News Archives - 2007

Faith in the City, a partnership of seven major Lutheran institutions in the Minneapolis - St. Paul area committed to improving the quality of life of the communities in which they serve, celebrated its 5th Anniversary on April 25 at Augsburg College. The seven institutions which make up FIC are: Augsburg College; Augsburg Fortress; Central Lutheran Church; Fairview Health Services; Luther Seminary; Lutheran Social Services; and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

These partners have expertise in a wide variety of areas, including health care, social services, education, finance, publishing and Christian service. By bringing together their collective resources, FIC is better able to solve community problems for the common good.

Special guest at the anniversary celebration was Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak. Rybak spoke of the difference FIC makes in the city.

"I don’t see any other organization around that is doing what Faith in the City is doing," Rybak said. "It's about improvement. To see in five years that so much has happened, it's just been great. I'm four-square ready to be your partner and appreciate what you've done."  

At the end of the evening Matthew Anderson-Stembridge, executive director of FIC, summed up some of the proof that these organizations do make a difference. According to Anderson-Stembridge, Faith in the City partners engage in 3.1 million hours of volunteer service annually and the organizations touch the lives of approximately two million clients, students, patients and members each year in Minnesota.

"Now that's a circle of influence," Anderson-Stembridge concluded.

Photo: R.T. Rybak