Worldwide News

"We Go the the Ends of the Earth"

Thu, 10 May 2012 00:26:00 -0500

Little did they know that in the summer of 2011, Elizabeth and James would be leading 20 college students to “ends of the earth.” James says, “I remember standing near the shore of the city of Montevideo, Uruguay and looking out to the water. We could not go any further south by land. We found ourselves excited about what God was doing in this city.”

Reaching Out To Local Organizations

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:26:00 -0500

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.

World Malaria Day - April 25th, 2012

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:26:00 -0500

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.

Blessing and Being Blessed in Spain

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:26:00 -0500

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.

Baro From a Volunteer's Perspective

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 00:26:00 -0500

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.

More Than Bricks

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 00:26:00 -0500

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).

God is Working Through Wooddalers in Guatemala

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:26:00 -0500

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.

I Even Thank God for Prison

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 00:26:00 -0500

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.

Chamula Update

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 00:26:00 -0500

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.

Breaking the Chains of Addiction

Sun, 11 Mar 2012 00:30:00 -0500

MN Teen Challenge is one of the largest of the 150-plus Teen Challenge centers in the United States and 250 centers world-wide. It is also the largest residential rehabilitation program in Minnesota. Currently, the organization houses over 400 individuals at eight campuses.

Experiencing God’s Faithfulness

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 00:30:00 -0500

Dennis and Janet Seever are Wooddale-supported global partners. After their marriage in 1975, Dennis and Janet began their involvement on the mission field. They served with Wycliffe Bible Translators in many different areas of the globe. Currently, Dennis and Janet, along with two adult children, live in Calgary, Alberta.

Baro Cross-Cultural Equipping Session

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 10:30:00 -0500

One cannot live in the southwestern suburbs without being aware of the large number of Somalis living and working in our community. Perhaps, like most of us, you’ve known you ought to reach out to them but haven’t really known how. Wooddale Church is committed to ministering cross-culturally within our community.

Young Adult Summer Missions Opportunities 2012

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 10:16:00 -0500

Wooddale Worldwide is providing a wide array of ministry trip opportunities for Young Adults in 2012. Trips are planned to Northern India, SE Asia, Cuba, Mexico and Ghana. At each location participants work with Wooddale-supported global partners to minister to the local people who desperately need to hear and experience the love of Jesus Christ.

Fifty Years of Faithful Service

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Fifty years ago this coming August, while he was still in seminary, Joel Stolte and his wife, Nancy, were accepted as missionaries with Wycliffe Bible Translators. They have been working in Colombia since 1965.

A Year of Firsts

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

2011 was a year of new experiences for a couple of Wooddale Global Partners who spent their first year adapting to culture in a new country. Though they would love to share names and more pictures so you can see who they are ministering to and who you are praying for, it is not advisable due to the sensitive nature of their location and work.

Transforming Minneapolis Youth

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

It is no surprise that kids in North Minneapolis have the odds stacked against them. They are surrounded by negative influences at school, among their peers, on the bus or even at home. In light of these challenges, we are partnering with several organizations to bring positive influences and encouragement to the youth of Minneapolis.

Teaching English and Sharing Jesus in Thailand

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The Santisuk English School began in 1993 around a ping-pong table in the garage of Wooddale global partners Steve and Nopaluck Cable in Bangkok, Thailand. The school’s quality reputation has helped the school become the largest English school in northeastern Bangkok. The students range from high school age to working adults, with a majority being college graduates. The emphasis is on speaking conversational English.

Showing Love and Compassion

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Wooddale Worldwide partners with many organizations throughout the Twin Cities by supplying volunteers’ time, talents and resources. We want to make a difference by addressing the physical, social and spiritual needs, while showing the love of Jesus. Jesus said in John 10:10, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Discipling Disciplers

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Pray. Go. Give. This is who we are! Through your giving to the Wooddale Worldwide fund, we are able to support 85 global partners and some 55 organizations that are making a difference throughout the Twin Cities, North America and around the world. One of these global partners is Betty Carlson in Tanzania. Betty’s responsibilities include discipleship, community development and teaching English.

Young Adult Adventures

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Are you a young adult? Then, close your eyes for a moment. Imagine one of these scenes played out in your life this summer!

Global Partner 2012 Goals

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Paul writes in Philippians 3:12, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” Paul’s pursuit: To press on! Our Global Partner’s pursuit: To press on!

Christmas Stories from Afar

Sun, 25 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Wooddale Worldwide, the missions’ arm of Wooddale Church, has 85 global partners serving in 26 countries. Many of them will celebrate Christmas “on the field.” One of the advantages of living overseas is the customs and traditions that you get to incorporate into your family. Christmas is a wonderful time to learn new traditions that are unique to the countries where our global partners have made their home. Perhaps we can adopt a few!

Global Partner Prayer Requests

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Pray. Go. Give. This is who we are! Throughout the year we receive prayer requests from our 85 global partners serving in 26 countries. Below are just some of the most recent requests we have received. Please join us in praying for them and their ministries.

Focusing on God, not Religion

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

As a little girl at Wooddale, I grew up hearing about missionaries and had a love for travel, adventures and meeting new people. The summer of my senior year in high school, I traveled to Vietnam and China on a mission trip. It was there that I saw for the first time what a global God we serve. He speaks the language of every person in the world and is able to meet all of their needs.

Changing Lives in Minneapolis

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Did you know that in the Central and Phillips neighborhoods of South Minneapolis 50 percent of minority youth will not graduate from high school? Wooddaler Jennifer Howison knows and she’s working to change it. You can, too!

How Should We Respond to HIV/AIDS?

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

A young woman is infected by her drug-using husband. An elderly couple lose financial support and care with the death of an adult child. A young child becomes an orphan – or is induced into sex as payment for school fees. Those with HIV/AIDS are still today’s “lepers.”

Know What’s Happening at the Women’s Prison?

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Jesus the Redeemer is at work! Through the InnerChange Freedom Initiative (IFI), developed by Prison Fellowship Ministry, women’s lives are being transformed through biblical programming in a state-run prison!

God-Sized Projects Changing the World

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

With a world in need, the first step is often deciding where to begin. To tackle the spiritual and social problems of the nations, Wooddale has focused on several God-sized initiatives that are part of our Kingdom Initiatives’ strategy.

Wooddale Worldwide Faith Promise

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

During Worldwide Week, Wooddalers are asked to make a Faith Promise to provide the financial support for Wooddale Worldwide, the missions arm of Wooddale Church. Through this ministry, we are helping people in the Twin Cities, in North America and throughout the entire world.Hungry people are fed, AIDS victims are cared for, churches are started, Christian leaders are trained and those who had no hope are given God’s hope because of Jesus.

Explore Worldwide Week

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Take part in special events during Worldwide Week. Enjoy the Women Near & Far Luncheon, Senior Adults Global Partner Soup ‘n Sandwich Luncheon, and “My Story” with Virgil Anderson.

Worldwide Week Schedule

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Worldwide Week is Oct. 29 - Nov. 6. Come hear stories from our global partners and take part in other special events. Our weekend services will feature messages from Steve Douglass, president of Cru, and Leith Anderson, Senior Pastor of Wooddale Church.

Grocery Shopping with a Purpose

Sun, 16 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Carol D. has severe arthritis in her ankles and uses an oxygen tank. She was in pain after each grocery store trip and worried that she wouldn’t have enough oxygen with her when she left the house. She heard about a service called Store to Door that would do her grocery shopping and deliver the food. Now as a client she comments, “They all are so helpful. No more worrying about running out of oxygen, no more 2-3 days of ankle pain. Store To Door people are very friendly and helpful. They have made my life so much easier, less stressful and less painful.”

Wiklunds Tutoring

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0500

My name is Dave Wiklund. Ever since I became a follower of Jesus I have been amazed by God’s creation. The enormity of the universe, the beauty of mathematics, the wonderful design of our bodies is all captivating. But most fascinating to me is the rich mosaic of cultures God has created.

Why Missions?

Sun, 02 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Missions at Wooddale Church is central to living out our purpose, which is to honor God by making more disciples for Jesus Christ. Wooddale Worldwide (missions) desires to carryout this vision as we work to develop within Wooddalers a heart for people throughout the world and provide avenues for them to take action. We are partnering with you to achieve these ends through evangelistic and humanitarian efforts in the Twin Cities, our nation and around the globe.

What is Baro?

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0500

The word “baro” is Somali for learn, which aligns with our overall goal to learn how to form relationships with people from other cultures. Baro prepares Wooddalers to befriend and serve our Somali neighbors.

Ask Audaciously

Sun, 18 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0500

I woke up one morning, about a week before Christmas. Before my feet hit the floor, this word came into my head, “Audacious.” I thought, “That’s weird. Why would I be thinking that?” I went into our living room to spend time with God, and I asked him, “What does this mean?”

Transformation in Africa, One Student at a Time

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0500

With over 4,200 students from more than 20 countries, Daystar University in Nairobi, Kenya is one of the largest universities in Africa. For more than 40 years, the staff and faculty members at Daystar have been transforming an entire continent through the education and development of its future leaders.

Mexico Short-Term Trip Experience

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Have you ever been surrounded by mountains, kissed a complete stranger on the cheek and hiked up the pyramids at Teotihuacan, all in one trip? Vacations are all about relaxation and comfort, but mission trips are a little different.

Ministry Through Education in Japan

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Less than one percent of the Japanese population more than 127 million people is Christian. Our global partners in Japan are praying that the recent disasters that have occurred in Japan would be used by God to draw people to himself. Although the earthquake is no longer front page news, the nation is still digging out of the rubble and recovering from the damage.

God Is Busy in Ghana!

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0500

For 10 days, our Wooddale team of eight joined Global Partner Sam Dunya and the Globeserve Mission to share the Gospel, minister to adults and children and promote physical wellness in the Volta region of Ghana. globeserveministry.org/

Making a Difference in Corcoran, Minnesota

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Thinking back on the recent week I spent sleeping in a camper, giving kids piggyback rides in the blazing sunshine and going without a shower for days, I realize that I could not have been more blessed by the experience.

Fight Sex Trafficking

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Volunteer locally with Breaking Free or MATTOO (Men Against the Trafficking of Others).

What kind of future do we want for our cities?

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Join the conversation. Sunday, August 21, 12:30-2 p.m. (lunch served) at the Eden Prairie Campus.

Worldwide Update

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Did you enjoy the Summer Missions Festival? Thank you for attending and participating in what God is doing here in the Twin Cities and around the world.

Hunger Initiative Delivery

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Do these food bags look familiar? Remember the Wooddale Hunger Initiative when we packed over one million meals. The second food container has arrived and Wooddaler Jill Trites was in Mozambique to help hand out the food.

Summer Missions Festival Schedule

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0500

A weekend of stories and adventures. Travel with us!

Blood Drive

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Donate your blood at Wooddale July 27th from noon to 7 p.m.

Summer Missions Festival is Coming

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0500

The Summer Missions Festival is coming July 30 & 31.

Controversial Topics Through God’s Lens

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Did you know that 27 million people throughout the world are enslaved? This is more than at any other time in history.

Connecting with College Students Worldwide

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Our Global Partners James & Elizabeth Medina have had a great year connecting with college students in Wisconsin. This summer they led a group of students to Uruguay.

OCA Update

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Showering with a bucket, eating beans, tortillas and platains and seeing how God reveals himself in a different culture. Check out what is happening on the senior high mission trip.

Senior High Urban Missions Trip

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Check out what is happening with our senior high in Chicago.

World Refugee Day

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Today is World Refugee Day, a day to raise awareness about the challenges facing refugees. We serve our immigrant and refugee neighbors through relocation assistance, tutoring and job coaching.

Celebrating Global Partners on Father’s Day

Sun, 19 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Wooddale’s global partners work with their families to share the Gospel and serve the unreached in communities throughout the United States and around the world. In honor of Father’s Day, a few of our global partner fathers share some of their favorite joys and memories.

Projecet Colorado Update

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0500

What is happening with Project Colorado? Check out what the junior high is up to as they chop wood and hike in the mountains.

Transforming Minneapolis Youth

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0500

It is no surprise that kids in north Minneapolis have the odds stacked against them. In light of these challenges, Wooddale is partnering with several organizations to bring positive influences and encouragement to the youth of Minneapolis.

Hope and a Hot Meal

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0500

The recent 2nd Annual InterVarsity Floor 13 event in Minneapolis had college students packaging and serving meals while sitting face-to-face with men who are homeless and hungry.

Make an Impact on a Short-Term Trip

Tue, 31 May 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Do you like to travel? Experience other cultures? Have you considered a Wooddale short-term trip? As part of a team, you can make a significant impact in a person’s life, a family’s future and transform a community.

Responding to the Minnesota Tornadoes

Wed, 25 May 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Looking for ways to help with the North Minneapolis Tornado relief efforts, our local partners are organizing cleanup crews and collecting donations.

Where is God in the Japan Aftershocks?

Mon, 23 May 2011 00:00:00 -0500

An earthquake rocks Japan, followed by a tsunami. We see the devastation and we ask, “Where is God in the midst of heartache and disaster?”

Helping Forgotten Farmers

Thu, 19 May 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Hi! I’m Ben, otherwise known as “Coffee Guy.” I always start my mornings at the espresso machine and I brew coffee in every way imaginable – siphon pots, mocha pots, pour overs, espresso machines, French presses, AeroPresses® and the Clover®. I’ve tried it all and love it all.

Urban Ventures Camping Gear Drive

Thu, 19 May 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Bring new or lightly used camping gear to the Gathering! We're collecting supplies for our local partner Urban Ventures.

Celebrating Wooddale’s Global Partners on Mother’s Day

Mon, 09 May 2011 00:00:00 -0500

In honor of Mother’s Day, a few of our global partner mothers share some of their traditions and joys.

What Difference Can We Make?

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Missions is a worldwide activity that must begin where we live. We do missions through lessening suffering and extending real friendship while sharing the message of hope offered through Jesus Christ.

World Malaria Day

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0500

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.

Update from the OC

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Carolyn works with CCC raising money for translations of the Jesus Film. Shawn is in a band that plays outreach concerts in high schools and prisons. Dan leads CCC’s ministry at UC Berkeley.

What do they all have in common?

Ready to Make an Impact?

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0500

We had two Wooddalers share how they are getting involved in our community. Watch this video and learn how you can make a difference.

Women's International Night

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Join us Thursday April 14th at 7 p.m., if you’re a woman, to hear stories from Wooddalers about their adventures connecting with our global partners in South Asia and Africa.

Changing Lives in South Minneapolis

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Did you know in the Central and Phillips Area neighborhoods of South Minneapolis 50% of the minority youth will not graduate from high school or that 80% of the households in these neighborhoods are led by single parents?

God at Work in Guatemala

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Hola! For 10 days, a team of 43 people from Minnesota, South Dakota and Tennessee joined God in his work around the Lake Atitlán communities in Guatemala, which is served by 10 of our partner churches.

Guatemala Trip

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0500

You are invited! Come hear about the recent Guatemala short-term missions trip.

Sunday, April 3 6:30-8 p.m.
Eden Prairie Campus Chapel

Worship, Chicken, Flamenco

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0500

The Wooddale Spain English Camp team is in action and having fun with their new Spaniard friends. Follow their activity and checkout the colorful flamenco pictures.

Facts About Mozambique

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Did you know that Mozambique is one of the poorest countries in the world? To understand this poverty academically and to experience it personally are very different. I, along with my wife and several other Wooddalers, had the opportunity to do just that.

Food Drive Results

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0500

You donated almost 20,000 lbs for our Food Drive this year. That is a lot of food! Thanks to your participation, stomachs will be full tonight!

Building Godly Leaders, Transforming a Nation

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Haiti is a broken nation. It is a land of intense poverty, political instability, corruption and massive unemployment, all of which greatly worsened following the devastating earthquake in 2010. Yet these circumstances have been going on for generations. What can we do beyond temporary relief efforts to break this cycle and help transform the nation?

Lost Boy Returns to Sudan

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Lost Boy from Sudan graduates, gets his Masters in Divinity and has returned to help develop leaders. Although John was lost, God never lost him. You are supporting these efforts through Worldwide. Checkout his story.

Kingdom Initiatives

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

At Wooddale Church, we strive to impact the world by addressing spiritual and social challenges. In each culture and location, the challenges look different whether an empty stomach, economic instability or a hurting heart.

Guatemala Trip Update

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Hello to all who are following us!
We arrived safely in Guatemala last evening after a full day of traveling...most of the group starting the day in Minnesota by meeting at church at 2:30 in the morning....and finally reaching our destination in Santiago de Atitlan Guatemala by about 7:00 pm.....it was a full day, a long day even, but we were blessed by good travel conditions all the way (minus a brake issue with one of our buses which caused a slight delay while they found us a different bus to finish our travels on...)--and no snow!

Transforming Your Community, Your World

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Each dollar you contribute to Wooddale Worldwide impacts a life, a family, and transforms communities. Did you know that Wooddalers invest $2 million each year to fund local and global outreach endeavors and dreams to create spiritual, social and economic transformation?

72 Wells, 2 Farms, 87 Trained Pastors

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Our Global Partner, Sam Dunya with Globeserve, is transforming his community in Ghana. Drilling wells, training church leaders and teaching women vocational skills are just a few of the things he is doing to educate the next generation.

Learn more about our partnership and the the impact Wooddalers have been contributing with our annual short-term trip.

Ready to Visit the World’s Best City?

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

According to the 2010 Travel + Leisure magazine World’s Best Cities list, Bangkok, Thailand ranked number one as the top city in the world. Passionate travelers cast their votes based on these categories: places to sightsee, beauty and greenery, art and culture, food, shopping areas, people’s friendliness and value for money spent.

Learn more about your opportunity to teach English in Thailand this summer.

Teaching in Tanzania

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Wooddale's Global Partner, Betty Carlson is teaching the Community Health Education which will help the students have an impact on their community through holistic ministry. Read the story from ReachGlobal:

Serve Africa Meeting

Tue, 08 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Interested in the Serve Africa trip? We have two informational meetings coming up either this Thursday or Sunday. Check out the details.

New Webpage Design

Fri, 28 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0500

We've introduced a new webpage design to better highlight our strategies, initiatives, and global partners. We hope you like it!