’s 2,300 financial representatives to sell insurance products — such as life, disability, long-term care and annuities — to people who are not Lutheran.

RACINE — Interfaith religious leaders from throughout Wisconsin made a call for “compassionate and just” immigration reform on Tuesday in Racine. As momentum to reform the national immigration system builds in the U.S. Senate and House, religious leaders and people of faith must mobilize to help push it through, speakers said.

Immigration as a political issue lives mostly in the shadows in the Madison area. Sure, there’s the march up West Washington Avenue to the Capitol on May 1 with a few hundred immigrants and their supporters calling for reform. Sure, there were recent meetings with Madison Mayor Paul Soglin to organize the business community for reform and with a representative of Republican Sen. Ron Johnson to throw cold water on the hopes for reform. But immigration is not the hot-button issue here that it is in many states.

The view is tranquil. The quiet is calming. A step on the path is meant as the start of a journey toward inner peace. Meet the brick labyrinth on the Middleton farm known as Hillsong Ridge. It is only the latest of nearly 20 labyrinths to spring up in and around the Madison area over the past decade, part of a growing movement to counter modern-day stresses with an ancient and mysterious tool.

All movies have a message, multiple messages in fact. The main message of Not Today, opening at the Marcus Point Cinema this Friday is that you, here in Madison, can have an impact on the terrible scourge of human trafficking.

Thirteen Elmbrook members arrived in Oklahoma City last week to volunteer with the international Christian relief agency Samaritan’s Purse. Part relief workers, part Christian evangelists, the volunteers are part of Elmbrook’s disaster relief ministry, which grew out of its work in the Gulf Coast region after Hurricane Katrina.

A Wisconsin church has built a 60-foot high cross on its property in an effort to make its surrounding community more “Christ-conscious,” and perhaps help win the culture war, says the church’s pastor.

MADISON (WKOW) — Mother’s Day was extra special for one woman, who has overcome homelessness for her children thanks to the help of a Madison organization. Breanna Mitchell-Johnson was essentially homeless at just 14-years-old, and gave birth to her son just before her 18th birthday. The Elizabeth House, a nine-month program for pregnant woman, took Breanna in and she stayed there until she got back on her feet.

There’s a big difference between the movie, Not Today, opening in Madison Friday, May 31st, and the typical Hollywood summer blockbuster. The blockbuster’s purpose is to funnel millions of dollars into the coffers of the Hollywood producers. Not Today’s purpose is to invite you to care about a global issue effecting millions of vulnerable women and children, and their families: human trafficking.

At Asbury United Methodist Church in Madison, Ken Witte was known as “Mr. Opportunity.” Tall and burly, he’d rise during the morning announcements and cheerfully bellow, “Boy, do I have an opportunity for you.” Parishioners knew what that meant — they very soon might find themselves collecting excess produce at the Dane County Farmers’ Market or delivering a carload of strawberries and potatoes to a food pantry. Witte, who died April 25 at age 87 of respiratory failure and a stroke, was always cajoling friends and strangers into helping him put food on other people’s tables.