New city? New church! Whether you are a military family, job transfer, or just new to the community, we know change can be hard. Finding a place of worship can help. At Frazer we welcome new faces. We invite you to explore our faith family, discover our ministries for children, students and adults, and learn more about how you can get connected at frazerumc.org.
Frazer Church: find hope, Follow Jesus • Sunday worship 8, 9:30 & 11AM 6000 atlanta Hwy. Montgomery • frazerumc.org • 334.2728622 •
Volume 16, Issue 6
Feature Articles
O CTO BER 2 0 1 4 Columns page 2
Publisher’s Note
page 16
Sex: It’s Time to Talk
by Bryan Levangie It’s the dreaded conversation for many parents, but student minister Bryan Levangie says you better have it sooner rather than later. He offers ideas on how to keep the lines of communication open, what expectations should be set and more.
Jason Watson
page 4
Pastor's Perspective Rev. Bill Thompson, Grace @ Bell Road Church
page 14
Pondering the Journey Sam Whatley
page 20
Shine
Kim Hendrix
page 19
With All Your Mind Matt Jordan, Ph.D.
page 22
page 24
Dave $ays
Fall Festivals Guide
Dave Ramsey
Churches across the River Region are offering safe and exciting alternatives to Halloween. Our guide gives you all the details!
page 26
Counselor’s Corner Christy Holding, LPC
page 33
Family Teams for Christ
page 30
Lisa and Mike Conn
Bridges of Faith
Giving Ukrainian Orphans the Experience of Alabama Life, Faith and Culture
by Rachel Fisher Tom Benz and his wife Larissa are doing an incredible work in caring for Ukrainian orphans... right here in the River Region. Discover the many facets of Bridges of Faith and how you can be involved in this life-changing ministry. 1
page 34
The Intersection Bob Crittenden
In Every Issue page 6
Books to Read page 8
Around Our Community page 28
Support Groups page 36
Event Calendar page 40
Movie Reviews October 2014
River Region’s Journey
Our Mission... We believe the Good News concerning the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is worth sharing with our friends and neighbors in the River Region. Each month we deliver this life-changing message to the centers of activity across our community in a user-friendly and relevant way to empower and equip all those seeking to grow closer to God. Join us in this mission by sharing a copy with your neighbor or by becoming an advertising partner starting next month.
Editor DeAnne Watson deanne@readjourneymagazine.com
Publisher
Jason Watson jason@readjourneymagazine.com
Associate Publisher Savannah Bowden
Research Editor Wendy McCollum
Contributing Writers Tim Challies Lisa and Mike Conn Bob Crittenden Rachel Fisher Kim Hendrix Christy Holding, LPC Matt Jordan, Ph.D. Bryan Levangie Dave Ramsey Rev. Bill Thompson Sam Whatley
Advertising Opportunities Jason Watson ads@readjourneymagazine.com (334) 213-7940 ext 703
Ad Design
Tim Welch, Welch Designs
Distribution Team Kristy Brennan Wendy McCollum Chris Mitchell Manzie Moore Richard Ward Lesa Youngblood
From the Publisher How is God’s good news making a difference in your life? That’s the personal version of the new tag line we’re using on our cover. God’s good news does make a difference! Placing your faith in God’s work of redemption through His Son doesn’t completely remove your old rebellious sin nature, but it does break its curse and bondage. We will still experience both victory and defeat over our sin, but through the Holy Spirit we are capable of holy living. Christ’s life, death and resurrection aren’t just for our future salvation; we’ve been set free from the chains of sin’s death today if we believe in Him and live through His means of grace. You’re not alone in your journey. God is at work all across the River Region - making His glory known. Don’t miss it! Be inspired by it. Let His truth and the testimony of His people encourage you to live your faith with zeal. Have you heard of Bridges of Faith? It’s a ministry led by Tom and Larissa Benz along with their amazing team of volunteers to help Ukrainian orphans experience Alabama life, faith and culture. I’ve seen first hand the difference Bridges of Faith is making in these children’s lives. God is touching lives through His people (people like you and me) as they surrender to His call to bless others. Find out more about the broad impact of Bridges of Faith and how you can get involved on page 30. Driving through the Bell and Vaughn Road area of Montgomery you can’t help but notice the change in some business signs. Korean-run businesses are popping up to serve our growing Korean population and to introduce their culture to fellow citizens. I love that our area boasts multiple ethnicities. It’s a small taste of the nations coming together in Heaven and the New Earth. I hope you’re finding a way to connect with these other cultures. For this month’s Faith @ Work column I had the privilege to meet and interview Dr. Sophie Kim who has opened E-Dental on Vaughn Road. Dr. Kim is an example for us all of what it means to live out your faith. Read and share her story with your family and friends. Finally, If you have children or grandchildren who want to celebrate the fall season or take part in a Halloween alternative, turn to page 24 to find some excellent options for having some family fun together. Many of our advertising churches want to invite you to attend their Fall Festivals. I know they’ve been working hard preparing to serve area families. Keep an eye out for their ads as you flip through this month’s issue. You’ll find God’s truth, hope and inspiration on every page of Journey. We would like to hear from you. How did God speak to you through this month’s issue? Please take a second to email me at jason@readjourneymagazine.com and share how we’ve been able to serve you. Thank you so much for picking up this issue. I pray that your faith will grow and you will be encouraged as you read it from cover to cover.
River Region’s Journey is published monthly by Keep Sharing, P.O. Box 230367, Montgomery, AL 36123. For information, call 334-213-7940. River Region’s Journey is copyrighted 2014 by KeepSharing. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. The opinions expressed in River Region’s Journey are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the owners, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products or services herein. River Region’s Journey has the right to refuse any content that is not consistent with its statement of faith.
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Pastor’s Perspective
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Rev. Bill Thompson, Grace @ Bell Road
“The Dearest Place on Earth” He is known as the “Prince of Preachers.” Charles Haddon Spurgeon was the pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London, England where he regularly preached to over 10,000 people. The following is a quote from a sermon he preached on April 5, 1891. He said, Give yourself to the Church. You that are members of the Church have not found it perfect and I hope that you feel almost glad that you have not. If I had never joined a Church till I had found one that was perfect, I would never have joined one at all! And the moment I did join it, if I had found one, I should have spoiled it, for it would not have been a perfect Church after I had become a member of it. Still, imperfect as it is, it is the dearest place on earth to us… All who have first given themselves to the Lord, should, as speedily as possible, also give themselves to the Lord’s
people. How else is there to be a Church on the earth? If it is right for anyone to refrain from membership in the Church, it is right for everyone, and then the testimony for God would be lost to the world! As I have already said, the Church is faulty, but that is no excuse for your not joining it, if you are the Lord’s. Nor need your own faults keep you back, for the Church is not an institution for perfect people, but a sanctuary for sinners saved by Grace, who, though they are saved, are still sinners and need all the help they can derive from the sympathy and guidance of their fellow Believers. The Church is the nursery for God’s weak children where they are nourished and grow strong. It is the fold for Christ’s sheep—the home for Christ’s family.
I want to draw your attention to his description of the local church. Spurgeon referred to her as “the dearest place on earth.” My goal for this article is to convince you, if you’re not already convinced, that the Church is the dearest place on earth for you and as a result you would, as Spurgeon said, give yourself to her. Again, repeating Spurgeon, “Still, imperfect as it is, it is the dearest place on earth to us… All who have first given themselves to • Fun for the whole family the Lord, should…also • Great arts and crafts shopping give themselves to the • Over 250 artists and crafts exhibitors Lord’s people.” We live in a time • Enjoy BBQ, fried chicken, chicken salad and where the church has more at the historic Marks House (circa 1825) fallen out of favor with • For directions go to both Christian and nonChristian alike; where www.pikeroadartsandcraftsfair.com voices tell us the church is no longer necessary, they tell us that you can live out your faith on your own or with your family. Many professing Christians regard connecting with a
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church as optional. Maybe more so than at any other time in church history, there are large numbers of unchurched Christians. I confess that I don’t understand such sentiment. I fell in love with the church shortly after making a decision to follow Jesus. Having never attended a Protestant church, I found a community of people who became like family to me. They loved me and cared for me and challenged me and helped me to get to know this Jesus to whom I had given my life. For the past 30 years, my vocation has been to serve the church and what a blessing it has been. I know the church has a dark side. Believe me I know! But as Spurgeon reminds us there are no perfect churches. We live in a fallen world and the church is not immune to the effects of sin. My first pastor used to often say, “The church is not a rest home for saints but a hospital for sinners.” There are many challenges in a hospital full of sinners! Spurgeon said that the church “is the nursery for God’s weak children.” There are many challenges in a nursery full of sinners! But never forget that you must count yourself among the company of sinners. More than anything else, we should consider the church “the dearest place on earth” and give ourselves to her because of God’s view the church. The apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “Christ loved the church and gave himself for her.” (Ephesians 5:25) If Jesus loved the church and gave himself for her, should we not follow in His steps? Seek out a gospel-centered, grace-filled church and give yourself to her. If you do, you will find her to be “the dearest place on earth.” Rev. Bill Thompson is the pastor of Grace @ Bell Road, a congregation of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. It is located at 5 Bell Road at the corner of Atlanta Highway.
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Our Statement of Faith In keeping with Protestant theology, we believe that the Bible, as contained in the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, is fully inspired by God and therefore inerrant in the original manuscripts. The Bible is the only essential and infallible record of God’s self-disclosure to mankind. The Scriptures are the authoritative and normative rule and guide of all Christian life, practice, and doctrine. They are totally sufficient and must not be added to, superseded, or changed by later tradition, extra-biblical revelation, or worldly wisdom. The Bible is perfect in every way and shows us how to become and live as Christians. The way of becoming a Christian is by faith alone in Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, who came to us, born of a virgin, in full human form while remaining fully God. Jesus was, and is, perfect, and was crucified so that others could live. Three days later He rose from the dead, never to die again. He ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God the Father, where He, the only mediator between God and man, continually makes intercession for His own. Those who have faith in Jesus as their Lord in this life, and Savior from damnation in the next life, now live by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, becoming more like Jesus everyday. We believe that God is one God. The one God has three persons: the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Just as God is one, so also, all believers are to be one. We believe in the unity and fellowship of all those that have faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. We are one in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, His Body, which is composed of all men, living and dead, who have been joined to Him through saving faith. *All editorial content published needs to be in agreement with our Statement of Faith
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I have a simple rule with books by William Farley: If he writes it, I read it. The common element in all of his books is easy to spot: the gospel. Outrageous Mercy is a long look at the cross, Gospel-Powered Parenting is a personal favorite that describes the centrality of the gospel in parenting; GospelPowered Humility looks at the cardinal virtue of the Christian life and how we can have it through the power of the gospel. And now, in Hidden in the Gospel he teaches why you ought to preach the gospel to yourself every day. Even better, he models how to do it. Over the past few years we have been inundated with books about the gospel. Don’t think I am complaining about the trend, though. It would be difficult to find anything wrong with a corporate obsession with the good news of what Christ has done. I have read many of these books, and find myself especially drawn to those that advance the discussion a notch or two. Hidden in the Gospel is just such a book. Here is what he says in the opening chapter: The book you are holding is a tutorial on how to preach the gospel to yourself. I am shamelessly and unapologetically building on the ideas of men like [Martyn] Lloyd-Jones, [Jack] Miller, and [Jerry] Bridges. But I am River Region’s Journey
October 2014
also speaking from personal experience. I have discovered the benefit of continually preaching the gospel to myself. It has melted the fog of depression, repulsed the demons of despair, and displaced feelings of unworthiness and failure with the love of God. When I have been discouraged, it has motivated me to keep plodding. It has humbled me before the wonder of God’s glorious grace. It has encouraged me to love God and others. It has prompted me to be patient with the failings of others. It has urged me to forgive seventy times seven times. He goes on to offer seven benefits of cultivating the discipline of preaching the gospel to yourself: Those who preach the gospel to themselves are regularly and repetitively exposed to the glory of God. Those who preach the gospel to themselves grow in humility. Those who preach the gospel to themselves are most likely to gain deliverance from that three-headed monster of guilt, inferiority, and low self-image. Those who preach the gospel to themselves accelerate their sanctification. Those who preach the gospel to themselves are increasingly “abounding in thanksgiving” (Col. 2:6). 6
Those who preach the gospel to themselves are increasingly hopeful. Those who preach the gospel to themselves are repeatedly led to worship. Farley teaches the importance of understanding and celebrating a very broad view of the gospel, one that extends from God’s electing love all the way to the sure hope of eternity. And then he shows how those truths, when rightly understood, can be preached to yourself day by day, all throughout your life. The strength and uniqueness of the book is its practicality. Where other books may discuss the practice of preaching the gospel to yourself, and while they may give brief examples, this is a whole book on the subject. Each chapter culminates with pointers on the practice and even a sample prayer that celebrates the truth taught. All through the book, Farley displays and proclaims an indebtedness to Jack Miller (who first taught the importance of preaching the gospel to yourself every day) and to Jerry Bridges (who popularized the practice). He also draws from other recent and popular books on the subject. But, as I said, he advances the discussion by providing a sweeping view of the gospel and by showing how each gospel truth perfectly lends itself to both teaching and encouragement. If you have been wondering about what it means to preach the gospel to yourself, or if you have been struggling with the practice, you’ll find no better guide than Hidden in the Gospel. It is short, it is practical, and it is rich.
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Montgomery First Assembly of God Celebrates 80th Anniversary with Ground-Breaking
Montgomery First Assembly of God commemorated “a great heritage and a great future” as it broke ground Sunday, September 14, on a $6 million total sanctuary project, including land purchase, at 135 Bell Road. Founded in 1934 on Polk Street, the congregation moved to its current location in 1974 and has continued to flourish and have a tremendous impact on the city. With an average weekly attendance of more than 500, the church membership realized it had outgrown its current facility and unanimously voted in September 2013 to purchase a tract of land adjacent to its property. At the time, the church was debt-free. The new sanctuary will seat approximately 1,000 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2015. Since the official launch of the building’s capital campaign in June, the church has already collected more than $1.5 million in donations and pledges. “I am so thankful that First Assembly is a strong missions church. That is God’s heartbeat and I believe He blesses us when our heart beats for souls,” Pastor Kelley said. The congregation is not only known for its vital overseas trips and support of 75+ missionaries worldwide, but the church also serves the River Region in numerous ways. Each week during the fall, First Assembly feeds the football teams and staffs of local public schools before their Friday night games. And the church has generously provided a holiday feast for hundreds of low-income residents at a local apartment complex. The church also holds community outreach to the community bi-monthly. For more information, visit www.montgomeryfirst.org.
Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama Officiates 16th Annual Holy Cross Day
Holy Cross Episcopal School Celebrates Its Founding Day With Ceremony, Balloon Release The Rt. Rev. John McKee Sloan, the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama, presided over Holy Cross Episcopal School’s 16th annual Holy Cross Day on Friday, Sept. 12. The celebration marks the annual anniversary of the founding of the school. The event included a chapel service to recognize the school’s founders and a performance by the school’s show choir during a Holy Eucharist service. The Rev. Candice Frazer, associate rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church; the Rev. Bob Hennagin, rector of the Holy Comforter Episcopal Church and the Rev. Matthew Grunfeld, rector of All Saints’ Episcopal Church assisted with the event. The priests regularly officiate chapel services at Holy Cross for students during the week. Holy Cross students attend chapel daily, with a formal chapel service and dress on Wednesdays. “It’s an honor to be here to celebrate Holy Cross Day and the Holy Cross School,” Rt. Rev. John McKee Sloan told attendees. “We gather to celebrate Holy Cross Day and this school and all the work that goes into it and all that is yet to be.” Pictured: Holy Cross Episcopal School Head of School Melissa L. Coumanis is pictured Friday, Sept. 12 at Holy Cross Day with the Rev. Candice Frazer, associate rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church, the Rev. Matthew Grunfeld, rector of All Saints’ Episcopal Church and the Rev. Bob Hennagin, rector of the Holy Comforter Episcopal Church. River Region’s Journey
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Email your ministry or church news to deanne@ readjourneymagazine.com.
An Evening with the Gaither Vocal Band
Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church Montgomery, AL October 10, 2014 at 7 pm. More information and tickets: www.premierproductions.com/tour/gaither-tour-2014/montgomery-al.
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Heritage Faith Riderz Collect Food for Needy at Rally for the Gally Event
Sometimes the sound of a shofar or a trumpet blast introduces an undertaking for the Lord, but on a Saturday in September it was the rumble of exhaust pipes that announced bikers from the Heritage Faith Riderz arriving at churches to collect food for the Forest Park Ministry Center. Heritage Baptist in Montgomery is one of the The Cornerstone Christian Church area churches that supports the Forest Park Chili Cook Off and Silent Auction Ministry Center in its effort to provide assisFundraiser will be held in the church tance through food, clothing, utility, long-term building at 301 Dalraida Rd. on Sunsupport, and training to those in need. Donna McCullough is the director of FPMC and a memday, October 19th at 5:00 p.m. All ber of Heritage Baptist which also hosts the Faith Riderz, a motorcycle fellowship and ministry. proceeds will go toward the mission On September 6, 2014 members of the Faith Riderz and others from the community traveled support of our sister church in the a 100 mile route through rural and urban areas of the River Region with stops at the following Philippines, the Mambajao Church churches that had collected food for the event: Bridgeview Baptist, Church at Eastern Oaks, of Christ. $6.00 for adults and $3.00 Thorington Road Baptist, Mt Zion Baptist, Hunter Station Baptist, Trinity Memorial Baptist, for children will buy you a bowl and Cloverdale Baptist and Centerpoint at Cloverdale. At each stop, the Riderz were welcomed by a spoon, so you can sample as many members of the church and provided with ample refreshments and welcomed air conditioning. different kinds of chili as you’d like. The gathered supplies were then loaded onto support vehicles for transport back to the FPMC. Also, we will have many awesome The food collections filled two vans and three trucks and were taken to the Ministry Center auction items to bid on so you can where Heritage pastor Teman Knight and other church members were waiting to assist in stockshop while you dine! Please join us ing the shelves of the pantry. Sponsors for the Rally included Montgomery Honda Yamaha, for an evening of good food and great McDonald Financial Group, and Blue Bell Creameries. family fellowship. For more info… The Forest Park Ministry Center may be contacted at forestparkministry@gmail.com; or phone Call Dianna Stover 334-799-3576, or 334 269-5726. For info on Heritage Baptist Church Faith Riderz visit www.hbcfr.com. email to dijo911@gmail.com.
CCC Chili Cook Off and Silent Auction
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Steven Curtis Chapman to Headline A Montgomery Family Christmas
Beloved Christian artist Steven Curtis Chapman will headline the 10th Anniversary celebration of “A Montgomery Family Christmas” at the Montgomery Performing Arts Centre Tuesday, December 2, 2014. This fun, family-oriented Christmas event is presented by the Baptist Health Care Foundation and benefits Baptist Hospice. Tickets for the event go on sale Monday, September 8th. Tickets for this event are $35 for theatre seating, $25 for balcony seating and groups of 10 or more will receive $5 off of each ticket purchased. Easily one of the most decorated artists in Christian music, Steven Curtis Chapman has been lauded with 57 Dove awards, five Grammy’s and a whopping 47 No. 1 singles. Despite life’s ups and downs, including celebrating 29 years of marriage and the tragic death of his youngest daughter, Maria Sue, Steven has held steadfastly to his faith. Joining Steven for this event are Brandon Heath and Jillian Edwards. With a mix of timeless Christmas songs and hit selections from their respective albums, you won’t want to miss this concert event! The Baptist Health Care Foundation is honored to present the 10th Anniversary celebration of A Montgomery Family Christmas. This event benefits Baptist Hospice – the only faith-based, not-for profit hospice in the River Region. Baptist Hospice cares for the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of patients with life-limiting illnesses. With the help of the Baptist Health Care Foundation and A Montgomery Family Christmas, Baptist Hospice is able to provide care and accept all qualified patients regardless of their ability to pay. Since the concert’s inception, the Baptist Health Care Foundation has raised more than $200,000 to assist Baptist Hospice patients and their families with hospice care and various needs. Tickets can be purchased directly through the Montgomery Performing Arts Centre box office (800-745-3000) or through Ticketmaster, ticketmaster.com. For additional information, please call the Baptist Health Care Foundation’s office at (334) 273-4565.
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!... 1
Call for FREE DVD and catalog 1-800-882-0722 Accredited by American Camping Association • Members of Christian Camping International
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Only 1 /Mountain 2 hours from Huntsville Located on top of Lookout in Mentone, AL. Only a 3 hr drive.
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Dr. Larry & Susan Hooks, Owners/Directors • Donna Bares,Asst. Director
1 & 2Week Sessions for Ages 6-16
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first I had campfires every night. Icamps felt close to God. giggled a lot is with friends and counselors. time flew by! thehorse. Southeast’s best all-around for girls,IRiverview annew oasis of fun, friends andThe happiness... I Exciting felt safe and secure. Iinclude: gained confidence in myselfPool,Tennis, through the world around me.” activities Riding, Heated Canoeing, Ropes Course, Climbing Tower,
• R OPES C OURSE • C LIMBING T OWER • O UTDOOR L IVING S KILLS • C AMPFIRE F UN • C OUNSELOR -I N -T RAINING •
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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.
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We don’t wonder anymore how it happened, that one summer could bring such happy memories.
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Thorington Road Baptist Serves the Community On September 26th, Thorington Road Baptist Church screened the movie “Mom’s Night Out” for free as a fellowship opportunity for our members and guests. On September 6th Thorington Road Baptist Church participated in the “Rally for the Galley” benefitting the Forrest Park Ministry Center’s Food Pantry. They donated over 700 canned goods and over 1000 non-perishable food items in total.
Mt. Gillard Missionary Baptist Church
Observes Men and Women’s Day
3323 Day Street, Montgomery Theme: “Godly Men and Women Walking in Unity” (Ephesians 4: 1-6)
Sunday, October 12, 2014 Sunday School 8:15 am Morning Worship 9:30 am Guest Speaker: Dr. Gwendolyn E. Boyd, 14th President of Alabama State University Colors for the day: Black and Gold Dea. Craig J. and Sis. Claire Payne, Chairs Rev. Henry M. Carnegie, Jr., Pastor
KNOW
what to do in case of
SUSPECTED CONCUSSION A concussion is an injury caused by a blow to the head in which the brain moves rapidly and may collide with the inside of the skull. Even a minor fall or collision may be of concern, so be alert to symptoms such as headaches, unsteadiness, confusion or other types of abnormal behavior. Any athlete with a suspected concussion: n Should be IMMEDIATELY REMOVED FROM PLAY/ACTIVITY n Should be urgently assessed medically n Should not be left alone n Should not drive a motor vehicle
www.ChildrensAL.org/concussion In case of medical emergency, call 911 or go directly to your local ER
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3rd Annual River Region Prayer Walk
Beauty by Fire Ministries is excited to announce the 3rd Annual River Region Prayer Walk will be held on Saturday, October 25, 2014 at the Union Station Train Shed. The purpose of this gathering is to bring together the citizens of the River Region to pray over our cities, government leaders, schools and teachers, uniformed heroes and servants, pastors and ministry leaders, businesses, and all of the people that make up the River Region. First, we will gather at the Union Station Train Shed for a praise concert and time of spiritual preparation for the walk. Next, we will walk a designated route through downtown Montgomery using guided prayer focused on the above-mentioned groups. For those who are unable to walk the route, there will be prayer stations set up under the train shed. Finally, we will conclude the prayer walk with a time of celebration and fellowship at the train shed. More info: Vicki Dendis, www.beautybyfire.org or 334-612-7894.
Community-Wide Women’s Bible Study
A Study on Ephesians at St James UMC Tuesday’s, Oct. 21-Nov.18 9:30 am or 6:30 pm *childcare available by registration only, $5 per child To register contact Sarah at solsen@sjlife. com or 277-3037.
Parenting Today’s Teens Seminar
First Baptist Church presents Mark Gregston on October 5, from 3:30-5:30 pm. Also, additional speaking times at 8:30 am, 11 am, and 6:15 pm that day. Avoid the common pitfalls of parenting teens with these techniques. Tickets are free! Register at www.montgomeryfbc.org or 834.6310.
St. Michael and All Angels Church 17th Annual Angel Fest
Saturday, October 18 * 9 a.m.-1 p.m. On The Grounds Of The Church At 5941 Main Street, Millbrook. There will be a bake sale, silent auction, vendors selling unique wares, great concessions, entertainment plus a big children’s carnival. Last but not least is the sale of our famous Boston butts! All proceeds go to the outreach ministry of our church for Millbrook, and western Elmore County.
House of Holidays
Saturday, October 4, from 8am – 1pm at FUMC Wetumpka, 306 W. Tuskeena St. Come join us for a day of shopping fun... There will be: Arts and Crafts in the Depot, Bakery, Frozen Entrees, Second time around yard sale, Plants, Toys, Children’s Corner. Lunch served for $5 a plate. Call 334-567-7865 or visit www.fumcwetumpka.com for more information. River Region’s Journey
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Matthew Smith & Indelible Grace at Trinity Presbyterian Church
On Thursday, November 13, at 7:00 p.m. Matthew Smith and Indelible Grace will be in concert in Trinity Hall at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 1728 South Hull Street, Montgomery, AL. Tickets are $5.00, and go on sale to the public October 16. Tickets may be purchased online at www.trinitypca.org/indeliblegrace or at the Trinity Christian Bookstore located on the Hull Street side of the church. All seating is General Admission. Complimentary preschool nursery is available by reservation only. Contact nursery@trinitypca.org. Matthew Smith is a Nashville-based singer-songwriter who writes heartfelt songs based on centuries-old hymn texts. He is a founding member of the Indelible Grace community, whose work is used in churches around the world, and been recorded by artists such as Jars of Clay and Caedmon’s Call. Born out of a college ministry, the re-imagined hymns connect passionate worship with the rich history of the church. 12
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Lost Debt Leads to Gained Blessings at Mary Ellen’s Hearth From the outside, it looks like your average building. But within the walls of 1226 Clay Street, God is doing some amazing things. The women living at Mary Ellen’s Hearth are being given an opportunity that many people in our society do not have. They are being given the chance to pay off existing debt with the help of some great financial advisors and mentors. “It is like we have our own financial peace program going on here,” said Debbie Dobbins, the Executive Director of Mary Ellen’s Hearth. “We are teaching the women to become more self-sufficient in hopes of making them become productive citizens in the community.” When the women first move into Mary Ellen’s Hearth, they are asked to turn in all of the bills that they owe. After they find a job and receive their first paycheck, the advisors then sit down and make a budget with the women. The ultimate goal is to help the women pay off all debt so they are able to start off on a good foot when they leave the facility.
“The importance of savings is the main thing we try and reiterate to the women,” said Dobbins. “When making budgets, we factor in everything the women may need for their day to day lives. After that money is designated, we encourage them to put the rest in savings. When the women move out, all of the money they have saved will be given back to them.” BB&T bank has also been a blessing to Mary Ellen’s Hearth. They have adapted their financial literacy class to better help the women understand banking essentials, such as setting up checking and savings accounts. Throughout the program, the women living in the facility are encouraged to set goals and work hard in order to achieve them. Four of the residents have gone above and beyond the goals they set for
themselves. In an 18 month period, these four women were able to successfully pay off over $18,000 of debt. “It has been awesome to see some of the women who have been at our facility longer take the newer women under their wing. They are teaching them some of the financial skills that they have learned along the way,” said Dobbins. It is obvious that God is hard at work within the walls of Mary Ellen’s Hearth. Not only are these women learning to better manage their money, they are also learning to act as mentors for others. Contributed by Mandy Pascal, a recent graduate of Troy University with a degree in Print Journalism.
One of the many reasons to smile...
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” Prattville Location 460 McQueen Smith Road Prattville, AL 36066 (334) 358-6411
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www.SmilesFromUs.com 13
October 2014
River Region’s Journey
Two Wind Chimes There are different kinds of wind chimes. There are different kinds of Christians. My wife and I had wanted wind chimes for years, but just never made them a priority. Then this past year we received two of them as gifts. We put the colorful one in the front yard for everyone to see. It resembles a 19th century hot air balloon, made with something that looks like red, yellow, and blue panes of curved glass. The bronze balloon basket is the circle that holds the wind chime mechanism together with tiny chains of bronze, hollow tubes of bronze, blue crystal balls and a white crystal pendant hanging from the bottom. It is
captivating. So we put it just above eye level in a tree near the front door. The other wind chime is not nearly as artsy. It hangs in our side yard over 12 feet from the ground, suspended from the stub of a tree limb. The slightest breeze sets the wooden wind flapper at the bottom swinging from side to side, bumping the fat wooden disc into the five hollow tubes that surround it. The tubes are in different lengths, tuned to the musical scale. The harmonious combination of tones reverberates with tranquility whenever the wind blows. We enjoy both instruments. Both play music. But part of their beauty is where they are placed. The plainer looking one is high in a tree, almost out of sight, where it can catch the wind and sing with the birds. The one with the jewel colors and crystal balls is admired by all who come to our front door, but is more likely to be seen than heard. If you are a child of God you have a place of ministry to or vEry those around you. No joke. You do. Not all E n E r at i o n of us have colorful ministries. We can’t all be teachers, preachers, authors, singers, Prattville First United Methodist Church or musicians. Most of 100 E. 4th Street, Prattville, AL 36067 us are just plain folks who love the Lord. TRADI TIO NAL W O RSH I P 8 : 3 0 AM & 11 : 0 0 A M We are more likely to SUNDAY SCH O O L 9 : 4 5 AM witness in the break TH E W ELL 11 : 0 0 AM room at work or the school cafeteria than from a lighted stage in an auditorium. That’s okay. There is a place www.prattvillemethodist.org for each of us.
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Those who serve in front of many people receive a kind of recognition from their audience that can give them energy and encouragement in their Christian journey. But what about those who work behind the curtains, or in the kitchen, or in the nursery? What is their motivation to continue serving year after year? Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians (4:11-12) offers some thoughts on that. “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” That’s right. Your daily life could win the respect of others and give you an audience that may never see the inside of a church or listen to Christian radio. You don’t have to have a best seller, website, or a blog. You just have to catch the wind of the Holy Spirit and let it move you to be the Lord’s wind chime wherever you are. Paul wrote an explanation in his letter to the Ephesians (5:18-19): “Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Maybe you don’t feel like making music right now. Maybe you just feel overwhelmed by the nuisances of life and the responsibilities of your home or your job. Know what? Wind chimes do not make music when everything is calm. They ring the loudest in turbulent weather. In fact, the chimes always tell me when it is going to rain. Does it look like rain in your circumstances right now? Do you feel like you are just bumping into one obstacle after another? Turn it over to the Lord in prayer, stay in his word, and be willing to sing to Him in your heart. He will make music of the madness, even when you feel left out on a limb.
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October 2014
River Region’s Journey
4/21/14 10:43 AM
wi thi eve yo mo nee abo abo be me mo tal yo her the com sha
1.
“Mom, I’m pregnant.”
This is real life and your teenager is or will be dealing with these issues very soon. The question you have to ask yourself is -- When is it time to talk about sex?
I think this may be at the core of what every parent of a teenager is secretly hiding in their heart. It’s the fear that one day their son or daughter may make that one mistake that will change the course of the entire future. On the outside this fear is often masked. We have to appear we have it all together, right? Our children would never do something that bad. Yes, they are human, and we all make mistakes, but we are a Christian family and they have been taught to do the right thing. It will be okay. Unfortunately, this scenario may be all too common in the church. And if you find yourself reading this and it sounds a little too familiar, it’s okay. It’s okay to feel this way. But don’t stop reading, because it’s also not okay. I want to challenge you as a parent to tackle the issue of sexual purity head on, face to face with your student, and be willing to discuss any topic that they need to know about. Sex before marriage. Pornography. Homosexuality. How far is too far? What happens if I am pregnant? River Region’s Journey
October 2014
It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 Over the past 15 years in student ministry the majority of parents I speak to get a bit squeamish with the idea of discussing sexuality with their son or daughter. It’s not a comfortable subject. Our culture and society have created this notion that discussing sex with our children is just too awkward. We don’t know what to say, and if we tried, we may say the wrong thing. And boy we don’t want to mess this up. “I’ll let the professionals handle this.” And that’s where we go wrong. I want you to know right now that as a parent of a teenager, you are the most qualified person to discuss the topic of sex 16
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of my life who have invested countless hours helping me live more like Jesus.
3. Create standards that prevent them from falling into temptation. I may be a bit conserva-
tive in this area, but it’s only because I know how I am wired. 1 Corinthians 6:18 says, “Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.” Are students more likely to fall into temptation if they are alone in their bedroom with their boyfriend/girlfriend? I say yes. It’s a no brainer. Don’t allow the notion of being alone with each other to even be considered. Ultimately, the hope is through the many talks you have had with your student that you have nurtured the desire to live pure and they would understand that making wise choices may not always be what they physically desire. And until that desire to live pure comes naturally, keep those standards high and hold to it. You may not be the most liked parent, but you know what’s best for your student.
4. Set high expectations, but have a heart of forgiveness. With
all that is said so far, don’t forget that your student is human and will sin. I have a son and a daughter and it would be one of the best moments of my life to see my son and daughter at the altar on their wedding day making a commitment to their future spouse knowing that they did not fall into sexual temptation. To know that they have saved themselves for their spouse would be the best gift I could receive as a parent. However, I also want to have a heart that forgives if they do fall into temptation. I need them to know that I will be there no matter what. Whatever the issue may be, we can work through it together.
5. Challenge your student to take a vow of sexual purity.
Hold them accountable. Put their faith in action. Every year in the fall we challenge our student ministry to take a vow of sexual purity over the course of a weekend called Covenant. Within that weekend students are led in worship, taught on what the Bible has to say
about living sexually pure, and have a chance to share their thoughts in a small group setting. At the end of the weekend we have a special Purity Covenant Ceremony where these students have the ability to stand in front of their family, friends, and church to take the vow to live sexually pure for one year. In fact, our next Covenant begins at the end of this month (it’s October 31-November 1). All sixth through twelfth grade students can attend. You can find more information and register online at CraveChrist.org. I hope that you are encouraged, challenged, and ready to take on the topic of sexuality with your student. Look at it as a celebration -- you get to be a part of this crazy journey of parenting a teenager! If you need any help in this area, any advice, or just a listening ear, don’t hesitate to contact me. I am praying for you and hope that the days ahead are filled with an open dialog between you and your student. Bryan Levangie, Crave Student Ministry | Frazer Memorial UMC. You may reach Bryan at bryan. levangie@frazerumc.org.
tha ap me it’s wi be refl mu “G Wo “b an thi him sec the no
to of liv an W Fo the ha Ch int af are tio tre no im sag by sen Ou River Region’s Journey
October 2014
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Jesus as Genius? In last month’s column, I pointed out that Jesus is rarely thought of today as a particularly intelligent person. I don’t mean that we think he’s foolish, of course; it’s just that people—both within and without the church—often think of Jesus being nice rather than smart. A moment’s reflection is sufficient to show that this must be a mistake. Jesus is Immanuel, “God with us.” He is the divine Logos, the Word, who was and is and ever will be; “by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible… all things were created through him and for him” (Col. 1:16). Jesus is the incarnate second person of the divine Trinity, God the Son. Jesus must be brilliant. He could not be otherwise. Why, then, are so many of us so prone to overlook this fact? Why don’t we think of Jesus as the smartest man who ever lived? A recently deceased pastor, author, and philosophy professor named Dallas Willard suggested the following answer. For the last five hundred years, ever since the Reformation, pretty much everyone has assumed that the central question of Christian theology is this: how can we get into heaven when we die? Now, this is a fantastically important question. If we are, in fact, immortal beings, then questions about what happens after death have tremendous significance. Neither Willard nor I would ever want to minimize how important this aspect of the gospel message is. Eternal life in Christ is available by grace, through faith, thanks (in every sense of the word!) to the atoning work of Our Lord on Calvary. But when the gospel
message is presented as being about life after death and nothing else, we miss quite a bit. Here’s an interesting experiment: try reading through the New Testament, especially the Gospels, while setting aside what you already know about salvation. Try to read those familiar words through fresh eyes, and ask yourself, “What is the main message these authors are trying to convey?” If I may be so bold, I suspect that you will not conclude that the authors are— above all else—trying to explain how you can make sure that you eventually go to heaven rather than hell. Life after death is part of the story, and a very important part at that. But it’s not the whole thing. In the Gospels, Jesus invites those who will follow him into a new way of life. He offers the people of first-century Palestine an opportunity to live as citizens of the Kingdom of God, to live under the “now but not yet” reign of the Lord Jesus Christ—and he makes the same offer to us, today, in central Alabama in the year 2014. Now consider this. If the One who makes this offer is also the most brilliant person who ever lived, what might we infer about the nature of that offer? If Jesus extends to us 19
a new way of life, ought we not assume that he knows what he is talking about? Ought we not assume that “the Jesus way” to live is also the best way to live? American Christians are accustomed to thinking of Jesus as our savior and lord. Thanks be to God, he is both of those things. Let us not forget that he is also, or can be, our teacher. Obedience to his commands is right, so we must obey. But obedience to his commands is also wise; it’s the smart thing to do. He offers us the “life which is life indeed” (1 Tim. 6:19)—let’s not wait until we’re dead to take him up on it.
October 2014
River Region’s Journey
Are You Living a Messy (Me’si) Life? John 16:33: “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” In late August, I made an eye-opening trip to Haiti. It was a work mission trip to find land where my church, Frazer UMC, will help build a mission village offering families a place to stay and enjoy Haiti while reaching out and sharing God’s love through mission work. We accomplished our goal while God certainly accomplished His. As my eyes fell on the poverty in the streets surrounding the airport in Port Au Prince, and really as far as I could see, I thought, “Nothing can fix this.” And to be quite honest I also thought, “What are we doing here, thinking we can invest a substantial amount of money and change all of this?” Trust me, God answered all of those questions and revealed in more ways than one that He is the “fixer” of all things and the results are not in our hands, but His. Even though there is poverty as far as the eye can see, there is also tremendous beauty in Haiti—not only in the lush landscape and deep blue water, but also in the people. They live a messy life in the eyes of the world, but a truly me’si life in the eyes of God. Me’si is the one creole word I came back with from Haiti. It means “thanks” or “thank you.” I said it many times while I was there, and heard it said back to me more times than I could count. I saw it lived out in worship during a concert in Haiti’s National Soccer Stadium with Chris Tomlin on stage. There were thousands of Haitians worshiping with hands in the air singing every word in English—“Greater things are yet to come to this city…” and “How Great is our River Region’s Journey
October 2014
God!” — all while many of them knowing they would have nothing to eat that very night. I saw the word “me’si” in the eyes of the children living in orphanages, many experiencing what love truly means for the first time. And the very day I arrived home from Haiti my daily devotional in “Jesus Calling” began with, “Trust me in the midst of a messy day.” Okay, I hear you God. Yes life is messy, yes we have many trials and sorrows, “but take heart, because I have overcome the world.” So have a me’si heart in the midst of a messy life. Philippians 4:12: “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” The people of Haiti have so little and yet many of them have hearts filled with peace. On the outside it’s a mess in our eyes, on the inside complete order. Not for all of course and that’s part of why the work must continue. Voodoo worship is widespread and for many Haitians, it’s all they’ve known. They spend all they have on honoring the dead because they’ve been taught if they don’t, the dead will come back to haunt them. They don’t know how to truly love as a family so they often turn children into slaves. So throughout Haiti, you find what I like to call pockets of hope. Ministries where people are committed to doing the work 20
before them today, while leaving the results to God. This is not a place for the average believer. Unless God chooses to move in a mighty way tomorrow—it’s safe to say we won’t see the results of a changed culture in our lifetime, nor will my daughter or her children, but we do the work because we are the hands and feet of Christ. On my flight home, I met a man from Port Au Prince, a doctor who had returned home for the funeral of a friend. He lives in Philadelphia now and I asked if he ever wanted to live in Haiti again. His answer was an immediate, “Oh yes, I want to give back, that has been my plan all along, to go back and help my people.” He made his way out of what we would call a messy situation and now he wants to say “me’si” to those he calls family, to a land he calls home. When what is before you looks overwhelming, as if you can’t make a difference, thank God for allowing you to do His work and trust the results are in His hands. Dear God, we love you so. You are the great I Am, you are Sovereign and, yes, you have overcome the world. Thank you for allowing and equipping us to be your hands and feet. May we do the work before us each day, allowing you to move in a mighty way, and trusting the end result comes only in your timing. We need your strength and vision for every new day you allow us to live. In the name of your precious son, our mighty savior, we pray, Amen.
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Sunday Morning Worship Services 8:45 & 11 am Chapel Service & Holy Communion Wednesdays | 5:30 pm View live stream of Sunday services at www.fumcmontgomery.org/livestream Dr. R. Lawson Bryan | Senior Minister
2416 W. Cloverdale Park Montgomery, AL 36106 334.834.8990 fumcmontgomery.org
Join us in September for our 185th Anniversary celebration! 21
October 2014
River Region’s Journey
Q. My husband and I have been living on a budget for a few months, and for some reason there seems to be leaks in our budget. It’s just a few dollars here and there, but added together it makes a huge dent. Can you give us some advice? A. This kind of thing happens
a lot in household budgeting, especially to folks who are new to the game. Here are some ideas to help stretch your dollars and plug those leaks. Use the cash-only method, especially when shopping for groceries. Take only the amount you have budgeted, and don’t use your debit card or a check. Also, use coupons only for items you would buy anyway. In addition, you can stock up on items you use often when there is a big sale. These little things will add up. Try eating out only on special occasions, drink water as your beverage and don’t be afraid to use coupons in restaurants, either. When it comes to buying clothes, make a habit of checking out the sale rack first. You
can shop at thrift and consignment stores, and sell the clothes you don’t wear anymore. With entertainment, use dollar-off and buy-one-get-one-free coupons whenever you can. See a matinee or a secondrun movie, and if you’re going somewhere with a bunch of people, call ahead and ask for a group discount. You’ll be amazed at how much money these tactics will save!
Q. Is it possible to settle the debt on a student loan?
A. Sallie Mae student loans, or
federally insured student loans, are insured by the government. Translation, the bank is going to still get paid 100 percent by the taxpayers, because the government is guaranteeing the loan. They have no reason to settle with you. They’re not going to settle with you on the principal amount or the interest. You might be able to talk them down on the collection fees. They jack those way up. But the original amount you borrow, plus the actual interest that hasn’t been paid, is guaranteed
by the government. They’ll get it from one of you!
Q. I have a 5-year-old daughter, and I want
to start a 529 for her. However, I’m concerned that the government might seize the 529 assets in order to pay off debt and give people treasury bonds instead. Do you think this might happen?
A. I think there’s less than a one percent
chance they’d seize the actual assets. Really, I don’t believe they’re any more likely to come take investments away than they are to come take your home. I mean, we’re really talking about private property here. If you have $100,000 in a retirement fund, and they say they’re going to take that away from you, it’s like taking a person’s home. I just don’t see that happening. The big question, I think, is this: Are they likely to take away some of the tax benefits — like the 529 plan’s ability to grow tax-free? As in, they just come in and say they’re making it all taxable to pay the bills they’ve accumulated up in Washington, D.C. from all their stupid behavior. That kind of thing actually could happen.
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My an Am I fo He Se ch po in be River Region’s Journey
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RRJ: How did your faith guide and support you throughout your transition from Korea to America?
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God has dramatically transformed my soul throughout my transition from Korea. I wished to be a dentist since I was young and I worked very hard to achieve the dream. I believe that it was an ambition oriented more to worldly success. Graduating from one of the most competitive dental schools in South Korea made me feel successful. But despite this achievement, I wondered of the purpose of living and the true definition of living a meaningful life. Through the people I’ve met in America, God opened my eyes to see what success really is. Some of the Christian dentists I’ve worked with had a genuine desire to help others. This changed my purpose of being a dentist. I watched them volunteer to help the homeless and those in need. I witnessed how they treated their patients with God’s love, and I saw the impact they made on their patient’s lives. God made me realize what kind of dentist I wanted to be. He changed my perspective on life and steered my career into a new direction.
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RRJ: Dr. Kim, thank you for taking the time to share your “Faith @ Work” story with our readers. To begin, please tell us how you came to believe in God and His plan of redemption through Christ. Although I was born in a family with very strong Christian faith, my belief in Christ did not happen overnight. Through attending worship services and participating in Bible study groups, God gradually taught me to grow stronger in Him. RRJ: After growing up in Korea, what led you to America? My husband was a musician (violinist) and he wanted to study church music in America to glorify God through his talent. I followed him to support and to help him. He studied at Southwestern Theological Seminary in Texas and received a Ph.D. in church music. God also gave me the opportunity to study at Baylor Dental School in Texas to equip and to train me to be a better dentist.
RRJ: You already had a growing dental practice in New York and New Jersey. Why did you decide to relocate to the River Region? There were two main reasons that helped me make this decision. First, before my family moved to New Jersey, we lived in a Southern state, Texas. We loved the people and Christians living in the Bible Belt. When we moved to the New York and New Jersey area, everything was different. We missed the Southern courtesy and Christian culture. We also wanted to grow our children in this loving environment. Secondly, I heard that there were many Korean people in the River Region and the population was growing fast. Most Koreans, who are more comfortable speaking in their native language, had to travel all the way to Atlanta to see a dentist who shared a common tongue. I thought it would be very convenient and helpful for these people if there was a Korean speaking dentist in this area. RRJ: God called you to serve Him and be an ambassador in the dental field. What are some specific ways you honor God through your business? 23
I believe all Christian are called as missionaries and where they are standing is the mission field. Dentistry is God’s calling to me and E-Dental is my mission field. God has given me the tool of dentistry to use for glorifying and honoring His name. I always try to understand what God would want me to do when I have to make a decision in my practice. Honesty is the principle in my practice. Also, E-Dental has a discount plan for non-insured or low income patients and a special discount for missionaries and pastors. RRJ: Being a part of the body of believers, the Church, is so important for growing in your faith and being supported by your Christian brothers and sisters. When you came to the River Region was it easy to connect with other Christians? Yes it was, because I was lucky to meet a church member, Dr. Howell, and his wife Kay, at Vaughn Forest Church. They helped me connect with so many Christian dentists and dental lab technicians in this area. It was a huge help for me to build the new practice here. Also, Pastor Shim, the Associate Korean Pastor at Vaughn Forest Church warmly welcomed and introduced my family to many other Korean brothers and sisters. RRJ: Are the Christians you’ve connected with mainly Korean? Because we attend a diverse church, we have been able to connect with many Christians, rather than only Koreans. RRJ: Finally, living out your faith full time takes daily dependence on God and much effort through His Spirit working in and through you. What are some of the ways this happens in your life? The longer I live, the more I get to realize how weak and incapable I am. I need to depend on God every single moment through prayer. In the morning, all my staff members and I gather together and start our day with prayer. I always pray before starting a dental procedure. I think prayer is a wonderful privilege for us to feel His presence and His best gift to us. God always teaches me and helps me grow in faith through Bible reading and fellowship with other Christians. October 2014
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Fall Festival at Alabama Christian Academy Thursday, November 6th, tentatively from 3:00-6:00 p.m. Inflatables, Pony rides, games and more. They will have a silent auction and Country Kitchen, chili cook off and photo booth. Each class sponsors games for children of all ages. Concessions will be available. Admission is $5. Please call 277.1985 ext. 221 for more information. Fall Festival Aldersgate UMC Friday, October 31, 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. 6610 Vaughn Road Trunk or Treat, games, prizes, crafts, hayride, inflatables. A fun-filled family night open to everyone free of charge. Call 272.6152. Fall Revival at Capital City Church of the Nazarene October 5-8 4450 Vaughn Road Rev. Philip Kimberling is the guest speaker. Music by Steve And Teresa Johnson. Dates and times are as follows: Sunday, Oct. 5 at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. For more information please call 272.8176. Camellia Baptist Church Friday, October 31st from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. 201 Woodvale Rd, Prattville Lots of games, food, candy and a life-changing message. Free admission. Games for ages preschool – 6. No scary costumes. Bring your family and friends. Call 365.0755. Christ Community Church Fall Festival October 26, Times to be announced 8285 Ryan Rd., 273.8110 Join us as we come together to enjoy some great food, fun, and fellowship at our annual fall River Region’s Journey
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festival. There will be games, a cakewalk, and sure to be plenty of candy! Free and open to the entire public. Kids are welcome to dress up, if they would like. No scary costumes, please. Halloween Carnival at Camp Chandler Saturday, October 18, 5-8 p.m. Camp Chandler is located just off U.S. 231 North in Wetumpka on Lake Jordan. Hayrides, carnival games, trick or treating and cake walk will all be part of the fun. Cost is $5 per child. Parents free. Proceeds go to the camper scholarship fund. Hot dogs, hamburgers, cotton candy and drinks available for purchase. For more information, call 269.4362, ext. 241 or 252. Visit www.campchandler.org. Annual Family Fall Festival Dalraida Baptist Church Sunday, October 26, 5:00 until 7:30 p.m. 3838 Wares Ferry Road Games, Prizes, Food, Hayride, Inflatables and More! Please Call 272.2412. Fall Festival at Dalraida UMC Sunday, October 26, 6:00 until 7:30 p.m.. 3817 Atlanta Highway Games, food, prizes, costume contest and other surprises. Please Call 272.2190. Family Fun Fall Festival East Memorial Baptist Church Friday, October 31st, 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. 1320 Old Ridge Road, Prattville, AL Games, Candy, Balloon Animals, and all sorts of fun for the whole family! FREE! For info call 334.365.7500 or visit www.eastmemorial.org.
Fall Festival First Baptist Church Prattville Thursday, October 30, 5:00-7:00 p.m. 24
Preschool-6th Grade 138 South Washington Street Games, Rides and Prizes! Free admission, popcorn and cotton candy! For more information visit fbcprattville.org or call 365-0606.
First Baptist Church Fall Family Festival
305 South Perry Street Sunday, October 26, 4:00-6:00 p.m. Perry Street Lot FREE! Games, Fun and prizes. For more information, call 834.6310.
Pumpkinfest at First UMC, Montgomery
Sunday, October 26, 3:30 p.m. until 5:00 2416 W. Cloverdale Park For children of all ages - Front lawn of the church. Fun, games, horse-drawn hayride, moonwalk, refreshments and more! Happy costumes are welcome! Come join the fun! In the event of rain, the Pumpkinfest will be moved indoors. For children age toddler through 3rd grade! Call 834.8990. Also, FUMC Fall Bazaar 2014 Wednesday, October 8th from 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. The Fall Bazaar will offer heavenly baked goodies, delicious frozen casseroles and soups, preloved children’s clothing, and a gift shop with items for every occasion. Please call 834.8990 for more information. Tickets can be purchased for $10 by calling the church. Fall Barbeque at FUMC October 8 from 4:45 – 6:45 p.m., First United Methodist Church, Montgomery. Fun for the whole family! A real picnic with great barbeque and all the fixins. Jazz music, Pony rides, rock wall, dunking booth and moonwalks for the kids. Bring family and friends for food, fun and fellowship! For more information call 834.8990.
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First UMC Wetumpka Fall Festival Sunday, October 26, 4:30 p.m.until 6:30 p.m. 306 W. Tuskeena Street Contest, games, concessions, inflatables, cake walk, dunking booth and treats for all ages. Parents are encouraged to attend with child. Call 567.7865, visit www.fumcwetumpka.com.
Fall Family Festival Gateway Baptist Church
Friday, October 31st, Please call for time. 3300 Bell Road Free admission. Popcorn, Cotton candy, snow cones, Games and Trunk or treat. Little bit of something for everyone. Call 272.9494 for more information. Fall Festival at Heritage Baptist Church November 1 from 11 a.m. until 1p.m. 1849 Perry Hill Road Inflatables, Trunk A Treat, Music & More Free Admission; Concessions Available Call 279.9976. Trunk or Treat Mulder United Methodist Church Thursday, October 30, 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. 3454 Firetower Road, Wetumpka Fun for the whole family. There will be inflatables, games, trunks of treats, hayrides, face painting, Live music and more. No scary costumes please. For more info call 567.4225.
Annual Fall Festival at The New Testament Christian Center 10300 Highway 80 East (next to Jenkins Brick Company and Buck Masters) Saturday, October 25 at 2 p.m. We will have Hay Rides, Games, Food, Inflatables, a Potato Pie Contest and much more. For more information, please call 215.7215 or call Ms. McCall at 717.9009.
Fall Festival at Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist October 19, 6 p.m. 1436 East Washington Street Family fun: We welcome the entire family to come and enjoy the fun. Call 265.1807.
Fall Festival at Ridgecrest Baptist Church Sunday, October 26 from 5 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. 5260 Vaughn Rd There will be food, fun and candy with a Trunk or Treat. Activities will be both inside and out. For more info call 277.0011.
Trunk or Treat at Saint James UMC
Sunday, October 26, 5 to 6:30 p.m. 9045 Vaughn Road Parking lot at back of church. Hayride, inflatables, games, candy, Nancy’s Italian Ice and much more! Wear your costume but please nothing scary. For more info, call Jennifer at 277.3037.
Angel Fest Arts & Crafts Festival St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church Saturday, October 18, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 5941 Main Street in Millbrook, AL Located just south of Hwy. 14 on Main Street at Robinson Springs. We are celebrating 17 years of Angel Fest with a bake sale, silent auction, children’s carnival, great concessions, entertainment, and loads of vendors selling unique wares, and the sale of the best cooked Boston Butts in the River Region. Family fun, no admission charged. Come out and help us celebrate Angel Fest. All proceeds go the outreach program of the church! Contact the church at 285.3905. Taylor Road Treats the Town Taylor Road Baptist Church Friday, October 31st, Gates open at 6 1685 Taylor Road FREE FOOD: Hot dogs, drinks, popcorn, peanuts, cookies, candy, plus games, Treat Street, Hayrides, family pictures. Family Atmosphere. NO scary costumes please. Call 271.3363. . Fall Festival Thorington Road Baptist Church Sunday, October 12th, 3p.m. – 5 p.m. 450 Ray Thorington Road Come join us for inflatables, games, and fun for the entire family. Free! Rain or shine! Call 396.9376.
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October 2014
River Region’s Journey
Little is Much When God is in It! Do you remember this popular 1970s and 80s hymn written by Kittie L. Suffield? The chorus says, “Little is much when God is in it! Labor not for wealth or fame; There’s a crown, and you can win it, If you go in Jesus’ name.” There are many great examples in Scripture of God taking something small, unlikely to impress, something that seems pitiful or hopeless, and making it into something redemptive, something “much,” as the song says. One example occurs in John 6:513 when Jesus used what one youth minister called a “first century lunchable” to feed over 5,000 people. Jesus told the disciples to feed a large crowd. They had no idea how they were going to complete this task because there was nowhere to buy food. Don’t you imagine that there were many people in the crowd that day that had packed something, even a little snack, to eat? Surely all of these people – 5,000 men plus women and children – would not leave home without some kind of provision. But, the Bible doesn’t give us those details. However, Jesus chooses to focus on one boy, with his meager sustenance, who offered what he had. River Region’s Journey
October 2014
It almost seems comical at first glance. Five loaves and two fish to feed a crowd of that size? Yeah right! Even Andrew picked up on the absurdity of it. But Jesus uses the opportunity to show his disciples that with a little, God can do a lot. The miracle isn’t just that Jesus turned a snack into a meal for thousands. Something important happens within the boy and he becomes part of the miracle. He took ownership of his little lunch, and he offered it to Jesus to use without looking at what others might have brought – steak? caviar? –and comparing it to his. He didn’t sit in silence or embarrassment wishing he had something else in his lunchbox. All he had was his five loaves and two fish. And through accepting it, he could offer it to God and to others. Look at the lasting effect! We are still reading the story a couple thousand years later. It took great courage and faith for the boy to offer what he had, little though it was, to Jesus. Jesus could have fed the crowd without the boy. He could have spoken and food would have appeared. But the beauty is that he did not. He chose to use the boy and his disciples. God still works with what we have to offer to him in the same way. Many of us feel we have nothing to offer to others and most certainly not to God. We look at our lives and all we see is “stinky fish and crusty bread” – our mistakes, past failures, situations and relationships we wish we had handled differently, sins we have both committed and been victims of, and the guilt and shame from those experiences. Often, we wish we had a different life, a different story, and different 26
things in our “lunchboxes.” Sometimes our lunchboxes contain items we wish we did not have, and sometimes we feel like God forgot to pack an item we think we need. But God promises to give us all that we need for today – “our daily bread” in The Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:11. As we begin to grow, learn to be honest about our own personal stories and accept them as they are, we can offer them up and give them away. The challenge is to own our lives and our stories and trust God. One of my favorite authors, Brené Brown, says, “If we can own our story, we can rewrite the ending.” What parts of your life are fragmented? What parts are you refusing to own because of the hurt and shame associated with them? Like the young man, if we own what is ours, then God will gladly take that as our offering to Him and He can do “much” with it. I encourage you to own these parts of yourself and to offer them to God so that He can rewrite the rest of your story. Christy Holding, LPC is a long time resident of Montgomery. She is a graduate of Trinity Presbyterian School. She received her undergraduate degree at Liberty University in 1976 and obtained her master’s degree in Counseling from Georgia State University in 1984. She graduated a BS in nursing in 1996 and has worked in hospice dealing with grief and loss. Christy’s practice at The Samaritan Counseling Center is primarily with those struggling with depression, anxiety disorders, and selfharming behaviors including eating disorders. Christy has a passion to see people walk in wholeness and freedom and experience the life they were created to live. Christy has a large extended family in the area and one son, Benjamin, who is a recent graduate of t Auburn University. She considers herself blessed with a supportive family, great friends, a sweet dog, funny horse and a wonderful church family at ChristChurch. **Marty Cooper also contributed. She is a wife and mom living in Montgomery. She is a native Mississippian, freelance writer, editor and dog lover.
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October 2014
River Region’s Journey
Adoption
Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy and Glynwood Baptist Church, Prattville APAC- Alabama Pre/Post Adoption Connection Support Group provides education and social interaction for adoptive families. Montgomery Group meets 3rd Thursdays, 6-7:30 p.m., Room 8114 at Frazer UMC. For information, call Hannah Taylor at 409-9477 or the church office at 272-8622. Autauga/Elmore Group meets 4th Tuesdays, 6-7:30 p.m., Glynwood Baptist Church, Prattville. Childcare, children’s group and dinner provided. For more info, call 409-9477 or e-mail htaylor@childrensaid.org. Location: Landmark Church, 1800 Halcyon Blvd. Leaders: Chad & Betsy Emerson (334) 201-5241 Wednesday, 6:30pm in Rm. 116. The Orphan Care Group will focus on God’s call to help orphans through adoption, foster care, and missions work. The group will share experiences, study and Biblical themes regarding orphan care, and provide a support and network for individuals who want to support orphans.
Alcoholic / Addict
Location: Caring Center of FBC, 52 Adams Avenue CrossRoads Support Group is for addicts/alcoholics and family members. Meets at 6 p.m. Tuesdays and follows a Christ-centered 12-step program. Call 264-4949. Location: Cloverdale Baptist, 608 E. Fairview Celebrate Recovery, a Bible-based Christ centered approach to recovery from hurts, habits and hang-ups, meets Friday nights, beginning with dinner at 5:30 p.m., Praise and worship, 6:30, Open Share Small Groups, 7:30, and Cafe, at 8:30. Call 265-9223. Location: Dalraida UMC, 3817 Atlanta Highway Alcoholics Anonymous meets at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays. 272.2190. Alanon meets at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. Location: First Baptist Church (Huff Community Ministries Bldg., 200 S. Perry Street) Celebrate Recovery, a Bible-based Christ centered approach to recovery from hurts, habits and hang-ups, meets Friday nights, from 5:30 p.m.- 8 p.m. For more information, contact Jane Ferguson at 241.5141. Location: Grace @ Bell Road, Corner of Bell Road and Atlanta Hwy. Alcoholics Anonymous and Alanon meetings are held Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, at 6 p.m. An Open AA Speaker meeting is held on Saturday at 6 p.m. An Alanon & AA held on Sundays at 2 p.m. Location: Grace at Bell Road, 5 Bell Rd, Montgomery, Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA) is open to all struggling with addictive sexual behavior. If you believe you have a problem with sex addiction (or are wondering if you might) and you want to change your behavior, we recommend you visit our group. For more resources on sex addiction, please visit https://saa-recovery.org/. For more local information, please contact – MontgomerySAA@outlook.com. Every Sunday night - 7:45 p.m. Men only.
River Region’s Journey
October 2014
Loc Div 101 Location: Grace Point Community Church, 78223 Tallassee Hwy (Hwy 14), Wetumpka Celebrate Recovery- every Tuesday night- 6:15pm. All are welcome! These meetings are a safe and loving environment for individuals seeking to conquer their hurts, habits and hang-ups! gracepoint.info. Location: Journey Church, group meets in Fellowship Hall at Coosada Baptist Church, Millbrook Celebrate Recovery - Christ-centered 12-step for anyone struggling with addiction or life-challenging issues. Mondays at 5:30pm (meal), 6pm (large group), 7pm (small group). Childcare available. Call Larry at 334-832-5714 or visit myjourneychurch.com. Location: Landmark Church, 1800 Halcyon Blvd. RSVPThis is a 12 step spiritual recovery program for overcoming addictions. Using the steps and Bible we help build self-esteem, responsible behavior, the making of amends for our destructive actions, and to fill the void in our hearts in a loving relationship with God. Wednesday @ 6:30pm in Rm. 121 of the Life Center. Location: Prattville Church of Christ, 344 East Main St. RSVP - 12 step (Christians Against Substance Abuse-CASA) spiritual recovery program, for overcoming addictions. Class begins each Wednesday evening @6:30 PM. Please call 334365-4201 for addition information. Location: Santuck Baptist Church, 7250 Central Plank Rd. (Hwy 9), Wetumpka. Celebrate Recovery meets each Thursday evening at 6:15 in the Fellowship Hall. This is a Chrsit centered 12 step-program for anyone struggling with hurts, habits, and hang-ups. Call 567-2364. Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA) is open to all struggling with addictive sexual behavior. If you believe you have a problem with sex addiction (or are wondering if you might) and you want to change your behavior, we recommend you visit our group. For locations, please visit- https://saa-recovery.org/ or please contact – MontgomerySAA@outlook.com. Meetings are held: every Sunday night - 7:45 p.m, men only. Every Monday night - 7:30 p.m, men and women. Location: St. James UMC, 9045 Vaughn Road Celebrate Recovery meets every Thursday night from 6-8 pm in the Youth Room. This is a Christ-centered 12-step group for anyone struggling with an “addiction or lifechallenging issues.” For information, call Chris Henderson at 334-215-0427. Location: Trinity Episcopal, Wetumpka (Across from Winn Dixie on HWY 231) Gamblers Anonymous-Saturdays at 7 p.m. Location: Victory Temple Church (located behind Wetumpka Walmart) ‘Fresh Start’ Recovery meets every Monday, 6-8pm (meal included). In 2011, Fresh Start Motorcycle Ministry (FSMM) began when God laid it on the heart of a lifetime biker to minister to those with his background. All are welcome, not a requirement to own/ride a motorcycle. Format used is the Holy Bible. For any info contact ministry leader, Paul Henderson, 334-201-5428.
Alzheimer’s / Dementia
Location: First UMC, 2416 W. Cloverdale Park, Wesley Hall Bldg. An Adult Parkinson/Alzheimer’s respite ministry meets
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from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Lunch is served. Contact Daphne Johnston at 834-8990. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy An Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregivers’ Support Group meets on the first Thursday of each month at 11 a.m. in Room 3103. Call 272.8622. 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.
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Location: Memorial Presbyterian, 2130 Bell Road A Dementia Morning Out for caregivers is offered each Tuesday from 8:45-noon. There is no charge. Each participant may bring a sack lunch (juice provided). Registration is required by calling 274-1018.
Cancer
Location: Aldersgate UMC, 6610 Vaughn Rd, Montgomery Cancer Survivors Support Group is sponsored by Samaritan Counseling Center. We would love to have anyone (patient or family member ) join us. Thursdays at 1 pm. Please call before attending just to make sure we are meeting that week. Please call Debbie D at 467-4578 or Ben W at 202-1912. Location: Dalraida Baptist, 3838 Wares Ferry Road. Just for Men -- Faith based cancer support group for men. Meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. in the conference center. Please call 272-2412 email stan.hurst@knology.net. Location: ChristChurch, 8800 Vaughn Road Cancer Support Group for general cancer. Tuesday afternoons at 1 pm. For more info, please call Christy Holding at 531-1390 or Debbie at 467-4578. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy. Women of Hope Breast Cancer Support Group, providing education, awareness, and mentoring for breast cancer patients/survivors, family, and friends, meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in Rm 8253. Call 272-8622 or womenofhope@charter.net. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy. The Central Alabama Multiple Myeloma Support Group meets from 10 a.m. to noon the second Saturday of every month in Room 3105. We have guest speakers, video presentations, printed information and a group that welcomes sharing their journey with myeloma in an informal setting. Refreshments are provided. For more information, contact Lorenzo and Elaine Duncan at 334-281-8158, or by email at duncan6563@gmail.com.
Depression
Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy A Depression/Bipolar Support Group meets on the 1st Thursday of each month from 7:00-8:30pm in Room 3101. This group also meets on the 3rd Saturday afternoon, 12-2 pm, Dalraida UMC, 3817 Atlanta Highway in Church Annex. For more info, call 334.652.1431 or email dbsamontgomery@yahoo.com.
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Divorce
Location: First Baptist Church, 305 S. Perry Street Divorce Care is held Wednesdays, 6:30-8 pm. Childcare available. $15 for workbook. Dinner at 4:45 ($5 adults, $3 kids). Call Kathy Cooper at 241-5125. Location: First UMC, 100 E. Fourth Street, Prattville Divorce Recovery meets Wednesdays at 6:15 p.m., Bldg. 101. Call 365.5977.
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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. Location: The Special Grind, Pratt’s Mill Shopping Strip, 2096 Highway 14 DivorceCare, Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. For more information, dates and time changes visit www.fbcprattville.org and click the DivorceCare link.
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Gambling
Location: Trinity Episcopal Church, 5375 US HWY 231 (Across from the Winn-Dixie shopping center) Wetumpka. Saturdays @ 7pm. 334-5677534
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Location: Mental Health Association, 1116 South Hull Street, Montgomery. Sundays @ 5 pm.
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Location: St Paul’s Lutheran Church, 4475 Atlanta Hwy, Mondays @ 6pm. Gamblers Anonymous Hotline number: 334-541-5420
Grief
Location: Eastmont Baptist, 4505 Atlanta Hwy. Compassionate Friends is a national self-help support organization for families grieving the death of a child meeting first Tuesdays at 7 pm. We have an annual special event on Tuesday, Dec. 4. We will hold a Candlelight Ceremony in memory of our children at 7 p.m. at Eastmont Baptist Church. Registration is encouraged and may be made by calling (334) 284-2721. We will also collect Toys for Tots. Location: First UMC, 100 E. Fourth St, Prattville Grief Recovery, Thursday nights at 7 p.m., in Wesley Hall Room 104. Call 365.5977. Location: Frazer UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Grief Recovery Support Group meets Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m., Rm 3105, in Fellowship Hall Lobby. 272.8622. Location: Grace Baptist Church, 304 Old Montgomery Highway, Wetumpka Mourning to Morning is a Christian growth group for mothers who have lost a child, from before birth through adulthood. Meets the last Thursday night of each month. For more information, contact Alice Scarborough (334) 462-4775 or Gwen Ellis (334) 567-8754 or e-mail us at mourningtomorning@gmail.com. Join us on Facebook--Mourning to Morning Group. Location: Millbrook FUMC, 3350 Edgewood Rd Grief Share meets – Tuesday 5:30 PM in the Friendship Sunday School Class Room. Call 285-4114 for more info. Grief Share is a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experience. Location: Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church 1550 E. Washington Street Grief Ministry is a grief recovery support group that meets
every Monday at 6:00 P.M. The ministry is designed to help anyone through the hurt of losing a loved one by successfully traveling the journey from mourning to joy. Alicia Glover is the coordinator. For information contact Glover at 334-281-2754.
Homosexuality
Location: Landmark Church, 1800 Halcyon Blvd. The Barnabas Group, created to address the needs of those in conflict with homosexual thoughts and feelings meets first, third and fifth Tuesday evenings at 6:30 p.m., in the library at the Life Center. 277.5800.
Miscellaneous
Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy NAMI Montgomery (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill) This group provides understanding, education and information to family members & friends of those who suffer mental illness. This group will meet on the second Monday of each month from 6:30-8:30 in room 3103. For more information contact Mary Jo Logan (334) 271-2280. Location: 5500 Ash Grove Circle, Montgomery. OCD Support Group (obsessive- Compulsive Disorder) Long showers, multiple hand washing, rituals, checking stove, hoarding and symmetry. This support group is open to anyone who has struggled with OCD. You’re not alone anymore. Call Donald: 220-7555.
Parenting
Location: First Baptist
Prattville, 138 S. Washington Moms LIFE (Living In Faith Everyday) meets twice monthly from 8:30 - 11:45 am in the chapel at the Church from Aug - May. We offer a time of fellowship, Bible study, musical guest, special guest speakers and a lot of fun!! Cost is $5 per meeting. For moms of all stages and ages of life. Childcare provided by reservation. For more info and to reserve your spot, call April Scott at 828-446-6666. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Frazer mom2mom is a playgroup to connect mothers of preschoolers at Frazer United Methodist Church to share fun and inspiration in our journey together, with our children, and with Christ. Email Mom2mom@frazerumc.org for more information. Location: Perry Hill UMC, 910 Perry Hill Road Single Moms’ Care and Support Group meets 2nd and 4th Thursdays from 6:15 - 8:00 PM. Free snack supper provided to moms and children. Child care for infants -16 years. Call 272-3174 for information. Location: Vaughn Forest Church, 8660 Vaughn Road Are you in need of a time-out? MOPS joins mothers together by a common bond, to be better wives, moms, and friends along this journey in the trenches of motherhood. We meet the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month from 9:30—11:30 a.m. Childcare is provided. For info e-mail VFCMOPS@gmail.com. Location: First Baptist Church, Montgomery 305 S. Perry Street MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) Moms, need a little break? MOPS is a place you can share a good meal, make new friends, and find encouragement as you face the everyday challenges of raising your little ones. We have educational speakers, great conversation, and fun activities. Free childcare is provided. Meetings are every 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 9:30-11:30 a.m., September through May. Go to www.montgomeryfbc.org/MOPS or contact Tiffany Alewine at 241-5165.
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Physical Challenges
Location: Aldersgate UMC, 6610 Vaughn Road Visually Impaired Support Group – Meets monthly on second Thursday 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. The group is called Outward Sight - Inward Vision and is for those with vision loss and their caregivers. Our mission is to assist those experiencing vision loss to maintain their independence by providing access to valuable information and spiritual support. Call 272-6152. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy An MDA/ALS Support Group will meet Tuesday August 10 6:00p.m. – 8:00 p.m. in room 3101. Anyone who is affected by a neuromuscular disease or family members of those affected are encouraged to attend. To receive information, please call 396-4534. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy A Parkinson’s Support Group will meet the 4th Thursday at 6 p.m., in room 8114 at Frazer UMC. This group is for those who have Parkinson’s disease and the family members. 272-8622. Location: Taylor Road Baptist Church, 1785 Taylor Rd., Montgomery Gluten Intolerance Group of Montgomery meets on 2nd Thursdays from 6-7 p.m. Check the blog for special “alternate site” meetings and other info at www.glutenfreemontgomery.blogspot.com.
Pregnancy Loss & Infertility
Location: First UMC, 100 E. Fourth St., Prattville Hannah’s Prayer--for women dealing with pregnancy loss/ infertility issues. Meeting 2nd Thursday and 3rd Sunday of each month. Call 365.5977.
Singlehood
Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Singles’ Small Groups meet each Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall Lobby. Call 272-8622. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy T.N.T. (Tuesday Night Together) for Singles meets Tuesdays from 7-8 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall, bldg. 7000. A meal ($5.00) and program are provided. For reservations, call 272-8622. Location: Cornerstone Christian, 301 Dalraida Rd. Unavoidably Single Again (USA) Fellowship, a support group for widows and widowers. Informal meetings for fellowship and fun are held on the third Saturday of each month starting at 10 AM. Contact Lynda at farauthor@aol. com or 354-8869.
Veterans
Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Veterans OEF/OIF Caregivers Support Group meets on the 3rd Wednesday from 11am-1pm in Room 3108. Contact LaQuana Edwards, Caregiver Support Coordinator at CAVHCS (334) 727-0550 ext. 5350.
Email your support group info to deanne@ readjourneymagazine.com! October 2014
River Region’s Journey
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October 2014
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“Within 24 hours of setting foot on the orphanage campus, the children crawled inside our hearts and changed our lives. I have never been the same,” said Tom. “I saw children who, though in a group, lived in a vacuum. The space around the child that a mom, a dad, a family should have filled stood empty. The emptiness of that void pushed on a very tender part of my heart.” Tom remembers the children were not sad children. “They played hard. Every time they gave us a craft they made they would say, ‘for memory!’ and their laughter pealed like church bells.” But the woundedness of a child alone in the world silently contradicted so much of what Tom saw. These kids, by and large, were not orphans because a tragic event had taken the lives of their parents. These were, overwhelmingly, social orphans. They were abandoned, perhaps at birth, or as babies, or as toddlers. Some were abandoned as school age children. Others were passively abandoned, often choosing to live on the street because that environment, with all its challenges was more pleasant than home. “Our hearts melted together in those two weeks in ways I could not imagine,” recalls Tom. “When I try to explain those first two weeks I spent in Ukraine, I still grope for words. Sights and sounds etched themselves in my heart. This land and this people, whom I had feared as a child, became a place and a people my heart wept for. The orphans, these small packages of love, had captured my heart forever.”
Bridges of Faith
More than 100,000 children live in orphanages in Ukraine. At age 18, when they age out of the system, these children face a grim statistical future. Within five years, 10 percent of these children will commit suicide. More than 10 percent end up in prison and only 10 percent make a reasonable life for themselves. The rest find themselves enmeshed in life-controlling issues. Sixty percent of the girls are trafficked. This is a harrowing road. It’s these numbers and the passion ignited in Tom’s heart that began Bridges of Faith – a ministry that is fixated on sharing the love of God in word and deed with people around the world, especially those orphaned and in desperate need. BOF is led by Tom and his wife Larissa, who was born in Ukraine and was an atheist until she was dramatically apprehended by the Lord in 1993. Since 1996, Bridges of Faith has led the accomplishment of these objectives: • Eighteen years of summer Bible camps for kids and VBS programs in remote villages. These short-term mission groups have ministered to over 35,000 children, seeing more than 10,000 come to faith and life in Jesus.
• Tons and tons of humanitarian aid. This includes needed clothing, coats, shoes, heaters, blankets, medication, toys, and food.
“Our kids wanted to go on mission trips this past summer, but instead we told them their mission trip was coming to them. Through Bridges of Faith, we welcomed a 14-year-old girl for three months into our home and began to understand the sacrifice and the reality of life for teenagers around the world. Our daughters saw that though this 14-year-old girl looked like them, her story and life were completely different. Life is not like it is here for so many people around the world and it was great for our girls to see and process that.”
• Medical assistance. From inhalers for asthmatic children, to prescription eye-glasses, to surgery, Bridges of Faith works to improve the health of children. • Renovation and repair of existing facilities. Tom has led the repair of orphanages in Kerch, Evpatoria, Simferopol, Bakchaserai, and Sevastopol. He has helped to establish an interdenominational Christian outreaches for children in Vnookava and Kerch in Crimea.
Alex and Mason Kocher with their two daughters and their summer guest, Sveta.
• Training for national Christian children and youth workers. From community and regional seminars to ‘on the job’ training for Bible school students, Bridges of Faith has helped national Christians with a vision for children’s ministry, along with the principles and tools to make it a reality. • Pastors’ retreats. A part of the work is to build relationships with pastors and to help them build relationships with others. We help to strengthen the ministry in Ukraine through training, encouragement and visioncasting among pastors. • Planted, in cooperation with area churches, church bodies in seven villages which had no church of any kind. • Over 50,000 pieces of Scripture. Through strategic partnerships, Tom has led the placement of age-appropriate Scriptures right in the hands of the children. • Christmas gifts. Rev. Benz, in partnership with Samaritan’s Purse and a Ukrainian foundation, has helped to give over 12,000 Christmas gifts to orphans and needy children in Crimea. Each gift was given with a clear presentation of the Gospel. 31
• Established, in partnership with Operation Lazarus, a transitional home for orphans in Crimea. • Purchasing, renovation and launching BridgeStone, a beautiful 140 acre retreat center in Central Alabama. With 34 buildings, including 22 cabins, a junior Olympic pool, 2 acre lake, and a gorgeous chapel, BridgeStone serves regional children, youth and adults, along with Ukrainian orphans.
The Orphan Project
The most visible program BOF does is the Orphan Project. Three to four times each year since 2010, BOF brings groups of Ukrainian orphans to BridgeStone, their 140 acre retreat center. They share Alabama life, faith and culture. Sadly, one of the deepest problems kids have is that they have never seen a healthy relationship between a man and a woman. They have seen exploitation and abuse. Tom says, “How can they hope to hit a target in life that they have never seen? We put them in front of married couples and families so that they can see a different paradigm for life.” He explains further, “In one of the first orphan groups who came to the US, Larissa and I sat down with the kids as a group to talk. We quickly ran out of chairs and Larissa October 2014
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sat on my lap. One of the little girls ran from the other side of the room and exclaimed, ‘Mr. Tom, do you love Larissa?’ Her words exposed her sheer wonder. It was an amazing teachable moment; I shared with her that I certainly did love and respect Larissa. I told her that I was praying that God would bring a man into her life who would also love and respect her!” An 11-year-old Ukrainian orphan girl, while visiting BridgeStone, was asked what is different about being in Alabama. She looked up, with wide and clear blue eyes, and simply said, “Here, no one yells at me. They just hug me.” The Orphan Program is legally NOT about adoption. They run a cultural exchange program and give the children exactly what we contractually promise the Ukrainian government. They taste Alabama life and culture. They visit NASA in Huntsville, the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery and the McWane Science Center in Birmingham. They love exploring BridgeStone, with its 140 wooded acres, small lake, animals and Junior Olympic Swimming Pool. They love the bikes and they love the food. Most have never had their own room; at BridgeStone, they have exactly that with a double bed, comforter, dresser, nightstand, etc. “One of my underlying premises to bring kids is that, if we put these children in front of the Body of Christ, the Body of Christ will respond. There is absolutely no discussion about adoption with children. But relationships develop and, after the kids go home, we find that many adoptions have been incubated. Often the rate of adoption is 80%.” Of course, this is critically important. If the kids stay in the system until they graduate their chances at living or making a life are not good at all. Adoption snatches children from that statistical pool. “We consider that an adopted child is a rescued child,” says Tom. BOF does work in other parts of the world as well. They have worked in Appalachian Kentucky with humanitarian aid and various evangelistic outreaches, support an orphanage in Kenya (they just put in a water well for the orphanage and help monthly with food), and are bringing a group of orphans from Colombia in December. BOF is also exploring Poland as another country to introduce to the Orphan Program. Tom has worked in the garbage dumps of Mexico City where an estimated million souls lived in virtual slavery, never in their short lives leaving the mountains of rotting food and trash. He’s worked in the Philippines and Guatemalan jungles. “I’ve smelled death and utter despair after the devastating Haitian earthquake. I sat with an orphan dying of leukemia in Ukraine and shared Jesus with prisoners in Kentucky,” says Tom. “But River Region’s Journey
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I have never been part of something more profound or noble as bringing incredible Ukrainian orphans to BridgeStone, Alabama, to share faith and life, and to help them find adoptive homes. They need so much, but give even more. We need so little, but learn how much we need. None of us will ever be the same. Truly we see the face of God.”
Where Bridges of Faith is Now
Over the last four years, BOF has brought 116 Ukrainian orphans to BridgeStone. Fifty of these 116 have been adopted into their forever families and many others are in the process. Most of these adoptions are to parents whose life plan never included adoption! All of the children have been powerfully confronted with the Good News of Jesus. All profess faith in Him and see life in brand new ways. Those who have not found families have found a vision for life. Their experience in Alabama becomes a turning point in their journey. As James 1:27 people, BOF plans to bring more children in the months and years to come. The amazing facility, army of volunteers and relationships in Ukraine make this happen. There are many ways you can help BOF. Here are a few of the most valuable ways:
Pray: BOF has no greater need than
people praying for their ministry. Pray especially for Ukraine as they battle unrest in their government and nation.
Enlist: BOF is completely driven by volunteers. They need all the help they can get to love children, provide meals, do laundry, take care of the grounds and perform every task that is needed to operate the 140 acre retreat center.
Give: BOF is supported entirely by dona-
tions. Contact Tom Benz to find out the ways you can support the groups they bring and the ministry at benz@bridgesoffaith.com.
Positions Available: BridgeStone needs a full-time maintenance missionary to live on campus and care for the daily needs of the facility. They also need an office professional with experience in graphics and development. Equipment: BridgeStone needs a pickup truck, a 40+ HP tractor and a Bobcat. Contact Tony Dyer at tony@bridgesoffaith. com. Rachel Fisher loves learning about what God is doing in the world and writing about it. She and her husband Chase live in Montgomery.
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Military Men Spurring One Another On And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10: 24-25 (NIV) I admit it. I am a lot happier when meeting regularly with other Christians to study God’s word, pray for one another, and just talk and laugh together. And yet, it’s difficult sometimes to make Christian fellowship the priority it should be. We get busy with our other concerns and neglect areas of our life that should be at the top of our list! Especially men.... and especially military men. There is a great need for Christian men serving in the military to fellowship and study God’s word together. God calls us all to love one another and to “spur another on” by continuing to meet together to “sharpen” one another. Proverbs 27:17 (NIV) says,” iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” This verse beautifully describes what happens when we are open and honest with each other in the Christian community: our dialog with and commitment to one another serve to sharpen us, advancing and moving us forward in our walk with the Lord. In addition, we are exhorted to make friendship a priority--along with our spouse and our children, we are to love others and invest time and energy into discipleship. John 13:34-35 (NIV) says: “A new command I give you: 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.” As many of our readers know, we invest much of our time and energy in teaching and supporting military couples. About every 10 weeks, Mike presents a steak dinner and workshop for men entitled, “Our Spiritual Journey,” sponsored by the Maxwell AFB Protestant Chapel.
Based on selected scenes from the 1941 Academy Award winning black and white movie, Sergeant York, Mike leads the men in identifying the 3 key stages of a spiritual journey: Quest (seeking God), Commitment (becoming a believer in Jesus Christ and learning how to follow Him) and Integration (incorporating the teachings of Christ into every aspect of our daily life and decisions). Those three stages are beautifully illustrated in the true story of WW1’s most highly decorated soldier, Sgt. York. Using the stages and Scripture, the men determine where they 33
are spiritually, where they want to be, and how to arrive at their goal. Another way to bring military men together was seen when Officers’ Christian Fellowship (OCF) Staff Representative to Maxwell-Gunter, Hous Waring, Col, USAF, retired, hosted a day at a firing range, sponsored by the Maxwell AFB Chapel. With the goal of glorifying God by uniting Christian officers for biblical fellowship and outreach, equipping and encouraging them to minister effectively in the military society, OCF accomplished their goals while the men enjoyed fellowship and practiced handling a variety of weaponry. Col. Waring incorporated Bible study using the above scriptures before, during, and after the firing. What a unique and effective way to provide military men Biblical instruction and fellowship with other believers! So, whether military or civilian, we encourage you to follow the teachings of Christ, spurring one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, but encouraging and sharpening one another, as iron sharpens iron, along with loving and being available to one another in fellowship just as Christ loves us and is always with us. Lt. Col Mike Conn and wife, Lisa, founded Covenant Family Ministries when Mike retired from the Air Force in 1997. CFM is an independent marriage and family education ministry committed to partnering with churches, organizations, and individuals in Montgomery and across Alabama to build Family Teams for Christ. Married for over 33 years, Mike and Lisa have three daughters, two sons-in-law, and three grandchildren. October 2014
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“All That Glitters...” It had been described as a “mirror-like bauble of a hotel,” the most visible presence on the skyline of a city that is experiencing economic decline and dramatic job loss, propped up by an industry that has a dubious premise - build up the false hope of patrons, making some winners while creating a mass number of losers. In Atlantic City, New Jersey, the 57-floor Revel hotel announced it would be closing. It was the fourth announced closure of a casino/hotel in the city this year. It was a $2.6 billion monstrosity that received more than $250 million in tax breaks from Gov. Christie’s administration to get it up and running, according to a report on the NJ.com website. Competition from neighboring states such as Pennsylvania and Maryland has been cited as one of the reasons for the decline, oversaturation another. Pennsylvania officials are apparently greedy for more from the gambling golden goose. The Pennsylvania Pastors Network decried a proposal to expand gambling in the state by allowing online gambling and relaxing casino restrictions. Network President Sam Rohrer, also President of the American Pastors Network, said: “It is sad that in a culture desperate for moral leadership, our Governor and legislative leaders would seriously consider expanded gambling to ‘fix’ the current financial need. By its very nature, gambling preys on the vulnerable, the elderly and those who are desperate enough to risk losing what they can’t afford. We at the Pennsylvania Pastors Network call on our Governor and legislative leaders to resist the temptation to cowardly pursue the unethical path of expanded gambling that benefits only special interests and transient, short-term political gains.” For the 8,000 or so people who have lost their jobs in Atlantic City, gambling has certainly been a bad bet. Economic destabilization is one of the multiple types River Region’s Journey
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of bad fruit that gambling produces. Chad Hills of CitizenLink, a public policy partner of Focus on the Family, says that researchers often define gambling’s fruit as the “ABCs of Gambling” (from a 2010 piece on the CitizenLink website): Addiction - You could fill 214 NFL stadiums to capacity with addicted gamblers in the U.S. Bankruptcy – Gambling is the single fastest-growing driver of bankruptcy. Crime (including organized crime) - Three years after casinos entered Atlantic City, NJ, crime tripled. Domestic abuse and Divorce – These increase drastically. Economic destabilization - Gambling costs society $3 for every $1 in taxed revenue. Family destruction – Gambling addiction destroys families from within. Government corruption – Politicians are bought out by gambling interests. Suicide - One in five pathological gamblers attempts suicide. State revenues - Are they worth the cost? (The Rockefeller Report indicates “no.”) Certainly, gambling produces bad fruit, and it is an activity that contradicts the heart of God, as Hills points out in another CitizenLink post: God’s nature is rooted in love and truth. It is sacrificial and other-centered (John 3:16-17). Christ came to earth to testify to the truth and set us free (John 18:33-38; John 8:31-32) and His truth conforms to reality, not deception. He 34
is dedicated to service, not exploitation (Romans 12). He warns against idle hands, ill-gotten riches and malicious or deceitful men (Proverbs 6).
Gambling is rooted in greed and deception. The sole purpose of the $90-billion-plus gambling conglomerate is to lure you in with false hope, take your money and make you “chase” your losses – believing you can win – by gambling more! Gambling is self-serving. You win through others’ losses. Conversely, God’s nature is to sacrifice Himself for others’ well-being. God gave up His only Son, so that all might have eternal life. The Bible teaches the sowing and reaping principle clearly, and if you participate in activity that contradicts its teaching, there is a negative effect. That certainly includes the area of gambling. Isaiah 65, verses 11 and 12 read (New International Version): “But as for you who forsake the LORD and forget my holy mountain, who spread a table for Fortune and fill bowls of mixed wine for Destiny, I will destine you for the sword, and all of you will fall in the slaughter; for I called but you did not answer, I spoke but you did not listen. You did evil in my sight and chose what displeases me.”
I believe that participation in gambling is participating in activity that contradicts the Scriptures, plain and simple. The evidence is abundant. When you hear lawmakers begin to talk about casino gambling and a lottery as revenue-enhancing proposals, remember the admonitions from the Scriptures and be vocal and steadfast in confronting proposals to authorize an expansion of immoral activity. 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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October 2014 Community Calendar Monthly events can also be found in the Around Our Community Section starting on page 8. Saturday, October 4
House of Holidays, from 8am – 1pm, at FUMC Wetumpka, 306 W. Tuskeena St. Come join us for a day of shopping fun... There will be: Arts and Crafts in the Depot, Bakery, Frozen Entrees, Second time around yard sale, Plants, Toys, Children’s Corner. Lunch served for $5 a plate. Call 334-5677865 or visit www.fumcwetumpka.com for more information. Shine Like Stars 2014 Tour is coming to Coosa Outdoor Worship Spot in Coosa County. Shine is an evening to invite and cheer on our generation to stop ignoring the world around us and start engaging the world around us. Featuring Cody Deese (LeadNEXT.org) and the Chris Coleman Band (chriscolemanband.com). 1:00 – 5:00 pm Rec Time (pool open, weather permitting; paintball $5/person); 6:00 pm Meal Time, 7:00 pm Shine Like Stars event. Advance registration required. $35 per person. Contact Matt 334.451.1957 (voice or text) or matt@ coosaoutdoorworship.org. Capital City Church of the Nazarene is having a Yard Sale from 7:00 a.m. until noon. There’s something for everyone! There will be baked goods for sale. All proceeds go to Missions. Capital City Church of the Nazarene is located at 4450 Vaughn Road in Montgomery. For more information, call 272-8176.
Sunday, October 5
First Baptist Church presents Parenting Today’s Teens with Mark Gregston, from 3:30-5:30 pm. Also, additional speaking times at 8:30 am, 11 am, and 6:15 pm that day. Avoid the common pitfalls of parenting teens with these techniques. Tickets are free! Register at www.montgomeryfbc.org or 834.6310.
Tuesday, October 7
Bread Basics…Baking With Whole Wheat, a teaching by Jo Hancock at His Vessel Ministries will be held from 6-9 pm. Register by calling His Vessel Ministries 334-356-4478 or info@hisvessel.org. His Vessel Ministries is River Region’s Journey
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hosting a class teaching you how simple it is to bake with whole grains and discover the health benefits of whole grains. A sampling buffet will be served at the end of the presentation. Come join us for this exciting event for only $10.00 per person! His Vessel Ministries is located in the Union Station, 300 Water Street, Suite 100, Montgomery. For information, visit www.hisvessel.org.
Friday, October 10
An Evening with the Gaither Vocal Band at Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church at 7 pm. More information and tickets: www.premierproductions.com/tour/gaithertour-2014/montgomery-al.
Saturday, October 11
The Almighty Mud Run is proud to bring you the “All-Star Edition” of its famously fun 5K adventure run! Don’t let the name scare you, we’ve designed the Fall event for EVERYONE! For the fun runner/walker, we have an all new course with 25+ crazy obstacles designed to give you the best time of your life! For the freaky fit, we’ve thrown in 10 additional obstacles to create our most insane All-Star Lane ever for the most challenging time of your life - not to mention bragging rights! Just 35 minutes north of Montgomery off I-65 Exit 200 Verbena at the beautiful 140 acre BridgeStone Retreat Center - come get muddy for a GREAT cause, REGISTER NOW at www. almightymudrun.com.
Sunday, October 12
Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church, 1550 East Washington St, will celebrate their 90th Church Anniversary at 9:30 a.m. Reverend Walter E. Ellis is the Pastor. First Presbyterian Church, Prattville is hosting The River Region Sacred Music Festival. Do you love to sing? Do you sing in a small church choir? Did you sing in high school or college and now miss the experience of singing those masterpieces of choral music? Then We Want You to add your voice to ours! Singers will have an opportunity to perform some of the finest sacred choral music ever written in a supportive and collegial environment under the direction of a master choral conductor. Rehearsals will begin in late August and the concert will take place on Sunday, October 12th at 3:00 in the afternoon. For additional information or to register visit www.sacredmusicfest.org or call 365-6387. Mt. Gillard Missionary Baptist Church, 3323 Day Street in Montgomery, will observe Men and Women’s Day. Theme: Godly Men and Women Walking in Unity. Sunday School, 8:15 am and Morning Worship, 9:30 am. Guest Speaker: Dr. Gwendolyn E. Boyd, 14th President of Alabama State University. Colors for the day: Black and Gold
Saturday, October 18
Aldersgate Methodist Men host 30th Annual BBQ. For only $8 per plate, folks can taste the finest barbecued pork and chicken on the SAME PLATE, as well as generous sides of baked beans, slaw and bread. Boxes will go 36
on sale beginning at 8:30 a.m. at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, located at 6610 Vaughn Road. Boxes will be available until 2 p.m., or while supplies last. Drive-thru pick up service is provided at the front of the church by Boy Scout Troop 306. Tickets can be purchased in advance, or boxes can be bought on the day of the sale. Proceeds from the barbecue will benefit the Aldersgate Methodist Men’s mission and service projects for the upcoming year. For information, contact Aldersgate UMC at 272-6152 or send e-mail to aldersgateumm@ gmail.com. St. Michael and All Angels Church 17th Annual Angel Fest from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on the grounds of the church at 5941 Main Street, Millbrook. There will be a bake sale, silent auction, vendors selling unique wares, great concessions, entertainment plus a big children’s carnival. Last but not least is the sale of our famous Boston butts! All proceeds go to the outreach ministry of our church for Millbrook, and western Elmore County. Metro Church of Christ, 109 Redland Road, offers Metro Healthy Habits Program, with Teacher Sister Tippins, at 10 am today and every 3rd Saturday. Free and everyone welcome.
Sunday, October 19
The Cornerstone Christian Church Chili Cook Off and Silent Auction Fundraiser will be held in the church building at 301 Dalraida Rd. at 5:00 p.m. All proceeds will go toward the mission support of our sister church in the Philippines, the Mambajao Church of Christ. $6.00 for adults and $3.00 for children will buy you a bowl and a spoon, so you can sample as many different kinds of chili as you’d like. Also, we will have many awesome auction items to bid on so you can shop while you dine! Please join us for an evening of good food and great family fellowship. For more info… Call Dianna Stover 334-799-3576, or email to dijo911@gmail.com.
Saturday, October 25
Beauty by Fire Ministries is excited to announce the 3rd Annual River Region Prayer Walk will be held at the Union Station Train Shed. The purpose of this gathering is to bring together the citizens of the River Region to pray over our cities, government leaders, schools and teachers, uniformed heroes and servants, pastors and ministry leaders, businesses, and all of the people that make up the River Region. More info: Vicki Dendis, www. beautybyfire.org or 334-612-7894.
Thursday, November 13
Matthew Smith and Indelible Grace will be in concert in Trinity Hall at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 1728 South Hull Street, at 7 pm. Tickets are $5.00, and go on sale to the public October 16. Tickets may be purchased online at www.trinitypca.org/indeliblegrace or at the Trinity Christian Bookstore located on the Hull Street side of the church. All seating is General Admission. Complimentary preschool nursery is available by reservation only. Contact nursery@trinitypca.org.
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Ongoing Happenings AGLOW International meets every third Thursday, 9:30 at the Montgomery House of Prayer. All women welcome to join together for praise, prayer and an anointed message. Contact mboudousquie@yahoo.com. Bridge of Life Assembly of God, 9000 Vaughn Road, Montgomery, holds Sunday morning worship at 10:30 a.m. each week. Sunday school classes meet at 9:30 a.m. We offer classes for all age groups and childcare is provided. Our goal is to build bridges...not walls. We invite you to come join us if you need to learn how to build those bridges. For directions or information call 334-396-0208. Email jon@bridgeoflife.tv or visit www. bridgeoflife.tv. Central Community Christian Church, 981 South Perry Street, Montgomery, holds new members training classes on Sundays at 9 a.m. Sunday School (9:30), morning worship (11:00), Tuesday night Bible study (6:30). Every fourth Sunday of the month is our youth Sunday. For more information please call (334) 269-0457 or by email at centralccchurch1@gmail.com. We are a church where you can be you, you can be loved and where you can grow!
Christchurch, 8800 Vaughn Road, Montgomery, offers a Women’s Enrichment Bible Study led by Jeanne Dean on Thursdays, 9:30-11:30 a.m., in Canterbury Hall. All women are welcome. Childcare for ages birth-4 years is provided. Call 387-0566 x 201 for more info. Christchurch offers a men’s Bible study led by Fr. John-Michael van Dyke, on Thursday mornings on the 11th floor of Goode Medical Bldg, Jackson Hospital. Breakfast is served beginning at 6:45 a.m. and teaching begins at 7:15 a.m. Call 387-0566 x 201. Chisholm Baptist Church, 2938 Lower Wetumpka Road, Montgomery, holds Sunday morning Bible study (9:30), Morning worship (10:45), Tuesday prayer breakfast (8:30) Wednesday evening prayer service (6 pm) and Senior Body and Soul Group (every 1st Tuesday at 1 pm). Email jbass9784@charter. net or call 262-6437. First Presbyterian Church, 9299 Vaughn Road, hosts Family Night every Wednesday beginning at 5:20 p.m. with supper, followed by a study on prayer. Everyone is welcome. For more information call (279-1372). First Presbyterian Church, 9299 Vaughn Road, hosts a Men’s Prayer Breakfast every Friday morning, 6 a.m.
The Youth of First United Methodist Church, Montgomery every Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. for Wednesday Night Live, a time of praise and worship in “the attic”. Also, every Sunday night at 6:00 p.m. is MYF which includes a snack supper $3.00 followed by activities, small groups and lots of fun! Visit www.fumcmontgomery.org. First United Methodist Church will host Terrific Tuesdays. Please come and join us for fellowship, a program and lunch. Terrific Tuesdays will meet each Tuesday in room 204 of Wesley Hall. Fellowship time will begin at 10:00 a.m. followed by a program at 10:30 a.m. and lunch at 11:30 a.m. The cost of lunch is $2.50. For additional information please contact NeeNee Webb at 834-8990. Frazer mom2mom is a playgroup to connect mothers of preschoolers at Frazer United Methodist Church to share fun and inspiration in our journey together, with our children, and with Christ. Email Mom2mom@frazerumc.org. Good News @ Noon is an interdenominational Bible study, held at the First Baptist Community Ministries Building on Adams Street, Thursdays, at noon. Small cost for hot lunch. Call 272.1133.
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October 2014 Community Calendar Hall Memorial CME Church, 541 Seibles Road, Montgomery, offers Bible Study Tuesdays at 5:30 P.M. and Wednesdays at 6: 30 P.M. For directions or information call 334-288-0577. Email HallMemorialCME1@aol.com or visit www. HallMemorialCME.blogspot.com. Hall Memorial CME Church says: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Tutors, prayer-warriors, and office/clerical volunteers needed for the Montgomery City Jail Ministry & G.E.D program. Opportunities are ongoing. No experience or certification necessary. Contact Pastor Anderson T. Graves II, at hallmemorialcme1@aol.com. Call 334-288-0577. The City Jail ministry is an in-reach ministry of Hall Memorial CME Church, 541 Seibles Road, Montgomery.
Macedonia Miracle Kingdom & Worship Center (MMKWC), 3070 Selma Highway, Montgomery, services are Sunday School and New Members Class, 9:00 a.m., Morning Worship, 10:45 a.m.; Tuesday Night Bible Class, 7:00 p.m. and Friday Night Prayer, 6:00 p.m. (BOTH at The Pattern-Mt Meigs Road) Messiah Lutheran Church, 6670 Vaughn Road, invites all to Wonderful Wednesdays starting with a $3-5 meal at 5:30 pm (RSVP 277-4213 by Monday noon), worship with eucharist 6:15-7:00 pm, and adult choir rehearsal and Catechism class for 7th-9th graders at 7:00 pm. Please call for Wednesday schedule due to seasonal breaks. For information, call 277-4213. Mt. Gillard Missionary Baptist Church, 3323 Day Street, holds Wednesday Bible Study in the church Fellowship Hall and lasts for one hour. Please come and participate in roaming the Bible learning God’s word through teaching. The Rev. Henry M. Carnegie, Jr. is the teacher and pastor. Mid-day Bible Study begins each Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. Evening Bible Study begins each Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. Call 233-8750. New Freedom Worship Center, 6004 –A East Shirley Lane, Apostle T. Briggs~ Pastor; Sunday Worship Service 10:30 a.m. and Wednesday Night Bible Study 7:30 p.m. Open Door Christian Faith Church, 1601 Dewey St. Montgomery, offers Women’s Prayer Mondays at 5:00, Men’s prayer Wednesday at
5:00, followed by bible study at 6:00. Couples ministry held every 1st Wednesday of the month at 7:00. Pastor William Cromblin, and the Open Door Church family invites you to “come experience the move of God. Call 334-269-6498. Perry Hill UMC, 910 Perry Hill Rd, sponsors a Bluegrass Jam in the Church Fellowship Hall on the third Saturday of each month from 9AM 12AM. All Bluegrass Artist plus Fans are invited to attend. Attendance is FREE. For information call Kathy@ 272-3174. Perry Hill UMC, 910 Perry Hill Rd, hosts a Wednesday Night Supper and Revive! program each week from 5:30pm til 7:00pm. Reservations are required by noon on the Monday prior to the supper. Cost is $4 per person or $12 per family. Call 334-272-3174 for more information. River City Church, 301 Dexter Avenue, offers a Friday Christian Night Club (free of alcohol and smoking) with Ballroom Dancing every Friday at 6:30 P.M. Cost is $10 for a one hour lesson, devotional, and 3 hours of DJ music. All denominations welcome. 7:30-10:30 open dance floor. The River of Life Church, located at 116 County Road 40 E (in the Pine Level Community Center) Prattville. Pastor Nick Edwards invites you to a “Place of New Beginnings”, where families come and grow together. Church Service Schedule: Sunday 10:30 a.m. Sunday School; 11:00 a.m.
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Morning Worship; 5:00 p.m. Evening Worship. Wednesday 6:00 p.m. Adult Bible Study, Teens (Genesis Project), Jr. High (Limitless), Royal Rangers, MPact Girls, Rainbow’s/Noah’s Zoo Club. Thursday 9:00 a.m.Women of Grace Bible Study. Nursery provided. We invite you to”come experience God in a personal way, feel loved by all and know that you belong”. Call the church office 334-657-0392 or visit www. theriveroflifechurch.net.
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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!
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Saint James UMC, 9045 Vaughn Road, offers Wild & Wacky Wednesdays! Wednesday night supper starts at 5:15p.m. We will start checking children in at 6:00p.m. This program ends at 7:30p.m. and childcare is provided until 8:00p.m. for small group participants. Call 277.3037 for more info. Saint Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church, 706 E. Patton Avenue, “Clothes Closet” is open to the public each Thursday morning from 10 a.m. – Noon. The Men of Saint Paul host a free Men’s Prayer Breakfast the Third Saturday of each month at 8 a.m. in the Church Fellowship Hall. The Men’s Prayer Breakfast is open to all men of all ages. Come and share your concerns and needs of our Men of today. For more information, please contact (334) 354-1897. Bible Study is held each Wednesday, 6-7 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Pastor Farrell J. Duncombe is the teacher and Senior Pastor of the church. Come and join us for Sunday School each Sunday at 9 a.m. and Morning Worship at 10 a.m. Need transportation, call (334) 264-7618. For info call 286.8577 or www. saintpaulamemontgomery.com. S-STOP, a commUNITY Bible study for Singles. Souls Strengthened Together for One Purpose. Psalm 46:10 “BE STILL and know that I am God.” Meets at Prattville Christian Academy on Sunday nights at 6 p.m. For info email sstop04@ gmail.com. Vision Full Gospel Ministries, 163 Rifle Range Road, Montgomery, holds Bible Study Tues. Night 7:00 p.m., Pray & Praise 2nd & 4th Thurs. Night 7:00 p.m., Sunday School 9:30 am, Sunday Worship Service 10:45 a.m., Internet radio-homecominggospel.com Sunday 3:00p.m. Central & 4:00 p.m. Eastern. and Satellite Radio -wlsg 1340am Sunday 3:00p.m. Women at The Well Ministry invites you to attend its women’s fellowship at 1 pm every 1st and 3rd Saturday. We are women who desire and have a heart to see broken, crushed, hurting women be transformed through the one man who can fulfill their every need... JESUS...THE POTTER. All women of all denominations or race are welcome. This ministry is available to teenagers as well. Come join us as we lift, encourage and build each other up through the Word of God and the words of our testimonies. For more information contact Evangelist Dr. Linda McCall, 334-220-1924. 39
October 2014
River Region’s Journey
Movie Reviews Reviews provided by MovieGuide: A Family Guide to Movies and Entertainment Ratings are based on production quality and moral acceptability. See details below. ***Reviews do not necessarily reflect views of the publishers of River Region’s Journey.
The Maze Runner
A Walk Among the Tombstones
Production Quality: **** Moral Acceptability: -2 (Extreme Caution) Starring: Dylan O’Brien, Aml Ameen, Ki Hong Lee, Blake Cooper, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Will Poulter, Dexter Darden, Kaya Scodelario, Chris Sheffield, Joe Adler, Alexander Flores, Jacob Latimore, Patricia Clarkson Genre: Science Fiction Audience: Older teenagers and adults Rating: PG-13 Contents: Strong moral worldview with redemptive elements where courage, kindness, selflessness, teamwork, and sacrifice are exhibited in the characters and together; 21 obscenities (several “h” and “s” words) and three profanities (including two “GD’s”), plus one scatological reference; some strong action violence includes one boy attempting to kill another with punching and choking, some very frightening bio-mechanical creatures stalk and kill many boys, the creatures’ body parts are spewed all over, one boy takes a spear through the chest and another is shot, a woman shoots herself off screen, a sick man coughs up blood, and several dead bodies are on the ground; no sexual content; upper male nudity; the boys drink a homemade alcoholic drink; no smoking; and, no other immoral content. THE MAZE RUNNER is a thrilling science fiction movie about a group of teenage boys living in a glade surrounded by enormous walls. The boys have no memory of who they were before the glade. Thomas, the newest arrival, resolves to find a way out so they can figure out what’s happening. However, the only exit leads to a huge maze that becomes infested with dangerous creatures at night called Grievers. Can Thomas figure a way out without making enemies in the glade before it’s too late? THE MAZE RUNNER is gripping from beginning to end. What helps keep the movie entertaining and compelling are its constant plot developments and the movie’s impressive, intense visual effects. Strong moral values are shown when multiple boys give up their lives to save others with courage, teamwork and selflessness. Also, the boys have been given a new start due to their memory loss and this fact comes with some forgiveness of past wrongdoings. That said, MAZE RUNNER has plenty of relatively light foul language and some very intense action violence. So, strong caution is advised.
Production Quality: **** Moral Acceptability: -3 (Excessive) Starring: Liam Neeson, Maurice Compte, Patrick McDade, Luciano Acuna Jr., Hans Marrero, Laura Birn, David Harbour, Adam David Thompson Genre: Crime Thriller/Mystery Audience: Adults Rating: R Content: More than 50 obscenities (including 30 “f” words), three profanities and multiple sexual references; strong and graphic violence is shown and implied, men are shot point blank in the chest, leg and head with blood splatter, a child who was shot in the eye is seen dead, another young girl loses her fingers to her captors, a man is seen with his legs chopped off, bags of body parts are inside a car trunk, a decapitated head floats in a plastic bad in a pond, man jumps off a building to his death, the impact isn’t seen but his dead body is, even more gruesome is the implied violence, which includes an audio recorder plays sounds of a woman being mutilated, a flashback explicitly implies and the villain describes the horrific acts he’s going to do; strong sexual content includes villainous kidnappers show lewd interest in 13-year-old girl they plan to kidnap, pictures of depicted fornication are briefly seen with upper female nudity, an opening scene shows many non-explicit shots of a woman’s body and it’s revealed she’s tied up and being molested, though that’s not shown graphically; brief upper female nudity in four instances; and drug addiction. A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES stars Liam Nesson in an effective crime thriller that revels too much in the twisted crimes of its villains. Matt Scudder was a police officer, but after stopping three thugs that results in an innocent life being lost, he quits the police force and stops drinking. Now eight years sober, Matt works as a private detective. A man hires Matt to track down his wife’s kidnappers and murderers. Everything about Matt’s violent past and who he’s become impacts the decisions he makes to stop the evil men. A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES is thrilling, and Liam Neeson commands the screen. Where the movie fails is its excessive depiction of the sick practices of the villains. The movie has lots of strong foul language. That said, there’s much to like about the movie’s message. Much of the story rides on the hero’s moral conscience and efforts to overcome a past tragedy. This is emphasized through the 12 Step Program of Alcoholics Anonymous, which has both positive and negative elements. Sadly, the positive content in TOMBTONES doesn’t overcome the bad.
The previous reviews are a selected sample of informative reviews from MOVIEGUIDE: A FAMILY GUIDE TO MOVIES AND ENTERTAINMENT, a syndicated feature of Good News Communications, Inc. To subscribe to MOVIEGUIDE which includes a complete set of at least 10 reviews of the latest movies as well as many informative articles, please visit our web site at www.movieguide.org or write or call:”MOVIEGUIDE,” P.O. Box 190010, Atlanta, GA 31119 (800) 899-6684. What the ratings mean: Production Quality: (1 to 4 stars) Moral Acceptability: -4 (Abhorrent), -3 (Excessive), -2 (Extreme Caution), -1 (Caution), +1 (Wholesome), +2 (Good), +3 (Moral), +4 (Exemplary) River Region’s Journey
October 2014
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October 2014 Pastor Apprec ad_Layout 1 9/18/14 11:02 AM Page 1
OCTOBER
is Pastor and Staff Appreciation Month! An opportunity to honor your pastor and the staff of your church this October. Faith Radio team members want to have lunch with members of your church staff during October! Go to FaithRadio.org and share how God is working through your pastor or church staff member. Listen for your words of appreciation to be shared on the air. Throughout the month, we will choose churches to receive lunch from us and Chick-fil-A! Another effective way to show thanks to your pastor or staff member is by sharing a gift to the ministry of Faith Radio in his or her honor.
The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. - 1 Timothy 5:17
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