River Region Christian June 2023 Issue

Feature Articles

page 8

Faith @ Work: Desiree Taylor

Desiree Taylor, Marketing Coordinator for Baptist Health, is passionate about loving people, mentoring women and serving the community. Find out how her growing up years equipped her to enjoy an authentic walk with Christ and to share God’s love with others.

JUNE 2023

Columns

page 2

Publisher’s Note

Jason Watson

page 4

Pastor's Perspective

The Rev. Dr. Duncan Johnston

page 10

Women Arising

page 12

Falling Forward

by Stephen Arterburn

Need help moving forward after a mistake? It’s easy to be consumed by a past mistake and fear there’s no hope for tomorrow. Find some ways to move forward from past failures, blun ders, and mistakes, and go on to succeed.

page 14

Vacation Bible School Guide

Get ready to register for one more of these amazing VBS weeks coming soon to River Region churches!

Pastor Kemi Searcy

page 17

Moments with Kym

Kym Klass

page 22

The Intersection

Bob Crittenden

page 24

Counselor’s Corner

Sam Belkofer, LPC

page 28

Dave $ays

Dave Ramsey

page 18

Promise International: A Vision Come to Life

by Kym Klass

Now living in Montgomery, Uganda native Daniel Tulibagenyi founded Promise International in 2018. The ministry provides clothing, food, and medical assistance at the Kireka School for Children with Special Education Needs in Uganda.

In Every Issue

page 6

Books to Read

page 8

Faith @ Work

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

Research Editor

Wendy McCollum

Contributing Writers

Stephen Arterburn

Tim Challies

Bob Crittenden

Sam Belkofer, LPC

The Rev. Dr. Duncan Johnston

Kym Klass

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 2023 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.

From the Publisher

I’m so glad you picked up this month’s issue of River Region Christians because we want to inspire you to draw closer to Christ.

I’ve been a Christian for a long time, but on a recent trip with friends I was reminded how important it is to be lifted up in your faith by others. Even if you’ve been to seminary and taught the Word for many years as I have. We talked about God together on our long drive and around the dinner table as we tried new foods together and made special memories. We found ourselves corporately celebrating our Father in Heaven and His works of grace in our lives. Of course, our conversations impacted those we encountered as well because His goodness was fresh on our minds. Together we communed with God and our faith grew together.

You and I aren’t sitting at a table together, but through this month’s issue, we are seeking to build up your faith in the same way. In this world, where self-focused philosophies seek to train our thinking every day, taking in God’s truths is incredibly important, lest we chase after the wrong things and end up with less than God offers us. I pray your faith is made stronger as you read through the pages of our June issue.

River Region Christians is a ministry to the entire River Region and all those seeking to know the Lord. But we couldn’t share God’s hope apart from our advertisers. They are our ministry partners, so when you require a service or product that they can meet, please contact them first. Also, we would love to partner with you and your business if you’re a Christian who wants to serve more customers while promoting Christ.

Finally, many new families are moving into our area during these summer months. Please make sure you share your copy of River Region Christians with a new neighbor so they can get connected and grow in their faith. Christians are called to be a blessing and sharing this month’s issue with a neighbor is an easy way to bless others. Together in Christ.

Pastor’s Perspective

by The Rev. Dr. Duncan Johnston, St. John’s Episcopal Church

National What Day?

As every American schoolkid knows, June 21st is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. (Actually, it’s the same length as every other day – 24 hours – but you know what I mean.)

June 21st has been important since... well... since human beings gazed with wonder into the sky and concluded ‘there must be something more to this life than just the stuff we can see.’ The longest day (or the shortest, if you’re reading this in Buenos Aires) naturally lends itself to thoughts of transcendence. What is this project called ‘humanity’ all about? What’s the point, and whose idea was it in the first place?

Since 2014 we have known the answer to these existential questions. Yup. 2014. That is the year that some bright spark decided that June 21st was not interesting enough with just being the longest (or shortest) day, and it also needed to be... wait for it... National Selfie Day. That’s

right. June 21st is National Selfie Day. And isn’t your life better for knowing it? As it says on nationaldaystoday.com, “life is incomplete without taking selfies.” Right. I’m glad that’s clear.

That year, 2014, selfie sticks became the best-selling merchandise in the US. However, as with many of the world’s ills, it’s the British who are to blame. ‘Selfie’ was included in the 2013 edition of the Oxford English Dictionary, and the following year a BBC radio presenter established June 21st as the selfie holiday. (If you think I’ve ‘left my lane’ and am unfairly criticizing the people of another nation, please read my mini bio. When I criticize the Brits, I’m criticizing myself!)

National Selfie Day is the perfect holiday for our times. It brings together three of our culture’s biggest idols in one spectacular symbol of missing the point: technology, image, and self. In other centuries, we may have had a National

young people posed for photos drinking champagne that wasn’t really champagne, eating truffles that weren’t really truffles, in exotic places that were actually their back yards or a mansion they rented for an hour. Did you know that holding up a white toilet seat with a sky-blue background will make it look like you are on a plane, flying down to Cancun for the weekend?

And, of course, the more money paid to the robots, the more fake ‘likes’ they bought. The more fake ‘likes’ they bought, the more real ‘likes’ they received. The more real ‘likes’ they received, the more fa mous they became. The more famous they became, the more glamorous the lies grew. And the more glamorous the lies grew, the more companies sent them products to advertise. It was beyond scary. This house of deceit twisted the souls of those three young people, two of whom became deeply and negatively affected by the experiment. But worse was imagining the countless number of young people who every day look at social media posts and feel crushing unhappiness with their own lives.

Fake Famous about three young adults who sought fame. The show set them up with a host of digital technicians, PR gurus, and image consultants to fake, yes fake, fame. These consultants bought ‘likes’ from a robot for their clients’ Instagram posts. The

True happiness, of course, comes not from gaining a large following on social media, but from gazing into the heavens, like those early humans, and connecting with God. As Christians we believe that the fullest revelation of God is in the man Jesus. His words put it all in perfect context: “Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water well ing up to eternal life.” (John

4:14)

The Rev. Dr. Duncan Johnston has been the Rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Montgomery since September 2022. He was born in England and spent his first 40 years there, before emigrating to the US. He became a US citizen in 2018. Duncan is married to Gelind, a media specialist with the Food and Drug Administration. They have three adult children. Duncan loves living in the Deep South and is having a great time experiencing Alabama culture and learning about its history. He can be reached at duncan@stjohnsmontgomery.org.

The Toxic War on Masculinity

by Nancy Pearcey

If there is any word used to describe masculinity in our day, any adjective commonly used to modify it, it is almost invariably “toxic.” We hear almost nothing of positive masculinity or healthy masculinity. But we hear endlessly of its toxicity. It would not be wrong to conclude that society really has no vision for a masculinity that is noble and good (unless it is essentially indistinguishable from femininity). It would not be wrong to conclude that society considers masculinity one of the great problems that human progress must overcome.

Nancy Pearcey has many thoughts on this subject and her response is the cleverly titled The Toxic War on Masculinity. For her great concern is not the toxicity of masculinity itself, but the toxicity of the war against it.

It’s not like Pearcey is writing from some Utopia in which she has only ever seen positive examples of masculinity in action. To the contrary, she grew up in a home with a father who was cruel to his family. She was subjected to an extremely harmful form of masculinity that was abusive toward her and her siblings. It was largely because of the contrast between her dad in public (moral, upright, religious) and her dad in private (cruel, unjust, violent) that she abandoned her religious upbringing when she was a teen, turning instead of the writings of the feminist movement. It was only when she stumbled upon L’Abri and the ministry of Francis Schaeffer that she recommitted to the Christian faith and began the long process of healing.

Her book is an attempt to understand the God-given pattern for men and to define a truly healthy masculinity. But it goes beyond that to consider how Western culture lost its vision for a healthy masculinity and to propose how it can be recovered. Taking a “show, don’t tell” approach, she blends history and sociology with personal stories and outside examples. It makes for a powerful and compelling package.

It makes for a compelling book and one that serves its purpose. Well-researched and exhaustively documented, wellwritten and endorsed by a diverse collection of authors, I expect that it will be widely-read and that it will help spark many good conversations within the Christian world. Best of all, I hope it will help provide a positive, hopeful, biblical vision for masculinity.

Susannah Spurgeon

Lessons for a Life of Joyful Eagerness in Christ

by Mary Mohler

I love a good biography when it’s a “standard” or “pure” biography that simply describes a person’s life from beginning to end. But I also love a good biography when it is written purposefully or thematically—when instead of chronologically detailing all the events of a person’s life it provides selective details and draws lessons for its readers. This is exactly the kind of biography Mary Mohler has written and it’s a joy to read.

Susannah Spurgeon was, of course, the wife of the great preacher Charles Spurgeon, a man so uniquely gifted and whose influence was so vast, that everyone around him stood in his shadow. Yet while Susannah was in no way ashamed to be so closely identified with her husband that she is often only described in relation to him, she had a life, ministry, and impact that was all her own. Yes, she was Mrs. C.H. Spurgeon and plenty pleased with that fact. But she was also her own person with her own gifts, her own talents, her own means of serving others both alongside her husband and apart from him.

Mohler writes this book with the particular audience of Christian women in mind. There is a sense in which it flows out of her ministry at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in which she serves as Director of the Seminary Wives Institute. “My goal,” she says, “is to write about what we as women—primarily women married to men in ministry, but also to Christian women in general—can learn from the remarkable life of Susannah Thompson Spurgeon.” And while she is neither a historian nor a biographer, “I have been a ministry wife for forty years and counting, and have been training future ministry wives for twenty-five years, so I have some stories to tell.”

And that introduces one of the strengths of this book. Because this is not a formal biography, she is able to make it personal and to integrate some of her own experiences—a factor that adds both human interest and life application. In fact, each chapter ends with a number of questions meant for quiet reflection. The book concludes with a selection of Susannah’s own writings for she was a talented and widely-read author in her own regard. In each case, Mohler quotes both original writings by Susannah and Charles Spurgeon along with information gleaned from their many biographers. And in each case, she ensures that the events of Susannah’s life lead naturally to application that is relevant to today’s readers. I give it my highest recommendation.

RRC: What is the best thing about being a believer?

DT: Having an inner knowing and confidence that all things will work out for my good (Romans 8:28) and that the pages of my life are already written by God (Psalm 139:15-16)!

RRC: Why were you passionate about becoming the Marketing Coordinator at Baptist Health in Montgomery?

DT: I have a servant’s heart, so I want to help others in any way I can. I’ve always loved to inspire and encourage others through two-way communication and storytelling. This job allows me to inspire and help others with their various projects, whether collaborating with our graphic designer to create a winning design for a flier

or working with a printer to print a banner design for a specific event. I want our team members to be pleased. I want them to have confidence in the work our marketing team performs. I work with amazing people, and I enjoy making others happy!

RRC: You believe in divine connections. How has this helped in your personal and professional life?

DT: Every person I’ve met, personally or professionally, has been God-ordained. I am grateful for every positive deposit made and for others’ belief in me. Those interactions, big or small, have impacted my life.

RRC: Being the oldest of six girls, how was your faith instrumental in your sisters’ lives growing up?

DT: As the eldest, I believe I was the guinea pig for my parents. I wanted to set an example for my sisters and show them it was okay to be “set apart” and not like the crowd. I wanted them to see it was okay to be young and on fire for God while working hard to achieve great things. I was the first in our family to graduate from college, receive an advanced degree, and leave home to live in another state. Most of my siblings have degrees; one recently completed a Master’s degree. My siblings have also traveled all over the country and abroad. We’ve had some ups and downs, but our faith has kept us strong as a family.

RRC: How has God and religion helped you get through tough times?

DT: I have experienced bad relationships and even bouts of poverty growing up, and my relationship with Jesus kept me strong and determined to be successful. I did not finish undergraduate school in four years due to having to start and stop and work most of the time to pay for tuition. God helped me to overcome obstacles. I wrote a book titled I AM by Des Taylor, which is a compilation of positive affirmations that encouraged me through tough times. I hope it will encourage other women, too.

RRC: How do you participate in the spiritual life within your community?

DT: I try to be a mentor to the young adult women at my House of Worship. Many will come to me for educational, career, and relationship advice. I feel honored that they believe my advice is significant. My parents were leaders in the church, and my dad was instrumental and adamant about keeping his kids in church. It shaped my trajectory in life to pour my faith into my community.

RRC: What advice would you give someone who has difficulty believing and trusting in God?

DT: It is natural to have doubts or questions. Faith is key. (Hebrews 11) You trust when you can’t see or feel Him and believe God is real and with you. If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9) God loves you and wants to have a relationship with you! Life is challenging, but knowing God is there helps you cope a little bit better. (John 16:33) He gives a peace that is beyond understanding. (Philippians 4:7)

RRC: How do you live out your faith in a way that exemplifies God’s love?

DT: I am intentional about showing love to others and making sure that I am consistently demonstrating God’s love in every situation. I am deliberate about ensuring my walk is the same as my talk - not hypocritical or judgmental. The Bible says, “Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and truth.” (1 John 3:18) “I am a firm believer that love is what love does.” (John 13:35)

Desiree Taylor is a proud aunt to ten nieces and nephews who positively impact her life. She was born in Spain and lived in various places exposing her to different backgrounds. She currently resides in Montgomery, AL.

How to Move on A er Making a Mistake

by Steve Arterburn

Need help moving forward after a mistake? It’s easy to be consumed by a past mistake and fear there’s no hope for tomorrow. No one should allow their failures to hold them back and hinder them from moving forward. God has a future in store for anyone who accepts His forgiveness. Here are some ways to move forward from past failures, blunders, and mistakes, and go on to succeed.

1. Accept God’s forgiveness. No sin, shortcoming, or struggle is too big that God can’t forgive. When Christ died on the cross, He wiped the slate clean. But if regrets from the past are still causing shame, here’s an exercise to try: Write down any past failures and mistakes. Pray over them, ask for the Lord’s forgiveness, and tear up the paper. Romans 8:1 offers this hope: “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.”

2. Realize that everyone makes mistakes. No one is immune from making mistakes. Nor is anyone perfect. Failure is a part of life; before someone succeeds, they will fail. Winston Churchill once observed, “Success is going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” Failure is inevitable, but giving up should never be an option.

3. Face up to mistakes. Owning up to a mistake is better than faking perfection. So, when the inevitable blunders of life happen (and they will), they must be corrected, learned from, and never repeated. Past mistakes can become lessons that build character. The best place to start is by being vulnerable enough to open up about a mistake and take steps to make amends. The sooner the problem is addressed, the better.

4. Anticipate making mistakes. One should expect to make mistakes—and plenty of them—because it’s impossible to do everything right all the time. However, it’s best to anticipate a misstep to avoid it altogether. Proverbs 14:8 says, “The prudent understand where they are going, but fools deceive themselves.”

5. Rise above mistakes. Even when one’s pride is bruised, one must face up to their mistakes and rise above them. Past failures do not have to define a person unless they let them. The Bible is full of examples of people who rose above their mistakes. Here are a few examples: David committed adultery and murder; Peter denied Christ three times; Paul murdered Christians. No one can fall too low that God cannot bring them up.

6. Turn a mistake into a stepping stone. Ever make a supersized blunder or two? Of course, everyone has! Albert Einstein said, “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.” After making a mistake, ask: “Did I make the mistake into a stumbling block or a stepping stone?” The answer will make all the difference. Have the courage to share about a mistake with someone else—it might be the encouragement they need to overcome their struggles.

7. Never make the same mistake twice. Someone once said that a mistake made more than once becomes a decision. Although mistakes are an inevitable part of life’s journey, repeated mistakes should not be. Journal to discover any patterns. Then talk to a friend, pastor, accountability partner, or counselor. Being aware is the key to preventing it from happening again.

8. Trust God to finish the work He started. When a child makes one mistake, a loving parent doesn’t disown them but helps them learn. Likewise, when a child of God makes a mistake, their heavenly Father doesn’t stop working their life—He’s just getting started! Here’s what the Bible promises: “God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns” (Philippians 1:6).

Steve Arterburn is the founder and chairman of New Life Ministries and host of the syndicated Christian counseling talk show New Life Live!

Blue Ridge Baptist Church

4471 Jasmine Hill Road, Wetumpka

Theme: Twists & Turns

Dates: June 4-8 Time: TBA

(334) 567.4325

Calvary Baptist Church

431 W. Fourth Street, Prattville

Theme: Twists & Turns

Dates: June 3-4 Time: 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. and Sunday from 9:45 until noon.

Ages: Preschool – K; Grades 1-6 calvarybaptistprattville.org

Camellia Baptist Church

201 Woodvale Road, Prattville

Theme: Keeper’s of the Kingdom

Dates: June 4-8 Time: 6-9 p.m.

Ages: Pre-K through 6th grade, plus adult classes. www.cbcprattville.org

Capital City Church of the Nazarene

4450 Vaughn Road in Montgomery

Theme: The Toy Maker

Dates: June 19-23 Times: 6:00-8:00 pm

Ages: Children Pre-K through 6th grade capicalcitynazarene.org

Century Church at The Well

1001 Marler Road, Pike Road

Theme: Twist & Turn

Dates: July 10-13 Time: 6-8 p.m.

Ages: Rising Pre K4 – Rising 5th grade century.church

Christchurch Anglican

8800 Vaughn Road, Montgomery

Theme: Babylon: Dare to Trust in the God of Daniel

Dates: June 12-15 and Friday, June 16 from 9 -11 a.m. Time: 9 a.m. to Noon

Ages: 4 through rising 5th grade. christchurchanglican.net

Church of the Highlands

4255 Taylor Road, Montgomery

Theme: Summer Blast: Chosen

Dates: June 26-28 Time: 7:30 a.m. to Noon

Ages: Entering K through 6th grade. churchofthehighlands.com

Dalraida Baptist Church

3838 Wares Ferry Rd., Montgomery

Theme: Twists & Turns

Dates: June 5-9 Time: 9 until Noon

Ages: Kindergarten through 6th grade dalraidabaptist.com

Eastern Hills Baptist Church

3604 Pleasant Ridge Road, Montgomery

Theme: Twists & Turns

Dates: June 4-8 Time: 5:00-8:30

Ages: 4 (by August 1st) through 6th grade easternhills.church

East Memorial Baptist Church

1320 Old Ridge Road, Prattville

Theme: Keepers of the Kingdom

Dates: June 12-16 Time: 9 a.m. to Noon

Ages: K5 through 8th Grade eastmemorial.org

Eastmont Baptist Church

4505 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery

Theme: Twists & Turns

Dates: June 5-9 Time: 9-noon

Ages: K - grade 6 eastmont.org

Evangel Church

3975 Vaughn Road, Montgomery

Theme: Glow

Dates: July 10-12 Time: TBA

Ages: Grades K-5th grade evangelchurch.me

First Baptist, Montgomery ad on Back Cover

305 South Perry Street, Montgomery

Theme: Spark Studios

Dates: June 19-23 Time: 9 a.m. to Noon

Ages: 4-6th grade MontgomeryFBC.org

First Baptist Prattville

138 S. Washington St, Prattville

Theme: Twists & Turns

Dates: June 26-30

Time: 8:30 to noon

Ages K4 - 6th Grade. Fbcprattville.org/vbs

First Baptist Wetumpka

205 W. Bridge Street

Theme: Stellar: Shine Jesus’ Light

Dates: June 19-23 Time: 6– 8 p.m.

Ages: K-6th grade fbcwetumpka.com

First Christian Church

1705 Taylor Road, Montgomery

Theme: Embracing God’s Love

Dates: July 23-25

Time: 5:30 to 7:30 pm

Ages 4 years old – 6 grade www.fccmontgomery.org

First Presbyterian, Prattville

211 S. Chestnut Street, Prattville

Theme: Keeper’s of the Kingdom

Dates: June 5-8 Time:9 am - noon

Ages: 4 years through entering 6th grade firstpresbyterianchurchofprattville.com

First UMC, Montgomery

2416 W. Cloverdale Park, Montgomery

Theme: Hero Hotline

Dates: June 4-7 Time: Power up Party on Sunday from 5:30-6:30 p.m. and Monday-Wednesday from 9-noon

Ages: Age 3 through 5th grade fumcmontgomery.org

First UMC, Prattville

100 E. Fourth Street, Prattville

Theme: to be announced

Dates: June 26-29 Time: 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Ages: Completed K through 5th grade prattvillemethodist.org

First UMC, Wetumpka

306 W. Tuskeena Street, Wetumpka

Theme: Stellar: Shine Jesus’ Light

Dates: 4-6 Time: 5:30 to 8 pm (Dinner included) WetumpkaFirst.com/VBS

Glynwood Baptist Church

376 N. McQueen Smith Road, Prattville

Theme: Twists & Turn

Dates: June 4-8 Time: 6-8pm

Ages: 4 through grade 6 glynwoodbc.com

Grace Presbyterian Church

5 Bell Road, Montgomery

Theme: Creative Arts Camp

Dates: June 5-9 Time: 8:45 a.m. until 1 pm.

Ages: 6 years to entering 6th graders.

Drama, Singing, Creative Movement & Art discovergrace.org

GracePointe

1565 Ray Thorington Road, Montgomery

Theme: Unleashed

Dates: June 2-4 Time: TBA

Ages: 5-11 years grace-pointe.com

Hayneville Baptist Church

1180 State Hwy 21 N, Hayneville

Theme: Twists & Turn

Dates: July 16-20 Time: 5:45 until 8:30 p.m.

Ages: K4 - 6th Grade (grade completed) haynevillebaptist.com

Heritage Baptist, Montgomery

1849 Perry Hill Road, Montgomery

Theme: Connect Camp

Dates: July 17-21 Time: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Ages: K through 8th grade, fee for camp hbcm.net

Heritage Baptist, Prattville

1357 S. Memorial Drive, Prattville

Theme: Twists & Turn

Dates: June 11-15 Time: 6-8 p.m.

Ages: Preschool - completed 6th grade hbcprattville.org

Holy Spirit Catholic Church

8570 Vaughn Road, Montgomery

Theme: Treasured: Discovering Your Priceless to God

Dates: July 17-21 Time: 9 a.m. to Noon

Ages: Entering Preschool – rising 5th grade holyspiritmgm.org

Messiah Lutheran, Prattville ad on page 15

334 Old Farm Ln S, Prattville

Theme: God’s Wonder Lab

Dates: July 10 – 14 Time: Dinner at 5:15 pm; Sessions 5:45 pm – 8:00 pm

Ages: 3 to entering 5th grade mymessiahchurch.org

Millbrook Presbyterian (PCA)

3480 Main Street, Millbrook

Theme: To be announced

Dates: July 10-14 Time: 6-8:30 p.m., Dinner for campers offered from 5-5:50

Ages: Entering K5 thru 5th grade. millbrookpca.org

Morningview Baptist Church

125 Calhoun Road, Montgomery

Theme: Sports Camp

Dates: June 5-8, Time: Evening, TBA

Ages: Completed Kindergarten-5th grade morningview.org

Mountain View Baptist

1025 Rifle Range Rd., Wetumpka

Theme: Twists & Turns

Dates: June 12-16 Time: 8-noon

Ages: Completed K5 through 6th grade mvbaptist.com

Mulder United Methodist Church

3454 Firetower Road, Wetumpka

Theme: Twists & Turns

Dates: June 19-22 Time: 6 – 8 p.m.

Ages: 4 years – 6 grade mulderchurch.co

Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist

1550 East Washington St, Montgomery

Theme: Faith Builders

Dates: June 19-23 Time: 6 – 8:30 p.m. vbsmate.com/events/PRMBC2023VBS/27206

Redland Baptist Church

1266 Dozier Rd, Wetumpka

Theme: Keepers of the Kingdom

Date: July 24-26 Time: 5:30-8 p.m.

Ages: 5 (by Sept. 1) through graduated 5th redlandbaptistchurch.org

Redland Road church of Christ

2480 Redland Rd, Wetumpka

Theme: The Game of Life

Dates: July 9-12 Time: Evenings, time TBA

Ages: 4 yrs – 6th grade, plus adult class www.rrcoc.com

Saint James Church

9045 Vaughn Road, Montgomery

Theme: Stellar: Shine Jesus’ Light

Dates: June 12-14 Time: 9 to Noon

Ages: K5-5th grade sjlife.com

Taylor Road Baptist Church

1685 Taylor Road, Montgomery

Dates: June 19-22 Time: 8 a.m. to Noon

Ages: Completed K5 through 5th grade taylorroad.org

Thelma Baptist VBS

810 Weoka Road, Wetumpka

Theme: Keepers of the Kingdom

Dates: June 5-9 Time: 9 a.m. to Noon

Ages: Completed PreK through 6th. tlifeonline.com

Young Meadows Presbyterian

5780 Vaughn Road

Theme: Sports Camp

Dates: June 5-9 Time: 9 a.m. until Noon

Ages: Kindergarten -5th grade youngmeadows.org

Trusting the Hills, Keeping the Faith

There’s a hill by my house when I start my morning runs that is over a mile long.

The first half-mile’s incline is noticeable. The second half, and even further up the road, is a continued gradual build. When you get to the top of the first half-mile, you give thanks for the hard part being over, but you notice you’re still climbing.

Gradually, you notice there’s still work to do.

The hill reminds me of asking God to help me surrender. Which I do – on a hill or otherwise – but even after what you surrender to Him, there’s still work to be done.

Help me surrender financially. Okay, but I still need to be mindful of my spending habits. Help me in this relationship – okay, but I still have to work at it.

For me, the hills parallel with a book I was gifted on Christmas, The One Minute Pause Journal.

The concept is simple; the follow through, intentional.

Every morning, the book instructs: As I enter a new day, what do I need to let go of what is weighing on my heart? What do I need to give to Jesus?

You are then instructed to Pause, and give it to God. Let it go.

Then, answer: What do I need from God today? Later in the day, there’s another opportunity to give even more: To enter this afternoon or evening with peace, what do I need to let go of? (Do any worries, fears, or regrets come to mind?)

Then: At this point in my afternoon or evening, what do I need from God?

There is scripture, encouragement, reminders to both pause and linger – to truly

sit in the moment of what you’re surrendering, what you need, and to simply soak in His presence.

What I’ve needed to let go of: financial concerns, broken relationships, wasted time. What I need from God: reassurance, comfort, for Him to take, and keep, any worry and anxiety that I’ve got securely tucked inside me.

The book, and the consistent effort, has done wonders for my spirit. For the intentionality of how I let go, and for the peace it brings into my life, for the changes I feel in my head and heart, and for how I’m truly able to be still in the moment.

For the continued hard work I maintain in remaining faithful.

I’m thankful to have an outlet that can parallel this to teach me lessons. We can apply this to any part of our lives, and know that when He pulls us through the hardest part, we do what we need after, whatever that looks like. Let Him give, but don’t stop working after.

Don’t stop obeying Him. Don’t take for granted getting through that first half-mile.

“Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.”

(1 Corinthians 4:2)

I’ve run the first half-mile hill near my house countless times. I have lived in my home for almost 10 years, so the hill, the challenge, has been there for

byKymKlass

to God’s calling in his life, and on roads and into a part of his past that has opened his eyes to needs beyond what he alone could fill.

he wondered, but kept following God’s voice, and was soon led to his native Uganda, providing clothing, food, and medi cal assistance at the Kireka School for Children with Special Education Needs.

enyi, founder of Promise Internation al since 2018, does this from his home in Montgomery.

to America from Uganda in 2015, after which he said God called him into ministry school. He soon found himself

Hope lives

Our dedicated doctors, nurses, researchers and staff are committed to finding a cure, so kids like Adrian can live their healthiest life – cancer free. We never give up hope of a world without childhood cancer and blood disorders, and that’s why we are here.

show him the place where God needed him to go.

And that when he arrived, He would send rain.

He ended up at Kireka School, located just over seven miles from Kampala City, the capital of Uganda. It has been government-funded since the 1980s, with special needs serviced including epilepsy, Down Syndrome, autism, ADHD, and bi-polar.

The school has over 100 students from ages 5-35, and when Tulibagenyi arrived as part of his mission trip, he saw they needed food. Mattresses. Shoes. Clothes.

And when he was there, it began to rain.

Since 2018, Promise International has asisted Kireka School by supplementing the feeding program, providing eggs, milk, and beef for weekly nutrition.

“I came back to America, and my heart was wrecked,” Tulibagenyi said of his visit to the school. “I shared the story about the kids needing (items), and I raised support and went back in 2019.”

And again in 2020. And since then, the help has increased, with Promise

International now able to support five centers – operated by other ministries – with a vision of opening their own school for children with special needs.

“Special needs children in Uganda are treated as outcasts,” Tulibagenyi said. “Even their mothers are disregarded. Some of them are not given much food or meals. So during the Covid crisis, some of these children died.

“You can see the enemy has blinded people. Our ministry helps the special needs children and their moms and (other) children. We try to share the gospel with them and share that the children are created in God’s vision and that we are there to support them.

“Everything we do is for the love of God. We are representative, God sent us. We are not doing this in our power, but because Jesus loves them. That’s what we’re trying to do.”

Tulibagenyi is able to help spread the gospel himself due to his own conviction. Married when he arrived to America, he was later divorced, became homeless, and slept on Montgomery streets.

“I didn’t know anybody,” he said. “One guy I knew helped me, and prayed.

And God told me to go to Highlands College. I didn’t have money, nothing. I finished college without paying money. I’m so thankful God used everything to do that.

“I’m seeing God’s goodness and His love. Sometimes, we go through a lot of challenges. But when we surrender to God, God will lead you. I’m so thankful for what God is doing for not only me, but other people.”

Every year, Tulibagenyi takes trips with Americans to see what is being done at Kireka School. Hundreds, he said, support Promise International in these efforts.

People from throughout Alabama, Virginia, Florida, and California.

“We want to have more people come with us to Uganda,” he said. “I really want them to come and see what God is doing. It’s one thing to donate; it’s another to come and see.”

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Promise International has formed a partnership with Uganda Christian University to train students who have the passion to reach out to children with special needs, Tulibagenyi said. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the university earlier this year, and is a formal agreement between the two entities to collaborate and work together towards a common goal of improving the lives of children with special needs in Uganda, according to the university.

The MOU signing marks an important step towards providing better services to children with special needs in Uganda. The partnership between UCU’s school of social sciences and Promise International will likely lead to the improvement of community engagement, research initiatives, and projects aimed at improving the quality of life of children with special needs in Uganda.

The parties will jointly develop specific scopes of work and cooperation activities, which then will be the subject of a written agreement that contains applicable operational and legal terms, according to the university.

“They’ll be going out into the fields in June,” Tulibagenyi said of university students. “These students will be difference-makers. (Some) of them will stay in communities for 10 weeks. They will be able to do outreach and talk to their community. The students will be agents, sharing Christ with the community.”

Tulibagenyi doesn’t have children with special needs, and says the focus of his ministry is “because Jesus presented it. My purpose in this world is to obey Christ. In Uganda, I was into political things, and I thought I was going that route. When I got here, I want to prepare and maybe go back and get into politics.

“But then He led me to His purpose. As believers, we have to seek our purpose. When I keep following Him, He’ll provide my purpose with Him. I’m always amazed to see how God works. The last trip in February, we had four continents represented. All in one place serving the King. I’ve seen God’s goodness and what He’s doing.”

Tulibagenyi receives help from the community – friends and a couple of churches. But he remains steadfast that God sends people.

“I have a need, but raising money is hard,” he said. “What do I do? I just pray. And people will say, ‘Daniel, how can we help?’ They’ll buy medicine and shoes. I’m not good at knocking on people’s doors. When I share my story, they ask how they can help.

“We helped 2,000 families during Covid with food. At that moment, God told me I could help more people (in Uganda) if I was here. It is a matter of timing. Maybe I’ll be here for a long time, or maybe when it’s time, God will speak again.

“We all live in a broken world. We have different minds and a different set of eyes. It took me some time to learn that in all things, God will take bad and turn it into good.”

To donate, or for more information: Visit Promise International online at www.promiseinternational.org.

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

Restored for God’s Glory

Typically, there are numerous sports offerings on Sunday afternoon television. On Easter Sunday, if you chose not to watch the Masters on CBS or a game from the fledgling XFL, you might have come across something unique on the FS1 network. It was the Bristol Motor Speedway Easter Celebration, which preceded the NASCAR dirt race at Bristol.

I tuned in shortly before drivers Aric Almirola and Ricky Stenhouse, along with Stenhouse’s wife, Madyson, appeared on the outdoor stage. Then, it was Phil Wickham leading worship, followed by a message from Tim Tebow.

I have always liked Tim Tebow, but as I recall, had never heard him speak in a non-interview format. Tebow instantly made the NASCAR connection, telling the story of his interaction with Richard Petty. The Johnson City Press shared this description:

Tebow, the sports icon and evangelist, opened with a personal story of how seventime NASCAR champion Richard Petty heard the story of how Tebow, as a college student at the University of Florida, had an old beat-up Ford Thunderbird. Unbeknownst to Tebow, the NASCAR legend had the car picked up and brought back to the race shops in North Carolina.

The article says that Petty “...brought Tebow to the shop where Petty surprised him with a car that had not only been restored, but was in better shape than ever before. He compared it to when a person accepts Christ...”

The article quotes Tebow: “The King of NASCAR did something for me that I couldn’t do myself,” adding, “That car was on its way to destruction. We’re also on the way to destruction because of sin, but the

gift of life is eternal through Jesus. God did something for us that we couldn’t do for ourselves.”

Following the service, Tebow said, “I’ve been telling that story about Mr. Petty many times, how his kindness impacted me,” adding, “He was just so awesome and to...share that here with a fan base that loves him so much. It was such a unique perspective of what he did.” And, regarding the event itself, the former Heisman Trophy winner and television host said, “It’s exciting to celebrate Easter in a way that so many people are involved...Sports have always been so big in my life, but we have to remember the greatest thing we get to do is not win or score. It’s to celebrate Jesus and to be able to do it with some of these amazing friends we have.”

There’s actually more to the story - the Tim Tebow Foundation had planned to auction the car off in order to raise money. A Christian Post article from 2013 reported:

The ‘95 Thunderbird was brought into Petty’s car restoration shop rusty and covered in cat prints, according to Tim Tebow Foundation Executive Director Erik Dellenback, as reported by Sporting News. “We’re excited because obviously the legendary status of Richard Petty is a great tie to us,” Dellenback said. “Originally our goal was just to auction it off and as we started seeing what this was going to look like and the interest of people wanting to see it, we decided to use it for a year on [a] promotional tour. The dollars we can raise off that could literally affect thousands of children.”

Richard Petty’s charity, Petty’s Garage, also used the car in some of its fundraising events, according to the article, which said:

“It was not your typical college football player’s car by no means,” Petty’s Garage CEO Jeff Whaley said. “We found a list (of numbers) of when he was being courted to go to school, but there were no beer can lids, no cigarette ashes.”

I would not have expected anything different.

Tim Tebow was bold enough to go on national television on Easter Sunday and boldly proclaim who he is in Christ. We can examine our own “boldness meter” and ask the Holy Spirit to give us the willingness to share and the words to speak.

Tim Tebow was given a gift - a refurbished car. It’s been reported that he paid $500 for it in college. That car was transformed by Richard Petty and his team and used for charitable purposes - a good investment for a comparative mustard seed of money to buy a car for a college student. God will use what we surrender to Him for His glory.

We can recognize who the true King is and what he’s done for us. Tim Tebow used the analogy to encourage attendees at and viewers of the Bristol event to talk about the King who has transformed our lives. We can be saved through a relationship with Jesus Christ, the One who did for us what we could not do for ourselves. We are invited to surrender to Jesus and acknowledge Him as King of our lives.

Beyond Unfairness to Forgiveness

It seems that, as human beings, we have an instinctual desire for fairness. We can see this in babies a few months old. What one baby has... another wants. Many of us, as parents, realizing how important this is for contentment, try to move heaven and earth to make things fair for our children. As adults, we have an expectation and desire for fairness that motivates many of our choices and behaviors. Along the way, we learn that things just are not fair. Life itself isn’t fair, and we must work through feelings of resentment, jealousy, frustration and even anger to have a general sense of well-being. Those who can do so learn skills to help them cope with and manage these feelings to avoid emotional suffering and problem behaviors.

Sadly, there are many children whose parents or caretakers create unfairness or fail to protect them from the outcomes of neglect and abuse. When these people become adults, they have no skills to manage feelings of what they see as anger. They often have no knowledge of the range of feelings that make up anger, so they don’t know what to do to stop the emotional pain they are experiencing. They need help to identify their feelings of

unfairness and resentment they have been feeling throughout their lives.

Christians and people of other faiths are better able to cope with the constant reminders of the unfairness of life through their belief in a loving God. They are able, with work, to accept that we can’t expect life to be fair. They have scriptures in the Old and New Testaments to comfort and encourage them. They are able to accept that there are mysteries in life we can never understand.

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its’ own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. (I Corinthians, 13: 4-8)

Sometimes, it is easier to come to acceptance of the unfairness of life by using a therapy model called, Forgiveness Is for the Forgiver. This is a skill taught by Joan Borysenko in her book It is Not the End of the World. She teaches that we can stop ruminating about things we believe are unfair and focus on the positive things that are available to us in the future. Then, with the help of a therapist, we can process the unfairness we have experienced to reduce the resentment we feel that is stealing our joy. The goal is to stop seeing ourselves as victims. In doing so, one is beginning the journey of acceptance that in this world, fairness, from our perspective, is rare. However, we have the choice to re-

fuse to allow this perspective to dominate our lives.

It is important to grieve the losses we feel. It helps us to work through the Stages of Grief to avoid getting stuck in Denial, Anger, Bargaining or Despair.

It is believed that Christians who struggle with feelings of unfairness, barriers to spirituality and connection to God, are able to overcome these obstacles to reconnect with God and his love. It is not that it is easier for a Christian to tolerate these painful feelings. It is that they are more willing to do the work to stay close to God and allow him to be close to them. They are more willing to accept that the ways of God are often impossible to understand.

Understanding is part of the equation that helps to resolve emotional suffering. Without it, resolution is hard to accomplish. Sometimes, processing our feelings of unfairness with a therapist helps us understand more and come to a place of acceptance of what is lost, until the next time we must do that work.

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9)

Saralu (Sam) Belkofer is a Licensed Professional Counselor. Sam counsels adolescents, young adults and adults, employing psychotherapy to gain insight into problems to develop needed strategies for life transitions, survivors of abuse and neglect, addictions, forgiveness, ADHD, anxiety and depression, issues of abandonment, attachment and development of life skills.

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

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: Christchurch

Anglican, 8800 Vaughn Rd 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 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. 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 Awaken is a Christ-centered recovery movement dedicated to showing the way home for men impacted by sex and pornography addiction. Meets Thursday from 6-7:30 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 Church, 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 Church, 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 Church, 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 Justin Law at 241-5161 for information.

Location: Centerpoint Fellowship 1200 McQueen Smith Road South, Prattville, AL Divorce Care Sundays @ 9:00 am in the Conference Room. Child care is available. Contact Angie Davis at 730-2566 for information.

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.

Grief

Location: Corner-

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.

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

Location: Frazer Church, 6000 Atlanta Hwy GriefShare, Wednesday mornings 10am -12pm in the East Sanctuary. Spring group meets through April 26. Fall group from Sept. 6 through Nov. 29. For information call the church 272-8622. Dian Sims (facilitator)

Location: Grace Baptist Church, 304 Old Montgomery Highway, Wetumpka, AL

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 828-4466666 for more information.

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.

Gen Zers and Millennials in the Workforce

Q I am the managing partner of a family business. We would like to add to our team, but I’m worried we can’t try to hold millennials and Gen Zers to the same standards as other generations without losing them. How do you feel about this?

A. Listen, I’ve got a building full of Gen Zers and millennials — and I love them. If you hire the rights ones, you’re getting people who love calluses on their hands and on their brains. They make the interview process easy too, because there are just two types from these generations: the ones who are unbelievably awesome and the ones who aren’t. But the great ones are not afraid of hard work. They’re passionate, intelligent and mission driven. I mean, they’ll charge the gates of hell with water pistols for something they believe in.

But that means you have to provide meaning in the work they do. They want to see that their work connects to something that matters. They want to be treated with dignity, not like units of production. And they have inquiring minds. Most of them want to know why you do things the way you do them. All that is perfectly okay with me and always has been.

Now, they’re the worst two generations to work for someone who’s just a boss. That’s because bosses push while leaders pull. If you’re going to pull, you have to inform, communicate and share a vision that draws people into your mission. Bosses, for the most part, have a “do it this way because I said so” attitude. That’s not going to last long with Gen Zers and millennials.

I get where you’re coming from though. I’ve still got friends and business associates who tell me we’re going to

lose everyone from these generations if we don’t cave in and give them things like “the flexibility to work from home” — which really means, “I don’t want to work much” or “I want to work all the time.” Listen, I understand not everyone who works from home falls into one of those two categories, but some of them do. There are folks who put in 80 hours a week because they can’t put their screens down and live a life. Or they work three hours a day and call it “working from home.” That’s not working from home — that’s working part-time hours for full-time pay. And that’s called stealing.

But millennials and Gen Zers? They are, for the most part, genuine, real people and hard workers. If you give them what you should as a leader, they’ll blow you away with their smarts and what they’re capable of achieving!

Christian Business Owners