Sexuality and gender identity are important and critical issues our society is wrestling with in the public sphere. Today’s secular culture is dictating the narrative of what is sexually permissible, leaving the Church often timid when speaking about sexual orientation, gender dysphoria, and God’s design for holy sexuality. We believe the Church needs to root its response in the truth that male and female were created in God’s image. We believe the Church needs to offer a fulfilling, good, God-honoring vision of holy sexuality. In loving the whole person, the Church needs to be willing to accept the questions that come along with people struggling with their sexuality and identity.

Four churches in the southwest metro are collaborating around God’s passion for justice and mercy. On the weekend of May 14-16, Wooddale Church, Christ Presbyterian Church, Westwood Community Church, and Grace Church are planning a Twin Cities Justice Weekend with the help of the International Justice Mission (IJM). This coalition of churches believes the Church is better together, than apart when working to end slavery. Find out the 5 ways your church can be involved in the Twin Cities Justice Weekend.

300 Minnesota pastors gathered together, lifting up in prayer the UNITE National Day of Prayer to be held at Mariucci Arena. Pastors from nearly every denomination prayed for each other, prayed for unity in the Twin Cities, and for the upcoming National Day of Prayer held on May 5, 2016.

In order for your compelling mission to be heard by donors, clients, and the public, you must have an effective communication strategy. It's importance that your organization understands its "WHY" mission. "Getting to their "WHY"-both why they do what they do, and why their audience should care-and embedding that in everything," says Sharon Sampson, CEO of Open Book Communications. Stakeholders need to be equipped with a simple way of understanding "what do you do" and "what difference does it make." That has to drive deeper to mission and outcomes that make donors/stakeholders feel part of something larger than themselves. Learn how to identify what you most want your audience to do, solve, or feel?

As we embark on Black History Month we want to lift up the voices of black pastors, theologians, and Christians leaders in our community. We asked five thoughtful, engaging, and encouraging local black church leaders and thought leaders in our network to share their experiences of being African American in Minnesota and in the Church. We also asked for recommendations of other black authors, theologians, scholars and Christian leaders who have profoundly influenced their faith journey. Read their guest articles and recommendations here.