River Region Christians Digi Edition (June 22) by KeepSharing

www.facebook.com/auburnopelika.parents

You Hold The Key To Protect With 3! Tdap

HPV

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As parents, it is up to you to ensure your children remain up to date with their vaccines. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) recommend the following vaccines for adolescents: • Tetanus, Diptheria, Pertussis • Human papillomavirus • Meningococcal disease • Influenza

Protect your children against vaccine preventable diseases. Vaccine:

7-10 Years

11-12 Years

13-18 Years

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>9 Years

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High Risk

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Flu

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For more information, please visit alabamapublichealth.gov/imm

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Volume 24, Issue 2

Feature Articles

JU N E 202 2 Columns

page 8

page 2

Publisher’s Note

Faith @ Work: Tonya Speed

Jason Watson

We had the pleasure of getting to know the owner of Tonya Speed’s Dance Connection and hearing how her faith plays an important role in her interactions with dance students since 1986.

page 4

Pastor's Perspective Dr. Teman Knight, Heritage Baptist Church, Montgomery

page 15

Moments with Kym Kym Klass

page 10

Knowing God’s Will For Your Life

page 16

The Intersection Bob Crittenden

by Tim Challies Have you often felt like God’s will for your life is a hidden treasure you must uncover by much effort? Here, you’ll be encouraged that God’s will is more “revealed” than you may have realized.

page 21

Women Arising Pastor Kemi Searcy

page 25

Counselor’s Corner

page 12

Vacation Bible School Guide Local churches are taking registration now for summer VBS programs. Sign your kids up for a week of fun and spiritual growth.

Elizabeth Cates, Ph.D.

page 28

Dave $ays Dave Ramsey

In Every Issue page 18

page 6

His Vessel Ministries

Books to Read

by Kym Klass With a mission to transform Christians into pure, holy vessels that are formed by His Word, filled with His power, and poured out for His glory, Jo Hancock (founder) shares how this ministry began and the many ways it is impacting the community for good.

page 8

Faith @ Work page 26

Support Groups 1

June 2022

River Region Christians

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.

From the Publisher

Editor DeAnne Watson deanne@readjourneymagazine.com

Publisher

Jason Watson jason@readjourneymagazine.com

Research Editor Wendy McCollum

Contributing Writers Elizabeth Cates, Ph.D. Tim Challies Bob Crittenden Kym Klass Dr. Teman Knight Dave Ramsey Kemi Searcy

Advertising Opportunities Jason Watson ads@readjourneymagazine.com (334) 213-7940 ext 702

Digital Manager Scott Davis

Ad Design

Tim Welch, Welch Designs

River Region Christians is published monthly by Keep Sharing, P.O. Box 230367, Montgomery, AL 36123. For information, call 334-213-7940. River Region Christians is copyrighted 2022 by KeepSharing. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. The opinions expressed in River Region Christians 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 Christians has the right to refuse any content that is not consistent with its statement of faith.

River Region Christians

June 2022

River Region Christians

Pastor’s Perspective by Dr. Teman Knight, Heritage Baptist Church, Montgomery

A Father’s Blessing The Bible describes three types of blessings. First, we are blessed by God because he has done for us what we could not do for ourselves. Ephesians 1:3 tells us, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” Paul goes on to list many of the blessings we have received from God. Those blessings are too numerous to count. The second blessing is our command to bless God. Psalm 103:1 reminds us to “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!” We bless God when we praise him for what he has done for us. The third blessing is when we bless other people. One of the most important practices I learned as a father was to bless my family. Unfortunately, in our soci-

River Region Christians

June 2022

ety we unintentionally curse those we love the most. We do this through criticism, put downs, and complaints. Our hurtful words often imply that we do not value them or think that they are worthy. We might not mean to be hurtful, but that criticism often becomes prophetic. “You can’t do that” means they probably won’t. “You’re a bad boy” means they might become a bad boy. The negativity in our culture creates a society where speaking hurtful words over those we love becomes the norm. We must break this cycle by blessing others and becoming a blessing to them. How do we bless others? A blessing is praying over those we love and asking God to do for them what we cannot do for them ourselves. Often blessings are accompanied by an appropriate touch. Sometimes we do this subconsciously like when a small child runs by us, and we reach out and touch the top of his head. In that moment, we are saying, “we value you” and “we love you” even without speaking words. Often blessing involves speaking words aloud. When my children were small, I began the practice of placing my hand on their heads and praying over them after they said their nighttime prayers. That prayer often went like this, “Dear God, please bless Jay and keep him. Keep him safe and keep him pure. Make him strong so he can live for you. Make your face shine upon him and give him peace. Amen.” Every time 4

I blessed my children, I conveyed to them that I loved them, and I valued them. Even as teenagers, they would often seek me out at night to pray a blessing over them. The impact of the blessing on their lives was greater than I ever imagined. The blessing was so important to them that both of my children included it in their wedding ceremonies. The practice of blessing continued from my children to my grandchildren. When I saw my grandchildren for the first time, I laid my hands on them and prayed for God’s blessing on them. Now my children continue the practice by praying a blessing over their children. Mark tells us of an occasion when the people were bringing their children to Jesus so that he could bless them. The disciples rebuked them as if to say that those little children were not important enough for Jesus’ time. Jesus became indignant at the disciples and demanded that they let the children come to him. Mark 10:16 says, “And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.” Who can you bless today? Your spouse, your kids, or your grandkids. Maybe a child at church or an adult in your neighborhood just needs some affirmation. You can be the one to bless them. Your actions and words can say, “you have value,” and “you are important enough for me to pray for you.” People need someone to pray God’s blessing on them and change their lives. Bless them and don’t curse them. See what God can do through you today.

Dr. Teman Knight is the Pastor of Heritage Baptist Church on Perry Hill Road in Montgomery. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor for New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary extension center in Birmingham. Teman and his wife Darlana live in Montgomery. They have a son and a daughter and four extraordinary grandchildren. He can be reached at teman@hbcm.net.

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Faith in the Wilderness

Gospel People

Words of Exhortation from the Chinese Church

A Call for Evangelical Integrity

Edited by Hannah Nation and Simon Liu

by Michael Reeves

Christians in the West hear a lot about the church in China. We hear of its growth, of its strength, of its suffering, of its perseverance. We admire it and often laud it, yet in truth know very little of it. Though we often hear about the church in China, we rarely hear from the church in China (for at least a couple of reasons: There is a need for many of those believers to keep a low profile and, of course, there is a language barrier). Faith in the Wilderness: Words of Exhortation from the Chinese Church addresses this sad oversight with a series of exhortations—a series of translated “sermonic letters”—from Chinese Christians meant to teach and encourage. Together, they teach Christians specifically how to endure suffering, trials, and persecution, topics near and dear to the heart of Chinese Christians. Context matters and the context of Faith in the Wilderness is two-fold: persecution and pandemic. In her introduction, Hannah Nation says that “for the majority of Western Christians, the topics of persecution and pandemic might seem disparate. On the one hand, pandemics have been long removed from our lived experience, so when it is discussed, if it is discussed, we categorize it under natural evil and the suffering we experience living in a broken world. On the other hand, persecution tends to be siloed from other topics of suffering, and neatly tucked into the great theological debates of church and state.” Thus these topics tend to sit apart from one another. Yet this is not the case for the church in China—at least for the “underground” house church movement that sits apart from the state-sanctioned Three-Self Patriotic Movement. “Marginalized themselves, the house churches understand Christ’s care for the weak and suffering, and rejoice at preaching the good news to anyone who has ears to hear. As the Chinese house church knows, our hope is not in princes and power, but rather in the Savior who unites us to himself, his death and resurrection. Our strength is in bearing his cross, and our joy is in his suffering.” Faith in the Wilderness is a powerful and moving collection of sermonic letters and I am glad to recommend it. I am quite sure that if you take the time to read it, you will be both blessed and encouraged. Best of all, you will be better equipped to endure pandemic, persecution, and whatever else providence may have in store for you and for all of us. River Region Christians

June 2022

The word evangelical seems to have fallen out of favor, and perhaps for reasons that are understandable. Where the word once had a distinct Christian meaning, in recent years it has come to be conflated with politics as much as religion, with civil issues as much as spiritual. Many wonder whether the term is worth salvaging or if we should simply move on. Many wonder whether Christians should still consider themselves evangelical or whether it would better serve Christ’s cause to find a new selfdescription. Michael Reeves has wondered this as well and has written Gospel People: A Call for Evangelical Integrity to address the issue. “This is a book about being people of the gospel,” he says. “In other words, this is a book about what it means to be evangelical. I believe that there is a biblical case to be made for the importance and the goodness of being evangelical.” This is not to say that he will defend everything that calls itself evangelical since “across the world, swathes have come to self-identify as evangelical without holding to classic evangelical beliefs. And then there is the problem of how being ‘evangelical’ has become associated with particular cultures, with politics, or with race.” He believes that modern-day evangelicalism is facing a crisis of integrity in which many of those who consider themselves evangelicals “are being defined—and even defining themselves—by agendas other than the gospel.” The only solution is to go back to the foundations upon which evangelicalism was founded, “the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.” To be people of the gospel, we must begin with the gospel. Evangelicals, after all, are people of the gospel or, as the title of the book says, gospel people. “Evangelicalism, then, must be defined theologically. To be evangelical means to act, not out of cultural or political leanings, but out of theological, biblical convictions.” I tend to agree with Reeves that evangelical is a term worth embracing rather than abandoning for, as he says, there is simply no great alternative. There is no other word that has the historical pedigree and the depth of meaning. Hence, it falls to us to continue to use it and, even more importantly, to continue to ensure we are living as people of the gospel. There is lots to commend in Gospel People and it’s a joy to recommend it to you. 6

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Frazer Church is a place for every generation to connect and thrive through the

Summer Season. Learn more at WWW.FRAZER.CHURCH.

Sunday Schedule Traditional Worship 8:30AM Discipleship Hour 9:45AM Contemporary Worship 11:00AM JUNE

3 JUNE

4 JUNE

Grandparenting With a Plan Seminar Parenting With a Plan Seminar “Then Sings My Soul” Summer Choir Concert

JULY

13-15 July Jam for Kids Summer Teaching Series Did you know that God has always desired to dwell together with His people? Learn more through our Sunday moring sermon series, “God’s House,” as well as our Wednesday night study “The Seven Houses of God.”

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Summer at Frazer 7

June 2022

River Region Christians

positive and keeping a smile on your face in a dance class can change a dancer’s day. I’ve always wanted the dancers to have a place where they feel safe and can learn and feel welcomed and loved. God told us to love others, and I try so hard to teach the Golden Rule in my studio. RRC: Congratulations... your two daughters are expecting this year. What religious traditions do you plan to share with your grandchildren? TS: I have tried to instill the love of church, community, and remaining faithful. Our girls grew up with church, choir, piano, voice, tennis, softball, and dance! They both loved it and were my shining stars on stage. They were taught that whatever they started, they had to finish. I hope my grandchildren will continue attending church, Sunday school, choir, and other activities in the church.

RRC: For years, you’ve been the proud owner of Tonya’s Speed’s Dance Connection. What led you to establish a business that would positively impact our youth? TS: I’ve had Tonya’s Speed Dance Connection since 1986. As a young dancer growing up, I saw the influence of my dance teachers, which always had a positive impact on my life. I’ve always tried to see the good in others. Everyone has a talent, and everyone can dance with a little encouragement, training, and passion. RRC: How do you view your work as a vocation—a call from and a duty to God? TS: I think my vocation is a call from God to be in all the roles I have to play. Being River Region Christians

June 2022

opportunity. Dance is a universal language and is a way of praising God. RRC: Do you have different types of Scripture or literature that you read and follow? TS: I love Psalms 149:3-4. “Let them praise his name with dance.” I also love The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. Understanding your purpose gives meaning to life, and without God, life has no purpose. RRC: How does your studio demonstrate a family-friendly environment? TS: We always tell everyone when they enroll—welcome to the TSDC family. We offer a studio for dancers introverted or extroverted and want them to feel comfortable in their skin. Every dancer gets a chance to shine bright no matter their abilities. We promote equality, kindness, and encouragement.

RRC: Your mother was a woman of God. How does her rearing impact your life when faced with adversity?

RRC: What advice would you give to someone desiring to have a relationship with God, but finding it challenging?

TS: She taught me values, morals, and standards to live by and that I was wonderfully and fearfully made. She taught me that with God, anything is possible, but without God, I am nothing.

TS: I’ve had dancers who’ve struggled with faith and the desires of the world. It’s my job to create a godly atmosphere for students and parents. My advice is to seek Jesus. But it starts with a trusting relationship.

RRC: Explain how you bring your faith into your studio?

RRC: In 2017, you and your TSDC family faced a tragic loss of a student. You refer to that student as a “dancing angel moon” walking in heaven. How did that student bless your life?

TS: I bring faith by practicing the fruits of the spirit. I tell my dance team members that it’s not about the award you get at the competition, but about the joy in the journey to get there. My motto is to spread kindness like glitter. Leave a little sparkle everywhere you go. Being a faithful teacher requires being there for your students. RRC: Through the work you do within your studio, what do you want others to know that goes beyond teaching dance? TS: It excites me to share my love of dance in places off-site because working parents may not be able to give their children the 8

TS: He loved to dance and loved to entertain. We will never know the real reasons he is not with us anymore, but we know the lessons taken from the tragic loss. In a world where you can be anything, be kind. Don’t tear each other down, but build each other up. I bet he is bringing the joy of dance up above.

Tonya Speed is married to Butch Speed of 37 years. They live in Montgomery, AL, and have two daughters, Anne Preston (30) and Frances (26), and a new granddaughter, Olivia, born May 18.

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Of all the issues related to Christian living, few receive greater attention than knowing God’s will for our lives. Many believers, and especially younger ones, agonize over knowing what God means for them to do and how he means for them to live out their days. Many end up leaning toward a low-grade form of mysticism, longing to receive some kind of a sign from the skies or some kind of a word in their hearts. Many live with hesitation, wondering if they have missed their divine direction and are now experiencing God’s second best. Some end up doing nearly nothing for fear of doing the wrong thing. River Region Christians

June 2022

But it’s my conviction that many people think wrongly about this matter of knowing God’s will. It’s not that God has no plan for you. It’s not that he means for you to go without any kind of confidence that you are living a life that honors and pleases him. Rather, it’s that God does not mean for you to pry back the curtain of his hidden will. Instead, God means for you to respond to the leading of his revealed will. Generally speaking, where Scripture, providence, and desire converge you can move forward confident that you are doing God’s will. If there are multiple options that exist at that point of convergence, you can confidently choose any of them and trust that God will bless you. There is another key to knowing and doing the will of God and it’s this: your greatest focus should always be on whatever is plainly his will right now. Better than focusing on what God may have for you a year or a decade in the future is doing what God has provided for you today. For while God’s will for the future may be difficult or impossible to determine, his will for the present is usually not. • Though you may labor in prayer over whether God means for you to marry, what’s clear right now is that he means for

you to take full advantage of the opportunities and responsibilities that come with singleness. • Though you may be praying earnestly to know what career God has in mind for you, what’s clear right now is that he means for you to apply yourself to your studies. • Though you may be grappling with whether you should go to seminary, what’s clear right now is that God means for you to grow in godly character and to express it within the local church. We dishonor God when we focus on tomorrow’s faithfulness at the expense of today’s. We can get more granular still. You’ve heard it said, I’m sure, that everybody wants to change the world but no one wants to wash the dishes. We tend to focus on the big matters to the neglect of the small. Yet life is lived in the moment and in the minutiae. God’s will is as granular as expressing love by telling your mother “Let me do the dishes tonight” or expressing humility by approaching a friend to say, “I need to apologize to you.” It’s in going the extra mile to serve a cranky customer, in approaching that person who is alone at the end of the

church service, in sharing the gospel with a stranger in that moment when you absolutely know it’s the right thing to do. It’s as you learn to embrace God’s will in the small stuff that you are preparing yourself to do it in the big. If you are faithful to do God’s will in each moment you’ll eventually do God’s will in a lifetime. The fact is that life is a succession of days and days are a succession of moments. While you may not have utter clarity about what God means for you to do in a month, year, or decade, it’s rarely difficult to discern what God means for you to do right now. The man who is faithful to honor God in each moment cannot possibly be said to have wasted his life and the woman who seeks to do what God has made plain in a day will never be said to have lived without meaning. If you live each moment in obedience you will live each day in obedience, and if you live each day in obedience you will in time live your entire life in obedience. If you are faithful to do God’s will in each moment you’ll eventually do God’s will in a lifetime. And God will be well pleased. Tim Challies is a pastor, author, blogger and book reviewer.

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River Region Christians

Age: Kindergarten through 6th grade Registration online or call 272.2412. Eastern Hills Baptist Church 3604 Pleasant Ridge Road, Montgomery Theme: Destination Dig June 6-10, Times TBD Ages: 4 (by August 1st) through 6th grade Call 272.0604 or register online@ www.ehbconline.com. East Memorial Baptist Church 1320 Old Ridge Road, Prattville Answers In Genesis: Zoomerang! June 20-24, 9 a.m. to Noon Ages: K5 through 8th Grade Call 365.7500.

2022

Eastmont Baptist Church 4505 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery Theme: Spark Studios June 5-9; 6 p.m. – 8:15 pm Ages: K - grade 6 Register online @ www.eastmont.org or call 277.6300.

Vacation

Bible Schools

First Baptist Church ad on Back Cover

Blue Ridge Baptist Church 4471 Jasmine Hill Road, Wetumpka Theme: Spark Studios June 12-16, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. A family night musical performance will be held June 19 at 6:30 p.m. Call 567.4325.

Century Church at The Well 1001 Marler Road, Pike Road Theme: Making Waves July 18-21, 6-8 p.m. Ages: Rising Pre K4 – Rising 5th grade Please call (334) 801.9080 for information.

Calvary Baptist Church 431 W. Fourth Street, Prattville Theme: Joseph’s Journey to Egypt from Beginning to End June 4, 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Ages: Preschool – K; Grades 1-6 Pre-registration at calvarybaptistprattville. org/what’shappening Registration Information: 334-365-5213.

Christchurch Anglican

Camellia Baptist Church 201 Woodvale Road, Prattville Theme: Spark Studios June 5-9 from 6-9 p.m. Ages: Pre-K through 6th grade, plus adult classes. Register at www.camelliabaptist. com. Call 365.0231. Capital City Church of the Nazarene 4450 Vaughn Road, Montgomery Theme: Deep Sea Adventures: Exploring the Depths of Jesus’ Love” June 6-10, 6pm-8pm Ages 3-12. Register online at capcitynaz. org or onsite. For more information call 334-272-8176. River Region Christians

June 2022

ad on page 3

8800 Vaughn Road, Montgomery Theme: Jerusalem Marketplace June 13-17, 9 a.m. to Noon Ages 4 through rising 5th grade. Please visit christchurchanglican.net to register. Church of the Highlands 4255 Taylor Road, Montgomery Theme: Summer Blast June 27-29, 8:15 a.m. to Noon Children entering K in the fall through 6th grade. Please visit www.churchofthehighlands.com to register. Cornerstone Christian Church 301 Dalraida Road, Montgomery Theme to be announced June 20-22, 6-8 p.m. For more information, call 273-8595. Dalraida Baptist Church 3838 Wares Ferry Rd., Montgomery Theme: Destination Dig June 6-10, 9 until Noon 12

305 South Perry Street, Montgomery Theme: Spark Studios June 20-24, 9 a.m. to Noon You can register on our website at www. MontgomeryFBC.org. Call 834.6310.

First Baptist, Prattville ad on page 19

138 South Washington Street, Prattville Theme: Spark Studios June 20-24, 8:30 to noon Ages 3 years - 6th Grade. Children must be 3 years old by September 2 to attend. For information and/or to register, visit fbcprattville.org/vbs or call 365-0606. First Baptist Church, Wetumpka 205 W. Bridge Street, Wetumpka Theme: Monument Valley June 20-24, 6– 8 p.m. Ages: K-6th grade. Call 567.5191. First Christian Church 1705 Taylor Road, Montgomery Dates and theme: TBD Ages 4 years old – 6 grade Please call for more information, 270.1320 or visit www.fccmontgomery.org

First Presbyterian Church ad on page 11

211 S. Chestnut Street, Prattville Theme: Zoomerang June 6-9, Time to be decided Ages: 4 years old through entering 6th grade. Call 365.6387.

First UMC, Montgomery 2416 W. Cloverdale Park, Montgomery Theme: On a Roll with God June 6-8; 9 - Noon Ages 3 through 5th grade. Call 834.8990.

First UMC, Wetumpka ad on page 15

306 W. Tuskeena St., Wetumpka Theme: Focus June 5-7; 5:30 to 8 pm (dinner included) Call 567.7865 or visit www.wetumpkafirst.com/VBS. First UMC, Prattville 100 E. Fourth Street, Prattville Theme to be announced June 27-30, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Completed Kindergarten through 5th grade. Call 365.5977. Fountain City Baptist 492 East Main Street, Prattville Theme: Zoomerang! June 26-30; 6 - 8 p.m. Ages 5-12 years old. Call 365.2034.

Gateway Baptist Church ad on page 23

3300 Bell Road, Montgomery Theme: Spark Studios

June 13-17, 9 am- Noon Ages: Completed 1st through completed 5th. Call 272.9494 to register.

Ages: K4 - 6th Grade (grade completed) Email: hbc@connecthbc.com or call (334) 548.2620.

Glynwood Baptist Church 376 N. McQueen Smith Road, Prattville Theme: Spark Studio June 5-9, 6-8pm Ages: 4 through grade 6 For more info and to preregister, go to www.glynwoodbc.com or call 361.9180.

Heritage Baptist, Montgomery 1849 Perry Hill Road, Montgomery Theme: Connect Camp July 18-22 Ages: K through 8th grade Call 279.9976.

Grace Presbyterian Church 5 Bell Road, Montgomery Theme: “The Great Rescue” Creative Arts Camp June 6-10, 8:45 a.m. until 1 pm. Drama, Singing, Creative Movement & Art Ages: 6 years to entering 6th graders. Registration deadline is May 23rd. Please call 272.4930 or visit www.discovergrace.org GracePointe VBS 1565 Ray Thorington Road, Montgomery Sundays only, May 29-June 26, 9a.m. Ages: 5-11 years. Call 271.2525. Hayneville Baptist Church 1180 State Hwy 21 N, Hayneville, AL Theme: Spark Studio July 17-21, 5:45 until 8:30 p.m.

Heritage Baptist, Prattville 1357 S. Memorial Drive, Prattville Theme: Zoomerang! June 5-9, 6-8 p.m. Ages: Pre-School through completion of 6th grade. Call 365-2372. Holy Spirit Catholic Church 8570 Vaughn Road, Montgomery Theme: Monumental July 18-22, 9 a.m. to Noon Age: Entering Preschool – rising 5th grade Call 277.1989 or register online at www.holyspiritmgm.org Millbrook Presbyterian (PCA) 3480 Main Street, Millbrook Theme: To be announced June 27-30; 5:30-8 p.m. Ages: Entering K5 thru 5th grade. For registration, call 285-4031.

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River Region Christians

Montgomery Area Episcopal Churches Saint John’s Episcopal Church, 113 Madison Ave., Montgomery Dates and Times to be announced Ages: Rising K4 through rising 6th grade For registration, call 263.5529. Morningview Baptist Church 125 Calhoun Road, Montgomery Theme: Monumental June 6-9, 9 a.m. to Noon Ages: Completed Kindergarten-5th grade Call 272.2304. Mulder UMC 3454 Firetower Road, Wetumpka Theme: Make Waves June 5-8; 6 – 8 p.m. Registration required and ends May 19. For more info please call 567.4225. Ridgecrest Baptist Church 5260 Vaughn Road, Montgomery Theme: Spark Studio June 6-10; 6-8 p.m. Ages: 1st-6th grade. Please visit rbcmontgomery.com or call 277.0011. Saint James Methodist Church 9045 Vaughn Road, Montgomery Theme: Monumental

June 13-15, 9 to Noon Ages: K5-5th grade.Call 277.3037. Taylor Road Baptist Church 1685 Taylor Road, Montgomery Theme: Spark Studio June 20-24, 8:30 a.m. to Noon For children who have completed K5 through 5th grade. Call 271.3363. Thelma Baptist VBS 810 Weoka Road, Wetumpka Theme: Make Waves June 6-10; 9 a.m. to Noon For children who have completed PreK through 6th. Call 567-3665. Thorington Road Baptist 450 Ray Thorington Road, Montgomery Theme: Zoomerang July 17-21; 6-8:30 p.m. Ages: K5 yrs. to 5th grade. Call 396.9376. Trinity Presbyterian Church 1728 S. Hull Street, Montgomery Theme: One Way Cafe June 6-10, 9 a.m. to Noon. Ages: Pre-K 4 through completed 6th grade. Call 262.3892 to pre-register.

Trinity United Methodist Church, Prattville 610 Fairview Avenue, Prattville Theme: Food Truck Party June 14-16, 5-8 p.m. Dinner provided for children every night. Call 365.7339. University Church of Christ 5315 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery Theme: The Great Outdoors June 19-22; Sunday, supper at 5:30 with reservations made at ucoc.org/vbs and Monday-Wednesday at 6:30-8 p.m. Ages: newborn thru 6th grade Adult classes will be available. Please call 386.7320 or visit www.ucoc.org. Vaughn Forest Church 8660 Vaughn Road, Montgomery Theme: Kids Camp and Parent Experience July 24-26; Times to be announced Ages: Birth though middle school Registration at www.vaughnforest.com. Call 279.5433. Vaughn Park Church of Christ 3800 Vaughn Road, Montgomery June 17, from 9 until noon For more info, contact Carrie Stark at 272.2665.

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June 2022

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Learning to Keep

Value, Worth in His Hands

“I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.” (John 17:4) It can be difficult focusing on that when we care too much of what others think. When we can’t seem to just continue working to accomplish what He has provided us – with the gifts He bestowed upon us.

We’re all pleasers to some extent. Some, more than others (are we in this together?). And I believe it’s natural and honest to want to make good impressions, to work hard to meet expectations, but we shouldn’t forget that at the end of the day, it is our Savior and His love for us that matter most. That everything we do, feel, think, act upon, is not only done according to His will, but to please Him. To glorify Him. And it should serve as a reminder where our focus needs to remain. Be that honest friend with someone else. Remind them of their worth and value, but also remind them where it should be centered. And then watch them start glorifying in ways that matter most.

• Praise Him with your lips: “My lips will glorify you.” (Psalm 63:3). The noblest use of our tongues is to give praise to God. • Seek the good of others: “No one is to seek his own good, but the good of the other person.” (1 Cor. 10:24) • Give generously: “They will glorify God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity.” (2 Cor. 9:13) So we see, it’s not even what we accomplish with our talents He has given ATTENTION WETUMPKA AREA FAMILIES us. Glorifying Him is in our every breath throughout the day. How we treat others. Finding the good in people around us. Realizing what we say and how we approach UNITED METHODIST situations reflects how WETUMPKA we glorify Him. A church for your family, If we stopped wormeeting the needs of our community. rying so much about what others thought of us, we would be able to live freely through His message in all aspects of our life: in how we reach out to others. The kindness we offer. Through the grudges we don’t hold. Come worship with us! When my friend reminds me – more often than I’d care to admit – to live generwww.wetumpkafirst.com/worship ously through Him, it sets me back on track First United Methodist Church of Wetumpka in my life. Through my 306 W. Tuskeena St., Wetumpka, AL 36092 prayer life. My personal life. My advocacy work. @wetumpkafirst • (334) 567-7865 It sets my mind back to secretary@firstwetumpka.com where it needs to be.

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Lately, I have been putting my value and worth into the wrong hands. I’ve been looking for accolades through various areas of my life – specifically, from people in my life – and forgetting who I live for, and what I strive to accomplish. How often do we put our identity into what others think? It happens when we want to be included, when we want to be told that what we’re doing in our everyday life is “good” or that we’re successful by other’s standards of whatever that means – and that’s by their definition, not even ours. I have a friend who is honest with me whenever I feel this. Who reminds me over and again that we live and work for the kingdom. That what we do is for Him. That while we have to adhere to standards, and follow set rules and guidelines at times, that we also need to remember who we strive to glorify. And it’s not our neighbor. Or our friend we might try to reel back in after a disconnect. Or even our family. Because if we’re not working hardest to glorify God in all we do, then we’re on the wrong path. We have the wrong priorities. The wrong structure we’ve set before us. A plan that is not ours. This is true not only in our everyday walk. But in all of our relationships. Even in our jobs. Dare I say even with strangers – trying to impress those who don’t even know us in our “look at me” social media world.

When our minds drift off, wondering what others see in us, what they think of what we’re doing. It’s hard. Or, we make it hard. And we can lose focus on what matters. But we don’t have to. Explore the Bible mentions several ways to glorify God in all we do – every single day. A few:

Online and On-Campus

June 2022

River Region Christians

Anti-Social (Media)? We will likely have social media with us for years to come, but there are signs that younger users of social media platforms may be souring. A Faithwire story stated: Zoomers — those born in the late 1990s and early 2000s — are turning their backs on TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram, leaving behind what many now see as “the ultimate waste,” according to the New York Post. The anti-app exodus comes as Gen Zers are calling the platforms “toxic” and “obsessive.” A new survey of 10,000 people commissioned by the investment bank Piper Sandler found just 22% of respondents between the ages of 7 and 22 named Instagram as their favorite app — down from 31% in 2020.

Another survey, published at Nature. com, according to Faithwire, which surveyed a significantly larger number of people - over 84,000 people ages 10 to 80... ... found that “the cross-sectional relationship between self-reported estimates of social media use and life satisfaction ratings is most negative in younger adolescents.” Ultimately, the survey results suggested social media use negatively impacts younger users’ body image, life satisfaction, and self-esteem. The Verge reported that, regardless of whether they used social media very frequently or sparingly, adolescents in the 16-to-21-year-old range saw lower life satisfaction simply as a result of engaging with the platforms.

A New York Post story stated: According to a report in the Wall Street Journal last year, Facebook found that Instagram is harmful to teen girls and exacerbates body image issues, anxiety and depression, but downplayed the significance of those internal studies.

Emotional effects were also highlighted in another poll; the Post said: “A December survey from Tallo found that 56% of Gen Zers said ‘social media has led them to feel left out by their peers.’” River Region Christians

June 2022

The article adds: According to the Tallo poll, most Gen Z respondents prefer TikTok to Instagram, with 34% calling it their favorite social media spot right now. But even the most dedicated users admit to questioning the video-sharing phenom. A questionable incident occurred recently involving a 12-year-old who responded to a socalled “challenge” on TikTok. His name is Nick Howell, and CBN.com reported:

According to People Magazine, 12-year-old Nick Howell is warning people about the risks involved with social media challenges. “You shouldn’t try everything you see on social media,” he told People. “It won’t go well. I want to tell people not to be a follower, but to be a leader.” The CBN article stated: In Oct. 2020, Nick was sitting outside of his grandmother’s house in Miami with his siblings and cousins. The kids were talking about the fire challenge which involves pouring an accelerant on oneself and then lighting the fire. “I poured a little bit of rubbing alcohol on the (concrete) floor, lit it and put it out,” Nick recalled. “But I guess the bottle had caught on fire, and it exploded. I started burning.” His family members hosed him down, but not after he suffered burns on 35% of his body and had to have 50 surgeries.

CBN related: Tiktok updated its Community Guidelines in February, stating, “We do not permit users to share content depicting, promoting, normalizing or glorifying dangerous acts that may lead to serious injury or death. 16

In December, CBN News reported on a viral TikTok trend known as the “devious licks” challenge.

That “challenge” invited students “to act inappropriately or damage school property” and post about it on the app. Through the Internet and other information sources, we come face-to-face with material that can defile us, corrupt our minds and our emotions, and even result in physical harm. There is also the social insufficiency that younger generations, consisting of voracious users of social media, seem to have discovered. The COVID crisis has taught us that virtual relationships are not a real substitute for real interaction. The line of demarcation between the real world and the virtual world has become blurred, and people are left desiring the type of fellowship that God has prescribed for human beings in His Word. This also impacts our churches. Leonardo Blair of The Christian Post wrote recently about how the emphasis on virtual ministry has had some consequences for churches - some have closed, others have dug deeper into what is called the “metaverse.” While social media and other uses of technology can be effective ministry resources, we also should be aware that there are aspects of social media that can isolate and even divide believers. The bottom line: our sufficiency is in Christ - if we are looking to technology or anything else to try to truly satisfy our deepest, emotional needs - something that only Jesus can do - then, we should recalibrate our focus and look to the One who calls us into a relationship with Himself and gives us a rich, fruitful, joyful life.

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River Region Christians

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And it was in 2001 that Hancock heard God’s call to help His people become His vessels. Following God’s lead, Jo and her husband, Keith, founded His Vessel Ministries to help Christians choose life, and to also experience a faith that is real, relevant, and lived out on all fronts. At His Vessel Ministries, the mission is to transform Christians into pure, holy vessels that are formed by His Word, filled with His power, and poured out for His glory. Each one of us is presented with daily choices between life and death, blessings, and curses. But learning to put aside these old ways in order to embrace the new isn’t automatic, even for those who are in Christ. Christians may

There’s not anything that God would ask of Jo Hancock that she would say no to. So when God truly grabbed hold of her heart as she practiced law, she just fell in love with Him. And she surrendered her life, her practice, her entire self, to serving Him and leading others to Him. “I realized I didn’t really know God the way I needed to,” she said. “People ask me, how do I know my purpose. You don’t go searching for a purpose – you go searching for God and He will walk you right in the midst of your purpose. One by one, I started helping people because my spiritual gift is teaching. People were asking for what I had.” River Region Christians

June 2022

desire to “choose life” but usually need help learning how to do so. “I just had blank pieces of paper and started there,” Jo Hancock said of developing the ministry. “What I see so often in the body of Christ is that we’re doing a great job evangelizing and leading people to receive Christ, but many times nobody comes back to disciple them.” And God placed it on Jo’s heart to do just that. She knew in her heart that God didn’t want to be tacked onto her life, but wanted to become her life. In choosing to

“I just had blank pieces of paper and started there,” Jo Hancock said of developing the ministry. “What I see so often in the body of Christ is that we’re doing a great job evangelizing and leading people to receive Christ, but many times nobody comes back to disciple them.” leave her professional world of work, and surrender her life to Christ, she committed wholly to following His plans for her life. She purposed to love God with all her heart, soul, and strength. No matter the cost. “Rather than get people busy serving, I always believe the first step is to teach people to love God with all their heart and soul and strength,” Jo said, echoing her own journey. “And from that, it expanded my heart for discipleship. We do a lot of discipleship (in His Vessel Ministries). As we build that love relationship with God – that requires not just head knowledge – we learn God’s more interested in getting a hold of our heart. From there, He teaches us from the Word, what we need, so we can live from the Word. We can memorize scripture and quote it, but how do we live it. Jo explains, “People in society are looking for truth. From that, I (was able)

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for many years to disciple individuals one-on-one because of what God was teaching me.” By working together with their partners, His Vessel is helping God’s people to: • boldly and lovingly live a life that brings God glory and become rooted in truth • embrace wholeheartedly the true life and blessings found in Christ • actively put to death the deadly habits and poisonous patterns that keep them from being pure and holy vessels • firmly stand for God’s ways to be honored and infused in hearts, homes, and the community “It starts in our homes, our congregations, and our communities,” Jo said. “We are the light, and Jesus is the answer. We have to be ready to share that information – to disciple people.

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June 2022

River Region Christians

“There’s a big difference between discipleship and Bible study. Discipleship is walking with people, living life together, knowing how to put truth on our life... because we all mess up and we’re all searching for these answers. I’ve been discipling for over 25 years. We went from individuals to groups. I knew if God was calling me to do that, that he would equip me.” Jo writes discipleship courses for His Vessel Ministries to help individuals become a vessel for God. She humbly shares her pilgrimage experience of how God can take a wounded and wandering heart and mold it into His Vessel. Through her teachings, Jo removes all facades, allowing others to see her in an up close and real manner, revealing her life so others may benefit spiritually. In the beginning, she started with a group of 13 women who committed to a year of study. And at the end of that first year, they wanted more. “I said, ‘I taught you all I know,’” she said, laughing. “So, we journeyed for another year. They wanted to go deeper. To know God and to continue transforming their hearts. It was just amazing what God was doing. That’s how His Vessel started.” Small, in-person groups meet twice a month. They fellowship together. Then there’s teaching, with one lesson building on another. “You can truly see the Word become alive to them,” Jo said. “And they see that Christ is the answer. It does take a good year to be rooted and grounded. I tell people all the time that I don’t always get it right, but my heart is always to get it right. And God sees our heart. And God needs us where we are with the truth. I do have a heart and a love for God, and I do mess up.”

Prior to Covid-19, Jo said she learned how to take the information she used in person and offer it online. While the online study is more condensed and pointed, it still offers the opportunity to join together online for live chats. When Covid hit, “we never shut down. In fact, we multiplied,” Jo said. Another area of the ministry Jo feels is important is one in which she disciples women to become lovers of their home. “God of Order: The Blueprint for Bringing Peace to the Home” is a 10-month teaching focusing on applying the precepts of Christ in one’s life and home while learning from and walking alongside another mature Christians. “It’s making your home that sanctuary, so that at any moment, if God wanted, He could knock on your door and your home would be lined up,” she said. That it would be not only in spiritual order, but physical order as well. Discipleship is with a few at a time, Jo said of the ministry programs, which includes those in their 20s through seniors. “You can’t have a lot at one time. “Prayer is the other emphasis. It really goes back to the heart. We’re so trained to look at the demographics out there. But God is focused on our hearts. I don’t know anyone who has come through His Vessel and not been transformed. God has become more real in their life. They have become set free. They understand.” Jo knows unequivocally, that when people fall in love with God, that He puts them on the path where they are meant to be – and that it all starts with building that intimacy with God. And that includes the “Watchmen Over the City” program that began in 2004.

In 2015, His Vessel Ministries began organizing Watchmen in other counties in the state of Alabama. The goal is to have Watchmen praying in unity in all 67 counties. Currently, they are organized in 11 counties. As Watchmen pray in unity, standing shield-to-shield throughout the state, the ministry believes God will be a protective wall of fire around Alabama (Zechariah 2:5). The more Watchmen praying, the higher the firewall of protection. “Our ministry room is downtown in Union Station,” Jo said. “We’ve been down there for almost 20 years, on Water Street. We lead a lot of prayer over the city of Montgomery. That’s the spiritual gate of the city. We have individuals commit daily who walk the streets and pray. Asked what, at the end of the day, allows her to feel she has accomplished what she set out to accomplish, Jo answered, “It really starts in the morning. “I go to bed every night with an excitement that I can hardly wait to get up and start my day in my prayer closet alone with God. Before I get busy in my home, I pray, ‘God, today, I think I’m going to do this-thisthis, but I’m here, reporting for duty.’ I ask Him what He has already designed for me to do today. Whatever God has designed for me to accomplish that day, that’s my day. “At the end of the day, I ask, ‘God, are you pleased with me today?’ My only desire is to love and please him. When I go to bed, if there is a peace in my heart, I know I ac Visit online at www.hisvessel.org to learn more about getting involved!

Kym Klass is a contributing writer and Communications Director of the Media Ministry at Frazer Memorial UMC in Montgomery.

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June 2022

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Marriage’s Dirty Word: Submission Ahh, June – the time for weddings. June comes in second place as one of the most popular months for nuptials. Sixteen percent of all weddings occur in September, followed by June at fifteen percent. Therefore June is also a month full of anniversaries celebrating those weddings. One topic of particularly heated discussions around marriage is the issue of submission. Submission isn’t really a bad word all by itself. Arguments don’t arise when submitting to the authority of our boss, our pastor, the government, or the laws that govern us. These types of submission help our credentials in the workforce, help us qualify for leadership, and keep us from fines. We don’t cry, “Unfair!” We just submit and go about our business. Why do we mind so much submitting to our husband? He is closer to us and knows us better than the boss, the pastor, or the government. Perhaps we struggle with spousal compliance because we haven’t seen the divine nature of submission within marriage. Or maybe we really don’t understand the benefits. To get a clearer picture of our roles in marriage, let’s look at the first couple, Adam and Eve. These young people lived in a perfect world, a garden that was a little bit of heaven on Earth. Their relationship with each other was pure as they connected to God face-to-face each evening. After the Fall, they no longer dealt in face-to-face counsel with the Almighty. Satan had entered in to distort their rela-

tionship with God. Satan could have just stopped there, because Satan’s complaint was with God. But it wasn’t enough. Satan knew he needed to also mess up Adam and Eve’s relationship. He knew the importance marriage had in the divine plan of God and needed to stop it through divorce, warped societal philosophies, and redefining it beyond a man and a woman. He worked on marriage by convincing women that submission meant wives were not as valued as husbands. If we are to truly rise to thwart the enemy’s plans, we need to understand that marital submission is not a dirty word. After the Fall, God had to create hierarchies of authority, since man was no longer going to have face-to-face instruction. Those divisions of authority can irritate our need to have everything be equal. Nothing is truly equal in this world or there would be chaos. Roles of leadership, government, etc. could not exist. Submission is not being subservient. If it was, Jesus’s sacrifice would not have had its power. Remember, Jesus is part of the Trinity. He is God. Yet He did not try to grasp that authority and devise a way He didn’t have to go to the cross. He submitted to living in human flesh, bearing our sins, and rising victoriously. (Philippians 2:5-8) Jesus’ example to women is unprecedented! If He can leave heaven to 21

submit, we should be able to submit within marriage. Women are not to be subservient to their husbands. They are to fulfill a role within the hierarchy of the marriage. (Ephesians 5:22-23) Every time we lift up our marriage, we shoot the devil in the foot because we are imitating Jesus. Every time we choose to submit we slap the devil in the face because we choose to die daily. Every time we choose unity we shoot the devil in the heart because we restore the unity that was in the Garden of Eden. The destruction of marriage is important to the devil because marriage is a picture of the Trinity. The Trinity is comprised of three Persons as one God. (John 10:30) In the same way, Scripture says marriage is two people becoming one. (Genesis 2:24) Each Person in the Trinity has their role, so do husband and wife. Each Person in the Trinity defers to the others, so should wives and husbands. Each member of the Trinity is just as valuable as the others; the same is true for spouses, yet hierarchy is established for both the divine and the earthly. So while you celebrate your anniversary, answer some questions from a divine perspective. Since marriage is the #1 character builder, would you want to throw away the best chance of developing your character? Jesus said to forgive 70 times 7. How many sins did God forgive when Jesus took every sin ever committed on the cross? Are we able to forgive when our spouse oversteps and causes us hurt? Since marriage reflects the Trinity’s unity, would you want to ignore this way of demonstrating the image of God to your children and the world? So, don’t just put up with it, embrace submission, woman of God! And enjoy your part in God’s divine plan! June 2022

River Region Christians

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It does me good to consider all the things for which I have to be thankful. I owe gratitude to God for so much, but near the top of the list, and on my mind today, is my children. I’m thankful to be a dad for these reasons and many more: River Region Christians

June 2022

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Cuddles: I am thankful to be a dad for the cuddles. My sixteen-year-old son doesn’t cuddle me anymore, but my girls still do, and I love them for it. I love to hold them close, I love to tell them they are loved, I love to let them know that they are safe, protected, provided for. I cuddle them gently to know that I treasure them. I gather them in my arms and carry them up to bed to let them know I’m strong. And they cuddle me to let me know I’m loved in return. I think I might need their cuddles just as much as they need mine.

We work tirelessly to help kids get well because the world needs to see what Natalie dreams up.

Eyes: I am thankful for the eyes of a daughter for her father. There is something about the way a girl looks at her daddy, something in her eyes that is pure and sweet and deep, and maybe even fierce. Her eyes show love, trust…and is it admiration? It’s not like the love of friend to friend or husband to wife or father to son. It’s not better or worse, but different, unique. It’s a love any good daddy wants to treasure.

WE DO WHAT WE DO BECAUSE CHILDREN HAVE DREAMS.

Holiness: I am thankful to be a dad because my children push me to grow in holiness. They push me to grow in holiness by exposing my lack of holiness. They don’t mean to—it just happens as we live life together. They expose my impatience, my irritability, my selfishness, my pride. I know they need a dad who doesn’t just demand holiness but who also displays it. So in their own way they’ve pushed me to grow in the noblest traits while putting to death the ugliest. Protection: I am thankful to be a dad to feel protection toward my children. And as a father I do feel fiercely protective toward them. There is nothing I wouldn’t do to protect them from harm, to prevent them from experiencing pain. Sometimes I read in the news or the history books of a father who has sacrificed his life for his children. I am moved but not surprised. What father wouldn’t trade his life for his child’s? What father wouldn’t throw himself in front of a predator, bus, or bullet to protect his child?

1 6 0 0 7 T H AV E N U E S O U T H BIRMINGHAM, AL 35233 (205) 638-9100 | ChildrensAL.org

Pride: I am thankful to be a dad so I can feel pride in my children. Yes, I know that pride is the chief of sins and that pride comes before a fall. But not this pride. This is the kind of pride God has in his Son, that God has in us, his children. It is a good pride, a pride that desires to give to those children all that they need, a pride that delights in their accomplishments no matter how big or small. This is a pride that seeks the good of the other, that delights in the good of the other. In this way I’m proud of my children, proud to be their dad. 23

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River Region Christians

Humility: I am thankful to be a dad to grow in humility. Yes, being a dad generates pride (good pride!) but it also generates humility. I see the good traits of my children and know: I can’t take the credit for this. I see their accomplishments and know: They are capable in ways I’m a failure. I see all that they are, all that they do, all that they have become and are becoming, and I have to be humbled, I have to give humble thanks to God for his goodness. Friends: I am thankful to be a dad as it allows me to become a friend. One of the great joys of parenting is experiencing that slow transition through which your children become your friends. What a joy it is to realize that you aren’t only spending time with them because you have to and you aren’t spending time with them just because it’s your parental duty. No, you’re spending time with them because you just plain love them, you love to be with them. Your children have become your friends. Hope: I am thankful to be a dad for the hope my children give. In my children I see hope—hope for the church, hope for humanity. I see children who are kind and moral and growing in godliness. I see children who have been raised in a way that stands out from the world around them. I see children who know that they need to be heavenlyminded if they are to be of any earthly good. I see my children and feel hope. Beauty: I am thankful to be a dad to appreciate beauty. What dad isn’t convinced that his daughters are the most beautiful creatures in all the earth? What dad doesn’t love to hear the question, “Daddy, how do I look?” She approaches with her dress on, she does a twirl, her hair flies, her dress puffs. “How do I look?” There is only one appropriate answer: “You look perfect. You look beautiful.” And she does. Fatherhood: I am thankful to be a dad so I can better appreciate the fatherhood of God. God reveals himself to us as Father—Father to the Son and Father to all those whom he adopts into his family. Being a father to my children has given me glimpses—vague and fleeting glimpses, perhaps—of what it means for God to be Father. Seeing God as Father challenges me to love like God loves, to parent like God parents. Seeing God as Father allows me to rest secure, knowing that my children have a bigger, better Father who will provide for their every need.

Tim Challies is a pastor, author and blogger. Visit him at www.challies.com.

River Region Christians

June 2022

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deep breathing exercises are excellent ways to assist in the reflecting process. Joshua 1:8 says:

Rest, Reflect, Restore and Reset Summer is starting, and the 20212022 school year has come to an end, allowing for the perfect opportunity to take some time to Rest, Reflect, Restore and Reset. Matthew 11:28 says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” This scripture talks about rest for the soul when you are aligned with God and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. As a child of God, you enter into an uninterrupted time of fellowship, a state of rest with God and man. It is essential to have both a spiritual and natural rest. Our physical bodies need rest as well as our spirits. Resting improves moods, reduces stress, decreases health problems, and sharpens the brain. When you are rested you can think clearly and function better at tasks, plus communicate more effectively with others. Reflect on the previous school year. What were the successes for the family? What were areas where the family could improve? What were the strengths, weaknesses, and problems of the family and each individual within the family? Identify areas that need to be celebrated and the areas that need to be strengthened for the family to be successful and for each member of the family to function at their maximum potential. Prayer, meditation, and

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Restore by involving the family in activities that rejuvenate. A practical way for a family to build resiliency and restore and maintain physical and mental energy is by engaging in rejuvenating activities. Activities such as walking, rock climbing, nature hikes, and visiting parks are great ways to restore and maintain physical and mental energy. A simple game of catch can be a rewarding connecting activity for children. Other ways to restore and build resiliency include trying a new activity, inventing a game, learning to play an instrument, journaling, visiting family and friends, blowing bubbles, making sock puppets, making paper airplanes, cooking, and trying new foods together. Reset to have a great start for the next school year by taking the time to set SMART goals for your children and the entire family. SMART goals are goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. A specific goal is concise, clear, and understandable, so a plan can be implemented towards achiev25

ing the goal. A goal must be measurable to monitor progress to know when the goal is within reach or if adjustments to the plan need to be made. Also, the goal should be achievable. Ask yourself, is the goal within your control? Can the goal be realistically achieved? The goal should be challenging but not impossible. In addition, you have to ask yourself honestly if the goal is even relevant. Does this goal have any longterm benefit or value to the family? Is this goal in line with the direction the family is going? Proverbs 22:6 says “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Lastly, goals should be time-bound by having a target date, a date by which you would like to have achieved the goal. That does not mean the date cannot be changed or adjusted. However, establish a reasonable amount of time to reach the goal. Set SMART goals to help establish the path that your family will follow. May your summer be a time to Rest, Reflect, Restore and Reset. If you would like more information, contact the Samaritan Counseling Center at (334) 262-7787.

Elizabeth D. Cates is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate, an Associate Licensed Counselor, a National Certified Counselor, Certified Grief Counseling Specialist, a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, and a Certified AutPlay Therapy Provider. She works with individuals, couples, families, adolescences, and children to address a wide range of concerns, including autism, trauma, and grief. Her clinical interests include marriage and couples therapy, healthy relationships, family therapy, and military and homeschooling families.

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River Region Christians

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Adoption

Location: Vaughn Forest Church, 8660 Vaughn Road, Montgomery APAC, Alabama Pre/ Post Adoption Connection Support Group: This group provides education and social interaction for adoptive families. Meets 3rd Tuesdays, 6-7:30 p.m. For more information call Jill Sexton at 409-9477.

Alcoholic / Addiction

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 Christcentered 12-step program. Call 264-4949. Location: Christchurch Anglican Church, 8800 Vaughn Road next to Southern Homes and Gardens Celebrate Recovery meets every Friday night. Dinner at 6:00, nursery available for children 4 and under. Large Meeting starts at 6:30. For more information, contact Dolly McLemore 334-301-3490. Location: Dalraida United Methodist Church 3817 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery An Alanon meeting is held at 9 am on Saturday mornings. Call 272.2190 for details. Location: Grace Presbyterian Church, Corner of Bell Road and Atlanta Hwy. Alcoholics Anonymous and Alanon meetings are held Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, at 6 p.m. An Open AA Speaker meeting is held on Saturday at 6 p.m. An Alanon & AA held on Sundays at 2 p.m. Location: Grace Point Community Church, 78223 Tallassee Hwy (Hwy 14), Wetumpka Celebrate Recovery- every Tuesday night- 6:15pm. All are welcome! These meetings are a safe and loving environment for individuals seeking to conquer their hurts, habits and hang-ups! gracepoint.info. Location: Heritage Baptist Church, 1849 Perry Hill Rd, Montgomery, AL Route1520 is a Christ-centered recovery movement dedicated to showing the way home for men impacted by sex and pornography addiction. Meets: Mondays, 6:30 – 8:00 PM CST. No Childcare Provided. Email montgomery@route1520.com, visit http://www.route1520.com/ men/groups-for-men/ or call 877.200.1520. Location: Journey Church, 435 Sheila Blvd, Prattville Celebrate Recovery - Christ-centered 12-step for anyone struggling with addiction or life-challenging issues. Mondays beginning at 6:15 pm. Childcare available.

River Region Christians

June 2022

Call John Pearse at 303-243-4308 or visit myjourneychurch.com. Location: Landmark Church, 1800 Halcyon Blvd. RSVP- This is a 12 step spiritual recovery program for overcoming addictions. Wednesday @ 6:30pm in Rm. 121 of the Life Center. Location: Prattville Church of Christ, 344 E Main St. CASA - 12 step (Christians Against Substance Abuse) spiritual recovery program, for overcoming addictions. Class begins each Wednesday evening @6:30 PM. Please call 334-365-4201 for additional information. Location: St. James UMC, 9045 Vaughn Road Celebrate Recovery meets every Thursday night from 6-8 pm in the Youth Room. This is a Christ-centered 12-step group for anyone struggling with an “addiction or life-challenging issues.” For information, call Chris Henderson at 334-215-0427. Location: First United Methodist Church, Wetumpka 306 W. Tuskeena Street ‘Fresh Start’ Recovery meets every Thursday, 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. For any information contact ministry leader, Paul Henderson, 334-201-5428. Location: Trinity Presbyterian Church, 1728 S. Hull Street, Montgomery Route1520 is a Christ-centered recovery movement dedicated to showing the way home for men impacted by sex and pornography addiction. Meets Wednesday from 6:30-8 pm. For more information email riverregion@route1520.com, visit http:// www.route1520.com/ men/groups-for-men or call 877-2000-1520.

Alzheimer’s / Dementia

Location: First UMC, 2416 W. Cloverdale Park, An Adult Parkinson/Alzheimer’s respite ministry meets from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Lunch is served. Contact Daphne at 834-8990. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy An Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregivers’ Support Group meets on the first Thursday of each month at 10:30 a.m. in Room 3103. Call 495-6343. for more information.

Cancer

Location: Aldersgate UMC, 6610 Vaughn Rd 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: 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 UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy. Central Alabama Multiple Myeloma Support Group meets from 10 a.m. to noon the second Saturday of every month in Room 3105. We have guest speakers, video presentations, printed information and a group that welcomes sharing their journey with myeloma in an informal setting. Refreshments are provided. Contact Joe Crowley at 334-207-4385 or jpcrowl46@yahoo.com Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy. 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 Room 8114. Call 220-4599 or e-mail womenofhope@charter.net

Divorce

Location: First Baptist Church, 305 S. Perry Street Divorce Care Wednesday nights @6:30-8:00 pm in Room 405B. Child care is available. Contact Kathy Cooper at 241-5125 for information. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Divorce Care meets each Tuesday from 6 – 7:30 p.m. Come to the Library area. This group will provide support & guidance to assist you in working through the issues, pain & pressures surrounding divorce. Call 495-6343 or email rnave@frazer.church.

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Gambling

Location: Cedarwood Community Church, 10286 US HWY 231 in the Wallsboro/Wetumpka community. The church is 1 1/2 miles past Tutweiler prison. Gamblers Anonymous, Saturdays at 6 pm. and Mondays at 6:30 pm. Call 567-0476. Location: Mental Health of America, 1116 South Hull Street, Montgomery. Sundays @ 5 pm. For more information about the GA meetings call 334399-6918. For information about counseling services or to request a guest speaker please call the Alabama Council on Compulsive Gambling at 334-277-5100.

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Grief

Location: Cornerstone Christian Church, 301 Dalraida Road River Region Survivors of Suicide meets on the second and fourth Thursday of every month (excluding holidays) from 6:30-8:00 PM. Welcomes anyone regardless of their religious beliefs. Contact Cheryl Vinson at riverregionsos@gmail.com. Location: Eastmont Baptist, 4505 Atlanta Hwy. Compassionate Friends is a national self-help support organization for families grieving the death of a child meeting first Tuesdays at 7 pm. Call (334) 284-2721. Location: Church of the Highlands, 4255 Taylor Rd. Eryn’s Embrace offers hope and healing to children and teens grieving the loss of a loved one through peer support groups. Meets the 2nd Tuesday of every month from 4-5:15. More info: www.erynsembrace.org; erynsebrace@gmail.com; Erin Camp 334-657-1871.

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Location: First UMC, 100 E. Fourth St, Prattville Grief Share, led by Dave Dageford. Call 365-5977 if you are interested.

Location: Frazer UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy GriefShare, Wednesday mornings 10am -12pm in the East Sanctuary. For more information call the church 272-8622. Dian Sims (facilitator)

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Location: Grace Baptist Church, 304 Old Montgomery Highway, Wetumpka Mourning to Morning is a Christian growth group for mothers who have lost a child, from before birth through adulthood. Meets the last Thursday night of each month. For info, contact Alice Scarborough (334) 462-4775 or Gwen Ellis (334) 567-8754. Location: Millbrook FUMC, 3350 Edgewood Rd Grief Share meets Sundays from 5-7 p.m. For more information or to sign up, please call the church office at 285-4114 or email churchoffice@mfumc.org. Location: Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church 1550 E. Washington Street Grief support group meets every Monday at 6:00 P.M7:00 P.M. For additional information, please contact Alice Glover at (334)281-2754.

Parenting

Location: First Baptist Prattville, 138 South 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. Call April Scott at 828446-6666. Location: First Baptist Church, 305 S. Perry Street MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) is a place you can share a good meal, make new friends, and find encouragement as you face the everyday challenges of raising your little ones. We have educational speakers, great conversation, and fun activities. Free childcare is provided. Meetings are every 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 9:30-11:30 a.m., September through May. Contact Tiffany Alewine at 241-5165.

Location: Landmark Church, 1800 Halcyon Blvd. Single Moms Support Group, Wednesday nights at 6:30 p.m. in classroom 118. For information call 277-5800. Location: Perry Hill UMC, 910 Perry Hill Road Single Moms’ Care and Support Group meets 2nd and 4th Thursdays from 6:15 - 8:00 PM. December meeting will be on the 11th. Free snack supper provided to moms and children. Child care for infants -16 years. Call 272-3174. Location: Redland Baptist Church, 1266 Dozier Rd, Wetumpka A MOPS group will be held 1st and 3rd Tuesday’s of every month during the school year, and has scheduled play dates and moms nights out through the summer and beyond. While moms are in a

MOPS meeting, their children are lovingly cared for in the MOPPETS program. Email Denise Braswell at deniseorscott@yahoo.com. Location: Young Meadows Church, 5780 Vaughn Rd River Region MOPS (Moms of Preschoolers) meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays from 9:30 to 11:30 am (September-May). Interested moms can reach out to riverregionmops334@gmail.com or find us on Facebook. riverregionmops334@gmail.com.

Send support group info to deanne@readjourneymagazine.com. June 2022

River Region Christians

Teach Them, Don’t Enable

Q. My younger brother and his wife did

their taxes last month and learned they owe $15,000 to the IRS. I love them both, but they are extremely irresponsible with money. I know they have a lot of credit card debt, too. I am debt-free, including my home after following your plan, and would like to help them. I was thinking about taking out a one-time loan from the bank to help cover what they owe the IRS, because my emergency fund is a little low after a recent car accident. Under the circumstances, would this be okay?

In my mind, “help” would be aiding them in changing their ways with money. I don’t say this to be sarcastic or mean, but it’s the truth about where they are in life right now. They both need to be educated, not enabled, when it comes to

River Region Christians

June 2022

their behavior with money. This doesn’t mean they’re bad people, but it does mean you don’t need to be a party to, or a temporary fix for, their bad financial decisions. Some people might say taking this attitude would mean you don’t love and care about your brother and his wife. Those people would be wrong. You’ve already told me they won’t behave with money, so at this point it would kind of be like giving a drunk a drink. You don’t give more money to people who won’t behave with it. That solves nothing, and in most cases it just reinforces the negative behavior.

This might be a good opportunity to sit down with your brother and his wife, and have a firm—but gentle—talk about their situation. Maybe you could offer to teach them the things that worked for you when it comes to finances, using the Baby Steps as your guide. And make sure they get in touch with the IRS about a payment plan. I know you love them, but you can’t fix this for them. In some cases, the best thing you can give someone is the understanding that they need to change their behavior. Hopefully, with you as their inspiration and support, they can learn how to manage their finances wisely.

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VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

JUNE 20-24 | 9 AM TO NOON Ages 4* through 6th grade // Free

LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE REGISTRATION REQUIRED BY JUNE 12

montgomeryfbc.org/vbs *Child must have turned 4 by September 1, 2021 to attend VBS. 1