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By Chris Rickert, Wisconsin State Journal — Citing reduced membership and Mass attendance, and sundry other indicators of what Bishop Donald Hying describes as an “increasingly post-Christian culture,” the Diocese of Madison is planning to roll out a major restructuring next year that would consolidate parishes and possibly sell off unused church property. According to an “initial outline” released Oct. 1, the Diocese’s 102 parishes — including 135 churches and other associated buildings — would be consolidated into approximately 30 “pastorates,” or groupings of parishes, with “each under the leadership of a single Pastor and other priests collaborating with him…

In a room “full of entrepreneurial, grass roots, mission-minded leaders,” in the words of keynote speaker Dave Bechtold, three visonaries were recognized for their leadership. A surprise presentation began the Madison Christian Giving Fund’s Celebration of Generosity held Friday evening, October 7, 2022, at High Point Church on Old Sauk Road. Tom and Barb Hoffner, and Scott Haumersen, were recognized as Faithful Servants by Ryan Klund of the National Christian Foundation Wisconsin. The Hoffners and Haumersen took the lead eight years ago, launching the Madison Christian Giving Fund (MCGF) and the Madison Christian Generosity Council (MCGC) under the umbrella of…

Snizhana Bykova and her two children, Daniil and Arina, left their home in Kyiv to flee to safety in the United States. Their American friends Anne and Jeff Munson welcomed the Bykovs into their already crowded Fitchburg home on March 6. Six months later, the Bykovs are living on their own. They moved into a Middleton duplex in July. The congregation at Midvale Community Lutheran Church sponsored the Bykov and Munson families and helped make this all possible.

by Marcus Allen, Pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Madison For the last several months, I have been partnering with Upper House to plan and host an innovative event coming up this month— the Midwest Gospel Preaching Summit. When I approached Upper House with the idea, the Midwest GPS took on the shape I had hoped for—a spiritually invigorating event that will uplift and equip preachers and pastors of diverse congregations. How it might help us advance the kingdom of God in Madison and the surrounding region is something we can only imagine. I want you to be a part…

Madison is a non-profit organization hub and Madison residents are generous. But keeping the organization funded so it can serve the people it was created to serve can still be a challenge. The Madison Christian Giving Fund (MCGF) was created to serve organizations like that. And MCGF is next month offering a Capacity Building Workshop for local non-profits, especially Christian non-profits, their target audience. Marcy Heim, a highly sought-after speaker and a world class expert on philanthropy and fundraising, will be sharing her insights on fundraising and forming life-long relationships with donors. Attendees typically pay hundreds of dollars to learn…

Evangelist Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham, has announced his God Loves You Tour will stop at the Waukesha County Expo Center on Saturday, October 1, 2022. This evening “will give the lost an opportunity to know Jesus and encourage believers in their faith,” the event website says. The free evening begins with music at 6:30pm and will feature a guest musical artist followed by a message from Franklin Graham. The Waukesha County Expo Center is located at 1000 Northview Road in Waukesha. Attendees are invited to bring their own chairs and blankets for seating. In preparation for the October…

At the end of Stuart Briscoe’s days, the renowned Wisconsin pastor, speaker and author said he hoped someone would look back on his life and say: “Stuart Briscoe served God’s purpose in his own generation, and now he has fallen asleep and is ready to meet his Lord” — a reference to the biblical figure of David in Acts 13:36. “I’d be thrilled if that was the conclusion,” he told the Journal Sentinel in 2020. Wednesday, August 3, 2022, was Briscoe’s time to meet his Lord. The 91-year-old Oconomowoc resident and former Elmbrook senior pastor died “of natural causes unexpectedly,”…

When was there a concert in Madison where the musician laid down a percussion track by tapping on the official Madison city bird with a wooden spoon? It happened, Sunday morning, June 12 at the Mitch McVicker concert at Metro Believers Church. McVicker, a talented songwriter and performer, worked with two microphones. One was connected to a loop sequencer that recorded and played back audio loops, sometimes recording McVicker’s vocal effects or a kazoo but more often a litany of percussion effects. These were made by tapping on such unrelated household items as a toilet seat, a pitcher or even…

Luke 5 Adventures is a new organization aimed at helping the church serve a population that often goes ignored, people with disabilities. It started in Cincinnati two years ago, and a southern Wisconsin chapter has just begun in the Hartland area. “Worldwide an estimated one billion people are impacted by disability,” said Luke 5 founder Kevin Schwieger. They are either people with disabilities or family members, etc. “One percent of the U.S. population is in a wheelchair but you seldom see those people in church,” he added. Schwieger has 30 years of ministry experience. Arriving at his church on a…