Katy Christian Magazine | December 2017 / January 2018

Faithfully Serving West Houston, Katy, and Fulshear

K AT Y Family Friendly News with an Eternal Purpose Inside this Issue: The Science Behind the Christmas Star Katy Christian Magazine’s

2018 Christian School Directory

That Time

Jesus

Got Buried Under Christmas Bringing Awareness to Celiac Disease

December 2017 / January 2018 KatyChristianMagazine.com For Advertising Information, Call (281) 497-6455 December 2017 / January 2018

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Inspired

to Higher Education

by Olivia Cane

Cambridge dictionary defines the word inspiration as, “someone or something that give you ideas for doing something.” Its root meaning is to “breath into.” In the case of Chevella Sampson, a hairstylist of ten years, that breath of inspiration came to her during a deeply moving spiritual transformation. “The Lord placed on my heart the urge to dig deeper,” she explained. “He called on me to study His word.”

At the time, she didn’t know how God wanted her to do that.

“Yet I was inspired to go to church one morning,” Chevella explains. “there I met a Belhaven University representative who told me that no matter what your course of study, Belhaven will teach you the word of Christ. I could actually feel God speaking to me.”

“I was nervous. I hadn’t been in school for 25 years,” continues Chevella. “Would I be accepted How was I going to manage books, tuition, financial aid? But I wanted to learn more about the Bible, and I knew in my heart that the Christ-based curriculum at Belhaven was the right place for me. Then I called a Belhaven University counselor. It was like she completed my thoughts! All my fears were instantly put to rest. The staff made it so easy. Financial aid was available to me even before God promised me it would be. I

was overjoyed – and most importantly, I knew this was where I belonged.”

Today, Chevella has been at Belhaven for two years.

“Everybody seems like family They know your name and they want you to succeed. My professors have an open-door policy. If you need guidance, guidance will be provided to you. But it’s the Biblical perspective that’s super important. It doesn’t matter how smart you are or how much you’ve got it together –or even if you don’t have it together. Having a Biblical perspective in your education not only allows you to expand your career, it fulfills a purpose in life no matter what talent you have. Talent is no good without purpose.

And your purpose is to know the word of Christ.”

For Houston residents who want to complete a bachelor’s or master’s degree quickly and affordably, Belhaven University is the answer to a quality adult studies program. Both degree programs are tailored to the needs of busy working adults. Belhaven students graduate with the tools they need to stay competitive in today’s global economy, and they do it with all the love and support of the word of God. “Belhaven is everything you expect in a God-inspired learning environment,” Chevella says. “You will feel so at home here.”

“Everybody seems like ”

family.

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December 2017 / January 2018

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December 2017 / January 2018

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Letter from the Publisher K AT Y Volume XIII, Issue I

6

Bible Trivia

8

The Science Behind the Christmas Star

12 Katy Dog Suites Provides Pets

a Home Away from Home 17 Someone You Can Trust 21 Bringing Awareness To Celiac Disease 25 Surviving Christmas and

its Unmet Expectations 29 Submitting To The Call 33 Hallmark Brings Out

the Warm Fuzzies 37 The Buzz About Katy 40 2018 Christian School Directory 48 That Time Jesus Got Buried

Under Christmas 55 Coming Together After Harvey 62 Persevering To Give 66 A Voice For The Voiceless 70 Spectrum Fusion: Paving a Road

of Success for Adults with Autism 73 Judge Cannata Appointed

by Governor Abbott 76 Local Christian High School

Provides Community,

Christ-Centered Focus

Congratulations to the new World Series Champion, our very own Houston Astros!

What a memorable and incredible baseball season! Who would’ve thought that after the Dodgers tied the series in game 6, that we would’ve come back in game 7 to win it all? Not many people, including I, thought we had much of a chance! But here we are, Champions of the World!

We pray that all of our readers had a great Thanksgiving weekend with family and loved ones. Now that Thanksgiving is over, Christmas is fast upon us. I know lots of you have already finished your Christmas shopping, either online or on Black Friday. I personally have always been a last minute shopper. I find that the closer to Christmas Day it is, the better the deals.

While presents, music, and material gifts are great, let’s not forget the true meaning of Christmas.

Christmas marks the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Somehow, a lot of that has been forgotten by all except the faithful in this day and age.

One truth that I have discovered is that giving is truly better than receiving. I can’t remember but a few gifts that I have received in my life, but I can remember a lot of gifts that I’ve given; not to people that could afford to return the kindness, but to the people who could not. I remember one year, when I was a member of Houston’s First Baptist Church, my Sunday School class adopted a poor Hispanic family that had nothing. No electricity, very little food, and not much hope.

We knew that they had two young girls, probably around six and seven years in age. My church and I pooled together our resources and bought them clothes and other gifts. I vividly recall the way their beautiful brown eyes lit up with immense joy when they received their gifts. Their father cried and said to all of us, “Thank you.” He had no means to repay us, nor did we want him to.

Happiness driven by material objects is fleeting, but the happiness sourced from selflessness and love will stick with you forever. Remember, God gave us his Son on the first Christmas out of a love that none of us can fathom. Jesus is the Reason for the Season.

Joseph R. Menslage President/Publisher Katy Christian Magazine joseph@houstonchristianmagazine.com

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Our Mission Statement:

“Our mission is to have a magazine devoted to His glory, provide cutting-edge stories important to today’s Christian, promote Christian-Judeo values we find important, and editorial content that your entire family can enjoy.”

For advertising information, contact Joseph Menslage at (281) 497-6455

Cover photo: Special thanks to students from Houston Christian High School.

Photo courtesy of Daniel Pregrasso Photography, www.danielpregrasso.com.

or email joseph@houstonchristianmagazine.com

© 2017 KATY CHRISTIAN MAGAZINE. All rights reserved. No part of this publication or website may be distributed or reproduced without prior written consent of the publisher.

Advertisements and or editorial content published in Katy Christian Magazine does not necessarily reflect the views of Katy Christian Magazine.

Meet Our Staff

To SUBSCRIBE: send a check or money order for 30.00 for a 12-month subscription to Katy Christian Magazine, 650 West Bough, Suite 150-170, Houston, TX 77024. For EDITORIAL or calendar submissions, please mail them to Katy Christian Magazine, 650 West Bough, Suite 150-170, Houston, TX 77024.

CUSTOMER SERVICE For 24/7 service, please visit our website: www.KatyChristianMagazine.com. You can also call (281) 741-8317 or write to us at 650 West Bough, Suite 150-170, Houston, TX 77024.

Joseph Menslage

Laritza Garcia

Odalis Olchowy

joseph@houstonchristianmagazine.com

laritza@katychristianmagazine.com

odalis@katychristianmagazine.com

Publisher

Vice President

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Community Relations

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December 2017 / January 2018

Bible Trivia Test Your Knowledge By Answering the Trivia Questions Below 5) What guided the wise men to find Jesus? (Matt. 2:9) A) A dove B) Their dreams C) A star D) An angel 6) What gift did the wise men NOT give Jesus? (Matt. 2:11) A) Silver B) Gold C) Myrrh D) Frankincense

1) The wise men traveled ________________ to Jerusalem. (Matt. 2:1) A) Southward B) Eastward C) Westward D) Northward 2) How many wise men brought gifts to Jesus?

A) 3 B) The Bible never says C) None D) 2 3) Who diligently asked the wise men about baby Jesus? (Matt. 2:7) A) King Pilate B) King Herod C) King David D) King Elias 4) Why did this man want to lean more about Jesus’ whereabouts?

A) He wanted to worship Jesus B) He wanted to kill Jesus C) He wanted Jesus to heal him D) He wanted to ask Jesus to be the heir to his throne

7) What was Jesus’ approximate age when the wise men presented Him with gifts? (Matt. 2:16) A) 10 years old B) less than 2 years old C) 12 years old D) 6 years old 8) Why did Jesus’ family flee Bethlehem? (Matt. 2:12-13) A) God would destroy it B) They couldn’t pay all of their taxes C) The king of Jerusalem wanted to kill Him D) The Gentiles hated Joseph 9) To where did Jesus’ family flee from Bethlehem? (Matt. 2:12-15) A) Samaria B) Greece C) Egypt D) Nazareth 10) When they returned, where did Jesus and His family dwell? (Matt. 2:23) A) Egypt B) Samaria C) Greece D) Nazareth

Answers: 1) C, 2) B, 3) B, 4) B, 5) C, 6) A, 7) B, 8) C, 9) C, 10) D

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The Science Behind the Christmas Star

By Dr. Rebecca Deurlein The story of Jesus’ birth has been told and retold countless times over the years. No one can forget the moment in the iconic Charlie Brown Christmas when Linus read from Luke the story of the Three Wise Men traveling across the desert to present their gifts to the newborn Baby Jesus.

But what really happened when the Savior was born? And how did the Wise Men actually follow a star to find him?

Ken Zureck, a space consultant and historian here in Houston, conducted a 50-year space study to understand the impact of stars in our history.

Naturally, he is intrigued by the origin of the Christmas Star, the one that was said to have guided the Wise Men to Bethlehem. This star has been explained alternately as a supernova, the planet Venus, or a comet, but none of these theories could be confirmed and often conflicted with the Biblical account.

“After years of studying these theories,” Zureck said, “I had the great fortune of reading a book entitled The Star of Bethlehem: The Legacy of the Magi, by Rutgers professor Dr. Michael Molnar. It is by far the most evidence-laden story I’ve seen yet to explain the origin of the Christmas Star.”

Endorsed by knowledgeable and highly respected scientists around the world, Molnar’s theory is just that – a theory – but it is the only one that matches both the Biblical story and scientific findings. Dr. Molnar’s account of the origin of the Christmas Star began strangely enough with the discovery of a coin from Antioch during that time period. It was engraved

with the image of Aries looking over his shoulder at a star, an indicator of a great birth. Using his knowledge of astrology, he remembered that Aries was a symbol of Judea. In addition, astrology was highly regarded at that time, so those who studied it believed that a new king would be born when the moon passed in front of Jupiter.

With this information, Molner went back to science and found that, sure enough, in 6 B.C., the moon’s and Jupiter’s paths crossed twice, illuminating the sky exactly in the constellation of Aries. To the Magi, this occurrence was literally a beacon calling them to something spectacular and heralding the birth of a new king.

In an interview with the New York Times, Molnar said, “My prediction

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was exactly fulfilled. On March 20, 6 B.C., right at sunset, the moon eclipsed the planet Jupiter, and one month later, on April 17, the event occurred again, this time high in the sky at noon in the direction of Bethlehem as viewed from Jerusalem.” This scientific finding fit the timing of Jesus’ birth perfectly and explained the nature of the coin engraving that first brought Molnar to his theory.

The rare occurrence later became known as the Christmas Star which guided the Wise Men, who, by the way, numbered closer to 20 than the three mentioned in the Bible. And unlike the common depiction of the Magi as older, distinguished, royally-dressed men, the actual men who journeyed to welcome Jesus’ birth would have had to have been young and fit to survive the journey.

“They would have worn the typical garb appropriate for the desert heat while riding on camels, they would have been young enough to handle swords for safety, and they would have used a minimum of 20 camels, with security, a guide, and provisions,” explained Zureck.

Who would have guessed that a Rutgers astronomer could produce a theory backed by both the Bible and science? For Christians, this finding confirms what Christians have had faith about all along – that the birth of Jesus was a miracle on many levels, and that surely he is the one and only Savior!

Rebecca Deurlein is the author of Teenagers 101: What a top teacher wishes you knew about helping your kid succeed, and CEO of Teenager Success 101, a one-on-one tutoring and life coaching company dedicated to helping kids find success. She blogs and writes internationally, speaks to parents across the nation, and loves every minute of living in Sugar Land, TX. Find her on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Huffington Post, or through her own blog A Teacher’s Guide to Understanding Teenagers. All can be accessed at rebeccadeurlein.com.

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Katy Dog Suites Provides Pets a Home Away from Home

By Jessa McClure A large, corn silk-colored dog lounges in a patch of grass as the autumn sun dapples his fluffy coat with light. While the relaxing canine feels at home in the natural environment, he is actually lying in his own private backyard space at Katy Dog Suites off of Clay Road.

Co-owner Robert Sherlock said the facility was created to be different than your average boarding facility.

“Most kennels are all concrete,” he said. “We have little grass areas, dog doors that are really easy to get in and out of, and private rooms that are air conditioned and heated. We want to keep it as homelike as possible.”

Each “suite” also comes with a loft-style bed that supports the guests’ joints, and a window that lets in natural light. The dogs also have the chance to take picturesque walks through the facilities 22 acres of practically untouched Texas countryside, and play with other dogs who are visiting there as well.

Sherlock and his wife first realized the need for this

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unique kennel experience when they were looking for a place to board their own dogs when they traveled from Texas to their native Australia.

“We wanted to build a place where we’d feel comfortable leaving our dogs,” he said. “It’s something we had as a goal.”

While Sherlock and his wife had always owned and trained dogs, they knew they needed to do some serious research if they were going to create a stateof-the-art facility that was different than anything they’d seen before. Sherlock traveled back to Australia and studied the most successful and highly-regarded kennels in the country.

When he returned from his overseas travels, he set to work implementing these ideas into his first large-scale boarding facility in The Woodlands, which contains 160 suites, and then into the newlybuilt Katy Dog Suites which is big enough to care for more than 300 dogs.

The facility is so large in fact that it is considered one of the largest boarding facilities in the world, and was the temporary home for many of the dogs displaced in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

“There were a lot of dogs at NRG Stadium after the hurricane,” Sherlock said. “We ended up taking in a lot of dogs from [the stadium]. We worked with the SPCA and took in almost 300 dogs between our two facilities.”

Not only are the Sherlocks and their business partners passionate about caring for animals in crisis, but they are also passionate about providing

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home. Pet parents are encouraged to bring familiar food, toys, and a blanket or sheet for their bed.

“We really want to provide a service that’s not a hotel, but more of a place where people feel comfortable leaving their pets,” he said.

Sherlock hopes that the care they give their guests will help them to expand into providing specialized care for pets of deployed soldiers or older people who have been moved to nursing homes.

“We want to be eventually be able to help people who are looking for long-term care and provide it to them at a discounted rate.”

The theme of kindness is evident throughout the facility, and is partly due to the Sherlock’s faith.

“These [dogs] are all God’s creatures, and you’ve really got to treat them well,” he said. “We’re trying to take care of these pets and really make sure they’re getting well-looked after.”

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THE RIGHT CHOICE canine guests, Katy Dog Suites also provides round-the-clock care from the facility’s resident dog experts.

“We have a couple that live on the premises and are full-time staff,” Sherlock said. “They both used to work at the Montgomery County Shelter and have worked with rescue groups and shelters for many years.”

The owners want each dog to get the kind of care they’d receive at

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December 2017 / January 2018

Someone You Can Trust

By Caitlin Richards RE/MAX Grand III Associate Steven Matzen knows a thing or two about buying and selling homes. He has only been in the real estate business for two years but his past experience as a Chief Warrant Officer 3 (CW3) in the U.S. Army, surprisingly, gave him a notable amount of knowledge about real estate.

“Traveling with the service I had a lot of experience with realtors,” Matzen said. “We had some terrible experiences along the way and I learned a lot from those experiences.”

Through Matzen’s 20 years of service, he traveled the world, with various deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan and Korea, and also the country with his different station assignments in Hawaii, Arizona and Texas.

Specifically, Matzen served as an electronic technician warrant officer in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He also served in a White House communications agency role within the Army where he provided communications for the president, vice president and first lady for eight years.

After retiring from the Army, he and his wife decided to retire to Katy to be close to his wife’s family and to start a second career. Matzen worked in the oil industry for four and half years as an offshore electronic technician, but decided he wanted another career change.

“I had met a really good realtor during our move to Houston who was actually one of my wife’s friends,” Matzen said. “I liked what I saw in her

December 2017 / January 2018

and thought I could have a career in real estate like her too.”

Matzen then started taking classes to get his real estate license while still

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working offshore. He went through Champions School of Real Estate® and then reached out to several real estate brokers to start his career with. He quickly found RE/MAX Grand III with Matt Rembert was the place for him.

“I really wanted to serve the West Houston area as well,” Matzen said.

“Particularly, the families of Fulshear and Katy.”

Since his start in December of 2015, Matzen has been helping families of West Houston buy and sell their homes, with an exceptional level of customer service and more importantly trust.

“I want my clients to know they can trust me with their buying or selling process,” Matzen said. “No matter what side of the transaction they are on, I will be there for them from start to finish.

I am not about just making the sale and getting people into any home. I truly want what is best for my clients.”

From his own past real estate experiences, Matzen knows firsthand how tough it is to find a good realtor who cares about the client and will do what is best for them. Matzen will give his clients his honest opinion about a home and advise them whether or not it is time to walk away.

“I am a tough negotiator for my clients,” Matzen said. “If I see that my client is being taken advantage of I will tell them and help them move on to the next opportunity. I don’t want them to walk into something that isn’t good for them.”

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Matzen truly puts his clients first. He is there to walk his clients through the buying or selling process and answer any questions or concerns. He is also widely available for his clients to show homes, as they need to see them.

“My customer service is very personable,” Matzen said. “I want my clients to feel comfortable and make the buying or selling process as smooth as possible for them.”

One of the biggest guiding forces in Matzen’s life has been his faith. This shines through in his career as a realtor as well. In everything Matzen does he tries to bring honor and glory to God, from the way he does business to the way he has raised his family.

“My number one heart and passion is for God, and to serve God in my life and in my work,” Matzen said.

Matzen is an active member of Second Baptist Church – 1463 where he sings in the choir. He also volunteers with the Katy Independent School District as a mentor for Partners in Education.

“I really enjoy volunteering and working with the community,” Matzen said. “I am grateful that my job is flexible and allows me to volunteer.”

Additionally, in his spare time Matzen enjoys spending time with his family, going saltwater fishing and working on handyman projects. Over the past two years, Matzen has enjoyed meeting the people of West Houston and serving them as a trustworthy realtor.

“It is a joy to know the work I am doing is assisting or helping someone during such life-changing event like buying or selling a home,” Matzen said.

“I look forward to serving even more people in the community through my work.”

To contact Mazten about buying or selling a home, call 832-350-1600 to speak with him directly or email him at stevenmatzen@remax.net. It is sure to be an exceptional experience full of trust and honesty.

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December 2017 / January 2018

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December 2017 / January 2018

Bringing Awareness To Celiac Disease

By Caitlin Richards In the quest to become healthier, eating glutenfree has been deemed a fad diet. However, for some individuals going gluten-free is so much more than a fad. It is a necessary lifestyle because of a severe diagnosis – celiac disease.

Celiac disease, also known as celiac disease, is a serious autoimmune disorder where the ingestion of gluten leads to damage in the small intestine. It is estimated to affect one in 100 people worldwide. Most of which are born with it in their genetic makeup.

However, 2.5 million Americans are undiagnosed and suffer from the disease’s debilitating side effects. This was the case for Kirk Rightmire as well until recently. For the past 10 years, Kirk has been extremely sick without an answer as to why.

He has suffered from depression, insomnia, fatigue, joint pain and chronic gastrointestinal problems. In the past five years, his conditions have worsened and it has led to not only permanent damage in his small intestine but damage to his relationships with family and friends, and even his career.

“It has been very devastating,” Kirk said. “It has alienated me and affected my relationships with family and friends. I was so agitated and irritable from lack of sleep and not feeling well that it pushed some of the people I care the most about away.”

The conditions would not escape Kirk even during the day while at work. His chronic insomnia led to him not being able to perform at work.

December 2017 / January 2018

The worst of his symptoms and conditions peaked in 2014. Kirk began to have terrible blisters and rashes on his knees and elbows. Doctors still could not figure out what was the underlying cause for his skin irritations or the other symptoms.

“I was searching on the Internet and I found this image,” Kirk said.

“You could only see the body and it looked just like me. I clicked on it and it said this was a side effect of celiac disease.”

Shortly after, Kirk went to his doctor and requested to be tested for

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celiac disease. After a simple blood test, Kirk was finally given a diagnosis to his years of chronic illness - celiac disease.

“When I went back to all of my doctors they were all shocked because they didn’t catch it,” Kirk said.

After a few months of trying to eat gluten-free, Kirk still struggled to stay well even with knowing his diagnosis. Little did he know, there was much more to eating gluten-free. Over the summer, Kirk’s wife found an autoimmune disorder specialist, who also specialized in celiac disease.

“It took three months to get in to see him,” Kirk said. “When I got in he helped me understand how to deal with the disease. It has really changed my life since going to see the specialists.”

The specialist and in house nutritionist revealed to Kirk just because he would eat something claiming to be gluten free did not mean it actually was. They explained some brands make their gluten-free products with the same equipment used to make non gluten-free products, causing a crosscontamination situation. The same thing he said happens at restaurants in preparing gluten-free food and dishes.

Additionally, the specialists was able to further clarify Kirk’s diagnosis with diagnosing him as refractory celiac, which means Kirk’s body has been fighting the gluten in is diet for so long that it now attacks everything as if it was gluten. His body will eventually heal over time; the longer he maintains a gluten-free lifestyle.

After a month of having a better understanding of his disease, Kirk has committed to sharing his story through starting an awareness campaign for celiac disease called Understand Celiac. He doesn’t want others to suffer and go through the decade long struggle of endless doctor visits with no answers.

“The most important thing is you have to first know you have it,” Kirk said. “That is why I want to share my story. There are a lot of people out there suffering just like me who could never know what they have.”

Kirk is in the beginning stages of starting the awareness campaign. He hopes to take his background in promotions and special events to spreading awareness about celiac disease. For more information about the awareness campaign, visit understandceliac.org.

“The disease can affect ones life to the point where it can destroy marriages, cause unemployment and damage relationships,” Kirk said. “I want to enlighten those dealing with these symptoms to be tested so they can be on the road to recovery.”

Kirk himself is on the road to recovery and is thankful God has provided an answer to his sickness. He admitted the condition even impacted his faith but now it is stronger than ever. He believes God provided answers in His timing.

“I really believe God sent me the specialist,” Kirk said. “Once I submitted to him that I couldn’t be healed without him, it turned things around.”

To help Kirk on his path to recovery and bring awareness to the community, visit gofundme.com/kirk-rightmire-medical-journey.

Endorsed by Katy Christian Magazine

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December 2017 / January 2018

Surviving Christmas and its Unmet Expectations

By Dr. Rebecca Deurlein Shakespeare made one of the most profound statements I’ve ever heard: “Oft expectation fails, and most oft there, where most it promises.” In other words, most of life’s heartaches stem from unmet expectations. Think about it. Now think about it in relation to the holidays.

Was your Thanksgiving all you had hoped it would be?

Will Christmas be the perfect melding of family togetherness, glazed ham, and thoughtful presents? And how will you react when it isn’t?

Because you know, especially if you have children, and most especially if you have teenagers, that things won’t go as smoothly as you hope. Everyone will have their own ideas of what the perfect holiday looks like. Some people won’t like ham. That perfect present won’t be met with glee or even appreciation. And your mother-in-law will annoy you yet again.

I grapple with letting go of lofty expectations every year. We somewhat controlling people often do; after all, we have plans, and they’re fantastic, and everyone should get on board with them! But I have to remind myself that teens and young adults sleep in, stay up late, eat whenever they feel like it, typically don’t enjoy sightseeing, would rather search for

online deals than shop, and, generally speaking, have their own ideas of fun.

Therefore, I rely on another quote to get by, this one by Albert Camus: “Blessed are the hearts that can bend; they shall never be broken.” In other words, compromise, my friends, will keep you from going insane. In a house full of people, during holidays that depend so heavily on expectation,

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• Being centered in your faith and remembering why this time of year is special to begin with • Staying grounded in your expectations by remembering the treasured family traditions that really matter • Letting go of what doesn’t and what no one will remember anyway Hard as it may be, give up the control. Give up the dream. Instead, enjoy the reality of your family, just as they are. Find joy in their individual quirks and everyone’s inability to be perfect. Perfection is exhausting and a fruitless waste of time. Instead, relax and let the holidays be what they will be.

compromise will save you every time.

Compromise looks like this: • Encouraging each family member to choose one activity, then following through without complaining • Working around sleep schedules (within reason) without expecting everyone to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed in the early morning • Keeping the focus on family time, rather than grand presents and activities

Rebecca Deurlein is the author of Teenagers 101: What a top teacher wishes you knew about helping your kid succeed, and CEO of Teenager Success 101, a one-on-one tutoring and life coaching company dedicated to helping kids find success. She blogs and writes internationally, speaks to parents across the nation, and loves every minute of living in Sugar Land, TX. Find her on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Huffington Post, or through her own blog A Teacher’s Guide to Understanding Teenagers. All can be accessed at rebeccadeurlein.com.

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December 2017 / January 2018

Submitting To The Call

By Caitlin Richards Most pastors feel called from God to serve in a certain church or ministry. Pastor Richard Butts at Westside Baptist Church felt led by the Lord to not only serve a church but to start a church.

“When I came out of bible college I was an assistant pastor in Indiana for two years then I came to Houston and just started a church,” Pastor Butts said. “I felt the Lord placed on my heart to start a church.”

Pastor Butts studied at Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina, where he also met his wife. Their journey to follow the Lord together started in 1977 and ever since then they have done just that. At the time Pastor Butts felt the call to start a church, his father-in-law was a pastor in Houston at North Houston Baptist.

“He is the one who really said there was a need for churches with biblically based preaching in the Houston area,” Pastor Butts said. “We didn’t raise any support. We just went out and rented a storefront, knocked on doors and held our first service in the middle of 1980.”

In 2008, Westside Baptist outgrew their storefront in Spring Branch and decided to move closer to the Katy area. For almost 10 years, they have been located at 3883 Lakes of Bridgewater Dr. in Katy. Once Westside moved to Katy they saw a considerable amount of growth particularly with younger members.

“Our nursery nearly tripled out here with the large amount of young families who began attending our church,” Pastor Butts said.

The move to Katy also allowed for Westside Baptist to expand their

newly founded Christian school. Over the past couple of years, the kindergarten to 12th grade school has grown from 10 to 70 students.

“The neatest thing for me is that we’ve seen a lot of our members and students go off to pursue careers in ministry and the mission field,” Pastor Butts said. “To me that is the most exciting part of our ministry.”

Westside Baptist started with a group of 17 and has since grown to a congregation of 300. They have a strong active youth group with about 45 teenagers, a large choir of about 40 voices, an orchestra, and many other ministries for their diverse congregation.

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December 2017 / January 2018

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“We here people say over and over again how multicultural our congregation is,” Pastor Butts said. “It is a little like to book of the Revelations where you go to all of the nations of the world. We just have so many different cultures and backgrounds represented.”

Moving to Texas was quite different for Pastor Butts but also familiar.

He actually grew up on a thousand acre dairy farm in Western New York.

However, it was still an adjustment for him to now live in the urban area of Katy.

“It wasn’t my choice to come to a city,” Pastor Butts said with a chuckle.

“The Lord put me here. It took me awhile to adapt but then I realized where else could I be where I could have so many people to talk to for the Lord.”

Pastor Butts and his wife have both embraced Texas and it’s strong sense of state pride. It is evident they are proud to call Texas home when you walk into their home. Texas iconic symbols of bluebonnets, longhorns

and the infamous Texas star are everywhere.

When Pastor Butts and his wife aren’t busy at Westside Baptist, they enjoy taking drives west of Katy in the rural areas to gaze upon the bluebonnets and farms along the rural highways.

“It is nice to be so close to that area,” Pastor Butts said. “I guess it reminds me of my own roots.”

Pastor Butts and his wife have three grown children and seven grandchildren they enjoy spending time with as well. Pastor Butts said his wife has been a huge part of his ministry over the years. She has served the church through the years with her musical talents and helped to bring out the musical talents of others.

“My wife is very musical,” Pastor Butts said. “She has a way of bringing out talent people have never seen in their own lives. If she finds somebody who even slightly played the harmonica when they were little she will steward them.”

Being able to spread the Gospel is truly the passion and utmost desire for Pastor Butts. He answered the call the Lord placed on his heart early in life and it has led to growth and prosperity for Westside Baptist.

“I just love being able to see lives changed through the power of the Word of God and the power of Christ,” Pastor Butts said. “Everyday is amazing.”

Pastor Butts is leading Westside Baptist towards even more growth with the addition of a new auditorium to seat about 500 people just after completing the construction of a brand new educational building.

“To think it all started in a storefront 37 years ago when I didn’t know anyone in Houston,” Pastor Butts said. “To see what God did with a farm boy who was so shy is unimaginable. I am just thankful to be able to make a difference in lives.”

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December 2017 / January 2018

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December 2017 / January 2018

Hallmark Brings Out the Warm Fuzzies

By Dr. Rebecca Deurlein An attractive young professional woman running the rat race in New York or Chicago is summoned to a small town (sometimes her hometown), where she meets a handsome eligible bachelor and discovers that the true joy of Christmas can be found after one week with said bachelor in said small town.

Recognize the plot? Becoming accustomed to women named Holly, Joy, or Eve? Then you are a Hallmark Movie Channel aficionado who has spent countless evenings losing yourself in the Countdown to Christmas. Since November 1, Hallmark has run its popular litany of Christmas movies, bringing great joy and comfort to people of all ages. The formula - always with a happy ending - works. Viewership increases every year, and the audience - previously older women - has increased and diversified to include young people and men.

Beginning in 2010 with only six movies, Hallmark was the first cable company to offer holiday programming. This year, it debuts 29 new movies, a testament to its popularity and audience demand for more.

Original movies run every Saturday and Sunday night throughout the season, and old favorites, including the most popular, Christmas Under Wraps, run continuously throughout the week.

Why are Hallmark Christmas movies so popular and why do people watch them night after night? Here is a sampling of comments from devotees.

They are sappy and loaded with warm, fuzzy Christmas feels. They make me happy in my core. It’s nice to get lost in a good Christmas movie.

Justin Everson This is my feel good place, year after year. Hope Stern They are so calming… like good background music.

Barbara Lee Cochran My kids make fun of me every year for watching them, but I love them so. It’s nice to escape every once in a while, kind of like a fairy tale when I was a child. Patti Kaminski Hallmark movies always touch on the very basic feeling of Christmas: love. Lisa Gunter The good guy always gets the girl. Rob Thompson In a world of so much hate, chaos, shooting, and bad talk, a Hallmark movie makes you feel good about family, love, and happiness. You can count on them to teach kindness, respect, and love. You always end with a smile and a warm fuzzy feeling that there are good things and people in December 2017 / January 2018

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the world. Kim Boone Most people want to make sound investments with their money, something they know will pay off. Likewise, a Hallmark movie is a sure thing when it comes to the time investment made. People know there will be a satisfying, happy ending.

Life has so many question marks that sometimes it’s nice to know what’s coming.

There’s no gamble, no real risk. Susan Matthews Hallmark’s tag line - The Heart of TV - seems to be fitting. Why change the formula when everyone, it seems, is craving the warm, fuzzy feelings they get from a good Hallmark Christmas movie?

Rebecca Deurlein is the author of Teenagers 101: What a top teacher wishes you knew about helping your kid succeed, and CEO of Teenager Success 101, a one-on-one tutoring and life coaching company dedicated to helping kids find success. She blogs and writes internationally, speaks to parents across the nation, and loves every minute of living in Sugar Land, TX. Find her on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Huffington Post, or through her own blog A Teacher’s Guide to Understanding Teenagers. All can be accessed at rebeccadeurlein.com.

Limitless Potential.

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December 2017 / January 2018

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December 2017 / January 2018

The Buzz About Katy

The Arc of Katy hosted its annual Jingle Bell Jam with a Mr. & Mrs. Santa Breakfast on Saturday, December 9th at the Arc’s Clubhouse. This disability-friendly event, featured breakfast, a craft area hosted by Chick-fil-A Mason Road, and a visit from the Chick-fil-A mascot.

Christ Clinic hosted its 6th annual Breakfast for a Blessing at Crosspoint Community Church in Katy on October 20th. The Katy Rotary presented the Ed Bland memorial fund, named for a former Christ Clinic board member and local humanitarian, which will benefit the clinic and support direct patient care.

The Award-Winning Cinco Ranch Orchestra performed Holiday favorites, including Trans Siberian Orchestra and Tschaikovsky.

The Cinco Ranch Orchestra recently performed Holiday favorites at their holiday concert on December 9th.

The Morton Ranch High School theatre department recently presented ¡Bocón!, a fable filled with humor and mysticism and song, tells the story of twelve-year-old Miguel who flees a repressive military regime in Central America for Los Angeles. A natural storyteller and irrepressible “Big Mouth” or “Bocón”, Miguel loses his voice when his parents are taken prisoners and he begins a metaphorical journey north to the City of Angels.

James E. Taylor High School’s Holiday Home Tour is December 7 (5pm-9pm) and December 8 (10am – 2pm; 5pm-9pm). Tickets are $15.00. Ticket sales locations and more information can be found at thsprojectgrad.com (events tab). Proceeds benefit the Class of 2018 Project Grad event and Hurricane Harvey Relief.

December 2017 / January 2018

For Advertising Information, Call (281) 741-8317 • www.KatyChristianMagazine.com • 37

More than 60 local vendors gathered at Candy Cane Market with the Real Craftwives of Katy on Saturday, December 2.

More than 60 local vendors gathered at Candy Cane Market for the Real Craftwives of Katy on Saturday, December 2.

The Central Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony for TAB Studio at Shady Oak Christian School in Richmond last month.

Fort Bend Christian Academy were recently honored for their art entries at the Fort Bend County Fair.

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December 2017 / January 2018

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Katy Christian Magazine’s

2018 Christian School Directory We’ve compiled a list of some of the top Christian schools and after school programs in the greater Katy area. For a complete listing of schools and additional information, visit our website at www.KatyChristianMagazine.com.

40 • For Advertising Information, Call (281) 741-8317 • www.KatyChristianMagazine.com

December 2017 / January 2018

Centerra Ranch Montessori School 23144 Cinco Ranch Blvd.

Katy, TX 77494 (281) 693-2767

The Centerra Ranch Montessori School opened its doors on June 4th, 2012, and has been changing the lives of children ever since! We are a Non-Corporate, private Montessori School with a goal of creating confident learners, entrepreneurs, and future philanthropists by providing a peaceful and inspiring environment, and by treating every individual student with the utmost respect.

The Centerra Ranch Montessori School community considers each child the future of society and of our nation. We believe our students are in the process of fundamental development, with unlimited possibilities ahead of them. Our objective is to create a hands-on learning experience that pushes children to develop these abilities to the best of their potential. We advocate for Old-Fashioned values and enforce behavior policies to keep our environment positive and nurturing.

Our highly skilled teachers work directly with students to create an environment that nurtures divergent thinking, fosters creativity, and embraces diversity. We cultivate and honor our children’s innate love of learning as they prepare for a life of purpose, integrity, and academic accomplishment! We offer a variety of vigorous Fine Arts, including Violin and Piano classes, Children’s Choir, Spanish, and Art with a Purpose. In addition, we offer an exciting and stimulating Outdoor Science Classroom!

Our tuition is family affordable. Please contact us with any questions- we look forward to working with your child!

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• 1520 Katy Gap Rd December 2017 / January 2018

Faith West Academy 2225 Porter Rd. Katy, TX 77493 (281) 391-5683

Since 1982, Katy’s oldest and largest private school, Faith West Academy, continues to uphold core values of reverence for God; respect for ourselves, others, and authority; and responsibility for one’s action. FWA is inter-denominational and is known for its high academic standards and Christian Worldview education.

Located on 42 acres just east of the city of Katy, FWA provides a safe, Christian environment for preschool (starting at age 3) through 12th grade. As an extension of the preschool, FWA hosts a popular Mother’s Day Out Program that enrolls students as early as 15 months old.

FWA serves a growing number of international students seeking studies in America by providing them with oncampus boarding facilities.

The FWA motto is Excellence Without Compromise!

We are equipped to fulfill each student’s God-given potential. Our core values are governed by Reverence for God, Respect for ourselves, others, and authority, and Responsibility for one’s actions. We are committed to spiritual, academic, physical, and artistic excellence. To help students develop spiritually, we offer weekly chapel, daily Bible classes, and Biblical integration in all classes.

To aid in academic success, we offer strong core curriculums, Accelerated, Pre-Advanced Placement, and Advanced Placed courses for 6th -12th grade students, individualized learning where advanced or struggling students move at a pace that fits their abilities, and A la Carte classes for homeschool junior high and high school students. Our mean achievement test scores are consistently in the top 25% in the nation!

Additionally, to promote physical and artistic excellence, we offer weekly PE and music classes along with

daily outdoor recesses to elementary school students.

Junior high and high school students can participate in competitive athletic programs which includes: baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross country, football, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, track, and volleyball.

Junior high and high school students can also elect agriculture, performing and visual arts, choir, and band classes. Our high school students participate in athletic and fine art competitions!

We look forward to touring with you!

Foundations Academy

ship with our families that reinforces the student’s learning both at home and at school. We openly communicate and work with our families concerning each student’s needs in education and provide resources that benefit the family as a whole.

We enroll students from 6 weeks through 6th grade including a private Kindergarten program taught by certified teachers at some campuses.

Feel free to contact us with any comments or questions you may have. We look forward to serving our community!

Holy Rosary Catholic School

20817 Westheimer Pkwy.

Katy, TX 77450 (281) 599-1200

Our vision at Foundations Academy is to provide a loving, nurturing, inviting, and safe environment for our students in order to meet their basic needs while also creating an atmosphere that is conducive to optimum learning. We believe a solid, high-quality preschool learning experience is not only essential to prepare our students for elementary and intermediate education but also to help them achieve and reach their highest potential.

Our students maximize their learning potential and retention through hands-on, real life experiences. We utilize a multitude of teaching methods in order to accommodate each learning style. We value the process of learning as significantly as the product. Students should understand the concepts behind the solution rather than just the solution itself. To challenge each student at their own level, our teachers instruct using small group settings and individually assess each student in order to personalize their learning plan.

We believe that the family is the most important aspect and influence in a child’s learning experience. Therefore, we believe in a cooperative and effective working partner-

1426 George St. Rosenberg, TX 77471 (281) 342-5813

Holy Rosary Catholic School is conveniently located between Hwy 90 and Hwy 59 near historic downtown Rosenberg. Serving students from Pre-K 3 years through 8th grade, HRCS is dedicated to the spiritual, academic, physical, and emotional growth of all students.

HRCS focuses on the individual with expectations set high for all. We believe that parents and school should be partners in the learning & spiritual experiences. Small class sizes awards the students with many possibilities; from individualized academic attention to inclusion in team sports regardless of experience. Even though HRCS is small, it offers a variety of extracurricular activities including theater arts, chess club, Lego club, various sports and a lot more.

As our graduates move on to public or parochial high schools, their years invested at HRCS become the springboard for their success. At HRCS, not only do students grow in knowledge, but also in love and respect for God, themselves and the world around them. Our weekly children’s Mass (prepared and led by the students) and daily

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December 2017 / January 2018

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religion classes immerse the students in their Faith. These lessons follow them out of the classroom and are reinforced in all aspects of student’s campus life, forming a moral compass which will guide them in later years We invite you to come and see what Holy Rosary Catholic School has to offer for your child. For more information, please contact our school office at 281-342-5813 or email our Development Director, Pam McCarthy, at pmccarthy@ holyrosary-school.org.

Houston Christian High School 2700 West Sam Houston Pkwy. N. Houston, TX 77043 (713) 580-6000

Houston Christian High School is committed to equipping students to become the leaders of the next generation by providing empowering, dynamic education that aligns academics, arts, athletics, and spiritual formation.

Houston Christian, an independent, nonprofit day school, was founded in 1997 by a group of evangelical ministers with a shared vision to provide rigorous, Christ-centered education to Houston families. Now, 20 years later, it serves nearly 500 high school students, and its alumni rank among some of the most successful in the nation, including United States Service Academy officers, state judges, CEOs, and at least one Broadway actress.

Houston Christian’s collegiate-style campus is built on 45 beautiful acres off of West Sam Houston Parkway North and serves coed students in ninth through twelfth grades. Our students travel from 72 zip codes throughout the Greater Houston Area for the rigorous academics and broad array of extracurricular activities, many of which take place in the state-of-the-art Harrell Strength and Conditioning Center and Brown Family Dance Studio.

Houston Christian also houses the prestigious George and Barbara Bush Center for Scholars and Leaders, the only

high school leadership program in the nation with permission to use the presidential seal.

Houston Christian is accredited by The Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS) and with nearly 70 percent of its faculty awarded advanced degrees, Houston Christian students receive the wrap-around support needed to discover and fulfill the unique calling on their lives.

We invite you to explore our website and learn how we can partner with you on your educational journey.

Together, we can build a strong foundation of faith and academic excellence that will influence our country’s next generation of leaders.

Primrose School of Woodcreek Reserve 1249 FM 1463 Katy, TX 77494 (281) 371-0099

At Primrose Academy, we pay close attention to all facets of a child’s growth including social, emotional, physical, creative, cognitive and character development.

Our proprietary programs in music, art, gardening, life skills and foreign language were developed especially for our curriculum. When it comes to helping your child reach their full potential, we leave no stone unskipped, unpainted or unturned.

Primrose Academy recognizes that each child learns in different ways. The Primrose Balanced Learning approach provides teachers with the tools and guidance to accommodate children’s natural curiosity and to fully support each child while building problem solving skills and confidence.

We offer a well-rounded and extensive classes in Language and Literacy, Physical Development, Science and Engineering, Social Studies, Social and Emotional Development, Creative Arts, and Math. We accept children from infancy to kindergarten. Please contact us with any questions!

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Westlake Preparatory Lutheran Academy 23300 Bellaire Blvd.

Richmond, TX 77406 (281) 341-9910

Westlake Academy is a private Christian school where your child is more than just a number. We believe that each student is special and unique and most of all, a beloved child of God. Each of our teachers sees their vocation as a true calling, not just a job. They know that every child is a gift from God and that He has entrusted them to provide a faith-based education that promotes spiritual growth and academic excellence. Our teachers integrate the intangibles of faith, morals, ethics and service in the classroom as each student pursues a solid academic foundation that prepares them for today, tomorrow and eternity.

The Lutheran Education Association of Houston (LEAH) has a long history of exemplary education in the Houston area with Lutheran High North and Lutheran South Academy. Westlake Academy continues that rich tradition by bringing top quality teachers and academic programs to the Katy/Richmond area.

Westlake Preparatory Academy is a fully accredited college preparatory school that serves over 220 students in grades PreK 3 – 8th in the Katy, Richmond and Fort Bend areas. Westlake continues to grow, adding a grade a year until it reaches 12th grade. Westlake also offers vigorous extracurricular activities, such as volleyball, soccer, and basketball.

Westside Baptist Academy 3883 Lakes of Bridgewater Dr. Katy, TX 77449 (281) 492-3448

Westside Baptist Academy in Katy, Texas is growing, and we invite you to come and grow with us. WBA is a ministry of Westside Baptist Church, and we offer a Christ-centered, classic education for all grades from Kindergarten through the 12th grade. Westside’s diverse student body has the opportunity to participate in Fine Arts competition through the Mid-South American Association of Christian Schools (MSAACS), a division of the American Association of Christian Schools (AACS).

For the past six years we have placed First in the overall competition. We also have a growing sports program.

This year our men’s flag football team had its best season ever, with only one loss. We were also excited to be able to begin a men’s basketball team this year. Because WBA

is a ministry of Westside Baptist Church, we seek to keep the cost of tuition low so that we can minister to families as we join with them to help instruct their students in the core subjects as well as fine arts, technology, and athletics.

We would encourage you to call the school office today to schedule an appointment to see all that we have to offer here at Westside Baptist Academy. Our teachers are all qualified, and have a love for their subjects as well as their students, and our low student to teacher ratio allows us to give our students extra help so that they can be successful. If you are looking for a quality, affordable Christian education for your child, then we encourage you to come and see the exciting opportunities at Westside Baptist Academy.

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That Time Jesus Got Buried Under Christmas: Just In Case You Need an Excuse Not to Decorate

By Jordan Harrell Two-thirds of the lights on our Christmas tree don’t light up. It’s also leaning a bit to the right. My Christmas dishes are still in a box in the garage.

The girls keep asking when Daddy is going to put the lights up on our house (Ummm…). Hayes’ stocking is anonymously hanging from the mantle next to his sisters’ monogrammed ones. I’m not sending out Christmas cards. I don’t do Elf on the Shelf. My kids don’t know “Away in a Manger.”

Even as I type that last one, I cringe a bit. I mean, what have I been doing all day if not singing religious carols?

The biggest part of me knows Christmas is not made up of these things. The biggest part of me knows they won’t rise up against us all to ruin the entire holiday.

But there’s a little sliver of me that feels a prick of guilt, like I haven’t painted the perfect setting for my children to experience the wonder and whimsy of Christmas, much less live up to others’ beautiful traditions I see posted on the web.

I worry, Is my children’s Christmas experience being hindered by me? So I think back to my childhood Christmases and try to

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December 2017 / January 2018

put my finger on what it was exactly that made it all so magical.

I close my eyes and instantly, there I am standing in the middle of my grandparents’ entryway.

I see the Christmas tree nestled into the corner with colorful lights and presents spilling from beneath into the middle of the living room. I see my mom, Nana, and aunts sitting on the couch holding hands, catching up on all the scuttlebutt about town while the men display just how many brain cells have been dedicated to sports’ teams, specifically the Longhorns.

I see Poppi stooping down to sweep up the dirt piles we’d tracked in while unloading our suitcases.

I hear laughter, rambunctious screams, and the hum of the dust buster (he couldn’t quite get all of the specks with the broom alone). The smell of sugar cookies wafts through the room as I pop open the Tupperware lid and sneak a couple just before stuffing a handful of green and red M&M’s into my mouth from the crystal dish by the door. I hear Super Mario disappear into a green pipe (dudda-dudda-dudda) and head outside to enjoy a walk to 7-11 for some Slurpees with my cousins in the 70-degree December weather.

I can still feel the excitement of being together, of arrival, of anticipation quenched, the feeling of love so thick and sticky it’s unavoidable. Hugs and kisses are given out like candy and received like healing balms. Nobody can

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escape them but, then again, nobody wants to.

I remember it all so vividly. Yet, some things I don’t.

I don’t remember anything being especially decorated. I don’t remember Pottery Barn centerpieces or adorable buntings hung from the mantle

or expensive holiday pillows or monogrammed stockings. I don’t remember time-consuming DIY projects or a Pinterest-worthy tree or anything that would make one declare, “That is so precious. I must Instagram it immediately.” Or tac it to the church bulletin board or whatever you did in 1994.

That all might have been there.

But if it was, I don’t remember.

My grandparents’ house was not particularly beautiful. Its brick facade was plain and modest. Upon its off-white walls hung dozens of family photos and my Nana’s artwork (or that of her best friend Mable). Its rooms were filled with mismatched furniture (specifically the recliner that often doubled as my bed since I was the secondyoungest cousin… as soon as my body relaxed into a doze, the recliner would jolt upright which made for very restful holidays.). Its narrow kitchen could have used a remodel (even though it had actually been remodeled) and the white square tile floor wouldn’t be found within a hundred miles of any designer’s portfolio.

But if asked the most beautiful place in the world as a child, that little

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December 2017 / January 2018

house in Smithville, Texas would have been the uncontested winner. In my innocence, beauty was still dictated by joy, by love, by goodness. I had not yet been jaded by airbrushed, staged, or filtered photos. The epitome of beauty to that 9-year-girl was an 1,800 square foot ranch-style home with tan carpet and popcorn ceilings. T’is the beauty of the Christmas story.

This Christmas, I want to stop feeling the need to wrap up and dress up and put up and pin up. I want to empty my hands of All The Things so that those hands are accessible to others. I want to be a gatherer of imperfect people, not perfect pictures. I want to prioritize the preparing so that it’s less about creating the most beautiful home for everyone else to envy and more about creating the most holy space for my family to sit at the tiny feet of a tiny Savior.

That night with the cows and the straw and the literal crap, the scene didn’t look much like an Anthropologie catalog. You see, God didn’t even wrap the gift. He didn’t adorn it with a big tulle bow. He didn’t cover it with the most expensive of wrapping papers. God did not bother himself with trappings, tinsel, glitter. The beauty of that moment was not to be found in the package, but the contents.

God stooped down from the Heavens to place his infant son in a drafty stable as if to demand we recognize the beauty of humility. He picked this, this beginning. He chose to introduce a Savior to the world in this precise way because he knew our idols would someday reek of perfectionism and opulence, of measuring up and looking the part, of vanity.

The story is beautiful because he came. Not because he came in splendor. Not because he came in glory. Not because he came in luxury. But because he came at all.

Please God, I just want to come. Help me set everything else down and just come.

Sometimes I scurry about so distractedly, then look around and wonder, “Where is Jesus? He must be buried under the tubs of Christmas stuff.” And my house still doesn’t even look that good. #notwinning This Christmas, I want to stop feeling the need to wrap up and dress up and put up and pin up. I want to empty my hands of All The Things so December 2017 / January 2018

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December 2017 / January 2018

that those hands are accessible to others. I want to be a gatherer of imperfect people, not perfect pictures. I want to prioritize the preparing so that it’s less about creating the most beautiful home for everyone else to envy and more about creating the most holy space for my family to sit at the tiny feet of a tiny Savior.

Crafting and valuing beauty is not bad. Some of you can do both well. You can have the perfectly constructed winter wonderland in your home without sacrificing your sanity or your budget or your focus or your relationship with your husband (because some husbands love decorations, so I hear). But some of us have to choose. And sometimes I don’t choose well.

When “doing it all” becomes a burden, we are missing the point.

Christmas is a story of undeserved grace, of every burden being lifted.

This year, I pray I may be content to sit in the stable. That I may find beauty in the meekness of a humble manger and stop trying to manufacture it everywhere else. Jesus is easily found in spaces untouched by my desire to put my own greatness on display. I must be careful not to hide him.

In twenty years, I can only hope that my children’s memories will be similar to mine: full of laughter, love, and ugly houses.

Just kidding. I still want a cute house. So shoot me.

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Coming Together After Harvey

By Caitlin Richards The rain began to fall on Friday, August 25 and it didn’t stop. At least, that is what it seemed like for the residents of Katy. The rain did eventually stop on Tuesday, August 29, but not until Hurricane Harvey finished dropping 51.88 inches of rain – about 19 trillion gallons of water – on Katy and the greater Houston area.

For one Katy family, they’ll always remember the exact moment the water entered their home.

Dewayne and Donna Hartman watched the water steadily rise like it never had before. Then at 7:15 p.m. on Sunday, August 27 water began to seep into their home.

Neither the Hartman’s nor many other families knew just how much the water was going to rise.

The only thing anyone could really do was to sit, wait and watch. As the water began to slowly rise in their home, Donna and Dewayne along with their black lab Carter sat on the couch to wait.

After nearly five hours of waiting, a neighbor in a higher part of their subdivision with a two-story home came paddling up their driveway in a

kayak. The water was now a foot high in their home and even higher in their back yard. The Hartman’s climbed out the kitchen window, situated Carter on the kayak and began to wade to higher ground with their neighbor.

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They left their home of 26 years, each with only a backpack full of a few valuables and a pair of dry clothes. Thankfully in the days leading up to Harvey, the Hartman’s prepared their home the best they could. They moved valuables and furniture as high as possible to avoid losing absolutely everything for they had no idea what they would come back to.

Harvey was unforgiving and unforeseen. No one knew if their home would be flooded or spared, because despite the immense flooding from the “Tax Day” floods in 2016 – it was different this time.

Homes would be dry just blocks away from homes that took on water. Even within the range of flooded homes, some were flooded to the rooftops, while some only had a few inches.

What Harvey did in a matter of days will take the people of the Katy community weeks, months and years to rebuild. Despite the immense damage and distress, the Katy community stepped up to the call to serve their neighbor.

The Hartman’s waited out the remainder of the storm at their neighbor’s home – the Naegeli’s. Already in the midst of the storm, neighbors were answering the call to serve. After helping the Hartman’s, Steve Naegeli made multiple trips to check on neighbors and assist with water evacuations close by, while his wife Lori Naegeli helped organize the calls of distress.

At this point, throughout Katy and the greater Houston area homes and businesses were already flooded to the rooftops. Evacuations were underway everywhere and the community was in distress.

Unfortunately, Harvey wasn’t leaving anytime soon either.

However, despite the persistent rain and the water rising all throughout Katy, strangers became neighbors lending a helping hand in any way they could. Those who didn’t have water in their homes instantly began to find a way to help.

At the Adams home, the water was high enough to keep them confided to their home, but thankfully they were still dry inside. While, they had no immediate way of helping, Marisa and Bart Adams felt the call to serve.

“We caught wind that a swift water rescue group from the Uvalde County Fire Department, which is my parents’ hometown, was headed to town,” Marisa said. “We were locked in because of the water around us, but they could get to us.”

Instead of having the first responders sleep in their boats while it continued to rain, the Adams opened up their home to the eight men who were also answering the call to serve those in need.

Bart then heard about a group of firefighters and a swift water rescue team, Texas Task Force One, from Dallas-Fort Worth area who were in need of a place to stay. Within two hours Marisa had homes for them to stay in at various homes in the community. However, since they were on call they all had to stay together as a group.

“So the question becomes where do you house 40 people,” Marisa said. “So, I went down to our church, 56 • For Advertising Information, Call (281) 741-8317 • www.KatyChristianMagazine.com

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First United Methodist Church (FUMC) of Katy, and talked to our pastor, Reverend Dick White.”

FUMC Katy ended up being a major housing location or respite for over a hundred first responders including the Garland firefighters, State Troopers and others. They all were served breakfast and dinner, had a place to rest and received clean laundry, while they served those in need.

Additionally, FUMC Katy served as a temporary distribution center for

Katy Christian Ministries when they weren’t able to open their doors due to flooding. Over the course of two weeks 2,000 families were served at the distribution center, 1,590 meals were organized and prepared, about 700 loads of laundry were done and 113 first responders were housed either at FUMC Katy or by church members in their homes.

“We were literally on call for two weeks and to get through that it takes strength that comes doesn’t from us,” Marisa described.

“The ability to survive on what science would call adrenaline and what I call God’s grace for a two week period to be His hands and feet is pretty amazing.”

For some churches and organizations the call to serve started even before Harvey hit Katy. Parkway Fellowship felt Harvey was going to leave the Katy area with devastation as news forecasters tracked the storm.

“When we realized how big of a disaster it was going to be, the leadership at Parkway met to discuss what our church was going to do, how we needed to respond and what God was calling us to do to serve our community,” Gary Chevalier Connections Pastor at Parkway Fellowship said.

Chevalier then gathered his staff members and began dividing up the tasks they decided to tackle as a church. It started with church staff and members using their personal boats to help first responders with water rescues and fell nothing short of cooking meals (up to 800 meals in one day),

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and hosting a mobile command center for the Ft. Bend County Sheriff’s department.

“When the rain started to settle down we started to switch into a relief mode,” Chevalier said. “So we decided to open our gym as a distribution center for things people would need.”

Parkway had everything from personal hygiene products to cleaning supplies, as well as brooms and shovels for anyone in the community to come and get, as they needed. Donations came from as far as Tennessee and were distributed to communities as far away as Refugio, Texas. After the water went down, Parkway and it’s members then got busy helping to muck out and clean up houses that took on water.

“It really was everyone picking a lane in the area they were passionate about and running with it,” Chevalier shared. “It was amazing to see all the people coming in and doing. Some were members of Parkway and some were people just wanting to serve.”

So many churches in the Katy area stepped up to the call to serve the Katy community. Several churches came together to form Katy Disaster Response to divide up the different slices of the response pie.

“We decided who would do what and who would run point on what,” Omar Garcia Missions Pastor at Kingsland Baptist Church said. “In the early days after the storm we were focused on shelters, clothing and food.

As time went by, we focused on the need for mud out crews and how all of that was handled.”

One of the biggest resources Katy Disaster Response has for the community is their website katydisasteresponse.com. On the site those who need help and those who want to help can find out the information they need to move forward from Harvey.

As many in the community were busy serving, just as many were grieving and rebuilding, but they were not alone. The Hartman’s were able to return to their home two days later after the water had receded. Luckily,

their home only had 18 to 24 inches of water throughout the house and was only flooded for about 48 hours. However, they still had a reasonable amount of mucking and cleaning to do.

“We thought we would just get the carpet out the first day,” Donna said. “But people just started showing up to help. I couldn’t have imagined the number of people that started showing up and just instantly knew what to do.”

In one day, dozens of people showed up at the Hartman’s home. Some they knew and some they had never met before. This story was replicated throughout the Katy community at the numerous flooded homes. For some families, the cleanup and loss was unfortunately much worse than the Hartman’s.

Across the community, even though the flooding varied, the acts of service were consistent. From FUMC Katy to Parkway Fellowship, Katy Disaster Response and many more churches and organizations, the people of Katy stepped up to serve. The organizations and the churches were merely the avenues the people of Katy fulfilled the calling in their hearts to serve.

“We serve because Jesus served,” Chevalier said. “We love people because Jesus loved people and that really was what we did as volunteers.”

Just as no one could have imagined the unprecedented amount of rain that fell from Harvey, no one could have imagined the tremendous response from the community of Katy. The response was nothing from this world, perhaps because the same God who controls the wind and the rain also made a way for his people to be cared for during this storm.

“I think it says that, at least in Katy, we understand we are the body of Christ and it takes all of us to do this,” Garcia said. “The biggest takeaway is people are seeing the beauty of Jesus on display.”

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Persevering To Give

By Caitlin Richards Despite Hurricane Harvey and other obstacles, the Bayou Belles Charity Service Organization (BBCSO, Inc.) held their 7th Annual Charity Gala on Saturday, September 23. Bayou Belles is a nonprofit organization that raises funds to better the lives of children in Texas and nothing was going to stop them from doing this again.

“We could not cancel,” Angeline Labbé-Auzenne BBCSO founder and president said. “If it was cancelling a party that would be one thing but the gala is so much more than that. It is about the children of Texas.”

As the founder Angeline strives to set a great example for the other volunteers by personally donating over 1,800 service hours annually towards making the lives of children better. Over the past six years, Bayou Belles has given over $65,000 to various children focused charities and have offered volunteer services to over 15 different organizations.

One of the primary ways Bayou Belles raises funds to give is through their annual gala. All of the proceeds from the gala are donated to the charity. Every year Bayou Belles selects a new charity of the year to give to. The charity of the year for 2017 was Texas EquuSearch. Their mission to return those missing back to their loved ones is what inspired the green theme this year.

“The green ribbon represents missing children,” Angeline said. “So this year we focused on the color green.”

The theme for the gala was an Enchanted Evening in Emerald Envy.

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Everything about the gala was in shades of green. The guests arrived in beautiful formal green attire or with something green as their focus and all of décor was in shades of emerald green.

“It was absolutely stunning,” Angeline said. “We also had a green signature cocktail and served key lime pie with a green drizzle and twisted lime on top to keep with the green theme.”

Despite the circumstance after Harvey, the Katy community still dressed up and came out to support the Bayou Belles. The evening consisted of a seated three-course dinner, speakers, a silent auction and dancing.

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Texas EquuSearch Founder Tim Miller and Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls were the speakers. Miller shared his personal story of loosing a child who went missing and how it prompted him to start Texas EquuSearch. Nehls spoke about how important it is to have organizatioByns like Texas EquuSearch to help find missing children faster and the impact they make.

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The gala was an enjoyable evening, while giving back to a great cause. However, the Bayou Belles overcame quite a few obstacles to get there.

A month before the gala the original venue cancelled on the Bayou Belles. They had to quickly find a replacement venue while also dealing with Hurricane Harvey. Thankfully, the Golf Club of Cinco Ranch was kind enough to step in.

“They [the Golf Club of Cinco Ranch] were very generous to help us out,” Angeline said. “We hadn’t budgeted for their rate and they were kind enough to work with us given our circumstances.

We are very thankful for the kindness.”

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when the Bayou Belles planned to be prepping for the gala, they also had to cope with Hurricane Harvey and it’s aftermath. Their volunteer numbers dwindled but it didn’t stop them. Every year the Bayou Belles prepare for the gala and prayerfully ask God to fill it with caring people.

“We never know what the support from the community will be,” Angeline said. “But this year that was taken to another level. We were not going to give up though.”

Another unfortunate circumstance gave way the day before the gala causing the live auction to be a silent auction. However, from the ticket sales and the silent auction the Bayou Belles raised $24,244 to give to Texas EquuSearch. The original goal for this year’s event was to raise $25,000.

“God completely brought us through it,” Angeline said. “He encouraged enough people to come and we nearly made to the penny our goal. We came very close to our goal despite all of the craziness and it was beautiful, absolutely beautiful.”

The Bayou Belles would like to thank the community for their support despite the circumstances after Hurricane Harvey. Angeline would also like to say a special thank you to volunteers Kathleen Carrell and Sarah Auzenne, and her husband Byron Auzenne for all they did to make this year’s gala happen.

Next year’s gala is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, September 15, 2018. The charity of the year and theme for the gala have yet to be determined, but it is sure to be enjoyable evening, while giving back to a great cause.

For more information about the Bayou Belles and their annual gala, visit bayoubelles.org. To get involved in next year’s gala or even become a member of Bayou Belles, contact Angeline Labbé-Auzenne at 832-671-2411 or butterfliesses@yahoo.com.

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A Voice For The Voiceless Who Feel Pain

By Rep. Pete Olson Abortion as an issue has become a lightning rod in America. People have staked out their position on both sides and tend to view those who disagree with them as the enemy. As a staunch pro-life advocate, I firmly believe we have ample room to change hearts and minds. We see minds changed many times after the birth of a child or when expectant parents see the sonogram of their unborn child.

Medicine has advanced to the point where babies that have been delivered at 20-22 weeks post-fertilization can survive and thrive. Medical technology has also revealed that these babies can feel pain in the womb. When we talk about late-term abortion, ending the life of a baby after 20 weeks, even staunch abortion advocates tend to agree it’s wrong. National polls reflect that a majority of Americans, including those who favor abortion, support a late-term ban.

This gruesome practice was brought into the spotlight in recent years thanks to Philadelphia’s Dr. Kermit Gosnell, who was convicted of three counts of murder and one count of involuntary manslaughter for grisly late-term abortions and abhorrent medical practices that not only took the lives of innocent children, but endangered the lives of the women he treated.

America sits at a crossroads. Sadly, we are one of only seven nations in the world that allow abortions past five months. It’s past time to put an end to this gruesome practice. We have a president in the White House that celebrates life and is committed to defending it. In October, the House passed H.R. 36, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which

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JENNIFER WILL: would prohibit abortions on unborn babies 20 weeks or older, based on substantial medical evidence that the unborn child can feel pain at least by this point. Notably, the bill provides exemptions for rape or when the life of the mother is at stake.

President Trump stated that he will sign this bill into law if Congress passes it. It is now up to the Senate to send a message to the majority of Americans who support ending late-term abortion that they support them, by passing this legislation.

Congress has a sacred obligation to speak up and defend those who can’t speak for themselves. We can seize this moment as one that will define our nation and our culture. Do we want to be a nation that values life? For too long, we have been a torchbearer for abortion, keeping company with countries with egregious human rights violations like China and North Korea. This is a critical opportunity to send a message that America values life by taking this critically important step to end late-term abortions.

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Spectrum Fusion: Paving a Road of Success for Adults with Autism

By William Purdy When people are asked what they know about autism spectrum disorder, many immediately describe children with difficulties socializing, who are intensely focused upon certain topics, who have trouble regulating emotions and communicating properly, and may have a myriad of other issues disabling them from properly taking part in everyday life. They may mention having met a young child who couldn’t talk or a child they once saw throw a tantrum in the mall, or one who has no friends but knows far more about math or science or art than anyone their age should be capable of. While these people aren’t necessarily wrong about this analysis of the disorder, it’s a limited view of all the nuances of ASD, and overlooks the many variations and forms the disorder takes.

What people also often fail to realize is that these children on the autistic spectrum grow up to

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be adults on the autistic spectrum. It’s common when people are asked whether they’ve met any adults with autism for the answer to be a plain and simple “no.” But how is that possible? With 2% of the American population suffering from ASD, that’s 1 in every 50 people that we meet. Surely somebody we know must have ASD. The issue is that despite all the advantages currently being given to children on the autism spectrum through schools and initiative programs, the outlook for adults with ASD is still poor.

For once a child with autism becomes an adult with autism, they often find themselves without any help making their way in the world. While the training and attention they’ve received as children leaves them better off than they would be if they hadn’t had any help at all, these are still people with disabilities and difficulties trying to make their way, with nobody to help. Adults with autism often find themselves withdrawing from daily life, working jobs that don’t involve dealing with a lot of people, or even working from home. Some withdraw from any form of socialization and live in complete solitude. And if they can’t make it work, many of these adults end up homeless.

Spectrum Fusion is an organization run by Dr. Heidi Ham

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that seeks to change this bleak outlook for adults with autism. It is a nonprofit organization that seeks to build up a sense of community and belonging for adults with autism who currently have no network; neither to socialize with, nor fall back on for help to further their prospects of employment and career. These adults often feel adrift and lacking in any sense of belonging or purpose. It is the goal of Spectrum Fusion to help provide this sense of belonging, community, and purpose by helping adults with autism through career networking and community organization, and it seeks to help them regardless of their current life situation. Any adult with autism can join regardless of their financial constraints.

The Reactor Room – Where the Path Begins Spectrum Fusion helps adults find their sense of purpose through a program known as the Reactor Room. The program begins by sitting one on one with each individual who joins, and getting a sense of just what they want to do with their lives and where their talents, skills, and preferences lie.

This preliminary process often takes several weeks, but once a clear picture of the individual and what direction they wish to take is achieved, the program gathers up people in the professional sectors that the member wishes to break into and helps to create an action plan and a professional network

that the member can work with to better achieve their goals. Through this collaboration, the adults with autism find purpose working in fields that they are competent with and enjoy doing. What’s more, future aspirations of Spectrum Fusion include helping to build up communities of adults with autism so that they can better socialize with people they relate to more easily, helping them to gain the sense of belonging they so direly lack.

Spectrum Fusion is still a young organization but it has already achieved successes with the reactor room program, helping a few young adults find a path to achieving their goals and become a stronger part of the community.

As the organization grows it will be able to help more and more people across the country and better the quality of life for thousands of adults on the spectrum.

For more information about Spectrum Fusion and its Reactor Room program, please visit www.SpectrumFusion.org.

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Judge Cannata Appointed by Governor Abbott

By Gary Gillen After more than 10 years on the Justice of the Peace bench in Fort Bend County Precinct 3, Judge Ken Cannata was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to be presiding Judge of the newly created 458th Judicial District Court of Fort Bend County.

A graduate of the University of South Florida, Judge Cannata received his Doctor of Jurisprudence with honors from the South Texas College of Law in 1983. During his tenure as Justice of the Peace, the growth of Precinct 3 caused his court to become the busiest in Fort Bend County. The filings in the court tripled yet he was able to operate the court efficiently with virtually the same staff, while maintaining the same high level of service to the public.

Judge Cannata will bring that same common sense administration he perfected at the Justice of the Peace level to the District Court. Taxpayers will see that he is always careful with taxpayer dollars. Further, Cannata is the first Fort Bend County District Court Judge to be Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Civil Trial Law. I have had the opportunity to see Judge Cannata in the courtroom on several occasions. Since juvenile cases, particularly truancy, flow through Justice of the Peace courts, I have watched him talk to these young people.

He connects with them in a way that most adults are unable, then converses with attorneys on very complex and complicated cases with the same ease and success.

A Christian Constitutional Conservative B.A., University of Texas G J.D., University of Houston G Former NFL professional football player G Houston Police Foundation Board of Directors, 2011–15 G Houston Police Foundation Lifetime Member G Advisor to former Harris County Sheriff Ron Hickman G NRA Member G 100% pro-life

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His court is efficient, moving a high volume of cases quickly but making certain everyone feels they receive time to present their side and they feel they got a fair hearing of the facts. Our courts must be fair and even handed. I believe Judge Cannata sets the standard for fairness.

As taxpayers, seeing an elected official handle a tripling of work without significant increases in staff, while still maintaining a high level of service, is refreshing. Our judges are guardians of justice both to the parties in court and to the taxpayers as well.

Judge Cannata proves that every day.

Judge Cannata has been an active member of our community serving as executive director and board member of the Fort Bend Youth Football League for over ten years. He has previously served as a Committeeman with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and is presently a volunteer for the West Fort Bend Women’s Charity. He is a former director and President of the Fort Bend Dispute Resolution Center and is a life member of both the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and the Fort Bend County Fair Association.

He and his wife Susan celebrated their 39th wedding anniversary this past July. They have 3 children and 2 grandchildren. Ken and Susan have resided in the Pecan Grove subdivision in Richmond since 1993.

Judge Cannata’s experience and his reputation for fairness have resulted in his appointment being positively received. The Fort Bend legal community and community leaders agree that his appointment by Governor Abbott is well deserved. The people of Fort Bend County are

fortunate to have a respected, legal mind on the bench, in the 458th District Court.

Gary Gillen owns and operates Gillen Pest Control in Richmond. He is the only person in history to have served on both the Richmond City Commission and the Rosenberg City Council. He was the Chairman of the Republican Party of Fort Bend County 2006-2007. He can be reached at Gary@GaryGillen.com

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Local Christian High School Provides Community, Christ-Centered Focus

By Stephanie Butts For senior Caroline Bradley, transferring from her large public school to Houston Christian High School meant she went from a number to a name.

Caroline, 17, came to Houston Christian in her sophomore year where she hoped to have more access to her teachers. She was not disappointed.

“It’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” she said. “The teachers here are really available.”

Houston Christian High School is a nonprofit day school on a 45-acre oasis near the intersection of the Sam Houston Tollway and Interstate 10.

It currently serves approximately 470 students, grades 9th through 12th, with its student-to-teacher ratio at 10:1.

Founded in 1996 by a group of evangelical ministers with a shared vision to provide rigorous, Christ-centered education to Houston families, its alumni rank among some of the most successful in the nation, including United States Service Academy officers, state judges, CEOs, and at least one Broadway actress.

Home to the newly minted Brown Family Dance Building and the Harrell Strength and Conditioning Center, nearly 60 percent of the student body participates in both fine arts and athletics, giving plenty of opportunities for students to develop their current interests and discover new ones.

Caroline leads a Discipleship Group, which is a student-led Bible study on campus, and runs cross country. She loves the tight-knit community

she’s found at Houston Christian.

“It’s really easy to make friends here,” she said.

The school’s inclusive culture stems from its Christ-centered focus where students are encouraged to discover their life’s calling through attending weekly chapel services and volunteering in the community.

Ricky Escobar, also a senior, began attending Houston Christian as a freshman and found the community he needed to succeed.

“The personal trainers on campus worked with me and helped me lose 47 pounds. I learned so much about discipline and had a lot of support

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from my peers,” Ricky said. “I know that wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t attended Houston Christian.”

Ricky still takes advantage of the Harrell Strength and Conditioning Center with his eye on studying kinesiology in college. Ricky said he felt drawn to Houston Christian for the spiritual emphasis and relaxed atmosphere.

“I felt comfortable the minute I walked on campus,” Ricky said. “I just knew I needed to be here.”

Junior Sahvir Wheeler knew he wanted to attend Houston Christian when his father began assistant coaching basketball at the school.

“I wanted to attend a school where I would be challenged academically, but still had a strong sports program,” Sahvir said.

Now, Sahvir plays basketball for Houston Christian’s varsity team where he averages 18 points per game, 9 assists and nearly 2.5 steals. His commitment to the sport gained him attention early on and Sahvir has verbally committed to play for Texas A&M University. He also enjoys the math and Bible classes he’s taking this year.

“I have a strong group of friends who really look out for and support one another,” Sahvir said.

Interested in learning more about Houston Christian High School?

Join us for this year’s musical, Legally Blonde, on February 8, 9, and 10 at 7 p.m. or at 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 10. The production will be at Houston Baptist University in the Dunham Theater and tickets may be purchased by emailing sbutts@houstonchristian.org Can’t make the musical? Don’t worry! Houston Christian does a tour every Thursday where you can talk to faculty and see all this fabulous school has to offer. For more information, please call 713-58-6000. We can’t wait to meet you!

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