A new kind of trick or treat
costumes
University Lutheran Center puts a new spin on old tradition
Tonight is a night for trick-or-treating, but students from the University Lutheran Center are putting a spin on this old Halloween tradition.
Instead of asking for candy, they will be asking for monetary donations.
The students participating in this event are members of the National Lutheran Campus Ministry, and they hope to raise money to pay for a missions trip to New Orleans in December.
The Halloween fundraiser consists of going from door to door in the surrounding neighborhoods asking for donations.
The participants will inform possible donators that 50 percent of the profits will go to the students to help with the cost of the trip, and the other 50 percent is going to the Gays for Hope organization in Fargo.
Anthony Christoffels, a junior majoring in construction management, serves as the Hospitality Peer Minister at the University Lutheran Center.
The reason they donate 50 percent of the proceeds to another organization is because they believe the people donating their money like to know that some of it remains in Fargo, Christoffels said.
The University Luther Center makes annual mission trips, and this year’s trip will take place Dec. 27 through Jan. 5 in New Orleans, to help with the hurricane relief.
Last year’s mission also took place in New Orleans, but Christoffels said, “we had so much fun last year, and there is still much to be done, we wanted to go back.”
This mission trip takes place in conjunction with all the Lutheran campus ministries from across the country.
“ A national conference is held every year at a different location, and this year it is being held near New Orleans, which is another reason it was chosen as the location for the mission,” Christoffels said.
He also added that this year is a very special year for the National Lutheran Campus Ministry as it is celebrating its 100th year of existence. To celebrate the event, an ecumenical conference will be held.
People from all religions will be welcomed at the conference, not just Lutherans.
What the Lutheran Campus Ministry was created for, and what NDSU’s own University Lutheran Center was created for, is to help students.
The center offers a full-time campus minister, frequent worships and social outings held one Saturday every month.
“ Our main focus is building hospitality and community for students, especially the freshmen,” Christoffels said.
“ I’ve found a passion for Lutheran ministries and this is an extension of it,” Chris Brademeyer, a sophomore majoring in philosophy and a member of the Lutheran Campus Ministry, said.
Brademeyer is attending the national conference and mission trip to New Orleans, and he is looking forward to it because this will be his first real mission trip.
If anyone is interested in joining the Trick-or-Treat fundraising for the mission trip, or interested in the mission trip, the students will be meeting 5 p.m. tonight at the University Lutheran Center, located at 1201 13th Ave. N., to start the trick-or-treating.
There will also be a second fundraiser for this trip from 8:45 a.m .to 1 p.m. Dec. 3 at the University Lutheran Center.
It will consist of a pancake feed and silent auction with all proceeds benefitting the traveling students.