Dr. Rev. Dennis Edwards, Ph. D. is the senior pastor at Sanctuary Covenant Church in North Minneapolis. Dr. Rev. Edwards writes this guest piece for Black History Month about his experience of racism in Minnesota and in the Church, and why Christians should be vehemently dismantling racism.

Rev. Leslie X. Sanders, the Associate Minister to Youth and Families at First Covenant Church of St. Paul guest authors a piece on his own experience with racism for Black History Month.

Originally from Liberia, in West Africa, Rev. Charles Goah is senior pastor of United Christian Fellowship Church. Pastor Goah guest authors a piece on why it is important to celebrate African-American history, starting with Africans role in the Bible, for Black History Month.

Dr. Keith Stanley Brooks is currently the Dean of Academic Foundations at Minneapolis Community & Technical College. Periodically with Chosen Path Consulting Brooks also shares his expertise as an author, facilitator (educational leadership, intercultural competence, goal-driven staff development) and inspirational keynote speaker. Brooks is also an ordained Elder at the Holy Christian Church.

Russ Gregg, Head of School at Hope Academy writes that the mis­education of inner city youth is one of the most critical social justice issues of our day. Too many inner-city children are growing up in traumatic and impoverished homes that will sadly go on reproducing themselves for generations. Gregg writes about how the educational situation in the inner-city is desperate, but it is not hopeless. He encourages us to pray like Nehemiah, be moved to tears like Nehemiah and intervene like Nehemiah; knowing there is hope in returning to the Almighty God.

Advent is a season of mournful longing and anticipation. But as Pastor Jason Meyer of Bethlehem Baptist shares, Advent should be one of the most evangelistic seasons of the church calendar. Some people come to church only twice a year (Christmas and Easter). Rather than criticize them, let’s capitalize on this willingness, by focusing church messages on the gospel; repent and believe.

As a former pseudo-Buddhist refugee-turned-Pastor, Le Que Heidkamp reflects on how the Incarnation of Jesus allows her to see the darkness in our world as redeemable. And the Power that Christmas has in our pluralistic and sometimes dark world.

New Hope Church shares how they were able to accomplish becoming debt-free through a 4-year initiative called "Rich in Generosity." Church leaders say the key to paying off their nearly $4 million facilities mortgage was unprecedented generosity through its members. Through the initiative they found a financial freedom that allows them to expand their ministry opportunities.

Church leaders are exhausted by the lack of volunteer help. Volunteers are vital to creating growth and new ministries, and are the key to introducing youth and children to Jesus Christ. Under the leadership of Jill Fox, Wooddale Church's volunteer program boasted 3,000+ participants. In our Pastor's Column, Jill writes about how to mobilize the church’s most vital workforce, volunteers.

Every year church leaders have many programs pitched at them. It is easy to become jaded about “the next big thing” sweeping across the church. David Lens, Lead Pastor of Hope Church in Richfield wondered if "The Story" was just another over-hyped program to avoid. But after careful research and receiving multiple recommendations Hope Church decided to take the plunge with "The Story." Read why they are so glad they did!