Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks with Lifelight CEO Josh Brewer about the music festival in downtown Sioux Falls on Sunday, August 31st.

from their website:

what makes lifelight unique?

• Every Lifelight event and the LifeLight Youth Center is FREE to the public and is done by faith, and yet is still able to maintain top-quality production and event.

• LifeLight reaches and attracts multi-generations who gather together in the name of Jesus.

• Lifelight involves many church denominations, working together in unity based on the truth of God’s Word and the essentials of the Gospel.

Set against the beauty of downtown Sioux Falls the LifeLight Festival is a dynamic, free event that brings together people of all ages for a powerful celebration of faith, music, and community. Featuring an impressive lineup of Christian music artists, inspiring speakers, and exciting family-friendly entertainment, the festival offers a unique experience filled with uplifting messages and memorable performances. Beyond music, the festival grounds are filled with family-friendly activities, food trucks, and vendors, all designed to create a welcoming atmosphere for everyone. LifeLight Festival’s mission is to share the hope and joy of the Gospel, making it a highlight in the region for fellowship and renewal.

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Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks with Mr. and Mrs. Gee. He turns 100 years old this October. He is also one of the last surviving members of the U.S.S. Battleship South Dakota crew. He tells about his service from enlistment to building his own business after his Navy experience. Mr. Gee gets choked up still after 80 years about crew members getting blown up from a gun powder accident to the charred pilots transferred to the ships hospital.

from the South Dakota BB-57 website:https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/us-navy-ships/battleships/south-dakota-bb-57.html

USS South Dakota (BB-57), 1942-1962

USS South Dakota, lead ship of a class of 35,000-ton battleships, was built at Camden, New Jersey. She was commissioned in March 1942 and in August was transferred to the Pacific where she was soon involved in the Guadalcanal Campaign. On 26 October1942, her anti-aircraft guns played a prominent role in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, during which her forward sixteen-inch gun turret was hit by a Japanese bomb. Shortly thereafter, she collided with USS Mahan (DD-364). Damage from these incidents was repaired locally, and she was heavily engaged, and damaged again, during the 14-15 November battleship night action off Guadalcanal, a battle that effectively ended Japan's plans to retake that strategic island.

Following repairs in the United States, South Dakota operated in the Atlantic from February into August 1943, including service with the British Home Fleet. She then returned to the Pacific and took part in the Gilberts and Marshalls invasions in November 1943-February 1944. The battleship operated with the fast carriers during raids on Japanese bases during that time and into the Spring of 1944. She next participated in the June 1944 Marianas Campaign, using her heavy guns to shell enemy positions on Saipan and Tinian. In the Battle of the Philippine Sea on 19 June, she was hit by another Japanese bomb.

Another stateside overhaul prepared South Dakota for further Pacific combat operations. From October 1944 to the end of World War II over ten months later, she screened carrier task forces during strikes in the Western Pacific that ranged from the South China Sea to Japan. The invasions of Leyte, Luzon, Iwo Jima and Okinawa were among these operations. In March and April 1945, South Dakota's guns joined in bombarding Okinawa. She shelled targets in the Japanese Home Islands in July and August, during the final acts of the Pacific War, and was present in Tokyo Bay on 2 September 1945 during the Formal Surrender of Japan. South Dakota returned to the United States soon thereafter and was decommissioned in January 1947. She remained inactive until October 1962, when she was sold for scrapping.

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Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks with South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley and Becky Rasmussen, founder of Call to Freedom in Sioux Falls, about new South Dakota Legislation SD 58 that took affect last month.

Call to Freedom now has 28 staff members. The AG has prepared a large law enforcement presence armed with his new legislation SD-58 that took effect on July 1.

Read these key points carefully.

Protection for Minors:

Proof of force, fraud, or coercion is NOT REQUIRED when the victim is under 18. Consent from a minor or their guardian, or a mistake about the minor’s age IS NOT A VALID DEFENSE. Mandatory sentences can now be 15-20 years. The new definition of COERCION now includes exploiting impairment, abusing legal processes, or using debt control. P.S. Mark grew up in Sturgis.

From Call to Freedom's website:

Mission

Call to Freedom brings hope and wholeness to all individuals impacted by sex trafficking, labor trafficking, and commercial sexual exploitation by navigating a healing path through our continuum of care model.

Vision

To ensure every person has the right to live with freedom, dignity, and respect.

Statement of Faith

We model Christ in our approach to restore wholeness to those impacted by sex and labor trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.

Values

DIGNITY

We value the individuals we serve and accept them where they are on their healing journey. We demonstrate respect and empathy within the Call to Freedom culture through validation, listening, and providing support.

PERSON-CENTERED

We focus on the needs of the individuals we serve by ensuring they receive the services, being flexible, and honoring them.

EMPOWERMENT

We empower individuals and communities to prevent sex and labor trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation through education and safety strategies. We empower the individuals we serve to create and achieve personal goals. We empower our team members to utilize a care team approach with clients, each other, and partners.

INTEGRITY

We utilize a care team approach to provide consistent and dependable support to the individuals we serve. We continually improve our model based on research and feedback.

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