As a pastor, one of the things I have to work at a lot is communication. In my daily work what I have to do to be effective is communicate well, so I really like it when I come across a saying or a word that communicates well. The concept of a ’sweet spot’ communicates well. If you have ever played in band or orchestra and you can remember what it felt like the first time you hit just the right note at just the right time, you know what it is like to hit a sweet spot. If you have sung in a choir, hit a ball, or dove off a high diving board for the first time you have a basic recollection of what it means to have a ’sweet spot’ experience.

I recall when I first began playing tennis. It was a frustrating experience. Then it seemed that one day out of the blue I hit the ball in just the right spot and the ball flew effortlessly off the racket. For the first time I knew what it meant to hit the sweet spot. I can also recall the moment when I broke up a fight and in doing so I was facing someone I was very much afraid of and all time seemed to stand still in that moment.

The ’sweet spot’ is not a term that just communicates, it connects us with moments in time that say to us, I can do this! It is an experience that says to us, if I did it once I can do this again. It connects us with experiences that build the confidence, hope and joy that if we did it once then we can do it again.

What is the church, if not God’s ’sweet spot’? God’s church is the invitation God gives us to invite others to experience the ’sweet spot’ of God. The church is where people do more than talk about God. The church communicates and connects people with the reality that we can do this. We can love people, even when they are un-lovable. We can educate children even when the systems and institutions that are in place have failed them.

As the people of God, we are challenged to do more than argue, fight, and hold onto a belief system that keeps us apart from the world. As the church, we are obligated, I mean called, to take this precious gift of God’s good news and invite people to experience the connection we are blessed to share in God.

I am so thankful that the person who taught me how to play tennis did nog give up on me. I am thankful that his confidence did not begin with my ability but with the trust and hope that I would eventually get it; I would eventually experience the ’sweet spot’.

My prayer for our entire church is that we will faithfully and joyfully connect people with their sweet spot in God.

Pastor Kelly Chatman

Marilu Thomas, Executive Director, Redeemer Center for Life

Hello Zion Lutheran! I have a very warm place in my heart for Zion (especially important in a Minnesota winter!). I have witnessed Zion’s love of Christ lives in the world through generous and faithful people like David Nerothin who serves on our Redeemer Center For Life board, Rick and Deb Johnson who have hosted us at Zion, Pastor Judy who preached at Redeemer, the new stair construction through Dave and Doug Schmidt, and the many Zion members who have volunteered and given to the Christmas Store and Block Party.

So, shouldn’t we get to know each other? I’ll tell you a little bit about myself and when we meet you can tell me about yourself. Deal?

Although my Dad was from ‘the range’ in Minnesota, Atlanta, Georgia was my home for the first 24 years, until I met and married my husband, Stuart. We both worked for the Coca-Cola Company then and he was posted to Ecuador. After that, we lived in five Latin American countries where both of our daughters were born. Our daughter Kristin, 25, was married to fellow Valparaiso graduate Caleb Sancken at Redeemer and they have a four-month old daughter, Lucy. Callie, our younger daughter, graduated from St. Olaf last year and works in Washington D.C. with the Lutheran Volunteer Corp. Sprinkled through my work history are gigs in advertising, magazine editing, middle-school teaching, management, health and wellness ministries, and peer ministry training. Last year, I graduated from the dual degree program at Luther Seminary/Augsburg College with a Masters in Social Work and a Masters in Divinity.

I started at Redeemer Center for Life the day of the big Block Party in 2008—no better way to get into the swing of things. Redeemer Center for Life is the 501 C (3) non-profit started by Redeemer Lutheran Church a decade ago and we exist to respond to the Harrison Neighborhood in terms of youth development, housing and jobs. An eclectic mix of cultures and people, the Harrison area has historically been the domain of the newly arrived and disenfranchised of the city. Located in lower North Minneapolis, it is comprised of 75% people of color and 25% who speak a language other than English at home. It is also one of the most underserved areas in Minneapolis, where 63% of the children live in poverty.

What do I love about working at Redeemer? The pulse of the neighborhood and the connection of the people. When I first arrived at RCFL, one of the staff members had me make my first (and I would suspect only…) Rap CD about my identity and call in the world. That’s how we are counter cultural at RCFL—we challenge the current culture by recreating it with a Christian bent. There may be ‘poverty of the pocket book’ in Harrison, but there is a wealth of Spirit. Genuine and authentic sharing of life and material things abounds in Harrison. The Breakfast Club on Saturday mornings is a good example—people coming together to share what they think over coffee and muffins. We also have an after-school program, RAP, where youth are finding their voices and identities at the Peace Palace. They express themselves through dance, songwriting and recording, movie making, acting, artwork, and thoughtful discussions.

I know North Minneapolis may loom large in your mind as a scary place. But I want to assure you that you have friends in those neighborhoods who are a part of your life at Zion. Come and visit. We’ll be there to welcome you and help you get to know our part of the ‘hood. It might just change your mind about race and culture and being a community. As they say, I’ll leave the light on.

Marilu J. Thomas

Executive Director, Redeemer Center for Life

PS – if you missed the “Refreshments with Redeemer” evening at Zion last August, you can see video of Marilu talking about the Redeemer Center for Life on our YouTube channel.

There is a legend that Knute Rockne was scheduled to face the football team of USC, the University of Southern California, knowing that USC was a far superior team, wondering if he could defeat them, came up with an idea.

He scoured the city of South Bend, Indiana for the biggest men he could find. He assembled about one hundred men, each about six foot five and weighing around three hundred pounds or more, he put them all in Notre Dame uniforms. With shoulder pads and helmets they looked even bigger.

Then, when it was time for the game to begin, he sent the men out of the locker room first. As the USC team watched, they just kept coming, and coming until these hundred men was all the USC men saw. The USC coach kept telling his team, “They can only field eleven men at a time.”

None of the men ever played one minute of the game. But USC had become so intimidated at the sight of them that they were unable to function, and Notre Dame won the game.

When I think about the challenges facing our neighborhood and community, I sometimes feel like Knute Rockne must have felt when he looked at the USC team. It is easy to look as issues such as poverty, crime, unaccompanied children and closing schools and simply feel intimidated. God has blessed our congregation and neighborhood with a team that includes Redeemer Center for Life, neighborhood residents, mission partners, college, seminary, neighborhood association and others. With all the support God is blessing our congregation to have, it is not we, but crime, poverty and indifference that should be intimidated.

People of God, it is time for us to achieve victory. It is time for us to celebrate the good news and celebration of our diverse community, lively worship and praise, soul food dinner, Block Club, Busy Fingers, after-school program, Living Room, free flu shots, hip-hop outreach , hundred year anniversary, housing, and many others.

It is time for us to claim the identity God has blessed us with and share God’s church. Scripture states that it is not right to light a lamp and hide it under a bushel, but to set it on the hill for the whole world to see. This is not to say that Redeemer is better than any other congregation, but it is our responsibility that we share with others the witness of God’s faithfulness in and around Redeemer.

Please consider contributing a gift for a man or boy of any age by December 11.

Volunteers are also invited to volunteer at the event on December 12 from 8:30-noon at Redeemer Lutheran Church.

Members of Redeemer, young and old enjoy the beauty and safety of the new front stairway. The work was done by Zion members Dave and Doug Schmidt.

As well as partnering in worship with Redeemer Lutheran Church, Zion has also been an active partner in helping Redeemer begin a capital campaign with the emphasis being on replacing the roof of their building. As Redeemer began their campaign, they realized that the front stairs were no longer safe for entrance into the building. Something had to be done to make the front entrance safe. This is where Zion members Dave and Doug Schmidt came in. They went to Redeemer and met with Pastor Kelly and discussed what needed to be done. Pastor Kelly gave them the OK to proceed with tearing down the old steps and building new ones. In Dave’s words…

“Rick Johnson asked if we would look at Redeemer’s front entrance because they had major problems. For years, I had heard about Redeemer being our sister church.  I thought it was a very large newer church, so I never paid much attention, but I agreed to look at the problem. Wow, was I surprised to see a smaller, older church with some problems, but a great Pastor Kelly and I was introduced to the staff who were very nice people.

We agreed on a price and started to rip out the steps and ramps leading up to a gathering area in front of the church. As we got into the project, everything started crumbling and shaking, even the stuff we thought we could leave. I talked to Pastor Kelly and he said, “Well, let’s fix it right.” I was extremely nervous about the situation, thinking there’s not even a foundation under all this mess.

Suddenly we found a foundation, under everything, solid as a rock with not a crack in it anywhere. We started to rebuild the entrance, starting on a solid foundation. Well now we’re finished, with all new steps and ramps as well as a gathering area at the front door. The railings are all new with Redeemer Lutheran Church inscribed right in the metal – very cool!

Everyone is happy, and I guess God had his hand in the project so that everything would work out, starting with that solid foundation buried under tons of rotting rubble. In today’s troubled world, I have been reminded by God that there is a solid foundation buried underneath all that’s happening in our lives. God is our foundation, so don’t worry!”

As you can see by the picture, the members of Redeemer are happy and grateful for the efforts of the Schmidt’s to make the entrance once again safe and also beautiful. The following comments from Pastor Kelly express his feelings about the capital campaign and the repair of the front steps. It is written to the members of Redeemer, but also has a message for all of us.

“Your capital campaign contributions and pledges made it possible for Redeemer to respond when the front stairway to the church deteriorated to the point of danger. We were blessed to have the contributions and pledges that made it possible to secure a contractor to build a new wall and entrance to Redeemer. Thanks to the capital campaign, people are safe to enter the church.

As I think about the unstable entrance to a church that is under construction, I think about how congregations like Redeemer are the entrance way to a Lutheran Church that has also become unstable and at risk. The church is unstable and at risk when people look at the church and wonder will there be a place for them leadership? If they dare to walk through the doors, will the church embrace them or try to change them? Will they find a church structure where people argue, criticize and judge or will they feel unsafe? When people dare to put their feet down on the structure of the church, is the intention to fully include them? Will they feel unsafe?

When we made our contribution to the capital campaign, it was a no brainer for us because in Redeemer we have found a dedicated congregation where people can feel safe to enter church. The entrance to Redeemer is built and cemented in our relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Bible study, choir, Sunday School, quilting, Busy fingers, cookouts, Narcotics Anonymous, Living Room, or affordable housing are all to support our understanding of God’sove and message that everyone is safe to belong and ennter God’s beloved community.”

Pastor Kelly Chatman of Redeemer Lutheran Church with Myron Crawford and Jim Onstad of Zion at the Soul Food Dinner last weekend.

Redeemer Lutheran Church and Zion have been partner churches for a number of years. During that time many of Zion’s members have attended and participated in worship services at Redeemer, members of Zion have attended Redeemer’s annual block parties and soul food dinners, Pastor Becky preached at Redeemer, Redeemer’s choir sang at Zion, Zion’s youth have been involved with projects at Redeemer, and Pastor Kelly Chatman has preached at Zion.

Pastor Kelly Chatman will be preaching at Zion again this Sunday, November 1, at the 8:30 and 10:30 services. Pastor Kelly will be joined by two musicians from Redeemer who will provide special music at the 8:30 and 10:30 services and help Myron lead the 9:45 service. Pastor Judy will be preaching at Redeemer.

Many years ago, criminologists James Q. Wilson and George Kelling formulated this theory about how a neighborhood or community slowly gives in to increasing crime rates. They called it the Broken Window Theory. Wilson and Kelling said that crimes are more likely to be committed in areas where it appears that the residents have lowered their standards and no longer care about their community.

If a window is broken and left unrepaired, people start to assume that no one cares about maintaining that building. More windows will get broken. As the building becomes more dilapidated, there is a growing assumption of lawlessness by the residents. People assume that they can lower their standards of behavior, because no one will notice or care.

In contrast to Gladwell’s theory, Redeemer is a congregation where change occurs by building on the assets of people. Where others see people with problems, Redeemer sees children of God.

In September, Redeemer displayed a new banner along Glenwood Avenue proclaiming that their congregation is “In the City for Good.” They also have a newly constructed entrance.

Today, Redeemer remains both a place of hope (assets) and a tipping point (transformation) where people experience the restoration of life and community, and for this we say, “thanks be to God!”

Zion’s Global Missions Committee members:

Kelly Chatman, Pastor of Redeemer:

Marilu Thomas, Director of Redeemer Center for Life:

Cindy Stenson, Congregational President of Redeemer:

Mara Kumagai Fink, a St Olaf Intern has “attended church forever, but still hadn’t ever felt a part of a real church community until [she came to Redeemer].  There’s something about [Redeemer] that is so incredible that words truly can’t describe. ” She was warmly welcomed at Redeemer, and learned “about what resilience truly is, about the love of God, and about what it means to be a Christian even when things aren’t going perfectly.”

For Brianna Pettis, a high school student, being part of the summer program at Redeemer has been the highlight of her summer.  She says it “is a great place to go and feel welcomed” and “a great place for children to come together and have fun, communicate with one another, and unite with each other. “

You can read their complete letters below:

I’ve attended church forever, but still hadn’t ever felt a part of a real church community until I got here.  There’s something about this place that is so incredible that words truly can’t describe.  Although I came into this internship nervous about what the summer had in store, I still can’t believe how welcoming you were.  I think Mrs. Williams described it exactly right when she said to me “They make you feel like you’re a part of it, even when you’re not!” That’s how it felt.  It didn’t seem to matter who I was that first Sunday, you welcomed me just because I was there.

As the summer goes on, getting to know you has been wonderful.  Your stories have helped teach me about what resilience truly is, about the love of God, and about what it means to be a Christian even when things aren’t going perfectly.  I appreciate you all more than you know and have had the best summer chatting, barbecuing, swimming, and worshiping with you. Thank You.

Mara Kumagai Fink, St Olaf Intern

Redeemer is a great place for children to come together and have fun, communicate with one another, and unite with each other.  As a high school freshman I also work as an assistant with a very educated young lady name Mara Fink.  What that means is that I work for the church, with the children’s program, and help plan the Block Party and special occasions.  When you get to know the people at Redeemer it’s like you are related and that’s just because they are nice, loving, and caring people who want to be here to help you out.

I hope that in my future I see all of these epople because I want them to be a part of my life.  I recommend this church to a lot of people in the neighborhood and around our community.  I thank the people here for making me feel like I belong here and would want to say that I am glad to be here.

Brianna Pettis, Summer Program

Meet and greet members of our partner congregation, Redeemer Lutheran Church in North Minneapolis. Representatives from Redeemer will include:

• Pastor Kelly Chatman
• Marilu Thomas, director of Redeemer Center for Life
• Cindy Stenson, President of the congregation

This will be a great time to hear Redeemer’s story, ask questions, and deepen our work together in God’s mission. This evening is hosted by the Global Missions committee.

There is an old rabbinic parable about a farmer who had two sons.  As soon as they were old enough to walk, he took them to the fields and he taught them everything that he knew about growing crops and raising animals.  when he got too old to work, the two boys took over the cores of the farm and when the father died, they had found their working together so meaningful that they decided to keep their partnership.  So each brother contributed what he could and during every harvest season, they would divide equally what they had corporately produced. Across the years the elder brother never married, stayed an old bachelor.  The younger brother did marry and had eight wonderful children.  Some years later when they were having a wonderful harvest, the old bachelor brother thought ot himself one night, “My brother has then mouths to feed. I only have one. He really needs more of his harvest than I do, but I know he is much too fair to renegotiate.  I know what I’ll do.  In the dead of the night when he is already asleep, I’ll take some of what I have put in my barn and I’ll slip it over into his barn to help him feed his children.

At the very same time he was thinking down that line, the younger brother was thinking to himself, “God has given me these wonderful children. My brother hasn’t been so fortunate.  He really needs more of this harvest for his old age than I do, but I know him.  He’s much too fair.  He’ll never renegotiate.  I know what I’ll do.  In the dead of the night when he’s asleep, I’ll take some of what I’ve put in my barn and slip it over into his barn.” And so one night when the moon was full, as you may have already anticipated, those two brothers came face to face, each on a mission of generosity.  The old rabbi said that there wasn’t a cloud in the sky, a gentle rain began to fall.  You know what it was? God weeping for joy because two of his children had gotten the point. Two of his children had come to realize that generosity is the deepest characteristic of the holy and because we are made in God’s image, our being generous is the secret to our joy.

Thank you to everyone for your generous contributions to the capital campaign and the vision to imagine how God continues to call Redeemer to share God’s generosity in a neighborhood where so many people have been forgotten.  We had a wonderful 100 Year Anniversary celebration on June 7th, thanks to Caleb Sancken, Ylanda Williams, and the Celebration Committee.  Thanks also for a great start to the capital appeal; our pledge commitments have already passed the $120,000 level.  Our goal is to reach $300,000.  The point of our giving is not just measured in the dollars we raise but how we together share the reality of God’s generosity in our lives and in the lives of our brothers and sisters.   Thankyou for your wonderful witness to the reality of God’s love!

A brunch will be served the morning of the auction, everyone attending is asked to bring school supplies. There will be a live auction of handmade quilts, silent auction baskets and handmade items for sale. Proceeds from the auction will be going to a Women’s sewing project in Mexico, a school in Togo and to Redeemer Lutheran’s Capital Campaign.

The Block Club at Redeemer is an outreach ministry to women, teens and kids in the Harrison neighborhood. The age range of the quilters is 8 to 93. This outreach ministry was formed 4 years ago and has been a blessing to many.

This month as we celebrate the 100th anniversary at Redeemer, we give thanks that for one hundred years Redeemer has been blessed to lead people to faith. A congregation is a faith community where people witness to the story of God’s love and inspire others to have lives of faith.

On July 23, 2002, nine miners in Western Pennsylvania became trapped in a flooded mine. The injured and desperate miners tied themselves together so that the stronger ones could sustain the weaker ones as they waited to be rescued. Journalists from across the nation reported the rescue effort, which took five long days. No one could believe it when all nine miners emerged safely from the mine.

On July 30, the people of the small mining community gathered for a worship service to thank God for saving the miners’ lives. At the ceremony, there were ten miners’ lamps set up on the altar, even though there were only nine miners. At that worship celebration, the tenth lamp was to represent the presence of God, which the miners claimed they could feel as they waited to be rescued. It was this “10th Person” they honored as they read Psalm 103: “Praise the Lord . . Who redeems your life from the pit.”

This month we celebrate the 100 year anniversary of Redeemer Congregation in thanksgiving that God has been present in our midst as that “tenth person,” for without God this surely would not have been possible. At Redeemer we believe that there is God who has been the light. God brought us through places and times of darkness and into a celebration of the light of salvation and grace. What a marvelous opportunity this is to look back over the past hundred years and say thank you, for God is good and God has brought us safely to celebrate this new day. The past one hundred years has served to shape and inspire Redeemer to begin the next century as a faith-filled community rooted in the reality of God’s love for the world.

In addition to the opportunity to deepen the faith practices of our congregation, we begin this next period of Redeemer’s history and witness with the vision to transform our building, block and neighborhood. At Redeemer we serve as God’s life line, tying ourselves to the larger church, mission partners, as well as to people who are injured and waiting to be rescued from isolation and separation from God.

We begin the next century as a congregation that seeks to bring faith to life. Redeemer is a witness to the power that a life of faith cares about people. A life of faith involves worship, prayer and support. A life of faith is inter-generational, provides affordable housing, builds relationships, and takes risks on people. A life of faith becomes a place and a people that produce stories. People might never set foot in Redeemer and yet will have heard the stories. A life of faith is discovered in the stories of people who worship with people from another race, continent and culture. A life of faith occurs when a ninety-three year old Swede looks forward each year to teaching neighborhood children how to make pickles, watching adults study the bible, singing in the choir and serving food. A life of faith is a safe place for children to learn and play, using hip-hop to learn the 23rd Psalm, women utilizing their quilting to mentor children, planting a garden, playing chess.

In a seminary mission class, Tom Mason told how, as a new missionary, he was assigned a care that would not start without a push. After pondering his problem, he devised a plan. He went to the school near his home, got permission to take some children out of class, and had them push his car off. As he made his rounds, he would either park on a hill or leave the engine running. He used thi ingenious procedure for two years. Poor health forced the Mason family to leave, and a new missionary came to that station. When Brown proudly began to explain his arrangement for getting the car started, the new missionary began looking under the hood. Before the explanation was complete, the new missionary interrupted, “Why, Dr. Mason, I believe the only trouble is this loose cable.” He gave the cable a twist, stepped into the car, pushed the switch, and to Mason’s astonishment, the engine roared to life.

For nearly two years needless trouble had become routine. The power was there all the time. Only a loose connection kept Mason from putting that power to work.

At Redeemer we are celebrating our hundred year anniversary with an exciting shared capital campaign, along with our non-profit Redeemer Center for Life (RCFL). God has blessed us with a wonderful vision that will impact not only the church building but the entire city block. God has brought to Redeemer the resource of Kairos Development Consultants, Plymouth church Neighborhood Foundation, Urban Works Architects, Faith in the City, Augsburg College and the commitment of mission partners.

God has put into our hands the opportunity to build a new future, a future that will transform our congregation, neighborhood and the lies of many people with disconnected cables. This is an exciting opportunity for the church to connect our cable with people seeking affordable and supportive housing, an accessible church building, kitchen that facilitates community and creative stimulating space where children and families are mentored to learn and grow.

These are just a few of the possibilities that are within Redeemer’s reach. The question each of us will need to answer is, “is our cable connected to God?”

How will Redeemer’s campaign reflect God’s campaign of justice and compassion witnessing to the church in the world? Thanks be to God for this amazing opportunity to build an exciting and promising future. Let’s make sure that our cables are connected to God!

“On Saturdays and Sundays, America in the year 2009 does not, in some ways, differ significantly from the country that existed some 50 years ago.  This is truly sad.”

Last month Attorney General Eric Holder provided this assessment that the United States is “essentially a nation of cowards” in failing to openly discuss the issue of race and that as a nation we remain “voluntarily socially segregated.”

“Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards,” and urged that our nation have conversations to discuss aspects of race which are ignored because it is uncomfortable.  What kind of church are we?

This year Redeemer is celebrating our 100 year anniversary.  Are we making the difference God desires of Redeemer?  Is Redeemer moving in the right direction?  Seven days a week entering the doors of our congregation we see people of various hues and colors.  People thirsting for the word of God gather in bible study, deep conversation, relationships; and children and yout receive mentoring as they gather in inter generational circles of love and support.

When we gather, a central issue remains, the unspoken reality of race, class and culture.  Attorney General Holder’s words remind us, we still have work to do.  Many of us come from neighborhoods, schools, families and places of work where Mr. Holder’s comments are accurate and speak a painful truth.  We have work to do!

There is importance and urgency in our mission partner relationships, exposure and training opportunities for seminary and college students, and neighborhood youth with limited exposure and access to learning opportunities.  At Redeemer we are disciples and leaders who witness to a faith that is bold and reaches out to others, as God is constantly reaching out to us.  We have work to do.  We are Asian, Black and White.  We are wealthy and poor, young and old.  We are spiritually sick and healthy, emotionally weak and strong, and we are tired and energized and together we comprise what the kingdom of God just might look like.  We are the body of Christ and for this we say, Thanks be to God!

I was baptized as an infant at Redeemer, and then we went to a friendlier Baptist church closer to our home. Mom and Dad were married at Redeemer and Dad was confirmed here in the early 40’s before he joined the Navy during WWII. Dad left the family when I was five so Mom had to find a closer church. I was happy in the Baptist church and Mom saw that we went every Sunday even after we moved back into the Harrison Neighborhood. As I grew older in the church I came to realize that people were not always nice to other people-even Christians. When the Baptist church moved out to Maple Grove because they didn’t like the people in North Minneapolis , I decided that the church really didn’t have a place for me so I quit going to church.

Even though I had left the church God would not leave me. He nagged at me to return to community and to receive communion with His people. I lived only two blocks from Redeemer and my aunt and uncle still went there, so I would go over, get lost in the LBW and get the communion that God said I needed.

After my uncle died my aunt became more involved in Redeemer’s church politics and I knew that the church would be deciding soon whether or no to close the doors forever. In 1990 my aunt came and said that Redeemer had decided to call a new pastor and that I might be interested in coming back to the church. I said that I didn’t think that a new pastor at Redeemer would make much difference. She then told me that he was African American from Chicago . Knowing Redeemer as I did I said that this was something I had to see. Pastor Partee was an amazing preacher and I came every Sunday to get God’s message, I even told Pastor that too often it was as if he was preaching to me. Pastor Partee convinced me to join the Lutheran church and said that he saw in me a leader. I was not so sure but I joined and had my quiet pew sitting life changed. I have grown in faith and leadership here at Redeemer and not all of it has been fun. Pastor Partee left in 1995 amid hurt feelings and misunderstandings. We had an intern pastor for a year and continued to see Redeemer evolve into a multi cultural church. Pastor Lomen came and with him the vision of Redeemer Center for Life started to take shape. When Pastor Lomen left I felt the need to leave, I don’t like changes and at Redeemer change happens quickly. But God was messing with me again and Pastor Kelly Chatman answered our call and I truly believe that God has but me here at Redeemer for His purpose and not my own. God continues to bless Redeemer with Partners in all kinds of places and we are coming to see that we in turn can bless our Partners, all we have to do is keep our eyes on the prize-God.

May He continue to Bless you at Zion and may you continue to do God’s work whether it seems like it’s working or not, remember it is in God’s time not our own.

Cindy Stenson, President of Redeemer Congregation

I come from Northern Uganda that suffered war and violent conflict since 1986. I left Uganda in 2005 without having any idea how and when I would leave my country. I mean it was a hard decision to reach at. I am here to rebuild my life and live in safety and peace.

When I connected with Redeemer Lutheran Church, the people here made coping with my new life possible and easy. The Senior Pastor – Kelly Chatman inspired me with his wonderful sermons and his day-to-day relationships with the people, especially the children. By serving his congregation and the community around it, I felt this was the real body of Christ at work. I did not stop thinking of getting to this community each time I thought of my faith developing needs. I thought of the unconditional warmth of welcome, love and compassion of sharing peace and love among the members in the church.

It was in September, 2007 when I got to Redeemer Lutheran Church, and as days went by, I started getting it hard to commute on the bus from South Minneapolis to Redeemer because winter was by the way. As I announced, of the difficulty, Pastor Kelly assured me of availability of someone with a car to give me a ride to and forth on Sundays. At the end of the service, Janet Hagberg who was sitting in front of me got closer to me and assured me of her being available to transport me on Sundays to Redeemer Church for service.

The availability of the varying activities at Redeemer Lutheran Church not only arose my love and desire to belong to this community. This period of my live was a period of recovery and healing in my journey of life. As a widow, and single mother with number of orphans, the children at Redeemer Church without knowing, partly fulfilled the longingness of my children and the orphans I left back in my home country. I have not been dependant on other people for many years, and waited too long to be useful to community and be independent. I felt nice, with lots of enthusiasm to begin learning quilting, which I got involve into more than I can believe myself. I love it. Quilting added to my feeling of – this is where I needed to be.

In March 3, 3008, Pastor Kelly needed an assistant, and I was looking for a job which was not easy to get at the time. On learning that I had a long work experience, skills and a career, I was given job as Executive Assistant at Redeemer Lutheran Church. Without expectations, Redeemer Church did not only give me apartment, but provided me with all that one needs to start a home, including furniture. I could not believe it, but still give thanks to God for His wonderful unconditional care, love, work, and interpersonal relationships at this church.

Getting to know me well and knowing the community well, in late July, 2008, I started a Community Garden from which the community was able to get some healthy egg plants, tomatoes, squash, green beans, reddish, peas, cilantro. We are planning, preparing and hoping to have a better Community garden that will involve people of all ages around.

Through RLC/RCFL and its leadership my spiritual dreams is coming true, because I am now attending Spiritual Deepening classes at Christos Center for Spiritual Formation which is unfolding many things I experience in my life journey. I am thankful to God; for all the leaders of this church are doing their best to the community, and using Marilu – the Executive Director/RCFL, who sponsored my classes to guide my spiritual life journey path.

Redeemer Lutheran Church and Redeemer Center for Life is a place that treats a human being as one expect to be treated. A place where one is able to utilize his/her skills, talents, learns new things, find out hidden potentials and get to know his/her values, and value of others in community. It is a place that gives hope to the needy people. It is also a place for reformation and transformation. A place to call HOME! For example, I had never known that I am an artist and did not have any vocabulary for needle, pieces of clothes, sewing machine, but now I am. I love and enjoy the teambuilding style of leadership at workplace. I feel my search for belongingness is fulfilled.