News
Life is busy for most of us and so it’s no wonder that the first thing to go by the wayside is self-care. Pastors and those who work in the church-sphere are no exception to this. In fact they may even have a harder time than others since it is their job to be “selfless”. This faulty thinking is damaging and needs to be counteracted. Pastors need to be provided the space to recharge and feel healed of the cares of their work. Some avenues exist – conferences, vacations, and getaways are some but tend to be expensive and time consuming.…
A panel of five local pastors responded to the survey of Dane County churches presented by Dubuque Seminary professor Christopher James at Upper House on November 19, 2019. The survey results presented a view of the Madison area in contrast to the popular perception of the city once described as the Athens of the Midwest. For one thing, Madison is not a bad place to plant a new fellowship. “It is possible to start new churches here,” James said. His research found 34 churches started since 2010 in Dane County are still going, and 52 churches started since 2000 are…
As Christopher James surveyed churches in Dane County and talked with pastors here and visited some of the churches, he began to get a sense of varied texture the religious landscape in a community not always thought of as religious. He explored the divisions in the community and among the churches. He looked at the differences in the ways Christians give voice to their priorities and go about their worship. In the process, he opened up possibilities for churches in this area to find new ways to shape the future. James is an associate professor of evangelism and missional Christianity…
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…