26-03-2025
Remarkable woman Minna Bothwell leads with unconditional love
DES MOINES, Iowa – Churches are often at the forefront of taking care of the less fortunate and marginalized of society. This week's Remarkable Woman nominee is not only one of the youngest of the Des Moines area religious leaders but also one of the most active in supporting social causes and those on the fringes of society, and people are noticing her work.
Pastor Minna Bothwell of Capital Hill Lutheran Church preaches love. It's the one word that's the main reason behind all the things Minna Bothwell and her parishioners continue to do in uncertain times.
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'Sometimes I even tell them that, you love too much, you know. It's amazing the amount of compassion and joy they have to do this work that's becoming increasingly more difficult, ' Pastor Bothwell says of her parishoners and volunteers.
The Parishoners have a guide in Bothwell to get them there, doing more good, according to the Remarkable Woman nomination that came in to WHO 13 regarding Pastor Bothwell.
Minna Bothwell came to Capitol Hill Lutheran in 2014. It was her first call following seminary. She notes that she came into a church that was multicultural in so many ways. While she is inspiring at the lectern, she inspires among the mix of people within her church and community, unifying a worldwide collection of members. The church has members from Germany, El Salvador, Mexico, South Sudan, Vietnam, and Uganda who worship regularly.
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The church, with Bothwell's guidance, has formed a unified front to support its neighbors in the LGBTQ community, the homeless, and resettling refugee families. Its clothing closet has provided clothes and even food to more than 2000 individuals on average in a year. It delivers a few hundred Blessing Bundles to the homeless each week. They've resettled two refugee families from Africa.
Pastor Bothwell admits it has become more difficult in recent weeks due to policy changes in our country and cuts in federal funding to aid support.
'I think the most difficult part of the changes that have come in the last two months is the uncertainty of safety that our members feel, as well as members of the greater community that come here to receive some of the different ministries we provide,' explains Bothwell.
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Pastor Bothwell and her team are staying on top of researching laws and changes in policy. She leads by example and word, encouraging her parishoners and volunteers to keep moving forward, helping how they can, even as things change.
'You continue to do it. Keep showing up. Keep bearing the good news of Jesus. Every day is a good day to do the right thing and to make a difference in somebody's life,' says Bothwell. 'I've always experienced God to be one of welcome and hospitality and the witness in scripture, particularly in the gospels of Jesus, you know. Spending time on the margins of society, loving people where they are. Meeting them where they are without discriminating, without judging them, but welcoming them fully and wholly as they are.'
Minna Bothwell is a remarkable woman, leading good deeds with unconditional love that continues to impact the less fortunate and marginalized in the Des Moines community.
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