Volume 16, Issue 11
Feature Articles
APRIL 20 1 5 Columns page 2
Publisher’s Note Jason Watson
page 14
Faith @ Work
page 4
Pastor's Perspective
David Lewis, Chief Executive Officer for the Prattville YMCA, shares how his upbringing impacted his current walk with Christ, and how a strong community of believers in his life today helps him walk out his faith at work.
Dr. Brian Miller, Aldersgate United Methodist Church
page 13
Pondering the Journey Sam Whatley
page 16
Shine
Kim Hendrix
page 23
With All Your Mind Matt Jordan, Ph.D.
page 18
Overcoming Negative Cheerleaders
page 27
by Candy Arrington
page 30
Find advice on how to best handle the naysayers and discouragers in your life.
The Intersection
Counselor’s Corner Nancy Thomas, LPC
page 28
Family Teams for Christ: Military Edition Lisa and Mike Conn
Bob Crittenden
page 35
Dave $ays Dave Ramsey
page 24
Neighbors in Christ Serving Victims of Crime by Mandy Pascal
Discover how this local ministry founded in 1989 is still making a big difference in the lives of crime victims in our community. Find out how you or your church can become involved. 1
In Every Issue page 6
Books to Read page 8
Around Our Community page 31
Event Calendar page 36
Movie Reviews April 2015
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
Associate Publisher Savannah Bowden
Research Editor Wendy McCollum
Contributing Writers Candy Arrington Tim Challies Lisa and Mike Conn Bob Crittenden Kim Hendrix Matt Jordan, Ph.D. Dr. Brian Miller Mandy Pascal Dave Ramsey Nancy Thomas, LPC Sam Whatley
Advertising Opportunities Jason Watson ads@readjourneymagazine.com (334) 213-7940 ext 703
Ad Design
Tim Welch, Welch Designs
Distribution Team Kristy Brennan Wendy McCollum Chris Mitchell Manzie Moore Richard Ward Lesa Youngblood
From the Publisher One of the major benefits of publishing Journey every month for nearly 17 years is the opportunity it gives me to see how God is at work in the River Region. We spotlight local ministries and Christians. Plus, we work very closely with churches to help them share their ministry plans. Sometimes the news of the day can bring discouragement and even hopelessness. Journey is a great light that combats such things. That’s why I like to say that Journey magazine is the area’s most “uplifting” publication. There’s not another magazine that has the ability to eternally change lives and give hope, in Christ. God is at work all around us, making Himself known, and I’m so glad Journey is a part of His plan for the River Region. In this month’s issue you’ll be greatly encouraged by our Ministry and Faith @ Work spotlights. Neighbors in Christ has been serving crime victims and their families in the River Region for 20 years. Giving an answer to the question, “Who is my neighbor?” their staff and volunteers walk as Good Samaritans loving and serving people through a difficult season. In this month’s Faith @ Work interview we sat down with David Lewis, the Chief Executive Officer for the Prattville YMCA. During our interview I was able to see David shake hands and give hugs to people as they walked into the Bradford Y in Prattville. David has surrendered his life to Christ and it’s clear God is using him to be a blessing to others at the Y and across the Prattville community. Do you have certain people in your life who always seem to want to tear you down? Their words and actions are like thick mud we have to trudge through as we try to get where we’re going. Candy Arrington offers some great insight for you this month in her article Overcoming Negative Cheerleaders. She reminds us all that “God is our source, and no matter how impossible a situation or relationship seems, God can provide the strength and wisdom we need.” Her article may give you the breakthrough you’ve been needing in a particular relationship. Finally, let me also point out Dr. Matthew Jordan’s “With All Your Mind” column this month. The next political cycle is gearing up and with that comes much debate. Dr. Jordan, using the topic of abortion, explains how we can do a better job communicating to those we disagree with by using the art of persuasion connected with reason. His example is both good and convincing. Thank you for picking up Journey again this month and I pray it brings the light of God’s hope into your heart!
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 2015 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 2015
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April 2015
River Region’s Journey
Pastor’s Perspective
O
Dr. Brian Miller, Aldersgate United Methodist Church
Every Day is Easter One of the reasons why my wife, Christina, and I love Easter is that she gets to end her Lenten Facebook fast, and we get to see all of our friends and their children looking happy and good in their new Easter clothes. It makes us smile. If you are hesitant to post your family Easter pic to Facebook, don’t be. Everybody loves it. Easter is such a glorious day. The excitement breaks forth during a time when flowers are popping and the weather is too beautiful to stay inside. Whether it’s a hat for the special day or the freshest jeans, new clothes are all around. The orchestra leads the celebration during one time of worship. A full band with percussion leads the celebration in another time of worship. Pictures are being snapped everywhere.
The celebration on Easter Sunday is grand, and it should be. When all seemed lost on Good Friday, the power of God raised Jesus from the dead. When no hope was to be found, the resurrection of Jesus spoke once and for all. Death had been swallowed up. Further, the same power that has defeated death invites us toward transformation, to no longer live in our former ways. The weeks after Easter, however, are a slide toward our Good Friday lives. The bills are rolling in. The conflicts that existed haven’t healed. Work is demanding. Five o’clock traffic is still five o’clock traffic. It looks like the report cards aren’t going to be what we had hoped. And, by the way, news feeds are filled with depressing news. Doesn’t everyone else know that it’s Easter?!?!?! We may be tempted to force NatioNal Day of Prayer Easter and transMore Than a Meeting — It’s a Movement formation on all that we see, lobbing Cadbury eggs like grace grenades on all that threatens our Easter joy. However, 1st Kings 8:28 as Easter people, our response to a broken world does not need to be strident resistance. After all, the resurrection has won, and human effort wasn’t required. Instead, our trust in the resurrection and the transforming work of God in Christ allows us to be at peace. The resMay 7, 2015 • 11:00 a.m. Downtown Capitol Building urrection is continuAvenue of Flags — Montgomery, AL ing to win. For more information: Overseer Yvonne Jones National Day of Prayer Coordinator Easter isn’t an (334) 356-7660 invitation into a perfect world. Easter
“Lord Hear Our Cry”
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April 2015
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is the invitation to a new way of life in an imperfect world. In his book Deep Change, Robert Quinn tells the story of a team of soldiers in World War II who had gotten lost in the Alps on a reconnaissance mission. After a few days, one of the soldiers remembered a map that he had shoved deep in his pack. They pulled out the map, gained some energy, and found their way back to camp. When they arrived, the commanding officer was thrilled. As the return was celebrated, one of the soldiers looked closely at the map they had followed back to the camp. The map was not of the Alps. It was of the Pyrenees Mountains. That map was unable to show them how to get to where they were going. However, because of the map, the troops gained encouragement, energy, and focus that saved their lives. We are invited, even as the first Apostles were, to live in a hope that trusts the resurrection even when we aren’t sure where the map is taking us. In the coming weeks, as you experience Good Friday moments, I hope you’ll remember the words you heard from the resurrection story. Perhaps you will hear the same question asked by the angels to Mary in John 20:15, “Why are you weeping?” Or, maybe, you’ll hear the proclamation of the angel to the women from Mark 16:6, “He is not here.” The promise of Easter is not that our lives will not experience death or pain or difficulty. The promise of Easter is that neither death nor pain nor difficulty will win. Because of this, we have hope, and every day is Easter. Dr. Brian Miller is pastor of Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Montgomery. He may be reached at brian@ aldersgateumc.org.
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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.
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River Region’s Journey
Counter Culture by David Platt
We are witnesses today to a massive culture shift. Things we used to hold sacred are now subject to mockery; evils we would never even have dreamed of are now regarded as normal and beautiful. And everywhere we look, Christians are on the front lines—whether they like it or not, they are on the front lines. They are on the front lines of the battle between traditional marriage and same-sex marriage; they are on the front lines of the battle for life in the womb; they are on the front lines of the battle against sex trafficking and pornography. Wherever our culture delights in evil, Christians are attempting to speak with clarity and authority. David Platt has observed this culture shift and in his new book calls upon Christians to ensure they will not stand idly by. Counter Culture is, according to the subtitle, a “A Compassionate Call to Counter Culture in a World of Poverty, Same-Sex Marriage, Racism, Sex Slavery, Immigration, Abortion, Persecution, Orphans and Pornography.” Platt calls on Christians to wade into the cultural battlefield and to represent Jesus. He begins with the gospel. He believes that the gospel is meant to compel the Christian to take action, saying “the gospel is the lifeblood of Christianity, and it provides the foundation for countering culture. For when we truly believe the gospel, we begin to realize that the gospel River Region’s Journey
April 2015
not only compels Christians to confront social issues in the culture around us. The gospel actually creates confrontation with the culture around—and within—us.” The gospel creates confrontation through its most outlandish and offensive claim: [T]the most offensive and countercultural claim in Christianity is not what Christians believe about homosexuality or abortion, marriage or religious liberty. Instead, the most offensive claim in Christianity is that God is the Creator, Owner, and Judge of every person on the planet. Every one of us stands before him guilty of sin, and the only way to be reconciled to him is through faith in Jesus, the crucified Savior and risen King. All who trust in his love will experience everlasting life while all who turn from his lordship will suffer everlasting death. With the gospel foundation in place, Platt sets out to draw attention to some of the most pressing issues of our day, and to show “how the gospel moves Christians to counter all of these issues in our culture with conviction, compassion, and courage.” The heart of the book is a chapterlength examination of several major culture concerns: Poverty, same-sex marriage, racism, sex slavery, immigration, abortion, persecution, orphans and widows, and pornography. In every case Platt outlines the issue, shows how the gospel speaks to 6
it, and then calls the Christian to action. He is a gifted writer and storyteller and often interweaves the chapters with tales of people he has met and situations he has encountered in his many travels. He is also a gifted theologian, and draws both deeply and accurately from the wells of Scripture. Inevitably some will wonder how this book compares to his bestselling book Radical, and I would say it has all the passion and intensity, but with far more nuance. In the end, his call is both strong and convicting. Early in the book he lauds Christians for the ways they have already countered culture, but expresses this concern: “On popular issues like poverty and slavery, where Christians are likely to be applauded for our social action, we are quick to stand up and speak out. Yet on controversial issues like homosexuality and abortion, where Christians are likely to be criticized for our involvement, we are content to sit down and stay quiet. It’s as if we’ve decided to pick and choose which social issues we’ll contest and which we’ll concede. And our picking and choosing normally revolves around what is most comfortable—and least costly— for us in our culture.” He is exactly right, and in this book he brings needed balance, dwelling not only on issues that will earn applause, but also the issues that will earn criticism or even persecution. Platt believes that “[t]he greatest way to achieve social and cultural transformation is not by focusing on social and cultural transformation, but by giving our lives to gospel proclamation.” I agree entirely. His hope for our generation is this: “May it be said of us that we not only held firm to the gospel, but that we spoke clearly with the gospel to the most pressing issues of our day.” Counter Culture will equip you to do that very thing.
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River Region’s Journey
Sav-A-Life Ministry Hold Annual Walk for Life
Sav-A-Life Montgomery is gearing up for its annual Walk for Life, the second-largest fundraiser for the ministry each year. The Walk will be on Saturday, May 2, at Young Meadows Presbyterian Church on Vaughn Road. It’s an event for young and old, and dogs, bikes, skates, and strollers are welcome for this easy, one-mile walk. After the Walk, there will be festivities for all, with music, food and children’s activities like inflatables and face painting. There is no charge for this event, but participants are encouraged to recruit family and friends who will sponsor them as they walk for Sav-A-Life. More information and details are available on the Sav-A-Life Montgomery web site—www.savalifemtg.org—including links to our event page where walkers can pre-register and begin their own personal fundraising page if they want.
River Region’s Journey
April 2015
Secret Church Simulcast
Secret Church Simulcast with Pastor David Platt teaching on Christ, Culture, and a Call to Action. Friday, April 24th, 6 PM–Midnight, hosted by Capitol Heights Baptist Church at the Corner of Madison Avenue and Ann Street in Montgomery, AL. Doors open at 5:30. $5 attendance fee includes study guide book (while they last). For reservations call the church office at (334) 264-6461 or first-come-first-served for seating. Offering proceeds will be donated to the work of the Voice of the Martyrs, helping persecuted Christians worldwide. The culture around us is constantly changing, and successive changes are often accompanied by significant challenges. So how does the call of Christ compel us to respond to these challenges? How does a Christian respond to the rapid rise of so-called same-gender marriage and the increasing acceptance of homosexuality? How does a Christian live in a world of sexual slavery and rampant pornography, a world where babies are aborted and widows are abandoned? During this Secret Church, we will explore biblical foundations for answers to these questions and come to significant conclusions regarding how Christ calls every Christian to engage culture with a firm grip on the gospel in the church and a fervent passion for God’s glory in the world.
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An Evening with Casting Crowns
April 16, 7pm; doors open 6pm Wesley Hall, Frazer Memorial UMC Casting Crowns are Dove and Grammy Award winners. Tickets available online through Premier Productions or in the Frazer Bookstore. Contact Information: 334.272.8622 or email butch@frazerumc.org.
Women’s Conference: Removing the Veil
Women of Faith Farewell Loved Tour
April 17, 7-10 p.m; April 18, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. BJCC Arena, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N, Birmingham Women of Faith as been encouraging women since 1996 with compelling stories, laugh-out-loud humor, Bible teaching, heart-tugging music, rejuvenating worship, and more! Speakers including Patsy Clairmont, Mary Graham, Sarah Jakes, Korie Robertson, Nicole Johnson, Marilyn Meberg, Sandi Patty, Luci Swindoll, Thelma Wells and more. Visit www.ticketmaster.com.
“Worthy of Praise Annual Backyard Women’s Conference” will be hosted by the Bryant Missionary Baptist Church Missions Department on Saturday, April 25th from 9 am to 1 pm. Location is 3645 Norman Bridge Road in the Normandale community under the tent on the church grounds. If it rains conference will move to the Fellowship Hall. There will be speakers from the local area and Florida. There is no registration fee. Please come and fellowship with us and be blessed by the Lord. Contact Evangelist Elva Harris @ 301-3490 for further details.
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Common Ground Montgomery Seeks Mentors
Women’s Conference
Awakening the Warrior Within; Taking Back What the Devil Stole
April 17-18 Have you ever had anything stolen from you: Perhaps peace of mind, health, finances, your children and family relationships, hope for a bright future, etc.? Have you ever wanted to smack the thief right upside the head with the heel of your shoe? God promised David that he would not only overtake his enemy, but that he would recover all (I Samuel 30:8). Get ready for this promise to be fulfilled in your own life as God imparts to you and impacts your life with necessary weapons and strategies to overtake the enemy and recover what has been stolen from you and your family, past and present, and to move forward victoriously. Join us for anointed speakers, intimate worship and prophetic ministry. Hosted by: Women in Ministry International & Fresh Anointing House of Worship- Pastors, Bishop Kyle and Kemi Searcy;Speakers include Dr. Sharon R Nesbit, Evangelist Ollie Reeves and Pastor Yesenia Bonilla. $35 registration fee. Contact www.anointedchurch.org or (334) 613-3363.
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Common Ground Montgomery is looking for anyone who wants to help a young person find their way! Here are few words from Common Ground’s Kevin King: “The mentoring program is now underway! Potential mentors came out to Common Ground Montgomery recently to hear about the importance of having one-on-one long term mentoring relationships and how it may change the trajectory of a child’s life. For us, mentoring is literally life or death. After 8 years in ministry we have seen many youth come and go. Lives have been destroyed as a direct result of not having that extra needed support. We are looking for men and women who are willing to give up only a few hours of your month to ensure these young people have every opportunity to thrive.” For more information, contact Kevin King at kevin@cgmal.org.
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Frazer Turns Out for Great Day of Service
Illustionists David and Teesha Laflin April 12, 6:15 p.m. First Baptist Church, 305 S. Perry St, Montgomery Amazing feats and an inspiring message. Call 834.6310 for details and tickets.
The Frazer Family made a strong showing in this year’s Great Day of Service. An estimated 2000 Frazer members worked on 18 projects throughout the River Region Saturday, March 14th. The projects varied from packing more than 72,000 meals for close to 200 orphans in Haiti; building a nature trail at the site of the new Pike Road School; sprucing up the grounds of MANE; painting at Chisholm Elementary and continuing the work of building homes and transforming live through Transformation Montgomery.
Benefit Auction at Saint James UMC
Saint James United Methodist Church will hold an auction to benefit youth and children’s missions on Saturday, April 18 from 4-6 p.m. Visitors may preview items on Friday, April 17, from 5–7 p.m. There is no cost for either event. Items featured include antique furniture and rugs from Pickwick Antiques, original artwork, jewelry, salon and boutique certificates, gift cards from local businesses, and vacation home rentals. Visit www.sjlifeauction.com for a preview of items. This marks the 6th year that the church has held a spring auction benefiting missions. Last year, the auction helped send youth on mission trips to Green Lake, Wisconsin and Tegucigalpa, Honduras. They were also able to work with other churches and ministries in the Montgomery area including Georgia Washington School, Montgomery Inner City Evangelism, Brantwood Children’s Home and many more.
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“4th Saturday” Outreach Event
River City Church, a United Methodist congregation, invites the entire community to their 4th Saturday Outreach event April 25 from 9am-11am at the church, located at 301 Dexter Avenue. Admission is free. The River Region will have access to blood pressure/glucose screenings, career services, free haircuts, hygiene items and canned goods. Participants can register for a drawing for a weekly bus pass and gasoline gift cards. During the 2-hour period, attendees can speak with prayer partners, and purchase items (clothes, furniture, etc…) 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. Volunteers will also provide homework help and a craft for children. For more information, please call 263-0549 or visit www.rivercityumc.com.
Child Evangelism Fellowship Presents George Barna
Join CEF for their Annual Fundraising Banquet as they present “the most quoted person in the Christian church today,” George Barna. The event will take place at Trinity Presbyterian Church on April 20. Please email cefcentralal@ gmail.com or call 213-7388 for details and tickets.
Considering Home Schooling?
Free, informative meeting April 16 from 6-8pm at Lakeview Baptist Church, 9225 Atlanta Highway. *Hear from Experienced Home Schooling Families *Learn About Local Home School Coverings *Gather Resources *Network With Other Home Schooling Families *Find Answers To Your Questions. You can successfully home school your students! We want to help! RSVP to homeshoolrules2015@yahoo.com. Childcare will not be provided.
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River Region’s Journey
April 2015
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Woodpeckers and Snakes Many mornings I am awakened by a burst of rapping as our local woodpecker, attacks a nearby tree. He’s a red-cockaded, not a red-headed, woodpecker. Instead of having a solid cap of red, he has a sliver of red that runs from the base of the eye to the back of the cap. Another difference is that the red-cockaded type pecks out a nest in live pines, rather than the soft wood of dead trees. But the dramatic difference is how they can decorate the base of a pine. Let me explain. Years ago, walking through a forest, I would occasionally see a strange sight, rivulets of golden turpentine pouring out of the base of a large pine. It seemed eerie. I wondered what could cause this sticky goo to ooze from all sides of the tree. Now I know; it’s that little woodpecker. The red-cockaded woodpecker likes to nest inside mature pines. He may take from 1 to 3 years to excavate a place large enough for his extended family to live for 10 to 15 years. Pines offer soft wood with a plus; they contain loads of turpentine. The turpentine is not for the woodpecker. It’s for his enemy, the rat snake. Rat snakes love bird eggs, but they hate turpentine. It gets under their scales and irritates them. They will fall out of a tree to get away from it. So when this particular woodpecker starts to peck out his condo, he drills little sap wells all around the tree below his nest. Soon the sap, the turpentine, starts flowing down the pine bark to the ground. Each year the woodpecker must re-open his wells, pecking out the clogged up holes to revive the flow of the sticky stuff. The serpents see the turpentine and go away. Which reminds me of our enemy, yours and mine, that other Serpent, Satan. In the book of Revelation (12:9) we read: The great dragon was hurled down – that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth and his angels with him.
In a similar way, we must establish barHow does this relate to the woodpeckriers to the old sinful life. And our barriers, er? Consider the words of the Apostle Paul too, tend to be temporary. They need to be in I Corinthians 10:13: re-enforced. We must periodically re-examNo temptation has seized you, except what is common to man. And God is faithful; ine ourselves and our relationship to God. Are there places, or people, or habits that we he will not let you be tempted beyond what have not turned over to God? Are there areas you can bear. But when you are tempted, he of our lives we have left unprotected from will also provide a way out so that you can that which once controlled us? stand up under it. Resisting temptation may compliLike the red-cockaded woodpecker, we cate your life. A friend of the Lord is work hard to provide food and shelter for an enemy of the world. But God will our families. However, we can get so busy provide a way. Whatever He leads you to doing all of this that we forget we have an do is worth the trouble, even if it creates enemy. When temptations come to cut cora sticky situation. ners in our jobs, manipulate other people for our benefit, or to just misrepresent the truth, we usually don’t see a snake slithering up the pine bark. But we know that God has provided for our protection. Just as the Lord has made turpentine available to the woodpecker, He has poured out His Holy Spirit for us. It comes to us in answer to our prayers and in the quiet times when we read or vEry His Word, the Bible. It is the Spirit of God E n E r at i o n that covers us and our home with life-giving protection. The red-cockaded Prattville First United Methodist Church woodpecker works hard 100 E. 4th Street, Prattville, AL 36067 to create channels for his source of protecT R A D IT IO N A L W O R S H IP 8 : 3 0 AM & 11: 00 A M tion. He drills many S U N D AY S C H O O L 9 : 4 5 A M holes around the pine to T H E W E L L 11 : 0 0 A M keep the sap dripping. He comes back to this work year after year to re-open the wells. It takes time, patience, www.prattvillemethodist.org and hard labor.
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RRJ: Has working for the Prattville YMCA been very different compared to your role with the bank? Not really, which was quite surprising to me. As I mentioned already, both believe in the community. While they are vastly different environments and have different goals, both center on being able to build relationships, solve problems, and work with people to help them be successful. RRJ: You’re originally from Selma. How did growing up in a close-knit community effect your Christian faith? I am really proud to have grown up in Selma. Everyone knew who you were, and you had lots of eyes watching you. I can remember several times having done something wrong and the news beating me home in the afternoon. My parents were great examples for me and my sister and made sure our family was extremely involved at First Baptist Church. Growing up in the church, I encountered many great men and women who were committed Christians and genuinely cared about our town. Those great Sunday School teachers, coaches, Scout leaders and youth leaders were crucial as they helped lay a spiritual foundation that I have continued to draw from through the joys and struggles of life. RRJ: A few years ago you made a major career change. Can you tell us about that?
RRJ: How is your faith in Christ encouraged now as an adult living in Prattville?
Yes. It was something totally unexpected, but God called me to it. In 2012 I joined the staff of the Prattville YMCA. Prior to that time, I spent 18 years in banking, most recently working with River Bank & Trust as a Senior Vice President and Relationship Manager. As a banker, I found myself with a lot of opportunities to be involved in the community, which led me in 2006 to join the Board of Management of the Prattville YMCA. In 2012, while I was serving as the Board’s Chairman, our CEO, Willis Bradford, decided to retire after nearly 50 years of service. While leading a committee to vet a replacement, the committee met while I was out of town and decided I was the one who needed to take the job as the Y CEO. Needless to say, I was speechless, based on the fact that I had a great job and felt like I was right where I needed and wanted to be. God began to work on me almost immediately, and used a good number of folks to help show me where he wanted me. The icing on the cake for my decision was a message I read one day on the marquee at The Fountain of Grace Church which read: “God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called.”
I have been fortunate to be part of a great church family here at First Methodist Church. My wife and I got involved in a Sunday School class and met some great people who have shared their wisdom and lives with us. We have also been able to get involved with our children in church as well, which has been a great blessing. It is my hope that we can give them the same gift we were given... a solid Christian foundation and relationship with Jesus that will be with them for their entire lives. That is something that Stacey and I both are committed to, and feel is most important. The YMCA has really helped me spiritually as well. Through my involvement on the board and now professionally, I have had the great privilege to get to know a lot of strong Christian leaders in Prattville and to be able to look to them as mentors. Another way my faith has been encouraged through the YMCA has been through our Men’s Fellowship Breakfast that we started shortly after I came to the Y. Each month, we have men from various churches who all gather together to be encouraged and challenged in our faith. It has been a true blessing
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to be able to hear speakers who have struggles just like me and are saved by grace just like me. RRJ: Of course YMCA stands for Young Men’s Christian Association, but that doesn’t necessarily mean living consistently for God’s glory is easier in your position. Living out your faith beyond the church walls takes intentionality and the Holy Spirit’s power. How is your Christian faith revealed in your work? Yes, the YMCA does stand for Young Men’s Christian Association, and the “C” is very important here in Prattville. Our mission statement is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. At the same time, we are an organization that loves and welcomes everybody, just as Christ showed us through his actions. Your statement about intentionality is exactly right. I believe the devil takes great pleasure in the mediocrity of faith shown by us as Christians, and I have given him plenty of pleasure in my life. But I draw great encouragement from the fact that more times than not, God didn’t choose to use the most polished person to reveal his glory. I am thankful for God’s grace that allows me to dust off after I fall and encourages me to get up and try again. I strive to be an authentic person, honest about my faults and quick to ask for forgiveness. Thankfully, my faith is also inspired by a group of fellow YMCA staff members who are great examples of living out their faith every day. RRJ: Finally, I know you’re excited about the new “Field of Dreams” ADA accessible baseball field at the Bradford YMCA. How did that project come together? Being a part of the group working on the Field of Dreams has been a truly unbelievable experience. Four years ago I joined Ginger Henry (A Y board member and CEO of Prattville Baptist Hospital), Jeffrey Keith (former Y staff member) and Mr. Bradford to discuss the possibility of an ADA accessible field for Prattville. Their vision resulted in a community-wide team effort that involved many incredible people. It was so encouraging to see everyone come together to work for something that has the potential to add joy to the lives of a lot of families we have not had the privilege to serve in the past. We had multiple roadblocks along the way, but God was faithful and I can’t wait to see the first young person step up to bat on April 18th. David, thank you for sharing your how your “Faith is @ Work.” It’s clear you love what you do and that God is using you, where he’s placed you, to be a blessing to others for his glory.
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April 2015 River Region’s Journey Mail your donation to: Faith Radio, P.O. Box 15210789, Montgomery, AL 36121
The Brick Colossians 4:5-6: “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” It’s a simple brick that packs a powerful message—“Live life today because you’re not promised tomorrow.” This brick sits on the top shelf of our family office area at home. It once helped hold up the third hall in the old Enterprise High School. Last month marked eight years since a devastating tornado made a direct hit on Enterprise High School, destroying the school, and killing eight students in the third hall. The principal at the time handed me the brick as we walked through the rubble during a story for WSFA-12-News. He said, “You can have one of these if you want it. A lot of the students are taking them, in fact, one young man told me he put his brick on a shelf in his bedroom as a reminder to live life today because you’re not promised tomorrow.” So how are we using this precious time called life? Are we walking in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time and letting our conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt? In other words, are we telling people about our Savior while there’s still time? I experienced Colossians 4:5-6 in a very real and profound way on a recent Sunday morning. Our teaching pastor at church took on a topic that’s often talked about in the news and movies, but rarely in a place that’s equipped to offer truth and grace. As he shared what the Bible says about marriage and same-sex attraction, he shared the perfect and flawless truth with grace, seasoned with salt. He told all of us, “As your pastor, I am to help you conform to Jesus, River Region’s Journey
April 2015
not the ways of the world.” We can often decide some of God’s truth is “hard,” but I’m realizing the truth in itself is never hard, it’s perfect and flawless and intended for our good. Our teaching pastor could have said, “I won’t touch that subject, someone else can handle that at another time.” What if there is no more time, what about that person who heard the truth and stepped into a life with his or her Savior for the first time? Are we putting off something today that could change someone’s life eternally? That Sunday morning continued to shine with Colossians 4:5-6, encouraging us to walk in wisdom, making the best use of our time and Galatians 6:10: “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Just 30 minutes later I celebrated with our church family the confirmation of 36 youth into the church—young people proclaiming their faith and vowing to engage in the life of the church, sharing His path of life through their own words and actions. I thought back to my own confirmation in 7th grade. I can vividly remember our teacher standing up at our final meeting and saying, “Okay, everyone got it?” Our family had just moved and I didn’t know anyone real well so when no one spoke up, I sure wasn’t going to say what was going through my mind, which was, “No, I don’t get it!” I went through the motions of confirmation and thankfully I had many more “tomorrows” to get it—through Godly people, time in His word and life, I came to fully understand the life changing decision of calling Jesus my Savior. Our senior pastor on this day of confirmation, was teaching on the grace Jesus offered to the thief next to him on the cross, but how the other thief just didn’t get 16
it. Are we taking every opportunity to lift up our brothers and sisters by doing good while we have the time? Back to the brick. As I covered the Enterprise story a year later, I talked with one of the teachers who was in the third hall that day. She said as the power went out and windows and doors began to get sucked out by the pressure, she looked at her group of students and said, “Say a prayer, because I think we’re going to die!” She told me she’s often thought back on that, wondering if it had been her child kneeling there, would she have wanted someone to say that to her. She said, “And yes, I think so, in fact I know that’s what I would want my child to be doing at that time.” A lasting effect of her statement to the students, whenever they would meet each other on campus they would look at one another and say, “I’m praying, are you praying?” It’s good advice for all of us everyday— just take out the words “I think.” We all know one day we will die. But right now, our Savior has something else planned for you, and you can bet it’s strong, filled with grace and good. This brick came out of something that crumbled, but with God’s strength and healing, it’s now symbolic of all that’s yet to come. Make the most of your time today. Dear Lord, You are mighty to save! Thank you for giving us wisdom for the walk and talk. May our words be full of grace and seasoned with salt, creating an intense thirst for you. We love you and thank you for every precious day. May we use them wisely and glorify you. In the loving name of your son, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
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HE ONCE BEAT HIS DAD FOUR STRAIGHT GAMES IN CHESS. AFTERWARD, HE CELEBRATED WITH SOME ORANGE SLICES AND A BOOK ABOUT WIZARDS. and at Children’s of Alabama we want to see every child grow up and live to their fullest potential. That’s why we recruit, train and retain the most inquiring minds, the most skilled hands and the most compassionate hearts in pediatric medicine.
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When I was a child, we attended all the football games for the high school where my father was once a football star. Not only did we have season tickets for the home games, we traveled to all the “away” games as well. For years, I took a book and read during the games because I didn’t understand what was happening on the field. Even though I wasn’t looking at the field, or the cheerleaders, I still heard the cheers and learned them from sheer repetition. One that still resonates with me today goes like this: “Whup ‘em up the side of the head, hey, whup ‘em up the side of the head, hey, hey, hey!” Do you have a person in your life who is a negative cheerleader, someone River Region’s Journey
April 2015
who constantly points out your shortcomings and negatively impacts your self-image? A person who, in effect, “whups” you up the side of the head whenever possible? In the Bible, Nehemiah had a negative cheerleader, several in fact, who worked non-stop to thwart his efforts. Nehemiah faced a huge challenge in rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem. Not only was it a back-breaking task, but there were folks around like Tobiah and Sanballat who didn’t want him to succeed. Sanballat made it his personal mission to discourage Nehemiah and his helpers. He flung dagger-like comments, threatened, and enlisted the help of others to frustrate their plans. He attempted 18
to defeat by discouraging. Many of us have experienced this type of negative cheerleader in our lives. So how do you overcome adversarial people?
Remember foundational truths
– God is our source, and no matter how impossible a situation or relationship seems, God can provide the strength and wisdom we need. God is our advocate no matter who is our adversary. And if God is for us, who can be against us? He is faithful to those who honor, obey, and seek Him.
Choose your battles – I have a relative who is argumentative no matter
what the topic of conversation. Over the years, I’ve learned the more I try to explain my point of view, the more animated and argumentative he becomes. Often an adversary is looking to pick a fight just for the sake of opposition, and many times the fight really isn’t worth it. So when someone baits you, employ self-control and wisdom to determine if it’s a battle worthy of response. “A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.” (Proverbs 25:28 NIV)
Utilize your gifts – Each of us has
God-given gifts and talents, but many times, when we’re enduring a difficult situation or we’re under attack from an individual, we forget these gifts and talents. God knows the challenges we currently face, and are going to face in the future, and equips us to handle them. Forgetting your gifts and talents is like tying one hand behind your back. Utilize all God has given you.
Temper your responses – Many
times, when we’re confronted by adversity, our immediate response is to lash out in anger. And sometimes our target is one closest to us rather than the actual culprit. It’s common to fire off a verbal volley at a family member or close friend rather than the real source. Instead, take your concerns, the injustice of the situation, and your anger to God in prayer. He can take your anger and frustration, and through the prompting of the Holy Spirit, provide wise counsel and comfort.
Remain on guard – The Bible says
those rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem worked with one hand while holding a weapon in the other. They stationed guards at the lowest points in the wall. When dealing with an adversary, be prepared and use the tools at your disposal rather than exposing your areas of weakness. Your greatest weapons are wisdom and discernment rather than a sharp tongue or physical strength. While fear is often an issue in any type of confrontation, God is a more than capable ally.
“Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome.” (Nehemiah 4:14 NIV)
Shift your focus – When you’re facing
a difficult situation or tormentor, it’s easy to feel sorry for yourself. Instead, focus on God. Stop listening to the ones who are telling you you’ll never succeed, criticizing your efforts, challenging your wisdom, or threatening. Trust God has a purpose and plan for your life and you can overcome present difficulties with His strength and direction. He is at work, even now, in ways you can’t see, smoothing your path and rendering your adversaries ineffective. Like Nehemiah, with God’s help, you can block out negativism and focus on the mission God has for you.
Candy Arrington is coauthor of Aftershock: Help, Hope, and Healing in the Wake of Suicide (B & H Publishing Group) and When Your Aging Parent Needs Care: Practical Help for This Season of Life (Harvest House Publishers). Candy and her husband, Jim, live in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where she writes about the lessons God is teaching her. Visit www.CandyArrington.com.
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Adoption
Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy and Glynwood Baptist, 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: Dalraida UMC, 3817 Atlanta Highway Alcoholics Anonymous meets at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays. 272.2190. Alanon meets at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. Location: First Baptist Church (Huff Community Ministries Bldg., 200 S. Perry Street) Celebrate Recovery, a Bible-based Christ centered approach to recovery from hurts, habits and hang-ups, meets Friday nights, from 5:30 p.m.- 8 p.m. For more information, contact Jane Ferguson at 241.5141. 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. Location: Journey Church, 2960 East Cobbs Ford Road across from The Catfish House in Millbrook Celebrate Recovery - Christ-centered 12-step for anyone struggling with addiction or life-challenging issues. Mondays at 5:30pm (meal-CrossTalk Cafe), 6-6:55 pm (large group), 6:55-7:45 (small group). Childcare available. Call Larry at 334-832-5714 or visit myjourneychurch.com.
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Location: Landmark Church, 1800 Halcyon Blvd. RSVPThis 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: Prattville Church of Christ, 344 East Main St. RSVP - 12 step (Christians Against Substance Abuse-CASA) spiritual recovery program, for overcoming addictions. Class begins each Wednesday evening @6:30 PM. Please call 334365-4201 for addition information. 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. Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA) is open to all struggling with addictive sexual behavior. If you believe you have a problem with sex addiction (or are wondering if you might) and you want to change your behavior, we recommend you visit our group. For locations, please visit- https://saa-recovery.org/ or please contact – MontgomerySAA@outlook.com. Meetings are held: every Sunday night - 7:45 p.m, men only. Every Monday night - 7:30 p.m, men and women. 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 lifechallenging issues.” For information, call Chris Henderson at 334-215-0427. Location: Trinity Episcopal, Wetumpka (Across from Winn Dixie on HWY 231) Gamblers Anonymous-Saturdays at 7 p.m. Location: Vaughn Forest Church, 8660 Vaughn Road Celebrate Recovery is a 12-step-Christian process to help you cope with hurts, hang-ups, and habits on a weekly basis. Led by Jeff McFarland on Wednesdays from 6-8 pm. Call 279-5433 for more info. Location: Victory Temple Church (located behind Wetumpka Walmart) ‘Fresh Start’ Recovery meets every Monday, 6-8pm (meal included). In 2011, Fresh Start Motorcycle Ministry (FSMM) began when God laid it on the heart of a lifetime biker to minister to those with his background. All are welcome, not a requirement to own/ride a motorcycle. Format used is the Holy Bible. For any info contact ministry leader, Paul Henderson, 334-201-5428.
Alzheimer’s / Dementia
Location: First UMC, 2416 W. Cloverdale Park, Wesley Hall Bldg. An Adult Parkinson/Alzheimer’s respite ministry meets from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Lunch is served. Contact Daphne at 834-8990. 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.
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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. Call the LifeCare office at 272-8622.
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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: Aldersgate UMC, 6610 Vaughn Rd, Montgomery Cancer Survivors Support Group is sponsored by Samaritan Counseling Center. We would love to have anyone (patient or family member ) join us. Thursdays at 1 pm. Please call before attending just to make sure we are meeting that week. Please call Debbie D at 467-4578 or Ben W at 202-1912. Location: Dalraida Baptist, 3838 Wares Ferry Road. Just for Men -- Faith based cancer support group for men. 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.
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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, and friends, meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in Rm 8253. Call 272-8622 or womenofhope@charter.net. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy. The Central Alabama Multiple Myeloma Support Group meets from 10 a.m. to noon the second Saturday of every month in Room 3105. We have guest speakers, video presentations, printed information and a group that welcomes sharing their journey with myeloma in an informal setting. Refreshments are provided.. Contact Lorenzo and Elaine Duncan at 334-281-8158, or at duncan6563@gmail.com.
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 Hwy in Church Annex. Call 334.652.1431 or email dbsamontgomery@yahoo.com.
Divorce
Location: First Baptist Church, 305 S. Perry Street Divorce Care is held Wednesdays, 6:30-8 pm. Childcare available. $15 for workbook. Dinner at 4:45 ($5 adults, $3 kids). Call Kathy Cooper at 241-5125.
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Grief
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: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Divorce Care for Kids (DC4K) meets each Tuesday from 6-7 pm. Pre-registration is required. This group is for children ages 5 and up and helps children of all ages heal from the pain of their parents separation and divorce. Call (334) 495-6368.
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Location: Vaughn Forest Church, 8660 Vaughn Road DivorceCare fosters a weekly supportive and caring environment to heal the hurt of separation and divorce. Facilitators are Todd Smith, Wendy Timbie, and Becki Harrison. Call 279-5433.
Gambling
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Location: Cedarwood Community Church, 10286 US HWY 231 in the Wallsboro/ Wetumpka community Gamblers Anonymous, Saturdays at 6 pm. 567-0476
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Location: Mental Health of America Bldg, 1116 South Hull Street, Montgomery. Sundays @ 5 pm. Location: St Paul’s Lutheran Church, 4475 Atlanta Hwy, Mondays @ 6pm. Gamblers Anonymous Hotline: 334-541-5420 or you can call 2-1-1 and ask for meeting information.
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Alabama Council on Compulsive Gambling: 277-5100
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. Call (334) 284-2721. Location: First UMC, 100 E. Fourth St, Prattville Grief Share, Tuesday evenings at 6:30 pm in the church parlor. 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: Grace Baptist Church, 304 Old Montgomery Highway, Wetumpka Mourning to Morning is a Christian growth group for mothers who have lost a child, from before birth through adulthood. Meets the last Thursday night of each month. For info, contact Alice Scarborough (334) 462-4775 or Gwen Ellis (334) 567-8754 or e-mail mourningtomorning@gmail. com. Join us on Facebook--Mourning to Morning Group. 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: Vaughn Forest Church, 8660 Vaughn Road GriefShare is a support group that meets Wednesdays from 6-8 pm. This program is non-denominational and features biblical concepts for healing your grief. GriefShare will be led by Howard and Carol Payne and Jim Williams. Call 2795433 for more information.
Miscellaneous
Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy NAMI Montgomery (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill) This group provides understanding, education and information to family members & friends of those who suffer mental illness. This group will meet on the second Monday of each month from 6:30-8:30 in room 3103. For more information contact Mary Jo Logan (334) 271-2280. Location: 5500 Ash Grove Circle, Montgomery. OCD Support Group (obsessive- Compulsive Disorder) Long showers, multiple hand washing, rituals, checking stove, hoarding and symmetry. This support group is open to anyone who has struggled with OCD. You’re not alone anymore. Call Donald: 220-7555. Location: Vaughn Forest Church, 8660 Vaughn Road Financial Peace University is a biblical, practical and workable plan for your money. Through video teaching, group discussion and interactive small group activities, you will learn God’s way to handle finances. Led by Bill Fiken. Call 279-5433.
Parenting
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.
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.
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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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April 2015
River Region’s Journey
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 April Scott at 828-446-6666. Location: First Baptist Church, Montgomery 305 S. Perry Street MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) Moms, need a little break? MOPS is a place you can share a good meal, make new friends, and find encouragement as you face the everyday challenges of raising your little ones. We have educational speakers, great conversation, and fun activities. Free childcare is provided. Meetings are every 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 9:30-11:30 a.m., September through May. Contact Tiffany Alewine at 241-5165. 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: Redland Baptist Church, 1266 Dozier Road, Wetumpka A MOPS group will be held 1st and 3rd Tuesday’s of every month during the school year, and has scheduled play dates and moms nights out through the summer and beyond. While moms are in a MOPS meeting, their children are lovingly cared for in the MOPPETS program. Email Denise Braswell at deniseorscott@yahoo.com for more info. 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.
Physical Challenges
Location: Maxwell / Maxwell Gunter AFB SWAK (Single with Amazing Kids) is connecting and empowering single parents and their families through information, encouragement, and many family-oriented events throughout the year. We meet the last Wednesday or Thursday of each month. For more information, email t2763@aol.com. Join us on Facebook—SWAK (Single with Amazing Kids) for daily restaurant specials, area kid friendly events, and tips/ideas for families on a budget.
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: Perry Hill UMC, 910 Perry Hill Road Single Moms’ Care and Support Group meets 2nd and 4th Thursdays from 6:15 - 8:00 PM. December meeting will be on the 11th. Free snack supper provided to moms and children. Child care for infants -16 years. Call 272-3174 for information.
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 affected by a neuromuscular disease or family members of those affected. To receive information, 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.
Singlehood
Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Singles’ Small Groups meet each Tuesday from 6:307:30 pm 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 6-7 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 Hwy Veterans OEF/OIF Caregivers Support Group meets on the 3rd Wednesday from 11am-1pm in Room 3108. Contact LaQuana Edwards, Caregiver Support Coordinator at CAVHCS (334) 727-0550 ext. 5350.
Email your support group info to deanne@readjourneymagazine.com!
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Persuasion and Abortion In this column last month, I suggested that Christians need to be careful when we make proposals for public policy that are grounded in our faith. One basic aspect of loving our neighbors is treating them with respect. And one basic aspect of treating people with respect, if we disagree with them about important issues, is seeking to persuade them to agree with us. The alternative to persuasion is coercion—and coercion, even if sometimes permissible, is almost never a way of respecting or loving our neighbors. If we try to pass laws that will restrict others’ freedoms, then it is our responsibility to look for a basis for those laws that could be plausible to someone who does not share our beliefs about God. As an illustration, consider the debate over abortion. The issues can be complex, but there is at least one very simple argument that can be made in support of the pro-life view. It goes like this. Absolutely everyone can agree with two claims. First, every normal, mature adult human being has a right to life, a right not to be unjustly killed. Second, every human fetus is a biologically human organism. Now, this means that in order to be pro-choice, a person must believe that not all biologically human organisms have a right to life. The supporter of abortion rights must say that adult humans do have a right to life, but
fetal humans do not have a right to life— even though both are biologically human. This view is objectionable, in several ways. The most basic is this: if not all human beings have a right to life, then we need to explain why some human beings do but others do not. That is, we need to find some trait that adults have but fetuses lack which explains why the latter can be killed but the former cannot. The problem is, for any proposed trait, we can imagine an adult who lacks it but whom we wouldn’t endorse killing. To give just one example, some supporters of abortion rights say that adults are different from fetuses because we have the ability to reason. It’s possible, however, for an adult to lose that ability—at least temporarily— without thereby losing his right not to be killed. Imagine a person who has been made unconscious in preparation for surgery. For that matter, imagine a person in a very deep sleep! These people cannot engage in reasoning, yet it would be wrong to kill them. Therefore, there must be some other 23
explanation of why this is so. I think the best explanation is simple: it is wrong to kill them because they are human beings. Since a fetal human is also a human being, it follows that it is wrong to kill fetuses too. The wrongness of abortion is known not exclusively on the basis of scripture or tradition, but on the basis of sound moral thinking—reasonable grounds that are available to all. If there are topics you’d like to see Dr. Jordan address in a future column, please email him at mjordan5@aum.edu.
April 2015
River Region’s Journey
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River Region’s Journey
April 2015
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“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all you strength and all your mind; and love your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27 The story of the Good Samaritan is the scripture upon which Neighbors in Christ was founded. “We are the Good Samaritan who came and helped the man who was lying on the side of the road,” explains Executive Director Barbara Hopkins. “We got him up and got him whatever he needed to be safe, secure and back on his feet. As Neighbors in Christ, that is what we do.” Neighbors in Christ began in 1989 under the name Neighbors Who Care. This organization was formed when several local leaders, including Judge Joseph Phelps and District Attorney Ellen Brooks, went to Chuck Colson, who was known for his work with prison ministry, with a question. They acknowledged all that he did for the
prisoners and their families, but they wanted to know what he did for the victims. Shortly after that a program called Neighbors Who Care was formed, and it was designed to serve victims of crime and people whose homes had been broken into. In 2000, Chuck Colson and his group from Washington pulled out of Neighbors Who Care and allowed the City of Montgomery to keep the ministry under a different name. From there, Neighbors in Christ was formed, and 15 years later still touches the lives of many families in this community. After the name change, Neighbors in Christ continued to do the same thing the ministry was designed to do, serve victims of crime. They do this by repairing doors that may have been kicked in, fixing locks that were broken, or even windows that might have been destroyed. Not only does NIC lend a helping hand to those who have been burglarized, they also work closely with the Family Sunshine Center to remove people from domestic violence situations and place them in a safe location. In 2009, NIC received one of the biggest blessings to date when a moving truck was donated to this ministry. Since then,
they have been able to transport domestic violence victims from their homes, which are not safe for them to continue living in, to a new location where they will be much safer. When it comes to getting in contact with victims, NIC works closely with the Montgomery Police Department and the Montgomery Sheriff’s Department. Until 2008, NIC was able to get copies of all of the police reports which were filed and find anyone who had experienced a break in. With this list, they were able to contact any of those people and let them know that NIC was there for them and willing to do whatever they could to help out. After the police reports were unable to be handed out anymore, NIC had to come up with a whole new plan of reaching victims. Up until that point, NIC had done no advertising; they strictly counted on the police reports to be able to personally reach out to these families. However, they did not let this mild obstacle stop them from doing what they know they are designed to do, help others. NIC began going to roll calls at the police department and passing their cards out to the officers, telling them anytime there
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April 2015
River Region’s Journey
was a break in to either call them or give their information to the victims so they could help. “Every time we see a slowdown in our business, we know it is time to get back in the police department and make our presence known,” says Hopkins. NIC is designed to help those victims in Montgomery and Montgomery County, simply because they do not have the funding to reach out to those surrounding counties. With domestic violence cases, they do often times have to work cases outside of the city limits. Neighbors in Christ is a strictly non-profit organization that does not charge the victims anything for their services. They operate solely on volunteers and are always looking for anyone who wants to help. “Although our services are free of charge to our victims, we have had instances where the victim has the funding to purchase the new fixtures and simply needs help installing them, and we are always more than happy to do that as well,” says Hopkins.
Currently, NIC is in desperate need of volunteers. Helping out is easy. All you need to do is call NIC at (334) 271-3133, or visit their office at 2101 Eastern Boulevard, Suite #313. From there, you will need to fill out a volunteer form and they will place you where they feel you will be the best fit for the ministry. They are currently in the most need of people to go out and actually preform the
Join Us For
HEALTHY KID’S DAY
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satUrday, april 18, 2015 9AM to 10AM — Body Pump Group Exercise Launch for Adults while kids enjoy our NEW 7 to 11 Club — featuring games, arts & crafts, and other fun activities. 1PM to 3PM — Soccer games, space walkers, bouncy houses, obstacle courses, face painting, canoeing, fishing, hiking, kid’s Zumba classes, pool activities, healthy snacks, and more. Activities will vary center-to-center. FOR HEALTHY KID’S DAY ONLY: Bring in a pair of used athletic shoes to benefit the Ghana, Africa YMCA and enjoy a NO JOIN FEE — a savings of up to $100. Find your one-stop shop for all summer activites and enjoy a no registration fee for summer camps, summer childcare, and afterschool care.
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Find your fun activities at these centers: Kershaw YMCA, Wetumpka YMCA, Grandview Family YMCA, East Family YMCA, Southeast YMCA, Greenville YMCA, Bell Road YMCA, and YMCA Goodtimes Center.
Giveaways for the first 3,000 kids! ymcamontgomery.org
April 2015
Mandy Pascal is a graduate of Troy University with a degree in Print Journalism.
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River Region’s Journey
repairs that need to be made to the houses. They have one church group that currently volunteers for them, but would love to see many more get involved because it is such a great way to help out in the community while also sharing the Gospel of Christ. If repairs are not your thing, then Barbara can always use an extra hand in the office. Whether filing papers, answering phones or simply getting flyers together, every little bit helps. “We appreciate every bit of help and support we get, from donations to volunteers, but we need more,” expressed Hopkins. Think back to the story of the Good Samaritan. If it had not been for the Samaritan traveling down the road, that poor beaten man would have continued to lie on the ground. But the Good Samaritan took it upon himself to have mercy on him. We are instructed in Luke 10:37 to “Go and do likewise.”
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Are You in God’s Arena? Since the beginning of Lent, I have found myself pondering my willingness to sacrifice for my faith, family and community. Throughout the history of the United States, remarkable sacrifices have been made by our forbearers. Many of them had few material possessions to give, but they gave their lives in service to their faith and country. I wonder if my desire for comfort causes me to avoid anything that might compromise it? Am I, in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s description, a “moderate” more devoted to “order” and the status quo than to completing the mission to which God calls us? Am I striving to do God’s work with great devotion? In my clinical practice, identifying one’s God given purpose is a great challenge for many. To identify our purpose, we must be aware of the gifts He has given each of us to use for His glory. Operating outside of one’s gifts causes frustration but operating within one’s gifts provides peace and divine fulfillment, even if we are exhausted in the process. In Romans 12, Paul instructs us to… 1 offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve
what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 3…think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function…. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. Am I willing to seek and trust the Holy Spirit’s leading, identifying my gifts and boldly seeking the opportunities God presents me to make a difference in this world? Taking up the cross is to sacrifice self for what is right and let go of approval, comfort, status, and privilege. Jesus was a clear example of sacrifice and the gospels provided us with clear instructions. Mark 8:34-38 (NIV) “…Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” I was deeply moved by Theodore Roosevelt’s quote from “The Man in the Arena” which was read as a comment on 27
the sacrifice a veteran made on multiple occasions. “The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly….” In his letter from the Birmingham Jail in August of 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote “So here we are…with a religious community largely adjusted to the status quo, standing as a tail-light behind other community agencies rather than a headlight leading men to higher levels of justice.” Are we in God’s arena? Are we taking up the Cross striving valiantly to be God’s headlight? Are we passionate enough to suffer rejection or condemnation for our faith? At some point in our lives, we will have to decide if we will take up the Cross. What sacrifice is God calling you to make? Nancy W. Thomas, M.A., N.C.C., C.C.M.H.C., L.P.C.
Nancy Thomas is the Executive Director of Clinical Services at The Samaritan Counseling Center, Inc. in Montgomery. She is a National Certified Counselor, Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Professional Counselor. She graduated from the University of Alabama with an M.A. in Counselor Education in 1994. She has extensive training and experience in mental health and marriage and family therapy. Her professional interests are in mental health recovery, adolescent and college issues, life transitions, healthy relationships, marital counseling, parenting, spirituality and identity development, and preserving marriages and families. Nancy works primarily with adolescents and adults.
April 2015
River Region’s Journey
It’s Later Than You Think “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12 Mike was recently reading from Focus on the Family’s book, Great Stories Remembered 2, when he came upon a story that touched his heart. A bereaved woman in a hospital was all alone. A compassionate doctor who looked quite fatigued came to sit with her. Later when she asked a nurse about him, she commented that he was at the hospital day and night. Years later, the woman wrote him a letter. She explained that she had been visiting a lovely garden and had come upon a brass plate on the garden wall. The plate read, “Enjoy yourself. It’s later than you think.” She encouraged the doctor, for his own sake, to sit down and consider those words. “Enjoy yourself. It’s later than you think.” That night the doctor could not sleep. He remembered a time in the past when he took a week off from work. Upon returning, he realized that his patients had received excellent care and had even thrived while he was away. Finally, the doctor called his best friend and asked him to go to South America with him for a few weeks. At first the friend felt he could not possibly take time off. But after contemplating the words, “It’s later than you think,” he changed his mind. In a large South American city they met a wealthy man. When asked if he ever played golf, the man replied that he never had the time for such enjoyment. His wife and children were travelling in the US, but he had been unable to go with them because of his work. The doctor and his friend shared the story of River Region’s Journey
April 2015
the garden plate: “Enjoy yourself. It’s later than you think.” The next morning, the business man was amazed that those words had such a profound effect upon him. He decided to join his wife and children on holiday. The doctor shared at the end of the story that his friend lived only a few years more. He spent the last hours at his bedside. Over and over again he said, “I am so happy that we went to South America together. I thank God we did not wait too long.” God wants us to be wise in how we use our time, for the days are fleeting and time with loved ones is precious. The Bible says, “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12) Many of us get so caught up in our day-to-day work that we forget to rest and enjoy what God has given us. The demands on our life dominate our time and sap our energy until we have nothing left for God, our family or for ourselves. A few days after reading that story, Mike and I received an email from a dear friend from Air Force years whose son is now a Marine Captain. She shared another touching narrative with us. The correspondent, an elderly aunt, said in her email: I’m not anticipating any problems, health-wise, etc., but we just lost our former pastor totally unexpectedly last Sunday from an aorta aneurism - mid 60s. They had just had a “Marriage Encounter” weekend, staying with friends. One of the exercises was to take quite a long time to write a letter of appreciation to the spouse. They were tired afterwards, but he wanted to read his to her. She said let’s wait till we get to our own home, but he said no, I want to do it 28
now. After that he didn’t feel right, then I guess collapsed, and was gone. I know the wife, in her bereavement, was so thankful for the time she spent with her husband at the marriage weekend and that she allowed him to read her the love letter just before he died. Seven times a year, Mike and I conduct 5-week “Family Teams for Life” training programs in partnership with the Maxwell AFB Chapel for couples attending Squadron Officer School. Only a few are able to bring their families with them. Here’s a common story we hear during every program: “My husband has been gone 120 days in the last 6 months. He is being deployed in July for another 6 months. We’ll take advantage of any time we can get together!” These couples acutely feel the need to make each day together count. They live with the knowledge that the active duty airman or soldier could lose his life at any time, whether they are in Iraq, Afghanistan, or even at home. Just a few weeks ago, a special forces Army helicopter went down in Florida during a training exercise. Seven Marines and four Army crew members aboard were killed, leaving widows and fatherless children behind. So whether we are married or single, young or old, military or civilian, let us all remember to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom, because it’s later than we think. 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 33 years, Mike and Lisa have three daughters, two sons-in-law, and three grandchildren.
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There’s always something exciting and new at New Park. New lots to choose from, with a selection of beautiful and affordable home plans by Montgomery’s premier homebuilders. A sparkling new pool in the center of the neighborhood ready for summer fun. And the city’s newest elementary, middle and high schools within a short walk or bike ride, including Montgomery’s newest high school–Park Crossing. Come explore a new lifestyle for you and your family–at New Park.
Move-in Ready 9213 Concord Park Dr.
2015
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For the latest neighborhood news and promotions, follow us on Facebook.
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April 2015
River Region’s Journey
C Better News? Really? In Churchville, New York, a new student group has been formed called The Better News Club. Unfortunately, it has been established to counter the Biblical truth being shared in a local chapter of the popular Christian outreach called The Good News Club, sponsored by Child Evangelism Fellowship. You may be familiar with CEF – its ministry offers powerful tools that God is using to bring children to Jesus Christ. Through their Good News Clubs in schools across the nation, the 5-Day Club programs during the summer, and a host of quality resources, CEF is bringing truth to children. In 2013, CEF reached some 15.6 million children with the gospel in almost 190 countries, according to its website. The website, ChristianNews.net, reported on this so-called Better News Club, which is offering a Young Skeptics program to elementary school students. The website for the group states, “The organization was created first as an alternative to the Good News Club, a Christian evangelical group who enters public schools to proselytize to children and, according to their own materials, declares them all sinners in need of salvation.” The Better News Club people say that they see the Good News Club as “a form of psychological abuse, akin to telling small children they’re flawed or evil, and must subscribe to a dogma in order to avoid eternal punishment.” According to the permission slip for the Young Skeptics, the program serves as “an educational club dedicated to helping our kids find answers themselves, through critical thinking and problem solving.” River Region’s Journey
April 2015
As previously reported by ChristianNews.net, a summer camp hosted by CEF in Portland, Oregon, came under fire last summer for teaching children that each person is a sinner in need of the Savior. Those who opposed the group asserted that CEF does not present “Jesus loves you” mainstream Christianity, but is rather “hardcore evangelical fundamental.” CEF Vice President of Ministries Moises Esteves responded to the Portland situation, telling local television station KOIN, “Listen, the message of the gospel, the teaching of the core Christian tenets of the Christian faith that have been taught for 2,000 years in the Bible is what we’re teaching...There’s nothing new here.” The ChristianNews.net article relates that CEF says that it is not teaching anything outside of the basic and fundamental truths of the gospel—and that mankind must understand the bad news to know why the good news is so good. I contend that if you’re going to claim to have “Better News,” then you need to be prepared to back that claim up! The Good News Club, which really has the best news of all, actually has answers for the challenges we face in life. Yes, as the Bible teaches, we are all sinners - thankfully, He offers a way out of that state of separation from God in our sin, through the new birth! What does the “Better News” crowd offer? Where is the hope in the atheist or “skeptic” message? Seems to me that their message would only leave children with a 30
sense of hopelessness – without the true love that Jesus offers. I guess that the “Better News” purveyors somehow think that being free from submission to God is a good thing, but only through a relationship with Christ can you experience true freedom, the ability to not be bound by the weight of sin, the ability to live a life of love and joy. A life not dependent on human fallibility, but on God’s ability! One of the aforementioned articles says that Protect Portland Children, which seeks to speak out against CEF’s message and influence parents not to allow their children to attend its events, has a profile photograph of a child holding a sign that reads “I am not a sinner.” That’s Biblically incorrect!! It is true, we are sinners! The awareness of our own sinfulness is a catalyst for our accepting Jesus as Savior and experiencing redemption and true freedom in Him. The world we live in today, in a sense, is one in which significant numbers of people do not accept truth - and looking back through the ages, we recognize that there has been, and will continue to be, hostility toward the gospel message. We have to be prepared for that, and also recognize that the Holy Spirit is at work, dealing with the hearts of people to cause them to be more receptive to the gospel. God will use us to share the very, very good news - the best news of all. The best news is God has provided us a Savior to save sinners – to redeem our lives, give us a new start, to inhabit our hearts, and lead us daily. We can be recipients of the greatest love of all, the love that motivated Jesus to die for you and me! 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 2015 Community Calendar Monthly events can also be found in the Around Our Community Section starting on page 8. Wednesdays in April Hospice of Montgomery (HOM) will be hosting a Grief Support Group each Wednesday in April from 10:30 a.m.11:30 a.m. The support group will meet at Hospice of Montgomery’s office located at 1111 Holloway Park, Montgomery, April 1st thru April 29th. This Grief Support Group is open to the community. Grief education programs are also available to individuals living within Hospice of Montgomery’s service area. For info contact Hospice of Montgomery at 334-279-6677 or www.hospiceofmontgomery. org. Sunday, April 5 Community-Wide Easter Sunrise Service Covenant Presbyterian Church [in conjunction with 2Cities Church] will be hosting a 7 am Easter Sunrise Service outside on their grounds [5 Arden Rd/Atl Highway]. They welcome the whole community to share in a time of praise and worship and hear from the Word of God that Christ is Risen! For more information, please contact Brian MacDonald [brian@2cities.org]. Thursday, April 9 The Capitol Sounds Concert Band will be performing a FREE concert at Frazer UMC, 6000 Atlanta Highway, at 7:00 PM. Tuesday, April 14 (also 21 and 28) The Renew Women’s Ministry of Saint James UMC is offering a 3-week study on Hope. The dates are Tuesdays, April 14, 21, & 28 at 9:30-11am or 6:30-8pm. Childcare available for morning session by reservation. To register, contact Sarah Olsen at Sarah@ sjlife.com or 481-0724. Visit our facebook page, Renew Women’s Ministry of Saint James UMC, for more information.
Thursday, April 16 An Evening with Casting Crowns, 7 pm, in Wesley Hall, Frazer Memorial UMC. Casting Crowns are Dove and Grammy Award winners. Tickets available online through Premier Productions or in the Frazer Bookstore. Call 334.272.8622 or email butch@frazerumc.org. Considering Home Schooling? Come to a free, informative meeting from 6-8pm at Lakeview Baptist Church, 9225 Atlanta Highway. RSVP to homeshoolrules2015@yahoo. com. Childcare will not be provided. Saturday, April 18 Benefit Auction at Saint James UMC to benefit youth and children’s missions on Saturday, from 4-6 p.m. Visitors may preview items on Friday, April 17, from 5–7 p.m. There is no cost for either event. Items featured include antique furniture and rugs from Pickwick Antiques, original artwork, jewelry, salon and boutique certificates, gift cards from local businesses, and vacation home rentals. Visit www. sjlifeauction.com for a preview of items. Saturday, April 25 Capital City Master Gardener Annual Plant Sale will be held from 7:30 am to noon at Frazer United Methodist Church. Children’s gardening activities, 9:00-11:00. 9:00 a.m. Growing Tomatoes, 11:00 a.m. Succulent Gardening. For more information, go to capcitymga.org. May 1 and May 2 Trinity Youth Yard Sale will be held on May 1, 6-9 p.m, May 2, 6-11:45 a.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, 610 Fairview Ave, Prattville. All proceeds support youth summer missions. Bring your discarded items to the church for the youth to sell. Donations accepted starting April 23. Saturday, May 2 A Missions Flea Market will be held from 7 a.m.-1 p.m. at Frazer United Methodist Church, Parking Lot by Frazer Soccer Fields , 6000 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery. The annual Missions Flea Market, sponsored by the Frazer Single Adult Ministry, raises funds to support mission projects. Rent a Booth: space to sell your own stuff at this high-traffic market costs only $20. Call 272.8622.
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. 31
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. 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. 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 April 2015
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April 2015 Community Calendar 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. 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. 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.
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) 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 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;
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Sunday Worship Service 10:30 a.m. and Wednesday Night Bible Study 7:30 p.m. 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. Call 334-269-6498. 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.
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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.
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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 $10 for a one hour lesson, devotional, and 3 hours of DJ music. All denominations welcome. 7:3010:30 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”. Call the church office 334-657-0392 or visit www. theriveroflifechurch.net. 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 7:00p.m. Don’t forget this program is available for all children! 33
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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. 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. 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. 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 radio-homecominggospel.com Sunday 3:00p.m. Central & 4:00 p.m. Eastern. and Satellite Radio -wlsg 1340am Sunday 3:00p.m. 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.
Send your events to deanne@ readjourneymagazine.com. River Region’s Journey
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she has a good job making $50,000 a year. The other day, she told me she has $15,000 in credit card debt and has financed an expensive car she’s upside down on. Her apartment costs $600 a month, and she is asking for help to get out of the hole. We tried to teach her how to handle money, but apparently it didn’t work. How do you think I should handle this situation?
A. Here’s what I would tell her if she were my kid in that situation. First, I’m not paying for your problem to go away. I’d tell her to sell the car and get a cheap little beater. She’ll have to get a small loan to cover the difference, but it will rid her of a car payment. And hey, a little bit of debt is better than a whole lot of debt — especially when the debt is on something that’s going down in value. After that, she can get a part-time job and work her tail off until she cleans up the mess she made. I know all this sounds harsh, but this girl had a good thing going and she screwed it up by being impulsive and immature.
Think about it; she’s making $50,000 a year, and only $7,200 of that was going toward rent. Her taxes aren’t that much, so where’s the rest of the money going? I’m guessing a big chunk is being wasted on restaurants, goofing off and other stuff she doesn’t really need. Let her wallow in it and worry about things for while first, though. Then, if she’s willing to accept responsibility for her actions, and she starts working hard toward handling her money wisely, you might help her out once in a while. Every time she pays off $1,000, you could add $500 to the next payment. But I’d test her resolve first to see if she wants it badly enough!
A. I’m 64, and I’ve been dating a 73-yearold man for four years. We’re talking about marriage, and we’ve been discussing finances. He’s retired, but I still work parttime even though I’m in pretty good shape financially. His plan, if we get married, is to give his house and his savings to his children, while we live in my home. We’d still have his small pension, what I bring home
and my savings, but I think he should invest at least half of what he has in our marriage and relationship. What do you think?
A. So, his wealth goes to his kids and you get to feed and take care of him until he dies? In my mind, this is not a good plan. I think what you’re discovering here is that this guy just doesn’t want to be lonely. It sounds, too, like he’s dipping into your wealth while all his stuff goes to his kids. I’d be a little frustrated with this idea if I were you. And I think the two of you need some premarital and relationship counseling before you take another step forward. Right now, you’re in third place behind his kids and his belongings. I’m not saying he has to give everything to you, but you guys definitely need to have a serious talk and find a little balance. Right now, he’s clinging to everything in one way or another, and not really offering to take care of you. In my mind, you need to be ready to take a bullet for someone when you want to marry them. And this guy hasn’t shown that he’s ready to put you first.
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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.
Do You Believe?
The Divergent Series: Insurgent
Production Quality: **** Moral Acceptability: -1 (Caution) Starring: Ted McGinley, Sean Astin, Mira Sorvino, Cybill Shepherd, Madison Pettis, Andrea Logan White, Lee Majors, Senyo Amoaku, Brian Bosworth, Shane Carson, Valerie Dominquez, Alexa PenaVega, Liam Matthews, Amy McFadden Genre: Drama Audience: Older children and adults Rating: PG-13 Content: Very strong Christian, biblical worldview that challenges believers to boldly carry the cross and to live out their faith in love, forgiveness, kindness, service, and sacrifice, the Gospel is boldly presented and lives are redeemed; no foul language; light violence includes a van crashes into a house, gun shots are heard and seen, a man’s legs are crushed by a barrel, and he dies, a man has a nightmare and attacks his sister, a sick man coughs blood, a man is shot three times in the back, an intense car crash pushes a car off a bridge and causes another vehicle to explode in an intense scene; no sexual content, with light kissing between married couples; light wine drinking; no drug use; teenage pregnancy and robbery, but not condoned. DO YOU BELIEVE? is a powerful movie from the studio that brought you GOD’S NOT DEAD. It follows 12 people through their individual struggles with faith, trial, pain, and loss. It begins with one man on the street who asks a pastor whether he believes in Jesus Christ, and, if so, what’s he going to do about it? This spurs the pastor to rethink what it means to carry the Cross of Christ. He starts a ripple effect leading 12 souls on a path that powerfully connects their lives together. DO YOU BELIEVE? is a beautiful, exceptionally welldone Christian movie. It delivers strong characters with compelling and moving dramatic arcs. The movie challenges Christians to live out their Christianity through kindness, service and sacrifice. It also challenges them to boldly share their faith, no matter the consequences. Furthermore, to those that are struggling and have lost all hope and faith, God’s love for them is made abundantly clear. DO YOU BELIEVE? doesn’t shy away from difficult subjects. Though it’s never gratuitous, some of the mature elements may warrant caution for young children.
Production Quality: *** Moral Acceptability: -2 (Extreme Caution) Starring: Shailene Woodley, Miles Teller, Ansel Elgort, Theo James, Naomi Watts, Kate Winslet, Jai Courtney, Zoe Kravitz, Maggie Q, Octavia Spencer, Ashley Judd, Ray Stevenson Genre: Science Fiction Audience: Teenagers and adults Rating: PG-13 Content: Strong moral worldview with some redemptive content; six obscenities (a few “s” words) and two barely audible slurred profanities; strong action violence, but not much gore, includes multiple fistfights with punching, kicking, knife lunging, two arms are broken, multiple gun fights with shooting, three people are shot point blank execution style (all three take place off screen or in the background), girl falls off ledge to her death; passionate kissing that leads to undressing (nothing explicit shown) and implied fornication (with the actress character seeming too young for the actor’s); upper male nudity and female back nudity; light drinking; no drugs, though dream-inducing serums are used. THE DIVERGENT SERIES: INSURGENT is the sequel to last year’s DIVERGENT, based on the young adult novels. After Tris and Four effectively stopped Jeanine from killing off the Abnegation faction, the two Dauntless rebels are now on the run. When the oppressive and evil Jeanine gets hold of an old box that may be the key to gaining more power, she must find every Divergent person she can to unlock the box. Tris and Four get caught in the middle of the conflict while they navigate their feelings for their families and their love for each other. INSURGENT is exciting and action packed and many will find it just as entertaining, if not more so than DIVERGENT. While the script moves along nicely, the direction isn’t always effective. Like DIVERGENT, the movie has many strong Christian, biblical messages about sacrifice. INSURGENT primarily deals, however, with the theme of forgiveness and fighting injustice. Sadly, there’s an implied sex scene between Tris and Four after some passionate kissing. This, along with some action violence and brief foul language in INSURGENT, requires strong caution.
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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Children’s Sunday
April 12 | 6:15 pm | Main Sanctuary | FREE! For more information, visit
www.montgomeryfbc.org
First Baptist Church Montgomery | 305 South Perry Street | 334.834.6310