EASTER at FRAZER HOLY WEEK EVENTS APRIL 13�20
EASTER FAMILY WORSHIP | SUN. APRIL 20 Worship together at one of our six morning worship services—Contemporary or Sanctuary at 8, 9:30 or 11 a.m. Celebrate the turning point of all history, and the hope of every future—the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS WED.�FRI. APRIL 16�18
GOOD FRIDAY WORSHIP FRI. APRIL 18
EASTER SUNRISE WORSHIP SUN. APRIL 20
An interactive prayer journey through the last steps of Jesus to the cross. Open in Frazer’s Wesley Hall 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday, and 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday of Holy Week.
A solemn but beautiful service of darkness, reenacting the day Jesus died through song, scripture, and the gradual extinguishing of candles. 7 p.m. in the Frazer Sanctuary.
A victorious celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ outdoors by the lake at Blount Cultural Park. Starts at 6 a.m. Bring a blanket or lawn chair. Rain cancels.
Frazer Church: find hope, Follow Jesus • Sunday worship 8, 9:30 & 11AM 6000 atlanta Hwy. Montgomery • frazerumc.org • 334.2728622 • 1
April 2014
River Region’s Journey
April 2014 He Lives ad_Layout 1 3/17/14 9:34 AM Page 1
Jesus lives! He is not here: for he has risen, as He said. Come see the place where the Lord lay. - Matthew 28:6
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Hear the Good News everyday!
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Faith Radio is broadcasting the Good News of an empty tomb all day every day. Will you help us come alongside those perishing in the darkness and share the light of the Resurrection? Your support will help Faith Radio share the shocking power that raised up Christ, and they'll become working power in you and others. River Region’s Journey
April 2014
2 800.239.8900 | www.faithradio.org | 381 Mendel Parkway East, Montgomery, AL 36117
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Volume 15, Issue 11
Feature Articles
APRIL 20 1 4 Columns page 4
page 16
Publisher’s Note
7 Ways to Experience Christ’s Love This Easter
Jason Watson
by Jennifer Loftin Don’t go through another Easter holiday untouched by the miracle of Christ’s resurrection and what that means to you personally.
page 6
Pastor's Perspective Pastor Trip Healey, Ridge Church
page 8
Books to Read Tim Challies
page 14
With All Your Mind Matt Jordan, Ph.D.
page 22
page 15
Easter Events Guide
Dave $ays Dave Ramsey
Find numerous ways to celebrate the Easter holiday in our community with musicals, egg hunts, sacred services and more!
page 19
page 26
Kim Hendrix
Family Promise of Montgomery
by Rachel Fisher Serving the homeless with passion and commitment, this ministry relies on local churches to come alongside and provide temporary housing and help for families trying to get back on their feet. Find out how your church can become part of this great mission!
Shine page 24
The Intersection Bob Crittenden
page 29
Family Teams for Christ Lisa and Mike Conn
page 32
Counselor’s Corner Lou Priolo
Wishing you a Happy Easter from all of us here at River Region’s Journey!
In Every Issue page 10
Around Our Community page 30
Support Groups page 34
Event Calendar page 36
Movie Reviews 3
April 2014
River Region’s Journey
Our Mission... We believe the Good News concerning the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is worth sharing with our friends and neighbors in the River Region. Each month we deliver this life-changing message to the centers of activity across our community in a user-friendly and relevant way to empower and equip all those seeking to grow closer to God. Join us in this mission by sharing a copy with your neighbor or by becoming an advertising partner starting next month.
Editor DeAnne Watson deanne@readjourneymagazine.com
Publisher
Jason Watson jason@readjourneymagazine.com
Research Editor Wendy McCollum
Contributing Writers Tim Challies Lisa and Mike Conn Bob Crittenden Rachel Fisher Pastor Trip Healey Kim Hendrix Matt Jordan, Ph.D. Mason Kocher Jennifer Loftin Lou Priolo Dave Ramsey
Advertising Opportunities Jason Watson ads@readjourneymagazine.com (334) 213-7940 ext 703
From the Publisher I don’t know about you, but springtime makes me feel alive. I spent last month watching tree limb tips, looking for the first sight of green. That vibrant green that has yet to be toughened by the summer heat is a beautiful sight after the winter doldrums, and a perfect canvas for celebrating the resurrection of Jesus the Messiah. Sadly, if we don’t pause to appreciate this new life we’ll miss it. And, even if we get all dressed up on Easter morning, we can miss the new life Christ is offering if we don’t open our hearts to receive it. We want to help you draw near to God this Easter. Do you struggle with your inner skeptic regarding the resurrection? Dr. Matt Jordan, in his “With All Your Mind” column, has written about The Fact of the Resurrection. In reading his article, you will gain confidence in the reality of Christ’s saving work and be freed to pursue a relationship with Him. Then, turn to page 16 where you’ll find 7 Ways to Experience Christ’s Love This Easter. Author Jennifer Loftin looks at seven specific areas where Christ’s love is manifested and offered to us if we’ll receive it. If you find yourself distant from Christ, this may be the encouragement you need. Lastly, let me say that Easter is better when you experience it with others who are seeking to know Christ. Area churches have gone to great lengths to help you with that. From special Easter dramas and concerts to sunrise services and family-friendly Easter egg hunts, grab your loved ones and go enjoy some of these events being offered across the River Region. On page 22 you’ll find a detailed listing, and don’t miss our advertising partners who took the extra measure to make sure you know you are welcome at their events. Happy Easter, everyone. I pray you’ll celebrate fully the new life we have in Christ!
Ad Design
Tim Welch, Welch Designs
Distribution Team Kristy Brennan Wendy McCollum Chris Mitchell Manzie Moore Richard Ward Lesa Youngblood
River Region’s Journey is published monthly by Keep Sharing, P.O. Box 230367, Montgomery, AL 36123. For information, call 334-213-7940. River Region’s Journey is copyrighted 2014 by KeepSharing. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. The opinions expressed in River Region’s Journey are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the owners, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products or services herein. River Region’s Journey has the right to refuse any content that is not consistent with its statement of faith.
River Region’s Journey
April 2014
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Each is a wonderful resource for people in the River Region.
Please support our advertisers. If you are interested in purchasing an advertisement email us at ads@readjourneymagazine today. 4
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April 2014
River Region’s Journey
Pastor’s Perspective
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Pastor Trip Healey, Ridge Church
What Matters Most Moses had been given the enormous responsibility of mobilizing a displaced nation, who had been enslaved for four centuries, and then leading them to a place they had been promised but had never seen. Then, for 40 years, God led this group of people through the wilderness as he miraculously provided for their needs and established his covenant with his chosen people. As he communicated his law and his commands through his servant Moses, God often sealed what he wanted them to know with the phrase, “I am the Lord your God.” It was a constant reminder to Israel that their relationship with him was to be the focal point of their obedience to him. Then, as Israel is right on the brink of realizing God’s promises and occupying Canaan, Moses begins transitioning his leadership to his successor, Joshua, as he gathers all of Israel together for his farewell speech. At the beginning of Deuteronomy, Moses recounts God’s faithfulness to his people as he summarizes all that God has done for them as well as the law that God has given to them. Then in chapter 6, it’s as if Moses pauses from his discourse and begins to imagine Israel’s future, knowing he will not be a part of it. He perceives that Israel is on the cusp of experiencing abundant blessings and riches like they’ve never imagined. He senses that Israel’s focus may drift from the eternal to the temporal and that the meaning behind all of God’s laws and commands may be lost. River Region’s Journey
April 2014
And so he pauses, looks across the hundreds of thousands of people before him, takes a deep breath (or so I imagine), and begins: 4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” This passage of scripture is known as the Jewish Shema, a prayer recited twice daily, which serves as a constant reminder that the Lord, the God of Israel, is the the one true God. Then, for the first time in scripture, Moses makes a pivotal statement about what it means to truly follow God. He says, 5 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Up to this point, Israel knew to worship God, to respect and fear God, but to love God with everything they have implied a personal relationship with God. And that’s the difference. That’s what mattered most. That’s what Moses knew his people needed to fully grasp and understand in order to continue in God’s favor in the future. Then you can almost sense the urgency and fervor in the words that follow. 6 “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children.” The rest of verse seven seems to transcend time and culture as he commands 6
Israel to make their faith a part of their everyday lives by talking about it at home, around the dinner table, while you’re driving in your car, before school each day and before bed each night. Moses seems to be directing these instructions only to parents. But truthfully, the burden falls on anyone who has potential influence in a child’s life, because it’s the children who represent the generation to follow. They need to know what matters most. They need to know that love and relationship bridge the gap between a faith lived out and religion. As Easter approaches once again, and we find ourselves walking through the motions of ritual and tradition, I would challenge all of us to pause, look around, take a deep breath and focus on what matters most. It doesn’t really matter what people know if they don’t know what really matters. As parents and church leaders, we are stewards of the potential influence that we have in the lives of our children and the next generation. It is our responsibility to impress upon them that God desires a relationship with them, that he has created “the way” for that relationship to exist through Jesus Christ, and that true obedience only comes as a by-product of that relationship. What matters most is that they know what matters most. Trip Healey is the lead pastor of Ridge Church, a non-denominational church which launched in September 2013 in Wetumpka, AL. They currently meet at the YMCA (200 Red Eagle Dr) at 10:30am every Sunday. To connect with Ridge Church: Email: info@ridgechurch.com, Website: ridgechurch.com, Twitter: @RidgeChurchAL, Facebook: /RidgeChurchAL.
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Our Statement of Faith In keeping with Protestant theology, we believe that the Bible, as contained in the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, is fully inspired by God and therefore inerrant in the original manuscripts. The Bible is the only essential and infallible record of God’s self-disclosure to mankind. The Scriptures are the authoritative and normative rule and guide of all Christian life, practice, and doctrine. They are totally sufficient and must not be added to, superseded, or changed by later tradition, extra-biblical revelation, or worldly wisdom. The Bible is perfect in every way and shows us how to become and live as Christians. The way of becoming a Christian is by faith alone in Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, who came to us, born of a virgin, in full human form while remaining fully God. Jesus was, and is, perfect, and was crucified so that others could live. Three days later He rose from the dead, never to die again. He ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God the Father, where He, the only mediator between God and man, continually makes intercession for His own. Those who have faith in Jesus as their Lord in this life, and Savior from damnation in the next life, now live by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, becoming more like Jesus everyday. We believe that God is one God. The one God has three persons: the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Just as God is one, so also, all believers are to be one. We believe in the unity and fellowship of all those that have faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. We are one in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, His Body, which is composed of all men, living and dead, who have been joined to Him through saving faith. *All editorial content published must be in agreement with our Statement of Faith
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Now this is a good book. A really good book. It is exactly the kind of book a reviewer loves to discover: A title from a minor publisher that arrives with little fanfare and completely blows him away. And that is what I found in An Infinite Journey: Growing Toward Christlikeness by Andrew Davis. An Infinite Journey defies easy description. What exactly is it? It is a book about growing toward spiritual maturity, but it is more than that; it is also a map for the journey. This makes it something like a systematic theology of spiritual growth and maturity. Allow me to explain. Davis says that Christians are called by God to make two simultaneous journeys and that these journeys are the Christian’s central work. The first is the external journey of the worldwide advance of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ to all nations while the second is the internal journey from being dead in sin to being gloriously perfect in Christ. Each of these journeys is lifelong and demands great effort, labor and suffering. Each is infinite because they both require an infinite power source and because they will extend to the very end of our lives. Davis contends that over the past decades Evangelicals have been far more concerned with the external journey than the internal one so that we have pursued evangelism at the expense of discipleship and sanctification. But, he says, The Church needs to reclaim a Biblesaturated, Spirit-drenched emphasis on River Region’s Journey
April 2014
both of these infinite journeys, learning that they are absolutely intertwined. It is impossible for the Church to make progress externally to the ends of the earth if there are no Christians mature enough to pay the price to go as missionaries and martyrs. And it is impossible to make genuine progress in sanctification if the people only read good Christians books and stay in classrooms, but refuse to get out into the world as witnesses. These journeys are mutually interdependent: without progress in one, there can be no progress made in the other. What Davis attempts to do in this book, and what he accomplishes with rare skill, is to map out the journey, focusing on the journey toward Christian maturity. He attempts to provide a taxonomy of sanctification, organizing what the Bible gives us as reasonable goals for spiritual growth. He believes that all of Christian maturity can be found under four major headings: Knowledge, Faith, Character, and Action. The heart of the book is explaining each of these while also showing the relationship between them. Now this may all sound rather obvious, but Davis is especially skilled at looking at the things we commonly know or experience and describing and quantifying them in fresh and helpful ways. By way of example, in the book’s opening chapters he attempts to graph Christian progress. Acknowledging that any such illustration will suffer from some weakness and incompleteness, he still finds 8
a very helpful way of helping us understand the peaks and valleys of Christian experience. The book has other notable strengths. While it is not exhaustive (and hardly could be without extending to many volumes), it is substantial in its breadth. It is packed with excellent illustrations that both introduce and explain important topics. It is also bursting with heart and joy so that the author’s passion for his topic is contagious. Concluding case studies help show the theory in action while a chapter on application works toward implementing these things in the reader’s life. If there is one section that I found weaker than the rest, it would be the section on how the Lord guides us. Davis speaks of God’s still small voice, but I am not convinced that what he says here quite represents how the New Testament tells us to expect to hear from the Lord. What he says did not strike me as wrong as much as incomplete. I am also a little concerned about the book’s size, largely because its 31 chapters and 480 pages may make it a difficult book to read in community with others. It is an ideal resource for discipleship, but the 31 chapters make it rather a large commitment. That said, Davis has not wasted many words and the size of the topic demands a significant work. An Infinite Journey is a very good book and one you should consider reading. Don Whitney has written up a short blurb and I would echo his words. “Besides the Bible, it would be difficult to find any other single resource with more biblically sound, theologically rich, pastorally helpful, and practical insight about Christian growth than this book.” It is a gift to the church and I heartily commend it to you.
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April 2014
River Region’s Journey
2/12/14 3:12 PM
“4th Saturday” Outreach Event in Downtown Montgomery
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Ecuador Mission Trip Yard Sale
River City Church, a United Methodist congregation, invites the entire community to a 4th Saturday Outreach event on April 26 from 9am-11am at the church, located at 301 Dexter Avenue. Admission is free. The River Region will have access to medical screenings, dental screenings, career services, free haircuts, canned goods and hygiene kits (while they last). Participants can register for a drawing for a weekly bus pass. During the 2-hour period, attendees can speak with prayer partners, and purchase items in the River City Rummage Sale located on the lower level of the church. Nurses will screen for diabetes (glucose testing), assess body mass index, blood pressure, and other vital signs. A dentist from Health Services Inc. will perform dental screenings. Volunteers will also provide homework help and a craft for children. To volunteer for the event, or for more information, please call 263-0549 or visit www.rivercityumc.com.
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Aldersgate United Methodist Church Saturday, April 12, 2014 7:30 a.m. Members of the Ecuador mission team of Aldersgate United Methodist Church will hold a yard sale in the front church parking lot at 6610 Vaughn Road on Saturday, April 12th. Sale hours are 7:30 – 11:00 am. Items will include household items, clothing, books, tools, and more. Proceeds from the sale will support our nineteen-member team’s trip to the city of Quito, Ecuador in June. The team will be doing construction work and ministering to children through Servants in Faith and Technology (SIFAT).
Email ministry or church news to deanne@readjourneymagazine.com.
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New friends are now best friends. New experiences are now the best times ever. No wonder it’s so easy to tell others about it and include them in the fun.
Welcome to Riverview Camp for Girls!
We’ve do put Itogether everything you’re looking for in a perfect“I saw camp onemy of Why choose Riverview each summer? mysetting! first river Recognized on a mountain,as I rode Golf,times Dance, Dance, Outdoor Sports, Soccer,use Beach Volleyball, Basketball, “As go,Stomp it was one of the BEST.”Skills AndClass, what child couldn’t some of that these days?
Riverview Refinement, Program, Campfires night,Recognized optional trips and more! We’ve put together everythingCIT you’re looking for in a perfect every camp setting! as one of the Southeast’s best all-around summer camps for girls, Riverview is an oasis of fun, friends and happiness. Spring and Fall &available 2 week Sessions ages to 16... Mother-Daughter Weekends1are also! Registeredfor Nurses and6 Physician on Staff. Entire full-summer staff is First Aid andand CPRFall Certified. Camper/Counselor Ratio 5:1 Spring Mother-Daughter Weekends...
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first I had campfires every night. Icamps felt close to God. giggled a lot is with friends and counselors. time flew by! thehorse. Southeast’s best all-around for girls,IRiverview annew oasis of fun, friends andThe happiness... I Exciting felt safe and secure. Iinclude: gained confidence in myselfPool,Tennis, through the world around me.” activities Riding, Heated Canoeing, Ropes Course, Climbing Tower,
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FLAG TWIRLING • CHEERLEADING • RIFLERY • ARCHERY • TRIP DAY • GOLF
We don’t wonder anymore how it happened, that one summer could bring such happy memories.
B ASKETBALL • S OCCER • A RTS
• H ORSEBACK R IDING • S WIMMING • T ENNIS • C ANOEING • D ANCE • A EROBICS • G YMNASTICS • B EACH V OLLEYBALL •
• R OPES C OURSE • C LIMBING T OWER • O UTDOOR L IVING S KILLS • C AMPFIRE F UN • C OUNSELOR -I N -T RAINING •
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The 2014 Montgomery Prayer Breakfast for the City and County of Montgomery is scheduled for May 1, at 7 am, in downtown Montgomery. Mayor Todd Strange and Commissioner Elton Dean invite the citizens of the River Region Area to join him on this day in a spirit of humility and pray. The purpose of the prayer breakfast has always been and continues to be bringing together the local citizens of Montgomery to pray for all those in authority over the City and County. It is an opportunity to pray and give thanks for the goodness the community experiences. A devoted time of prayer will be offered on this morning as well as special music. The breakfast will be held at the Alabama Activity Center, located at 201 Dexter Avenue, downtown Montgomery, from 7 am to 8:15 am. A full buffet breakfast will be served. Tickets for the breakfast are $12 per person. Individuals may purchase tickets at His Vessel® Ministries, Union Station, 300 Water Street, Suite 100, Montgomery or St. James United Methodist Church on the corner of Vaughn and Ryan Road. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come first served bases. For questions or more information call 334-356-4478.
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Montgomery Prayer Breakfast
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Destiny Christian Rider’s 3rd Annual Benefit Ride
May 17th / 9am Proceeds go to Bread of Life Ministry Destiny Christian Center - Gym 1852 Highway 14 E, Prattville Registration @ 9am, kickstands up @ 9:15, leave out @ 9:30 $25 per bike, $10 per rider Lunch is provided Questions: Sharon Carden c 612-9152/ h 517-4312 11
April 2014
River Region’s Journey
Secret Church Simulcast on Good Friday
“Living Well” Ladies Lock-In
In many places around the world, it is dangerous to gather as a “church” and must be done in “secret”. Capitol Heights Baptist Church, corner of Madison Ave. and Ann Street, will host a Secret Church simulcast for the City of Montgomery and surrounding areas on Good Friday, April 18th, from 6:00 pm until midnight. The simulcast will come from The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham with Pastor David Platt teaching on The Cross and Everyday Life. This will be a time of intense Bible study, lasting 6+ hours, including a time of prayer for our brothers and sisters in Christ across the globe who are facing persecution and for those who have still not heard the gospel. If you desire to know God more deeply through His Word and know His church more fully around the world, please join us for Secret Church. Registration at Capitol Heights Baptist Church will start at 5:30. There is a $5 attendance fee for adults that includes a comprehensive study guide. For reservations call the church office at (334) 264-6461or first-come-first-serve for seating.
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Cornerstone Christian Church at 301 Dalraida Rd. will host a Ladies Lock-In, “Living Well”, starting at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, April 11th going until noon on Saturday, the 12th. This is an overnight event, but you can come and go as you wish. The cost per lady is $10.00. Dinner will be served on Friday night and breakfast is provided on Saturday morning. Refreshments throughout the weekend will also be available. Join us for a weekend of fun and fellowship where you’ll hear an amazing guest speaker, participate in a self-defense class, let your creative side shine in our craft corner, and learn some awesome health and beauty tips. BYOB... Bring Your Own Bedding! Please Call Kelley Thompson at 334-567-1853 or email her at jthompson1@elmore.rr.com to register. Space is limited, so please RSVP your spot by April 9th.
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Renew Women’s Ministry Update
Renew Women’s Ministry of St. James UMC just finished its annual Rhema Community-Wide Women’s Bible Study: Encounter. Encounter was a study on David’s Tabernacle focusing on Worship, Warfare, & Intercession. Approximately 60 women from around the region gathered weekly for five weeks focusing their attention to grow in intimacy with the Lord Jesus Christ. They deepened their personal relationships with Jesus through gaining revelation of King David’s tabernacle of 24/7 praise and prayer. There was beautiful worship that ushered in the presence of God weekly, as well as, biblical teaching by Pam Miller, Lana Hayden, & Ann Pemberton. Throughout the study, the ladies were able to put into practice what they were learning through experiential times of praise and prayer. It was a wonderful time for ladies to come together and grow in the Lord Jesus Christ together.
Respite Care for Special Needs Parents
You are invited to attend this special Sunday Respite Care Program at Young Meadows Presbyterian Church, 5780 Vaughn Road, on 1st Sundays from 4-6 pm. Children with physical and cognitive disabilities (and their siblings) ages 6-18 are invited for a time of activities and a light dinner so parents can have a night out. Call Susan Clements at 301-0355 for more information and to make a reservation, or email rooftopfriends@gmail.com.
Samaritan Counseling Center’s Invites Community to 15 Year Celebration
The Samaritan Counseling Center is having a party honoring our past and celebrating our accomplishments in the River Region. We would like to invite the public to attend. The price is $15 a ticket which includes food, two drink tickets, and the live band The Second Coming. The party will be held at Academy Events, 17 Coosa St. - 5th floor Renasant Bank Building on Thursday May 15. To purchase tickets, call 262-7787.
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U N I V E R S I T Y
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The Fact of the Resurrection There are a lot of weird ideas out there. One of the weirdest, in my opinion, is the idea that faith has nothing to do with facts. Many people seem to think that religious beliefs should be more like an allegiance to a sports team or a preference in ice cream flavors than a matter of serious thinking. War Eagle! Roll Tide! Jesus loves you! Chocolate is the best! I like butter pecan! You’re saved by grace! — All of these, the thinking goes, are totally arbitrary, subjective preferences. No one is right or wrong about ice cream; different people have different tastes. And while there may be facts about what the best team in Alabama is in any given year (correct answer: Auburn), “Roll Tide!” is not a statement that can be true or false; it’s just an expression of a personal commitment. I’m happy to agree with this point of view when it comes to football teams and desserts. But religious beliefs? I think that’s crazy. Take something as fundamental as the claim that God exists. This is either true or false. There is no middle ground. Either there is a God, or there isn’t. What’s really weird, I think, is that a society with so many Christians in it would ever be inclined to adopt any other point of view. Consider what the Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15: “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile.” Those are strong words! Either the Resurrection happened, or it didn’t. And according to the Bible itself, if the Resurrection didn’t happen, then Christianity is a waste of time. All of this should come as an encouragement to Christians, because the evidence for the Resurrection as an historical fact is really quite impressive. Consider: if Jesus did not rise from the dead, then all of the statements to the contrary in the New TestaRiver Region’s Journey
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Second, all of the available evidence ment are fabricated; Easter is a hoax. But indicates that each of the eleven disciples when you look at the evidence, it is very difficult to take this possibility seriously. For our went to his grave proclaiming the message of the death and resurrection of Jesus. It is purposes, there are two points that are especially worthy of consideration. (Lots of books a near-certainty that many of them were have been written on this topic, and interested tortured and killed because they proclaimed this message. There is no hint, however, that readers are encouraged to take a look at Lee even one of them ever recanted. In other Strobel’s The Case for Christ, Jesus Under words, if Easter is a hoax, then these men Fire by J. P. Moreland and Michael Wilkins, or N. T. Wright’s massive The Resurrection of not only died for a falsehood, they died— often painfully—for a story they knew was the Son of God for more detail.) a falsehood. This needs to be explained. And First, all four of the Gospels—Matthe best explanation is a simple one: they thew, Mark, Luke, and John—assert that were telling the truth. Jesus Christ died, and Jesus’s empty tomb was discovered by three days later he rose from the dead. That’s women, while the disillusioned disciples a fact. were hiding elsewhere. This is pretty extraordinary. If Easter is a hoax, then the disciples, who later became the leaders of the Christian community, based all of their subsequent preaching on a madeup story that makes them look pretty bad. Worse, they put the initial reports of an empty tomb into the mouths of women, whose testimony, in or vEry that culture, was not considered as reliable E n E r at i o n as men’s. In other words, if the stories are untrue, then we need to explain why Prattville First United Methodist Church the disciples would 100 E. 4th Street, Prattville, AL 36067 undermine themT R A D IT IO N A L W O R S H IP 8 : 3 0 A M & 11: 00 A M selves by not simply S U N D AY S C H O O L 9 : 4 5 A M announcing that T H E W E L L 11 : 0 0 AM they had discovered the empty tomb, and why they didn’t make themselves look a bit more competent in the process. www.prattvillemethodist.org
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Q. My in-laws have lots of debt. In fact, they’re always joking that the debt they’ll leave us is more than the inheritance. How will this affect my wife and family if they die with all their debt still in place?
A. You do not inherit debt. Either your in-laws are misinformed, or it’s just a bad joke on their part. Now, if you were foolish enough to co-sign on a loan with them, then you’d be liable for the remainder of that loan. But if they ran up $100,000 in credit card debt on their own before they died, then the credit card companies just don’t get paid. It wouldn’t cost you a dime, except that you might get no inheritance from them, because what they left behind would be sold to pay off as many creditors as possible. Here’s an even bigger example. Let’s say they owned a home, and they’re behind on the mortgage or upside down on the house—meaning that they owed more on it than it’s worth. You can just hand it back to the mortgage company. You’re not legally or morally obligated to accept the house and the situation surrounding it because it was left to you in a will. Just because it’s fam-
ily doesn’t make it jump over onto your plate! Let me say it again. You don’t inherit debt. Don’t let creditors, or anyone else, tell you differently.
more money. I can get out of debt even quicker!” Again, I’m okay with you adjusting a bit that first month and having a little fun to celebrate your good fortune. But after that, I want you to turn around and attack the debt with even more intensity than before. Way to go!
Q. I recently got a new job that will increase my income by $20,000 a year. I’ve got $65,000 in debt, and I’m trying to pay it off, so I know I need to adjust my budget. Do you have any suggestions for a situation like this?
Q. What happens to the money in an ESA if the child gets a scholarship and no longer needs the money?
A. Congratulations on your increased income! The first thing I’d tell you is not to get used to any permanent luxuries while you’re paying off debt. Go out and celebrate with a really nice dinner or something like that after you get your first paycheck. But don’t go nuts or pick up any big, new stuff. The more you put toward debt, the faster it goes away. I’ve been doing this financial thing for a lot of years, and the one thing I’ve found that gets people out of debt is passion. I want you to be so passionate about getting out of debt that you don’t even consider doing anything else until it’s all gone. Your thought process needs to be, “Wow, I got a new job making
A. In an Educational Savings Account (ESA), and in a 529 Plan, you are allowed to pull out money tax free in the amount of the scholarship. But very rarely do you find someone going to college completely free and clear. Often tuition is covered, and even tuition and a dorm room in some cases, but zero-cost college is almost unheard of. There are always living expenses, books and other miscellaneous items, and you can use the money in an ESA for any educationrelated expenses. The chances of your money getting trapped and you as parents winding up in a situation where you’ve actually saved too much and a child has leftover money just doesn’t happen.
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Remember Have you ever lost a loved one? Growing up, I always knew the anniversary of my grandfather’s death even though I had never met him. I would know that day had come by mother’s demeanor. She’d become contemplative and introspective. She’d often use that day to share a snapshot of her childhood and their relationship. On one occasion she shared, “My father used to take me on his city bus route Sunday afternoons in New Orleans; I still love public transportation to this day.” Reliving shared memories, his presence and his impact on her life, brought him close again and reinforced my mom’s identity as his daughter. I don’t think a year has passed that she has forgotten to remember him. Christ asks us to remember Him and His death on the cross for us. Talking with Christ daily in prayer, it is easy to forget the price He paid for the intimacy we share. Easter provides a yearly opportunity to meditate on how God’s presence has impacted us personally. Spend the day remembering that His death means our adoption as His sons and daughters. We have a good future because of Him.
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Believe
Believing is not always easy; sometimes it requires work. God’s Word confirms this in John 6:29 when it says, “...This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” This one verse has revolutionized my life. We know that Jesus is the one who was sent. His death has made a way for us to come to God. Now, before I act I often ask myself if my actions will reflect my belief in Christ. When I’m struggling with sin, do I believe Christ has given me power over temptation? When I am feeling unjustly treated, do I believe Christ is loving, just and he sees all that is happening to me, that He is my shield? When I struggle, there are a number of Christians to look to for examples, one being Corrie Ten Boom. In her book, The Hiding Place, she relates how she kept her belief in the Lord through a Nazi concentration camp, flea infested bedding, torture and humiliation. In all these things, she believed God, and saw His salvation. This makes Christianity uncomplicated—instead of focusing on
many commands or rules of behavior, you can simply look up and choose to believe the God who loves you unconditionally.
Give Thanks
Have you ever heard the story in Luke 17:12-19 about the ten lepers that were healed by Jesus? All ten men were sentenced to a slow and painful death. All of them lost friends because of the contagious nature of their disease. They were isolated and literally rotting away. They cried out for mercy and Jesus healed them. Then a surprising and all too familiar scene takes place. Nine of ten men turn away after being healed and go on with their life without thanking the one that gave them life. So many times, I have been an ungrateful statistic; only calling for mercy in my need and forgetting to be thankful for the grace I receive. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Don’t forget to say thank you this Easter for God healing your sin disease and giving what you don’t deserve, pardon and new life.
Repent
Recently, a friend I know influenced a man to quit smoking—even though she never said anything to him. He had focused his attention on her because he thought she was beautiful. His growing affection for her caused him to lose his desire for nicotine. He began to think about how his harmful habit would affect her should he desire to build a relationship with her. So, he quit. Amazing! Love changed his behavior. This is a good reminder that what we focus our attention on is what we really desire. This Easter, search your heart. What do you love? It will be easy to spot. Look at how you spend your time, money, and energy. If your desire is to love Christ but you realize you’ve focused on something else, don’t be defeated. Just begin to meditate on Christ’s goodness, His beauty. Ask Him to recapture your heart. Better to focus your eyes on Him before trying to clean up your act. It is in looking at Him that you find power to change.
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Listen
Millions tune into “The Oprah Winfrey Show” daily to learn what experts are saying on everything from family budgets to dealing with in-laws. We look to those who are successful to follow their formula for success. Whose advice are you applying to your life? God gives many sure promises for those who listen to His Word and apply it. The first that comes to mind is found in Matthew 7:24-27 when Jesus promises security for your family when your listen and apply his word. He says this using a parable saying that a man who hears and applies Gods word is like a man who built his house on the rock, whereas a man who hears but doesn’t apply (doesn’t really listen) is like a man who builds his house on the sand. Storms hit both homes, and only the one whose house was built on the rock still stands after the storm. Both men heard the same words, but one man listened and built his house accordingly. Are you listening to or merely hearing the Easter message?
Receive
There was a Christian man who had a hard time controlling his tongue. He used profanity all the time. He recognized that this wasn’t right, so he shared his struggle with another Christian friend. His friend came up with a plan. He said to his struggling friend, “Why don’t you charge yourself $5 for every curse word you say. Give that money to the church offering each week.” The man agreed to follow his friend’s advice. The first week he had to write a check for $140. The next week was not much better. By the third week, the man felt defeated and told his friend he could no longer keep paying for his shortcomings or he would go broke. His friend, having compassion, came up with an alternative plan. He said, “Continue keeping track of your curses, but from now on I’ll pay the bill.” Amazingly, a change occurred. For two more weeks the man continued to use profanity but at a lesser degree. It hurt him to put that burden on his friend. By the third week, his cursing ended. The grace we’ve been given was not free; it costs our Savior a lot to be able to give it to
us freely. Meditate on the cost of His grace and let it change you as you receive it a new this Easter.
Forgive
Matthew 6:12 tells us, “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Like the Christian man who paid his friend’s cursing debt (described in point number six), you may have experienced paying the price of someone else’s sin when that sin causes you pain. When people are rude to you, insult you, ignore you, or judge you wrongly, offer your patience and forgiveness in return as a practical way of following Christ’s example of forgiveness in His death on the cross. Your forgiveness is an earthly demonstration of His love in action—longsuffering, faithful, bearing our burdens. The more we experience it ourselves, the more we can give it to others. Forgive others according to what you’ve been forgiven by Him this year. • Reprinted from www.familylife.com, written by Jennifer Loftin. Copyright (c) 2005 by FamilyLife. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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Are You Blooming? Galatians 6:8-10: “But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone--especially to those in the family of faith.”
card to my teenaged daughter who she taught in kindergarten and my daughter had just written her thanking her for the card--both writings brought the other to tears, and me as well. They were letters of encouragement and love delivered at just the right time for both it seems. Betty shared how she was busy that day baking cookies and making chicken salad for I love seeing the new two grandchildren who would growth on the dormant trees be headed to the beach later that this time of year--new beautiful day for spring break. They had blooms where things had becalled asking for their “favorites” come bare and seemingly worn and this loving grandmother was out. I wonder if God says the eager to please! As we caught same thing as he watches us? up on life she told me about her As I stood on our patio husband having a pretty serious recently and examined the disease and how the initial diagblooming trees in my backyard, nosis hit hard. Then she shared I noticed on these particular how her husband “Pop” immetrees, the brightest, biggest diately looked at her and said, blooms, the first to surface this spring, were on the highest most Five-year-old Annie with “God got us through our lowest vertical branches. The lower kindergarten teacher and time (losing a son years ago in a mentor, Mrs. Betty Henry. car wreck), why would we doubt branches, many reaching more that he could get us through this horizontal than vertical were a as well?” Now Betty told me, “Pop is leading little behind, not blooming or growing nearly the parade” taking chemo and doing really as fast as those reaching straight up. I won’t well, lifting others up along the way. This ask the question, “If you were a tree, which precious couple, about to celebrate 59 years one would you be and why?” Instead I ask, of marriage, has been involved in Bible “Which branch are you?” Do you put more studies, serving and teaching for years, and focus on what’s around you (horizontal) or in looking and reaching up (vertical)? And now Betty taught school for most of her life, sharing God’s love with the generations. They I ask, “Are you blooming?” stand straight and tall in their walk, reaching A conversation on a recent Friday up--BLOOMING, and I know God is saying, morning reminded me that those who stay “I love this.” close to the Lord never stop blooming. Sure they may go through difficult, even dry, Isaiah 46:4: “I will be your God throughout seasons but new blooms always burst through your lifetime--until your hair is white with when you’ve given your life to Christ. This age. I made you, and I will care for you. I conversation was with a dear friend who’s will carry you along and save you.” 78 years old. Betty Henry had just written a 19
The above verse out of Isaiah is a scripture my 13-year-old daughter shared as a favorite with her kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Henry. My daughter, in her early teens, is finding strength in this verse in her walk and now she can see it lived out as well through a precious mentor, another grandmother in her life, who has seen many seasons, and continues to bloom. If you’ve been feeling a little dormant, worn out perhaps, keep reaching up! Turn to God and tell Him you need his strength, tell Him your life is his, tell Him you want to bloom again! When I put the first few lines of this article on Facebook: “I love seeing the new growth on the dormant trees this time of year--new beautiful blooms where things had become bare and seemingly worn out, I wonder if God says the same thing as he watches us?”... LaDonna Brendle of Reality & Truth Ministries responded: “I think He does. I believe He tells the heavenly beings to watch how beautiful His children are blossoming into what He purposed for them before birth and into the image of Jesus Christ.” Amen. Take time to pray today even if you’re feeling tired and worn out. Talk to God and before you know it, I just know you’ll sense God saying, “I love this!” Dear Heavenly Father, Please give us the strength to keep looking up and not get caught up in the world and circumstances going on around us. May we turn to you when we’re feeling dormant, tired and worn out and may you fill us with your everlasting strength, peace and joy. We want to bloom for you sweet Jesus. Thank you for always providing new growth and new possibilities. In the mighty name of your son Jesus Christ we pray, Amen. April 2014
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RRJ: Your industry was hit hard when the housing market turned a few years ago. What role did your Christian faith play in how you handled all the changes you and your company faced? Everyone associated with the construction industry has been hit hard over the past seven years. Fortunately, God has allowed me to realize what “daily bread” is and is not. I have had to look to Him each day to bring not only the business but the strength to do the job he has given me. He’s allowed me to recognize what is really important in life and to have joy in simple pleasures. RRJ: Life isn’t easy and every one of us goes through hard seasons. Did any new “life pillars” come out of your trial that you can share with our readers? RRJ: People who don’t know you are probably still familiar with your name since it’s often wrapped around buildings under construction in the area. Tell us about what you do. I have a building materials business that supplies lumber, millwork, windows, and doors to contractors and homeowners in the River Region. RRJ: What do you enjoy most about your job? My job is never dull and I enjoy getting to interact with many different people. Every customer seems to have a different goal, and I try to help them achieve it, at least when it comes to choosing building materials. River Region’s Journey
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Many Christians use Ephesians 2:8-9 as a pillar, “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not of your own doing, it is the gift of God, not a result of work that no one may boast.” I never wanted to look at verse 10 and acknowledge that God created us for specific good works and we should walk in them. It lets me know that God has us where we are for a reason. We can be used and He can be glorified even in tough times. I have learned to hold the things of this world with an open palm and ask God what he wants us to do with the gifts and resources he has given us to further the kingdom. We all have talents and gifts to give. Sometimes it is a large monetary gift, sometimes it is a listening ear. God is pleased with both. 20
RRJ: Sometimes people try to separate their business life from their faith life, but God calls us to live out our faith and to be His ambassadors wherever He has placed us. It’s encouraging to see how your company has brought the two together in working with Strong Tower Church in the Washington Park neighborhood. Can you tell us about your partnership? Terrence Jones, pastor at Strong Tower, has been a wonderful resource for me. He has helped me wade though some sticky situations as I try to mentor my employees. He has also mentored men in the neighborhood who have become great employees for me. RRJ: Is this something other businesses can get involved in as well? I think we underestimate the value and dignity that having a job can provide. We would love to see other businesses partner with us to provide jobs for men who have completed a mentoring program. RRJ: Finally, as a Christian leading your company in the marketplace, are there any regular habits you use to garner the strength to meet this calling? I realize that I must stay fed from God’s word and spend time in prayer. I would add that I don’t spend enough time in worship, not just on Sunday morning, but daily thanking God for whatever circumstance he has for me today. Mason lives in Montgomery with wife, Alex, and their two daughters. He is an elder at Young Meadows Presbyterian Church.
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Easter Worship Service Sunday, April 20, 10:30 a.m.
Christchurch
8800 Vaughn Road, 387.0566 Maundy Thursday, Seder Supper April 17, 7 p.m. Stations of the Cross Friday, April 18 at 5:30 p.m. East Egg Hunt Saturday, April 19, 3:30 until 5:30 p.m. Son Rise Service 6 a.m. on April 20 Easter Sunday Services April 20, 9:30 a.m.
Christ Community Church 8285 Ryan Road, 273.8110 Easter Sunday Services April 20, 10 a.m.
Church of the Brook
2890 Highway 14, Millbrook, 285.5783 Easter Services Sunday, April 20, at 10:30 a.m.
Eastmont Baptist Church 4505 Atlanta Highway, 277.6300 Easter Morning Worship April 20, 8:10 and 10:30 a.m.
Evangel Church
3975 Vaughn Road, 272.4882 Easter Egg Hunt April 19, at 10 a.m. Easter Sunday April 20, Worship Service 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
First Baptist Church, Montgomery
Aldersgate UMC
6610 Vaughn Road, 272.6152 Easter Egg Hunt at 1:00 P.M. Covered dish luncheon at 12:30 Saturday, April 12 3 years old through 12 years Please call 272-6152 for reservations. The Risen Christ Easter Musical “On a Hill Too Far Away” Palm Sunday, April 13 at the 11:00 service. Maundy Thursday Communion Service 7:00 P.M. Thursday, April 17 Good Friday Tenebrae Worship Service 7:00 P.M. Friday, April 18 Easter Son Rise Service 7:15 A.M. Sunday, April 20 led by the Aldersgate Youth Easter Celebration Worship Services Sunday, April 20 8:45 A.M. Contemporary; 11:00 A.M. Traditional
305 S. Perry Street, 834.6310 Easter Communion April 16, 6:15 p.m. Good Friday Service Friday, April 18, 12 p.m. Easter Sunday Worship Services Sunday, April 20, at 8:30 & and 11 a.m.
First Baptist Church, Prattville
138 S. Washington Street, 365.0606 Easter Egg-citement Saturday, April 19, 10 a.m. to 12 noon For children ages Preschool to 2nd Grade Easter Services Sunday, April 20, 8:15 a.m., 9:30 a.m., and 11 a.m.
First Presbyterian Church
Beacon of Hope Church of God 1045 Coliseum Boulevard, 274.0932 Easter Celebration Musical Sunday, April 20 at 11:00 a.m. Nursery Available
9299 Vaughn Rd. (corner of Vaughn and Chantilly) April 20, Easter Sunday Son Rise Prayer Service – 7:30 Fellowship Breakfast – 8:45 Morning Worship – 9:25 For more information call the church office at 279.1372. Please visit www.firstchurchmontgomery.com.
Blue Ridge Baptist Church
First UMC, Montgomery
4471 Jasmine Hill Road, just off Hwy. 231 567.4325 Children’s Easter Musical, lunch following and Easter Egg Hunt Sunday, April 13 Courtyard Service, breakfast following April 20 at 9 a.m. Morning Easter Worship Celebration 11 a.m. with music and Easter message
Capitol Heights Baptist Church
2514 Madison Avenue, 264.6461 Musical Presentation, A Night of Worship and Celebration April 13 at 5 p.m.
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2416 West Cloverdale Park, 834.8990 Palm Sunday April 13, 9:45 a.m. The Last Supper, Maundy Thursday April 17, 5:00 and 8:00 p.m. Good Friday Tenebrae Service April 18, 7:00 p.m. Easter Family Picnic April 19 from 11 a.m. Flower the Cross April 20, 9:45 a.m. Easter Sunday April 20, 7:00 a.m. Sunrise Service 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. Worship Services
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Frazer Memorial UMC
6000 Atlanta Highway, 272.8622 Easter Eggstravaganza Saturday, April 12 from 9:00 a.m. until 11 a.m. Children’s activities and egg hunt. This community wide event featuring inflatables, games, egg hunts, music and puppets. Palm Sunday, April 13 “Awestruck at the Cross” Evening worship at 6 p.m. in Wesley Hall Stations of the Cross in Wesley Hall April 16-18; Weds. 5 p.m.-8 p.m.; Thurs. 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Fri. 9a.m.-7 p.m. An interactive prayer journey through the last steps of Christ to the Cross. Open three days to allow you to come and go at your own pace. Tenebrae Service Good Friday, April 18 at 7 p.m. In Main Sanctuary Easter Services Sunday, April 20, Sunrise Service at 6 a.m. at Winton Blount Cultural Park. Traditional and Contemporary at 8:00, 9:30, and 11 a.m., Main Sanctuary and Wesley Hall. Hispanic Worship at 10 a.m. on 3711 Eastern Blvd.; Chinese Worship Service at 10:30 a.m.
Gateway Baptist Church
3300 Bell Road, 272.9494 Good Friday, April 18 Prayer at 6 p.m.; Service at 7 p.m. Easter Service April 20, Easter Sunrise Service, 6:30 a.m. In conjunction with Grace @ Bell Road. Regular service, 10:30 a.m back at Gateway.
Glynwood Baptist Church
376 N. McQueen Smith Road, Prattville 361.9180 Children’s Easter Activities April 12, Time to be announced The Sacrifice (drama and music presentation) April 18-19, at 7 p.m. and April 20 at 6 p.m. Easter Sunday April 20, Sunday School 9 a.m., Regular Morning Worship Service 10:15 a.m.
Grace @ Bell Road
5 Bell Road at Atlanta Hwy., 272.4930 Easter Sunrise Service Sunday, April 20, 6:30 with breakfast following Worship Service, 10:30 a.m.
GracePointe
1565 Ray Thorington Road, 271.2525 Palm Sunday, April 13 10:15 a.m. Easter Worship Services Sunday, April 20, 10:15 a.m. Easter Egg Hunt following service.
Heritage Baptist Church
1849 Perry Hill Road, Montgomery 279.9976 Seder Service Thursday, April 17, at 6 p.m. Please visit us at hbcm.net/seder to sign up and for more information. Easter Worship Service April 20, 10:15 a.m. Please visit hbcm.net for more information.
Holy Comforter Episcopal Church 2911 Woodley Road, 281.1337 Palm Sunday, April 13 at 10:00 am Holy Eucharist Monday, April 14 - 6:00 pm; Tuesday, April 15 - 10:00 a.m. Stations of the Cross Wednesday, April 16 at 6:30 p.m. Maundy Thursday and Holy Eucharist April 17 at 6 p.m. Good Friday April 18 at 12 noon Holy Eucharist, Evensong service – 6 p.m.
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Easter Vigil, Holy Eucharist April 19 – 8 p.m. EASTER SUNDAY April 20, 10 a.m. Family Service w/Holy Eucharist & Flowering of the Cross
Lakeview Baptist Church
9225 Atlanta Highway, 213.3080 Sunrise Service Sunday, April 20, 7 a.m. (on the corner of Atlanta Hwy. and Tech. Center Dr.) Easter Worship Service Sunday, April 20, 10:45 a.m. Choir will be performing a musical.
Memorial Presbyterian Church 2130 Bell Road, 274.1018 Maundy Thursday April 17, dinner at 5:15 p.m., Service at 6 p.m. Easter Sunrise Service Sunday, April 20, 6:30 a.m. Free childcare available through age 5. Easter Celebration Sunday, April 20, 11 a.m.
Morningview Baptist Church 125 Calhoun Road, 272.2304 Maundy Thursday Service Thursday, April 17, 6:30 p.m. Easter Services Sunday, April 20, 10:30 a.m.
Perry Hill UMC
910 Perry Hill Road, 272.3174 Maundy Thursday Communion Service April 17, TBA Sunrise Service with breakfast following Sunday, April 20, 6:30 a.m. Easter Worship Service Sunday, April 20, 10:30 a.m
Ridgecrest Baptist Church 5260 Vaughn Road, 277.0011 Easter Festival Call for dates and times Games, Crafts and Easter Egg Hunt for babies to 4th grade. Easter Cantata Easter Sunday, April 20, 10:45 a.m.
Saint James UMC
9045 Vaughn Road, 277-3037 Traditional Cantata, “Witness” Palm Sunday, April 13 11 a.m., Traditional worship Maundy Thursday Communion Service April 17, 6 p.m. “Walk with Christ to the Cross” Good Friday, April 18 from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Experience the agony and depth of love that Christ went through on our behalf that day. The aspects of his betrayal, his punishment, and his crucifixion will be brought to life in a new way. Take this self-paced journey inside the Life Center. See what Jesus did for you like never before. Eggstreme Egg Hunt April 19, 3:00 - 4:30 p.m Easter Sunday, April 20 We will celebrate the Resurrection in our Worship Center and our Sanctuary. Contemporary: 9:30 and 11 a.m. Traditional Services: 9:30 and 11 a.m.
Taylor Road Baptist Church 1685 Taylor Rd., 271.3363 The Living Lord’s Supper April 13 at 10:30 a.m. Easter Service April 20, 10:30 a.m.
Thelma Baptist Church
810 Weoka Road in Wallsboro, 567.3665 GLORIOUS DAY: A Triumphant Choral Celebration Friday, April 18, at 7:00PM The 30-member drama cast will be joined by a full choir performing selections such as, “The Voice of Grace,” and “Our Eyes Have Seen the Glory of the Lord.” Visit our website at www.thelmabaptist.org.

Thorington Road Baptist Church 450 Ray Thorington Road, 396.9376 Good Friday April 18 at 6:30 Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, April 19 from 2 p.m. until 3 p.m. Easter Service Sunday, April 20 at 10:30 a.m.
Vaughn Forest Church
8660 Vaughn Rd., 279.5433 Good Friday Service April 18 at 6 p.m. Resurrection Run April 19, visit www.VaughnForest.com for details. Resurrection Sunday Service April 20, 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
Woodland UMC
4428 Wallahatchie Road, Pike Road, 272.7230 Choir and Orchestral performance of “The Day He Wore the Crown” by Russell Mauldin April 13 at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Christian Band: Surviving the Fall Will be playing in our 9:15 service on April 13 In the Family Life Center Maundy Thursday Service April 17 at 6:30 Easter Egg Hunt April 19 at 10:00 a.m. Children are asked to bring one dozen eggs filled with candy, as well as a basket to collect eggs. Inflatables, face painting, games and refreshments.
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Shining Like Stars in a Dark World In Philippians 2:15, the apostle Paul cautions believers in Christ to live in a manner that reflects His nature, encouraging us to become “blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.” (NKJV) There’s a new survey out from LifeWay Research on the topic of religious liberty, and it shows that pastors are concerned about the state of religious liberty in America. Seventy percent of those surveyed last September agree with the statement, “Religious liberty is on the decline in America.” Twenty-seven percent disagree. Self-identified evangelical pastors are more likely to agree than mainline pastors, by an 81-to47 percent margin. Researchers also asked pastors to respond to this question: “Many Christian leaders have talked about society being in a culture war. Regardless of how you feel about that terminology, how would you explain the current situation?” Fifty-nine percent say Christians are losing. Eleven percent say the culture war is already lost. Only 10 percent say Christians are winning the culture war. Ed Stetzer of LifeWay Research told Todd Starnes of Fox News in a piece on the survey that, “Ten years ago we were talking about who would win the culture war and now we’re talking about how Christian rights will be protected after the culture war... We’ve lost our home field advantage. There are going to be some things that are different.” Starnes quoted Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas: “A religious leader once said, ‘my successor will see the tax exempt status removed from churches and his successor will go to jail...That is probably on the horizon.” River Region’s Journey
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Todd contends that there are some pockets of resistance – like the town of Greenwood in the Mississippi Delta. Jim Phillips is the senior pastor of North Greenwood Baptist Church. He said that Greenwood still has a “very high respect for the historical JudeoChristian ethic.” He told Starnes, “Every one of my son’s community college football games around
the state last season began with a prayer on the loud speaker – in Jesus’ name...Will that eventually be challenged? I suspect so at some point.” But right now he said “pockets of religious boldness still exist.” But, the pastor is concerned with national trends, saying that Christians have slowly given away their impact on culture by becoming more worldly instead of confronting the culture to become more godly. He says that, “Sadly, Christians have often wimped out and grown silent instead of being bolder for the Gospel... Christians get subdued into thinking they’re not supposed to rise up.” He sees that his calling is to “keep leading the charge.” He is quoted as saying, “As a local pastor, my goal is to keep encouraging my church to seek to raise the bar and not lower it when it comes to confronting culture.” So, one of the questions for us is whether or not we are residing in a personal 24
“pocket” of boldness. In a culture where worldliness might be winning, we can do what we can in the place to which God has called us, in order to see godliness grow greater. One person cannot transform the whole culture, but we can operate in the pocket to which God has called us. I believe that a successful operation involves a demonstration of God’s holiness in our lives. That’s “holiness” not “holier than thou,” and there is a big difference. Sometimes we are branded as thinking that we are better or more deserving than everybody else. We speak up for our “rights,” but we may not act “right.” So, God is calling us to live a lifestyle that is rooted in the Word and compelling in our behavior. It’s best for us, because we are right with God, and it’s best for those with whom we interact, because we are showing to them that God’s way is best. Also, operating in a pocket of resistance or boldness involves a determination to engage culture. We could throw up our hands and say the culture war is lost, and Stetzer wrote in 2012 for Baptist Press that we need to be thinking about what it might look like to be the church in a post-culture war society. He said, “...let’s all slow down, take a deep breath and do the same thing we did yesterday -- preach the Gospel, love people and engage in God’s mission.” We are at war, in a sense, against these trends that run counter to God’s principles, but we are certainly not in a war with people, and Christ died for each and every person - that’s the central message on which we can focus. We must try to be absolutely sure that we are reflecting Jesus as we walk through this complicated world. Bob Crittenden is host of “The Meeting House”, heard weekday afternoons from 4-6pm on Faith Radio, 89.1FM in Montgomery. Described as “the intersection of faith and culture”, the program features Christian music and conversation about a variety of topics. Learn more by visiting www. meetinghouseonline.info.
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April 2014
River Region’s Journey
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by Rachel Fisher When you think about serving the working poor and homeless of our city does it feel overwhelming? The problem of family homelessness is often a hidden problem and the solutions can feel like something reserved for “other people.” But what if there was a way for any church to play a significant role in helping homeless families return to stability? This is the question that Family Promise founder, Karen Olsen, found herself asking as she considered how an ordinary person like herself could make a difference in the lives of homeless families with children – those who had a situation force them out of a stable life and into a chaotic life of simply trying to survive. Twenty-five years later, that question has found its answer in Family Promise. What began in Union Town, New Jersey has spread all over the country. Today, Family Promise operates as a part of the Interfaith Hospitality Network in 39 states including the District of Columbia, in large cities, suburbs and rural counties. They mobilize community resources: houses of worship for lodging, congregations for volunteers, social service agencies for assessments and referalls, and existing facilities for day programs. This strategy enables networks to help homeless families achieve lasting independence at a third of the cost of traditional shelters. Nationally, 80 percent of the families go on to long-term housing with the help of more than 120,000 volunteers and 5,000 + congregations. With the mission “Engaging people of faith to empower homeless families to return to stability” Family Promise plays a distinct and powerful role in making a lasting impact on families all over the country. One of the places Family Promise is proud to have a presence is right here in Montgomery. Executive Director Beth Biggs says situational family River Region’s Journey
April 2014
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homelessness is a bigger problem in the River Region than many realize and it’s one they want to help eradicate. “There are a number of reasons families come to us,” Beth explains. “Whether it be a relationship breaking up, a fire, a foreclosure or the loss of a job and an inability to pay the bills, we serve families who have known what it means to be stable. We are here to bridge the time as they return back to stability and provide them with assistance along the way.” Family Promise is thankful for the several organizations a short distance from their location off Maxwell Boulevard. Friendship Mission, the Salvation Army, Lighthouse Counseling, Faith Rescue Mission and Nellie Burge/Mary Ellen’s Hearth all help in the larger mission of serving the underserved. What sets Family Promise apart, however, is their ability to take single mothers with teenage sons, fathers with children, and even parents and their kids for 30-90 days as they get back on their feet. But that’s not all. “Family Promise is a beautiful model that allows for families, churches and congregations to come together, despite any differences, and serve together.” Families who call the Family Promise program must meet specific requirements, and while they can’t take everyone, Beth says she is so thankful for the countless organizations and ministries in our city who can help people with specific needs they are not equipped to meet. For instance, Beth explains that they cannot take domestic violence issues. Instead, Beth and part time case manager, Brittany, want those families at Family Sunshine Center where they can get the assistance they need. “We don’t hide where our families are staying and do not want to put our volunteers or families in a dangerous situation. Family Promise also does not serve current drug abusers. “We do not have professional staff to deal with those issues, says Beth. “Our volunteers are not trained substance counselors, so we always direct those cases to Lighthouse Counseling down the street where they can go into a 30 day program to get clean and live at the Salvation Army in the process.” Beth says they also complete criminal background checks on each applicant. Family Promise can only take 3-4 families at a time (around 25 to 30 families a year) for around 30 days at a time. However, last year, the average stay was
74 days. “We are always willing to keep families up to 90 days if they are making Aldersgate UMC real changes. For example, Capitol Heights UMC a single mom with 4 or 5 kids Eastdale Baptist Church may take a longer time to get on her feet and get stable.” First Christian Church “We’ve had school teachGateway Baptist Church ers, nurses, RNs, veterans, St. Bede Catholic Church and a host of other people St. James UMC come to us who either have St. John’s Episcopal Church had their unemployment run out or the generosity of friends Heritage Baptist Church and family run out. It’s a Church of the Ascension complete leap of faith for the Trinity Presbyterian Church families we serve to come to Vaughn Park Church of Christ complete strangers, go into Whitfield Memorial UMC churches and be treated as honored guests,” Beth says. Brittney and Beth meet weekly with the parent(s) Dalraida UMC and go over goals they set Holy Comforter Episcopal for themselves, not Family The Church of the Holy Spirit Promise’s goals for them. “The goals they set have to be centered on employment, housby Family Promise. The families are off ing, debt reduction and savings. We look by 7:30 each morning as the kids go to at their whole financial picture.” There is school and the parent(s) go to work or also a reflective piece about those meetcome to the Family Promise Day Center to ings centered around relationships with their kids, the volunteers and other families work on their resume, go to job interviews, and meet with Family Promise staff to go in the program with them. “We talk about over their goals and talk through the chalwhat successes they had each week, lenges they are facing. The Day Center what roadblocks they encountered, and serves as the home base for the families their victories in overcoming those roadthrough the duration of the program and blocks. “We ultimately want to help them provides a place for them to stay on the see where they are making progress,” weekends, do laundry, get their mail and says Beth. One dad recently told Beth, “I take showers. Over the next year, Family don’t get! I’ve been out of work for seven Promise of Montgomery is thrilled to be months and then I get in this program and able to add onto their Day Center, which have seven job offers.” thanks to the generosity of Petsmart, will At the heart of Family Promise are the allow them to create a space to keep famvolunteers. Beth explains that 76 percent ily dogs and cats as they go through the of the work Family Promise does is done program. by and through their volunteers. In the midst of a city where more than Each week a different church will we know lack basic needs and are strughost the families in the Family Promise gling to care for their kids, Family Promise program. This means 20-40 volunteers is providing a space and the resources will play a part in hosting each family and to allow families who desire to return to making sure the basics are taken care stability a safe place to do just that. With of so they can focus on their goals. Each the help of such a large base of churches, evening at 5:30 the family will come to the volunteers and support, Family Promise is host church where a group of volunteers, ready to meet the needs of families in the usually whole families, will greet them, River Region and evolve to become a spefeed them, fellowship with them and get cial kind of organization that can fill in the to know them. Another group, usually a gaps and share the love of God with each couple, will stay overnight at the church family that comes through the program. with the family. Host churches use a SunAnd it doesn’t stop there. The real change day School classroom and set it up like a that happens is within the hearts and lives bedroom with necessary items provided
Current Host Churches
Current Support Churches
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April 2014
River Region’s Journey
of those who help make it happen. “It is truly beautiful to see all the different denominations come together and not talk about our differences but how we want to be doing the same thing,” explains Beth. “One of our board members told
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me this was one of his favorite meetings to come to because it provides and opportunity to be together with brothers and sisters from other denominations who are united in their desire to serve our community. And I know our Lord delights in that as we all pray for unity.” There are a number of ways churches can be involved in the mission of Family Promise: • Become a Hosting Congregation • Become a Supporting Congregation • Donate furniture basics for when a family graduates and Family Promise helps them set up their households. • Donate appliances like refrigerators and washers and dryers. As people are replacing their stuff, Family Promise is happy to accept those. • Donate time and resources: Family Promise of Montgomery recieves 50% of its budget from churches, 20% from fundraising, 15% from individual donors and 15% from grants and foundations. Family Promise of Montgomery operates on a modest budget of $134,000 with most of cost of services covered by in kind donations from our churches providing the safe lodging, meals and 76% of all staffing covered by church volunteers! To get in touch with Beth Ann Biggs at Family Promise and find out how your church can become part of this great mission, call 265-2010 or email beth@ familypromisemontgomery.org. Rachel Fisher loves learning what God is doing in the world and writing about it. She and her husband Chase live in Montgomery.
River Region’s Journey
April 2014
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Heaven is for Real - The Movie Get up early. Take care of the kids. Go to work. Find something for dinner. Get ready for tomorrow. This is real life, and we know all about real life.
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Cancer. Heart attacks. Car accidents. Suicides. Tragedies. We know death, too. It’s all too real.
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And then? And then. That’s where we stop. We get quiet. We don’t know what’s real after that. How can we?
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But what if we could know? What if someone could tell you he’d been there? He’d seen it. He’d visited Heaven . . . (excerpts from the booklet, “What Do You Believe About Heaven?)
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The #1 New York Times bestseller, “Heaven is for Real” is now a movie! This Easter, this well-loved book about heaven will finally hit the big screen. Opening the Wednesday before Easter, April 16, 2014, “Heaven is for Real” is a life-changing true story of one little boy’s near death experience and how that experience forever changed his family’s life. My family and I were able to preview “Heaven is for Real” in March and were impressed with the excellent casting as well as the director’s efforts to accurately portray the book. About the movie. Todd Burpo, his wife and two young children are the perfect example of an all-American family--hardworking, bi-vocational Dad (played by Greg Kinnear) is a pastor and small business owner struggling to make ends meet. He and his wife (Kelly Reilly) are already dealing with huge challenges coming from all
directions when their three year old son, Colton, becomes extremely ill. While hospitalized and fighting for his life, Colton visits heaven, witnesses events and meets people that are unexplainable any other way.
Colton and his family are very close, and as the weeks pass following his recovery, Colton begins to reveal, in his childlike way, some of his incredible experiences in heaven. His parents are amazed at the staggering revelations coming from their innocent boy, and they realize that the only explanation is--Heaven is for Real. Glimpses of Heaven. It all begins months after Colton’s hospitalization. Colton’s mommy asks him, “Do you remember the hospital, Colton?” “Yes, Mommy, I remember,” he said. “That’s where the angels sang to me.” Angels? They’d never talked of angels, had they? Todd pulled off into an Arby’s parking lot. “What did they sing to you?” “Well, they sang ‘Jesus Loves Me’ .... Colton said. “Jesus had the angels sing to me because I was so scared. They made me feel better.” “You mean Jesus was there? Where was Jesus?” “I was sitting in Jesus’ lap.” (excerpt from the book, “Heaven is for Real”). Colton’s story is amazing, not just because of the details that a small boy revealed about heaven, but because of the consistency of his experiences with the Bible--facts that Colton had never been 29
taught; had never heard of before his remarkable experience. His story reminds us of the importance, the urgency, and the truth of Jesus Christ’s message to all people: Jesus said, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust in me. There are many rooms in my Father’s house; I would not tell you this if it were not true. I am going there to prepare a place for you. After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going. Thomas said to Jesus, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. So how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.” (John 14:1-6). (What do you Believe About Heaven?) You can make an impact on your community this Easter by inviting others to see “Heaven is for Real”. This movie will be an encouragement and inspiration for your entire congregation. It’s a wonderful outreach tool for unchurched people as well! “Heaven is For Real” is opening at the AMC (formerly Rave) theatre in Montgomery on April 16, as well as in Prattville. To buy out a show time or bring a group of at least 25, contact Sony Group Sales at 877.488.4258.
Lt. Col Mike Conn and wife, Lisa, founded Covenant Family Ministries when Mike retired from the Air Force in 1997. CFM is an independent marriage and family education ministry committed to partnering with churches, organizations, and individuals in Montgomery and across Alabama to build Family Teams for Christ. Married for over 30 years, Mike and Lisa have three daughters, two sons-in-law, and two grandchildren. April 2014
River Region’s Journey
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Adoption
Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy and Glynwood Baptist Church, Prattville APAC- Alabama Pre/Post Adoption Connection Support Group provides education and social interaction for adoptive families. Montgomery Group meets 3rd Thursdays, 6-7:30 p.m., Room 8114 at Frazer UMC. For information, call Hannah Taylor at 409-9477 or the church office at 272-8622. Autauga/Elmore Group meets 4th Tuesdays, 6-7:30 p.m., Glynwood Baptist Church, Prattville. Childcare, children’s group and dinner provided. For more info, call 409-9477 or e-mail htaylor@childrensaid.org. Location: Landmark Church, 1800 Halcyon Blvd. Leaders: Chad & Betsy Emerson (334) 201-5241 Wednesday, 6:30pm in Rm. 116. The Orphan Care Group will focus on God’s call to help orphans through adoption, foster care, and missions work. The group will share experiences, study and Biblical themes regarding orphan care, and provide a support and network for individuals who want to support orphans.
Alcoholic / Addict
Location: Caring Center of FBC, 52 Adams Avenue CrossRoads Support Group is for addicts/alcoholics and family members. Meets at 6 p.m. Tuesdays and follows a Christ-centered 12-step program. Call 264-4949. Location: Cloverdale Baptist, 608 E. Fairview Celebrate Recovery, a Bible-based Christ centered approach to recovery from hurts, habits and hang-ups, meets Friday nights, beginning with dinner at 5:30 p.m., Praise and worship, 6:30, Open Share Small Groups, 7:30, and Cafe, at 8:30. Call 265-9223. Location: Dalraida UMC, 3817 Atlanta Highway Alcoholics Anonymous meets at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays. 272.2190. Alanon meets at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays. Location: Grace @ Bell Road, Corner of Bell Road and Atlanta Hwy. Alcoholics Anonymous and Alanon meetings are held Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, at 6 p.m. An Open AA Speaker meeting is held on Saturday at 6 p.m. An Alanon & AA held on Sundays at 2 p.m. Location: Grace Point Community Church, 78223 Tallassee Hwy (Hwy 14), Wetumpka Celebrate Recovery- every Tuesday night- 6:15pm. All are welcome! These meetings are a safe and loving environment for individuals seeking to conquer their hurts, habits and hang-ups! gracepoint.info. River Region’s Journey
April 2014
Location: Journey Church, group meets in Fellowship Hall at Coosada Baptist Church, Millbrook Celebrate Recovery - Christ-centered 12-step for anyone struggling with addiction or life-challenging issues. Mondays at 5:30pm (meal), 6pm (large group), 7pm (small group). Childcare available. Call Larry at 334-832-5714 or visit myjourneychurch.com. Location: Santuck Baptist Church, 7250 Central Plank Rd. (Hwy 9), Wetumpka. Celebrate Recovery meets each Thursday evening at 6:15 in the Fellowship Hall. This is a Chrsit centered 12 step-program for anyone struggling with hurts, habits, and hang-ups. Call 567-2364. Location: Landmark Church, 1800 Halcyon Blvd. RSVP- This is a 12 step spiritual recovery program for overcoming addictions. Using the steps and Bible we help build self-esteem, responsible behavior, the making of amends for our destructive actions, and to fill the void in our hearts in a loving relationship with God. Wednesday @ 6:30pm in Rm. 121 of the Life Center. Location: St. James UMC, 9045 Vaughn Road Celebrate Recovery meets every Thursday night from 6-8 pm in the Youth Room. This is a Christ-centered 12-step group for anyone struggling with an “addiction or life-challenging issues.” For information, call Chris Henderson at 334-215-0427. Location: Trinity Episcopal, Wetumpka (Across from Winn Dixie on HWY 231) Gamblers AnonymousSaturdays at 7 p.m.
Alzheimer’s / Dementia
Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy An Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregivers’ Support Group meets on the first Thursday of each month at 11 a.m. in Room 3103. Call 272.8622. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy A Dementia Daycare is held each Thursday in Rm. 3101 from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Each participant may bring a sack lunch. There is no charge. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. For info, call the LifeCare office at 272-8622. Location: Memorial Presbyterian, 2130 Bell Road A Dementia Morning Out for caregivers is offered each Tuesday from 8:45-noon. There is no charge. Each participant may bring a sack lunch (juice provided). Registration is required by calling 274-1018.
Cancer
Location: Dalraida Baptist, 3838 Wares Ferry Road. Just for Men -- Montgomery’s first and only faith based cancer support group for men
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is intent on providing information, Christian fellowship, and helping turn adversity into prosperity. Meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. in the conference center. Please call 272-2412 email stan.hurst@knology.net. Location: ChristChurch, 8800 Vaughn Road Cancer Support Group for general cancer. Tuesday afternoons at 1 pm. For more info, please call Christy Holding at 531-1390 or Debbie at 467-4578. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Women of Hope Breast Cancer Support Group, providing education, awareness, and mentoring for breast cancer patients/survivors, family, friends or anyone interested in becoming a part of this compassionate journey, meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in Rm 8253. Call 272-8622 or womenofhope@charter.net.
Depression
Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy A Depression/Bipolar Support Group meets on the 1st Thursday of each month from 7:00-8:30pm in Room 3101. This group also meets on the 3rd Saturday afternoon, 12-2 pm, Dalraida UMC, 3817 Atlanta Highway in Church Annex. For more info, call 334.652.1431 or email dbsamontgomery@yahoo.com.
Divorce
Location: First Baptist Church, 305 S. Perry Street Divorce Care and Divorce Care 4 Kids, Wednesdays starting August 22, 6:30 pm. Cost $15.00 (scholarships available) Contact Kathy Cooper at kcooper@montgomeryfbc.org or 334-241-5125. Location: First UMC, 100 E. Fourth Street, Prattville Divorce Recovery meets Wednesdays at 6:15 p.m., Bldg. 101. Call 365.5977. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy A Divorce Recovery Support Group meets each Tuesday, at 5:30 p.m., in Fellowship Hall Lobby. 272-8622. Location: Heritage Baptist Church, 1849 Perry Hill Divorce Care Support Group meetings are held Sundays at 6:15 p.m. Divorce Care for Children also at this time. Call 279.9976. Grief Share groups are held each Sunday at 5 p.m. Call 279.9976.
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Gambling
Location: Trinity Episcopal Church, 5375 US HWY 231 (Across from the Winn-Dixie shopping center) Wetumpka. Saturdays @ 7pm. 334-567-7534 Location: Mental Health Association, 1116 South Hull Street, Montgomery. Sundays @ 5 pm. Location: St Paul’s Lutheran Church, 4475 Atlanta Hwy, Mondays @ 6pm. Gamblers Anonymous Hotline number: 334-541-5420
Grief
Location: Eastmont Baptist, 4505 Atlanta Hwy. Compassionate Friends is a national self-help support organization for families grieving the death of a child meeting first Tuesdays at 7 pm. We have an annual special event on Tuesday, Dec. 4. We will hold a Candlelight Ceremony in memory of our children at 7 p.m. at Eastmont Baptist Church. Registration is encouraged and may be made by calling (334) 284-2721. We will also collect Toys for Tots. Location: First UMC, 100 E. Fourth St, Prattville Grief Recovery, Thursday nights at 7 p.m., in Wesley Hall Room 104. Call 365.5977. Location: Frazer UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Grief Recovery Support Group meets Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m., Rm 3105, in Fellowship Hall Lobby. 272.8622. Location: Millbrook FUMC, 3350 Edgewood Rd Grief Share meets – Tuesday 5:30 PM in the Friendship Sunday School Class Room. Call 285-4114 for more info. Grief Share is a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experience. Location: Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church 1550 E. Washington Street Grief Ministry is a grief recovery support group that meets every Monday at 6:00 P.M. The ministry is designed to help anyone through the hurt of losing a loved one by successfully traveling the journey from mourning to joy. Alicia Glover is the coordinator. For information contact Glover at 334-281-2754.
Homosexuality
Location: Landmark Church, 1800 Halcyon Blvd. The Barnabas Group, created to address the needs of those in conflict with homosexual thoughts and feelings meets first, third and fifth Tuesday evenings at 6:30 p.m., in the library at the Life Center. 277.5800.
Mental Illness
Location: Dalraida UMC, 3817 Atlanta Highway 1. NAMI Montgomery will host General Membership meetings on the 4th Monday of the month at the Dalraida UMC annex building. Meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. This meeting is open to anyone who is interested in issues concerning mental health. 2.
The NAMI Montgomery Family Member Support Group continues to meet on the 2nd Monday of the month, starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Dalraida UMC annex building. Call Mary Jo Logan (271-2280) for directions/details. 3. NAMI Montgomery will offer the 12 week NAMI FAMILY TO FAMILY education program (free) on Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. at the Bell Road Lowder Regional Library. Call Mary Jo Logan (271-2280) to register for the course.
Parenting
Location: First Baptist Prattville, 138 S. Washington Moms LIFE (living in faith everyday) meets twice monthly from 8:30 - 11:45 am in the chapel at the Church from Aug - May. We offer a time of fellowship, Bible study, musical guest, special guest speakers and a lot of fun!! Cost is $5 per meeting. For moms of all stages and ages of life. Childcare provided by reservation. For more info and to reserve your spot, call Kelley Manning at 361-7919. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Frazer mom2mom is a playgroup to connect mothers of preschoolers at Frazer United Methodist Church to share fun and inspiration in our journey together, with our children, and with Christ. Email Mom2mom@frazerumc.org for more information. Location: Vaughn Forest Church, 8660 Vaughn Road Are you in need of a time-out? MOPS joins mothers together by a common bond, to be better wives, moms, and friends along this journey in the trenches of motherhood. We meet the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month from 9:30—11:30 a.m. Childcare is provided. For info e-mail VFCMOPS@gmail.com. Location: First Baptist Church, Montgomery 305 S. Perry Street MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) If you are a woman who is pregnant or has a child birth through kindergarten, desires to make new friends, wants to share the challenges and joys of motherhood, is looking for opportunities for personal growth through trusted resources,then MOPS is for you. Call Kristi Gay at (334) 233-8989 for more information.
Physical Challenges
Location: Aldersgate UMC, 6610 Vaughn Road Visually Impaired Support Group – Meets monthly on second Thursday 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. The group is called Outward Sight - Inward Vision and is for those with vision loss and their caregivers. Our mission is to assist those experiencing vision loss to maintain their independence by providing access to valuable information and spiritual support. Call 272-6152. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy An MDA/ALS Support Group will meet Tuesday August 10 6:00p.m. – 8:00 p.m. in room 3101. Anyone who is affected by a neuromuscular disease or 31
family members of those affected are encouraged to attend. To receive information, please call 396-4534. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy A Parkinson’s Support Group will meet the 4th Thursday at 6 p.m., in room 8114 at Frazer UMC. This group is for those who have Parkinson’s disease and the family members. 272-8622. Location: Taylor Road Baptist Church, 1785 Taylor Rd., Montgomery Gluten Intolerance Group of Montgomery meets on 2nd Thursdays from 6-7 p.m. Check the blog for special “alternate site” meetings and other info at www.glutenfreemontgomery.blogspot.com.
Pregnancy Loss & Infertility
Location: First UMC, 100 E. Fourth Street, Prattville Hannah’s Prayer--for women dealing with pregnancy loss/infertility issues. Meeting 2nd Thursday and 3rd Sunday of each month. Call 365.5977.
Singlehood
Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Singles’ Small Groups meet each Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall Lobby. Call 272-8622. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy T.N.T. (Tuesday Night Together) for Singles meets Tuesdays from 7-8 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall, bldg. 7000. A meal ($5.00) and program are provided. For reservations, call 272-8622. Location: Cornerstone Christian, 301 Dalraida Rd. Unavoidably Single Again (USA) Fellowship, a support group for widows and widowers. Informal meetings for fellowship and fun are held on the third Saturday of each month starting at 10 AM. Contact Lynda at farauthor@aol.com or 354-8869.
Veterans
Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Highway Veterans OEF/OIF Caregivers Support Group meets on the 3rd Wednesday from 11am1pm in Room 3108. Contact LaQuana Edwards, Caregiver Support Coordinator at CAVHCS (334) 727-0550 ext. 5350.
Share your support groups with our readers! Email deanne@ readjourneymagazine.com. April 2014
River Region’s Journey
Why All Pastors Should Be Competent Counselors There are many reasons for pastors to learn how to counsel from Scripture. The ultimate reason is to glorify God. But there are other reasons—the first motivation falls under the second greatest biblical commandment to “love our neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). Pastors should counsel biblically (or learn how to do so) because the gospel of Christ can change (help) people better, faster and more completely than anything the competition has to offer. “Competition?” you ask. Yes, competition. There are arguably 300 or so theories of counseling out there that attempt to bring about change in people’s behavior apart from the three most powerful agents for change in the entire universe—the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, and the local church. The second reason pastors should counsel is because biblical counseling, above all other systems, can offer people hope. The people who come for counseling usually don’t just need help, they need hope. They need to sense from their counselors the conviction that God is able solve their seemingly hopeless problems. Pastors who are armed with the Gospel of Jesus Christ are much better able to offer such hope than the competition. The third reason pastors should be counselors is because God holds the officers of His church responsible to counsel as a part of their life calling. God uniquely calls church leaders to do the work of biblical counseling as a part of their pastoral responsibilities. Hebrews 13:17 is not only instructive to the church member, but also to the church officer. “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will
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give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.” (emphasis added)
What does it mean to “keep watch” over the souls of the saints? The Greek construction of this word (ἀγρυπνέω), which means to be watchful (attentive), is present and active, indicating continuous action on the part of the shepherd. This connotes an almost hyper vigilant mind-set on the part of the shepherd. In other words, it’s not a matter of waiting around until some problem in the flock materializes, but rather of proactively looking for signs of a problem before they develop. A good shepherd will regularly examine his sheep. He will keep his eyes peeled for indications of sickness. He will notice any unusual smells or sounds emanating from the sheep’s bodies. He will check their fleeces, running his hands under the wool to check for scabs, unusual lumps, or insects. He will notice things that don’t look normal—not to find problems where none exists, but to deal with any real issues before they become serious ones. The point is that shepherding involves a level of intimacy with the sheep that too few church leaders are willing to achieve. Shepherding can be dirty work. All of this necessitates counseling. Paul’s example of an elder who is intimately involved with his flock can be seen in Acts 20:18–21. And when they had come to him, he said to them, “You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.” 32
Paul was not the kind of shepherd who locked himself in the study for 35 hours per week, only to come out to publicly preach on the Lord ’s Day (and perhaps on Wednesday evening). Rather, he would minister publicly and from house to house. That is, he would minister the Word to entire congregations, and he would minister the Word to smaller groups and individuals as well. Like a skilled marksman, the man of God knows how to wield his Bible as a shotgun (when, from the pulpit he sprays a wide pattern of bird shot, hoping to hit as many consciences as possible) or to utilize it as a 7mm ought 08 rifle (when, in the counseling office, he carefully places the crosshairs of his $1,200 Austrian-made scope on the exact spot where it will have the greatest impact). Our churches are filled with spiritually weak, sick, and diseased sheep. Many of these flocks have shepherds who possess, in the Word of God, the cure for all such spiritual maladies, but who, because they are only interested in “feeding” the sheep, will not care for their wounds. So, while all Christians are “competent to counsel,” all shepherds are “called to counsel.” And, Pastor, if you are called, you should be equipped. But are you? If you aren’t, there are training centers all across the United States (some of which even offer video training) that can furnish you with the right equipment. Never forget: You have all that you need in the Word of God (and through the Holy Spirit) to not only feed God’s flock, but also to cure its spiritually sick.
**If you would like to get in touch with this or any counselor at Eastwood Counseling Center, please call 334-386-2384. Lou Priolo is the director of counselling at Eastwood Presbyterian Church in Montgomery, Alabama. He is the author of several books, including The Heart of Anger, The Complete Husband, Teach Them Diligently, Getting a Grip, Picking Up the Pieces and Pleasing People. In addition to his books, Lou has dozens of recordings extrapolated from his twenty seven years of lectures, teaching and preaching. He is the editor of the Resources for Biblical Living series of booklets dealing with numerous counselling issues. Lou is a Fellow in the Association of Certified Biblical Counsellors and an instructor with the Birmingham Theological Seminary. He travels frequently throughout the United States and abroad training pastors, laymen, and fellow counsellors. Lou and his wife Kim are the parents of two girls, Sophia and Gabriella.
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April 2014
River Region’s Journey
April 2014 Community Calendar Monthly events can also be found in the Around Our Community Section starting on page 10. Friday, April 11
Cornerstone Christian Church at 301 Dalraida Rd. will host a Ladies Lock-In, “Living Well”, starting at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, April 11th going until noon on Saturday, the 12th. This is an overnight event, but you can come and go as you wish. The cost per lady is $10. Dinner will be served on Friday night and breakfast is provided on Saturday morning. Refreshments throughout the weekend will also be available. Join us for a weekend of fun and fellowship where you’ll hear an amazing guest speaker, participate in a self-defense class, let your creative side shine in our craft corner, and learn some awesome health and beauty tips. BYOB... Bring Your Own Bedding! Please Call Kelley Thompson at 334-567-1853 or email her at jthompson1@elmore.rr.com to register. Space is limited, so please RSVP your spot by April 9th.
Saturday, April 12
Members of the Ecuador mission team of Aldersgate United Methodist Church will hold a Yard Sale in the front church parking lot at 6610 Vaughn Road on Saturday, April 12th. Sale hours are 7:30 – 11:00 am. Items will include household items, clothing, books, tools, and more. Proceeds from the sale will support our nineteen-member team’s trip to the city of Quito, Ecuador in June. The team will be doing construction work and ministering to children through Servants in Faith and Technology (SIFAT).
Sunday, April 13
At 2:30 pm., you are invited to share with HALL MEMORIAL CME Church, (541 Seibles Road, Montgomery) as we celebrate Men’s Day. This will be a day full of glorious praise, worship, and fellowship featuring the dynamic choir of St. Paul CME Church out River Region’s Journey
April 2014
of Gordonsville. Rev. Donald Craig, pastor of St. Paul CME Church in Gordonville, AL will bring the Word. For more information, call Pastor Anderson Graves at (334)318-3004.
Good Friday, April 18
Capitol Heights Baptist Church, corner of Madison Ave. and Ann Street, will host a Secret Church simulcast for the City of Montgomery and surrounding areas from 6:00 pm until midnight. The simulcast will come from The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham with Pastor David Platt teaching on The Cross and Everyday Life. This will be a time of intense Bible study, lasting 6+ hours, including a time of prayer for our brothers and sisters in Christ across the globe who are facing persecution and for those who have still not heard the gospel. Registration at Capitol Heights Baptist Church will start at 5:30. There is a $5 attendance fee for adults that includes a comprehensive study guide. For reservations call the church office at (334) 264-6461or first-comefirst-serve for seating.
Thursday, May 1
The 2014 Montgomery Prayer Breakfast for the City and County of Montgomery is scheduled for 7 am, in downtown Montgomery. Mayor Todd Strange and Commissioner Elton Dean invite the citizens of the River Region Area to join him on this day in a spirit of humility and pray. The breakfast will be held at the Alabama Activity Center, located at 201 Dexter Avenue, downtown Montgomery, from 7 am to 8:15 am. A full buffet breakfast will be served. Tickets for the breakfast are $12 per person. Individuals may purchase tickets at His Vessel® Ministries, Union Station, 300 Water Street, Suite 100, Montgomery or St. James United Methodist Church on the corner of Vaughn and Ryan Road. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come first served bases. For questions or more information call 334-356-4478. Destiny’s National Day of Prayer will be held from 6am - 6pm, at Destiny Christian Center, 1852 Highway 14 E, in Prattville. We will open our doors to all who want to come and participate in the National Day of Prayer. Please come and join others as we pray in one accord for our Nation and Communities. This years theme is: One Voice, United in Prayer
Thursday, May 15
The Samaritan Counseling Center is having a party honoring our past and celebrating our accomplishments in the River Region. We would like to invite the public to attend. The price is $15 a ticket which includes food, two drink tickets, and the live band The Second Coming. The party will be held at Academy Events, 17 Coosa St. - 5th floor Renasant Bank Building. To purchase tickets, call 262-7787.
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Saturday, May 17
Destiny Christian Rider’s 3rd Annual Benefit Ride with proceeds going to Bread of Life Ministry. Destiny Christian Center - Gym 1852 Highway 14 E, Prattville. Registration @ 9am, kickstands up @ 9:15, leave out @ 9:30 $25 per bike, $10 per rider. Lunch is provided Questions call: Sharon Carden, c 612-9152/ h 517-4312.
Ongoing Happenings AGLOW International meets every third Thursday, 9:30 at the Montgomery House of Prayer. All women welcome to join together for praise, prayer and an anointed message. Contact mboudousquie@yahoo.com. Bridge of Life Assembly of God, 9000 Vaughn Road, Montgomery, holds Sunday morning worship at 10:30 a.m. each week. Sunday school classes meet at 9:30 a.m. We offer classes for all age groups and childcare is provided. Our goal is to build bridges...not walls. We invite you to come join us if you need to learn how to build those bridges. For directions or information call 334-396-0208. Email jon@bridgeoflife.tv or visit www.bridgeoflife.tv. Capital City Church of the Nazarene, 4450 Vaughn Road, Montgomery. Free Tutoring throughout the school year. All subjects. Grades K-12. Every Wednesday night from 5:00 to 6:00. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. For more information: 272-8176. Central Community Christian Church, 981 South Perry Street, Montgomery, holds new members training classes on Sundays at 9 a.m. Sunday School (9:30), morning worship (11:00), Tuesday night Bible study (6:30). Every fourth Sunday of the month is our youth Sunday. For more information please call (334) 269-0457 or by email at centralccchurch1@gmail.com. We are a church where you can be you, you can be loved and where you can grow! Christchurch, 8800 Vaughn Road, Montgomery, offers a Women’s Enrichment Bible Study led by Jeanne Dean on Thursdays, 9:30-11:30 a.m., in Canterbury Hall. All women are welcome. Childcare for ages birth-4 years is provided. Call 387-0566 x 201 for more info. Christchurch offers a men’s Bible study led by Fr. John-Michael van Dyke, on Thursday mornings on the 11th floor of Goode Medical Bldg, Jackson Hospital. Breakfast is served beginning at 6:45 a.m. and teaching begins at 7:15 a.m. Call 387-0566 x 201. Chisholm Baptist Church, 2938 Lower Wetumpka Road, Montgomery, holds Sunday morning Bible study (9:30), Morning worship (10:45), Tuesday prayer breakfast (8:30) Wednesday evening prayer service (6 pm) and Senior Body and Soul Group (every 1st Tuesday at 1 pm). Email jbass9784@charter.net or call 262-6437.
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First Presbyterian Church, 9299 Vaughn Road, hosts Family Night every Wednesday beginning at 5:20 p.m. with supper, followed by a study on prayer. Everyone is welcome. For more information call (279-1372). First Presbyterian Church, 9299 Vaughn Road, hosts a Men’s Prayer Breakfast every Friday morning, 6 a.m. The Youth of First United Methodist Church, Montgomery every Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. for Wednesday Night Live, a time of praise and worship in “the attic”. Also, every Sunday night at 6:00 p.m. is MYF which includes a snack supper $3.00 followed by activities, small groups and lots of fun! Visit www.fumcmontgomery.org. First United Methodist Church will host Terrific Tuesdays. Please come and join us for fellowship, a program and lunch. Terrific Tuesdays will meet each Tuesday in room 204 of Wesley Hall. Fellowship time will begin at 10:00 a.m. followed by a program at 10:30 a.m. and lunch at 11:30 a.m. The cost of lunch is $2.50. For additional information please contact NeeNee Webb at 834-8990. Frazer mom2mom is a playgroup to connect mothers of preschoolers at Frazer United Methodist Church to share fun and inspiration in our journey together, with our children, and with Christ. Email Mom2mom@frazerumc.org. Good News @ Noon is an interdenominational Bible study, held at the First Baptist Community Ministries Building on Adams Street, Thursdays, at noon. Small cost for hot lunch. Call 272.1133. Hall Memorial CME Church, 541 Seibles Road, Montgomery, offers Bible Study Tuesdays at 5:30 P.M. and Wednesdays at 6: 30 P.M. For directions or information call 334-288-0577. Email HallMemorialCME1@aol.com or visit www.HallMemorialCME.blogspot.com.
pm, and adult choir rehearsal and Catechism class for 7th-9th graders at 7:00 pm. Please call for Wednesday schedule due to seasonal breaks. For information, call 277-4213. Mt. Gillard Missionary Baptist Church, 3323 Day Street, holds Wednesday Bible Study in the church Fellowship Hall and lasts for one hour. Please come and participate in roaming the Bible learning God’s word through teaching. The Rev. Henry M. Carnegie, Jr. is the teacher and pastor. Mid-day Bible Study begins each Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. Evening Bible Study begins each Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. Call 233-8750. New Freedom Worship Center, 6004 –A East Shirley Lane, Apostle T. Briggs~ Pastor; Sunday Worship Service 10:30 a.m. and Wednesday Night Bible Study 7:30 p.m.
Saint James UMC, 9045 Vaughn Road, offers Wild & Wacky Wednesdays! Wednesday night supper starts at 5:15p.m. We will start checking children in at 6:00p.m. This program ends at 7:30p.m. and childcare is provided until 8:00p.m. for small group participants. Call 277.3037 for more info.
Open Door Christian Faith Church, 1601 Dewey St. Montgomery, offers Women’s Prayer Mondays at 5:00, Men’s prayer Wednesday at 5:00, followed by bible study at 6:00. Couples ministry held every 1st Wednesday of the month at 7:00. Pastor William Cromblin, and the Open Door Church family invites you to “come experience the move of God. For more info, call the church at 334-269-6498.
Saint Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church, 706 E. Patton Avenue, “Clothes Closet” is open to the public each Thursday morning from 10 a.m. – Noon. The Men of Saint Paul host a free Men’s Prayer Breakfast the Third Saturday of each month at 8 a.m. in the Church Fellowship Hall. The Men’s Prayer Breakfast is open to all men of all ages. Come and share your concerns and needs of our Men of today. For more information, please contact (334) 354-1897. Bible Study is held each Wednesday, 6-7 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Pastor Farrell J. Duncombe is the teacher and Senior Pastor of the church. Come and join us for Sunday School each Sunday at 9 a.m. and Morning Worship at 10 a.m. Need transportation, call (334) 264-7618. For info call 286.8577 or www.saintpaulamemontgomery.com.
Perry Hill UMC, 910 Perry Hill Rd, sponsors a Bluegrass Jam in the Church Fellowship Hall on the third Saturday of each month from 9AM 12AM. All Bluegrass Artist plus Fans are invited to attend. Attendance is FREE. For information call Kathy@ 272-3174.
S-STOP, a commUNITY Bible study for Singles. Souls Strengthened Together for One Purpose. Psalm 46:10 “BE STILL and know that I am God.” Meets at Prattville Christian Academy on Sunday nights at 6 p.m. For info email sstop04@gmail.com.
Perry Hill UMC, 910 Perry Hill Rd, hosts a Wednesday Night Supper and Revive! program each week from 5:30pm til 7:00pm. Reservations are required by noon on the Monday prior to the supper. Cost is $4 per person or $12 per family. Call 334-272-3174 for more information.
Vision Full Gospel Ministries, 163 Rifle Range Road, Montgomery, holds Bible Study Tues. Night 7:00 p.m., Pray & Praise 2nd & 4th Thurs. Night 7:00 p.m., Sunday School 9:30 am, Sunday Worship Service 10:45 a.m., Internet radiohomecominggospel.com Sunday 3:00p.m. Central & 4:00 p.m. Eastern. and Satellite Radio -wlsg 1340am Sunday 3:00p.m.
Macedonia Miracle Kingdom & Worship Center (MMKWC), 3070 Selma Highway, Montgomery, services are Sunday School and New Members Class, 9:00 a.m., Morning Worship, 10:45 a.m.; Tuesday Night Bible Class, 7:00 p.m. and Friday Night Prayer, 6:00 p.m. (BOTH at The Pattern-Mt Meigs Road)
River City Church, 301 Dexter Avenue, offers a Friday Christian Night Club (free of alcohol and smoking) with Ballroom Dancing every Friday at 6:30 P.M. Cost is $10 for a one hour lesson, devotional, and 3 hours of DJ music. People of all denominations are welcome. 7:30-10:30 open dance floor.The River of Life Church, located at 116 County Road 40 E (in the Pine Level Community Center) Prattville. Pastor Nick Edwards invites you to a “Place of New Beginnings”, where families come and grow together. Church Service Schedule: Sunday 10:30 a.m. Sunday School; 11:00 a.m. Morning Worship; 5:00 p.m. Evening Worship. Wednesday 6:00 p.m. Adult Bible Study, Teens (Genesis Project), Jr. High (Limitless), Royal Rangers, MPact Girls, Rainbow’s/Noah’s Zoo Club. Thursday 9:00 a.m.Women of Grace Bible Study. Nursery provided. We invite you to”come experience God in a personal way, feel loved by all and know that you belong”. Office 334-6570392 or visit www.theriveroflifechurch.net.
Messiah Lutheran Church, 6670 Vaughn Road, invites all to Wonderful Wednesdays starting with a $3-5 meal at 5:30 pm (RSVP 277-4213 by Monday noon), worship with eucharist 6:15-7:00
Saint James UMC, 9045 Vaughn Road, offers S.N.A.G. (Sunday Nights About God!) This program starts at 5:00p.m. and ends at 6:30p.m. Childcare is provided for small groups until
Hall Memorial CME Church says: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Tutors, prayer-warriors, and office/clerical volunteers needed for the Montgomery City Jail Ministry & G.E.D program. Opportunities are ongoing. No experience or certification necessary. Contact Pastor Anderson T. Graves II, at hallmemorialcme1@aol.com. Call 334-288-0577. The City Jail ministry is an in-reach ministry of Hall Memorial CME Church, 541 Seibles Road, Montgomery. www.hallmemorialcme.blogspot.com.
7:00p.m. Don’t forget this program is available for all children!
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Women at The Well Ministry invites you to attend its women’s fellowship at 1 pm every 1st and 3rd Saturday. We are women who desire and have a heart to see broken, crushed, hurting women be transformed through the one man who can fulfill their every need... JESUS...THE POTTER. All women of all denominations or race are welcome. This ministry is available to teenagers as well. Come join us as we lift, encourage and build each other up through the Word of God and the words of our testimonies. For more information contact Evangelist Dr. Linda McCall, 334-220-1924. Young Meadows Presbyterian Church, 5780 Vaughn Road, invites you to attend its Sunday Respite Care Program on 1st Sundays from 4-6 pm. Children with physical and cognitive disabilities (and their siblings) ages 6-18 are invited for a time of activities and a light dinner so parents can have a night out. Call Susan Clements at 301-0355 for information and to make a reservation, or email rooftopfriends@gmail.com.
Send your events to deanne@readjourneymagazine.com. April 2014
River Region’s Journey
Movie Reviews Reviews provided by MovieGuide: A Family Guide to Movies and Entertainment Ratings are based on production quality and moral acceptability. See details below. ***Reviews do not necessarily reflect views of the publishers of River Region’s Journey.
God’s Not Dead
Son of God
Production Quality: **** Moral Acceptability: +4 (Exemplary) Starring: Kevin Sorbo, David A.R. White, Shane Harper, Dean Cain, Willie Robertson, Korie Robertson, Marco Khan Genre: Drama Audience: Older children and adults Rating: PG Content: Very strong Christian, evangelistic worldview with strong moral points; no foul language; Muslim father hits his Christian daughter and throws her around the room, college professor gets hit by a car that ruins a red light on a rainy night and dies, professor threatens student and manhandles him; no sexual immorality, but some kissing and hugging; no nudity; references to wine alcohol; no smoking or drug references; and, college professor bullies students, man uses girlfriend, Muslim father dominates daughter, boy violates trust, professor ridicules live-in girlfriend in front of other professors. GOD’S NOT DEAD is an entertaining, profound Christian movie. Josh Wheaton arrives at college and signs up for the best schedule. He’s told not to sign up for one philosophy class, because the professor will crush his Christian faith. He signs up anyway, because the class fits his schedule. Professor Radisson forces each student to sign a pledge that God is dead. Josh refuses, and Radisson tells him he’s going to fail him. He even threatens to destroy Josh’s chances to get into law school. Meanwhile, a beautiful girl who’s come to Christ must battle her Muslim Father. Also, the local pastor is challenged to live his faith. Finally, the professor’s girlfriend tells him she too has come to Jesus. There are a lot of stories in GOD’S NOT DEAD, but they work because they end up in the same place. The direction and acting are very good. The ending is terrific. GOD’S NOT DEAD is a powerful evangelistic movie. Even better, the entertainment value transcends the message. Viewers won’t be bored. They will be enlightened and inspired by GOD’S NOT DEAD.
Production Quality: **** Moral Acceptability: +4 (Exemplary) Starring: Diogo Morgado, Roma Downey, Amber Rose Revah, Louise Delamere, Darwin Shaw, Andrew Brooke, Adrian Schiller, Simon Kunz, Sebastian Knapp, Greg Hicks, Joe Wredden Genre: Historic Drama Audience: Teenagers and adults Rating: PG-13 Content: Very strong Christian, biblical worldview about the Gospel of Jesus Christ; no foul language; strong violence with blood includes a child dying under a tipped over cart, Romans slaughter Jews in one scene, Jesus and others are crucified brutally, people are whipped, stabbed, and beaten; no sexual content; upper male nudity; light drinking of wine; no smoking; and, betrayal and greed are shown negatively. SON OF GOD begins with John narrating God’s promise and covenant with His people through Israel’s history as the Romans take control of the countryside. After showing the birth of Jesus, 30 years later Jesus approaches Peter to call him to join His mission to change the world. Jesus is confronted Pharisees regarding his teaching and the miracles. Then, as conflict mounts between the Romans and the Jews during Passover, Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey. The crowds and tension around Jesus increase as Jesus begins His journey to the Cross. SON OF GOD is a captivating showcase of God’s grace. The acting is excellent, including the powerful ending. The movie is life changing, but the pacing could be tighter. Thus, the movie opens strongly, but the first half is a too episodic. Also, some biblical episodes, including dialogue, seem too truncated. That said, the conflict between Jesus and the Jewish and Roman leadership is strong. Also, the movie has a powerful resurrection sequence. SON OF GOD clearly shows that the death and resurrection of Christ is a glorious reminder of God’s love.
The previous reviews are a selected sample of informative reviews from MOVIEGUIDE: A FAMILY GUIDE TO MOVIES AND ENTERTAINMENT, a syndicated feature of Good News Communications, Inc. To subscribe to MOVIEGUIDE which includes a complete set of at least 10 reviews of the latest movies as well as many informative articles, please visit our web site at www.movieguide.org or write or call:”MOVIEGUIDE,” P.O. Box 190010, Atlanta, GA 31119 (800) 899-6684. What the ratings mean: Production Quality: (1 to 4 stars) Moral Acceptability: -4 (Abhorrent), -3 (Excessive), -2 (Extreme Caution), -1 (Caution), +1 (Wholesome), +2 (Good), +3 (Moral), +4 (Exemplary) River Region’s Journey
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Wednesday, April 16
Sunday, April 20
6:15 pm :: Easter Communion Worship
8:30 am :: Easter Celebration 9:45 am :: Bible Fellowship Classes 11:00 am :: Easter Celebration 6:15 pm :: Evening Worship
Friday, April 18 12:00 pm :: Good Friday Worship
Jay Wolf, Pastor 305 South Perry Street :: Montgomery, AL 36104 334.834.6310 :: www.montgomeryfbc.org