Volume 16, Issue 10
Feature Articles
FEBRUARY 20 1 5 Columns page 2
Publisher’s Note
page 12
Jason Watson
Faith @ Work
page 4
Actuary and Vice President with Alfa Insurance, Donnie Manis shares why he believes his work is important to the kingdom of God, and how he has opportunities to live out his faith at work every day.
Pastor's Perspective Pastor Scotty Harris, Grace Pointe Church
page 11
Pondering the Journey Sam Whatley
page 14
Shine
Kim Hendrix
page 16
page 19
CEF of Central Alabama
With All Your Mind Matt Jordan, Ph.D.
Offering Local Summer Mission Opportunities for Teens and College Students
page 20
Counselor’s Corner Jessica Gibbe Fernandez, Ph.D.
page 28
by Kelley Parker
The Intersection
Find out how you or your child can become involved in sharing the gospel of Christ with young children this summer through CEF’s Christian Youth In Action® program.
Bob Crittenden
page 30
Family Teams for Christ Lisa and Mike Conn
page 35
Dave $ays Dave Ramsey
page 24
Tried and True Keys to a Healthy Marriage by Jasmine York
Meet four River Region couples who’ve each been married more than 30 years. Discover why they are still in love and some secrets to their happiness. 1
In Every Issue page 6
Books to Read page 8
Around Our Community page 21
Support Groups page 32
Event Calendar page 36
Movie Reviews February 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 Tim Challies Lisa and Mike Conn Bob Crittenden Jessica Gibbe Fernandez, Ph.D. Pastor Scotty Harrison Kim Hendrix Matt Jordan, Ph.D. Kelley Parker Dave Ramsey Sam Whatley Jasmine York
Advertising Opportunities Jason Watson ads@readjourneymagazine.com (334) 213-7940 ext 703
From the Publisher So this is the month of love. Are you seeing red yet? It’s time to buy roses and a heart-shaped box of chocolates to celebrate your Valentine! Love will surely fill your hearts as you share your drug store poems over an order of “steak for two.” Okay, I’ll stop poking fun. I honestly love having another reason to dote over my amazing wife, but wouldn’t it be nice if real love and a fulfilling marriage was as easy as buying flowers and candy. It takes a lot of work to have success in this area. Thankfully, there are examples of what this looks like and we sat down with four of them, from right here in the River Region, to find out their Tried and True Keys to a Healthy Marriage. Maybe you can kick the meaning of Valentine’s Day up a notch by reading this article with your spouse and then discussing what you can both learn from these couples. Most all of us go to work every day. It might be to a downtown office, a military base, restaurant or at home with lunch boxes and laundry. Why do we work? Is the work we do meaningless? On page 14 Kim Hendrix asks a simple, yet profound, question in her column, What Do You Do For a Living? Her question and answer will transform your view of work from a mundane chore to a meaningful mission. Also, we interviewed Donnie Manis, who works as an actuary for Alfa Insurance, for this month’s Faith @ Work column on page 12. Some people may not be able to see how working as an actuary can be a calling from God, but Donnie is an excellent example of how one “works unto the Lord.” These are two articles I think you should read back-to-back. Finally, I want to point out Bob Crittenden’s column The Top Ten Topics of 2014. When a major event happens we are swept up into its story as it goes through the news cycle, but we naturally move on afterwards. If we’re not careful though, we’ll miss seeing how some of these events and stories are connected to past history and philosophical movements shaping our society today. Bob’s column served as a wake up call for me and made me pray for our country and our families. A lot happened in the 365 days of 2014. What will happen in the next 365? How can you bring truth and hope into the story? Hopefully, this issue and every issue we publish will encourage and equip you for the “Journey.”
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Tim Welch, Welch Designs
Distribution Team Kristy Brennan Wendy McCollum Chris Mitchell Manzie Moore Richard Ward Lesa Youngblood
River Region’s Journey is published monthly by Keep Sharing, P.O. Box 230367, Montgomery, AL 36123. For information, call 334-213-7940. River Region’s Journey is copyrighted 2014 by KeepSharing. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. The opinions expressed in River Region’s Journey are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the owners, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products or services herein. River Region’s Journey has the right to refuse any content that is not consistent with its statement of faith.
River Region’s Journey
February 2015
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20 Heart Screenings on $
Love Your Heart Day at Baptist.
Wouldn’t now be a good time to learn if your heart is happy and healthy? For one day only on February 28th, Baptist South is offering heart screenings for only $20. We’ll test your cholesterol, blood pressure and resting EKG, and assess your risk for heart trouble. It’s all part of Baptist’s Love Your Heart Day, and includes a free light breakfast after your tests. So join us February 28th for your heart screening. And show your heart just how much you love it.
Love Your Heart Day February 28th Call 273.4304 to register BaptistLoveYourHeart.com 3
February 2015
River Region’s Journey
Pastor’s Perspective
O
Pastor Scotty Harris, Grace Pointe Church
Wedding Vows & Lasting Marriages It’s been noted that “a lot of people have great weddings, but not everyone has a great marriage.” As a minister, I am often asked about perceived shifts in American cultural definitions of marriage and what is my opinion of these shifts? Without any intention of evading the question, I typically respond with, “I’m no authority on culture, but I am a student of Scripture. So, I try to study and respect God’s own definition of marriage as the last and best word on this (or any) subject.” The holy Scriptures are the origin of the timeless traditional wedding vows which have been exchanged by couples for centuries. Many biblical texts define the privileges and responsibilities of marriage. (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:22-25; Matthew 19:1-9; 1 Corinthians 7:1-7).
River Region’s Journey
February 2015
“I, John, take you, Jane, to be my lawfully wedded wife” – marriage is a legal contract as well as a spiritual covenant and should involve a keen regard for the ordinances of God and of the State. Many ceremonies conclude with the words, “As a minister of the Gospel in accordance with the laws of the State of [Alabama], I now pronounce you husband and wife.” “To have and to hold” – this speaks to the one-flesh intimacy of marriage, the sexual embrace of physical union. This also involves ‘forsaking all other’ sexual relationships and to keep true to each other in an exclusive, monogamous covenant of love and fidelity. “From this day forward” – Once the vows are exchanged and the couple is pronounced husband and wife, they are to live in honorable fidelity and devotion to each other for a lifetime. “This day” our life together as “Mr. and Mrs.” has begun. All that has come before this day is closed and past. Together, we will walk hand-inhand the road ahead. “For richer, for poorer, for better, for worse” – whether money is abundant or scarce, whether material goods increase or not, we will remain committed to each other in honor of the vows exchanged on our wedding day. “In sickness and in health” – One young couple was married for less than a year when the husband, in his late twenties, suffered a tragic accident that left him quadriplegic. This might have been disastrous for their young marriage; it 4
might even have ended the marriage. But the young wife remembered her “in sickness and in health” vows on their wedding day, and she remained devoted to her husband for years before his eventual death. “I will never leave you. If you grow old and wrinkled, I will love you. If you get sick, I will take care of you. I will feed you, bathe you, and clothe you. I will do anything for you except leave you. I will never leave you.” This captures, in vivid description, the spirit of the permanency of the wedding vows. “To love and to cherish” – marriage is not something merely to be endured, but to be enjoyed. When couples marry, they vow to each other in the presence of God, and in the company of human witnesses, that they are committing to growing ever deeper in loving respect and care for one another with each passing year. “Until death shall separate us” – Despite the high number of divorces in our country each year, someone has correctly observed that, according to the Bible, God’s ideal purpose for married couples is “one man, for one woman, for one lifetime.” While our great God is most certainly gracious in his forgiveness of divorced people, his great loving heart would spare any person the pain of divorce. “So help me, God.” – This perhaps, is the most crucially important part of the wedding vow. It recognizes that we desperately need God’s help, strength, grace, wisdom, humility, and forgiveness if we are to honor our wedding vows for a lifetime. “In the beginning, God made them male and female … For this reason, a man will leave his father mother and be joined to his wife … Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
(Matthew chapter 19, verses 5 and 6)
Scotty Harris is Senior Minister of Grace Pointe Church, 1565 Ray Thorington Road, in Montgomery.
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Our Statement of Faith In keeping with Protestant theology, we believe that the Bible, as contained in the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, is fully inspired by God and therefore inerrant in the original manuscripts. The Bible is the only essential and infallible record of God’s self-disclosure to mankind. The Scriptures are the authoritative and normative rule and guide of all Christian life, practice, and doctrine. They are totally sufficient and must not be added to, superseded, or changed by later tradition, extra-biblical revelation, or worldly wisdom. The Bible is perfect in every way and shows us how to become and live as Christians. The way of becoming a Christian is by faith alone in Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, who came to us, born of a virgin, in full human form while remaining fully God. Jesus was, and is, perfect, and was crucified so that others could live. Three days later He rose from the dead, never to die again. He ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God the Father, where He, the only mediator between God and man, continually makes intercession for His own. Those who have faith in Jesus as their Lord in this life, and Savior from damnation in the next life, now live by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, becoming more like Jesus everyday. We believe that God is one God. The one God has three persons: the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Just as God is one, so also, all believers are to be one. We believe in the unity and fellowship of all those that have faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. We are one in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, His Body, which is composed of all men, living and dead, who have been joined to Him through saving faith. *All editorial content published needs to be in agreement with our Statement of Faith
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February 2015
River Region’s Journey
John Stott’s Right Hand by Julia Cameron
Here’s a new book that combines two things I love: Books that come from off the beaten path, and ones that deal with interesting but ordinary people. As it happens, John Stott’s Right Hand: The Untold Story of Frances Whitehead was privately published after being turned down by trade publishers, and it tells the life of a fascinating but relatively unknown individual. John Stott’s name is known around the world. For decades he was one of Evangelicalism’s most prominent voices. His ministry impacted millions and his legacy will endure for generations. What most people do not know is that for 55 years Frances Whitehead served alongside him as his secretary. But she was more than that. She was his gatekeeper, stenographer, typist, encourager, and enabler. Fittingly, before he died he also made her executor of his estate. This book tells her story. Whitehead first encountered Stott when she, as an unbeliever, began attending his church. She was a young woman working for the BBC and would sometimes walk across the road to visit his church on her lunch break. Going into that church she would hear Stott preach, and over time the words he preached began to take root, and she came to faith. It was River Region’s Journey
February 2015
not too long after her conversion that Stott asked her to serve as his secretary. She accepted the position, little knowing that she would hold it for more than five decades. For all those years Stott and Whitehead labored side-by-side, both of them remaining single and both of them remaining singularly focused. She typed his books, she kept people from interfering with his rigid schedule, she organized his life, she drove him to and from the airport, and she even traveled with him on many occasions. She sat beside him in the nursing home when he went to glory, and eulogized him at his funeral. She was his helper and right hand through almost his entire ministry. Of course people will naturally wonder about the nature of the relationship. Was it romantic? Did they ever struggle with feelings for one another? Is it even possible that they could work together so closely and for so long while maintaining a platonic relationship? Indeed, it is. John’s and Frances’s ability to work together so closely for so long was a mark of grace. Two single people of similar age working long hours, under pressure, in pursuit of the same goal, would, for most mission agencies or churches now be avoided. It is a tribute to both of them that for twenty years, before the study assistants arrived, they succeeding in working so closely as a team of two. They both had a high level of inner discipline, partly 6
innately and perhaps partly the product of their upbringing and education. While unspoken to one another, they resolutely did not allow for romantic hopes to take root; embarrassment and awkwardness would have undermined a remarkable working friendship. It was a unique partnership, and one for which the English language perhaps has no word. In an age which underplays the dignity of serving, it is hard to understand that aspect alone of Frances’s makeup, a woman so able in her own right. Her role was texture, layered, diverse. It has been described as a kind of “marriage without the marriage.” What kept them from transgression, or even true and godly romance, was their shared sense of calling. Stott believed God had called him to a life of singleness so he could give himself to writing, teaching, and raising up leaders. Whitehead believed God had called her to a life of singleness so she could serve Stott. Mark Labberton says, “It was a relationship of mutual honor and love, respect and affection, playfulness and partnership, independence and interdependence. John was able to do what he did because Frances was able to do what she did.” Whitehead’s life is interesting because she is an interesting person, but it is interesting as well because it intersected the life of such an important figure. She allowed him to be who he was, and she allowed him to do what he did. Those of us who have benefitted from Stott’s books and commentaries and other efforts have unknowingly benefitted from Whitehead’s long service. She is one of those unsung and unknown Christians who faithfully served her Savior by serving one of his servants. I am thankful that we can now know her story as well as Stott’s, because it is, really, just one story in two parts.
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River Region’s Journey
Religious Arts Festival at First UMC
First United Methodist is hosting its 4th annual Religious Arts Festival for the community February1-8. This is a free event for the whole family. We will sponsor a free animated movie at the Capri Theatre called Secret Kells, have art exhibits, a Readers Theatre, the Jazz group Presbybob will perform, among other things.
Senior Adult Fellowship Coming February 12
Frazer’s Senior Ministry kicked off the new year with an evening packed with entertainment. On the second Thursday of the month, Spirit brings seniors from all over the area to a night of fellowship, food and you can always count on fun! Their first gathering of the new year featured the Kempters along with Barbara Fairchild and Roy Morris. Spirit invites everyone to join them for their next night of fellowship February 12th. Call 272-8622 for details.
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
For EvEry G E n E r at i o n . Prattville First United Methodist Church 100 E. 4th Street, Prattville, AL 36067 T R A D IT IO N A L W O R S H IP 8 : 3 0 A M & 11: 00 A M S U N D AY S C H O O L 9 : 4 5 A M T H E W E L L 11 : 0 0 A M
www.prattvillemethodist.org River Region’s Journey
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Better Together Marriage Conference
with Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley, February 6-7
Better Together Marriage Conference is being presented by Christ Community Church, Evangel Church and Landmark Church on February 6 - 7. Dr. Greg & Erin Smalley, with Focus on the Family, will be featured speakers at the conference. Together, Greg & Erin have led marriage seminars around the world and trained pastors, professionals and leaders how to effectively work with married and engaged couples. Friday night sessions will be held at Christ Community Church on Ryan Road from 7 - 9 p.m., with the after party starting at 9. (Think great date night.) Saturday sessions are from 9 am. - 12:30 p.m., with lunch provided at Landmark Church. Cost is $30 per couple, $15 for singles. Register online at: www.bettertogether.life
Facing Your Giants with Renew Women’s Ministry
The Renew Women’s Ministry at Saint James United Methodist Church is hosting a 5-week community wide Bible study called ‘Facing Your Giants’. The study will be held Tuesdays at 9:30 am or 6:30 pm beginning February 10 (also 17th, 24th, March 3rd & 10th). Childcare for morning session available by reservation. Please call Erin Molina at 546-3260 with questions.
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Agape of Central Alabama Presents MICHAEL OHER
February 24 @ 7:30 p.m., MPAC Michael Oher came from a broken home and his estranged father was murdered while Oher was in high school. Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy became Oher’s legal guardians and he developed into a college football star and a top NFL draft pick. Oher’s story was told in Michael Lewis’s book The Blind Side and the Sandra Bullock film of the same name. Tickets begin at $27.
February 2015
River Region’s Journey
Success Unlimited Academy Hosts Bless Your Heart, A Women’s Conference
Success Unlimited Academy will host its first Women’s Conference February 20 and 21 in their new worship center located at 4500 Vaughn Road. Guest speakers are Tanya McLemore and Benita Edwards. This dynamic duo will leave you refreshed and spiritually renewed by digging deeper into God’s Word. The “Bless Your Heart” Conference will be a time of fellowship, Bible study, prayer, and laughter. Tickets are $25 for the two-day event or $20 for groups of 10 or more. Hours are 7-9:30 p.m. on February 20 and 9 a.m.-noon on February 21. You can purchase tickets by calling the school at 334-213-0803 or 334-676-1629.
Christian Comedian Tim Hawkins Live
March 12 @ 7 p.m. Vaughn Forest Church Ticket prices begin at $20. Visit https:// timhawkins.brushfireapp.com/events/427433 or call (888) 780-1116.
Resolving Conflict in Marriage Conference with Lou Priolo
Yard Sale at Christ Community Church
February 7, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Eastmont Baptist Church, 4505 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery. Join Lou Priolo, author of Resolving Conflict for a day of learning how to make, disturb & keep peace in Resolving Conflict in Marriage. (box lunch included). Cost: $20/singles; $30/couples
8285 Ryan Road February 14, 6 a.m.
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Horses, Chariots and Names About 3,000 years ago King David recorded in Psalm 20:7 something we instinctively know to be true, but find difficult to understand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. Horses and chariots in King David’s time were symbols of national wealth and power. In our day we might say aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines. Only the super powers had them in great numbers. But he warns us that pride comes with financial and military power. A country tends to forget about the divine and focuses on itself. You expect other nations to be impressed and to respect your name. But there is a name that is above all names, Jesus Christ. The names of human leaders are remembered for a while. They stand not only for themselves, but for ideas, values and ways of life. To illustrate this point, consider a magazine article in the early 1960’s entitled, “The World Depends on KKK: Not the Klan, but Kennedy, Khrushchev, and King.” John Kennedy was the popular young President of the United States; Nikita Khrushchev, the powerful Premier of the Soviet Union; and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the charismatic leader of the Civil Rights Movement. Just saying their names brought up images of clashing values within our society and a tense world-wide struggle called the Cold War. The stakes were very high and no one knew which side would win. Indeed, at the time it appeared that the world depended on the three K’s. But within five years we found out otherwise. In 1963 Kennedy was assassinated. The next year Khrushchev was forced to resign. And four years after that, Dr. King was killed by a sniper. Look at that verse from the Psalms again. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. God’s rule over the universe has not changed in the past 50 years, or the past
5,000. He is still on the throne and His name has all the power it had when he rolled out the stars and measured out the limits of the sea. He is not subject to death or the whims of a political party. He will not be replaced or dismissed. All those who declare that God is dead are soon in the morgue themselves. So when we are agonizing over the latest street crime, terrorist attack, or cultural upheaval, let’s remember that we trust in the One who has ultimate control over our lives. There is power in His name. There is power in the cross. There is power in the resurrection. King Solomon, David’s heir to the throne, expressed a similar thought in Psalm 127:1 – 2: Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. God does not remove us from our conflicts. He just makes us the people we ought to be while we are going through them. We are a people who are called by His name. And that affects how we live. When I was a teenager going out on a date, my mother would ask me what my last name was. I would answer and she would ask, “Is that a good name?” When I said yes, she would ask, “When you come home tonight, will it still be a good name?” One of the Ten Commandments is not 11
to take the Lord’s name in vain. If you are a Christian you are associated with His name and He with yours. May our lives not bring shame to His name. In their way Kennedy, Khrushchev, and King made significant changes in our world. But in a few years someone else had to take up their roles and move forward. And so it is with us. We have only a brief time to be the folks God has designed us to be. Let’s not waste this opportunity to shine His light in our community, at our places of work and study, and in our homes. The world really does depend on it.
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I don’t have a story of being immersed in activities we would call sinful and suddenly being liberated from that. But I think my story is at least as powerful, at least as much a testimony to God’s grace. I was trapped in a mind set where I thought I was good and could earn God’s favor. That can be a trap from which you never escape, and it leads to hell. But God reached into my heart and showed me that it was full of dead bones, rotting away. Only Jesus could change that, and He did. So now my outlook on life is that everything exists for God’s glory. Every good thing in me comes from Him, and my mission is simple: love God with all my heart, and love others as myself. RRJ: Of course your world view also engulfs your career choice and how you approach your responsibilities. Where do you work and what is your role there?
RRJ: Did you become redeemed through faith in Christ as a child or later in life? From the time I can remember, going to church was a given for me. But my faith was not my own until late in my 7th grade year. A group of young people from Dothan came to our church one weekend for something called a “Lay Witness Mission.” We spent Friday night, all day Saturday, and Sunday morning getting to know them and hearing stories of how Jesus had changed them. At a picnic Saturday afternoon, I remember praying to put my faith in Christ. I could sense right then that my heart was changed and my reason for living was different than it had ever been. RRJ: How would you say Christ changed your outlook on life? I love this question because I remember this very distinctly. I had never been a kid who got into much trouble. I loved my parents and wanted to please them, and that was why I tried to be a good kid. But from the day I put my trust in Christ, I sensed my motivation had changed. All of a sudden, I wanted to please my heavenly Father and that became my reason for doing good and avoiding evil influences. River Region’s Journey
February 2015
I work as an actuary for Alfa Insurance. In case you haven’t heard of actuaries (which I find happens a lot!), actuaries do statistical analysis of risk for development of business strategies, rate development and setting reserves for claims. Or, as I like to say, we are math geeks for insurance. At Alfa, I lead a team of 12 actuaries, product managers and analysts. We work together to create the best possible products at competitive rates, while making sure that we remain financially sound so that the company can provide service to our customers in their time of need. RRJ: Some might say that your job as an actuary doesn’t have kingdom significance. Do you agree or disagree, and why? Well, of course, I disagree. Serving and advancing the kingdom of God is the prime directive for every follower of Jesus. So I guess the question is, why do I think it’s significant? First, God has created and ordained work and, as such, it is how He has chosen to provide the goods and services that humans need to survive and thrive. I believe every Christian who is engaged in work that makes life better or possible for others is doing something noble and godly. In my case, I am providing analysis that allows my company to provide a service that keeps our economy moving. Without insurance, people and businesses would be paralyzed by the fear of losing everything they have. I am very proud to be part of a business that is there when people need us most. Second, like every working Christian, I have an opportunity to glorify God by doing excellent work. If I let people know I am working for God’s glory, then every time I meet a deadline and the analysis I provide is useful, God is honored. 12
Third, in my job I interact with a lot of people every day. Actuarial staff, my colleagues, our management – all are relationships I have because of my job. And relationships are where we can live out the gospel, showing the fruit of the Spirit in how we relate to people, always being ready to talk about Christ when the opportunity presents itself. It’s my mission field. Finally, Paul says in Ephesians 4:28 that everyone should work “so that he will have something to share with one who has need.” Earning money puts resources in my hands to love others and advance the kingdom. RRJ: I know sharing your faith so that others can come to know the power of salvation in Christ is a daily priority (as it should be for all Christians). Sometimes that happens when talking to a friend or long-time neighbor, but you’ve been intentional about getting involved with local and even international organizations to make sure you regularly have avenues to share the hope of Christ. Can you share about these organizations and why you’ve chosen this approach? Yes, that is very important to me. As you say, living for Christ and building His kingdom in my personal sphere of influence (work, family and friends) is my primary calling and should never be minimized. But in my life God has given me a heart for organizations that share the gospel with young people and that take it to the nations. To even start giving details would require their own interviews, but the two that stand out are Young Life (which shares Jesus with high school students) and Visiting Orphans (which sends short-term missions to all parts of the world). I spent over 30 years as a volunteer leader with Young Life, and have taken trips to Ethiopia with VO for the last five years. God is doing amazing things through those organizations, and I am humbled that God chooses to let me be a part of that. RRJ: For our readers who maybe struggle to live out their faith outside of the church walls, are there one or two things you can share that have helped you have the confidence to shine for Jesus everywhere you go? I think it’s to spend time getting to know God through Jesus, letting His life fill every corner of your being, and then relax! We don’t have any trouble talking about the things that make up our lives. We talk all the time about our families, movies we like, games we saw – the things we spend our time on. When life with Jesus becomes second nature to you, talking about Him won’t be a strain, or some project where you are checking off a list that you did your witnessing for the day. It’ll just be part of your life. And God will be glorified.
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February 2015
River Region’s Journey
What Do You Do For a Living? Matthew 4:18-20: “One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him.” (NLT) When you’re asked what you do for a living, how do you respond? Most of us probably answer with our profession...a doctor, teacher, mail carrier, waitress...the list goes on and on. Have you ever thought of answering with, “I follow Jesus Christ for a living!” In the past when I’ve read the story of Jesus calling for Peter and Andrew to stop fishing and follow him, the immediacy with which Peter and Andrew made their decision stood out to me more than anything else. No hesitation, no questions: “And they left their nets at once and followed him.” Obviously it’s how we all hope to respond when we hear God calling us. Recently when I read this passage of scripture again, the simple line, “…for they fished for a living,” seemed to be in bold print. You can imagine Peter and Andrew going through the motions of another hot day of casting their lines and hoping for a good catch so they could feed their families, or purchase a few necessary items, in other words, just pay the bills. Suddenly a man they barely even know walks by and suggests leaving all they’ve ever known about “making a living,” and they say “yes,” sensing this man is more than a mere mortal and that he is offering a true living. This time as I read this well known story in Matthew, I wrote in my Bible, ‘Follow River Region’s Journey
February 2015
Him for a True Living’, follow Jesus Christ for a great big, grace-filled, abundant life! Does it mean you have to change your profession? No. It means you allow God to change you, and suddenly the way you pay the bills becomes much more. Suddenly your eyes will open to how God is using you right where you are and how his plan is unfolding as long as you continue to follow him. Suddenly you are making a really good living. Working in broadcast news for 26 years provided many exciting and stressful days of making a living. I admit there were times I wondered if what I was doing--how I wrote or anchored a story-- really mattered. Then you get the phone call from a mom who says her autistic child always calms down and seems really focused when she hears your voice. Or you see the emotion and courage in the faces of a mom and her daughter talking about juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, how this little girl is fighting her way through a debilitating illness, and it hits you how this interview and the tape they leave with could be a treasured keepsake. I can tell similar stories of working as a Development Director at a private school, days of working for more funding, and instead spending a few hours with a grandmother who fills me up with her wisdom, sense of humor and encouragement. And now working with media ministries at a church, receiving letters from shut-ins who call our televised and online church services their “life-line,” an irreplaceable blessing in their lives. Do you see what I’m seeing? Think about what you do, I mean really think outside the box. If you’re following Jesus Christ, you can’t help but have similar stories. 14
We all hit times when it feels like we are simply paying the bills. When this happens throw yourself back into God’s word and tell him you are instantly “allin!” Tell him you want to follow him for a living! John 10:10: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” My paternal grandfather had to be one of the most content business owners I’ve ever known. He ran a country store in a little town in East Texas and he did it quite successfully. His store was the only place in town where you could fill up your car, get your mail, buy a pair of converse tennis shoes, a pound of bacon, a bag of candy and a cold Dr. Pepper. I’ll never forget helping him one day in the store, when I was about 10 years old, and a man came in and got two big bags of groceries. My grandaddy had a billing system setup behind the counter, and when the man walked out saying, “Please put it on my tab,” I eagerly said I would write it down. My granddaddy said, “No need, he’s having a hard time, let’s just let this one go.” Back then that hit me as a really kind thing to do, but now I understand it was my granddaddy’s way of making a really good living! Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for giving us the chance to make an abundant living, a true living. May we answer immediately when you call and may our eyes and hearts always be open to the work you’re doing everyday. In the name of your son, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
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February 2015
River Region’s Journey
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Many children in our community don’t know the Lord. These children are unaware that God cares for them and that He loves them. They don’t know what sin is. They may feel the effects of it, but they don’t understand that they don’t have to be controlled by it, and that there is a punishment for it. They don’t know that God has made a way for them to be rescued from the penalty of their sins through Jesus Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. They also don’t know that they can receive the free gift of salvation and start a forever friendship with God.
a program called Christian Youth In Action®. Like true missionaries, these CYIA® teens and college students raise support to pay for their training and earnings per club. Teree Solomon, Summer Ministries Coordinator for CEF® of Central Alabama, shares, “This year CYIA® training will be held May 30-June 5 at Shocco Springs in Talladega, AL. After training, students will go out weekly throughout the community for six weeks, excluding the week of July 4th, to conduct 5-Day Clubs® and VBS programs.”
What exactly do you do in a 5-Day Club®? Jamal
Frazier, the Summer Coordinator Ministry Assistant, explains, “A 5-Day Club® consists of songs, memory verses, a Bible story, and a mission story. In all the teaching during the club the gospel is woven in. This is so that, no matter what, the child will be presented with the gospel multiple times during the club. The Ruth Barnes ministering to children at Village Green. 5-Day Clubs® are high energy, exciting, and “How then will they call on tons of fun for the children and for the 5-Day Club® him in whom they have not believed? And how are they teachers and leaders.” to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And Katie Rendleman, a high school senior, who how are they to hear without someone preaching?” has been a CYIA® teen for the past five years had (Romans 10:14) several things to say about her experience in the program. “You are equipped to share the gospel. Each year Child Evangelism Fellowship® of Central You do have some questions of course, but when you Alabama offers Christian teens, ages 14 and older, the go into it, you feel ready to share. …“You can reach opportunity to apply for summer positions to be trained kids with this, but this is something you can apply to to reach children for Christ in our local area through River Region’s Journey
February 2015
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every person. Everybody has that need for salvation and the tools that are given to us we can use with whomever we are reaching out to,” she said. Solomon said that the 5-Day Clubs® and VBS programs are held in churches, homes and daycare centers throughout the River Region and surrounding areas. Anywhere children can be gathered together safely, CYIA® teens can conduct a club. Everyone who works with the CYIA® program has to be cleared by a background screening. Brenda Payne, a local biblical counselor in Montgomery, hosted a 5-Day Club® for the first time last summer in her home. She said, “What really impressed me were the students who came. They were well prepared and they were responsible. They were so engaging that even the older children, especially the 4th- 6th grade boys, were right there with them. The other thing that really struck me was just the gospel focus. All of the stories pointed back to the gospel. I felt like the kids came, they heard truth and they had fun. They even walked away really loving those teenagers. There was a relationship built in just that one week’s time, which I thought was very precious.”
Teens praying at Maxwell AFB Chapel VBS.
Child Evangelism Fellowship® of Central Alabama has partnered with other organizations in the community such as: Common Ground Montgomery, Montgomery S.T.E.P. Foundation, Boys and Girls Clubs, Every Tribe, the YMCA and others. In addition, CYIA® teens helped conduct VBS programs last summer at several churches including: Redland Baptist, Maxwell AFB Chapel, First Presbyterian and Highland Avenue Baptist. There are many benefits for the high school and college students who par17
February 2015
River Region’s Journey
Statewide CYIA training at Shocco Springs.
ticipate in the CYIA® program. Solomon explains, “Students learn how to minister to children and others which better equips them for volunteering in their churches, their church’s VBS programs, as well as equipping them to be used on mission trips.” Solomon also said that by being involved in CYIA® students develop lasting friendships with other believers in the community. They also learn to work on a diverse team as well as manage their time.
Ruth Barnes, a Montgomery college student who has worked with the CYIA® program for four years says, “I came into this ministry with the mindset of helping children learn more about God, not expecting to have a life-changing experience. I have learned more about God’s faithfulness, love, and more importantly, peace in daily situations by working with Child Evangelism Fellowship®.” Maybe you are not a youth or college student, but you would like to contribute to
the work of CYIA® this summer. Solomon says other ways to support the summer program include volunteering as a driver, taking the teens to the 5-Day Clubs and supporting them financially. Bringing snacks to the club is also a welcomed treat for them. For more information about participating in this program, please contact Teree Solomon at Cefcentralal@gmail.com or (334) 213-7388. Contributed by Kelley Parker, CEF Ministry Coordinator, freelance writer and mother of two daughters, Francie and Mary Phyfer.
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February 2015
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C.S. Lewis and True Myths One of the pivotal events of my life took place in the spring of 1997. I was walking across the campus of my alma mater, Ohio University, and I noticed a table full of Christian books. One of them was titled Mere Christianity. Its author was C. S. Lewis. “Excuse me,” I asked the man standing next to the table, “is this the same C. S. Lewis who wrote The Chronicles of Narnia?” The man nodded yes. “And… these books are all free?” He smiled and nodded again. I picked up the book, took it back to my dorm room, and started reading. My life would never be the same. Lewis, it turns out, was much more than merely the author of a series of children’s books. He was brilliant, and a man with a fascinating life story. Born in Ireland in 1898, he fought in World War I and attended Oxford University, graduating with degrees in both English and philosophy. His first job was a oneyear position teaching philosophy at Oxford; from there he moved to the English faculty, where he would remain for decades and write most of the works for which he is remembered today. No one who knew him as a young man could ever have supposed that he would prove to be one of the twentieth century’s most prominent defenders of traditional Christian faith—“mere” Christianity, as he liked to refer to a robustly orthodox set of core convictions that provide common ground between all of the great Christian traditions. No one could have expected this because Lewis, as a young man, was a committed atheist. In a 1917 letter to his friend Arthur Greeves, he mocked the gospels for containing a lot of “tomfoolery about virgin birth, magic healings, apparitions and so forth.” But as the years passed, his views slowly changed. By the time he had completed his undergraduate studies in philosophy, he had become an agnostic, willing “to postulate some sort of God as the least objectionable” philosophical theory, even though he did not think we could have any knowledge about what God is like or what God
desires of us. This was more or less his attitude when he first met another young English professor at Oxford, J. R. R. Tolkien. (Yes, that J. R. R. Tolkien!) Thanks largely to their shared love of mythology—especially the Norse myths—Lewis and Tolkien grew increasingly close. Tolkien was himself a Christian, and it was through his influence that Lewis began to consider the possibility that the gospel is a “true myth.” The phrase sounds odd, of course, because we are accustomed to thinking that the word “myth” means “false.” Obviously, this is not how Lewis and Tolkien understood it. Rather, in their view, the function of a myth is to make abstract realities discernible to us. Myths endure because they enable us to encounter goodness and beauty in ways we otherwise cannot. What Lewis eventually came to believe is that the Christian story of Incarnation, Crucifixion, and Resurrection is a “myth” of this kind— but with the exceedingly important difference that this myth actually happened. Lewis came to faith in 1931, and eventually produced a dizzying array of scholarly and popular works. Some, like Mere Christianity, seek common ground between faith and reason, demonstrating that clear thinking and serious discipleship belong hand-in-hand. Two of Lewis’s best works in this genre are The Abolition of Man and Miracles. Other books by Lewis are profound commentaries on the spiritual life: The Screwtape Letters is the most famous of these; 19
my personal favorite is The Great Divorce. And, of course, Lewis wrote some wonderful and inspiring fiction. His space trilogy and his last novel, Till We Have Faces, deserve to be mulled over by any thoughtful Christian. In my view, however, it is the Narnia books that remain Lewis’s greatest legacy. Instead of attempting to unpack their brilliance here, I will take this opportunity to invite you to a public lecture at Auburn Montgomery at 7 p.m. on March 12, in 109 Goodwyn Hall. That evening, one of the world’s leading experts on C. S. Lewis, Dr. Michael Ward, will present “The Heavens are Telling the Glory of God: C. S. Lewis, Narnia, and the Planets.” I hope to see you there!
February 2015
River Region’s Journey
Marriage Needs...
Curiosity & Love Curiosity and exploration are normal parts of courtship and create attachment and love. John Gottman, a leading marriage researcher, finds that for marriages to endure, couples must become better friends, support each other’s hopes and dreams for the future and learn to manage conflict. To do this, he says that they should build healthy relationships. A component of building healthy relationships is learning your partner’s thoughts, feelings, history, stresses, joys and hopes. Gottman calls this process learning your partner’s “love map.” Gottman states that “couples who have detailed love maps of each other’s world are far better prepared to cope with stressful events and conflict.” Think back to when you first met your spouse. You probably wanted to learn as much as possible about their thoughts, feelings, history and experiences. Do you remember the enthusiasm you felt? The curiosity of courtship creates an exciting time of discovery about one another. However, once couples settle into a familiar routine (know each other well) the curiosity lessens and they begin to make assumptions based on what they already know. Unfortunately incorrect assumptions lead to misunderstandings, anger, frustration and other negative reactions. When couples stop exploring, they River Region’s Journey
February 2015
frequently listen less, share less, and have less patience with one another. Couples may wonder what has changed in their relationship. Individuals and couples experience many changes in the course of a marriage. Some are gradual and expected and some are sudden and unexpected. While we are sharing our lives with one another, it is very important to keep up the communication to update our love maps. Without updated love maps, these changes can be more difficult to negotiate because of lack of understanding. Scripture speaks to this point. James 1:19: My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. (NIV) An article in Psychology Today reports that… “over the course of a relationship that can last as many as seven or eight decades, a lot happens. Personalities change, bodies age, and romantic love waxes and wanes. And no marriage is free of conflict. What enables a couple to endure is how they handle that conflict.” Not only do couples have to handle that conflict, but couples have to handle change as well. Both are equally important and related. Sometimes we handle stress gracefully and other times we have difficulty. Learning to handle change avoids conflict and contempt and increases the likelihood of a successful marriage. Paul advises the Colossians in this matter. 20
Colossians 3:12-14 …Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. (NRSV) According to Gottman, the antidote for conflict and contempt is an abundance of affection and respect or fondness and admiration through which couples continue to nurture attachment and develop their love maps by exploring the thoughts, feelings, dreams, beliefs and other important aspects of their spouse. So keep being curious, update your spouse’s love map and avoid assumptions. Conflict is inevitable but conflict is an opportunity to be curious, to learn something new, to enhance your understanding, and love your spouse through it. Jessica Gibbe-Fernandez is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of Alabama. She is originally from Mexico and fully bilingual in Spanish and English. Ms. Gibbe-Fernandez joined the center in 2006 and currently serves as the Clinical Coordinator. Jessica’s clinical interests include marriage and couples therapy, healthy relationships, and family therapy. She sees adolescents and adults with depression, anxiety, stress, transitional issues, gender issues, family adjustment, acculturation issues, selfesteem and personal growth issues.
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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.
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. 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. 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.
February 2015
River Region’s Journey
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. Location: The Special Grind, Pratt’s Mill Shopping Strip, 2096 Highway 14 DivorceCare, Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. For more information, dates and time changes visit www.fbcprattville.org and click the DivorceCare link. 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
Location: Cedarwood Community Church, 10286 US HWY 231 in the Wallsboro/Wetumpka community Gamblers Anonymous, Saturdays at 6 pm. 567-0476 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. 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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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Miscellaneous
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.
Parenting
Location: First Baptist Prattville, 138 S. Washington Moms LIFE (Living In Faith Everyday) meets twice monthly from 8:30 - 11:45 am in the chapel at the Church from Aug - May.
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New friends are now best friends. New experiences are now the best times ever. No wonder it’s so easy to tell others about it and include them in the fun.
Welcome to Riverview Camp for Girls!
We’ve do put Itogether everything you’re looking for in a perfect“I saw camp onemy of Why choose Riverview each summer? mysetting! first river Recognized on a mountain,as I rode Golf,times Dance, Dance, Outdoor Sports, Soccer,use Beach Volleyball, Basketball, “As go,Stomp it was one of the BEST.”Skills AndClass, what child couldn’t some of that these days?
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first I had campfires every night. Icamps felt close to God. giggled a lot is with friends and counselors. time flew by! thehorse. Southeast’s best all-around for girls,IRiverview annew oasis of fun, friends andThe happiness... I Exciting felt safe and secure. Iinclude: gained confidence in myselfPool,Tennis, through the world around me.” activities Riding, Heated Canoeing, Ropes Course, Climbing Tower,
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We don’t wonder anymore how it happened, that one summer could bring such happy memories.
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• H ORSEBACK R IDING • S WIMMING • T ENNIS • C ANOEING • D ANCE • A EROBICS • G YMNASTICS • B EACH V OLLEYBALL •
Accredited by American Camping Association • Members of Christian Camping International
• R OPES C OURSE • C LIMBING T OWER • O UTDOOR L IVING S KILLS • C AMPFIRE F UN • C OUNSELOR -I N -T RAINING •
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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. Go to www.montgomeryfbc.org/MOPS or 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: 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: 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 pro-
vided to moms and children. Child care for infants -16 years. Call 272-3174 for information. Location: Vaughn Forest Church, 8660 Vaughn Road Are you in need of a time-out? MOPS joins mothers together by a common bond, to be better wives, moms, and friends along this journey in the trenches of motherhood. We meet the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month from 9:30—11:30 a.m. Childcare is provided. For info e-mail VFCMOPS@gmail.com.
Physical Challenges
Location: Aldersgate UMC, 6610 Vaughn Road Visually Impaired Support Group – Meets monthly on second Thursday 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. The group is called Outward Sight - Inward Vision and is for those with vision loss and their caregivers. Our mission is to assist those experiencing vision loss to maintain their independence by providing access to valuable information and spiritual support. Call 272-6152. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy An MDA/ALS Support Group will meet Tuesday August 10 6:00p.m. – 8:00 p.m. in room 3101. Anyone who is affected by a neuromuscular disease or family members of those affected are encouraged to attend. To receive information, please call 396-4534. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy A Parkinson’s Support Group will meet the 4th Thursday at 6 p.m., in room 8114 at Frazer UMC. This group is for those who have Parkinson’s disease and the family members. 272-8622.
Location: Taylor Road Baptist Church, 1785 Taylor Rd., Montgomery Gluten Intolerance Group of Montgomery meets on 2nd Thursdays from 6-7 p.m. Check the blog for special “alternate site” meetings and other info at www.glutenfreemontgomery.blogspot.com.
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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To follow up our January issue’s focus on weddings and newlyweds, we found four couples in the River Region who’ve all been married for more than 30 years in an effort to get their perspective on lasting marriages. In each of their stories, they’ve shed unique insight into the dynamic of their relationship, the role God has filled within their marriage, and offered success tips on what they believe has helped them preserve a healthy, long lasting union.
The two started dating and fell in love when Jody was 16 years old and Donna was 15. They decided to marry years later, shortly before graduating college. “We just had very similar interests and we think that’s a very important point for couples who are getting married,” said Donna. When asked what keys they’ve found to be the most valuable in their marriage, Jody said that besides sharing family values and having an abiding friendship, “It’s very important that when the storms of life come, you run to God together.”
The McClintons: 42+ Years of Puppy Love Jody and Donna McClinton have been married for 42 years and dated for six years prior to their marriage. They both grew up in the small town of Jackson, AL and have known each other since participating as Christmas trees in their elementary school play. “We have a picture of us and our little faces shining together through the Christmas tree in our school play,” said Jody. “I was in third grade and she was in second grade, I believe.” River Region’s Journey
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Early on in their marriage, about 36 years ago, Jody and Donna suffered the loss of their only son who was prematurely born on Christmas and died 10 days later. “That was a time in our lives which was very difficult. We made a decision right then. We knew we didn’t understand, but we were going to run to God together as a couple and we were going to get through it together. It changed us and who we are as people. It strengthened our relationship with God and strengthened our relationship with one another,” said Jody. Since then, Jody said the Lord has been faithful to them and blessed them with four grandsons, “who all love their ‘Papa,’” added Donna. “Starting right out of the shoot deciding, ‘we’re going to do it God’s way,’ that’s what it took for two personalities like ours to mesh together,” said Donna. “That was it.” “We’re certainly not perfect. We’ve had arguments. We’ve irritated each
ely er.
other and had words just like everybody else; it’s just normal. But we’ve never stopped loving each other and never stayed mad at each other for very long,” said Jody. They purposed to never consider the “D” word (divorce), which may be the most fundamental key for any longlasting marriage.
The Wilsons: Love at First Sight (and 35 Years Later)
In 1979, Larry Wilson was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany when he was called to come back home to Fayette, AL after the passing of his grandmother. On his way back to Alabama, he missed a series of flights, first New York to Atlanta, then Atlanta to Birmingham, which offset his journey by one day. After arriving at Birmingham’s airport Larry says, “I just followed my intuition to catch a cab out to Birmingham Greyhound bus station. I knew it would take my brother about two hours to come pick me up.” About 30 minutes
after arriving at the bus station, he saw Norma get off a bus and take a seat nearby. “I was on my way to Tupelo, Mississippi,” said Norma. “She had a two hour delay before her next bus arrived,” added Larry. “Two hours together just talking,” said Larry, “and it didn’t take long when the Lord let me know that she was to be my wife.” In that moment, the two exchanged numbers and were in constant communication. Larry wrapped up his last year
of service in Germany. Once he returned back to the States, he and Norma married 15 days later. “God has blessed our marriage richly because we keep Him at the center,” said Larry. “When God is the center, when He is everything, marriage is spiritual; it’s not natural,” added Norma. “You live it by the spirit of God in you. You use the Word of God as your pattern. He sets up the order of the home. He sets the man as the head of the home. He sets the wife to be there to respect him, to honor him. He tells the husband, you are to love your wife. And I can say in 35 years, Larry has loved me. And in these 35 years, I respect him and I tell him he has earned my respect. And we wake up in the morning and we tell each other, ‘I’m glad you’re here again today to share life with me.’ And we’re still in love.” Larry believes that they’ve made it work for so long by taking responsibility, preparing their spirits and minds for marriage, being responsible with everything including the finances (an area where they learned to become a team), honoring their vows to God, and “knowing how to forgive,” added Norma.
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February 2015
River Region’s Journey
The Itsons: Opposites Attract and Abiding for 32 Years Dean and Donna Itson met as students at Harding University in Searcy, AR. They dated for three months and were engaged for about a year before having a fairy tale Christmas wedding in Chattanooga, TN. “I’ll never forget that day. It snowed the night before during our rehearsal dinner in an old Civil War mansion. I remember the snowflakes falling. It was so perfect. I knew that she was the one for me. God intended for us to be together. She was so beautiful and continues to be 32 years later,” said Dean. Dean believes that making the adjustment from fiancé to husband and wife
took patience. Early on, Donna remembers encountering differences in their personalities—she, with somewhat of a Type A personality, and he had more of a Type B. “Often it’s the little, seemingly unimportant things that can cause big problems if you let them,” said Donna. Over time, they learned to get on the same page with their finances and become more of a team with other household chores. Donna found that “good communication was key.” Although they had some personality differences, they shared some even bigger similarities. “We were both blessed to have been raised in Christian homes,” said Dean. “When we were dating, we made it a priority to do most of our dating
by going to church... three times a week. That set the tone for how we showed respect for each other when we were alone the rest of the week.” Other keys they’ve found to really help their marriage is to have faith in God, follow his Word, have patience, and show unconditional love for one another. Even to this day, Dean continues to tell Donna he loves her every night before bed. During the seven years of marriage before having children, they became one another’s best friend and shared many fun memories. “We spent a lot of quality time together before the children came along. At that time we were both school teachers and spent the summers just being together, traveling often.” They recommend other couples wait a little while before having children as well. “We truly enjoy being together, we’ve learned to communicate our feelings better, and we trust each other” said Donna. If nothing else, Dean believes that couples can have a long lasting marriage if they “go into marriage as a commitment, knowing you will do what it takes to be married for a lifetime.”
www.ChildrensAL.org/concussion
KNOW
what to do in case of
suspected concussion. A concussion is a brain injury caused by a blow to the head or body. Even a minor fall or collision may be of concern, so be alert to symptoms such as headaches, unsteadiness, confusion or other types of abnormal behavior. Any athlete with a suspected concussion: l Should be IMMEDIATELY REMOVED FROM PLAY/ACTIVITY l Should be urgently assessed medically l Should not be left alone l Should not drive a motor vehicle In a medical emergency, call 911 or go directly to your local ER
River Region’s Journey
February 2015
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The Dashers: Love Triangle (With God in the Center) for 41 Years In 1970, John and Emily Dasher met as students at Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical (A&M) University. “He came in the music room while I was playing piano. He likes to sing,” said Emily. They struck up conversation and started talking as friends. Over the holiday break, Emily invited him to stay with her family, since he lived out of state and wasn’t able to go home—a gesture commonly made within her department at Alabama A&M. “I did my research on him and knew his family had a farm. I thought he’d get along great with my dad,” said Emily “and he did. He [John] is a family man.” Although they weren’t dating at the time, for two months they hit it off. Then, John was drafted into the Vietnam War, where he served for two years. The couple mainly corresponded through letters over the course of that time and he gave her his word that once he came back he would marry her. He kept his promise.
“When he came back, he had changed so much,” said Emily. “I don’t know what he saw or went through when he was over there. Everybody knew you couldn’t sneak up behind him. You had to announce yourself.” John believes, during those difficult times, it was Emily and God who kept their marriage together. “It’s a blessing because she was so forgiving and compassionate when I was going through that time in my life. If it weren’t for her and God, I don’t think we would be married to this day. They were the glue. She was very patient with me,” said John. Today they enjoy their time together at home, traveling on their mini adventures around town with nowhere to go,
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and their pride and joy Phillip, Leah, and Damyon. John compared their dynamic to a triangle, saying that as long as the two of them made it a point to meet in the center and come together to God, they would be okay. The three keys they’ve found to help make their marriage a success are prayer, counseling, and patience. Jasmine York is a freelance writer with a B.A. in English/Creative Writing.
February 2015
River Region’s Journey
January 20
Top 10 Topics of 2014 For a number of years on The Meeting House on Faith Radio and here in this column, I have recapped what I have viewed as the top 10 stories of relevance to the Christian community from the previous year. So, now, I present to you my “Top 10 Topics of 2014.” 10 – Demise of large, multi-site church sends strong message The end of 2014 meant the end of the network of churches known as Mars Hill Church. Pastor Mark Driscoll had faced criticism for some time regarding his style of preaching and leadership, and during the year, more allegations concerning the church and its pastor were leveled. Driscoll announced his resignation in October. 9 – Religious freedom challenged in the corporate setting Throughout the year, the ability to exercise one’s faith in the conduct of his or her business came under increased opposition. Across the country, people in a variety of professions dealing with marriage faced punishments of various forms because they did not wish to participate in same-sex wedding ceremonies. A resort in New York state was fined. A photographer in New Mexico did not receive relief from the U.S. Supreme Court. The Benham Brothers found that their proposed HGTV show was cancelled, presumably due to their outspoken Christian faith. 8 – Islamic State brings increased threats to Christians The rise of ISIS, or Islamic State, presented a real challenge to political leaders around the world, and their extermination of Christians in Iraq was especially troubling. For example, the city of Mosul, with its rich Christian history, was a city whose Christian influence was under siege. 7 – Sudanese woman facing death penalty is released Sudanese woman Meriam Ibrahim faced River Region’s Journey
February 2015
the death penalty and refused to renounce her Christian faith when pressured. Eventually, international concern resulted in Meriam’s release and relocation to the United States. 6 – Houston passes gay- and transgenderfriendly ordinance, pastors’ communication subpoenaed The city council in Houston, Texas, passed a so-called equal rights ordinance, which provided special rights for homosexual and transgendered individuals. Apparently, citizens had gathered enough signatures in a petition drive to place the ordinance on a ballot for a vote, but Houston’s lesbian mayor disagreed. As the city prepared to go to court, the mayor issued subpoenas to five local pastors for various forms of communication, setting off expressions of concern. The mayor eventually withdrew the subpoenas. 5 – Biblically-based movies bring strong box office presence There was great anticipation going into 2014 about movies either based on Biblical stories or presenting a faith-based perspective. Three films released during the year are now in the top seven in the Christian genre, according to Box Office Mojo: Heaven is for Real (5), God’s Not Dead (6), and Son of God (7). 4 – Supreme Court sides with Hobby Lobby, Conestoga in contraceptive mandate case The government mandate that employers provide, in their health care plans, free contraception and drugs that could cause abortion came under scrutiny before the U.S. Supreme Court. The high court ruled that closely-held (e.g. family-owned), for-profit corporations, such as Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood Specialties, did not have to comply. 3 – Health care workers contract Ebola, Christians address concerns The spread of Ebola became a worldwide health concern during 2014. Two Chris28
tian health care workers, one with Samaritan’s Purse, the other with SIM (Serving in Mission), whose organizations are attempting to battle the deadly virus in Africa, were brought home for treatment after contracting Ebola. 2 – Ferguson conflict brings opportunity to discuss racial issues The shooting death of an unarmed black man in Ferguson, Missouri, by a police officer set off riots in that suburb of St. Louis and provoked a national conversation on matters of race. Churches in the Ferguson area became directly involved in trying to provide peace and understanding. When a grand jury did not indict the Ferguson officer, unrest spread across the country, giving Christians the opportunity to promote racial reconciliation. 1 – Marriage amendments fall, Supreme Court appearance more likely After the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a portion of the Federal Defense of Marriage Act in 2013, it opened the door for judges to begin taking aim at state marriage amendments. Across the country, individual judges and several circuit appeals courts ruled such amendments were unconstitutional, but the high court decided not to take up any of the cases. After that, a Federal appeals court upheld the constitutionality of state amendments in its circuit, which could open the door to the Supreme Court looking at the issue in 2015. There was quite a variety of stories and issues potentially impacting the Christian community in 2014. It is important that we stay informed about these and other issues and seek to respond Biblically. 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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Once again Faith Radio will soon distribute Christmas crosses to our listeners! Thanks to a very generous and faithful donor, we will have hundreds of these 7-foot crosses which listeners can cover with lights and display Your as a bright symbol of and ChristSupport this Investment Matters! season. Like last year, we We will ask have available youthe to crosses prayerfully considerinmaking a Kingdom Montgomery, Dothan and Andalusia around Thanksgiving. Our Investment in this ministry. Faith Radio is touching many lives donor requests that a donation of at least $35 per cross be made each day and night and your donation can make an eternal impact. to Faith Radio. This gift helps Faith Radio continue to spread the Faith Radio is listener supported and your support matters! Good News of Jesus Christ. There is a limited supply and last year 800.239.8900 | mail@faithradio.org www.faithradio.org the Christmas Crosses were gone within a few days. Stay| tuned February 2015 River Region’s Journey Mail your donation 29to P.O. Box 210789, Montgomery, AL 36121 for details and times!
2 Plus 1 = ONE Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)
Marriage is like the Golden Gate Bridge. When I think about a cord of three strands not easily broken, I remember the impressive structure of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. The weight of the bridge is hung from two cables that pass through the two main towers and are fixed in concrete at each end. Each cable is made of 27,572 strands of wire. There are 80,000 miles (130,000 km) of wire in the main cables (Wikipedia). The bridge faces strong winds and winter storms, salty fog and the weight of thousands of trucks and cars, yet it stays strong because of the strands of wire woven tightly together to create a strong, unified cable. 2 plus 1 = one. Like the wire cables, in a marriage, two strands (husband and wife) are woven together with God to create a cord of three strands not easily broken. Apart from God, the cord of two strands is weakened and may break when placed under pressure during the storms of life. In a Christian marriage, two plus one equals one marriage team committed to being a bright light for Christ in the world. We’ve spent a lot of time in Cuba during the last year and a half. The people we serve at the Methodist Church of Guanabacoa, Cuba, are rich in their faith and their love for one another as well as for us. We’ve been blessed to travel to Cuba three times in the last 15 months and to work with this church of over 550 members. During those trips, we conducted FamilyLife Art of Marriage (theartofmarriage.com) small group couple’s River Region’s Journey
February 2015
leadership training and three large Saturday Family Teams for Christ marriage conferences. Our first conference attended by 25 couples focused on Building Teamwork in Marriage. Our second conference attended by 35 couples focused on Our Spiritual Journey. We’ve witnessed many two plus one equals one Marriage Teams for Christ in this island nation! Cuba is a poor country, oppressed for 50 years by communism, embargo and isolation. The people face many of the problems we do, plus a lot more, such as where their next meal is coming from. The monthly rationing system only yields enough food for about half the month. Yet, despite their poverty of material things and even some necessities, during each visit, we witness a wealth of faith in the church we serve. 3 plus 1 = one. Christian parents with their Christian children equal a Family Team committed to being an even brighter light for Christ in their world. The cord thickens and becomes stronger when one’s children have embraced faith in Jesus Christ and have joined the Family Team with God as their strength. Our third mission trip to Cuba in November 2014 focused on training and equipping parents to be Character-Centered Parents raising Christ-like children who someday will choose to build their own family teams for Christ. 47 couples including a Baptist pastor and his deacon, along with their wives, attended the Saturday workshop. What a joy and a blessing to see the Family Teams for Christ theme spread to other congregations and communities in Cuba! 30
13 plus 1 = one. Because of our exploding ministry to Air Force couples at Maxwell AFB, we had not planned to return to Cuba. However, God and the Cuban pastor had different plans. In front of a “standing-roomonly” Sunday morning service, the pastor told Mike and me that if we would return, they would have a church-wide marriage renewal service. Well, of course, we enthusiastically said “YES!” As a result, in just a few weeks, we will return to Cuba. Our mission team consists of 13 individuals, all bringing different gifts to the team, different personalities, ages, and backgrounds. Despite all of our differences, the common denominator of the group is a life committed to serving Jesus Christ at home and abroad. Jesus is our strength and our foundation; He wraps His love around us and makes us a united team committed to training, equipping and encouraging an entire church that spreads by their words and deeds, the love of Christ to the city of Guanabacoa. The theme for this trip is Turning a Marriage Team into a Family Team for Christ and will focus on helping teenagers join their parents as a Family Team for Christ, bringing the bright light of Christ to hundreds of lost Cubans in the years ahead. 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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February 2015 Community Calendar Monthly events can also be found in the Around Our Community Section starting on page 8. February 1-8 First United Methodist is hosting its 4th annual Religious Arts Festival for the community February1-8. This is a free event for the whole family. We will sponsor a free animated movie at the Capri Theatre called Secret Kells, have art exhibits, a Readers Theatre, the Jazz group Presbybob will perform, among other things. Better Together Marriage Conference is being presented by Christ Community Church, Evangel Church and Landmark Church on February 6 - 7. Dr. Greg & Erin Smalley, with Focus on the Family, will be featured speakers at the conference. Friday night sessions will be held at Christ Community Church on Ryan Road from 7 - 9 p.m., with the after party starting at 9. (Think great date night.) Saturday sessions are from 9 am - 12:30 pm, with lunch provided at Landmark Church. Cost is $30 per couple, $15 for singles. Register online at: www.bettertogether.life. Saturday, February 7 Resolving Conflict Marriage Conference February 7, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Eastmont Baptist Church, 4505 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery. Join Lou Priolo, author of Resolving Conflict for a day of learning how to make, disturb & keep peace in Resolving Conflict in Marriage. (Box lunch included.) $20/singles; $30/couples Thursday, February 12 The 2nd annual Hearts for Hope Fundraiser Banquet for the Elmore County Pregnancy Center will be held at 6:30 p.m. River Region’s Journey
February 2015
at the Wetumpka Civic Center. Special musical guest will be Karen Carter and the guest speaker will be Traci Martin. For more information and tickets, call 334567-1955. Senior Adult Fellowship at Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Highway. On the second Thursday of the month, Spirit brings seniors from all over the area to a night of fellowship, food and you can always count on fun! Spirit invites everyone to join them for their next night of fellowship. Call 272-8622 for details. Saturday, February 14 Yard Sale at Christ Community Church, 8285 Ryan Road, at 6 a.m. Friday & Saturday, February 20-21 Success Unlimited Academy will host its first Women’s Conference in their new worship center located at 4500 Vaughn Road. Guest speakers are Tanya McLemore and Benita Edwards. This dynamic duo will leave you refreshed and spiritually renewed by digging deeper into God’s Word. The “Bless Your Heart” Conference will be a time of fellowship, Bible study, prayer, and laughter. Tickets are $25 for the two-day event or $20 for groups of 10 or more. Hours are 7-9:30 p.m. on February 20 and 9 a.m.-noon on February 21. You can purchase tickets by calling the school at 334-213-0803 or 334-676-1629. February 24 Agape of Central Alabama Presents Michael Oher at 7:30 p.m., MPAC. Michael Oher came from a broken home and his estranged father was murdered while Oher was in high school. Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy became Oher’s legal guardians and he developed into a college football star and a top NFL draft pick. Oher’s story was told in Michael Lewis’s book The Blind Side and the Sandra Bullock film of the same name. Tickets begin at $27. Thursday, March 12 Christian Comedian Tim Hawkins will be live at 7 p.m. at Vaughn Forest Church in Montgomery. Ticket prices begin at $20. Visit https://timhawkins.brushfireapp.com/ events/427433 or call (888) 780-1116. Eastwood Christian School invites you to attend its spring musical, Annie, at 6:30 p.m. (Also Friday, March 13) at Taylor Road Baptist Church, 1685 Taylor Road. 32
March 20 & 21 State Church Library Workshop at Shocco Springs Conference Center. To register, call Shocco Springs at 1-800-280-1105. For more information call: State Board of Missions, 1-800-264-1225 ext 218 or go to: www.alsbom.org/churchlibrary.
Ongoing Happenings AGLOW International meets every third Thursday, 9:30 at the Montgomery House of Prayer. All women welcome to join together for praise, prayer and an anointed message. Contact mboudousquie@yahoo.com. Bridge of Life Assembly of God, 9000 Vaughn Road, Montgomery, holds Sunday morning worship at 10:30 a.m. each week. Sunday school classes meet at 9:30 a.m. We offer classes for all age groups and childcare is provided. Our goal is to build bridges...not walls. We invite you to come join us if you need to learn how to build those bridges. For directions or information call 334-396-0208. Email jon@bridgeoflife.tv or visit www. bridgeoflife.tv. 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) 2690457 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
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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 which includes a snack supper $3.00 followed by activities, small groups and lots of fun! Visit www. fumcmontgomery.org. First United Methodist Church will host Terrific Tuesdays. Please come and join us for fellowship, a program and lunch. Terrific Tuesdays will meet each Tuesday in room 204 of Wesley Hall. Fellowship time will begin at 10:00 a.m. followed by a program at 10:30 a.m. and lunch at 11:30 a.m. The cost of lunch is $2.50. For additional information please contact NeeNee Webb at 834-8990. Frazer mom2mom is a playgroup to connect mothers of preschoolers at Frazer United Methodist Church to share fun and inspiration in our journey together, with our children, and with Christ. Email Mom2mom@frazerumc.org. Good News @ Noon is an interdenominational Bible study, held at the First Baptist Community Ministries Building on Adams Street, Thursdays, at noon. Small cost for hot lunch. Call 272.1133. Hall Memorial CME Church, 541 Seibles Road, Montgomery, offers Bible Study Tuesdays at 5:30 P.M. and Wednesdays at 6: 30 P.M. For directions or information call 334-288-0577. Email HallMemorialCME1@aol.com or visit www.HallMemorialCME.blogspot.com. 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 hallmemorial-
cme1@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 6:157:00 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; 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. 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 33
noon on the Monday prior to the supper. Cost is $4 per person or $12 per family. Call 334-272-3174 for more information. 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. 7:30-10:30 open dance floor. The River of Life Church, located at 116 County Road 40 E (in the Pine Level Community Center) Prattville. Pastor Nick Edwards invites you to a “Place of New Beginnings”, where families come and grow together. Church Service Schedule: Sunday 10:30 a.m. Sunday School; 11:00 a.m. Morning Worship; 5:00 p.m. Evening Worship. Wednesday 6:00 p.m. Adult Bible Study, Teens (Genesis Project), Jr. High (Limitless), Royal Rangers, MPact Girls, Rainbow’s/Noah’s Zoo Club. Thursday 9:00 a.m.Women of Grace Bible Study. Nursery provided. We invite you to”come experience God in a personal way, feel loved by all and know that you belong”. 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! 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 February 2015
River Region’s Journey
February 2015 Community Calendar
Q 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 radiohomecominggospel.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
February 2015
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Q. I’m following your plan and trying to find different ways to save money. What’s a good way to decide whether or not you need full-coverage insurance on an automobile?
A. I think you should look at a couple of things. First, you need full-coverage or collision if you don’t have a lot of money, because you’ll end up walking if the car gets totaled. You need this coverage even if it’s a $2,000 car. You might keep the deductible a little high to save on premiums and then, if something unexpected happens, you can cover the out-of-pocket expense with your emergency fund. Let’s say you have $50,000 in savings. You’re driving a $5,000 car, and you decide to drop collision coverage because you’re thinking if you total it you can just write a check and replace the car. You can, but then you have to look at the other side of the coin. What does this collision coverage cost per
year versus the $5,000 risk you’re taking? I’ve run those numbers a few times, and generally I find collision insurance to be a pretty smart buy!
Q. My mom and dad always told me to live below my means, but they never showed me how to make it happen. I’ve gotten out of debt and fallen back in several times. I want to get control of my money and stop busting my budget. How do I keep from falling back again? A. It sounds like you’ve taken a serious look at your situation, and you’re smart enough to know it’s not working and you want to do things differently. Well, this is a great time of the year for changes! Years ago when I crashed and burned financially there were a few strong emotions that spurred me towards change. One of those was disgust. I realized that what I was doing was stupid, and that I was tired of living
that way. I made a conscious, proactive decision that things were going to be different. The second emotion was fear. I was scared to death that I’d be broke for the rest of my life. I don’t think you should ever live your life in fear, but a reasonable, healthy level of fear can be a terrific motivator. The third thing was contentment. Marketers try to sell us on the idea that we’ll be happier if we just go out and buy things. When we have this stuff crammed down our throats all day long, rapid-fire, it can affect our level and perception of contentment. One of the practical things I did was to stop going places where I was tempted to spend money. When you have to go out, make a list of only the things you need and take just enough cash with you to make the purchase. Spending money on a bunch of stuff you don’t need, and probably don’t really want, isn’t going to bring you contentment.
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February 2015
River Region’s Journey
Movie Reviews Reviews provided by MovieGuide: A Family Guide to Movies and Entertainment Ratings are based on production quality and moral acceptability. See details below. ***Reviews do not necessarily reflect views of the publishers of River Region’s Journey.
Song One
Spare Parts
Production Quality: *** Moral Acceptability: -2 (Extreme Caution) Starring: Anne Hathaway, Mary Steenburgen, Johnny Flynn, Ben Rosenfield, Gideon Glick, Al Thompson, Crystal Lonneberg, Li Jun Li, Shawn Parsons Genre: Drama Audience: Teenagers to adults Rating: PG-13 Content: Light moral worldview as family waits and cares for family member in coma because of love, mitigated by an illicit scene between two unmarried people, and man asks in his journal if there is a God and whether “she/it” hears music; three obscenities (including one angry “f” word of despair from woman visiting her comatose brother in hospital) and eight profanities, including one using Jesus; implied car accident leaves young man in coma, and people visit him in hospital hoping he recovers; depicted fornication; upper male nudity; alcohol and some drunkenness; smoking; and, strained family relationships, death discussed. SONG ONE stars Anne Hathaway as Franny, an American anthropologist working overseas. Franny goes to her brother Henry’s bedside after a car accident leaves him comatose. They had an argument when Henry quit school to pursue music. Now, Franny makes it her mission to listen to Henry’s music, which is pretty good as she discovers. Franny finds Henry’s journal, reads it and visits places Henry enjoyed. She takes one of Henry’s songs to a British singer Henry idolized. The singer, James, is touched by Henry’s story and visits him in the hospital. Romance blossoms between James and Franny. SONG ONE is a good drama showing the strength of family ties through adversity. The drama is mixed with well-placed comical moments. The acting and singing are well done. SONG ONE has a light moral worldview that extols family, compassion and forgiveness. However, there’s brief foul language and a gratuitous sex scene that spoils these moral elements. This scene does nothing to advance the story. So, it’s not just a moral wrong, it’s also a dramatic mistake. MOVIEGUIDE® advises extreme caution for SONG ONE.
Production Quality: *** Moral Acceptability: -2 (Extreme Caution) Starring: George Lopez, Jamie Lee Curtis, Marisa Tomei, Carlos PenaVega, David Del Rio, José Julián, Oscar Javier Gutierrez II, Aubrey K. Miller Genre: Drama Audience: Older children and adults Rating: PG-13 Content: Strong moral, capitalist worldview that matches biblical viewpoints, including teachers and parents offer encouragement and promoting honesty, treating others well, not letting others down, holding others accountable for decisions, integrity, with some content about illegal immigration that seems a little politically correct; three instances of a**, mention of butt, joke about kicking someone in the groin, student calls another a name but it’s mostly unintelligible; school bully punches student in stomach and shoves a couple more; no sexual content, though opening song may imply wanting sex though nothing is said directly; upper male nudity while changing a shirt; no alcohol; child gets busted for having drugs at school, but nothing is shown and using drugs is not validated. SPARE PARTS tells the true story of a teacher who led four Hispanic high school students in an underwater robotics competition against America’s elite academic colleges. Forced to face various obstacles as illegal immigrants, the students must learn to quickly come together as a team and go head-to-head for the robotics competition title. Fighting through fear, disappointment and disadvantage, the team eventually finds itself in a battle with highly favored MIT for the underwater robotic title. SPARE PARTS is a truly inspirational movie, and all the more so because it’s based on a true story. The movie will have viewers on the edge of their seats during the competition and keeps the audience guessing until the end who wins. That said, the story feels more suitable as a television movie and doesn’t quite fit the big screen. There is also some offensive content that warrants strong caution, including a child possesses drugs, sexual innuendo, and illegal immigration. On the other hand, much of SPARE PARTS is an entertaining movie with positive messages promoting hard work, honesty, personal accountability, and treating others well.
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
February 2015
36
Put some brush & floss in your life today!
Your overall health depends on your oral health Tooth decay and gum disease are linked to serious health problems including heart disease, diabetes, stroke and premature births. Dental symptoms like cavities and abscesses can cause more serious problems and can even lead to death if left untreated. Drinking fluoridated water can reduce dental decay by at least 25% in children and adults.
ORAL HEALTH OFFICE Promoting Smiles Across a Lifetime