POSTED ON TREES in woods edging the Straight River Trail in Faribault, two duplicate blue signs drew my attention. I paused in my walk to read the notices slipped into protective plastic sleeves. And that is how I learned about “Wednesday Warm-Up” at Fourth Avenue United Methodist Church.
Since December, this Faribault congregation has opened its doors from 8- 11 a.m. every Wednesday to anyone wanting a free hot breakfast. They’re focusing on the underprivileged and those experiencing homelessness, according to John Streiff, mission outreach chairman for Fourth Avenue UMC.
A few people come for the morning meal, which changes weekly. One Wednesday the featured food may be French toast, the next week biscuits and gravy, eggs or pancakes with a meat, fruit, doughnuts/toast and beverages. Most of the food is donated.
This is not, Streiff emphasizes, about “drafting” people into church. Rather, it’s about “what Jesus would do…to show what unconditional love is,” he said.
And that’s exactly what I heard in my brief phone conversation with Streiff about the Wednesday morning breakfast. I could hear the compassion in his voice as he mentioned a couple who came to eat and who are living out of their car. Some are down on their luck. Some share their personal stories, others don’t.
If anyone needs additional assistance, the church will do what they can by directing them to resources and/or providing tangible help such as gift cards for gas. “All we’re trying to do is share the love of God,” Streiff said.
In online videos, Fourth Avenue UMC pastor, the Rev. Shawn Stoll, talks about building community and friendships over food at the Wednesday Warm-Up breakfasts. The breakfast is open to anyone, “regardless of who you are or where you slept,” he says.
Streiff echoed that message as he talked about opening the church doors for people to come in, warm up and visit (if they wish) over breakfast. Fourth Avenue will continue serving breakfast weekly through the end of February and perhaps beyond. Streiff noted that it takes time to build trust between people.
I love this community outreach, something Fourth Avenue UCC has done previously with a free Christmas dinner open to anyone. Congregants understand the importance of building community and of meeting people where they are at in life. And of serving.
Wednesday Warm-Up breakfasts provide for a basic human need—food. This faith community is taking biblical directives to feed the hungry and actually doing that, not simply talking and praying about it. And for that action, that compassion, that love, that service, I feel deep gratitude.
© Copyright 2026 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Bishop Henry Whipple, the man behind the federal building bearing his name January 16, 2026
Tags: advocate, Bishop Henry Whipple, Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, commentary, Dakota, faith, Faribault, history, immigrants, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, immigration enforcement, injustice, Minnesota, news, opinion, The Cathedral of Our Merciful Saviour
I EXPECT BISHOP HENRY WHIPPLE may be turning over in his grave under the altar inside the Cathedral of Our Merciful Saviour in Faribault. He would be appalled by what’s happening in this community with ICE enforcement. And he would also likely be standing side-by-side with protesters outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building at Fort Snelling protesting ICE’s presence in Minnesota. The federal agents are based inside the building named after him.
Whipple was all about compassion and embracing others, especially as a friend to the Dakota in Minnesota following his arrival here in 1860 and throughout his ministry. He would not be fine with ICE violently, or non-violently, taking people from their vehicles, their homes, clinics, outside schools and churches, inside businesses…and illegally detaining them without due process. That includes those here legally and American citizens imprisoned inside the building bearing Whipple’s honorable name.
I am not OK with this. None of us should be.
HOW BISHOP WHIPPLE MIGHT REACT
As Minnesota continues to deal with the presence of 3,000 ICE agents in our state, I think of the Episcopalian bishop, known as “Straight Tongue” for his honesty, and how he would react. He would assuredly be on the streets advocating for human rights. He would be talking with the current president, just like he did in 1862 with President Abraham Lincoln. Whipple traveled to DC then to personally plead for the lives of 303 Dakota sentenced to death by hanging.
Whipple would probably also be out buying groceries for Faribault residents afraid to leave their homes. He would be walking kids to their bus stops in trailer parks. He would be preaching peace, love and compassion.
HONORING WHIPPLE’S LEGACY
Those who disliked Whipple, and the Dakota, disparagingly tagged the clergyman as “The Sympathizer.” Little has changed. There are far too many in my community who hate, and, yes, that’s a strong word, anyone whose skin color is other than white. I don’t understand. They all, unless they are Native American, can trace their presence in America back to immigrants.
If only Bishop Henry Whipple was still alive to spread love in Faribault and beyond. It’s up to us to honor his legacy by loving and helping our neighbors during these especially dark days of injustice and oppression.
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FYI: To learn more about the bishop, I direct you (click here) to a previous blog post I wrote about him and his role in Minnesota history following a 2023 presentation at the Rice County Historical Society.
© Copyright 2026 Audrey Kletscher Helbling