River Region's Journey June 2012 by KeepSharing

Contemporary Service in Wesley Hall

continuing the Gospel of Mark in the Traditional Service

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VBS JULY 9-13

Volume 14, Issue 1

Feature Articles

JU N E 2 0 1 2 Columns page 2

page 14

Publisher’s Note Jason Watson

Choosing Forgiveness

by Karen Wingate Even in the toughest of situations, Christians are called to forgive. Discover how God’s definition of forgiveness is often more than simply saying you’re sorry.

page 4

Pastor's Perspective

Dr. Lawson Bryan, First United Methodist Church of Montgomery

page 13

Dave $ays Dave Ramsey

page 20

page 16

2012 Vacation Bible Schools

Kim Hendrix

River Region churches offer wonderful VBS opportunities each summer. Register your kids now!

page 18

The Intersection Bob Crittenden

page 26

page 30

Grace to You

Inner City Evangelism

John MacArthur

by Rachel Fisher Learn how Jeff and Jennifer Hand’s family was changed during hard times and how it led them to the life-changing ministry of ICE, which is reaching the housing communities of Montgomery.

page 28

Family Teams for Christ Lisa and Mike Conn

page 34

Counselor’s Corner Doug Hudgins

page 38

Got Life?

On Our Cover . . .

Elaine Britt

Jeff and Jennifer Hand serve with Inner City Evangelism (ICE), which was created to share the gospel in the housing communities of Montgomery. Jeff and Jennifer are in the process of moving to the Washington Park area with daughters, Faith and Izzy, in order to be closer to those they are serving. Read more about their story on page 30. Call 334.213.7940 today!

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In Every Issue page 6

On the Bookshelf page 8

Around Our Community page 40

Event Calendar page 44

Movie Reviews 1

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June 2012 • River Region’s Journey

Publisher’s Note by Jason Watson

Our Mission River Region’s Journey is committed to connecting all those who profess Jesus Christ as their Savior, regardless of denomination. Our aim is to share information and resources that promote a fulfilled, Christ-centered life. Further, we seek to reach unbelievers with the life-changing truth of God’s Word.

Editor

DeAnne Watson deanne@readjourneymagazine.com

Publisher

Jason Watson jason@readjourneymagazine.com

Research Editor Wendy McCollum

Contributing Writers Elaine Britt Dr. Lawson Bryan Lisa and Mike Conn Bob Crittenden Rachel Fisher Kim Hendrix Doug Hudgins John MacArthur Dave Ramsey Gail Welborn Karen Wingate

Advertising Opportunities ads@readjourneymagazine.com 334.213.7940

Cover Photography Will Frye Photography

Ad Design

Tim Welch, Welch Designs

Distribution Team Wendy McCollum Richard Ward Lesa Youngblood

River Region’s Journey is published monthly by Keep Sharing, P.O. Box 230367, Montgomery, AL 36123. For information, call 213-7940 or FAX to 213-7990. River Region’s Journey is copyrighted 2012 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 • June 2012

You made it! Yes, summer time is here. I don’t know about you, but I’m loving it. Whether it’s jumping in a cool pool, grilling some ribs or getting away for a vacation with family and friends, summer always knocks off any of my lingering sluggishness from the colder months. Even though I find myself busier during the summer months, I also find more time to reflect on what’s important. That’s because sitting by the pool or on the patio, even cutting the grass, gives me time to think about my life. I have come to find out that the older I get the more important it is for me to take some time to reflect on my current position in life. I think it’s because I have more responsibilities than ever and if I’m not careful I can let them control my life, instead of the Holy Spirit. Twenty years ago I didn’t have much to look after, but now I’m married, have three children, and publish five monthly magazines. All of these are tremendous blessings and integral parts of God’s calling on my life, but if I’m honest, I’ll confess to you that these same blessings can also distract me from remaining dependant on my Creator, Provider and Lord. Does the same thing happen to you? My actions show, and yours do too, that we’re no different than our Christian ancestors who God brought out of slavery and into the Promised Land. We struggle in our old sinful nature to try and live life a part from God, which, of course, is vanity of vanities. Let me encourage you to read all of Deuteronomy 8. It’s a good reminder for all of us. But for now let me point out verse 17, which reads, “Beware lest you say in your heart, My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.” Regardless of whether or not you think of yourself as wealthy, the greater point is us forgetting that all we have comes from the Lord, so we are to look to Him in all things. Thankfully, unlike our Christian ancestors, all of us who have placed our hope in Christ now walk in the renewing power of the Holy Spirit. And, unless we have grown calloused to the Spirit’s voice through an unrepentant heart, the Holy Spirit convicts us of reality and raises our eyes to the Lord, our Sustainer. Let me encourage you this summer to sit by the pool, lie in a hammock or rock in a rocking chair and meditate on your relationship with the Lord. I hope my article is encouraging you already. Keep on reading! Use this issue, and each month’s issue, to grow closer to the Lord. Our writers do an excellent job helping you to understand what a biblical life looks life. For example, on page 4, Dr. Lawson Bryan, Pastor of First United Methodist in Montgomery, writes about us being sensitive to where God is working in our midst so we can bless others in His name. Then on page 14, you’ll find “Choosing Forgiveness.” Many of us harbor anger or bitterness and aren’t willing to forgive others. In this article, the author helps us to see what God means by true forgiveness and the action that’s involved in going there. That is just a small sampling of what awaits you in this issue. I pray that each issue of River Region’s Journey ministers to your soul and helps you know more of God’s redeeming work in your life so you’ll look to Him in all things.

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Pastor’s Perspective

Dr. Lawson Bryan, First United Methodist Church of Montgomery

Keeping Our Appointments Like most people I am usually very diligent in keeping track of my appointments. I add them to my Blackberry, write them on my calendar, review them with my administrative assistant, and sometimes post reminders at home or in the car. Of course the appointments of which I am speaking are “my” appointments and they are important to “me.” Recently, however, I have been confronted with my failure to observe some other appointments that are just as important as my own self-generated appointments. This confrontation occurred as I studied Acts 8:26-40. Philip the evangelist is directed by the Holy Spirit to travel south from Jerusalem to Gaza on a wilderness road. He meets a man riding in a chariot and the Spirit prompts Philip to come alongside the chariot. The occupant of the chariot is a high-ranking

River Region’s Journey • June 2012

government official from Ethiopia. This man has been to Jerusalem to worship at the Temple and is now returning to Africa. He is reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah but does not understand what he is reading. The Holy Spirit has made a divine appointment between Philip and the Ethiopian. Starting with the book of Isaiah, Philip tells the Ethiopian the whole story of the good news of Jesus Christ. Because he was sensitive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, Philip was able to keep his divine appointment and as a result the Ethiopian became a believer and carried the Christian faith with him as he returned to Africa. Do we miss divine appointments because we become so immersed in our own plans? I wonder to whom the Spirit of God is directing me today? What divine appointment has the Holy Spirit arranged for me? Will I recognize and keep that appointment? I have just returned from an international church conference held in Tampa, Florida. At lunch break one day my wife took me to a nearby restaurant she had just located. I noticed that there were no other customers in the restaurant (that was suspicious!). We ordered our sandwiches and the sole employee, a young man, brought them to our table. He then asked why we were in town. We explained about the church conference. That caused him to draw closer and sit beside us. Turns out he has a friend at another restaurant down the 4

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street who had given him some theological instruction about the end of the world. This young man wanted to check it out with us. Eventually this led to his telling us that he had seen an amazing change in his life since coming to a Christian college in Tampa. He was from Arkansas and confessed, “Back home I was running with the wrong crowd. For some reason, since being here, I have gotten my life going in a much better direction.” My wife did a good job encouraging him. I, on the other hand, was watching the clock and trying to make sure I could eat my chicken salad sandwich before having to hurry back to the meeting. But now I can think of lots of things about which I wish I had talked with him. This was a golden opportunity. The Holy Spirit had directed me right alongside this young man’s chariot. I was not at all as responsive as Philip the evangelist. I had a divine appointment and I did not make the most of it. In fact I thought my divine appointment was to attend that church meeting. But the Holy Spirit had an appointment for me in a restaurant with no customers so that the lone employee could share his life story with me. Was that a divine appointment on the road to Gaza that I just missed? Absolutely. Will remembering it sensitize me to expect the Holy Spirit to have some divine appointments for me this week? I pray so. The Holy Spirit is the driving force in the spread of the gospel around the world. The Holy Spirit has a divine appointment for each of us. Will we be too busy to recognize those divine appointments? May God help us keep the divine appointments He has for us this week and in the future.

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C C c h G a c f H d F b m T t f l S e

G s a o o f f a C o c d t

Dr. Lawson Bryan is senior pastor of First UMC Montgomery located at 2416 W. Cloverdale Park. For Advertising Information:

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Our Statement of Faith In keeping with Protestant theology, we believe that the Bible, as contained in the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, is fully inspired by God and therefore inerrant in the original manuscripts. The Bible is the only essential and infallible record of God’s self-disclosure to mankind. The Scriptures are the authoritative and normative rule and guide of all Christian life, practice, and doctrine. They are totally sufficient and must not be added to, superseded, or changed by later tradition, extra-biblical revelation, or worldly wisdom. The Bible is perfect in every way and shows us how to become and live as Christians. The way of becoming a Christian is by faith alone in Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, who came to us, born of a virgin, in full human form while remaining fully God. Jesus was, and is, perfect, and was crucified so that others could live. Three days later He rose from the dead, never to die again. He ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God the Father, where He, the only mediator between God and man, continually makes intercession for His own. Those who have faith in Jesus as their Lord in this life, and Savior from damnation in the next life, now live by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, becoming more like Jesus everyday. We believe that God is one God. The one God has three persons: the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Just as God is one, so also, all believers are to be one. We believe in the unity and fellowship of all those that have faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. We are one in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, His Body, which is composed of all men, living and dead, who have been joined to Him through saving faith. *All editorial content published must be in agreement with our Statement of Faith

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June 2012 • River Region’s Journey

On The Bookshelf

by Gail Welborn

Hebrew-Greek, Key-Word Study Bible

AMG Publishers, Spiros Zodhiates, Editor with Dr. Warren Patrick Baker D.R.E., Hardback, 2008, KJV, 2156 Pages, ISBN-13: 978-0899577500, $49.99

This complete KJV translation includes several books in one that enables users to cross-reference original Greek and Hebrew languages for precise word meanings. Additional Bible-study helps include a “Strong’s Concordance” and “Strong’s Dictionary.” Strong’s easy-to-use dictionary number system provides ancient Biblical context for the translation being read that sometimes changes the entire meaning. A good example is the word repent recorded in Matthew 3:2 and Matthew 27:3. “Strong’s Dictionary” gives two different numbers to look up, #3340 and #3338, for what appears to be the same word. When I flipped to Strong’s Dictionary in the back of the Bible and read the precise meanings of the word repent I learned the verse in Matthew 3:2 meant a “change of heart.” However, the verse in Matthew 27:3 meant “no change of heart.” If you’re interested in this Bible consider this YouTube video provided by the publishers: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=ajCZDsDOgyc where I drew this illustration from. Beth Moore endorses this Bible and writes, “The Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible is my favorite. I can give it no higher recommendation than to say it is the Bible I have raised my daughters to use.”

Kneeling with Giants

by Gary Neal Hansen, IVP Books, 2012, 238 Pages, ISBN-13: 978-0830835621, $15.00

Hansen’s book on prayer introduces ten spiritual giants from church history and their prayer methods “…rooted in centuries of Christian tradition…” Divided into four parts, chapters feature spiritual prayer warriors like Martin Luther, John Calvin, St. Teresa and Andrew Murray. The first segment, “What Language Shall I Borrow?” features prayers of “The Divine Office,” “The Lord’s Prayer,” and the Pilgrim’s “Jesus Prayer.” The author’s warmth and earnest portrayal encourages readers to practice different methods of prayer for two week periods to learn what style they feel most comfortable with. The book is theologically sound, entertaining and interesting. Mark Labberton, author of “The Dangerous Act of Worship” endorses “Kneeling with Giants” and writes that the prayers “…inform, invite and nourish our hunger for God…” Appendix 1 contains sample small group sessions for small groups or church use. Appendix 2 offers concise chapter by chapter summaries of prayer styles and how to put them into practice, “…usually in five to fifteen minutes per day” segments. Gary Hansen holds a Ph.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary, is a minister and current assistant professor of church history at University of Dubuque Theological Seminary.

I Am in Here

by Elizabeth M. Bonker, Virginia G. Breen, Revell Publishers, 2011, 256 Pages, ISBN-10: 0800720717, $16.99

Autism headlined television news and Time Magazine in April with “Mom’s Obesity, Diabetes Linked with Autism and Developmental Delays.” I Am In Here, by a mother and autistic daughter, provides encouragement for those afflicted with it. Thirteen-year-old Elizabeth Bonkers changed the way her mother thinks about “…life, faith and relationships...,” she writes. She now sees the world inhabited by two kinds of people. “Why people” who ask, “Why me?” And “how people” who accept life’s challenges and focus on healing and wholeness. Elizabeth’s miraculous accomplishments taught Virginia that her daughter is a “how person.” After her diagnosis of autism her mother would say, “I know you’re in there, honey, we’ll get you out.” Virginia couldn’t achieve that, but God and Elizabeth did. Virginia is the mother of three, two of whom are severely autistic. Elizabeth’s older brother, Charles, who never stops talking and Elizabeth, unable to speak, shackled by autism. Although diagnosed mentally retarded at age two, Elizabeth taught herself to type, one letter at a time with one finger. Today her IQ tests in the genius range. Now Elizabeth’s lyrical, insightful poetry “…tells about the inner world of autism…” River Region’s Journey book reviewer Gail Welborn lives in Sedro-Woolley, Washington.

River Region’s Journey • June 2012

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Journey

Are You Walking … Or Stumbling?

Be very frank with yourself. Do you know how to: Daily walk by faith? Teach your family to do this? This is basic to the Christian life. Yet for far too many of us, “walking by faith” is just another churchy cliché that is effectively meaningless in our daily lives. Consider joining the Grace For Life study. This study will teach you: How to walk by faith (2Co 5:7), How to live by faith (Rom 1:17; Gal 2:20; Heb 10:38), How to abide in Jesus (Jh 15:5), How to live according to the Spirit (Rom 8:5), How to put off the flesh and put on Christ (Eph 4:22-24; Col 3:9-10). Join First Presbyterian Church of Montgomery, located on Vaughn Road, beginning in June for this study. Call 279-1372 for more information.

Young Life Montgomery New Area Director

Young Life Montgomery is looking forward to welcoming their new Area Director, Chris Campos. Chris came to know Christ through his involvement with Young Life at his high school in Savannah, Georgia. He attended Furman University where he was a volunteer Young Life leader all four years and on Student Staff for two years serving side by side with the Greenville Area Director. He graduated from Furman in 2009. From Furman, Chris went on full time staff with Young Life in Macon, Georgia where he served and trained for three years. Macon Area Director, Joel Kennedy, describes Chris as “a determined, passionate, confident man, whom God has gifted to be an area director.” Young Life is a nondenominational Christian ministry to high school students. The middle school ministry is called WyldLife. Leaders go into area schools, sporting event, plays, competitions, coffee shops and anywhere else the kids are to build friendships. They meet weekly at gatherings called Club for music, fellowship, worship and an encounter with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In the summer, staff and leaders take these kids to one of Young Life’s many camps for “the best week of their lives”. Young Life has been in Montgomery for over 40 years. You can learn more about the mission of Young Life at www.younglife.org. Anyone interested in volunteering or starting a Young Life Club at their middle or high school can call Chris at 334-314-6015 when his tenure begins in Montgomery on June 25th. We love to hear from Young Life alums, too.

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Frazer’s Father’s Day Run on June 16 Time: 5K start 7:30AM, 1-Mile 8:30AM, Race-Day Registration/Packet Pickup opens 6:30AM Location: Behind the Frazer Activity Center (JEMAC) The Frazer “Trans4mation Run” has been renamed the Frazer Father’s Day run. Save the date for the Saturday before Father’s Day, June 16, for a day of fun featuring 5K and 1-Mile run/walk courses starting and finishing behind the Frazer Activity Center and running through the Landmark subdivision. The race is open to all but special prize drawings will be offered for father-child teams. Proceeds will benefit Frazer’s ongoing transformational work with the Deaf Community in Leveque, Haiti. Detailed race information and online registration available at www.frazerfathersdayrun.com. Contact Information: 334.272.8622 butch@frazerumc.org

Kids Science Camp at GracePointe CDC

Learn about science while having fun with cooking, art experiments and more. To be held July 16-20th for ages 4-7. $100 per child includes supply fee 1565 Ray Thorington Rd 220-7481 or 294-1164 ktniel@gmail.com Call 334.213.7940 today!

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June 2012 • River Region’s Journey

M Shine Your Light with Kim Hendrix

Children’s Patriot Camp in June

Join the Shine Your Light ministry for a special time of worship at Frazer United Methodist Church, 6000 Atlanta Highway, Sunday, June 3rd at 6pm. Men and women are encouraged to attend as Kim Hendrix shares the message “Rescue Me”--How the ultimate rescue team is always at work in our lives, saving us and using us. Childcare is provided and fellowship will follow in the atrium. The service will take place in the Sanctuary. For more information, please call 272.8622.

Children’s Patriot Camp will be held June 18-22 at The Vessel Room in the Union Station, downtown Montgomery. The Patriot Camp is designed to teach elementary aged children about the founding of our Great Nation. The one week camp is sponsored by His Vessel Ministries. Each of the five mornings focuses on a theme about the founding of our country: Revolutionary War, Declaration of Independence, Constitution/Bill of Rights, Our Great Republic, and Founding Fathers. The lessons include teaching on each subject, activities, crafts, and daily snacks. For more detailed information regarding the Children’s Patriot Camp or to register, please contact His Vessel Ministries at 334-356-4478 or info@hisvessel.org. His Vessel Ministries provides Christ-centered teachings that point people to the Truth that will stir and challenge individuals to love God with all their heart, soul, and strength. This is carried out through Bible teachings, yearly discipleship trainings, and special teaching events. The ministry also organizes prayer warriors that are called Watchmen to pray daily for the city and its leaders. His Vessel Ministries is located in Historic Union Station in downtown Montgomery, Alabama.

Summer Fun for Kids at Saint James UMC

One Harvest Food Ministries is a non-profit, non-denominational, faith based organization working to help families across the country provide affordable food to their families. The organization was founded in June of 2010 and began by serving families in Georgia and northern Florida. Expanding to serve people throughout the South, Texas and Indiana, One Harvest Food Ministries receives food directly from manufacturers and premium growers in the United States. Food is then packaged in a sealed ONEHARVEST box and delivered to a local non-profit partner organization. Families can order food boxes through their local non-profit partners or order online. The ministry in Montgomery is through Grace Worship Center, 3929 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery, AL 36109 Phone: (334) 590-8766; Partner Site Director: Karen Sliter Pick-up time: 10:00 am - 11:30 am To read more about One Harvest Ministries or to locate a nonprofit partner organization near you, visit the ministry website at www.oneharvest.com. Another Montgomery location is St. Paul Lutheran Church, 4475 Atlanta Hwy, Montgomery. Phone: 334-272-6214 Partner Site Director: Karen Jones River Region’s Journey • June 2012

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On June 25-27 from 9am-12noon, Saint James UMC will be hosting a Cheerleading Camp for rising 1st-5th graders. Each cheerleader will learn to cheer, dance, tumble, and stunt. The $75 registration fee includes a Cheer Camp t-shirt, 9 instruction hours from college and high school cheerleaders, a daily snack, and a daily devotional. Each cheer instructor will not only teach specific cheerleading skills, but will also teach spirit through Biblical prinicples. On July 11-13 from 9am-12noon, Saint James UMC will be hosting Summer Sport Xtreme 2012, a sports camp for rising 1st-5th graders. Each athlete will get to play baseball, basketball, kickball, and soccer. The $75 registration fee includes a camp t-shirt, 9 instruction hours from college and high school athletes, a daily snack, and a daily devotional. Each sport instructor will not only teach sport specific skills, but will also teach sportsmanship through Biblical principles. For questions: email wsmithart@huntingdon.edu or call 334481-0743. Register online: http://www.sjlife.com/#/ministries/ recreation. On July 14 at 8 am, Saint James UMC will be hosting Bodies In Service 3 Mile Run/Walk. The registration fee is $20 before July 7 ($25 late registration). Proceeds from this event will go to benefit Root Ministry and the work of Honduras missionary Morgan Hayden. Read about Morgan’s journey through her blog: rootministry.blogspot.com. For more information call Race Director: 334-744-0011 Register on Active.com.

One Harvest Food Ministries

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Mary Ellen’s Hearth to Open on August 1st

Mary Ellen’s Hearth, a new ministry serving homeless women and children in Montgomery, Alabama and the River Region, is set to open at the Nellie Burge Community Center on August 1, 2012. Mary Ellen’s Hearth provides hope, help, and healing to homeless women and their children through transitional housing, life skills training, and support for up to two years. After opening, Mary Ellen’s Hearth will be the only facility in the River Region providing transitional assistance for homeless women and their children together as a family. “The goal of Mary Ellen’s Hearth is for the families we serve to leave us within two years or less...their dignity and selfrespect restored...prepared for a life of independence,” said Scott Key, president of the board of directors of Nellie Burge Community Center. There are an estimated 300 homeless women and children in the River Region. Mary Ellen’s Hearth will serve those looking for assistance through Christian love and support, providing a home for up to ten families initially, with the goal of expanding to serve more than 20 families in the future. Mary Ellens Hearth continues the long tradition of ministries at the Nellie Burge Community Center that have served women and children in the Montgomery area since 1904. For those interested in volunteering or making a financial contribution, please visit www. nellieburge.org or contact Debbie Dobbins - Executive Director by phone at 334-264-4108 or by email at Debbie@ nellieburge.org.

Teacher Training

June 22-23, at First Presbyterian Church Located at 9299 Vaughn Road, Pike Road. Rediscover the goal in teaching through the use of Paul David Tripp’s Your Christian School: A Culture of Grace? Great training for teachers in any setting with any age group! Applicable to Sunday schools, Home schools, and classrooms! When: Friday, June 22, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. and Saturday, June 23, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Refreshments will be served on Friday and a continental breakfast will be served on Saturday. Please RSVP by e-mail or phone to: Noelle Williams, 1st.pca@gmail.com, 334-279-1372. Call 334.213.7940 today!

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June 2012 • River Region’s Journey

D Go Fish Coming to Frazer on August 11

Dove-award winning Christian Children’s music performers Go Fish will be in concert at Frazer’s Wesley Hall on Saturday, August 11 at 4:00 p.m. The group strives to create music with solid scriptural content to help kids learn the Bible and have fun doing it. Parents may find themselves tapping their feet and singing along too, though, since the Go Fish mission statement is “to make great music for kids that won’t drive parents bonkers”! Jamie Statema, Jason Folkmann and Andy Selness are the guys behind the music that now consistently sell out children’s concerts across the nation and have even appeared on the Today Show. With six album releases and three Vacation Bible School curriculums among numerous accolades under their belt, Go Fish promises to become a beloved musical treat to parents and kids. But the guys have only one aim in all of their music. “We’re just different. Our music is almost secondary,” says Jamie. “We take pride in our work and art, but our priority is sharing the Gospel and teaching the Bible to kids. Our success doesn’t depend on the next radio single. The only people that matter to us are parents, kids and children’s pastors. “ Go Fish created the Bible curriculum that will be used in this year’s Frazer Vacation Bible School, so many Frazer children will already be familiar with their music and videos. Their tagline, “Meaty Message, Upbeat Praise Party, that’s Go Fish” is exactly what you can expect on August 11th. For ticket information visit www.frazerumc.org/gofish or www.itickets.com.

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Centerpoint Fellowship Church at Pike Road

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Join us for a celebration of God’s goodness through praise and worship, followed by a life-applicable Bible-based teaching by senior pastor John Schmidt via video. Come casual and enjoy our service that starts at 9:30 a.m. every Sunday at the Jim Wilson YMCA at New Park. Nursery and children’s program provided.

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For more information contact our office at (334) 356-3076 or visit our website at centeringlives.com

acc River Region’s Journey • June 2012

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For Advertising Information:

by Dave Ramsey

My Food, My Roof Q. I’m a single dad with two teenagers at home. My 15-year-old son wants to open a checking account of his own, but he doesn’t want me or anyone else to have access to it. Should I just let him do this and suffer the consequences I know are coming? A. When it comes to 15-year-olds, as a par-

ent you have every right to say, “My food, and my roof. You do what I say.” With kids this age you never know what you’re getting. Half the time you’re talking to a 35-year-old, and the other half they’re 5 again. At that age, I think you let them do, or not do, these things based on their ability to perform well in life. To the extent they behave and show some sense, you lengthen the rope and give them more freedom and privileges. If they act like doofuses, you shorten the rope. Remember, “no” is a complete sentence. Can you tell I’ve raised teenagers? If it were my son, I’d sit him down and gently explain that he doesn’t have the capacity or knowledge to manage this idea by himself just yet. You wouldn’t turn your child lose behind the wheel of a car the moment they wanted to drive, right? So make yourself a part of the experience by teaching him to handle money wisely. Then, as he matures in financial understanding, you can give him more leeway. If he wants to go dramatic on you, let him. And remind him that for every minute he’s in drama mode, that’s less leeway he’s getting in this matter and every other one in his life. In other words, the more mature you act, Son, the better your existence is going to be. No, at 15 he’s not opening a checking account on his own.

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Q. I have a 20-year level term life insurance policy. I noticed the other day that the cost would increase to $4,000 per year at the end of the term. Is that because it’s the end of the policy coverage or something else? A. Technically, the policy will expire at the end of the term. But most companies that sell term life insurance will let you renew it, if you can’t get any other insurance, at a ridiculously high rate. But let’s face it, 20 years down the road your probability of death has also increased. The older you are, statistically speaking, the more likely you are to die. If it were me, and I’m near the end of that policy, I’d go buy another 20-year level term policy, and let the old one run out. The only time you might run into trouble with a policy like that is if you were in the last year of coverage, and were diagnosed with a terminal illness. Then you’re really going to be paying through the nose to keep your coverage intact. But the real point of a 20-year level term policy is to ensure that your family is taken care of while the kids are at home and your mortgage is covered if you die prematurely. If you follow my plan, you’ll have $500,000 to $1 million in your retirement account when the policy runs out and the kids are gone. Plus, you’ll have taken a 15-year mortgage, and your house will be paid off, too. If something happens then, your spouse will be okay financially. The further along in life you get, assuming you do the stuff I teach, the less need you’ll have for life insurance!

made to create

SEW BERNINA 51 N. Burbank Dr Montgomery, AL 36117 334-274-0887

n p e ng ic

Dave Says...

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Dave is the author of The New York Times best-selling book Financial Peace. He is also the host of the nationally syndicated The Dave Ramsey Show, and is a regular guest on television. All of his financial counseling is based on biblical truths. You can hear Dave from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., weekdays, on WLWI 1440 AM or online at www.daveramsey.com. Send your questions to askdave@daveramsey.com. He resides with his wife Sharon and their three children, Denise, Rachel, and Daniel, in Nashville, Tennessee. 13

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June 2012 • River Region’s Journey

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Choosing

Forgiveness by Karen Wingate

I remember the sick feeling in my stomach when I heard about the brutal shooting of ten Amish girls at a rural school near Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania in October, 2006. Five girls died and, to this day, one survivor still remains semi-comatose in her parents’ home. How could anyone be so vicious? News reports validated that I wasn’t the only one who felt horror - and yes, a tinge of anger - at this unfair and evil act. Shock turned to wonder when the nation observed the reaction of those closest to the tragedy - the Amish themselves. One of the murdered girls’ grandfathers warned young relatives, “We must not think evil of this man.” Amish neighbors shared gifts, hugs and tears with the family of murderer, Charles Roberts, who concluded his violent act by killing himself. In spite of their own loss of life, damaged emotions and overwhelming medical bills, the community started a fund for the killer’s family and willingly suffered more emotional trauma by attending Roberts’ funeral. River Region’s Journey • June 2012

As a parent and Sunday School teacher, I’ve taught children to say the magic words: “Please,” “Thank you,” “I’m sorry” and “I forgive you.” While it’s important to teach children these concepts, in the case of forgiveness, we need to go a few steps further. I’m afraid we’ve given children the mistaken idea that simply saying the words, “I forgive you” solves the problem. Whenever we confront such evil, however, the words simply aren’t enough. We’re led to wonder: how do I know when I’ve really forgiven? Through their actions, the Amish showed that forgiveness is more than a three-word phrase. Forgiveness is expressed in the way we choose to respond toward the one who offended us. It is an agreement to bear the consequences caused by the offense and a commitment to the mending of a relationship we didn’t break. This is possible because we trust God will take care of us and delights to weave the adversity of our experience into His beautiful plan for our lives. Before we can experience the healing forgiveness brings, we have to admit to ourselves that there is a debt to be reconciled. 14

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The Bottom Line

So often I’ve heard - and you probably have too - that we should “forgive and forget.” It’s not that simple. Our souls cry for justice. How can we forget when we still see the carnage and taste the galling leftovers of sin and selfishness? The truth is: sin has consequences. Selfish or irresponsible choices have the potential to smash the dreams and alter the life direction of innocent bystanders. Even small acts of rudeness or selfishness can affect our day. Suppose you just purchased the car of your dreams. You park that sleek beauty in your driveway. Five minutes later, distracted while talking on my cell phone, I plow into your beautiful new car. Your insurance company assesses the damage at $8000. Guess what? I have no insurance. I don’t even have a driver’s license. I shouldn’t be driving in the first place! You now have a choice. You can insist I pay for the damaged car. You can file criminal charges against me. Or you could be really nice and say, “It’s ok. Just forget about For Advertising Information:

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it.” But as I gratefully drive away, you turn and face your shattered dream. You are minus one beautiful, new, unbroken car. You still face an $8000 repair bill. That is what amazes me about Jesus’ parable of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18:23-35. In one short sentence, the master canceled the huge debt the servant owed. But I have to hit the pause button whenever I read that part of the story. The debt still existed. Someone, most likely the master, had to pay the debt. Even if the master declared bankruptcy, someone was out a lot of money. God did not smooth over our sin with a beneficent “I forgive you.” Our sin cost Jesus His life-blood. He didn’t deserve to die. Of all people, He didn’t deserve the repercussions from our wrongdoing. Yet He was willing to pay the highest price to restore us back into relationship with His Father. Forgiveness, then, is choosing to take over the payment of a debt, making it possible for restoration to occur. In our humanness, however, can we afford to do what Christ did for us?

Benchmarks of Forgiveness

Accepting a debt we shouldn’t have to pay sounds very unfair and virtually impossible. Colossians 3:14 shows us how we can do this: we forgive as Christ forgave us. Jesus was able to forgive because He knew God had the power to rescue Him from death. In turn, we don’t have to be concerned over how much someone’s sin

will mess up our lives. God has the power to rescue us from anything. Choosing to forgive becomes easier when we trust God’s power and desire to take care of us. Even if we lose our jobs, pension plans and stock holdings, like Enron Corporation employees did after corrupt upper level executives brought about its downfall, God can help us pay any debt an offender thrusts upon us. God has promised to provide whatever we need (Philippians 4:19). If we can trust God to take care of our daily needs, we can also trust Him to help us bear the loss caused by someone’s offense. It gets better. God delights to use the refuse of our lives to build our character, making us strong and useful for Him. Clay can be fashioned into useful vessels if it is pliable. God can mold me into a vessel useful for Kingdom service if I am not hardened by bitterness over how someone has offended me. If I hold onto my resentment, I miss an opportunity to move forward in my walk with Him and to reflect His character to those I am trying to influence for His Kingdom. The Old Testament character, Joseph, could forgive his brothers because he was willing to trust that God could do something awesome with the events of his life propelled by his brothers’ unfair sale of him into slavery. “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good,” he told them (Genesis 50:20). Forgiveness actively pursues the process of restoring the relationship, rec-

ognizing that it is a process, not an event. Restoration takes time and may not happen at all. Joseph had to wait over twenty years before he was reconciled with his brothers. Even so, as we see in the context of Genesis 50, the relationship remained strained as Joseph’s brothers never fully trusted his willingness to forgive. The important thing is that, for our part, we leave the door open to the possibility of reconciliation. When we suffer the unintended consequences of another’s sinful behavior, we have a marvelous opportunity to mirror the grace Christ so freely offers to us. Our forgiving behavior becomes a microcosm of what Christ did on the cross when he paid the debt for our sin. The third school shooting that week and the twenty-fourth in our nation in the year 2006, the Amish school shooting was nothing unusual in and of itself. The world heard of the event because the community was willing to put feet on their forgiveness. God’s grace went on parade that week when neighbors were willing to hold the hands of the killer’s widow. We forgive when we stop fighting the compulsion to balance the scales of justice, relinquish our loss into the hands of our capable Lord, and care more about someone’s relationship with God than how they have hurt us. It is through our active choice to forgive that others will taste and long for ultimate forgiveness found only in Christ Jesus. Karen Wingate, a minister’s wife in Western Illinois, writes a blog on Children’s Ministry at www.childrenteach.blogspot.com. She and her husband have two adult daughters.

THE GOSPEL CHANGES

EVERYTHING.

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June 2012 • River Region’s Journey

SHINE!

tim to pa cla it w we fol an he hu

by Kim Hendrix

An Encouraging Word Hebrews 10:24-25: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Have you heard the one about the buffaloes stampeding across the open prairie when suddenly they all fell into and on top of one another? It turns out the buffalo leading the way had suddenly stopped and said, “Shh, I think I heard a discouraging word.” Discouraging words can stop us in our tracks and force us to stumble all over any progress we were making. I’m not talking about constructive criticism, when your boss, friend or spouse needs

River Region’s Journey • June 2012

to point out something you’re doing that could be done better and they do it in a way that’s helpful. Discouraging words are often said with malice, with intent to hurt, and we often give them too much authority in our lives. You’ve probably met people who were told they were stupid when they were younger and even after years of education and finding success in a career, they still question if they’re good enough. I have a quote I’ve always kept taped to my computer from Tom Stoppard in the movie “Do the Right Thing”. It goes like this, “Words are sacred, they deserve respect. If you get the right ones in the right order you can nudge the world a little.” How true. As I’m writing this I’m just back from a Baccalaureate service for

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er He the as graduating seniors. The speaker shared a story of a group of seniors who, on their last day of school, were asked to write the nicest thing they could think of about each person in their class. The teacher then put the comments together for each student and gave them a copy as they left school. Years later when one of the graduates died in Afghanistan and the former classmates gathered for his funeral, their fallen friend’s dad took a tattered piece of paper folded many

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times out of his son’s wallet to show it to the group. Yes, it was the piece of paper with the nice comments from his classmates—that young man had carried it with him all those years and from the wear and tear had obviously opened and folded it many times. Upon seeing this, another classmate pulled her list out of her purse and another said she knew her husband kept his in a scrapbook. Don’t ever take for granted the power of your written word and, as we see in Hebrews 10:25, never stop encouraging the people around you, “and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” I’m sure many of you have graduation gifts to buy for the class of 2012. Let’s think about writing a card filled with encouraging words—one that could very well change that young person’s life forever. Graduation is a great time to share something like this, but you know you can do it anytime for anyone. Writing encouraging words in your handwriting is becoming a lost art. Words on a computer screen or phone can be nice as well, but there’s something about holding a card, seeing the handwriting of someone who took the time to think about

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you and share their thoughts, and being thankful. Proverbs 16:24: “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” I can still remember a Kindergarten teacher saying, “What a sweet smile,” as we took our individual school pictures. I’ll never forget my mom recounting the story of being in the stands at my basketball game when I was the new girl at school. I was having a pretty good game and parents started asking, “Who is number 43?” And my mom told me she said with a big smile, “That’s my daughter!” I cherish the words of my precious daughter when she was barely four talking out loud to the television when someone on a program asked, “Do you have a hero?” From the other room I heard her say, “Yes, I do!” I asked, “Who is it sweetie?” And she said, “You—Silly! I thought you knew that Mommy.” We need these encouraging words, because as we know, in this life the discouraging words can come at a rapid pace. Let’s dig deep into God’s word and

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make that our foundation as we continue to lift up those around us. Then when we suddenly hear a discouraging word, we won’t stumble or fall, but stay focused on the One who knows us best, who made us in His image and who fills us up with scripture…the living word that is “sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” Dear Heavenly Father, Your word is a lamp for our feet. May we keep our eyes focused on the encouragement we find in scripture and may your love flow through us in the form of uplifting, affirming words for others. Please help us to realize the power of the right words put in the right order. Dear Lord, above all, may you speak through us so our friends and loved ones will be filled up and drawn ever closer in their walks with you. In the awesome name of your son, Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen. Kim Hendrix is the Director of Development at Saint James School in Montgomery. She leads the Shine Your Light ministry at Frazer Memorial U.M.C. and recently ended a 26 year career in television news. Kim and her husband Scott, have a 11 year old daughter, Annie, who brings them great joy.

June 2012 • River Region’s Journey

The Intersection:

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Christian Cultural Commentary by Bob Crittenden

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Chasing After the Afterlife We can be so consumed with our lives here and now that we don’t pause very often to think about what happens after we leave this earth. I believe that if we develop a greater awareness of heaven, it can impact the way we live our lives now. It’s interesting – a massive, global Ipsos/Reuters poll from last year found that 51% of those surveyed believed in an afterlife. The remaining half was split between those who just believe that we cease to exist and those who replied that they didn’t know. The breakdown of those believing in an afterlife is telling: 23% believe in an afterlife “but not specifically in a heaven or hell”

River Region’s Journey • June 2012

19% believe “you go to heaven or hell” 7% believe “you are ultimately reincarnated”, and 2% believe in “heaven but not hell”. (By the way, 41% of Americans believe that you go to heaven or hell.) So three-quarters of those surveyed either believe in an afterlife or are not sure. We have the opportunity to point people to the One who said He is the resurrection and the life. As they contemplate what will occur after they personally die, we can relate the words of Jesus, who said He is the way, truth, and life. If we believe in Christ’s resurrection, then we can be certain that we will be raised into new life after we die.

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So how convincing is the evidence for the resurrection of Christ? Dr. Gary Habermas of Liberty University, who spoke in Montgomery recently, has identified a series of “minimal facts” that most scholars can agree on. Brett Kunkle of Stand to Reason mentioned five at www.str.org: 1 - Jesus died by Roman crucifixion. 2 - The disciples believed they had seen the risen Jesus.

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3 - Saul of Tarsus (Paul), an enemy of the church, converted because he believed he had seen the risen Jesus. 4 - James, the brother of Jesus and a skeptic, converted because he believed he had seen the risen Jesus. 5 - The tomb of Jesus was empty. There is compelling truth for the resurrection, and if we believe that Jesus is risen from the dead, then we can be convinced that He is seated in heaven at His Father’s right hand, and that we who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior will experience a bodily resurrection and be ushered into heaven upon our physical death. If we believe in a living Lord and the home He has prepared for us, how can that affect the way we live? I would like to offer three areas:

Residency. The Bible tells us that

our citizenship is in heaven, and refers to us as “aliens and strangers” in this world. Having heaven as our place of residency, our eternal address, reminds us that we

are to behave in a manner that is truly distinctive here on earth.

Resiliency. If we are convinced that we do not belong here and that our true home is in another place, our attitude toward the challenges of life can be radically adjusted – we recognize that our trials are truly temporary, and we can have hope because of the promise of a new life on the other side. 2nd Corinthians 4:1718 (NKJV) remind us: …our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. We fix our eyes on Jesus and draw strength from reflecting on His presence with the Father, making intercession for each of us. As we do this, we can be comforted, because we can truly gain a

sense of the bigger picture, recognizing this earth isn’t all there is, and we will live with Him in heaven.

Reliability. We serve a promisekeeping God, and as we are convinced of His resurrection, and our being raised with Him, we can develop hope in His faithfulness. That can even be helpful in our daily experience. We face the future with hope in a God who keeps His promises. The gospel message brings hope…in a God who has come to seek and save us, who sent His Son so we might experience eternal life, and who is absolutely faithful to keep His promises. If you know Christ, your future is secure – and glorious!

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.

The

Barnabas

Group

A Christ centered peer based support group for those struggling with unwanted same sex attractions and family members or loved support and encouragement are available. Meets 1st, 3rd, & 5th Tuesdays @ 6:30 PM - Landmark Church More information: call (334) 277.5800 OR email barnabas@landmarkchurch.net Landmark Church is a member of the Exodus International network of churches that welcomes those who struggle with unwanted same sex attractions. a ministry of Church Call 334.213.7940 today!

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June 2012 • River Region’s Journey

2012 Vacation Bible Schools

Aldersgate UMC

6610 Vaughn Road Theme: Operation Overboard When: July, 9-13, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Optional supper $2, 5:30 p.m. Ages: 3 yrs – 5th grade Register at www.aldersgateumc. org or 272.6152.

Blue Ridge Baptist

4471 Jasmine Hill Road, Wetumpka Theme: Amazing Wonders: Aviation When: July 22-26, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. A family night musical performance will be held July 29th at 6:30 p.m. Van pick up for children is available. Call 567-4325.

Camellia Baptist Church

Cornerstone Christian

When: August 13-17 Time: to be announced Call 272-6460.

201 Woodvale Road, Prattville Theme: Amazing Wonders: Aviation When: June 18-22, 6 pm to 8:30 pm. Ages 3 yr preschool through 6th grade, plus adult classes. Register online at www.camelliabaptist.com or call 365-0231.

301 Dalraida Road Theme: Adventures on Promise Island When: July 8-12; 6:15 p.m. until 8 p.m. Ages: Pre-K, age 3 - Rising 6th Visit www.vactaionbibleschool.com/ccc2012 Call 273-8595.

Capitol Heights Baptist

3838 Wares Ferry Rd. Theme: Amazing Wonders: Aviation When: June 25-29; 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Age: Pre-K through 6th grade Pre-registration Family Fun Day: June 24 from 4-7 p.m. Call 272-2412.

1320 Old Ridge Road, Prattville Theme: IncrediWorld Amazement Park When: June 11-15, 9 a.m.–12:30 Ages: 4 years through 8th Grade. Call 365-7500.

Dalraida UMC

Eastmont Baptist

2514 Madison Avenue Theme: Amazing Wonders: Aviation When: June 25-29, 9 a.m. to noon Ages: 4 years old by Sept. 1 through 6th grade. Nursery provided for VBS workers only. Call 264-6461.

Centerpoint Fellowship 435 Sheila Blvd, Prattville 356-3076 Dates and time to be announced. www.centeringlives.com

River Region’s Journey • June 2012

Dalraida Baptist

3817 Atlanta Hwy Dates and Time To Be Announced Call 272.2190.

Eastdale Baptist 400 N. Burbank Dr. 20

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Eastern Hills Baptist

3604 Pleasant Ridge Road When: June 18-22; 8:30 – 12 p.m. Ages: 3 (by Aug 1st) thru 6th grade Call 272.0604.

East Memorial Baptist

4505 Atlanta Highway Theme: SonRise National Park When: June 18-22; 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Ages: 4 yr. - grade 6 Register online @ www.eastmont.org or call 277-6300. For Advertising Information:

Evangel Church

3975 Vaughn Road Theme: Sky: Everything is Possible with God When: June 25-29; 6 to 9 pm Ages 3 to upcoming 6th graders. Call 272-4882 ext 107.

Evolve Church

4500 Vaughn Road Theme: To Be Announced When: July 29-Aug. 1; 6:30 thru 8:30 p.m. Call 224-1879.

First Baptist, Montgomery 305 South Perry Street Theme: Amazing Wonders: Aviation Encountering God’s Awesome Power When: June 11-15; 9 a.m. to Noon Call 241-5164.

First Baptist, Prattville

138 South Washington Street Theme: Amazing Wonders: Aviation When: June 25-29, 8:30 a.m.-12 Noon Ages: Entering 5 year old Kindergarten in Fall - 8th Grade Call 365-0606, ext. 220.

First Baptist, Wetumpka 205 W. Bridge Street

Theme: Amazing Wonders: Aviation When: June 11-15, 8:00 am - 11:45 am Ages: K-6th grade Call 567-5191.

First Presbyterian, Prattville 211 S. Chestnut Street Theme: SonRise National Park When: June 4-8, Registration daily at 8:30, VBS starts at 9 a.m. to Noon Ages: 4 years old through entering 6th grade Call 365.6387.

First UMC, Montgomery

2416 W. Cloverdale Park Theme: Operation Overboard When: June 11-15; 9 a.m. to 12 noon Ages: Age 3 (by Sept 1 of 2012) thru 5th grade. Call 834.8990.

First UMC, Prattville

100 E. Fourth Street Theme: Sky: Everything is Possible with God When: June 11-15, 9 a.m. to Noon Ages: Open to children who have just completed Kindergarten through 5th grade Call 365-5977.

Fountain City Baptist 492 East Main Street, Prattville

Theme: Bug Zone When: June 24-28; 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Ages: 3 to 12. Call 365-2034.

Fountain City Baptist

881 McQueen Smith Road, Prattville 334-365-5511 Theme: Hometown Nazareth: Where Jesus Was A Boy VBS Registration Block Party: Saturday, June 9, 4 pm to 6 pm (free food, moonwalk, horse rides, petting zoo, and more) VBS: June 10-14, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm Ages: This is a family-friendly VBS. It is open to all ages and parents/grandparents/ guardians are encouraged attend. Kids, teens, and adults will participate together.

Frazer Memorial United Methodist

6000 Atlanta Highway Theme: Praise: Where kids get down and lift God high When: July 9-13; 9 a.m. to 12 noon Ages: Rising 4 year olds (as of Sept. 2 of 2012) thru rising 5th graders. Call 272.8622.

Children’s Ministries at First United Methodist Church a church for all god’s children Come laugh, run, slide, splash, play, pray, and worship with us!

Summer activities include: Slip-N-Slide Fun Summer Camp Canoe/Kayak Trip and more!

2416 W. Cloverdale Park Montgomery, AL 36106 334-834-8990 www.fumcmontgomery.org Call 334.213.7940 today!

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June 2012 • River Region’s Journey

Gateway Baptist Church 3300 Bell Road, 272-9494 Kids Camp, June 25-29 Please call for more information.

Grace Community Church 3515 Highway 14, Millbrook Theme: Praise When: June 4-8, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm Ages: 3 years - 6th Grade Call 334-285-4655.

GracePoint Community Church 78223 Tallassee Hwy, Wetumpka Theme: Space Quest When: July 9-13, 6:30– 8:30 p.m. Ages: 3yrs.-6th Grade Call 430-1535.

Hall Memorial CME

541 Seibles Road, Montgomery When: June 18-22, 6:00-8:00 pm Call 288-0577.

Hayneville Baptist

1180 State Hwy 21 N, Hayneville, AL Theme: Amazing Wonders: Aviation When: July 15-19, 5:45 - 8:30 pm Ages: Completed Pre K - 6th Grade Email: hbc@connecthbc.com or call 334-548-2620

Heritage Baptist Church 1849 Perry Hill Road Theme: Amazing Wonders: Aviation When: June 25-29, 8:30 a.m. to 12p.m. Ages: 4 yr. old – 6th grade Call 279-9976.

Heritage Baptist, Prattville

1357 S. Memorial Drive Theme: SonRise National Parks Dates: June 24-28, Time: 6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Ages: K3 through completion of 6th grade Call 365-2372.

Holy Spirit Catholic Church

8570 Vaughn Road, East Montgomery Theme: Sky: For God All Things Are Possible When: July 9-13; 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Call 277-1989 or register online @ www.holy-spirit-church.com.

Lakeview Baptist Church 9225 Atlanta Highway Theme: Amazing Wonders: Aviation When: July 9-13; 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Ages: K3-6th grade. Call 213-3080.

River Region’s Journey • June 2012

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Landmark Church of Christ 1800 Halcyon Boulevard Theme: Super Heroes of the Bible When: July 8-11, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Ages: 3 years thru 6 grade Call 277.5800.

Love Center Full Gospel

3659 Debby Drive (Lecroy Shopping Center) Theme: Fishin’ on a Mission with Jesus When: July 25-27, from 6-8 pm nightly Dinner will be served at 5:30 Ages: 3- 8th grade welcomed For more information call 334-315-6851.

McGehee Road Baptist

2877 McGehee Road Theme: Rocky Point Lighthouse Dates: July 20-22, Times: To be announced Call for details at 262-0689.

Millbrook Presbyterian

3480 Main Street, Millbrook Theme: Case of the Puzzling Parables When: July 9-13; 6:15-8:15 p.m. Ages: Entering K4 thru 6th grade Call 285-4031 to register.

Church of the Ascension, 315 Clanton Ave. Theme: Babylon Dates: June 18-21, 8:30 a.m. - noon Ages: Rising K4 through Rising 6th grade For registration, call 263-5529.

Morningview Baptist

125 Calhoun Road Theme: Sky: Everything is Possible with God When: June 18-22, 9 a.m. to Noon Ages: Completed Kindergarten-5th grade Call 272.2304.

Mountain View Baptist

1025 Rifle Range Rd., Wetumpka Theme: The Amazing Wonders When: June 25-29, Times: 8 a.m.- noon Ages: 4 years old - completed 6th grade Call 334-567-4458.

Mulder United Methodist Church

3454 Firetower Road ~ Wetumpka Vacation Family Experience When: June 22-24, 6 – 8 p.m. Join us for a nightly FX and snack supper with

our families. Followed by crafts, missions and games for kids AND a 2 night parenting seminar with Mike Darnell for parents. VFX will conclude with a Family Field Day & CookOut, Sunday June 24th. For more info please call 567-4225.

Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist

1436 E. Washington Street Theme: No Friend Like Jesus: Get Connected Kickoff will be June 24 from 3-6 at the West Campus. Dates: June 25-29, 6 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Please call 265-1807.

Redland Baptist

Redland Baptist Church 1266 Dozier Rd, Wetumpka Theme: Soul Survivors: Knowing and Living for Christ Dates: June 10-13, 6 p.m. to 8p.m. Please call 567-8649.

Ridgecrest Baptist

5260 Vaughn Road Theme: Amazing Wonders: Aviation When: June 10-13, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Call 277.0011.

Vacation Bible School June 11 through 15 :: 9:00 AM to Noon ages 4 through 6th grade :: FREE! For more information or to register, visit

Montgomery Area Episcopal Churches

www.montgomeryfbc.org Watch amazing things happen as kids encounter God like never before—all against the backdrop of some of the world’s most marvelous natural wonders. As kids explore Psalm 147:5, they’ll recognize God’s power over all things, trust that God is always in control, accept God’s gift of forgiveness, celebrate that Jesus is alive, and rely on God’s power.

First Baptist Church • 305 South Perry Street • Jay Wolf, Pastor • 334.834.6310 • www.montgomeryfbc.org Call 334.213.7940 today!

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June 2012 • River Region’s Journey

Saint James United Methodist Church

9045 Vaughn Road Theme: Sky: Everything is Possible with God When: June 18-20, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Call 277-3037.

St. Paul Lutheran Church

4475 Atlanta Highway Theme: The Armor of God When: June 18-21, 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM Ages: Preschool to Adult, Nursery Provided Call: 334-272-6214 to Register.

First Christian Church 1705 Taylor Road Time: June 23-27 from 5:30-8 p.m. Ages 4 years old – 6 grade Call 270-1320.

Taylor Road Baptist

1685 Taylor Road Theme: Amazing Wonders: Aviation When: July 16-20, 8:45 a.m. to Noon Ages: 4 year old through completed 6th grade. Call 271.3363.

Thorington Road Baptist 450 Ray Thorington Road

River Region’s Journey • June 2012

Theme: Amazing Wonders: Aviation When: June 10-14; 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Ages: 5 yrs. to 5th grade Call 396-9376.

Ages: Entering Kindergarten thru entering 6th. Registration online at www.vaughnforest.com or call 279-5433.

Trinity Presbyterian

2673 Fisk Road Theme: Operation Overboard When: June 24-27, 5:30 to 8 p.m. Ages: 3 years to 6th grade. Call 281-2467.

1728 S. Hull Street Theme: Christian Olympics When: June 11-15, 9 a.m. to noon. Ages: PreK 4 through completed 6th grade Call 262.3892 to pre-register.

Trinity UMC, Prattville 610 Fairview Avenue, Prattville Theme: Dare to Go Deep with God When: June 10-14, 5:15 – 8:30 p.m. Call 365-7339.

University Church of Christ 5315 Atlanta Hwy Theme: Christian Olympics When: June 24-27; Time: Sunday, 6 p.m. and Monday – Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. Ages: newborn thru 6th grade Adult classes will be available Please call 386-7320 or visit www.ucoc.org.

Vaughn Forest

8660 Vaughn Road Theme: Amazing Wonders: Aviation When: June 11-15; 9 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

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Whitfield UMC

Woodland UMC

4428 Wallahatchee Rd, Pike Road Theme: Sky: Everything is Possible with God When: June 11-15, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m Ages: 3 years old -6th grade Call 272-7230.

Young Meadows Presbyterian 5780 Vaughn Road Theme: Sports Camp 2012 When: June 11-15, 9 a.m. until noon Ages: Kindergarten -5th grade Call 244-1385.

To have your church’s July VBS listed next month, send information to Deanne@readjourneymagazine.com.

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June 2012 • River Region’s Journey

Grace to You

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by John MacArthur

Love Without Hypocrisy Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. (Romans 12:9) The greatest virtue of the Christian life is love. The use of agapē (love) was rare in pagan Greek literature, doubtless because the concept it represented—unselfish, selfgiving, willful devotion—was so uncommon in that culture it was even ridiculed and despised as a sign of weakness. But in the New Testament it is proclaimed as the supreme virtue, the virtue under which all others are subsumed. Agapē love centers on the needs and welfare of the one loved and will pay whatever personal price is necessary to meet those needs and foster that welfare. God Himself “is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides

in him” (1 John 4:16). Jesus made unequivocally clear that in both the Old and New Testaments the two greatest commandments are: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” and “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 22:37–39). In fact, He went on to say, “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets” (v. 40). Echoing that same truth, Paul later admonishes in his letter to Rome, “Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law” (13:8; cf. v. 10). Love is more important to a Christian than any spiritual gift he may have. “But now abide faith, hope, love, these three,” Paul explained to the Corinthian believers, “but the greatest of these is love” (1 Cor.

13:13; cf. 12:31). It is therefore not surprising that the first “fruit of the Spirit is love” (Gal. 5:22) and that it is by our love for our fellow believers that “all men will know that [we are Jesus’] disciples” (John 13:35). In behalf of the Thessalonian believers, Paul prayed, “May the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another” (1 Thess. 3:12; cf. 1 John 3:18). Suffering “much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger,” Paul himself served the Lord’s

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people “in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love” (2 Cor. 6:4–6). It is that same unfeigned love of one another that Peter admonishes all believers to exhibit: “Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart” (1 Pet. 1:22). Later in the same letter, the apostle repeats the command: “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Pet. 4:8). Genuine love is so integral to supernatural living that John declares, “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death” (1 John 3:14). In other words, a person who shows no evidence of agapē love has no claim on Christ or on eternal life. A Jewish woman who lived near our church was refused marriage counseling by her synagogue because she had not paid her dues. She was upset and determined to go to the nearest religious institution to get help. As she walked past our church one Sunday morning, she soon found herself inside. As she explained later, she was drawn to her Messiah and Savior that day because she could sense the great love manifested by our members for each other. The love of which Paul, Peter, and John speak is genuine love, the sincere and fervent love that is completely without hypocrisy and untainted by self-centeredness. Christian love is pure, guileless, and unaffected. Hypocrisy is the antithesis of and completely incompatible with agapē love. The two cannot coexist. Hypocrisy is exceeded in evil only by unbelief. The consummate hypocrite in Scripture, Judas, was also the consummate egoist. He feigned devotion to Jesus to achieve his own selfish purposes. His hypocrisy was unmasked and his selfcenteredness was made evident when he betrayed Jesus for the thirty pieces of silver. Commenting on this verse in Romans, the theologian John Murray writes, “If love is the sum of virtue and hypocrisy is the epitome of vice, what a contradiction to bring the two together.”

Widely known for his thorough, candid approach to teaching God’s Word, John MacArthur is a fifthgeneration pastor, a popular author and conference speaker, and has served as pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California since 1969. John and his wife, Patricia, have four grown children and fifteen grandchildren. John’s pulpit ministry has been extended around the globe through his media ministry, Grace to You. Call 334.213.7940 today!

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June 2012 • River Region’s Journey

Family Teams for Christ

the the “n ing tio an to dis

by Lisa and Mike Conn

Preparing Your Child For Financial Responsibility Teaching your child to be responsible with money is a challenging task for parents. We love our children and want to give them good things. One of the best gifts is to be united in a parenting plan that results in financially responsible children. We teach a course called “Character-Centered Parenting”, and while we’ve made our share of parenting mistakes, our children are financially responsible. Here are some of the key concepts: God wants us to be wise, responsible, hard working, and giving. He expects parents to train their children to live this way, as seen throughout the Bible. The book of Proverbs is a perfect place to start. Proverbs 3:1-2 says, “My son, do not forget my

River Region’s Journey • June 2012

teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.” Proverbs 3:11-12: “My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.” Proverbs 10:4-5: “Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.” Read aloud with your children from Proverbs each day—since there are 31 chapters it’s easy to read one chapter a day. The next month, just start over with the first chapter—you probably missed some days, and repetition is a great teacher. Ron Blue, author of Teaching Your Children to Handle Money, says, “The bot-

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tom line in teaching wisdom to children is that children learn responsibility by having responsibility.” Blue emphasizes that if we want our children to grow up with a legacy of wisdom, they must understand these three concepts: limited resources, delayed gratification, and a strong work ethic. Limited Resources. A weekly allowance provides the opportunity to live with a limited amount of money and learn to prioritize one’s needs and wants. Teaching your children that resources are limited helps avoid the “hand-out” problem. Over time,

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they learn to budget for their “wants”, and as they grow older, help pay for some of their “needs”. Don’t be thwarted by a child wearing you down with whining or manipulation. Children learn which parent is weaker and will focus their energies on that parent to get what they want, causing discord and disunity. In our household, we use an allowance to teach money management (learning to live on limited resources) but not as a reward for chores. Being part of the “family team” means each member pulls their own weight, performing age-appropriate chores and helping keep the household running smoothly. This training is a gift to your children which prepares them for independent living— whether at college, as newlyweds, or at any stage of life. When our kids were college students, we really had our eyes opened: some of their housemates didn’t want to do kitchen chores, resulting in overflowing garbage cans and sinks full of dirty dishes. Another issue was leaving lights on and the air conditioning constantly running—even when everyone was away for the weekend. When the electricity bill arrived, it was hundreds of dollars more than previous months—not

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a problem for the students who lived on their parent’s unlimited resources. When they wanted everyone to pay for a regular maid, I knew their future husbands had a real problem. These children were grossly unprepared for life because they had not been taught how to live with limited resources before leaving home. Delayed Gratification. Delayed gratification is learning to delay your immediate desires in order to achieve a future goal. When your child wants something, let them save for it and buy it themselves. Children should have a savings account and make deposits regularly from their allowance, birthday and Christmas gifts, and money earned from extra work, teaching them to save for later wants and needs. Each of us thinks long and hard about a desired object when we have to pay for it ourselves. If children delay the purchase and sacrifice for it, we know they truly value the item and will take care of it. Parents also can extend grace and give their children special gifts when appropriate, just as God gives us unmerited grace and unearned gifts. A Strong Work Ethic. The experience of getting a job is exciting and rewarding! My first summer job at age 13 was wash-

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ing dishes in a hospital kitchen. I continued to work and save each summer at various jobs, and by the time I was a senior in high school, I could buy a good used car (we’re still driving it—a 1964 ½ Mustang). The advantages of allowing our children to work, earn money, and pay for purchases are limitless: gaining self-confidence, independence, pride of accomplishment, perseverance, and character building are just a few. Young teens can earn money by cutting lawns, babysitting, and tutoring. Older teens should have a job lined up well before summer arrives. They can help pay for their auto insurance, gas, and cell phone. Being required to work and the rewards that follow will help a child develop a strong and lifelong work ethic. Start today planning how you and your spouse can teach your children to be financially responsible. It’s never too early to begin! Lt. Col Mike Conn and wife, Lisa, founded Covenant Family Ministries when Mike retired from the Air Force in 1997. CFM is an independent marriage and family education ministry committed to partnering with churches, organizations, and individuals in Montgomery and across Alabama to build Family Teams for Christ. Married for over 30 years, Mike and Lisa have three wonderful daughters, two great sons-in-law, and one precious granddaughter.

June 2012 • River Region’s Journey

Inner City Evangelism by Rachel Fisher

A Family Changed Leads to a Life Changing Ministry

Five years ago, Jeff and Jennifer Hand were living what they believed was “the good life.” Jeff worked in construction and Jennifer owned half of four businesses. Their multiple cars, investment properties and large home seemed to say they were living “The American Dream.” Spiritually, the Hands were dry bones in need of the breath of Life. “I grew up atheist,” explains Jeff. “I didn’t believe in God at all.” “I would say that I believed there was a god, but I didn’t know if it was Buddah or Muhammad or Jesus. I thought Christianity was a cop out religion,” says Jennifer. “It seemed too easy to me.” “We attended church, but I had no belief in the God of the Bible,” says Jeff. “I knew church taught good moral values, so I took my family.” The economy was just beginning to tilt, and then it tumbled. The Hands lost everything they had built their lives on. “We financially hit rock bottom,” says Jennifer. “We lost our house, our River Region’s Journey • June 2012

“I broke down in my room and said, “Lord if you’re real I need you to tell me something,” says Jeff. “I opened my Bible to Matthew where it says, “Do not worry.” Jeff explains in that moment he was learning to take off the yoke of worry and the stress of having so much stuff and just let it all go. Jeff was learning to surrender his life, plans and family to Jesus Christ. “When you truly meet Christ, when you know Him, you realize He really is better and bigger than all of the things,” says Jennifer,“it’s freedom.” Such a drastic change in their lifestyle caused the Hands to begin to look at people and situations differently. They began to spend time reading God’s word and realized following Jesus wasn’t as easy as Jennifer had been led to believe. “It wasn’t until I really started reading the Bible and read the things Christ said, like ‘Pick up your cross and follow me,’ that I realized it’s not easy,” Jennifer explains. “Those words made it substantial for me.”

cars, our property, pretty much everything.” It was at this moment when Jeff and Jennifer began to realize there was something more to life than possessions and wondering if there was a God and who He was. 30

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Jennifer and Jeff began to see Christ was truly their Lord and Savior. They were willing to follow him at all costs. Like the apostle Peter said to Jesus, “Lord where else would we go?” Jennifer and Jeff realized they too were at a place where they had nowhere else to turn but to Jesus. Little did they know God was using their financial situation and new awakening to who He was to redirect their hearts and equip them to serve the people of Montgomery in a radical way.

A Family is Changed, A New Ministry is Born

Inner City Evangelism (ICE) started as a simple decision Jeff and a couple of guys made to go share the gospel in the housing communities in Montgomery. Jeff grew up in an under resourced neighborhood in Montgomery and knows the kind of hopelessness that environment can create in the hearts and minds of the people who call it home, so it made sense for him to go there.

Interested in serving during on of ICE’s outreaches this summer?

“You see nothing but bad things all around you,” says Jeff. “Everyone you look up to lets you down. Drugs saturate into every aspect of life in June 9th: Cleveland Court these poor communities… June 23rd: Smiley Court I can relate because I was there.” July 14th: Gibbs Village What began as this July 28th Patterson Court: small group of guys going out to the housAugust 11th: Gibbs Vilage ing projects has turned August 2th: Patterson Court into a growing ministry and VBS at Cleveland Court with a leadership team and volunteers who put June 18th-21st on monthly outreaches in four different housing people and learning about their lives,” communities on the West says Jennifer. side of Montgomery. Each month, they As God began to grow the outreachgo to a different housing community es, he also began to do something else and spend the afternoon sharing the within ICE. Friday Night Church was gospel and spending time with the kids the product of Jennifer and a couple of in the communities. “We do a lesson people getting together to pray for their for the children, share the gospel with family and friends who were lost. “It the adults and just enjoy being with the started out with just a few of us and has

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Call 334.213.7940 today!

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June 2012 • River Region’s Journey

grown to where we had to move it to a room at Frazer Memorial UMC,” says Jennifer. “If you would have told me five years ago that we would have a church and this ministry I would have said you were crazy. There are other things I would have rather done on a Friday night.” The Hands believe there is nothing better than a group of people coming together to worship God. Sometimes until two o’clock in the morning. The “why” of this radical change in their life is simple. “It all comes down to loving your neighbor as yourself,” says Jennifer. “That’s all Jesus really asks us to do.” To the Hands, this command from Jesus is not only lived out during their monthly outreaches and Friday nights, but in their practical day to day life as they utilize their gifts, talents and abilities for the Kingdom of God. Over the past few years, the Hands, along with their two young daughters, Faith and Izzy, have settled into a new

life, directed by God’s spirit and not driven by money or defined by what they have. One year ago, in partnership with Frazer UMC, they moved into the Village Green apartments to serve the people in this lower income apartment community. “We are simply living life with these people,” says Jennifer. “We baby sit their kids, cook dinner with them, eat with them, and disciple them along the way.” Jennifer and Jeff believe the most important thing is loving people and telling them the good news about Jesus--the same news that rescued them from a life that from the outside seemed great, but that Jeff says was all about themselves. Today, the Hands are beginning to transition their lives to the Washington Park neighborhood closer to the housing communities they serve. Jeff is using his construction background working with House to House (H2H), a partner of Common Ground Montgomery. H2H is seeking to develop the neighborhood through physical improvements to

real estate as well as develop Christian families by providing better housing, educational training, family counseling, and employment opportunities. “We are excited about the move and to see what else God has in store for ICE and the people we serve,” says Jennifer. “It’s an adventure for sure.” “We want to change lives for the Kingdom. We believe that if anything happens, God has to do it,” says Jeff. We can do nothing in and of ourselves,” says Jeff. “I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that from a scriptural standpoint we went from death to life, from darkness to light.” If you are interested in getting involved with Inner City Evangelism contact layne@innercityevangelism.com Visit their website at innercityevangelism.com to find out more information about how to get involved! Rachel Fisher loves learning what God is doing in the world and writing about it. Rachel and her husband, Chase, are members of Strong Tower at Washington Park, a church plant of Common Ground Ministries. (Photography by William Frye.)

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June 2012 • River Region’s Journey

Counselor’s Corner

to yo

by Doug Hudgins

Practicing Healthy Self-Talk Have you ever noticed how much you talk to yourself? Throughout the day, hundreds of internal impromptu monologues are performed on the stage of your mind. As you interpret the experiences of life, you do so largely with words. The content of this self-talk can be constructive and helpful, or very misleading and even destructive. Research shows that we can speak to ourselves at a rate of over 1,000 words per minute. At that rate, you can very quickly talk yourself into going in a positive or negative direction. In order to avoid out of control, confusing and possibly hurtful responses in life, and to live in a way that is pleasing to God, it is important to learn to think biblically and to talk to yourself rather than just listen to yourself.

Romans 12:2 tells us that rather than being conformed to this world, we are to be transformed by renewing our minds. This is where biblical selftalk comes in. The Bible is filled with directives and principles for living. In fact, 2 Peter 1:3 tells us that God has provided all things needed for life and godliness. In order to grow in your relationship with Christ and others, it is necessary to study God’s Word and seek to understand these truths for life. These truths from Scripture are intended to influence the way you will think and respond. When situations present themselves, ask yourself, “How can I view this event and respond to it biblically in a way that honors the Lord?” After you have determined what Scrip-

ture has to say about the situation, you will be prepared to respond internally by directing your thoughts, and externally by guiding your actions according to the biblical principles you have identified. As a Christian, you must learn to speak the truth to yourself in your heart (c.f. Psalm 15:2). 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that God’s word is useful and profitable for teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness… One of the benefits of using Scripture in your life to teach, reprove, correct, and train is that you become conformed

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to the mind of Christ by disciplining yourself according to the Bible. Throughout the book of Psalms, there are various examples of how the Psalmists used biblically accurate selftalk to direct their thinking and change the direction of their thoughts and moods. In Psalm 73, Asaph was discouraged because he had been looking at the ways of wicked people around him. It appeared to Asaph that the wicked had it easy. Asaph began to doubt that pursuing righteousness was worth the effort. Then Asaph went to church and was reminded of God and His ways. Asaph was reminded that even when he strays into negative, unbiblical thinking, God is still faithful. God is still in control. At this revelation, Asaph was grieved at his behavior. He repented and acknowledged God. Asaph finishes the Psalm by reminding himself about the goodness and faithfulness of the Lord. In Psalm 121 the Psalmist begins by reminding himself that his help is in God and his strength is in the Lord. In Colossians 3:2 we are told to set our minds on things above and not on things of earth. A parallel passage in Ephesians 4:23 tells us to be renewed in the spirit of our mind. Setting our mind and renewing our mind by God’s word requires that we pay close attention to our thoughts. We must take them captive and control them by constantly dwelling on God’s Word and actively speaking truth to ourselves. As you go through your day, pay attention to what you think about and what you say to yourself. As you put off your old fleshly ways and begin to think and speak in accordance with biblical directives and principles, you should begin to see your life being transformed more readily into the image of Christ. Don’t be conformed and corrupted by worldliness. Train yourself to be cleansed, renewed and transformed by directing yourself to listen to God’s Word. You will be pleased with the resulting changes in your life. More importantly, so will the Lord.

Doug Hudgins is a certified counselor with The National Association of Nouthetic Counselors. He is a graduate of Toccoa Falls College and Troy State University and is currently enrolled in a PHD program in Biblical Counseling at Trinity Seminary. Doug and his wife, Lori, are members at Eastwood Presbyterian Church where Doug serves as a counselor. Call 334.213.7940 today!

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June 2012 • River Region’s Journey

River Region Support Groups Adoption

Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy APAC- Alabama Pre/Post Adoption Connection Support Group meets the 3rd Thursday from 6:00-7:30pm in room 8253 at Frazer Memorial UMC. Provides education and social interaction for adoptive families. For more info, call 409-9477 or email apac2@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 interest 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: Centerpoint Fellowship, 2050 Commerce St., Millbrook. We are located one block east of I-65 just off Cobbs Ford Road. Celebrate Recovery meeting every Tuesday night at 6 pm. Call (334) 356-3076. Location: Cloverdale Baptist Church, 608 E. Fairview Celebrate Recovery, a Bible-based Christ centered approach to recovery from hurts, habits and hang-ups, meets Friday nights, beginning with dinner at 5:30 p.m., Praise and worship, 6:30, Open Share Small Groups, 7:30, and Solid Rock Cafe, at 8:30. Call 265-9223. Location: Dalraida UMC, 3817 Atlanta Highway Alcoholics Anonymous meets at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays. 272.2190. Alanon meets at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays. Location: Grace @ Bell Road, Corner of Bell Road and Atlanta Hwy. Alcoholics Anonymous and Alanon meetings are held Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, at 6 p.m. An Open AA Speaker meeting is held on Saturday at 6 p.m. An Alanon & AA held on Sundays at 2 p.m. Location: Grace Point Community Church, 78223 Tallassee Hwy (Hwy 14), Wetumpka Celebrate Recovery- every Tuesday night- 6:15pm. All are welcome! These meetings are a safe and loving environment for individuals seeking to conquer their hurts, habits and hang-ups! E-mail www.gracepoint.info. Location: Journey Church, group meets in Fellowship Hall at Coosada Baptist Church, Millbrook Celebrate Recovery - Christ-centered 12-step for anyone struggling with addiction or life-challenging issues. Mondays at 6pm (meal), 7pm (large group), 8pm (small group). Childcare available. Call Chuck at 850-723-9705. Location: Santuck Baptist Church, 7250 Central Plank Rd. (Hwy 9), Wetumpka. Celebrate Recovery meets each Thursday evening at 6:15 in the Fellowship Hall. This is a Chrsit centered 12 step-program for anyone struggling with hurts, habits, and hang-ups. Call 567-2364. Location: Landmark Church, 1800 Halcyon Blvd. RSVP- This is a 12 step spiritual recovery program for overcoming addictions. Using the steps and Bible we help build self-esteem, responsible behavior, the making of amends for our destructive actions, and to fill the void in our hearts in a loving relationship with God. Wednesday nights @ 6:30pm in Rm. 121 of the Life Center. Location: St. James UMC, 9045 Vaughn Road Celebrate Recovery meets every Thursday night from 6-8 pm in the Youth Room. This is a Christ-centered 12-step group for anyone struggling with an “addiction or life-challenging issues.” For information, call Chris Henderson at 334-215-0427.

River Region’s Journey • June 2012

Location: Trinity Episcopal, Wetumpka (Across from Winn Dixie on HWY 231) Gamblers Anonymous-Saturdays at 7 p.m.

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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. For info, call the LifeCare office at 272-8622.

Location: Dalraida Baptist, 3838 Wares Ferry Road. Just for Men -- Montgomery’s first and only faith based cancer support group for men is intent on providing information, Christian fellowship, and helping turn adversity into prosperity. Meetings are held the third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. in the fellowship hall. Please call 272-2412 email cancerpatient@bellsouth.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 Diemayer at 467-4578. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Women of Hope Breast Cancer Support Group, providing education, awareness, and mentoring for breast cancer patients/survivors, family, friends or anyone interested in becoming a part of this compassionate journey, meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in Rm 8253. Call 272-8622 or womenofhope@charter.net.

Caregiver

Location: Aldersgate UMC, 6610 Vaughn Road Caregiver’s Support Group – Meets monthly on third Wednesday 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. Caring for an elderly or terminally ill patient can be challenging and, at times, overwhelming. A support group provides a safe place to express your concerns and fears and find help and strength to care for your loved one. The group is open to the community. Call Aldersgate UMC 272-6152.

Depression

Location: Landmark Church, 1800 Halcyon Blvd. Leaders: Mike & Suzanne Greene (334-271-3331) Every other Tuesday, 6:30pm in Rm. 117. Goal is to create an atmosphere of acceptance and trust, where people can feel free and safe to discuss their feelings and thoughts without shame or embarrassment. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy A Depression/Bipolar Support Group meets on the 1st Thursday of each month from 7:00-8:30pm in Room 3101. This group also meets on the 3rd Saturday afternoon, 12-2 pm, Dalraida UMC, 3817 Atlanta Highway in Church Annex. For more info, call 334.652.1431 or email dbsamontgomery@yahoo.com. 36

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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.

Cancer

Alzheimer’s / Dementia

Location: Aldersgate UMC, 6610 Vaughn Alzheimer’s Support Group – Meets monthly on second Tuesday 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. This support group is for those caring for a loved one with Alzheimer or other forms of dementia. Each session provides information about the disease and community services available to help you. The group is open to the community. Call 272-6152.

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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.

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Location: First UMC, 100 E. Fourth Street, Prattville Divorce Recovery meets Wednesdays at 6:15 p.m., Bldg. 101. Call 365.5977.

Location: Heritage Baptist Church, 1849 Perry Hill Divorce Care Support Group meetings are held Sundays at 6:15 p.m. Divorce Care for Children also at this time. Call 279.9976. Grief Share groups are held each Sunday at 5 p.m. Call 279.9976. Location: Vaughn Park Church, 3800 Vaughn Road A Divorce Recovery group meets on Wednesday nights, from 7 to 8 p.m. Children’s classes available. Call 386-7295.

Financial

Location: Landmark Church, 1800 Halcyon Blvd. Leaders: Rick Howard (334)399-7223, George Chapman (334)546-2364, Bo Johns (334)398-3185. Wednesday, 6:30pm in Rm. 203. Need some Biblical advice and guidance in handling your finances? Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University material will serve as resource material for this group.

Grief

Location: Aldersgate UMC, 6610 Vaughn Road Bereavement Support Group – Meets quarterly – six week classes that meet on Thursdays 11:30 – 1:00 p.m. Free meal is provided by our church women. Group is led by a professional grief counselor and is open to the community. For dates, call Aldersgate UMC 272-6152. Location: First UMC, 100 E. Fourth Street, Prattville Grief Recovery, Thursday nights at 7 p.m., in Wesley Hall Room 104. Call 365.5977. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Grief Recovery Support Group meets Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m., Rm 3105, in Fellowship Hall Lobby. 272.8622. 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 more information contact Glover at 334-281-2754. Location: St. Mark UMC, 1785 Taylor Road Grieving With Hope is a grief support group meeting For Advertising Information:

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Tuesdays weekly at from 1:00 - 2:00 pm. The group will offer a place to share, care and heal from the losses of life. The group is facilitated by Dr. Lennie Howard and Marie Parma. Contact the church at 272-0009.

Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy A Fibromyaligia Support Group meets the 3rd Tuesday of each month from 6-8pm in room 8114. Call 272-8622.

Homosexuality

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 further information, please call 396-4534.

Mental Illness

Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy A Parkinson’s Support Group will meet the 3rd Thursday at 6:30 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: Landmark Church, 1800 Halcyon Blvd. The Barnabas Group, created to address the needs of those in conflict with homosexual thoughts and feelings meets first, third and fifth Tuesday evenings at 6:30 p.m., in the library at the Life Center. 277.5800. Location: Dalraida UMC, 3817 Atlanta Highway AMI (Alliance for the Mentally Ill Support Group) meets on first and third Mondays at 6:30 p.m. Montgomery Share Group for the recovering mentally ill meets at the Dalraida UMC annex (3775 Atlanta Highway), 1st and 3rd Mondays, at 6:30 p.m. Call 265.2804

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 Aldersgate UMC 272-6152. Location: Cloverdale School Bldg. (First UMC) Parkinson’s Support Group of Montgomery meets the fourth Sunday of the month in Room 103 at 2:00pm. More information, contact Nathan Attwood at First United Methodist Church (334-834-8990). Location: First UMC Montgomery, 2416 W. Cloverdale Montgomery Hearing Loss Support Group meets every second Thursday in Wesley Hall at 4 pm. The entrance is on Park Avenue. Informative speakers are present, refreshments are served and no reservations are required. The public is welcome.

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Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy PSP (Progressive Supranuclear Palsey) meets 2nd Tuesday of each month from 6:30-8:30pm. For more information, please call the church office at 272-8622. Location: Landmark Church, 1800 Halcyon Blvd. Leaders: Junior Bagwell (334)669-9334, John Stewart Meets every 2nd Tuesday of each month at 345 Melanie Drive, in Carol Villa. Our goal is to share and use the struggles that we as a group are facing, biblical principals, prayer, medical experts or any other resources available to help us deal with the life-long challenges that are caused by the various diseases that we have encountered. Location: Taylor Road Baptist Church, 1785 Taylor Rd. Gluten Intolerance Group of Montgomery assists with awareness of diverse potential symptoms, which can range from fatigue and headaches to nausea and intestinal problems. Most months the group meets on the 4th Thursday from 6-7 p.m. at Taylor Road Baptist Church. The holiday schedule as well as directions and other information are available at http://gfmontgomery. blogspot.com or you can request information by sending an email to dr.hetrick@charter.net.

Pregnancy Loss / Infertility

Location: First UMC, 100 E. Fourth Street, Prattville Hannah’s Prayer--for women dealing with pregnancy loss/infertility issues. Meeting 2nd Thursday and 3rd Sunday of each month. Call 365.5977 Location: St. James UMC, 9045 Vaughn Road Renewed Hope - Infertility/Pregnancy Loss Support Group for Women. Meets quarterly, with the next meeting July 19th, 6pm at Panera in EastChase. Please email Tina Holmes at tkholmes@hotmail.com or call 277-5771.

Singlehood

Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Singles’ Small Groups meet each Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall Lobby. For info, call 272-8622. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy T.N.T. (Tuesday Night Together) for Singles meets Tuesdays from 7-8 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall, bldg. 7000. A meal ($5.00) and program are provided. For reservations, call the Singles office at 272-8622. Location: Cornerstone Christian, 301 Dalraida Rd. Unavoidably Single Again (USA) Fellowship, a support group for widows and widowers. This is not a substitute for grief recovery classes, but offers the next step beyond them for those who need to find a ‘new’ normal for their lives after the death of a spouse. 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. This group provides support and understanding to those caring for OEF/OIF Veterans. For more information, contact Joy Germanos, LCSW, PIP, Caregiver Support Coordinator at CAVHCS (334) 725-2542.

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June 2012 • River Region’s Journey

Got Life?

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by Elaine Britt

Got Rest? Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 First test-of-the-day. Close your eyes and apply the words ‘weary’ and ‘burdened’ to your life. What images appear in your mind’s eye? Is it a person or several people’s faces that come into focus? Is it financial issues? Perhaps physical challenges? Often useful in Bible reading is the strategy of asking what the text did NOT say or what the source COULD HAVE said. Notice that the above verse does NOT say, ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you …an easier job, or ‘I will solve your problems,’ or ‘I will advise you with a quick-fix’ or ‘I will take away your

pain.’ Why did Jesus, in his ultimate wisdom, choose to give us rest? According to Vines Bible dictionary, in this verse the word rest is explained, “Christ’s ‘rest’ is not a ‘rest’ from work, but in work, ‘not the rest of inactivity but of the harmonious working of all the faculties and affections – of will, heart, imagination, conscience – because each has found in God the ideal sphere for its satisfaction and development.’” A mouthful, surely, but basically it tells us that God’s ‘rest’ is a state of mind rather than a comment on physical activity. A. W. Tozer further defines this concept of rest by offering, “The burden borne by mankind is a heavy and a crushing thing. The word Jesus used means a load carried or toil borne to the point of exhaustion. Rest is simply release from that

burden. It is not something we do, it is what comes to us when we cease to do. His own meekness, that is the rest.” Several months ago, cancer claimed the life of a true ‘saint’ of God who I had known in church for much of my life. To the children of the church, he was one to approach for a laugh. To the adults he was friend, teacher, and accountability partner to name only a few. To the church, he had served in almost every capacity available at one time or another, always willing to answer

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Building the lives of young people on Jesus Christ, the chief cornerstone.

NOW REGISTERING K5 THRU 12TH GRADES At Cornerstone Classical Christian Academy, our goal is to equip students with the knowledge, skill and vision necessary to be effective leaders and servants for our Lord Jesus Christ. Morningview Baptist Church • 125 Calhoun Road • (334) 356-7788 • www.ccamontgomery.org River Region’s Journey • June 2012

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‘yes’ when the call came. As a husband, father, and grandfather, he was amazing. At work – a career that was at once demanding and influential – his faith was no secret. Through months of medical misery, he never wavered. His grown daughter, a new mother herself, spoke with a pastor-friend concerning her heart-rending question of ‘why?’ Her father was much too young to die. He had lived an exemplary and victorious life in Christ, always there to meet any and every need… While she and her pastor-friend were at the hospital in the days preceding her father’s death, he was pointedly asked, “And where is God in this?!” His answer, through the fog of medication and serious illness, was unambiguous and distinct as he clearly replied, “Everywhere…everywhere.” When these words were spoken at his funeral, I was fascinated. In saying that one word, “everywhere,” he was acknowledging God’s hand in his life from start to finish. In the diagnosis, the testing, the months of chemotherapy and radiation, the subsequent prognosis, and the certainty of his impending

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death, he had a thorough spiritual comprehension of the ‘rest’ offered by Jesus in Matthew 11. Tozer again offers words of wisdom, “Christians…are redeemed from their past offenses, kept in their present circumstances by the power of an allpowerful God, and their future is safe in His hands…If we are called upon to suffer, we may be perfectly sure that we shall be rewarded for every pain and blessed for every tear. Underneath will be the Everlasting Arms and within will be the deep assurance that all is well with our souls. Nothing can separate us from the love of God – not death, nor life, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature…Though we cannot control the universe, we can determine our attitude toward it. We can accept God’s will wherever it is expressed and take toward it an attitude of worshipful resignation. If my will is to do God’s will, then there will be no controversy with anything that comes in the course of my daily walk…subject to such alterations as God may see fit to make, either by His own sovereign providence or in answer to believing prayer.”

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The greater the obstacle, the greater our need for God’s rest. Well aware of the phrase ‘foxhole prayers,’ we can all relate to calling on God in times of desperation. Providentially, however, we have the privilege of calling on God - of dwelling in his rest – not only in times of trial but literally 24/7. Try it for one day. In every situation, before acting or responding, take a deep breath, exhale slowly, and say to yourself, “rest.” God’s faithfulness will quickly become evident. My friend lived and died in a complete state of rest. We too, can achieve that rest, the rest promised by Jesus himself. It is available continually as we come to him, allowing our minds as well as our lives to embrace and implement the life-altering words contained in Scripture. Elaine Britt, husband Tim, and teenage son Kevin reside in Montgomery, with son Bryan at UAH in Huntsville. She counts her family as a great blessing. By profession, Elaine is a 30-year-veteran Interior Decorator and owner of Carriage House Interiors. By God’s calling and to her great joy, she is a writer, whose published works include stories in A Cup of Comfort Devotionals; Lord, I Was Happy Shallow; and Heavenly Patchwork; one book, Messages, as well as various articles in several magazines and e-zines.

June 2012 • River Region’s Journey

Community Calendar Christian Community Calendar Christian 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. Beacon Light Ministries, Food Ministry is open on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday, 5:30-6:45 p.m. Please bring I. D. and Proof of Government Assistance. Capitol Heights UMC, 2000 Winona Ave., Montgomery offers Parenting Classes beginning at 7:00 p.m. on Thursdays. 264-2464. 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. Church of the Highlands meets each Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. downtown Montgomery in the MPAC theater located in the Renaissance Hotel, 201 Tallapoosa Street. Visit churchofthehighlands.com or call 1-205-9805577. Chisholm Baptist Church, 2938 Lower Wetumpka Road, Montgomery, holds Sunday morning Bible study (9:30), Morning worship (10:45), Tuesday prayer breakfast (8:30) Wednesday evening prayer service (6 pm) and Senior Body and Soul Group (every 1st Tuesday at 1 pm). Email jbass9784@charter.net or call 262-6437. Dexter Avenue UMC, 301 Dexter Avenue, offers a Friday Christian Night Club with Ballroom Dancing every Friday at 6:30 P.M. Cost is $5 for a one hour lesson, devotional, and 3 hours of DJ music. People of all denominations are welcome. 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 River Region’s Journey • June 2012

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 or call 334-834-8990. 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 $2.00. Every fourth Tuesday the time will extend until 3:00 p.m. for bridge, games, and other activities in room 203 in Wesley Hall. For additional information please contact NeeNee Webb at 834-8990. 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. iConnect.coffeehouse provides a place for women to experience meaningful fellowship with women seeking genuine connection. Meetings will be held in the Atrium at Frazer UMC 3rd Tuesdays from 9-11 a.m. For more info, call Frazer’s Women’s Ministry at 495-6391. Messiah Lutheran Church, 6670 Vaughn Road, invites all to Wonderful Wednesdays starting with a $3.00 meal at 5:30 pm (RSVP 277-4213 by Monday noon), worship with eucharist 6:15-7:00 pm, and adult choir rehearsal and Catechism class for 7th-9th graders at 7:00 pm. Please call for Wednesday schedule due to seasonal breaks. For information, call 277-4213. Mt. Gillard Missionary Baptist Church, 3323 Day Street, holds Wednesday Bible Study in the church Fellowship Hall and lasts for one hour. Please come and participate in roaming the Bible learning God’s word through teaching. The Rev. Henry M. Carnegie, Jr. is the teacher and pastor. Mid-day Bible Study begins each Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. Evening Bible Study begins each Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. Call 2338750. 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 40

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Mondays at 5:00, Men’s prayer Wednesday at 5:00, followed by bible study at 6:00. Couples ministry held every 1st Wednesday of the month at 7:00. Pastor William Cromblin, and the Open Door Church family invites you to “come experience the move of God. For more info, call the church at 334-269-6498. 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 Morrow@ 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 noon on the Monday prior to the supper. Cost is $4 per person or $12 per family. Call 334-272-3174 for more information or to make reservations. The River of Life Church, 116 County Road 40 East (Pine Level Community Center) Prattville. You are invited to “A Place of New Beginnings. Services are held each Sunday: Early Worship 9:15 a.m.; Sunday School 10:30 a.m.; Worship Service 11:00 a.m.; Evening Worship 5:00 p.m.; Wednesday: Adult Bible Study 6:00 p.m.; Teens, “The Genesis Project” 6:00 p.m.: Royal Rangers, Stars & Prims 6:00 p.m. Nursery provided. Pastor Nick Edwards invites you to “come experience God in a personal way, feel loved by all and know that you belong”. Call 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. St. Mark UMC, holds a Men’s Bible Study every Friday morning at 6:30 a.m., at the Arby’s at EastChase. Call 272.0009. 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 For Advertising Information:

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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) 3541897. Bible Study is held each Wednesday, 6-7 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Pastor Farrell J. Duncombe is the teacher and Senior Pastor of the church. Come and join us for Sunday School each Sunday at 9 a.m. and Morning Worship at 10 a.m. Need transportation, call (334) 2647618. 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. Women at The Well Ministry meet at Remnant Worship Center on Endover Street off of Court Street behind the Feed and Seed Store at 1:00pm 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 are welcome to come and share the Word of God together....to encourage, and build one another up through the words of our testimonies. Evangelist Linda McCall, 334220-1924 for more info.

This Month Sunday, June 3

Join the Shine Your Light ministry for a special time of worship at Frazer United Methodist Church, 6000 Atlanta Highway, at 6pm. Men and women are encouraged to attend as Kim Hendrix shares the message “Rescue Me”--How the ultimate rescue team is always at work in our lives, saving us and using us. Childcare is provided and fellowship will follow in the atrium. The service will take place in the Sanctuary. For more information, please call 272.8622.

June 10, 13-15

Come praise the Lord with us as we usher in a Summer Revival at Hall Memorial CME Church, 541 Seibles Road. Revival kicks off Sunday afternoon, June 10th, at 3 P.M. with Homecoming. Revival continues Wednesday-Friday, June 13th-15th, we will have nightly prayer service at 6 P.M. and Worship starting at 7 P.M. Each service will feature a different, powerful preacher: Sunday, June 10th: Rev. Donald Craig, Pastor of St. Paul CME Church, Crawford, Alabama; Wednesday, June 13th: Rev. Emmett Johnson, Pastor of Gateway Benevolence Ministries, Montgomery; Thursday,

June 14th: Rev. Mirandra Rivers, Pastor of St. Luke CME Church, Oakbowery, Alabama; Friday, June 15th: Rev. Farrell Duncombe, Pastor of St. Paul AME Church, Montgomery. For directions or more information, call 334318-3004 or email hallmemorial1@aol.com.

Saturday, June 16

Frazer’s Father’s Day Run. Time: 5K start 7:30AM, 1-Mile 8:30AM, Race-Day Registration/Packet Pickup opens 6:30AM Location: Behind the Frazer Activity Center (JEMAC). Courses starting and finishing behind the Frazer Activity Center and running through the Landmark subdivision. The race is open to all but special prize drawings will be offered for father-child teams. Proceeds will benefit Frazer’s ongoing transformational work with the Deaf Community in Leveque, Haiti. Detailed race information and online registration available at www. frazerfathersdayrun.com. Contact Information: 334.272.8622 or butch@frazerumc.org.

June 18-22

Children’s Patriot Camp will be held at The Vessel Room in the Union Station, downtown Montgomery. The Patriot Camp is designed to teach elementary aged chil-

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June 2012 • River Region’s Journey

Community Calendar Christian Community Calendar Christian dren about the founding of our Great Nation. The one week camp is sponsored by His Vessel Ministries. Each of the five mornings focuses on a theme about the founding of our country: Revolutionary War, Declaration of Independence, Constitution/Bill of Rights, Our Great Republic, and Founding Fathers. The lessons include teaching on each subject, activities, crafts, and daily snacks. For more detailed information regarding the Children’s Patriot Camp or to register, please contact His Vessel Ministries at 334-356-4478 or info@hisvessel.org.

June 22-23

First Presbyterian Church, located at 9299 Vaughn Road, Pike Road, is offering a teacher/ classroom instruction course teaching through the use of Paul David Tripp’s Your Christian School: A Culture of Grace? Great training for teachers in any setting with any age group! Applicable to Sunday schools, Home schools, and classrooms! When: Friday, June 22, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. and Saturday, June 23, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Refreshments will be served on Friday and a continental breakfast will be served on Saturday.

Please RSVP by e-mail or phone to: Noelle Williams, 1st.pca@gmail.com, 334-279-1372.

June 25-27

July 11-13

On July 11-13 from 9am-12noon, Saint James UMC will be hosting Summer Sport Xtreme 2012, a sports camp for rising 1st-5th graders. Each athlete will get to play baseball, basketball, kickball, and soccer. The $75 registration fee includes a camp t-shirt, 9 instruction hours from

college and high school athletes, a daily snack, and a daily devotional. Each sport instructor will not only teach sport specific skills, but will also teach sportsmanship through Biblical principles. For questions: email wsmithart@ huntingdon.edu or call 334-481-0743. Register online: http://www.sjlife.com/#/ministries/recreation.

July 14

On July 14 at 8 am, Saint James UMC will be hosting Bodies In Service 3 Mile Run/ Walk. The registration fee is $20 before July 7 ($25 late registration). Proceeds from this event will go to benefit Root Ministry and the work of Honduras missionary Morgan Hayden. Read about Morgan’s journey through her blog: rootministry.blogspot.com. For more information call Race Director: 334-744-0011. Register on Active.com.

Please send your calendar events to deanne@ readjourneymagazine.com by the 12th of the month for FREE print.

BUildinG CHaraCTer MaKinG a diFFerenCe CHanGinG liVes

Friendly Fridays Just starting or starting over Join us for Friendly Fridays beginning October 21 and we’ll help you start an exercise program just for you! Our trained staff will work with you and guide you through a workout. Y’s Up at Hampstead 239.8096 Y’s Up at Somerset 356.1351 Y’s Up at Westminster 832.1013

For more information ymcamontgomery.org

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July FFN & Golf Journey 2012_Layout 1 5/23/12 2:15 PM Page 1

Family Faith Night with the

Friday, June 29

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vs Jacksonville Suns

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Bring your church group and honor your pastor or youth minister. More ticket information can be found at www.faithradio.org.

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Pre-game concert at 5:45pm

.1 FM

WLBF

Montgomery

Also join us for...

The 13th Annual

Faith Radio Golf Tournament

Tuesday, September 18, 2012 • Lagoon Park Golf Course The ministry of Faith Radio/WLBF is supported by individuals in the Christian community. You can participate with strengthening families as we provide spiritual encouragement with your financial support. We also have more information about the above events. Contact us at www.faithradio.org or 1-800-239-8900 or by mail at P.O. Box 210789 Montgomery, AL 36121-0789. Call 334.213.7940 today!

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June 2012 • 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 Montgomery’s Journey.

Cowgirls ‘N Angels

Men in Black 3

Quality: **** Moral Acceptability: +3 (Moral) Starring: Bailee Madison, James Cromwell, Alicia Witt, Jackson Rathbone, Frankie Faison, Dora Madison Burge, Kathleen Rose Perkins, Leslie-Anne Huff Genre: Drama Audience: All ages Rating: G Content: Very strong moral worldview with strong Christian, redemptive elements including positive references to faith and trust in God and prayer; one “d” word and one light exclamatory profanity; very light violence when girl falls off horse; no sex; no nudity; alcohol use; no smoking or drugs; and, stealing and lying but rebuked. COWGIRLS ‘N ANGELS is one of the best live-action family movies in recent years. It’s a little gem with a big heart. Bailee Madison stars as 12-year-old Ida Clayton. Ida recalls her grandfather, a rodeo star, who told her the only difference between cowgirls and angels is that angels can’t ride a horse. Ida’s mother Elaine hates rodeos, however. She thinks they’re full of “deadbeats.” Apparently, Ida’s father was one of those deadbeats. Her mother hasn’t even told Ida her father’s name, but Ida has found an old postcard from a rodeo cowboy named Walker. So, while her mother’s at work, Ida sneaks away to the rodeo to watch the Sweethearts, a team of female trick riders at the local rodeo. Ida is smitten by one of their horses. She steals into the stables at night to practice riding the horse. The founder and head of the Sweethearts, Terrence Parker, catches Ida one night. He offers her a chance to travel with the Sweethearts, if Ida gets her mother’s permission. Of course, Ida’s mother says no. So, Ida fakes a permission letter. She’s desperate to find her father while traveling with the Sweethearts. She begins to train with the Sweethearts as they prepare to go on the road. Ida’s mother quickly discovers the ruse and pulls Ida out of the local rodeo, but loses her own job. When Mr. Parker offers to pay Ida for coming with them, Ida’s mother finally says yes. But, will Ida be able to find her father before she gets into more trouble? COWGIRLS ‘N ANGELS captures the viewer’s attention immediately with its catchy music and professional acting. James Cromwell adds a lot as the head of the Sweethearts, but young Bailee Madison shows she can carry a movie all on her own. COWGIRLS ‘N ANGELS has a lot of heartfelt moments. It also contains positive references to God and prayer.

Quality: **** Moral Acceptability: -1 (Caution) Starring: Will Smith, Josh Brolin, Tommy Lee Jones, Emma Thompson, Michael Stuhlbarg, Mike Colter, Keone Young, Bill Hader Genre: Sci-fi/Fantasy Audience: Teenager and adults Rating: PG-13 Content: 33 obscenities (a mix of “h,” “d,” “s,” and a** words), three strong profanities, and two light exclamatory profanities; strong violence with some gooey alien remains and some scary aliens includes raygun fight with aliens where alien bodies disintegrate after being shot, large scary fish alien attacks man, motorcycle chase, alien shoots barbs at people and barbs hit some people in head and others in torsos and shoulders, hand-to-hand combat, a couple of funny and scary high falls from skyscrapers, and a battle on a high series of platforms at a rocket launch pad puts the two heroes in life-threatening peril; no sex scenes but one scene shows a humanoid alien who “French kisses” woman visiting him in jail and one character wonders whether two agents had made love in the past, but the comment is not romantic rather than crudely said; no nudity but one woman appears in tight leather dress with cleavage and models at Andy Warhol’s studio have skimpy modern dresses; some brief alcohol use; no smoking or drugs. MEN IN BLACK 3 has been cleaned up a bit. This time, Will Smith’s character, Agent J, has to travel back in time to 1969 to stop an escaped alien criminal, Boris the Animal, from killing his partner, Agent K. K had arrested Boris in 1969. Boris leaps back in time to change the course of history. Boris not only wants revenge. He also wants to prevent K from setting up the Arcnet that protected Earth from an invasion of Boris the Animal’s evil alien compatriots. The aliens died out when they couldn’t invade Earth. To save his partner, and the whole world, Agent J also must jump back in time. Otherwise, his partner will have to fight two Borises rather than just one. MEN IN BLACK 3 is still rated PG-13 for plenty of foul language and action violence, but gone are the smarmy sexual references from the second movie. Also, gone are most of the over-the-top gross elements from the original movie. In their place are a few more uplifting, touching elements. Compared to its previous incarnations, MEN IN BLACK 3 has a much more uplifting, more moral worldview.

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)

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