Angel Tree brings Christmas to convicts' kids

"The sins of the fathers _______ (shall) (shall not) be visited upon the children."

Easy question, right? Of course not!

Well not everyone agrees, putting this story into the No Good Deed Goes Unpunished Department.

Women volunteers working on a southeastern Wisconsin project to provide Christmas gifts for the children of incarcerated parents have been threatened by an anonymous caller. The Angel Tree Christmas program, organized by the Prison Fellowship of Milwaukee, purchases gifts for the children of Wisconsin prisoners.

In this corner of Wisconsin -- south of Milwaukee to the Illinois border, and west to Elkhorn -- there are 823 children with a parent in prison; long term incarceration, not jail.

Not everyone thinks this is a worthwhile project. A male caller -- his phone number is blocked from Caller ID -- has contacted a number of the women involved in the program to say that prisoners are hard criminals who don't deserve this kind of program. "Let them go to the Salvation Army, or Toys for Tots," he says.

Chris Lukasavige, chair of St. Lucy's Angel Tree program, said the caller told her, "If we don't stop this program, he will go to Fox News and newspapers to have them investigate."

Tina Stefaniak, SE Wisconsin coordinator of the program, has also received the calls. "It's like he's threatening me," she said, "but it didn't scare me. Bring it on! I need more churches involved!"

Angel Tree is just a small part of what the Prison Fellowship does, but this time of year it's the most visible. "We purchase gifts on the prisoners' behalf so their children remember them. We're trying to let the child know that mom or dad screwed up, but they still love you, just like God loves your parents even though they screwed up," said Stefaniak.

Convicts tell prison chaplains their children's names and ages, and what kind of gift they would like. That information ("Diego, 6, animal toy") goes on a tag hung on a tree at a participating church, and volunteers choose a tag and shop for the child, providing a toy gift or a clothing gift. Kids get one of each. Churches handle the distribution either by delivering the gifts to the homes or by holding a party to which the children and their caregivers are invited. There's a spending limit of $15-$20 per gift.

St. Lucy's Angel Tree has 150 angels -- gifts for 75 children. Lukasavige is optimistic that all the requests will be filled. "At St. Paul the Apostle they can't fill all the requests for angels," she says.

But it's not that easy everywhere. Luckily, the kids also have Tina Stefaniak on their side. Says Lukasavige, "Tina's incredible; any kids that are left over, she buys all the presents herself."


Stefaniak, a nurse at Aurora who also runs Dependable House Cleaning service from her home, is in her second year as the area's Angel Tree coordinator. "I enjoy kids," she says. "I started by delivering a couple of gifts at my church," and later directed her church's program.

The program's greatest need is Racine churches. "Out of my 823 children, about 650 live in Racine," she said. "I don't have many churches in Racine participating, and we have the greatest need here.

"I try to group the children to the churches, by zip code, so the people who collect the gifts can deliver them, and minister to these broken families one-on-one." Some churches deliver the gifts, while others have a big Christmas party and everybody comes to them.

Racine churches participating in this year's Angel Tree program -- so far! -- are: Faith Community Church, St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, Racine Christian Reform Church, Taylor Avenue Church of the Nazarene, St. Lucy's Catholic Church, Northport Baptist Church and Evangelical United Methodist Church.

Other participating churches in SE Wisconsin are Southport Baptist Church, Kenosha (Northport's sister church); St. Mary's Lutheran Church, Kenosha; First Assembly of God, Kenosha; First Christian Church, Kenosha; Kenosha Bible Church; Prayer House Assembly of God, Kenosha; Raymond Community church, Franksville; Millard Community Church, Elkhorn; East Troy Bible Church; and Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lake Geneva.

If you or your church would like to participate in the program, Tina Stefaniak can be reached at 497-6813.

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What is a church? Stained glass ... or people?

Some people think a church is a big, imposing building, preferably built of brick or stone, and with a tall spire. It should have welcoming doors, arched at the top would be nice; large and beautiful stained glass windows, and an organ with hundreds of brass pipes filling the front of the sanctuary.

It is, after all, the House of God.

Racine's First Baptist Church was one of those. It pre-dated the Racine County Courthouse, which sits catty-corner at the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue and 8th Street, by half a century, and the boxy and undistinguished jail addition which now rudely crowds the church's front entrance.

It was a grand church, with a large, high-ceilinged sanctuary, an attractive balcony strung along three sides, a big kitchen for preparing meals for the poor. Its large rose window, above, is second to none.

Next door to the south, attached to the church, is a three-story community building with classrooms, a gymnasium, a small chapel, even a two-lane bowling alley in the basement. Gorton Hall, the addition is called; it was built and paid for by the Gorton family, congregants of First Baptist, and donated to the church.

This, clearly, is a church with a proud history, one of the earliest in Racine. Go back 167 years to 1840 -- just six years after Gilbert Knapp founded the settlement of Port Gilbert that would later become Racine -- and you'd run into the Rev. Jason Lathrop, formerly of Kenosha, who organized Racine's First Baptist Church here on April 25, 1840. There were 16 parishioners. The city later named an important street after him.

The church's cornerstone, which proudly reads "1876," doesn't tell half its history: this, actually, is the third church the congregation constructed. The first, built in 1850, later burned down. Its replacement, while under construction, also fell victim to fire.

So the congregation moved downtown, to the site on Wisconsin, and built the impressive church you see there today.

The one that's now vacant. Forlorn. For sale. (Listing HERE.)

What is a church? Is it the building, or is it the congregation? Bricks, mortar and stained glass ... or people with God in their hearts and a mission?

First Baptist's transformation occurred four years ago. That wonderful old church was showing its age. There was a "pesky" leak in the roof, and although various roofing companies "fixed" it, the fixes only lasted until the next rain. The estimate for a new roof: $70,000. The boiler became temperamental, requiring $25,000 a year just to keep it functioning. The elevator was questionable. The south wall of the church started bowing outward, stabilized finally by strong steel girders erected in the courtyard between the church proper and Gorton Hall.

"We could have fixed this, and that," said Pastor Holly Anderle, "but we asked the question: 'Are we going to spend the rest of our lives ministering to people, or ministering to a building?' "

"We're so much more than that white elephant," says the Rev. Anderle, who spent nine years as an Army officer before realizing, "there's only so long you can run from God." She led the congregation to the present First Baptist Church -- a rented, one-story structure behind a strip mall. Even knowing the address, 3117 Lathrop Ave., I drove by it, twice, unable to find it.

Pastor Holly Anderle in new sanctuary

Yes, it's a former warehouse. Some old-timers might remember it as Cindy's restaurant. (The drive-up window can still be found inside what's now the sanctuary.) And there's no stained glass. In its last iteration, before the blue sign by the street was painted over, it was the Abundant Life Church.

Now, this is the First Baptist Church, and the congregation is happy here. Praying. Teaching.Growing.

The final service in the old church was in 2003. A flyer taped to the door then still tells visitors where services are now conducted. The underlying message: "We're still alive; we've just moved."

"As much as it hurt to leave, if we were going to be a church, we had to leave that building. We're a congregation, not a building," the Rev. Anderle said.

"We're concerned about people. In the old church, we had a hot meal program on Mondays for the needy; today we do that at the Salvation Army. We're more interested in people being loved, and being part of the church family."

First Baptist has gained some new members since the move in 2004, a good mix of older and younger. "We're moving toward a blended kind of worship; not being hidebound; using new music. Our Sunday school kids made a videotape of a newscast as it might have been done in Jesus' time; we have to bring religion home to the kids. Our biggest focus is keeping things authentic."

First Baptist keeps things authentic in two languages, for two congregations. They shared the old church with a sister church, Iglesia Bautista Renacer, a Hispanic American Baptist congregation, and those parishioners came along to the new location. First Baptist holds its Sunday services at 10:30 a.m.; Iglesia Bautista Renacer holds its services at noon. The Rev. Juan Trujillo is its pastor.

Congregants from both churches helped remodel the building when they moved in and built the altar. "We're both stronger together," said the Rev. Anderle.

"It's important that people know this is a living church. People think we're so depressed at losing that wonderful building, but we're full of life and excitement."

Parishioners share her feelings. At a Bible study this week, I talked to a group of church members. "The people are the church," said Donna Peters. "I miss the church, but the people are still here," agreed Sheryl Krohn. Joyce Aber said, "I miss the organ. But when we got here, we were very much at home, like a family. I love this church." The organ, noted Ron Brinkmann, went to a Catholic Church in Arizona.

Still, there's some sadness. "We all feel a loss," said Nadia Brinkmann. "I can't wait until the old church is sold."

And what will happen then? "We'll start a building fund," says the Rev. Anderle.

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Heavenly building waits for a miracle

The real estate listings are overstocked these days, but this property stands out as unique:

A strikingly beautiful 1876 brick landmark; 21,189 sq. ft. with a wonderful downtown location; amenities like a gymnasium, two bowling alleys, an elevator, stained glass windows. Price reduced from $480,000 to $250,000!

All that is true. Unfortunately, it's also a fixer-upper: needs new roof, maybe a furnace; some foundation work may be in order. But, ah, once you have it finished -- some paint and decorating, of course -- you'd have a real gem, a cathedral. Well, a fine church, for sure.

The Realtor selling this gem is John Crimmings, of First Weber. He's clearly conflicted as he shows the former First Baptist Church to prospective buyers.

"In its day, it was a beautiful, beautiful thing," he says. "It still has a lot of potential; it could really be something."

The problem is, he says: "The churches that could use it, can't afford it." Other Racine churches have sold in recent years, most notably after the Catholic Church consolidated parishes: St. Stanislaus, Holy Trinity, St. Rose ... Crimmings ticks them off, noting that some had rectories, or parking, while First Baptist does not.

And so, while he continues to show First Baptist to congregations that would relish a downtown location and a potential showplace -- it was once; it could be again! -- at the back of his mind is the dark thought that the highest and best use for the property, located across the street from the Racine County Courthouse and the Racine County jail, is as a parking lot.

But still he perseveres, trying to perform a miracle. "To a congregation, a church has very important meaning in their lives. It would be nice to be able to return it to grandeur," he says.

Listing is HERE.

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Local churches oppose upcoming children's movie

Nicole Kidman and Dakota Blue Richards
in 'The Golden Compass'

UPDATED 11/15: See below

At least two Racine Catholic churches are speaking out in opposition to a new children's movie, starring no less than Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, the most recent James Bond.

Three weeks from now, on Dec. 7, "The Golden Compass" is due to hit a silver screen near you. The film is an adaptation of the first novel in a trilogy called “His Dark Materials” by English author (and atheist) Philip Pullman.

Proponents and critics alike compare it to "Harry Potter," "Lord of the Rings," and "Chronicles of Narnia." (Not such a stretch: there's a search for a unique elementary particle that could unite the world, journeys to strange lands and the protagonist, a 12-year-old girl, hides in a wardrobe.)

Fox News summarized the plot of "Compass" and the controversy like this: "A children's fantasy film that stars Nicole Kidman and features a little girl on a quest to kill God has some Christian groups upset over what they believe is a ploy to promote atheism to kids."

Christian groups are afraid the movie, however watered down, will encourage children to read the books. "These books denigrate Christianity, thrash the Catholic Church and sell the virtues of atheism," said Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League.

Last weekend's parish newsletters at both St. Rita's and St. Lucy's Catholic Church's exhorted parishioners to avoid the movie.

St. Rita's Principal's Newsletter said this: "The movie story is against Christianity. Philip Pullman is a proud atheist who detests C.S. Lewis and writes his books as an antithesis to "The Chronicles of Narnia." In the end the children kill and defeat God. School parents should know about this book and movie and should not support this author's work."

In St. Lucy's newsletter, Sandy Gottfredsen, pastoral associate, wrote: "The movie has been watered down, but seeks to get into the minds of children and parents ...to go out and buy the books where in the end the children kill God. And this is what Pullman's strategy is: to kill God in the minds of children."

UPDATE, 11/15: This weekend's issue of St. Rita School principal's newsletter has a followup: Principal Diana Lesnjak looked deeper into the issue, and was surprised to find the book in the school library, and in its book fair flyer. After confirming the book's anti-religious, anti-Christian elements and themes, she decided to remove it from the school.

She writes: "Because of this honest debate going on, on, since we are a Catholic school, we will remove the Pullman book or books from our school library and we will not sell the book at our book fair.

"If any parent wishes to pre-read this book (it's recommended for adults) you may decide it is fine for your child. At school, we won't make that choice for you by having it here. I am aware that I may now be declared a book-burner, if parents disagree with me about losing this book. I can only do what I'm hired to do, and part of that is maintaining the Catholic identity of this school- that’s as simply as I can state it. I’m not proud of this, or sad about it -- it is what it is."

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