News from The Northwest Conference

News from the Northwest Conference

There has been a change in the speaker for Imagine. We will now be joined by Anne-Marie Finsaas, who serves as minister to children at Colonial Church in Edina.

She is passionate about kids and families integrating their faith into ordinary, everyday life. Anne-Marie holds an MA in Children's and Family Ministry and has taught at national and local children's conferences, as well as Bethel Theological Seminary as an adjunct professor. She is currently studying for a Doctorate of Ministry in Leadership and Spiritual Formation.

Imagine: A day for those serving Children & Families will take place on Saturday, Nov. 12, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at First Covenant Church in Willmar, MN.

The event is FREE and open to anyone who works with kids in our churches. Lunch will be provided, and the day will feature our keynote speaker and time for discussion. Mark your calendars and please share this event with your staff and volunteers.

Download a promotional flyer for Imagine.

VIVE Kickoff 2011 offers $100 pizza gift card to youth group with most students attending!

VIVE Kickoff 2011, on Oct. 29 at Minnehaha Academy, is fast approaching! You can register students from your youth ministry at: http://www.northpark.edu/Admissions/VIVE/Registration. The youth group with the most students attending will receive a $100 pizza gift card.

Need some help promoting this great event? Check out this promo video featuring the keynote speaker (and former Denver Bronco) Steve Fitzhugh.

VIVE Kickoff invite

S.A.L.T. 2011 helps students envision their leadership purpose

Over 75 high school student leaders from 12 churches gathered on Oct. 8 for Student Action Leadership Training (S.A.L.T.). Many showed their commitment to pursuing leadership by getting up early in the morning to make the trek to Bloomington Covenant Church. The day included great worship, challenging speakers, and a chance to envision how God might use them in leadership, both in their church and in their community.

Night of comedy raises $6K for CER-MN

Over 300 people gathered on Oct. 15 at Maple Grove Covenant Church in Maple Grove, MN, for a night of laughter and an opportunity to learn about Covenant Enabling Residences of Minnesota (CER-MN). The evening featured comedy by Bob Stromberg, Bill Arnold and Michael Pearce Donley, creators of Triple Espresso.

Baird McDowell, a resident at Our Place, played piano as people were arriving, and also gave a personal word of witness as to what it's like to live in one of the residences. A free-will offering at the event raised $6,000 to benefit CER-MN.

CER-MN operates three living facilities for developmentally disabled adults: Our Place and North Place in Duluth, MN, and Friendship Place in Lino Lakes, MN.