Urban Ventures is a faith-based non-profit in south Minneapolis focused on ending generational poverty, one individual and one family at a time. In order to achieve that goal, they have seven different youth programs. Each program exists to address one or multiple points of the cycle of poverty – economic, social, physical and spiritual. Here are stories of some Wooddale senior high students who have recently volunteered.

Today, April 25, is World Malaria Day. Every second there are 10 new cases and every 45 seconds, a child in Africa dies from a malaria infection. We’re taking on this terrible disease with our netting efforts through our partners in Ghana and Mozambique.

Fourteenpeople answered the call to help Wooddale Global Partners Paul and Sarie Anderson with their work in Spain this year. From March 16-26, the Spain English Camp Team engaged in service projects and in building relationships with the Spanish people. Each team member was prepared for an intense weekend of investing in the lives of those who came to the English Camp.

Wooddaler Jenny Buckland has been volunteering with Baro for almost two years. Her passion for connecting with the Somali immigrants here in Minnesota drives her to share in the truth, love and rewarding relationships that have grown from her participation in this cross-cultural ministry.

Have you ever taken a trip to some remarkable place without bringing back some photos or mementos? If you have, you find that soon your memory of that locale, that trip, fades until all that is left are some hazy mental images. You learn to avoid this fuzziness by taking pictures and buying tangible reminders of that special trip. In 1991 Wooddale Church commissioned Mara Smith, a brick sculptor, to create a lasting visual reminder of our commitment to world missions, an embodiment of Jesus’ words, “go and make disciples…” (Matthew 28:19).

The Bridge Builders Ministry continues doing God’s work after 18 years of service in Guatemala! Our team of 58 members worked side-by-side with the pastors and people of 10 churches in the Lake Atitlán area. Three Wooddalers explain their experience of sharing the love of Christ during a week of ministry in February.

The day was April 24, 2001; Rodney’s 18th birthday. The next day he received his “gift” which was the beginning of a 10-year prison experience. Happy birthday indeed. There is nothing about the young man to hint that he has been touched by a hard life. He is a well-spoken, dutiful son, brother and uncle.

Working with Wooddale Worldwide and Global Partners Ken and Elaine Jacobs, Wooddaler Dave Aeilts began working with the Mayan peoples in Central America. In 2006, he led a video team to southern Mexico where they documented how certain words translated into the Chamula-Tzotzil New Testament had transformed this poor and disenfranchised minority into a powerful spiritual and economic force for good.