Molnau honors Salvation Army work program
TWIN CITIES — A new Twin Cities Salvation Army program that puts recovering men to work at McDonald’s restaurants has caught the eye of Lt. Governor Carol Molnau. On Oct. 2 she gave the Army a best practices award for its Golden Opportunity Partnership program, which provides employment, mentoring and housing for graduates of the The Salvation Army’s Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC) in Minneapolis. 

Golden Opportunity features a partnership with McDonald’s franchise owner Larry Brown, who in February agreed to hire four male ARC graduates at two of his Twin Cities restaurants if they committed to working at least nine months. The four men are still working, and three have been promoted to management training programs.

“It would normally take about two years for someone to reach the point these three men have,” said Jim Hale, leader of Mentor Corps, a Golden Opportunity partner that provides trained mentors for ARC graduates. “All four men are on a path of increased responsibilities and have been recognized as outstanding employees.”

Golden Opportunity houses the men through a partnership with Ever Living Hope, a faith-based transitional housing provider.

“(These men) could not make this kind of transformation without Christ-centered living, working, mentoring and church fellowship,” Hale added. “Even when tough days occurred, these men came together to overcome (their) old natures by helping each other.”

Molnau honored Golden Opportunity at the Minnesota Veterans Outreach Forum, held at the Rosemount Community Center. Her award was given on behalf of the 2008 Governor’s Council on Faith and Community Service Initiatives, which recognizes faith and community organizations that change lives through partnerships with government, private and nonprofit agencies.


National Church Library Association celebrates 50 years at Bloomington event
BLOOMINGTON — The National Church Library Association’s biennial conference, “Celebrate Church Library Ministry,” will be held Nov. 6-8 at the Holiday Inn Select in Bloomington. The organization, which works to strengthen and support church libraries, will celebrate its 50th Anniversary at the event.

Friday mornings keynote speaker will be Jody Klescewski, coordinator of BookAID, a program of Hazelden Publishing that provides recovery resources to needy individuals and groups, including community treatment centers, correctional facilities, churches, schools, halfway houses, and private organizations. Hazelden is the nation’s leading publisher of materials for individuals who are in recovery or suffer from addiction.

The Saturday morning keynote session will feature a panel of award-winning writers from the Christian Authors Network. Members of the panel will discuss the importance of Christian fiction and its role in the church library.

The conference will also include 40 workshops for new and experienced church library workers. Topics to be presented include: “Letter to a New Church Librarian,” “Classification & Cataloging Made Easy,” “Creative FUNdraising,” and “Basic Steps to Library Automation.”

Exhibitors at the conference will showcase new books and other resources to enhance church library ministry.

For more information or to register for the conference, visit www.churchlibraries.org.


U2charist to raise funds, awareness for poverty
BURNSVILLE — Grace United Methodist Church in Burnsville will host a U2charist service to benefit the cause of extreme poverty on Nov. 7 at 7 p.m.

According to Wikipedia.org, a U2charist is a communion service, or Eucharist, accompanied by U2 songs in lieu of traditional hymns and sometimes as part or all of the service music. The U2charist was initially started in the Episcopal Church but has been adapted by several other denominations.

Bono, lead singer of U2 and co-founder of the ONE organization, has been an outspoken advocate for the elimination of global poverty. The group allows use of its songs at U2charist services, provided that events are not labeled as “concerts,” and all event proceeds go to organizations battling poverty.

Worship at the Grace UMC event will be led by Rattle & Hum, “the midwest’s premiere U2 tribute band.” A free-will offering will be taken to benefit those living in extreme poverty, and attendees are encouraged to bring canned goods for local food shelves.

For more information on the U2charist service at Grace UMC in Burnsville, visit www.graceumcburnsville.org or call (952) 435-5696.


Guthrie presents story of C.S. Lewis in ‘Shadowlands’
MINNEAPOLIS — The Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis will present William Nicholson’s “Shadowlands,” directed by Joe Dowling, on the McGuire Proscenium Stage Nov. 7 through Dec. 21. The play follows the story of renowned Christian author C.S. Lewis as he meets fan and poet Joy Gresham. An unlikely friendship develops and “Lewis’ world is turned upside down as he experiences a love he’s never known before,” according to a press release. As the couple’s romance develops, a twist of fate reveals a tragic truth for Lewis: a heart awakened to great love is made vulnerable to great pain.

“A celebrated scholar, Lewis discovers that for almost every person of religious conviction, the most harrowing test of faith comes with the suffering and death of a loved one. He comes to realize the difficulty in believing in a just and kind God who allows innocent people to suffer,” a press release read. “Yet it is precisely at the most difficult moments that religious belief can be most comforting.”

The Guthrie and The Children’s Theatre Company are teaming up to present a special offer this holiday season. The Children’s Theatre Company is set to present Lewis’ “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.” The two theaters are offering the C.S. Lewis Ticket Package, which includes discounted tickets to each performance.

To purchase tickets for “Shadowlands” or to order a ticket package, call the Guthrie Box Office at (612) 377-2224. For show schedules and more information, visit www.guthrietheater.org.


AFLC pastors found new service organization
PLYMOUTH — Lutheran pastor Eugene Enderlein, of Plymouth, Minn., has been appointed executive director of Alpha Omega Compassion (AOC), a new mission organization. Enderlein, like several other incorporators, is on the clergy roster of the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations, headquartered in Plymouth.

AOC is organized for religious mission purposes with an emphasis on support for infrastructure needs identified by Lutheran-related churches in the Third World.

“In obedience to the commands of our Lord Jesus Christ, AOC seeks to demonstrate his love through acts of compassion by seeking to provide for the poor and needy,” said David Johnson, incorporator and AFLC pastor. “AOC may provide aid to the distressed in the form of food, medicine, clothing, or other life-sustaining needs.”

Incorporators stress that AOC is fully supportive of the AFLC-USA and its efforts through its World Missions Commission in its goal to support the training and work of pastors abroad in such places as India.


Guided silent retreats offer opportunities for solitude
STILLWATER — Presented from a “conservative evangelical perspective,” and patterned after the “Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola,” Doorway to Discovery retreats encourage participants to engage times of prolonged silence. The goal, according to retreat leader Peter Churness, is to “listen to the quiet promptings of the Master.”

Doorway to Discovery will present a Men’s Weekend Nov. 20-23, and a Women’s Weekend Feb. 5-8. Both silent retreats will take place at Dunrovin Retreat Center, located 9 miles north of Stillwater.

“The Doorway to Discovery Guided Silent Retreats have been a high point each year for me personally, and for many others as well,” said Churness, who will serve as assistant leader of the Men’s Weekend. “It is a time to come away for a set time to truly hear the voice of the living God.”

During the Silent Retreats, the retreat director introduces a topic to be considered, suggests several texts for meditation and prayer, and provides questions for application. After each session, participants are given the opportunity to reflect in solitude as well. Devotionals are presented by fellow retreat participants, and the weekend includes corporate worship times.

Pastor Bruce Kotila, who founded the Protestant expression of the silent retreats seven years ago, will serve as retreat director for the Men’s Weekend. Kotila was director of Lutheran Evangelistic Movement from 1997 to 2008 and is now pastor of discipleship at Thanksgiving! Lutheran Church in Omaha, Neb.

Freelance writer and author Sharon Knudson is the director of the Women’s Weekend. She is communications director of LEM and editor of their monthly ministry publication LifeLines. Her new book, “Starting from Scratch When You’re Single Again,” was released in September.

“I believe the Lord has appointed times set aside to meet with each of us during the coming year. This year’s Silent Retreat may be one of those times for you,” Churness said.

Attendees are encouraged to leave portable media devices, newspapers, magazines, books, cell phones, pagers, work materials and other distracting gadgets at home. Registration for a Doorway to Discovery Guided Silent Retreat includes handouts, meals, snacks, bed linens, pillows and towels.

To learn more about Doorway to Discovery retreats, visit www.doorwaytodiscovery.org or call (651) 695-0609.


Youth Encounter’s Quake reaches out to middle school students
BLOOMINGTON — Youth Encounter, a nonprofit Christian ministry, will host the Minneapolis Quake Nov. 21-23 in Bloomington. Quakes are regional weekend events for middle school youth that are designed to “build a caring community among youth and adults, grow a faith in Jesus Christ and develop healthy relationships among peers,” according to a press release.

“A Quake is an opportunity for youth to get away for the weekend—away from the distractions and habits they have—to really focus on developing a stronger faith,” said Dave Frei, event director for Youth Encounter. “It’s a chance to turn off the violent video games, DVDs and iPods and plug into the powerful and life-changing message of Christ. Quakes combine fun and faith in a way that can really turn kids on to a faith driven life.”

The Quake event will feature the music of local band Fuller Still, a regular at outdoor festivals, coffee shops, nightclubs and youth events.

A press release stated, “When Fuller Still is guest at a youth event, something extraordinary happens: God is glorified, walls come down, and lives begin to change for the better.”

Ted Rossing, a former member of Youth Encounter’s international music ministry team, Watermark, will serve as featured speaker for the Minneapolis Quake. Rossing is a former youth group director and YE staff member. He currently works as a producer in Christian talk radio.

“Speaking at Youth Encounter events is a tremendous privilege. It is truly a blessing to share the love and hope that is in Christ with teens in a way that is humorous yet poignant, and hopefully causes them to consider their relationship with God in a new way,” Rossing said. “I really like Youth Encounter’s relational ministry focus, which allows the youth and adult leaders full access to the speakers and musicians and encourages great fellowship at the events. It’s in that fellowship where powerful, personal ministry happens and the body of believers is strengthened. Soli Deo Gloria!”

The Minneapolis Quake will also feature a service project to benefit Global Health Ministries. Participants will help create “comfort kits” to be sent along with medical supplies around the world.

The 2008 Minneapolis Quake will take place at the Hilton Airport Hotel in Bloomington. Registration is $160 per student. For more information or to register online, visit www.youthencounter.org or call 1-800-65YOUTH.


Wayne Pederson named new president of HCJB Global
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The international missions organization HCJB Global announced the selection of Wayne Pederson as the ministry’s new president.

A Minnesota native, Pederson has served as vice president of Moody Broadcasting, executive director of Christian Music Broadcasters, president of the Mission America Coalition and president and chairman of the National Religious Broadcasters. From 1967 to 2002, he held various positions at Northwestern College, rising to the level of executive vice president for radio.

Pederson is the seventh president of HCJB Global, and he has been a member of the organization’s board of directors for two-and-a-half years.

“The board is delighted that Wayne has accepted the call to become HCJB Global’s president. With his combination of godly character, seasoned leadership skills and passion for HCJB and its mission, he is uniquely equipped to serve as our president,” said John Baugus, chairman of the ministry’s board.

“I have a passion to see people come to Jesus. My focus has been on using the media to accomplish that. However, as I grow older, God has sensitized my heart to the physical needs of people worldwide,” Pederson said. “By combining HCJB Global Voice with HCJB Global Hands, we can demonstrate the love of Christ in very practical ways. That kind of caring opens the door for us to share the great spiritual truth that God cares not only for people’s eternal salvation, but for their welfare in this life.”

HCJB Global ministers to people in more than 100 countries through mass media, health care and education outreach. The Gospel message is aired in more than 120 languages and dialects through HCJB radio programming. To learn more about the ministry, visit www.hcjb.org.


Petters fallout hurts MNTC
MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Teen Challenge was forced to lay off 22 employees, 8 percent of its 260-person staff workforce, as part of the fallout from Tom Petters’ alleged fraud schemes.

According to Eric Vagle, administration director, the Christian residential treatment program invested some large gifts with Petters’ companies. The ministry, upon recommendation from one large donor, had invested $5.7 million with the Harvest Fund and, later, the Fidelis Foundation, two organizations linked to Petters.

Minnesota Teen Challenge serves more than 400 teens and adults in drug and alcohol recovery each year.