April 15, 2008

Contact Pat Kerrigan at 608-796-3041 or pgkerrigan@viterbo.edu

DIRECTOR OF FAMILY FEST MINISTRIES TO SPEAK AT VITERBO

LA CROSSE, Wis.– Pete Larson, the director of Family Fest Ministries in Minneapolis, will present “God’s Mission, My Life—Discovering, Developing, and Deploying Your Gifts” at Viterbo University Monday, April 28 at 7 p.m. in the San Damiano Chapel.

This presentation, which is sponsored by the Paula Ripple Comin Memorial Endowed Lectureship, is free and open to the public.

“God’s Mission, My Life—Discovering, Developing, and Deploying Your Gifts” will feature humor and stories about what happens when we use our gifts to join in the work that God is already doing in the world around us.

According to Tom Thibodeau, religious studies faculty member at Viterbo, Larson is a particularly popular speaker with young people and families.

“His message is one that’s positive and uplifting,” Thibodeau said.

Larson has spent over 20 years working with young people in a variety of settings. He has lead over 600 retreats and has spoken to nearly 100,000 youth in grades 5–12. He was also the host of The Wishing Well Show, an interactive television program at the Minneapolis and St. Paul Children’s Hospitals.

Family Fest Ministries seeks to strengthen families in the Christian faith through week-long and weekend retreats for families. Larson has developed and leads the Marriage Booster Retreat for engaged and married couples. He also speaks often to church youth groups, conferences, and retreats.