Couple sow seeds to save soil
Lacking her husband’s farming heritage or any ties to farming, Ann Swannack knew little of soil erosion and conservation in the early years of their marriage. Her husband, Steve, is the fourth generation to farm the land where he grew up 18 miles west of St. John, land settled by his English immigrant ancestors. Now, however, they share a commitment to conserving the soil of the Palouse and keeping it healthy..... read more

Youth aid in hurricane recovery
Nearly three years after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast, a group of Spokane volunteers continues to help pave the road to recovery.  Now that images of flooded homes and shocked victims no longer dominate the news, many have forgotten about the storm and its aftermath. For some, however, Katrina’s devastation continues to shape the lives of people they know—hurricane survivors with whom they’ve worked side-by-side.. read more

Medical mission leads to efforts to challenge domestic violence
Nancy Mortlock, a Spokane nurse, works to combat domestic violence in Romania and Spokane. In 1999, she never guessed she would make more than 25 trips to Romania in the next decade.  Before a group from Fourth Memorial Church invited her to accompany their medical team there, she had hardly heard of the Eastern European country...... read more

Theologian sees global in age of instant contact with technology
While valuing face-to-face contact, theologian-author-columnist Martin Marty recognized that today’s technology affords new kinds of immediate local to global relationships.  His travels have made possible face-to-face global encounters, lectures and visits to former students..... read more

Union Gospel Mission assists women and children in crisis center
By focusing on the hearts of women dealing with pain, homelessness, domestic violence, past imprisonment and mental illness, Union Gospel Mission’s Crisis Shelter for Women and Children helps women change their lives, said its director Rich Schaus.  Most women they deal with have never known the stability of a loving relationship.  So shelter staff are to love them “no matter what they do,” he said.... read more

Whitworth University starts master's degree in theology program
Whitworth University has embarked on a master’s degree in theology as one way to address the biblical and theological illiteracy its faculty perceives in the society and church.  The master’s degree in theology is a program it has long wanted to develop..... read more

Children fill halls of aging church
In a near-century-old church where the congregation’s average age is about 70, children from the East Central neighborhood gather in the basement to play.  Twice a week in the school year and a dozen times each month in the summer, school-age children come to Grace Lutheran Church to share a meal, spend time with other youth and talk to adults who want to make a difference in the children’s lives..... read more

VOA designates 100th Safe Place in Spokane
Volunteers of America has designated the 100th Safe Place site since the program’s Spokane launch last April..... read more

Christ Clinic builds new clinic
Christ Clinic will break ground at 11 a.m., Tuesday, May 6, at 2410 N. Monroe, to begin construction of a 4,800-square-foot clinic adjacent to Christ Kitchen..... read more