Mike Novotny ends Taboo tour after reaching 1,500 students

Pastor Mike Novotny wrapped a Taboo speaking tour that brought faith-based conversations about shame, confession and other hard topics to 1,500 students across five schools in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The tour also gave away more than 1,100 books tied to the series, extending the message beyond the campus events.

Why it matters: - The tour targeted topics many students avoid discussing openly, including anxiety, depression, sexuality, pornography, identity, relationships, shame and confession. - Time of Grace used the tour to push biblical conversation into schools through assemblies, classroom discussions and student Q&A. - More than 1,100 books were distributed, giving students a follow-up resource after the events ended.

What happened: - Pastor Mike Novotny, lead speaker for Time of Grace, concluded a Taboo speaking tour that reached 1,500 attendees. - The tour visited five high schools and one college across Minnesota and Wisconsin. - Campuses included Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota; St. Croix Lutheran Academy in St. Paul, Minnesota; West Lutheran High School in Plymouth, Minnesota; Luther High School in Onalaska, Wisconsin; and Winnebago Lutheran Academy in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. - Each stop included large-group presentations, classroom discussions and Q&A sessions.

The details: - The Taboo tour connects to Novotny’s book, How to Talk Taboo: A Christian Guide to Honest Confession and Brave Confrontation. - The tour also ties to the Taboo Topics series on Time of Grace’s YouTube channel and website. - Students asked questions about faith, culture, personal struggles, shame and confession. - Novotny said students approached him with personal confessions after hearing him share part of his own story about addiction and first confessing it to another Christian on April 24. - Novotny said one student told him, “today is my April 24.” - Time of Grace supporters and the schools helped fund the book giveaway. - The ministry says its event model can also include smaller group conversations and presentations for parents or school supporters, depending on campus needs. - Time of Grace also points schools and supporters to future speaking opportunities and tours. - The ministry said future events may continue addressing taboo topics or shift to new themes tied to biblical truth and everyday questions.

Between the lines: - The tour shows how faith ministries are packaging sensitive topics in a school-friendly format that pairs public talks with private follow-up. - The Q&A structure appears designed to lower the barrier for students who may not speak up in traditional settings. - The book giveaway suggests the ministry wants the conversations to continue after the speaker leaves campus. - Novotny’s remarks point to a core theme of the tour: confession and direct conversation over silence.

What's next: - Time of Grace says schools, churches, donors and ministry partners should watch for future speaking opportunities. - The ministry expects future events to build on the Taboo format or introduce new themes. - Pastor Mike Novotny will continue serving as lead speaker for Time of Grace and as a pastor at The CORE in Appleton, Wisconsin. - The ministry continues to offer television, radio, print, social media, podcast and book resources aimed at helping people apply biblical truth to daily life.

The bottom line: - Time of Grace is using live events, books and digital media to turn difficult student questions into structured faith conversations. - The recent tour reached 1,500 attendees, but the longer goal is deeper follow-up after the assembly ends.

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