NEW FRAZER TEACHING SERIES MAY 8–29, 2016
WHEN WE LOVE LIKE JESUS, IT CHANGES ALL THE RULES.
ATLANTA HIGHWAY 8:00, 9:30 & 11:00 AM • PIKE ROAD 10:00 AM IN THE PIKE ROAD SCHOOL WWW.FRAZER.CHURCH 6000 ATLANTA HWY. MONTGOMERY • 272-8622 37 BRIDGE ST. PIKE ROAD • 801-9080
FRAZER IS THE PLACE TO BE FOR CHILDREN THIS SUMMER!
Volume 17, Issue 12
Feature Articles
MAY 20 1 6 Columns page 2
page 12
Faith @ Work
Tracy Williford gives us a glimpse into her life as a childhood believer who later rebelled against God for many years, only to be wooed back to Him as a young mother. She also shares how her faith plays a role in her work as Event Director for Alley Station in Montgomery.
Publisher’s Note Jason Watson
page 4
Pastor's Perspective Pastor Keith Waldrop, Christ Community Church
page 14
Women Arising Pastor Kemi Searcy
page 20
page 16
Pondering the Journey
10 Lessons on Parenting Little Ones
Sam Whatley
by Tim Challies
Nancy Thomas, LPC
page 22
Counselor’s Corner
Parenting our children with intentionality, and giving them the Gospel, takes on many forms. Tim Challies shares practical guidance for your parenting journey and ministry to your own children.
page 34
The Intersection Bob Crittenden
page 24
page 36
Dave $ays
2016 VBS Guide
Our guide gives you details on the many Vacation Bible School opportunities beginning in June in the River Region, including dates, times, themes and how to register.
Dave Ramsey
In Every Issue
page 28 page 6
Girl Talk Ministries
Books to Read page 8
Around Our Community
by Laura Bell
Girl Talk’s founder, Amy Smith, shares how God led her to a ministry to middle school girls, why the girls’ moms are a vital part, and how you and your daughter can get involved this month! 1
page 12
Faith @ Work
May 2016
River Region’s Journey
Our Mission... We believe the Good News concerning the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is worth sharing with our friends and neighbors in the River Region. Each month we deliver this life-changing message to the centers of activity across our community in a user-friendly and relevant way to empower and equip all those seeking to grow closer to God. Join us in this mission by sharing a copy with your neighbor or by becoming an advertising partner starting next month.
Editor DeAnne Watson deanne@readjourneymagazine.com
Publisher
Jason Watson jason@readjourneymagazine.com
Associate Publisher Gena Hill
Research Editor Wendy McCollum
Contributing Writers Laura Bell Tim Challies Bob Crittenden Dave Ramsey Kemi Searcy Nancy Thomas, LPC Pastor Keith Waldrop Sam Whatley
Advertising Opportunities Jason Watson ads@readjourneymagazine.com (334) 213-7940 ext 703
From the Publisher When a parent is asked about what he or she loves the most, their children come to mind instantly. Love is at the foundation of our relationship with our children. Because we love them so, we want to give them good things that will enhance their lives in the present, and as they grow into adults. The very definition of goodness is God Himself. If we love our children, then we must give them God and teach them how His love for them is even greater than ours. Each May we inspire and encourage all parents to share God’s love and the hope of Christ with their children. Turning through this month’s pages you will learn the meaning of grace-filled parenting as the pastor of Christ Community Church, Keith Waldrop, shares how to pursue our children’s hearts and develop a solid relationship with them. Regular contributor Tim Challis has written a feature story titled, Ten Lessons on Parenting Little Ones. By “little ones” he means children, so parents of all ages will benefit from his biblically-based advice. As Christians, we’re not called to walk out our faith alone. We’re called into a body of other Christians and we support one another with our various gifts. That goes for your family, too. Your whole family should be connecting with the church. If you haven’t made that connection, Vacation Bible School is the perfect opportunity to get plugged in. Many churches have placed VBS ads in this month’s issue because they want to invite your family to attend. You won’t go wrong choosing one of them. Also, on page 24 you’ll find this year’s complete River Region VBS Listing. Please join forces with these great churches to share God’s love with your child. Finally, this month’s ministry spotlight focuses on a local ministry to middle school girls called Girl Talk. The middle school years can throw a lot of new challenges at young girls and Amy Smith is helping this age group look to God and His truth in order to unmask the lies of the evil one and the world. Is this a ministry you need to share with a friend or especially with your own daughter? Read our spotlight to discover how Girl Talk can help you or other families. Children are truly a blessing from the Lord. Treasure them by giving them the greatest Treasure of all.
Ad Design
Tim Welch, Welch Designs
Distribution Team Wendy McCollum Chris Mitchell, Manager Manzie Moore Richard Ward Lesa Youngblood
River Region’s Journey is published monthly by Keep Sharing, P.O. Box 230367, Montgomery, AL 36123. For information, call 334-213-7940. River Region’s Journey is copyrighted 2016 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
May 2016
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If you are interested in purchasing an advertisement email us at ads@readjourneymagazine today. 2
CHRISTCHURCH 8800 Vaughn Road
Come Worship With Us!
Founded Upon God’s Word At Christchurch, Holy Scripture serves as the final authority for our teaching and preaching. Indeed, over the course of three years, almost the entire Bible is read aloud and preached upon.
Warm and Loving
Liturgically Joyful At Christchurch worship involves the entire congregation, as we offer God praise, thanksgiving and adoration using worship traditions that can be traced back to the earliest days of the Church. Our worship is not designed to entertain us, but to honor the true “audience” of worship, the Lord!
Committed to Mission
By God’s grace and through His Spirit, the people of Christchurch enjoy the richness and joy of being a true family. We’d love for you to become a part of us! Regardless of who you are, you will always find a home at Christchurch.
The people of Christchurch respond to God’s Word by going out into the world, to places like Uganda, Guatemala and Montgomery, proclaiming the good news of Jesus and joyfully serving as His hands and feet!
Sundays: 9:30 a.m. Worship 11:00 a.m. Christian Education for All Ages Weekly: Discipleship and fellowship opportunities abound
Find us on Facebook and visit us at www.christchurchXP.net 3
May 2016
River Region’s Journey
Pastor’s Perspective
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Pastor Keith Waldrop, Christ Community Church
Grace-Filled Parenting Prov. 22:6 {NAS} Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it. I know of no greater honor the Lord gives us than to influence the next generation. Parenting is the most demanding challenge and rewarding task we get to face. I remember before my wife, Donna, and I had kids. We thought we knew a lot about kids since we worked with teenagers. Then we had two kids of our own. There is nothing like true experience to humble you and make you dependent upon God’s grace as you see what a great responsibility this is. I discovered quickly that I was not able to parent effectively without His help and guidance. As parents, it is crucial that we raise responsible, godly kids. I am so thankful we are not left to this on our own. The Lord gives us the greatest manual [the Bible] and a community [the Church] to guide us as we purpose to shape the lives of our children. We desperately need the Lord’s grace and direction to raise kids. We find a wonderful passage in Deut. 6:9: “Watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.” Consider the statements below from Keith Smith.
Some Must Do’s of Parenting… 1- Good parents love God with their lips, but GREAT parents love God with their lives. 2- Good parents define faith by their religious practices, but GREAT parents define their faith by intimate relationships. 3- Good parents let others teach their kids, but GREAT parents teach kids for themselves. 4- Good parents teach Scripture through a lesson, but GREAT parents teach Scripture throughout the day.
River Region’s Journey
May 2016
5- Good parents live faith out privately, but GREAT parents live faith out publicly. I would like to encourage you to pray fervently for your kids’ salvation--its never too early or too late. Pray for protection over their lives, for them to make wise choices, and that they live a life of holiness unto the Lord. Ask the Lord to give your kids an ever-increasing hunger for Him. Effective and transforming parenting starts on our knees. We must be about the next
generation! Is their any greater investment the Lord entrusts to us than to raise kids who honor Him as we pass the baton of faith? Pursue their hearts and develop a solid relationship with your kids. Take time to “date” your kids and use this as a time to affirm them and instill confidence in their spirit. When we take time for them we show them that they are valuable and it also cultivates a climate of openness. These dates cannot be neglected, for they will pay some rich dividends. Building a solid relationship with your child will only enrich your life. Tell them daily, “ I love you.” Remind your kids everyday that you love them. The positive reinforcement and verbal reminder of unconditional love will give your children the ability to go on even during tough times. We can never tell them too many times. Our love as parents is critical to the mission of raising confident, godly kids. Even as godly parents, you have to establish rules and boundaries for your children. Having Rules without Relationship equals Rebellion. We must keep our promises 4
even when it hurts. If you are going to make some withdrawals, you had better make some deposits! Our goal as parents is not to be their best friend when raising them, but to be responsible. Set boundaries, you are the God given authority in their lives. Pray they get caught early should they go astray, before it becomes a habit. Teach them early the value of wise choices. Our motivation should be to help them see Christ and depend on him for leadership in their lives. No one will ever love them like Jesus! To quote Jim Burns, “You were put here on earth not to make a good income and live in a nice house, but to affect the next generation. Anything else is far too low of a goal.” Expect great things from your kids and even greater from the Lord! Donna and I are grateful to Jesus for all He has done and is doing in the lives of our girls. My wife, Donna has been amazing in her sacrifice, modeling, speech and example as they lived in our home. I am glad they get to call her mom! We are thrilled about now pouring our lives into our grandkids. It is such a joy and without the day to day pressure and responsibilities. Wear shoes you want filled, Parents! Your example is powerful and believe me they are watching your every move. Your faith and lifestyle are much more caught than taught. Go ahead and anticipate the obstacles. Daily relinquish your kids to the Lord and know His peace. Raising godly kids is an all out war, but we can be confident that He wants to do immeasurably more in their lives than we could ever ask.
Pastor Keith Waldrop is Founding & Senior Pastor of Christ Community Church, 8285 Ryan Rd., in Montgomery. He has been married to Donna for 37 years this summer and they have two daughters, one son-in-law and another one being added this summer. They also have two amazing grandkids, Ramsey (3) and McLain (1).
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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.
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We believe that God is one God. The one God has three persons: the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Just as God is one, so also, all believers are to be one. We believe in the unity and fellowship of all those that have faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. We are one in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, His Body, which is composed of all men, living and dead, who have been joined to Him through saving faith. *All editorial content published needs to be in agreement with our Statement of Faith
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May 2016
River Region’s Journey
A Peculiar Glory by John Piper
I have encountered a lot of young men, a lot of young preachers, who want to model themselves after John Piper. They see his joy in the Lord, they see his passion for God’s glory, they see the fire he brings to his sermons, and they want to be like him. Unfortunately, I have seen more than a few preach with all the passion but none of the unction. They have learned that you can’t preach like Piper unless you know and love God like Piper. You can’t know and love God like Piper unless you first know, love, and treasure God’s Word as he does. He is not first a great preacher, but a man who treasures God through the Word of God. A Peculiar Glory, Piper’s first major work in a number of years, explains why and how he has such deep-rooted confidence in the Bible. He sets out to answer this question: How are we to know that the Christian Scriptures are the word of God? Of course we have any number of books that answer the question. There is a whole genre of books that look to the history of the Bible, to the formation of the canon, to the accuracy of the narratives, to the fulfillment of prophecy, and so on. This is one way of arriving at the conviction that the Bible is truly God’s Word. But Piper takes a different approach. His concern is whether a person without access to scholarship and without access to specialized knowledge can have equal assurance. His concern is that even “ordinary people, with little chance of following complex and obscure textual and historical arguments, may discern whether the Christian Scriptures are the word of God. River Region’s Journey
May 2016
We may rejoice that God always raises up scholarly Christians to interact with scholarly opponents of Christian faith. But it is wrong to think that all believers need to follow those debates in order to have a justified faith in Scripture.” His focus, then is the Bible’s self-attestation, or the internal witness of the Holy Spirit. Yet this internal witness is not a leap into the dark, a blind faith. “The argument of this book is that the final step of certainty concerning the Scriptures is the step of sight, not inference. The pathway that leads to sight may involve such empirical observation, and historical awareness, and rational thought. But the end we are seeking is not a probable inference from historical reasoning but a full assurance that we have seen the glory of God. Thus, at the end of all human means, the simplest preliterate person and the most educated scholar come to a saving knowledge of the truth of Scripture in the same way: by a sight of its glory.” He begins with his own story of being enthralled and held by the Bible. Then, through four chapters, he examines what books and words make up the Christian Scriptures. Three chapters are dedicated to looking at what the Scriptures claim for themselves through the Old Testament, through Jesus, and through the apostles. And then, at last, he is ready to consider the questions that are at the heart of the book, a task that takes four chapters. The final six chapters look at how the Christian Scriptures are confirmed by the peculiar glory of God. It is these final ten chapters that comprise the book’s most notable contribution. Piper’s claim is that the Bible is true, inerrant, authoritative, and the only guide to salva6
tion. But how can we know this? “The Bible assumes there is a basis for firm and justified knowledge that what it teaches is true. It assumes that everyone who hears a faithful narration of the gospel is responsible to believe it—not by leaping into the dark, but by seeing real and compelling grounds for faith. According to Scripture, people don’t have to be educated historians to know the historical truth of Scripture. This is utterly crucial, since the vast majority of the people in the world who will hear the gospel are in no position to comprehend the complexity of the (legitimate!) historical reasoning that supports the resurrection of Jesus and the reliability of the Bible.” Historical arguments are good, but insufficient. “The Bible does not teach or assume that we come to faith by leaping into the dark. It assumes that we embrace Christ and his Scripture by seeing real and compelling grounds for faith.” If you are familiar with Piper’s work, it will not surprise you that he finds his answers by searching the work of his favorite author, Jonathan Edwards, and his central text, 2 Corinthians 4:4–6. He argues that the Bible exposes us to the glory of God and in that way gives us complete confidence that it is, indeed, God’s own word. After recording my own thoughts on the book I turned to the endorsements to see what others have said, and was taken with Fred Sanders’ commendation. “The classic doctrine of Scripture’s self-attestation suffers when it is used as a short-cut method of scoring evidential points or winning an argument without doing any work. But it unfolds its wings and soars to the heavens when handled by somebody who shows that when we read the Bible, we are dealing with God himself in his own holy words. In this book, John Piper throws everything he’s got at the message of how God illuminates the mind and gives firm conviction to the heart through the Bible.” In that way A Peculiar Glory is a logical addition to John Piper’s literary canon and a valuable contribution to Christian publishing. It receives my highest recommendation.
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May 2016
River Region’s Journey
T “Sports Camp” 2016
Young Meadows Presbyterian Church June 6-10, 9:00am - 12:00pm For children in completed grades K5-6th. Register online at www. youngmeadows. org, or by calling the church office 244-1385.
Agape’s Run for a Mom
Saturday, May 7th Agape of Central Alabama is holding its 6th annual Run for a Mom, a 5K/Fun Run to support crisis pregnancies, adoption, and foster care throughout Alabama. Run or walk on our certified course to honor your mom, birth mom, adoptive mom, or that dear lady in your life. The race begins at Vaughn Park Church of Christ and is great for the whole family! Go to runforamom.org to register or for more information.
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Email your community or ministry news to deanne@readjourneymagazine.com by the 15th of the month!
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Dr. John Ed Mathison Preaches at Frazer UMC
Frazer UMC is blessed with many outstanding teachers and preachers including pastor emeritus Dr. John Ed Mathison. “John Ed” as he’s known to everyone, preached in the Sanctu-
ary service recently and shared what he’s been up to in his so called “retirement”. John Ed will travel to India two times this year where 25,000 people a day are coming to Christ. He’s part of a God-Size Vision to start five million churches and win one billion people to Christ by 2020. This was the vision of Dr. Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade. He invited a group people to help carry out this vision. John Ed says, “I have been privileged to participate in the planning and execution of the plan to bring about this God-size vision.” John Ed served as senior pastor at Frazer for 36 years. To learn more about his ministry today go to johnedmathison.org. River Region’s Journey
May 2016
Counseling & Discipleship Training: Finding Biblical Answers for Yourself and Others
Registration is now open! 2016 Counseling & Discipleship Training is an excellent opportunity to learn more of God’s Word and how to apply it to real-life problems. Our presenters are not only serious theologians, but also compassionate practitioners who are involved in helping hurting souls and watching the Holy Spirit transform lives on a daily basis. Choose from 3 courses offered concurrently: Fundamentals of Biblical Counseling Marriage and Family Counseling Preparing & Writing Your ACBC Certification Exam When: July 28–30 & August 4–6, 2016 (Both weekends included per course) Held on the campus of Briarwood Presbyterian Church, Birmingham Alabama Cost: $255* *Discounts available for Church pastors when 6 members register together or for group registration, see website for details.
SAVE $30.00 on registration fees when you register ON or BEFORE May 28. Sponsored by: Birmingham Theological Seminary, Briarwood Counseling Ministry, and the Alabama Coalition for Biblical Counseling Email us at BHAM.BCtraining@gmail.com for more information Or go to https://briarwood.org/outreach/counseling-ministry/ counseling-discipleship-training/. 8
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“Belong” Women’s Conference
Sandi Patty’s Forever Grateful: The Farewell Tour
Be Known. Be Loved. Be Free.
Sunday, May 8, at 6:00 pm First Baptist Church, 138 S. Washington St, Prattville For more information, visit www.itickets.com or call the church at 334-365-0606
Frazer UMC presents “Belong” Women’s Conference with Kasey Van Norman, June 10-11 in Wesley Hall. Registration now open at www.frazer.church/belong.
25th Annual Pancake Run for Missions
First United Methodist Church will hold their 25th Annual Pancake Run for Missions on Saturday, May 14, in Cloverdale Park. The 5K run will start at 8:00 a.m., the 1 Mile Fun Run/ Walk will begin at 9:00 a.m., and the Tot Trot will begin at 9:15 a.m. Awards ceremonies will be conducted after the race. Participants may register online at www.fumcmontgomery.org/ missions/run-for-missions/. The course will run through Old Cloverdale, one of Montgomery’s most scenic neighborhoods. All participants are invited to a complimentary pancake breakfast immediately following the race in the Fellowship Hall, sponsored by The United Methodist Men. Non-racers may enjoy pancakes for a $5 donation. This event is open to the public.
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River Region’s Journey
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Creative Arts Camp 2016
The many creative leaders and members of Grace @ Bell Road will provide a variety of creative arts experiences to include singing, dancing, art and drama for children aged 6 through rising 6th graders. As Time Travelers the campers will see and learn about God’s faithfulness through the generations! Offered June 6-10 at the Grace@Bell Road campus at 5 Bell Road. For more information: www.discovergrace.org or 272-4930.
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Frazer UMC Singles Support Groups
“DivorceCare” Join us each Tuesday for support and guidance as you work through the issues, pain and pressures surrounding divorce. Group begins May 3, 2016, at Frazer UMC. Call 495-6368 or e-mail singles@frazerumc.org for additional information. “Never Go Back” Are you stuck in a pattern of going back to the same relationships or situations hoping for or expecting different results? In this new study “Never Go Back”, you will recognize and truly change those life patterns that hold you back and keep you from your goals, so you will never go back. Group begins May 3, 2016, at Frazer UMC. Call 495-6368 or e-mail singles@frazerumc.org for additional information.
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Montgomery Prayer B’fast & Bible Reading Marathon
The 2016 Montgomery Prayer Breakfast for the City and County of Montgomery is scheduled for May 5, at 7 am, in downtown Montgomery. Mayor Todd Strange and Commissioner Elton Dean invite local citizens to join them on this day in a spirit of humility and prayer. Also in conjunction with the National Day of Prayer, the 2nd Annual Montgomery Bible Reading Marathon will begin at the Capitol Steps immediately following the Prayer Breakfast. The 72-hour Bible Reading Marathon is the reading of the Word by local citizens until the entire Bible is read aloud over the city. The Prayer Breakfast will be held at the Alabama Activity Center, located at 201 Dexter Avenue, downtown Montgomery, from 7 am to 8:30 am. A full buffet breakfast will be served. Tickets for the breakfast are $15.00 per person. For more information about the Montgomery Prayer Breakfast, call His Vessel Ministries at 334-356-4478. To participate in the Montgomery Bible Reading Marathon, go to www.hisvessel. org to sign up for a time to read the Bible at the Capitol steps.
Open Up the Heavens
Anyone attending services at Frazer Atlanta Highway Sunday, April 17, experienced a powerful time of worship. The music ministry presented Open Up the Heavens, the spring praise and worship service, and those attending said it certainly lived up to its name. Through both contemporary and traditional song and the reading of scripture, the Frazer family invited in the Holy Spirit and praised His name! The church family attended two combined services in the Sanctuary, filling it at both hours. Look for more opportunities like this one! 11
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River Region’s Journey
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my decision again for quite a while. Go to camp, check, sing some songs about how “He’s still working on me”, check, accept Jesus, check, return to normal life, check. I attended church consistently, but I wasn’t seeking Him. I went about my normal life for years. RRJ: What was the pinnacle of your rebellion against God?
RRJ: You mentioned to me in conversation that you remember responding to Christ’s offer of salvation as a child. Did a family member or someone at church share the Gospel with you? Tracy: I accepted Christ’s offer of grace and love long before I had any understanding of what it meant. Let me rephrase. I am still trying to comprehend the depth and breadth of a simple decision I made as a 7-year-old, to follow Christ. When I was a child, at church camp with the Frazer UMC youth, I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior thanks to a counselor who made such an impression on me that I can’t remember her name. But I do remember that she had beautiful curly blonde hair, and with my children’s picture Bible in hand, and her instructive prayer, I chose to believe in a living God that made the earth and all that is in it. RRJ: Did a consistent pattern of growth happen after that? Tracy: I believed that I was supposed to be “good”, but I did not think much about River Region’s Journey
May 2016
I tried to play the part of a “good Christian” girl (probably not as well as I thought I was since it wasn’t very sincere), and I eventually fell into some bad habits. In high school I became a party girl, and I sought having a good time over all else. I was in control of everything. Until I wasn’t. A very dear friend of mine was killed my freshman year of college, and instead of running to the Lord for help, it made me want to run away and forget. I wanted to bury the pain as deep as it would go. That same year, several more friends exited this life, and it was all I could do to keep my head above water. My grades were mediocre at best, I stopped going to church, I almost slept through a final exam, and I was partying harder than ever. I was all about me. I rebelled against my parents, the law, and I lost any belief that God could love me anymore. RRJ: Interestingly enough, it was the tragedy of your friend’s death that sent you in a direction away from God, but it was another tragedy that started to bring you back to God. What was that? Tracy: I tried living my life my way, and thankfully I met my precious and very patient husband. Four months after we got married, I got pregnant, and while we were quite surprised, we were thrilled at how quickly our family was growing. Only a short two weeks later, we found out the pregnancy was not viable. I was devastated. I had been a mother for two short weeks, and then it was gone. I knew I would have to make some drastic changes if I hoped to ever raise a child the way I had been raised. We started going back to church. I was drawn to the contemporary music at Frazer, and that’s where we landed. Not three months after the first 12
miscarriage, I was pregnant again. This time, we got a healthy baby girl. The Lord lured me in with my baby, and I began to seek counsel and godly advice from my Mom. I wanted so desperately to be a good role model for our child, and my mom provided great wisdom and insight. With her help, I began to talk through some of my issues, and heal some old wounds. Three years later, a bouncing baby boy joined our crew. I started a daily study into the Word, and read through the Bible cover to cover for the first time. God reeled me in a little more, and a little more. I started going to a young mom’s Bible study where I met some precious and incredibly inspirational women, and I got two more wise and godly counselors in Patti Joyner and Lyn Autry. At this point, we were so thrilled by our little family, but God had placed the desire for more children on our hearts. We tried for month after month, but nothing happened. I wondered if maybe I had misunderstood God. Was this really my selfish desire and not His will for more children? I’ve lost two more pregnancies since then, and for a time, I lost a lot of hope. I searched and searched my heart and my Bible, wondering what good could come from this...what He could possibly have in store for a very broken woman. RRJ: Has the pain disappeared? Tracy: The pain has weakened with time, but not disappeared. I am not sure it ever will be completely gone. RRJ: What encouragement would you give other mothers who have suffered a loss during pregnancy? Tracy: I would encourage anyone going through a pregnancy loss to seek wise counsel and talk about it. Even if it doesn’t feel “real” to anyone else, it is very real to a Mama. It is so very common, and yet it still seems to be a topic people don’t discuss. I find it very therapeutic, even now, to talk with other moms who are in the midst of a loss. Every time I talk to someone about it, a tiny piece of my pain goes away. I know that God does not make mistakes.
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Even the bitterly painful times have been followed by times of intense growth in my walk with Christ. I can trust Him with everything. RRJ: Besides being a mother you also are the Event Director for the Alley Station. What does that entail? Tracy: I lease Alley Station and the Warehouse for weddings, corporate events, and many other private functions. I meet with brides and event planners, plus handle the day to day questions, inquiries, contracts, and tours of our venue. RRJ: How would you say your faith shines through in your position? Tracy: The Holy Spirit guides my steps to handle every client with honesty, integrity, and sincerity to make their plans become reality. I hope that the people I meet each day will come to know Christ like I do, and that He can use all of my brokenness for His glory. RRJ: What challenges your faith at work and how are you seeking God’s strength to be an overcomer? Tracy: I love seeing my clients’ events and plans come to fruition, but at the end of the day, it still has stresses and difficulties that I must overcome and handle. My true task is for everyone I come into contact with to be able to see Christ and His attributes in me, no matter the stress level. When I was a kid I was sure that one day I would wake up a “grown up” and be a mature Christian. I have woken up, and I am officially a “grown up”, but spiritual maturity takes time, and like the song from camp all those years ago, I am certain, “He’s still working on me.” RRJ: You’ve been reconnected deeply with God and other Christians for the past ten years. What part of that community has blessed your life the most? Tracy: I am so grateful and humbled by the women in my Mom2Mom Bible study at Frazer UMC, and our leaders. They challenge me to be a better mother, wife, and friend, and they hold me accountable. I will not be finished growing and learning until the day I meet Jesus in heaven. I can trust Him with my pain, my work, my failures, and my past, and I know that He holds it all in His hand. And His plan is good. Tracy Williford is married to TJ and they have two children, Avery (7) and John Mills (4). **Photo by Jon Cook.
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My Mother’s Day Scrapbook Last July, my siblings and I celebrated the 25th anniversary of our mother’s death. We held a memorial service honoring her life. As Mother’s Day approaches, I have a mental scrapbook of memories that represent my mother. They remind me of the privilege I had to have a mother who developed me into adulthood. If I could see her today, I’d say, “Thank you. You had a heart of gold! You were always there for us.” If you are fortunate enough that your mother is living, please stop and thank her. Tell her, “Thank you, mom, you are special.” You won’t ever quite realize what a blessing it is to have a mother until she is no longer around. Share your mental scrapbook of memories with her so she can take pleasure in them. Some women have shared that their mother was not the person they had wanted her to be. If you have allowed grudges to rob you of the awesome benefit of a mother, it’s time to let go of these, allow Jesus to heal your relationship, and create new scrapbook of memories for you. River Region’s Journey
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Here are three pages in my memory book: 1. I thank my mother for choosing to be a mom. It takes more than giving birth to babies to make someone a mother. A mother is the one with a nurturing spirit and a caring disposition. My mother cared for the wellbeing of her children. She placed us above her own interests. She made sacrifices to ensure we had no lack. What sacrifices are you making for the sake of your children? It could mean letting that boyfriend go and being selective of whom you allow to be around your children. It could mean you cannot watch certain television shows. To serve your children could also mean making time to cook, to ensure that they have a balanced diet. You may have to give up one of your many jobs to give them quality time. Sacrifices are not comfortable, but the payoff is rewarding. Whatever you give up for the wellbeing of your children, you lend to God and He rewards greatly! 2. I thank my mom for teaching us through her example. According to Titus 2:4, older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to live wisely, to be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husband. My life as a wife and a mother has been made much easier because my mother took time to train her children in the simple things of life. She taught us tasks such as cooking, 14
cleaning, ironing, and many more. She was a hard worker and therefore she taught us the value of hard work. My mother divided the chores, gave each of us responsibilities, and made sure we fulfilled them each day. I shudder to think of the devastation that awaits our modern society in the days ahead. As I watch the negligence of parents and the lack of engagement in the training of the next generation, my heart is burdened. God relinquished the training of children to their parents. He mandated that parents bring up children who are wholeheartedly in love with Jesus and respect their elders. We must teach our sons and daughters how to make the transition from selffocused people, to mature caring spouses, parents, and productive citizens. That should be the goal of every parent. Whatever you want to see in your children, be intentional and purposeful in order to achieve your goals. 3. I thank my mother because she modeled Christianity. She did this in many ways but two come to mind. First, although she didn’t have a lot in material treasures, my mother was rich in God. The little she had she gave to feed and educate those who were less fortunate in her neighborhood. She showed us that life was not all about us. Second, mother modeled dependency on God. As a little girl I saw and heard my mother pray about everything. She was constantly on her knees crying out to God. One of my best memories was when she would gather all of us around her and pray over each one. She would rehearse over us the names of God and teach us scriptures and meditations. Because of my mother, I learned to run to God with all of my troubles and joys. I wonder what my children will say about me? What will your children say about you? Remember we are creating memories and building legacies, so let your scrapbook be a great one, with Christ reflected on each page!
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River Region’s Journey
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My youngest child is about to turn 10 years old and will soon be joining her two siblings in the double digits. This means that Aileen and I have graduated—we have graduated from parenting little ones to parenting big ones. Lots of parenting remains, of course, but the little years are now in the past. These little years have been the best and the worst years, the easiest and the hardest. They have been full of both joys and tremendous difficulties. At times we have done well and at times we have done poorly, I’m sure. And now they are behind us. Before it all grows hazy through the inevitable march of time, we decided to think of a few lessons we learned about parenting through the little years. Maybe you will find them helpful.
1. Remember that their rebellion is first against God, not you. Children
are born sinners who are in need of a Savior. Almost before they are able to express anything else, they are able to express their
rebellion against their parents. As they grow older, this rebellion only increases, sometimes in loud and blatant ways and sometimes in sullen and silent ones. We often had to remind ourselves that their rebellion was not first against us but against God. They acted out against us, against our authority, against our rules, but only because they were ultimately in rebellion to God. This simple realization helped us to pity them, to pray for them, and to tell them once more about Jesus.
2. Pray. Pray, pray, pray. Pray for
your children. Pray consistently, persistently, passionately, earnestly, and constantly. Pray for their bodies and souls and lives. Pray for their friendships and relationships. Pray for their education and future spouse. Pray for them, pray with them, pray for them with them. Pray for them with your church. Pray for them with your spouse. Pray for them with joy and with tears. Pray for them as if prayer really, truly matters. Mostly, just pray. You need it, they need it, God honors it.
3.
Expect that God will save them.
As a Christian parent you can have great confidence that God will save your children.
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This confidence is not in who they are, who they were born to, or on the basis of anything done by or to them. Rather, this confidence is based on the character of God (who loves to save the lost) and the means God uses (the Gospel). If you raise your children in an atmosphere soaked in the Gospel, you can be confident that your children will respond to the Gospel. But let me add this: While your children may be genuinely saved while they are very young, do not be surprised if neither you nor they have great confidence in their salvation until they have grown and matured. And that’s okay, because whether or not they have come to saving faith, they have the same need—the gospel.*
4. Prioritize church (and, if possible, one church). Make worshipping and serving at church a priority and, whenever possible, stick to one church. There is no better family discipline than the discipline of being committed to a local church as the context for worshipping God and serving God’s people. You can only teach this to your children by example, by making it a high priority. And then there is something especially good, especially pure, about
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children growing up in one church around one group of people. There is such joy in being around Christians who have known and loved your children since they were born and who will know and love them still as they transition into adulthood.
5. Teach your children to relate to adults. On a related note, generate opportu-
nities for your children to be around other adults. We are right to focus on building our children’s friendships with other children, but we may neglect helping our children to build relationships with adults—adults who can love them, pray for them, mentor them, and help guide them as they get older. Your friends can (and should!) be your children’s friends as well. Do not be afraid of allowing other adults to influence them. Do not be afraid, even when they are young, to suggest, “Why don’t you talk to ___ about that.” It takes a church to raise a child.
6. Be confident but humble in your parenting. Some couples read all kinds of books, know before the first baby is born exactly how they will raise their children, and follow the program all the way to completion. Others leave the books in the
8.
bookstores, read their Bible, pray, and simply follow their instincts. Somehow both philosophies can work equally well and I would imagine we can all think of delightful, godly children who were raised each way. Aileen and I learned we needed to be confident and humble in the way we raised our children—confident enough that we would not be constantly changing from one parenting model to another but humble enough to learn from others and especially to be continually challenged and corrected by God’s Word.
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7. Make family devotions a prior-
ity. Apart from attending church, family
devotions are the most important discipline your family can institute. This is a discipline to begin and to emphasize during the little years because, believe it or not, life only gets more chaotic once the children get older. Now is the time to form that habit. Begin family devotions right now so that your children will never remember a time when
you did not worship together. Aileen and I were strangely encouraged when my son was telling our church how the Lord saved him and he mentioned our family’s “Spartan-like commitment to family devotions.” He meant it in fun, but it was a blessing to hear of its importance in his life (especially because we are very aware of how often we’ve missed, failed, or forgotten). We have always believed—and still do believe—that this simple discipline of opening the Bible and praying together for just a few minutes every day is of outsized importance. We firmly believe that God uses it for the strengthening of the family and the salvation of souls.
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8. Understand that sometimes parenting is about surviving. In the
little years a lot of parenting is actually just surviving—surviving through nursing and teething and fevers and tantrums, surviving when it has been weeks since you last had a decent night’s sleep and you’re pretty sure you can’t possibly make it through even one more. We learned that in these times of difficulty we could break some of our parenting rules or preferences for the sake of survival and sanity. If your baby sleeps in your room or your bed for a few nights or even a few weeks, you won’t forfeit his soul. If you give your child a soother, he won’t grow up to be a criminal. Sometimes you lose these little battles, and that just has to be okay.
9. Prioritize your marriage. Parenting is the best and hardest challenge your marriage will face. There is no way of introducing several new personalities into your family without experiencing some strain on your marriage. Though marriage and children are meant to exist together in perfect harmony, you will find that they each seek to compete with the other. Yet marriage needs to come first. The stability of a strong, loving, affectionate marriage will anchor the children, giving them confidence that whatever else happens in life, this marriage will stand firm. Find and create opportunities to prioritize and strengthen your marriage in ways the children will see and in ways they will never see. The children will benefit either way. 10. Give them grace. Extend grace to your children, not only justice. Teach your children that there are consequences for disobedience and discipline them with consistency and kindness. But not every time. Sometimes it is more effective to show them mercy as a reflection of the mercy God has shown you. At other times you may even decide to overlook an offense as you strategically address one kind of sin but not another. Give them grace and show them mercy. Don’t just tell them the Gospel, but model it in your interactions with them. *A note related to “Expect that God will save them:” Of course God does not owe you the salvation of your children and He may not save them or not save them until much later in life. But this does not take away from your confidence that those who are immersed in a Gospel atmosphere from their youngest years do tend to respond to the Gospel. Tim Challies is an author, blogger and book reviewer. Visit www.challies.com. 19
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The Train is Coming! Many years ago I moved to Montgomery with my wife and three-year-old daughter, Summer. We moved into a house with an unusual feature. A train track ran right behind our back fence. Twice a day a freight train would come lumbering through, blowing its whistle just a few minutes before it appeared. It came late in the afternoon and about three o’clock in the morning. Summer thought this was wonderful. When the shrill whistle sounded in the night she would jump from her bed, scamper down the hall, cross the den, and run to snatch open the curtains in the playroom. There she would
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stand in amazement as the train clicketyclacked its way southward in the glimmer of the streetlights. I would also hear the train whistle, get up and stumble through the house to the playroom. But I was not amazed by the train. I was concerned about my daughter being alone. She would look up at me, smile, and say, “Look, Dad, the train is coming!” We would stand there as long as the train was passing. Sometimes we would hold hands. Sometimes she would just point to the string of boxcars and try to count them. There was astonishment in her eyes and excitement in her voice. She did not know why there was a train, where it came from, or where it was going. She just knew it was marvelous to behold. That was the first year we lived there. In another year or two neither of us heard the train or the whistle. Those sounds were drowned into the familiarity of everyday noises. I don’t hear a train whistle in the night any more. The train is gone. The track is gone. And we all live somewhere else now. But as the years go by I realize that there was a lesson in that nighttime experience. We can hear or read things so many times that we forget their importance. This is especially true of the Bible. There are teach20
ings in the Scriptures that once amazed us, convicted us, or gave us a deep sense of peace. But now we don’t think about them much. We know there are things that we should do and should not do, but we become numb to the power and sacredness of the One who said so. One day (or night) the world as we know it now will stop. Either the Lord will come to all of us at the same time, or before that happens, one by one, we will go to Him. We may think of death now and then, but seldom consider that the Lamb of God is on His way back to see us. When I listen I hear the whisper from the Scriptures. “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done” (Revelation 22:12 NIV). King Jesus is on His way. He is bringing His angels and saints (people He has redeemed) in His train. He comes as the King of all. No, I don’t know when or how this train will arrive. I am not into predicting times and dates. But I know He is coming. And this time He will lift up those who have put their faith in Him. Most Christians know all about this. They have heard about it in church and Sunday School, at Bible studies, at conferences, on radio and television. But have they heard it so much that they don’t actually hear it any more? Has it become road noise? Like my little daughter that first year, we need to be watching. We need to prepare our hearts to meet Him face to face. We need to be humbled by His grace in dying for our sin and astounded at his power and might as He returns to judge the world. When He comes again there will be a great separation between the lost and saved. I wonder if among the saved there will be those ashamed that they ignored His words and those who will look up with anticipation and say with joy, “Look, the train is coming!”
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Where Do Christians Seek Help? Our Church families have well established traditions for providing support. What about support for mental health issues? Through research across many denominations in the United States, Sidney Hankerson, MD, MBA and professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Columbia University, found that 27% of Church members or their family members have experienced mental health problems. Astoundingly, this statistic does not include marriage and family problems. If you add marriage and family difficulties, most of us are going to experience problems impacting mental health or family functioning. A code of silence surrounds depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, psychosis, addiction or other mental illness within the Church. Hankerson found these Church members felt invisible and disconnected from their congregations. Frequently, even mature Christians suffer a crisis of faith during the abyss of depression or other mental health illness which can be misinterpreted as abandonment by God. Psalm 22:1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? (NIV) Psalm 25:16-17 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. 17 Relieve the troubles of my heart, and bring me out of my distress. (NRSV) Since the Middle Ages, Christian communities have ministered to those struggling with mental health problems in a supportive, holistic, River Region’s Journey
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accepting and nurturing manner. European monastic groups and Churches were a place of refuge for the poor, orphans, widows, mentally ill and disabled. St. Francis suffered a breakdown after wartime military service and imprisonment and was disowned and disinherited by his family. After a profound spiritual awakening, others joined him. Ten of his first twelve converts were morally and psychologically wounded veterans who found solace and spiritual transformation sharing their narrative in a supportive Christian community. Pope John Paul II said that depression is a spiritual trial. “It is therefore important to stretch out a hand to the sick, to make them perceive the tenderness of God, to integrate them into a community of faith and life in which they can feel accepted, understood, supported, respected: in a word, in which they can love and be loved….In his infinite love, God is always close to those who are suffering. Depressive illness can be a way to discover other aspects of oneself and new forms of encounter with God.” Further, he said, “Whoever suffers from mental illness always bears God’s image and likeness in himself, as does every human being.” During the 1600s, Quakers opposed the belief that those who lost their mind also lost their humanity and developed a “moral treatment” in humane, supportive and caring communities for the mentally ill. During WWI, Mennonites ministered to returning servicemen with war related mental health problems instead of compulsory military service. Parks, farms and camps were converted to hospitals providing compassionate physical, mental and spiritual care. Bob Mills, Associate V. P. for University Advancement at Wake Forest University, calls mental illness “the disease that gets no chicken pie.” He experienced a vast difference in the support he received being treated for leukemia than for bipolar disorder. Falsely, many believe that mental health issues are a result of a lack of faith or sin. In fact, none of us is immune from experiencing difficulty, mental or physical illness. Charles Swindoll said, “Is the Lord going to use you in a great way? Quite probably. Is he 22
going to prepare you as you expect? Probably not. And if you’re not careful, you will look at the trials, the tests, the sudden interruptions, the disappointments, the sadness, the lost jobs, the failed opportunities, the broken moments, and you will think, He’s through with me. He’s finished with me, when in fact He is equipping you.” Statistics show that Christians seek help from their clergy before seeking assistance from health care professionals. The Gospels illustrate Christ caring for, ministering to and healing the mentally ill and we are called to do the same. John 13:34-35 Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (NIV) As Christians experience mental health and family issues, they prefer counseling and care that incorporates their mind, body and spirit, recognizing that they are not complete without each being addressed. In my clinical practice, I find faith is a critical resource for my clients’ recovery. Pastors, priests and chaplains work tirelessly to provide for the needs of their communities but they cannot do it alone. As individual Christians and congregations, we can do more to help our fellow believers. Perhaps you are being called to participate in this ministry. Pray about the role you and your Church may play.
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2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. (NIV) Nancy W. Thomas, M.A., N.C.C., C.C.M.H.C., L.P.C.
Nancy Thomas is the Executive Director of Clinical Services at The Samaritan Counseling Center, Inc. in Montgomery. She is a National Certified Counselor, Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Professional Counselor. She graduated from the University of Alabama with an M.A. in Counselor Education in 1994. She has extensive training and experience in mental health and marriage and family therapy. Her professional interests are in mental health recovery, adolescent and college issues, life transitions, healthy relationships, marital counseling, parenting, spirituality and identity development, and preserving marriages and families. Nancy works primarily with adolescents and adults.
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IF YOU WANT THEM TO DISCOVER THE POWER OF FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE,
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Sunday Morning Small Groups - 9:15 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship - 10:30 a.m.
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7505 Wares Ferry Road Montgomery, Alabama 36117 334.396.9811 23
May 2016
easternoaks.org River Region’s Journey
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Aldersgate UMC 6610 Vaughn Road Theme: TBA When: June 11-14; 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Ages: 3 yrs – 5th grade Register at www.aldersgateumc.org or call 272.6152.
Autauga Heights Baptist Church 1393 Highway 31 N, Prattville Theme: Cave Quest When: June 20-24 Ages: 4 years – 6th grade Call: (334) 322.3222.
Blue Ridge Baptist Church
4471 Jasmine Hill Road, Wetumpka Theme: Submerged When: July 10-14, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. A family night musical performance will be held July 17 at 6 p.m. Call 567.4325.
Camellia Baptist Church
201 Woodvale Road, Prattville Theme: Submerged When: June 5-9, Kickoff will begin 4 p.m. on Sunday followed by a hotdog dinner. All other nights will begin at 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Ages: 3 year preschool through 6th grade, plus adult classes. Register at www.camelliabaptist.com. Call 365.0231.
Capitol Heights Baptist Church
2514 Madison Avenue Theme: Submerged When: June 6-10, 9 a.m. to noon Ages: 4 years old by Sept. 1 to 6th grade. Nursery provided for VBS workers only. Call 264.6461.
Dalraida Baptist Church
3838 Wares Ferry Rd. Theme: Submerged When: June 6-10; 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Age: Kindergarten through 6th grade Registration on line and at the church. Call 272.2412.
Eastern Hills Baptist Church 3604 Pleasant Ridge Road River Region’s Journey
May 2016
Theme: Submerged When: June 6-10; Time: 8:30 – 12 p.m. Ages: 4 (by August 1st) through 6th grade Call 272.0604 or register online@ www.ehbconline.com.
East Memorial Baptist Church
1320 Old Ridge Road, Prattville Theme: Ocean Commotion When: June 13-17, 9 a.m.–12 p.m. Family Night, Thursday, June 16 at 6 p.m. with hotdog supper beginning at 5 p.m. Ages: 4 years through 8th Grade Call 365.7500.
Eastmont Baptist Church
4505 Atlanta Highway Theme: TBA When: June 13-17; 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Ages: 4 yr. - grade 6 Register online @ www.eastmont.org or call 277.6300.
Elizabeth Baptist Church 15627 Troy Highway, Mathews Theme: The Ultimate Climb-Hiking Up to Meet God! When: June 27-29; Time: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. For all ages – adults included. Dinner provided. Please call 281.4506
Evangel Church (ad on page 17)
3974 Vaughn Road Theme: Cave Quest When: June 27-July 1; 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. Ages: 3 to upcoming 6th graders Call 272.4882 ext. 107.
First Baptist Prattville (ad on page 13)
Theme: Submerged June 20-24, 8:30-12:00 noon Ages 3 years- Eighth Grade. Children must be 3 years old by September 2, 2014 to attend. For more information and/ or to register visit fbcprattville.org or call 365-0606.
First Baptist Church, Wetumpka 205 W. Bridge Street Theme: Cave Quest When: June 5-9, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Ages: K-6th grade. Call 567.5191.
First Christian Church
1705 Taylor Road Theme: Cave Quest When: July 26-29; Time: 5:30-7:30 Light dinner and snack provided Ages 4 years old – 6 grade Please call for more information, 270.1320
First Presbyterian, Prattville (ad on page 27)
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First UMC, Montgomery (ad on page 18)
2416 W. Cloverdale Park Theme: Hawaiian Surf Shack When: June 6-10; 9a.m. until noon Ages: Age 3 (by Sept 1 of 2015) through 5th grade. Call 834.8990.
First UMC, Prattville
(ad on Back Cover)
305 South Perry Street Theme: Submerged When: June 20-24; 9 a.m. to Noon You can register on our website at www. MontgomeryFBC.org Call 834.6310.
492 East Main Street, Prattville Theme: Kowabunga Farm: Growing with Our Faithful God When: June 12-16 Ages: 3 to 12. Call 365.2034.
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211 S. Chestnut Street Theme: Camp Kilimanjaro When: June 6-10 VBS starts at 9 a.m. to Noon Ages: 4 years old through entering 6th grade Call 365.6387.
100 E. Fourth Street Theme: Everest: Cave Quest When: June 6-10, 9 a.m. to Noon Ages: Open to children who have just completed Kindergarten through 6th grade Call 365.5977.
First Baptist, Montgomery
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Fountain City Baptist
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(ad on page 11)
3300 Bell Road Theme: Submerged When: June 20-24; 9am-12pm Ages: Completed 1st through completed 5th Call 272.9494 to register.
Glynwood Baptist Church
Union Station, Downtown Montgomery Theme: Patriot Camp (Teaching children about the founding of our nation) Dates: June 7-10; Times: 9 a.m. until noon Ages: 6 – 12 Call 334-356-4478 or email info@hisvessel.org.
Hayneville Baptist Church
Holy Spirit Catholic Church
1180 State Hwy 21 N, Hayneville, AL Theme: Submerged When: July 10-14, 5:45 until 8:30 Ages: Pre K - 6th Grade (grade completed) Email: hbc@connecthbc.com or (334) 548.2620.
8570 Vaughn Road, East Montgomery Theme: Parachute with the Angels When: June 13-17; 8 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. Age: Entering Preschool – entering 6th grade Call 277.1989 or register online @ www.holyspirit-church.com.
Heritage Baptist Church (ad on page 10)
376 N. McQueen Smith Road, Prattville Theme: Submerged When: June 6-10, 5:45 to 8:30 pm Ages: 4 through grade 6 For more info and to preregister, go to www.glynwoodbc.com or call 361.9180.
1849 Perry Hill Road Theme: Submerged When: June 13-17, 8:30 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. Ages: Complete 4K - 5th grade Call 279.9976.
9225 Atlanta Highway Theme: Deep Sea Discovery When: June 20-24; 5:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. Ages: 4 years old thru entering 6th grade. Free meal for kids at 5 pm. Call 213.3080.
1357 S. Memorial Drive Theme: Ocean Commotion Dates: June 12-16, Time: 6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Ages: K3 through completion of 6th grade Call 365-2372.
1800 Halcyon Boulevard Theme: TBA When: June 26-29, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Ages: Nursery through adults Call 277.5800.
Heritage Baptist, Prattville
Grace @ Bell Road 5 Bell Road, Montgomery Theme: “Time Travelers” Creative Arts Camp When: June 6-10, 8:45 a.m. until 1 p.m. Ages: 6 years to rising 6th graders. Please call or visit www.discovergrace.org
Lakeview Baptist Church
Landmark Church
• H ORSEBACK R IDING • S WIMMING • T ENNIS • C ANOEING • D ANCE • A EROBICS • G YMNASTICS • B EACH V OLLEYBALL •
We don’t wonder anymore how it happened, that one summer could bring such happy memories.
New friends are now best friends. New experiences are now the best times ever. No wonder it’s so easy to tell others about it and include them in the fun.
Welcome to Riverview Camp for Girls!
We’ve do put Itogether everything you’re looking for in a perfect“I saw camp onemy of Why choose Riverview each summer? mysetting! first river Recognized on a mountain,as I rode Golf,times Dance, Dance, Outdoor Sports, Soccer,use Beach Volleyball, Basketball, “As go,Stomp it was one of the BEST.”Skills AndClass, what child couldn’t some of that these days?
Riverview Refinement, Program, Campfires night,Recognized optional trips and more! We’ve put together everythingCIT you’re looking for in a perfect every camp setting! as one of the Southeast’s best all-around summer camps for girls, Riverview is an oasis of fun, friends and happiness. Spring and Fall &available 2 week Sessions ages to 16... Mother-Daughter Weekends1are also! Registeredfor Nurses and6 Physician on Staff. Entire full-summer staff is First Aid andand CPRFall Certified. Camper/Counselor Ratio 5:1 Spring Mother-Daughter Weekends...
waiting lists start early...sign up soon!... Waitingwww.riverviewcamp.com! lists start early...sign up soon!...
Dr. Larry & Susan Hooks, Owners/Directors • Donna Bares,Asst. Director
AND
www.riverviewcamp.com
1 & 2Week Sessions for Ages 6-16
C RAFTS • C HORUS
first I had campfires every night. Icamps felt close to God. giggled a lot is with friends and counselors. time flew by! thehorse. Southeast’s best all-around for girls,IRiverview annew oasis of fun, friends andThe happiness... I Exciting felt safe and secure. Iinclude: gained confidence in myselfPool,Tennis, through the world around me.” activities Riding, Heated Canoeing, Ropes Course, Climbing Tower,
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Gateway Baptist Church
His Vessels Ministry, Montgomery
B ASKETBALL • S OCCER • A RTS
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6000 Atlanta Highway Theme: Submerged When: July 11-15; 9 a.m. to 12 noon Ages: Rising K4 year olds-Finishing 5th grade Call 272.8622.
GracePointe VBS 1565 Ray Thorington Road Theme: Overboard: Diving in Deep with God When: June 26-29 from 6-8 pm Ages: 4-12 Visit www.grace-pointe.com to register or call 271.2525.
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(ad on Inside Front Cover)
Only 1 /Mountain 2 hours from Huntsville Located on top of Lookout in Mentone, AL. Only a 3 hr drive. 1
D RAMA
FLAG TWIRLING • CHEERLEADING • RIFLERY • ARCHERY • TRIP DAY • GOLF
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Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church
Call for FREE DVD and catalog 1-800-882-0722 Accredited by American Camping Association • Members of Christian Camping International
• R OPES C OURSE • C LIMBING T O WER • OUTDOOR L IVING S KILLS • C AMPFIRE F UN • C OUNSELOR -I N -T RAINING • 25
May 2016
River Region’s Journey
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Millbrook Presbyterian (PCA) 3480 Main Street, Millbrook Theme: Cave Quest When: July 11-15 5:30-8:30pm Ages: Entering K-4 thru 5th grade For registration, call 285-4031.
Montgomery Area Episcopal Churches Church of the Ascension, 315 Clanton Avenue, Montgomery Theme: Egypt Dates: June 6-9, 8:30 a.m. – Noon Ages: Rising K4 through rising 6th grade For registration or more info, call 263.5529.
Morningview Baptist Church 125 Calhoun Road Theme: Cave Quest When: June 6-10, 9 a.m. to Noon Ages: Completed Kindergarten-5th grade Call 272.2304.
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May 2016
Mountain View Baptist (ad on page 27)
1025 Rifle Range Rd., Wetumpka Theme: Submerged When: June 13-17, Times: 8 a.m.- 11:30 a.m. Ages: Completed K5 through 6th grade Call (334) 567.4458.
Mulder UMC
3454 Firetower Road ~ Wetumpka Theme: Surf Shack When: June 5-8; 6 – 8 p.m. For more info please call 567.4225.
Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist 1550 East Washington Street, Montgomery Theme: TBA When: June 22-27; Time: TBA Please call 265-1807 for more information.
Redland Baptist Church 1266 Dozier Rd, Wetumpka Theme: Submerged
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Dates: June 26-July 1; 9:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Ages: 5 (by Sept. 1) through graduated 5th grade. Please call 567.8649.
Ridgecrest Baptist Church 5260 Vaughn Road Theme: Submerged When: June 6-10, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Ages: 4 to completed the 6th grade. Please visit rbcmontgomery.com for more information. Call 277.0011.
Saint James UMC (ad on page 19)
9045 Vaughn Road Theme: Cave Quest When: June 20-22, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Ages: K4-5th grade Call 277.3037.
Taylor Road Baptist Church
1685 Taylor Road Theme: Submerged When: July 18-22, 8:30 a.m. to Noon
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Ages: Completion of Kindergarten through 6th grade. Call 271.3363.
Thorington Road Baptist
When: June 26-29, Time: TBD Ages: newborn thru 6th grade Adult classes will be available Please call 386.7320 or visit www.ucoc.org.
450 Ray Thorington Road Theme: Journey Off the Map When: May 31-June 4; 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Ages: 5 yrs. to 5th grade Call 396.9376.
2673 Fisk Road Theme: SurfShack When: June 13-16, 5:30 to 8 p.m. Ages: 3 years to 6th grade. Call 281.2467.
1728 S. Hull Street Theme: The Race is On When: June 6-10, 9 a.m. to noon. Ages: Pre-K 4 through completed 6th grade Call 262.3892 to pre-register.
Trinity UMC, Prattville
University Church of Christ 5315 Atlanta Highway Theme: TBA
(ad on page 5)
3800 Vaughn Road Theme: SonSpark Labs, Discovering God’s Plan 4U = Jesus When: June 26-29, 6-8 pm For more info contact Carrie Stark at 272.2665 or carriejmstark@gmail.com.
Whitfield UMC
Trinity Presbyterian Church
610 Fairview Avenue, Prattville Theme: TBD When: June 14-18, 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. Dinner provided for children every night. Call 365.7339.
Vaughn Park Church of Christ
Woodland UMC (ad on page 27)
Vaughn Forest Church 8660 Vaughn Road Theme: Submerged When: June 6-10; 9 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Ages: Entering Kindergarten entering 6th grade. Registration online at www.vaughnforest.com. Call 279.5433.
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4428 Wallahatchee Rd, Pike Road Theme: Cave Quest When: June 6-9; 5:30 – 8 p.m. Ages: 4 years old -6th grade Call 272.7230.
Young Meadows Presbyterian Church 5780 Vaughn Road Theme: Sports Camp 2016 When: June 6-10, 9 a.m. until noon Ages: Kindergarten -6th grade Call 244.1385.
May 2016
River Region’s Journey
wi he In int Am ers mo oth af be Am wa
Amy Smith was merely 18 years old when she began praying about God’s calling on her life. She faced a world of people who were engaging in internships and summer jobs after their freshman year in college, but Amy was praying for her own direction. It took her time and energy as she waited patiently for the Lord to provide a strong, guided answer for River Region’s Journey
May 2016
her next step. During Amy’s season of searching, she began noticing the middle school and high school girls in her life. She recognized that they were walking through some of the same battles she walked through when she was their age. She felt compassion and care for these girls, so much that she realized the Lord may have been answering her prayers, slowly but surely. 28
Amy never pictured herself working with young girls, in fact, it was hardly on her radar, but God changed all of that. In May of 2013, all of Amy’s prayers fell into place. Prayers became reality when Amy met with 20 girls and their mothers. These girls have slowly become more and more involved, reaching out to others to join their journey. Within just a few years, the ministry has expanded beyond Montgomery and even borders. Amy shared, “God is moving in so many ways! I see girls across the city who have
been impacted by Christ through Girl Talk! So many girls have been through our ministry and I could have never imagined that. We have seen over 600 girls across the state, and we started with 20. My oldest girls are finishing up 10th grade and my first 6th grade class is going to high school next year. My girls still go through drama, mistakes, fights, all things middle school. Girl Talk doesn’t take those things away, but I believe through Girl Talk, Christ is giving these girls a foundation and the tools to get through middle school with a little more peace, grace and wisdom. I hear from girls every
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week who are reading their Bibles more, praying more, gossiping less, focusing less on social media and more on their friends. What I see in middle school ministry is that it’s not about the do’s and don’ts of Christianity. It’s about teaching them now why we follow Christ and live for Him so when the temptations rise, it’s about saying no but knowing why we choose Christ over the world.”
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Girl Talk Gatherings Moms and Daughters Girl Talk starts with the moms. We kick off each year on Mother’s Day weekend with our annual Moms and Daughters Bible study to celebrate our moms! We have worship, Bible study, and fellowship as we talk about the godly mother and daughter relationship the Bible teaches! May 7, 10am-12pm Woodland Creek Clubhouse
Study Break Near the end of school GTM has “Study Break” where girls can take a break from end of the year tests and exams and come hang out and eat froyo! May 10, 3:30-4:30 pm California Yogurt Kraze, Vaughn Rd
Summer Bible Study
When asked about the growth of the ministry, Amy shared that Girl Talk has extended itself to Enterprise, Alabama and now has a partnership in Honduras. Amy travels quarterly to Honduras and manages to take girls once or twice a year on a mission trip there. Every year, Girl Talk begins on Mother’s Day weekend with rising 6th8th grade girls for the upcoming school year. They meet every week during the summer and once a month throughout the school year. This year, there will be a new event called “Missions Monday” that Amy will start. She has prayed a long River Region’s Journey
May 2016
time and it is finally her opportunity to get things rolling with this new venture for Girl Talk! “At one point, we were in four different cities,” Amy shared. “I loved being across the state and watching girls come together in the unity of Girl Talk. I thought that was God’s plan for our growth but as time went on, I realized God’s plan for our Bible study isn’t necessarily widespread meetings, so eventually I hope to publish the material I write for Girl Talk to equip moms, leaders and teachers to lead their middle school girls wherever they are. Moms are their 30
We meet every Tuesday until the end of July in homes across the city. We have a host mom and co-host moms who provide their homes and snacks. Bible study is always first, usually lasting an hour. Jesus Christ is our main focus. After Bible study, we fellowship with each other while swimming or doing something fun! Our most popular event is the paint fight at the end of the summer where we have our biggest outreach event and over 100 girls!
Summer 2016 May 24 and May 31 June 7, 14, 21, and 28 July 5, 19, and 26 Sign up to host by emailing info@ girltalkministries.org
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May 2016
River Region’s Journey
girls’ first ministers. A huge passion of mine in this ministry is to emphasize the relationship God has given moms and daughters. My role is to come alongside moms to work with them to love and disciple their daughters, not to ever be in competition with them. “Missions Monday is my next growth period, bringing in another aspect of Girl Talk. For the last three summers we have focused on missions. We sponsor a girl in Honduras and support missionaries, but I think letting the girls be hands on with missions in our own city will take us to a new level of growth in our ministry and our relationships with Christ.” You see, Amy’s story is truly beautiful. At the age of only 11, Amy’s father passed away from a battle with cancer. This particular aspect of her story is what motivates Amy to take care of and nurture girls in this age group. It is so vital to bless girls at this age, but more than that, Amy recognized the women who wrapped their arms around her as she grew up, understanding and valuing the relationships that she had with them. She felt that it was only best to help girls have those types of lasting relationships
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and mentors who can do the same for them. Girl Talk is almost finished filing under a 501(c)(3) and the ministry will be named “Glen Smith Ministries” after Amy’s father. Amy shares, “Naming my 501(c)3 after him, I plan to have a part of our ministry that ministers to girls and families who have lost parents, including little encouragement baskets, cards and things that made getting through my dad’s death a little easier.” If you are interested in getting involved with Girl Talk Ministries, you can
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contact them or find out more through www.girltalkministries.org.
Laura Bell is a freelance writer, born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama. She enjoys spending time with her husband Cody and finding all reasons to have joy in life!
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April 2016
Christianity v. Corporation: Dawn of Character One of the principal issues of the day, it seems, is religious freedom and the ability to withstand the assault on our culture by those who embrace an intolerance cloaked in the language of tolerance. It came to a boiling point in Georgia recently when lawmakers came up with a bill that would protect people of faith from being punished for standing on their deeply held beliefs. The final version of the bill protected pastors and religious organizations from being involved in activities that are in conflict with their faith (for instance, performing a samesex wedding or providing a facility for one). Once the bill passed the Legislature, corporate interests threatened to not do business in Georgia - because they perceived a bill that would simply reinforce religious rights was somehow discriminatory. The governor vetoed the bill, an act that I view as discriminatory… toward Christians who disagree with having to be forced by the state to act in a manner that contradicts their deeply-held beliefs. The same mentality is now at play in North Carolina, where the state took decisive action to strike down an extreme “non-discrimination” ordinance in Charlotte favoring transgender people that would have allowed people to use whatever restroom facility they wished, regardless of biological gender. There is concern that this would open the door to others who would seize this new “freedom” to enter the bathroom of an opposite gender and be involved in despicable behavior. There are corporate and governmental interests who have taken aim at this public safety law that passed the Legislature and was signed by the governor. I think it’s interesting that the faith community and the business community are seemingly at odds these days - you’d think that the characteristics that would make someone a good Christian would make someone a good employee; well, oh, except for that intolerance that we are charged with. Has it come to a River Region’s Journey
May 2016
point in the workplace where a believer is not allowed to hold certain convictions without facing the endangerment of being fired? I hope not, but think about the plight of former Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran, who lost his job because he wrote a book about God’s views on sexuality, in which a brief passage referred to a Biblical view of homosexuality. Chief Cochran, by the way, was standing with African-American leaders recently in Atlanta to decry the veto of the Georgia religious freedom bill. Does godly character still count in the workplace any more? Can a person be esteemed who possesses an exemplary work ethic, who desires to do his or her best on the job, and who treats customers how he or she would wish to be treated be esteemed? If that person believes in the Biblical definition of marriage, are we approaching a point where that person is targeted for being discriminatory? Or is that person really the victim of discrimination? While in some cases we do see an adversarial relationship between the faith community and corporate interests, I don’t want to generalize that it’s that way universally - we have to recognize that many corporations have been duped by the gay agenda to redefine tolerance in a manner that discriminates against people of faith. For each of us individually, we recognize that the principles of Christianity are powerful when integrated into the culture of business. What makes a person an effective Christian can contribute to a person being a good employee. I contend that Christians 34
should be the absolute best that we can be in the workplace, exhibiting responsible capability in performance, a conviction to be excellent, and compassion in service. Our faith and our practice of it should qualify, not disqualify us for employment. If an employer is searching for a person of character, then a Christian should be the best to fit the bill. We also have to recognize that people and organizations will use religion when they feel it benefits them. That has the potential to be advantageous to us in the spread of the gospel, but we have to be careful that we don’t attribute spiritual motives to those who are just trying to build up the bottom line. That standard is fickle, anyway. For us, the measure of revival is the same - it’s how much we as Christians are allowing God to work in our lives, not in how the “Christian community” is being targeted, positively or negatively, or how much we seem to be liked or disliked, but by how the Lord is moving in the hearts of His people. Don’t get too excited when a company decides to say “Merry Christmas,” or when entertainment professionals relate a proper faith-based message; these are not determinants of spiritual revival - it’s when the Lord is allowed to have His way that’s important. Bob Crittenden is host of “The Meeting House”, heard weekday afternoons from 4-6pm on Faith Radio, 89.1FM in Montgomery. Described as “the intersection of faith and culture”, the program features Christian music and conversation about a variety of topics. Learn more by visiting www. meetinghouseonline.info.
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WLBF Faith Radio is listener supported. Your support matters! 800.239.8900 | mail@faithradio.org | www.faithradio.org
Mail your donation to: Faith Radio, P.O. Box 210789,May Montgomery, ALJourney 36121 2016 River Region’s 35
Q. We have two daughters, and we’ve started
thinking about financial planning for college. What are the differences between an Education Savings Account and a 529 plan?
A. The Education Savings Account (ESA)
is limited to $2,000 per year, per child. It has complete flexibility, meaning you can invest it in whatever you like and you can move it—roll it over—to another one if you don’t like that mutual fund, as an example. I use that example because I recommend using good growth stock mutual funds and that you do this for the first $2,000 invested per year. There are several types of 529 plans, and there’s only one that I would recommend. It’s the kind that has complete flexibility, where you control the investments. Some states have 529 plans that are prepaid tuition, and I never recommend those. You don’t want the state managing anything for you, because you won’t get anywhere near the returns you’d get if you managed it yourself. Other types of 529s lock you into a certain kind of investment the whole time, or they move the investment based on the age of your kid. I don’t want anybody doing that crap. I want you controlling your money. Most of the 529s vary somewhat from state to state, but the majority have flexibility that allows you to control the investment while
River Region’s Journey
May 2016
contributing up to $10,000 a year. Both those and the ESAs grow completely tax-free on the growth as long as they’re used for higher education. They can also be transferred to a sibling if the kid doesn’t go to school, so a little brother or sister can use the money. If they get scholarships, make sure you keep up with the value of these. You’ll be allowed to withdraw that amount and refund yourself for the scholarship amount without penalty or taxes on the amount withdrawn. In short, both the ESA and 529 are fine ways to save for college. Just make sure if you’re doing a 529 that you choose the kind you control from top to bottom!
Q. I’ve always wanted to work from home. How can I separate the scams online and on television from real jobs where I can make money? A. The vast majority of things you see in latenight infomercials and online—except of course for legitimate job hunter sites—are scams. I’m talking about the business-in-a-box kind of stuff and everything else. And I know you’ve seen
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the postings online that go something like, “My sister-in-law makes $50 an hour from home, and you can, too!” These scammers are the worst of the worst. Don’t waste a second of your time on that garbage. My biggest worry is that you’re looking at your career the wrong way. Just making money shouldn’t be the measuring stick of success in your professional life. Whether you’re going to start a home business or work in an office for someone else, your work should engage you in doing something you know about and love. You spend too many hours of your life at work to be miserable in what you do. Shuffling day after day through a job you don’t like—even one with a big paycheck attached—is also a bad idea. Sooner or later the fact that you don’t like your work is going to catch up with you on the job and at home. Think of something you love to do, then get creative and find a way to make money at it. It may mean turning a hobby into a parttime gig nights and weekends for starters. Who knows, with a lot of hard work and a little creativity, you could be your own boss in no time!
plan
1. Stay informed
2. Learn about basic injury and disease prevention 3. Look for the most current information on emergency preparedness 4. Create a family preparedness plan 5. Become familiar with the emergency plans of your community
prepare store essential items Water Food Can Opener First Aid Kit Flashlight
Radio Clothes Personal Care Items Important Documents
practice Practice and review your preparedness plan every six months Plan. prepare. practice.
http://www.adph.org
Zika virus is transmitted to people primarily through the bite of infected mosquitoes. These mosquitoes typically lay eggs in and near standing water in items such as buckets, bowls, animal dishes, flower pots and vases.
Avoid the Bite! You can help prevent the spread of Zika and other mosquito-borne diseases by preventing mosquito bites and breeding. For the most up-to-date information on Zika Virus and other mosquito-borne diseases in Alabama, visit www.adph.org/mosquito or call 1-800-252-1818.
First Baptist Church Montgomery
June 20–24 |
Vacation Bible School
9:00 AM to Noon :: FREE! ages 4 through 6th grade
As kids are submerged in God’s Word, they will discover that Jesus saw people differently. He saw people for who they were deep down, not who they appeared to be on the surface. Kids will look below the surface to find the truth about how Jesus sees them.
For more information or to register, visit
www.montgomeryfbc.org/vbs FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH montgomery
305 South Perry Street Montgomery, AL 36104 334.834.6310