+ Minnesota Christian Outreach
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Minnesota Christian Outreach

Christian Seekers of Minnesota

Christian Seekers of Minnesota


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Yah-you betcha! This is a popular extreme Norwegian saying around many parts of Minnesota. Growing up in Minnesota has been an on-going learning culture experience. It seem like there are two different cultures-cities and rural, which I discovered after living in rural college town-Morris, MN-“Motown”.

When I lived in the cities, despite the on-going diverse European ethnic culture (Norwegian, German, Scandinavian, etc…) exposure; I saw “white” or Caucasian Americans as one group. It wasn’t really until I came to Morris when I began to see the real diversity amongst “whites” or “Caucasians”. I really never heard an “Ole” (Norwegian) joke until meeting people in-town from Morris Community Church. I then notice more of the Norwegian cultural impact after college when I really lived in-town (e.g. Dave’s Barber Shop on Atlantic Avenue-the barber would share “Ole” stories/jokes with his customers). Lutefisk or lefse was the biggest Norwegian ethnic-food mentioned many around these areas. Till this day, I have yet to try Lutefisk.

Just the other (8/20/03) day at work, I was talking about several sayings: “Listening is a golden...?”, “ufda”, from my co-worker that I’ve never heard of. I told her about the book/play on “How to Talk Minnesotan, which I need to watch/read to understand more of the dialogue as a resident around here.

INNER CITY: Growing-up in the St. Paul Public Schools, I attended many culturally diverse programs and events. I remember in elementary, our first grade teacher’s husband dressed in a “kilt” (eg. mini-skirt) to show the Scottish outwear during a performance of many ethnic-cultures represented in our school. Then in junior high-middle school, we had to do some dance from our ethnic background and performed it in front of the whole school assembly (I remember some of my classmates and I performed the famous Filipino Tininkling (sp?) dance, which I was somewhat familiar). In gym class, dancing was part of the academic genda, which I learned how to dance polka and some other ethnic dances that I can’t remember to this day. Then in high school, we had a cultural fair (eg. Festival of Nations held annualy in St. Paul), which I was able to do a Philippine booth with some of my Filipino-American peers/friends and cook some lumpia (Filipino egg-rolls).

RURAL-TOWN: living was a little of a cultural shock when I came to UMM, which I encountered many people who never been exposed to much of a “culturally diversity environment” that one would find growing-up in the inner-city. For example, one of my floormates told me that she grew-up with a negative stereotype of African-Americans (eg. “bad boys”, “gangstas/thugs”, “criminals”, etc…) because of the “fowl language” (eg. Nigger) she was used to hearing growing up in a rural Minnesota town. Myself, some of my floormates honestly shared with me that they thought I was a “gang-banger” because of the way I dressed (baggy pants) or my haircut (crew-cut style) with an earing in one ear.

I particiapted in several ethnic focussed student organizations for many reasons: to get in touch with my ethnic background (Asian-American: Filipino), to learn more of “who I am” culturally, to be able to bond with people with familiar-similar background, and to “feel like-home” culturally (e.g. food, language, social atmosphere). Also, our student organizations (e.g. Asian Student Association) served as a purposed to culturally educate the college campus, local-surrounding Morris community. It was an excellent opportunity to “educate” the people that never been/never much been exposed to a different ethnic background. We too, inner city folks, needed to be educated about rural town living too; so I made an effort to do so by planning a floortrip (Gay Hall II-III) to one of the floor resident’s farm. Unfortuanatelly, not every body were able to make it. Most of the people that went were “city folks”, which was my target type of people to come….

FARMING: We saw various farm animals: horses, pig, cows, etc…; which I had a chance to ride an “unchained” pony (I rode a chained pony that went around this circle at the Como Park Zoo once in St. Paul) for the first time! I learned the two types of cows for the first time: dairy cow (produces milk) and non-dairy cow (just grazes the field). After this experience, I’ve grown to learn more of the rural-farm experience by: watching campus plays, attend many bon-fires, play ditch at a farm field, and going to several local and surrounding museums on the past rural farm life. I’ve grown to highly appreciate farmers and their hard dedicated work (eg. get up 5/6am sunrise and work till 8-9ppm sunset in the farm field with 5 meals in that time span-including “dinner”-not lunch at 12 noon) .

MINNESOTA OUTDOORS life is filled with a lot of adventure that folks from the inner-city needs to experience to get in touch with nature and God! I went “real” hikking recently for the actual first time (down below) this summer of 2003, which was one of many outdoor actitivities that I’ve accomplished so far:

Summer: fishing, water-skiing, swimming, camping
Winter: cross-country/down hill skiing, broomball, snow fort building, building a snowman

I have yet to try:

Summer: Jet-skiing,
Fall: deer-hunting, pheasant-hunting, etc..
Winter: ice-fishing

As a Christian, I’ve grown to appreciate the outdoors as a time to be surrounded with nature and really take a good look of what God has created. I really started to appreciate his “nature wonders” when I started traveling :



Can you see the water level below the bridge go down?

The picture above was taken during the Spring of 1997 during the "big Red-River flood of 97". I went to help a UMM friend's (Naomi) family move before the Red Laker River flooded over its banks in Crookston, MN

Other Related Sites:

  • The Flood of the Century A look into the 1997 Red River Flood at Grand Forks, ND Written by: Michelle Broderson
  • -Philippines’ (waterfalls, caves, tropical trees, salty sea, white beaches, sea creatures-crabs, etc…)

    “God created the great creatures of the seas”-Genesis 1:21

    - Mexico-Arizona’s (red rock formations, desserty land, cactuses),

    “a voice of one calling the desert”-Mark 1:3

    -Montana’s, (snow-covered mountians, BIG forests, bear, etc…)

    ”Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord…He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths”-Micah 4:2

    -and of course our beautiful Minnesota 10,000 + lakes

    “Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge.”-Mark 4:1

    ….which I began to appreciate more after my trip to the non-green, non-lively, non-colorful sandy desertland of Mexico-Arizona. )

    Next time you get sick of being surrounded by technological hi-tech devices, go out of your house or familiar environment (eg. concrete, high-rise buildings, robot “busy” people of the inner cities) and talk to God and bask in His presence through what he has created. Plus, my mom told me to always look at “greenery” when she notices me watching too much t.v. or playing nintendo as a little kid. I would then just look at one of the many indoor plants in our townhouse or look at the trees/grass out in our backyard.

    Minnesota maybe considered a “white” state not because of the snow, but the many white-settlers from Europe (mainly Scandinavian or German). However, the diversity is growing as one can see based on the stats: Ethnic Harvest, which I received at a conference focussing on reaching the nations from different “diverse ethnic neighbors” that God is bringing “next door”.

    Other Places I've Visited w/ surrounding small towns:

    (map)

    -Alexandria: Milton, Carlos,
    -Brainard: Clearbrook
    -Bemidji
    -Crookston: Argyle
    -Duluth
    -Fergus: Clitherall, Pelican Rapids, Perham
    -Grand Rapids for a family vacation (see tourism) at a resort.
    Travel to and from?
    -Little Falls
    -Litchfield: Cokato


    Picture taken through the "wind mill farms" of Southwestern Minnesota in the summer of 2000
    This is similar to the wind turbine one we just got in Morris-see environment page (4/22/05) recently!
    -Marshall: Pipestone, Slayton
    -Moorhead
    -Northfield
    -Owatonna
    -Park Rapids: Walker, Aekely
    -Sauk Centre
    -St. Cloud
    -St. Peter
    -Wilmar: Kensington, Spicer

    I've visited many other small towns around these small Minnesota cities above, especially around Morris and the surrounding west central area region.

    I just watched Jason Davis' "On the Road" on KSTP Channel 5, which I really enjoy watching Saturday evenings when I get the chance. Last night (4/23/05), they featured camera views from their sky cam helicopter of various beautiful scenaries of Minnesota. They called it High on Minnesota. There were sites that I haven't seen yet from my travel in certain areas of Minnesota.

    Other Cities w/UMM connections that I would like to visit in the future:

    -Mountain Lake (close to Worthington), where Jill M. (UMM 05') lives

    “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”-Matthew 28:19

    See our photo gallery !


    Reccomended Resources

    Activities

  • Twin Cities Christian Community Information,...helping to find fellowship with one another
  • Conferences

  • Spirit Fest Midwest, a christian family festival of music, worship & camping
  • Student Venture Twin Cities, an interdenominational organization for students to reach their campuses
  • Camps

  • Covenant Pines Bible Camp-McGregor, MN
  • Churches

  • Church Angel, Minnesota Churches according to city A-Z
  • Minnesota Churches
  • Xzett, church directory of qwest
  • St. Paul
  • Entertainment

    Hangout Places

  • Triple Espresso, a highly caffeinated comedy
  • Club 3 Degrees (a.k.a. New Union), dance club in Minneapolis!

  • Oasis, a Christian 18+up Club every 1st Friday of the month
    -2020 W. Broadway; downtown Minneapolis
    -9p.m.-2a.m. w/multicultural music $5 cover charge
    -For more info contact: E.B. Brown (612) 529-6055

    History

  • Minnesota Reflections, digital images from around the state
  • Events

  • Minnesota State Fair
  • Events Ads, City Page
  • -Adventure

    Wabasha Street Caves Historic Cave Tour
    Wabasha Street Caves 215 Wabasha St S, St Paul, MN 55107
    Date & Time: Ongoing. Thu 5pm; Sat 11am $5. (651) 292-1220

    -Seasons-Holiday Focus Events

    Winter:

  • Holidazzle Parade, along Nicollet in Minneapolis
  • -Music

  • Sonshine Festival, an annual event in Wilmar, MN
  • Internet Focus

  • Disciple,an online resource for Christians in Minnesota
  • -Online Services

  • Mainstream Solutions
  • Issues

    -Alcohol/Drugs

  • Damascus Way Reentry Center, Inc. 1515 E. 66th St.; Richfield, MN 55423; (612) 866-0462
  • Minnesota Teen Challenge, 3201 1st Ave. So.; P.O. Box 8326; Minneapolis,MN 55408-0326; (612) 822-7191
  • -Marriages

  • Marriage Ministries International, interdenominational working with local church to help strengthen marriages
  • -Pregnancy

  • Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, pro-life organization
  • Pro-Life Action Ministries
  • Total LifeCare Centers, Inc., for unexpected pregnancy
  • Other

  • Minnesota District Church of the Nazarene
  • Resevents,resurrection and other resources
  • X Cross Generation, a cable t.v. show
  • Ministries

  • Destiny Christian Center Burnsville, MN-building great families and great lives!
  • Love Lines, collects calls from 1.888.NEED.HIM for salvation, prayer, counseling, and healing=>
  • Lovelines Healing Rooms Now Open

    3-6p.m. every Fri. & Sat. at Lovelines, 2535 Central Ave. NW in Mpls. Those in need of physical & emotional healing are invited to come for prayer & healing. 612-379-1199.

  • Nehemiah Ministry Center, neutral central prayer resource center
  • Tentmakers, Minneaplis based training the church to lead young people to Christ
  • Missionary Opportunities

  • International Ministerial Fellowship, a mission sending agency
  • Royal Servants Int'l, summer mission trips for students 13-19
  • News/Media

    Magazines

  • Minneapolis-St. Paul
  • Twin Cities Guide
  • Up Magazine, a Minnesota-Wisconsin faithbuilder publication
  • Newspaper

  • Minnesota Christian Chronicle,Christian community newspaper, and most complete Christian events calendar
  • Pioneer Press, St. Paul based
  • Star Tribune, Minneapolis based
  • News Stations

  • Kare Ch. 11, NBC affiliate
  • Music

  • Almighty Sounds, mobile DJ serving Twin Cities
  • Carvin,"for all your music needs"
  • Poems

  • Marrianne Richmond, featured in Ups Magazine (above)
  • Radio

  • Minnesota Radio Stations, list of christian stations
  • KFSI 92, Rochester
  • KKMS 980 A.M., Twin Cities
  • KTIS 98.5 F.M.Twin Cities
  • KYCR AM 1570,Twin Cities Christian Connection
  • Organizations

  • Minnesota Church Ministries Association,assists in the disciple-making ministry of local churches offering services in the areas eduction, networking, and resources.
  • Minnesota Prayer Coalition
  • Pray Twin Cities, started 1995 to focus on prayer for the Twin Cities
  • Schools

  • University of Northwestern – St. Paul (name changed in 2013-asked by Tyler K on Jan 2014)
  • List of Christian Student Organizations at UofM
  • Speakers

  • Mohr Ministries,inspirational speaker on practical biblical insights
  • Sports

    Skating

  • In-Line Skating
  • John Rose MN Oval, ice skating indoor/outdoor in Roseville
  • Transportation

  • Department of Transportation, highway constructions info
  • Youth Focus

  • La Luz ("The Light") Worship Service, in Brooklyn Center High School
  • Student Venture-Twin Cities, high school student focus
  • Christian Student, resource of events for students and anybody
  • Worship and Praise

  • Heart of the City, worship with all walks of life once a month!

  • Tourist Information

    Events

  • I Love St. Paul, events and Linus Blankets
  • History

  • Minnesota Historical Society, check-out their museum in St. Paul
  • I went here for the first time on Tuesday, August 12th of 2003 since it opened 11 years ago during my 1 week summer vacation in St. Paul. I found many famous people known all over the state, nation, and world that came or made an impact in Minnesota. For example: Hubert H. Humphrey (from Dalton, SD)-political figure; Prince-pop rock, Bob Dylan-folk musician, Excelssior-gospel group, Soul Asylum-rock; Charles M. Schulz-creator of Charlie Brown; Charles A. Lindbergh-history-making pilot; etc...

    Restaurants

  • Twin Cities Dinning Guide, check out area restaurants
  • Travel

  • Explore Minnesota
  • Minnesota Department of Transportation where are the construction areas?
  • Transportation

  • Minneapolis-St. Paul Int'l Airport
  • Twin Cities

  • Minneapolis
  • Shopping

  • Shop Twin Cities
  • Mall of America
  • *Special Forward E-mail

    (by my friend Gina)

    Jeff Foxworthy on Minnesota

    If you consider it a sport to gather your food by drilling Through l8 inches of ice and sitting there all day hoping that the food will swim by, You might live in Minnesota.
    If you're proud that your state makes the national news 96 Nights each year because International Falls is the coldest spot in the nation, You might live in Minnesota.
    If you have ever refused to buy something because it's "too spendy", You might live in Minnesota.
    If your local Dairy Queen is closed from November through March, You might live in Minnesota.
    If you instinctively walk like a penguin for five months out of the year, You might live in Minnesota.
    If someone in a store offers you assistance, and they don't work there, You might live in Minnesota.
    If your dad's suntan stops at a line curving around the middle of his forehead, You might live in Minnesota.
    If you may not have actually eaten it, but you have heard of Lutefisk, You might live in Minnesota.
    If you have worn shorts and a parka at the same time, You might Live in Minnesota.
    If you have either a pet or a child named "Kirby", You might Live in Minnesota.
    If your town has an equal number of bars and churches, You might Live in Minnesota.
    If you have had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone Who dialed a wrong number, You might live in Minnesota.
    If you know how to say Wayzata, Mahtomedi, Edina and Shakopee, You might live in Minnesota.
    If you think that ketchup is a little too spicy, You might live in Minnesota.
    If every time you see moonlight on a lake, you think of a dancing bear, and you sing gently, "From the land of sky-blue waters," ... You might live in Minnesota......

    Series II. YOU KNOW YOU ARE A TRUE MINNESOTAN WHEN:

    1. Your idea of a traffic jam is ten cars waiting to pass a tractor on the highway.
    2. "Vacation" means going up north past Brainerd for the weekend.
    3. You measure distance in hours.
    4. You know several people who have hit deer more than once.
    5. You often switch from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day and back again.
    6. Your whole family wears Viking purple to church on Sunday.
    7. You can drive 65 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard, without flinching.
    8. You see people wearing hunting clothes at social events.
    9. You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked.
    10. You think of the major food groups as beer, fish, and venison.
    11. You carry jumper cables in your car and your girlfriend knows how to use them.
    12. There are 7 empty cars running in the parking lot at Mill's Fleet Farm at any given time.
    13. You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit.
    14. Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow.
    15. You refer to the Vikings as "we."
    16. You know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction.
    17. You can identify a southern or eastern accent.
    18. You have no problem pronouncing Wayzata.
    19. You consider Minneapolis exotic.
    20. You don't have a coughing fit from one sip of Pig's Eye Pilsner.
    21. Your idea of creative landscaping is a statue of a deer next to your blue spruce.
    22. You were unaware that there is a legal drinking age.
    23. Down South to you means Iowa.
    24. A brat is something you eat.
    25. Your neighbor throws a party to celebrate his new machine shed.
    26. You go out to fish fry every Friday.
    27. You know how to polka.
    28. Your 4th of July picnic was moved indoors due to frost.
    29. You have more miles on your snow blower than your car.
    30. You find 0 degrees "a little chilly."
    31. You actually understand these jokes, and you forward them to all your Minnesota friends


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