Reaching out to kids, he's all thumbs

Everyone's life changes when kids come along, but no one was as surprised as Mark Arens when becoming a father rekindled ministerial urges that had lain dormant for nearly 30 years.

A theology major at what then was the College of St. Thomas, he was about to enter the seminary when he decided that being a priest wasn't his calling. So he became an insurance salesman, eventually opening his own agency in Burnsville. He liked the job and was good at it. It seemed as if the rest of his career was a foregone conclusion.

His perspective changed 2 1/2 years ago with the arrival of his daughter (who has since been joined by a brother, now 1). Arens' focus on giving his kids a spiritual upbringing has led him into a whole new line of work: teaching kids that God made them to be special.

"The word holy means to set apart, to stand out, to be outstanding," he said. "God calls all of us to be holy, to be outstanding."

He has started a company called ThumbPeople, a reference to the thumb standing apart from the other fingers. And he has created a series of books featuring a character known as Thumbbuddy. Four books are available so far, and they all carry the same message: "Thumbbuddy wants your child to know that they are precious in every way."

"There are enough children's books about ducks and princesses and fairy tales," he said. "Those are fine stories, and I read them to my kids. But our books are for the parents, too. We try to up the ante by adding a subtle message about how your child is truly a miracle."

The company also is launching a line of CDs titled "Words of Love." They consist of soothing music with a voice-over reading of biblically based affirmations, such as "You are a delight" and "God loves you."

"We want kids to grow up with a sense of self-worth and self-respect," he said. "So many of our problems today deal with image. Think how many problems we could avoid if kids never had image problems."

The books and CDs are available on the company's website, www.thumbpeople.com.

For 20 years, Kelly Jo Schmidt has been leading Bible study classes in addiction treatment centers and jails, dreaming of the day she could do more. That day is about to come.

Friends have organized a benefit to raise money for Women of Grace Recovery Home, a facility that she envisions as: "A place for the broken, wounded and lost. A place for transformation. A place to meet the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs of women coming from correctional facilities and unhealthy life circumstances."

The benefit is from noon to 3 p.m. today in the parking lot at Pilgrim United Methodist Church, 4325 Zachary Lane N., Plymouth. The event will include "a carnival, silent auction, food, three live bands and fellowship."

Linda Shuff, who helped launch the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest and build it into a museum with a national reputation, is retiring as director after 22 years.

"Linda has been not only an asset to our Jewish community, but a treasure," said Riv-Ellen Prell, a professor at the University of Minnesota's Center for Jewish Studies. "Her exhibits, her books and her catalogs are an invaluable contribution to modern Jewish history and to the history of Minnesota."

Shuff will be honored at the society's annual meeting in August.

Jeff Strickler • 612-673-7392