Crossroads Ministry’s Second Annual Chili Cook Off fills tummies and souls

 Crossroads Ministry’s Second Annual Chili Cook Off fills tummies and souls

By Pastor Devlyn Brooks

MOORHEAD, Minn. -- More than 100 community residents, pastors, and church staff, and Minnesota State University Moorhead students turned out to support campus ministry on Sunday, Nov. 2, at Crossroad Ministry’s Second Annual Chili Cook Off held at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd on the city’s south side.

The popular event was first held last year as a way to raise critical funds to support Crossroads Lutheran Campus Ministry’s work on the MSUM campus during a time when the program is seeing encouraging growth.

And while the Crossroads name itself is fairly new, the young adult ministry has been around for more than 70 years at MSUM, where it elevates young adults’ experiences in God’s love at a crucial time in their life.

In fact, some may recognize the ministry by its former name of Lutheran Campus Ministry (LCM), and still others may be familiar with the ministry because of its famous big “Blue House,” which has been celebrated as a place for college students to live and worship for decades in Moorhead.

“We want to offer a big thank you to all who attended our Chili Cook-Off fundraiser and silent auction. It was a fun-filled evening of good food, healthy competition, and fellowship,” said Synodical Authorized Minister Jason Baumgartner, who took over leading Crossroads at the beginning of the school year. “A special thanks goes to Good Shepherd for hosting the event in their space and to our celebrity judges, Moorhead Mayor Shelly Carlson and Moorhead Fire Chief Jeff Wallin.”

The one-night event, which features area pastors, church staff, Crossroads students, and others in a friendly but competitive Chili Cook-Off challenge, raised more than $2,000 for campus ministry this year, according to Good Shepherd Pastor Taylor Wilson, who chairs the Crossroads Ministry board. The money raised will be used for fellowship ministry activities such as movie nights, campfires, bowling, game nights, pumpkin carving, overnight retreats and tie dye supplies.

But while the money raised is important to fund campus ministry, Baumgartner said the night also produces other benefits such as increasing awareness about the Crossroads Ministry in the community and connecting the Crossroads students to other Lutheran ministries in the broader Moorhead area.

"We’re grateful for the past leadership who helped get Crossroads moving into an exciting chapter of ministry. We also have some amazing student leaders that are making a huge impact on campus!” said Pastor Wilson, who has been serving on the Crossroads board for three years. “We’re grateful for the support of our synod, local congregations, alumni, and donors that help make this ministry possible through service, prayer, and financial gifts. Thank you for your generosity and support."

The Chili Cook-Off charges each competitor with developing their own brand of chili with the intention of competing against the other challengers for bragging rights. This year, 13 chili gladiators faced off, and the result was a stunning variety of culinary takes on this favorite autumnal dish. This year's competition featured everything from a Colorado green chili to sweet and spicy variations on the more traditional, tomato-based chili style.

Attendees paid a donation for the privilege of sampling as many of the chilis as they wished, and then they were given tickets to use for voting for their favorites. By the night’s end, the chili guru with the most tickets was declared the “winner” of the cook-off.

This year, that honor was bestowed on Pastor Wilson and his wife, Deacon Julie Wilson, also of Good Shepherd, who received the “People’s Choice” award.

The other awards handed out this year by the celebrity judges went to Pastor Grant Vanderford of Bethesda Lutheran Church, who received the “Hero’s Choice” award bestowed by Fire Chief Wallin, and Pastor Michele Jenson of the Lutheran Church of Christ the King, who received the “Mayor’s Choice” award given by Mayor Carlson.

“I love the ministry that Crossroads is engaged in with college students. This event and, indeed, the financial support that is raised through it is a ‘put-your-money-where-your-mouth’ effort,” said Pastor Vanderford, a second-year competitor and winner. He also was the “People’s Choice” award winner in 2022, the competition’s inaugural year.

“College students bring their full selves to the table of the Church and are some of the most honest, passionate, caring saints in the Body of Christ. They never fail to show up with hunger for theological reflection, hunger for justice, and hunger for the living God who is made known to us in Jesus,” Pastor Vanderford continued. “I can't think of anything more powerful than the witness to God's love than when these students show up to share a meal and their faith in the crucified and risen Christ. The whole loaf rises because of their presence in the church.”

Pastor Taylor reminds those who may have missed this year’s Chili Cook-Off that it’s not too late to support Crossroads’ ministry. Giving Hearts Day, the region-wide fundraising effort organized by the Dakota Medical Foundation and co-hosted by the Impact Foundation and Alex Stern Family Foundation, will be taking place Feb. 8. For more information, see the website at givingheartsday.org.

Chili Winners:

• Hero's Choice: Pastor Grant Vanderford, Bethesda Lutheran Church
• Mayor's Choice: Pastor Michele Jenson, Christ the King Lutheran Church
• People's Choice: Pastor Taylor & Julie Wilson, Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd