MC News
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.
Washington – Can a public high school hold its graduation ceremony in a local church? The Supreme Court has been pondering that question in its private conference for six weeks, discussing whether to take up a Wisconsin case that could reset the line separating church and state. Last year, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago ruled that the Elmbrook School District, near Milwaukee, violated the First Amendment and its ban on “an establishment of religion” by holding a high school graduation ceremony in the sanctuary of an evangelical Christian church.
Middleton Outreach Ministry, for the first time, has space on site to store the 28 tons of donated canned and dry goods collected at its third annual Canstruction event. MOM’s new location at 3502 Parmenter St. in Middleton more than doubled its former space and brought its caseworkers, food pantry and clothing store together on one campus.
“As the Executive Director of the Care Net Pregnancy Center of Dane County, I’ve learned that many things can be delegated but prayer cannot,” said Liz Osborn, speaking to a small crowd of about 100 that gathered on the capitol steps in downtown Madison this noon to observe the National Day of Prayer.”Prayer transforms us because it brings God near,” she also said. And she likened prayer to a Coast Guard ice cutter which forges a path through the thick ice so other ships can easily follow.
Brazil (MNN) ― What happens when missionaries go home on leave? Work usually stops until they get back, right? New Tribes Mission found a way around this in Brazil. Using a computer program called VSee, New Tribes missionary Barry Spor in Wisconsin can create Bible lessons in the Guanano language with a co-worker in Brazil.
The church on Madison’s Far East Side considers its nearly $7 million addition just one part of an ambitious two-year agenda.
The Rev. Philip Hougen, a former bishop of the southeastern Iowa synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, has been named interim bishop for the ELCA south-central synod of Wisconsin. He begins Wednesday. He takes over for Bishop Bruce Burnside, who has been charged with three felonies and one misdemeanor in the April 7 death of Maureen Mengelt of Sun Prairie, who was out for an afternoon run when she was struck and killed. Burnside is accused of hitting her while driving drunk.