River Region Christian May 2024 Issue

8

Faith @ Work: Teresa Treloar

Meet an extraordinary lady who will inspire you with her servant’s heart and seemingly never-ending energy to do good. Teresa Treloar tells us about her life as a teacher, her many roles in her church and her overall desire to serve God by serving others. page 10

What God Wants You To Forget

by Tim Challies

While we are called to remember God’s love for us and call to memory Scriptures that ease our troubled souls, God also has a few things he wants us to forget in order to experience Him fully. page 14

Vacation Bible

School Listing

It’s time to sign your kids up to meet with Jesus through learning, singing and fun!

Ministry Spotlight: Hope House Montgomery

by Kym Klass

Hope House Montgomery opened its doors in 2020 and is patterned after a successful ministry currently in its 15th year, Hope House Detroit. Candance Cain brought her experience from volunteering with HHD to Montgomery’s Highland Park neighborhood. HHM serves its neighbors through reading classes for children, ESL classes, trash clean-up, events and more. Consider supporting them by volunteering or donating as these neighbors walk together towards a better community.

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

Tim Challies

Bob Crittenden

George Ishman

Kym Klass

Dave Ramsey

Kemi Searcy

Pastor Kyle Searcy

Advertising Opportunities

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

Content Manager

Anna Watson

Social Media 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 2024 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

Are You Willing to Live Out the Gospel in Front of Your Kids?

In today’s world, being a parent can feel like being a superhero – you think you need to be perfect all the time. However, Paul David Tripp, in his insightful book “Age of Opportunity”, offers a refreshing perspective that might change the way you think about your role as a parent, especially during the challenging teenage years.

Tripp encourages us to embrace our imperfec tions and share them with our kids. What? Yes, you heard that right! It’s not about “showing off” our flaws but about being honest with your kids. The gospel, after all, isn’t for perfect people; it’s for everyone. Our only hope isn’t in being flawless but in trusting Christ, who is perfect for us. Why does this matter? Well, imagine trying to teach your kids to always do the right thing and to be morally impeccable without ever seeing you struggle in the flesh or admit when you sin against God or others. They might start to feel like they have to be perfect, too, and that’s a heavy burden for anyone, especially teens.

When parents (and other Christian leaders) only focus on teaching morals – do this, don’t do that – it can lead to two big problems. First, kids might start thinking they can earn God’s love through good behavior, which isn’t what the Bible teaches. Second, they might feel really discouraged because no one can be perfect, no matter how hard they try.

Instead, when you live out the gospel in front of your kids, you get to show them something incredibly powerful. You show them that even though you make mistakes, you are always loved by God. You teach them that being a Christian isn’t about following a bunch of rules to be accepted; it’s about trusting that Jesus has already done everything we need for God to love us.

Sharing your struggles and how you rely on God’s grace gives your children a real, living example of what faith looks like. It helps them understand that Christianity is a relationship with Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, not just a list of do’s and don’ts.

So, are you willing to be real with your kids? Are you ready to let them see how you lean on God’s perfect love in your imperfect life? By doing so, you’re not only teaching them the true essence of the gospel, but you’re also building a foundation of faith that can last a lifetime. Let’s show our kids that our hope isn’t in being perfect, but in the perfect one who loves us unconditionally – Jesus Christ.

Pastor’s Perspective

by Kyle Searcy, Fresh Anointing House of Worship

Warning Every Man & Teaching Every Man

In the journey of faith, the apostle Paul’s approach to nurturing the early Christian community was profound and practical. Colossians 1:27-28 reveals Paul’s two-pronged strategy: “warning every man and teaching every man.” This scriptural mandate provides a timeless model for spiritual instruction that is as relevant today as it was in the first century.

Teaching was the foundation of his two-pronged strategy. The Greek term “didaskontes” translates to teaching, a fundamental aspect of Christian discipleship. Teaching is more than mere infor

ministry is often neglected in contemporary church settings, overshadowed by a cultural aversion to offending. Yet, Scripture does not shy away from this duty. Proverbs 27:5 declares, “Better is open rebuke than hidden love.” It acknowledges the necessity of correction for growth. Moreover, Ezekiel 33:8-9 speaks of the watchman’s role to warn the wicked from their ways, underlining the seriousness of this responsibility.

mation transfer; it involves illuminating truths previously unknown or reminding believers of what they should steadfastly hold onto. Regular teaching occurs in most churches, forming the bedrock of spiritual growth and understanding.

Teaching is exemplified in Acts 2:42, where the early saints were established in the Apostles doctrine (teaching). This equipping process involves constant learning and application of God’s Word. The counterpart to teaching, equally vital, is warning, or “nouthete” in Greek. This means to admonish or correct with a sense of urgency. Sadly, this aspect of

In today’s society, there is a palpable hesitance to speak out, often stemming from a fear of backlash or the desire to be politically correct. A 2022 Siena College opinion poll highlighted this tension, indicating that many Americans are self-censoring to avoid conflict. This prevailing sentiment has permeated the church, where the impulse to maintain a positive, nonconfrontational stance has taken precedence. Consequently, the crucial task of warning is frequently overlooked, potentially leaving congregations illequipped to face moral and spiritual challenges.

Here are three practical areas where both warning and teaching must be applied:

1. Preparing for Trials and Temptations.

James 1:2-4 exhorts believers to consider trials joy because of the endurance they produce. Christians should be taught about the inevitability of hardships and warned that these are not just pos-

sible but assured. This knowledge helps in cultivating resilience and a steadfast faith.

2. Guarding Against False Doctrine

Galatians 1:8-9 sternly warns against deviating from the Gospel, even if an angel from heaven should declare it. Believers must be taught the core tenets of their faith and warned about the subtleties of false teachings that could lead them astray.

3. Correcting Unchristian Conduct

Matthew 18:15-17 provides a clear procedure for addressing sin within the community. The church must teach forgiveness and reconciliation but also warn against tolerance of persistent sin that could corrupt the body of Christ.

The balance of teaching and warning is essential for a mature and healthy Christian life. Both must be done in love, with the ultimate aim of presenting every man perfect in Christ Jesus. As stewards of God’s truth, it is imperative to reclaim the full scope of Paul’s method, ensuring that the church is a place of both comfort and correction, education and enlightenment. If you are in church leadership, exercise both. Teach and warn regularly. If you are on the receiving end of truth, receive both. Don’t jet when you are corrected. Embrace the correction and become better because of it.

Kyle Searcy serves as senior pastor of Fresh Anointing House of Worship in Montgomery. As well as being a skilled writer and well sought-after speaker, he is husband to the beautiful and anointed, Kemi Searcy. They are the blessed parents of four children and six grandchildren.

The Anxious Generation

How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness

by Jonathan Haidt

I know I’m getting old and all that, and I’m aware this means that I’ll be tempted to look unfavorably at people who are younger than myself. I know I’ll be tempted to consider what people were like when I was young and to stand in judgment of what people are like today. Yet even with all that in mind, it’s undeniable that the younger generation today is different from the generations that came before it. That difference is expressed in many different ways, though perhaps the ones we notice most are the levels of anxiety experienced by young people along with their relationship to social media.

This has long been a subject of disquieted fascination to Jonathan Haidt, who many know as one of the co-authors of The Coddling of the American Mind. In his new book The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness, he links the two factors (technology and anxiety) and says “the members of Gen Z are the test subjects for a radical new way of growing up.” This radical new way of growing up is what he refers to as the Great Rewiring of Childhood. Essentially, beginning in the late 90s, children began to be raised in a world that was radically different from the world as it had been before. It was a world in which young people grew into adulthood being constantly formed by new devices and apps. And in Haidt’s telling, these devices and apps did far more harm than good.

He says there are four technology-based trends that together generated the Great Rewiring: the spread of high-speed internet in the early 2000s; the arrival of the iPhone (followed by its many imitators) in 2007; the introduction of social media and the later creation of the “like” and “retweet” capabilities in 2009; and the combination of the frontfacing camera with Instagram in 2010-2012.

There’s a second plotline in the Great Rewiring and it is the way parents, beginning in the 80s and 90s, began to overprotect their children. Where children develop best when they are given a measure of freedom and allowed to face risk and make decisions, parents began to overprotect their children, denying them developmental opportunities that had been available to previous generations. Unable to roam and play freely, children instead gravitated to computer-based and then phone-based forms of play.

The Anxious Generation is a sobering and challenging book. It aptly shows how technology and overprotection have combined to both shape and harm an entire generation. Encouragingly, it also provides clear and well-informed instructions for parents and other adults that can help today’s young people escape the system and live healthier lives.

Ask Pastor John

750 Bible Answers to Life’s Most Important Questions by

Tony Reinke

I admit it: I felt a little skeptical about Ask Pastor John. Yet once I got into this book, once I saw what it is and isn’t, and once I began to actually read it, my skepticism quickly subsided.

Perhaps the most important thing to note about Ask Pastor John is that the author is not John Piper. Rather, it’s Tony Reinke. It’s Reinke’s name that is written in big characters on the front cover. Piper is mentioned only as the author of the foreword. Yet the content is clearly Piper’s. So what gives?

Back in 2013 Reinke, an employee of Desiring God, proposed a new podcast called Ask Pastor John. The format would be simple— Piper would answer questions posed to him in advance. Rather than offering off-the-cuff answers as he might during a conference Q&A, Piper would spend time in preparation, giving his responses more depth and weight. What was supposed to last for just under 400 episodes has now reached into the thousands. The episodes have been listened to hundreds of millions of times and, by Piper’s own testimony, is the most common feedback he hears from people who interact with him—they tell how much they have been shaped and blessed by it.

Yet not everyone is going to listen to hundreds of hours of podcasts (or would even want to). The book, then, is a kind of “narrative synthesis” of 750 of the most popular episodes, the majority of which deal with situational ethics. Reinke says it “is a core sample of John Piper’s mind and theology” that is meant to serve four purposes: To map the ground they’ve already covered so as to avoid repetition; to topically curate the episodes already created; to celebrate Piper’s investment in the podcast; and to acquaint readers with the scope and depth of the podcast archive. “Basically, my prayer is that by making dozens of the major podcast themes browsable in print, this book will make the archive more useful to you at the very moment you need it. This book doesn’t have an index; it is the index, an index to serve you as you serve others.”

While there is a sense in which the book is meant to prompt readers to become listeners, there is another sense in which it offers plenty of its own value. What Reinke has done is arrange episodes under topical headings. Then he has combined the content of related episodes and condensed it into a short and readable Q&A format.

I enjoyed gaining brief answers to a multitude of questions and enjoyed seeing how Piper brings the truths of Scripture to bear on practical matters. I enjoyed disagreeing with him on a few matters, but such disagreements help sharpen my own thinking. The book is a fascinating and helpful archive, whether taken with or without reference to the podcast that was its origin.

RRC: You’ve been teaching for 39 years and are currently a Reading Specialist at Holy Spirit. How does your profession contribute to your spiritual life?

TT: For 37 years, I worked with Montgomery Public Schools as a 2nd-grade teacher, kindergarten teacher, and reading specialist before retiring from MPS. As teachers, we are given a special gift from God for love, patience, and a serving heart. We serve God by serving others and need to love our students first as God loves us, with all our faults and sins, and let them know we care about them.

RRC: You enjoy serving the community through teaching in education, Sunday School, and a class for first communion. Tell us about these many roles.

TT: I started teaching religion education classes, particularly the 2nd grade Formation of Faith classes, to prepare children for First Communion in 1985. I have participated by serving others through singing and playing the guitar in the choir and teaching VBS, Sunday School, and Wednesday night classes. I used to teach parenting classes for kindergarten parents at Fews, Nixon, and Garrett Elementary Schools. I have volunteered with the Spina Bifida Association for many years since Ricky, my son, has Spina Bifida. I have been a leader, assistant leader, and committee member for Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts for all the years my children were in them.

RRC: As a teacher, you created a prayer wall in your classroom. Can you share a situation in which you witnessed God’s work?

TT: My students and colleagues were welcome to put sticky notes with names or situations where prayers were. My students would lead prayers in the morning, and students felt called to ask for prayers for various family members. Students and colleagues knew they could come to my room to ask for prayers, and my students loved taking turns saying the blessing before lunch. I have created bulletin boards at both of my schools in the hallways entitled “How Can I Pray Today?” It lists scripture, intercessions, petitions, thanksgiving, and vocal prayers.

RRC: You wear a cross daily. What is the significance to you?

TT: During a homily several years ago, our priest said never to be afraid to wear a cross necklace as an outward sign of our faith. I decided that day that I would wear one every day as an outward sign of my beliefs. The cross and prayer gives me comfort, calm me when I am anxious or worried, give me patience when working with little children or adults, reminds me to show kindness to others, and makes me feel secure and safe. The cross is sometimes just a reminder of thankfulness to God for all He does for us every day.

RRC: What has God taught you through interacting with people in the community?

TT: God has taught me that it’s better to give than receive. I do a lot of volunteering. I tutor students and end the lessons by reading the Study Bible for Kids. My husband, children, and I have worked with church activities like fall and spring festivals, various committees, and youth groups. I am in the choir, a lector, and an extraordinary Eucharistic minister at church. I have helped at Tonya Speed’s Dance Connection since 2020 as a front desk receptionist, but I have been a dance mom there for 17 years, helping with costumes, makeup, and props. When you help and serve others, you do not do it for recognition and rewards, you do it because it’s the right thing to do.

RRC: How have you kept God a part of your marriage for 35 years?

TT: I met Greg at a St. Bede’s college-age youth group in 1985. We were married in the Catholic church three years later, and we have regularly attended Mass every Sunday for all 35 years of our marriage. When you make God a priority, everything else falls into place. It is a habit and tradition to prioritize worshiping together.

RRC: Do you feel helping others is a spiritual calling?

TT: Absolutely! When I was five years old, I wanted to be a teacher, and now my children and several former students have followed in my footsteps. Greg and I have sponsored several people joining the Catholic church, children becoming baptized where we served as godparents, and high school students as confirmation sponsors. I was chosen as the 2023 recipient for our parish of the Christ the King award for Shining Christ’s Light by my pastor, Alex. It’s a spiritual calling, and I listen to what God calls me to do.

Teresa Treloar has been married to Greg Treloar for 35 years. They have two children: Rick (23) and Amy (19). They are members of St. Bede Catholic Church.

We are never far from reminding God of our credentials, of providing him with a curriculum vitae that lays out all we are, all we have been through, and all we have accomplished for his sake. We are never far from making the subtle turn from grace to merit, from what is freely given to what has been hard-earned. The Apostle Paul knew this temptation. In his letter to the church at Philippi, he goes to some trouble to lay out his credentials as the most admirable of all Jewish men—a man who had impeccable ethnic, family, religious, and personal credentials. Yet after he lays them out, he drops a bomb: He says that he counts them all as rubbish. Why?

Because in his former life these credentials had been the ground of his confidence before the Lord. And even now he knew he could once again begin to believe that God loved him because of who he was and that God owed him because of what he had done. And he knew that if this was constantly on his mind, it might entrap or distract him. So he “forgot” it to keep it from negatively impacting his ability to serve the Lord. (See Philippians 3:12-14)

Of course, he didn’t forget it in the sense of purging it from his memory altogether. He forgot it in the sense of no longer allowing it to impact his thinking and no longer ground his confidence. And I think it’s worth taking our cue from Paul to think of a few different things he might tell you to forget.

He would tell you to forget your spiritual heritage if you are tempted to make this the grounds of your confidence before the Lord. If your parents and grandparents were Christians, you ought to praise God for that blessing—and it is a great blessing, indeed. But you ought to forget it if it in any way may cause you to set your hope on your heritage instead of on Christ.

You need to forget your spiritual accomplishments. You might find yourself recounting the good things you once did for the Lord or the great things he once did through you. But you need to forget about those accomplishments if they are making you complacent about obedience today, if they are tempting you to think “I’ve already done

enough. I’ve already proven myself.” Obedience yesterday gives you no right to be complacent or disobedient today. Confess that sin, then forget it. Leave it in the past with the God who has already forgotten it in the same way.

Just as you need to forget about your spiritual accomplishments, you also need to forget about your spiritual failures. You might look back and get all bound up in shame for the evil things you once did or the people you once harmed—and this shame may keep you from pressing on. But you have repented, you have been forgiven by God, you are a new man, a new woman. So confess that sin, then forget it. Leave it in the past with the God who has already forgotten it in the same way.

And then, you need to forget even your sorrow, even your suffering, even your grief, even your pain. You need to forget even these deep trials in any way that they may hinder you as you press on toward the goal.

Of course, it’s important to be nuanced with such deep and difficult trials. We might think about griefs—all the people you have loved who have died. Would Paul tell you to forget those people and leave them in the past? No, God doesn’t demand you live as if they never existed, as if you never loved them, as if you don’t love them still. But he does mean for you to understand that these losses did not happen apart from his providence, that somehow they are part of his faultless plan for this world, and that somehow he will receive

glory from it all. This is not easy. You need help to accept this and faith to believe it. But God is pleased to give the help and to grant the faith so you can accept and believe it.

This puts the responsibility on you to forget whatever it is in your sorrows or trials that might cause you to become trapped in the past instead of pressing on in the present. It calls you to forget whatever would cause you to look to God with reproach instead of submission and to forget whatever would cause you to live in a state of never-ending sorrow instead of enjoying God’s many blessings. It puts the responsibility on you to forget anything that might impede your full-out pressing on toward the Lord.

God’s call to each of us is plain: We must always press on—press on toward the goal and press on to receive the prize. To run this race well, we must run unhindered—unhindered by sin, of course, but also by whatever lies in the past that may threaten to slow us, to weigh us down, or to keep us from reaching the finish line. Forgetting what lies behind, we must discipline ourselves to press on—to always and ever press on toward the end of our race and to our Savior’s open arms.

Tim Challies is a pastor, author and book reviewer living in Canada.

Blue Ridge Baptist Church

4471 Jasmine Hill Road, Wetumpka

Theme: Breaker Rock Beach

Dates: June 23-27

Times: TBA (334) 567.4325

Calvary Baptist Church

431 W. Fourth Street, Prattville

Theme: Breaker Rock Beach

Dates: May 31-June 2

Times: Friday, 6-8 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. and Sunday from 9:45 until noon.

Ages: Preschool – K; Grades 1-6 (334) 365.5213 calvarybaptistprattville.org

Camellia Baptist Church

201 Woodvale Road, Prattville

Theme: The Great Jungle Journey

Dates: June 2-6

Times to be decided

Ages: Pre-K through 6th grade, plus adult classes. (334) 365.0231 www.cbcprattville.org

Century Church at the Well ad on page 15

1001 Marler Road, Pike Road

Theme: Start the Party

Dates: June 17-20

Times: 6 to 8 pm

Visit century.church/vbs

Church of the Highlands

4255 Taylor Road, Montgomery

Theme: Summer Blast

Dates: To be announced

Time: 7:30 a.m. to Noon

Ages: Children entering K through 6th grade. (205) 980.5577 churchofthehighlands.com

Dalraida Baptist Church

3838 Wares Ferry Rd., Montgomery

Theme: Breaker Rock Ridge

Dates: June 3-7

Time: 9 until Noon

Age: Kindergarten through 6th grade (334) 272.2412 dalraidabaptist.com

Eastern Hills Baptist Church

3604 Pleasant Ridge Road, Montgomery

Theme: Breaker Rock Beach

Dates: June 2-6

Times 5-8 p.m.

Ages: 4 (by August 1st) through 6th grade (334) 272.0604 ehbconline.com

East Memorial Baptist Church

1320 Old Ridge Road, Prattville

Theme: The Great Jungle Journey

Dates: June 17-21

Time: 9 a.m. to Noon

Ages: K5 through 8th Grade Call 365.7500 eastmemorial.org

Eastmont Baptist Church

4505 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery

Theme: Breaker Rock Beach

Dates: June 3-7

Time: 8-5 p.m.

Ages: K - grade 6 (334) 277.6300 eastmont.org

First Baptist Church ad on back cover

305 South Perry Street, Montgomery

Theme: Breaker Rock Beach

Dates: June 17-21

Time: 9 a.m. to Noon

Ages: 4-6th grade (334) 834.6310 MontgomeryFBC.org

First Baptist Church

138 S. Washington Street, Prattville

Theme: Breaker Rock Beach

Dates: June 24-28 Time: 8:30 to noon

Ages K4 - 6th Grade. (334) 365-0606 Fbcprattville.org/vbs

First Baptist Church, Wetumpka 205 W. Bridge Street

Theme: Scuba

Dates: June 17-21 Time: 5:30– 8 p.m.

Ages: K-6th grade. (334) 567.5191 fbcwetumpka.com

First Presbyterian, Prattville 211 S. Chestnut Street

Theme: The Great Jungle Journey

Dates: June 3-6 Time: 9- noon

Ages: 4 years old through entering 6th grade Call 365.6387.

First UMC, Montgomery

2416 W. Cloverdale Park

Theme: Camp Firelight

Dates: June 10-12 Time: 9-noon

Ages: Age 3 through 5th grade. (334) 834.8990 fumcmontgomery.org

First UMC, Prattville

100 E. Fourth Street

Theme: Scuba

Dates: June 17-20 Time: 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Ages: Completed Kindergarten thru 5th grade (334) 365.5977 prattvillemethodist.org

First UMC, Wetumpka ad on page 12

306 W. Tuskeena Street

Theme: Build: Build Your Life on Jesus Dates: June 2-5

Visit www.WetumpkaFirst.com/VBS.

Fountain City Baptist

492 East Main Street, Prattville

Theme: The Great Jungle Journey

Dates: June 23-27

Time: 6 - 8 p.m.

Ages 5-12 years old (334) 365.2034 fountaincitybaptist.com

Gateway Baptist Church

3300 Bell Road, Montgomery

Theme: Breaker Rock Beach

Dates: June 17-21 Time: 9 am- Noon

Ages: Completed 1st through completed 5th (334) 272.9494 gatewaybaptist.com

Glynwood Baptist Church

376 N. McQueen Smith Road, Prattville Theme: Breaker Rock Beach

Dates: June 2-6 Time: 6-8pm

Ages: 4 through grade 6 (334) 361.9180 glynwoodbc.com

GracePointe VBS

1565 Ray Thorington Road

Theme: Zoomerang

Dates: May 31 from 6-8:30 p.m., SaturdaySunday from 9-11:30 a.m.

Ages: 5-11 years (334) 271.2525 grace-pointe.com

Hayneville Baptist Church

1180 State Hwy 21 N, Hayneville, AL

Theme: Breaker Rock Beach Dates: July 21-25

Time: 5:45 until 8:30 p.m.

Ages: K4 - 6th Grade (grade completed) (334) 548.2620 haynevillebaptist.com

Heritage Baptist Church ad on page 19

1849 Perry Hill Road, Montgomery

Theme: Connect Camp

Dates: July 15-19

Time: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Ages: K through 8th grade, fee for camp (334) 279.9976 connectcamps.com/montgomery

Heritage Baptist, Prattville 1357 S. Memorial Drive

Theme: The Great Jungle Journey Dates: June 9-13 Time: 6-8p.m.

Ages: Pre-School thru completion of 6th grade (334) 365-2372 hbcprattville.org

Holy Spirit Catholic Church

8570 Vaughn Road, East Montgomery Theme: Steller

Dates: July 22-26 Time: 9 a.m. to Noon

Age: Entering Preschool – rising 5th grade (334) 277.1989 www.holyspiritmgm.org

Millbrook Presbyterian (PCA) 3480 Main Street, Millbrook

Theme: The Great Jungle Journey

Dates: June 24-27

Time: 5:30-8:30 p.m

Ages: Entering K5 thru 5th grade. (334) 285-4031 millbrookpca.org

Montgomery Area Episcopal Churches

Saint John’s Episcopal Church

113 Madison Ave., Montgomery

Theme: Hometown Nazareth

Dates: June 3-6 Time:8:30 a.m.- Noon

Ages: Rising K4 through rising 6th grade (334) 263.5529 stjohnsmontgomery.org

Morningview Baptist Church

125 Calhoun Road, Montgomery

Theme: Sports Camp

Dates: May 28-31 Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Ages: Completed Kindergarten-5th grade (334) 272.2304 morningview.org

Mountain View Baptist 1025 Rifle Range Rd., Wetumpka Theme: Breaker Rock Beach

Dates: June 10-14 Time: 8-noon

Ages: Completed K5 through 6th grade (334) 567.4458 mvbaptist.com

Mulder UMC

3454 Firetower Road ~ Wetumpka Theme: Camp Firelight

Dates: July 14-17

Time: 6 – 8 p.m.

Ages: 4 years – 6 grade (334) 567.4225 mulderchurch.co

Prattmont Baptist Church

814 Smith Blvd, Prattville

Theme: Faith Builders: Restoration Work Ahead

Dates: June 19-23

Time: 6 – 8:30 p.m.

Ages: 4 years – 6 grade (334) 365.0023 prattmont.org

Redland Baptist Church

1266 Dozier Rd, Wetumpka

Theme: The Great Jungle Journey

Date: July 22-24

Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Ages: 5 (by Sept. 1) thru graduated 5th grade (334) 567.8649 redlandbaptistchurch.org

Ridgecrest Baptist Church

5260 Vaughn Road, Montgomery

Theme: Breaker Rock Beach

Dates: June 3-7

Time: 6-8 p.m.

Ages: 1st-6th grade. (334) 277.0011 rbcmontgomery.com

Saint James Church

9045 Vaughn Road, Montgomery

Theme: Hometown Nazareth

Dates: June 10-12

Time: 9 to Noon

Ages: K5-5th grade (334) 277.3037 sjlife.com

Taylor Road Baptist Church

1685 Taylor Road

Theme: Breaker Rock Beach

Dates: June 17-21

Time: 8:30 a.m. to Noon

Ages: 4 years through 5th grade. (334) 271.3363 taylorroad.org

Thelma Baptist VBS

810 Weoka Road, Wetumpka

Theme: Start the PartyDates: June 3-7

Time: 9 a.m. to Noon

Children who have completed PreK thru 6th. (334) 567-3665 tlifeonline.com

Thorington Road Baptist

450 Ray Thorington Road, Montgomery Theme: The Great Jungle Journey Dates: July 14-18

Time: 6-8:30 p.m.

Ages: K5 yrs. to 5th grade. (334) 396.9376 trbaptist.org

Trinity Presbyterian Church

1728 S. Hull Street, Montgomery

Theme: One Way Cafe Dates: June 2-5

Times: Sunday from 5-7:15 p.m., MondayWednesday from 9 a.m.-Noon Ages: Pre-K 4 through completed 6th grade (334) 262.3892 trinitypca.org

Trinity United Methodist Church 610 Fairview Avenue, Prattville Theme: Camp Firelight

Dates: June 10-13 Times: 5-8 p.m.

Ages: 3K-Rising 6th graders

Dinner provided for children every night. (334) 365.7339 trinityprattville.com

University Church of Christ 5315 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery Theme: Inside Out Dates: June 16-19

Time: 6:30-8 p.m.

Ages: newborn thru 6th grade

Adult classes will be available (334) 386.7320 ucoc.org

Vaughn Forest Church

8660 Vaughn Road, Montgomery Theme: Kids Camp and Parent Experience

Dates: July 21-23

Ages: Birth though middle school (334) 279.5433 vaughnforest.com

Vaughn Park Church of Christ

3800 Vaughn Road

Theme: Go For Gold

Dates: June 23-26

Time: 6:30-8 p.m. (334) 272.2665 vaughnpark.com

Woodland UMC

4428 Wallahatchee Rd, Pike Road

Theme: Epic

Dates: July 24-26

Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Ages: 4 years old -6th grade (334) 272.7230 woodlandlife.org

Young Meadows Presbyterian Church

5780 Vaughn Road, Montgomery Theme: Sports Camp

Dates: June 3-7

Time: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Ages: Kindergarten -5th grade (334) 244.1385 youngmeadows.org

by Kym Klass

When Candace Cain moved to Montgomery in 2016, she was reminded often that we are a “sent” people – people called to be good neighbors.

And she prayed, dreamed, and imagined a house in Alabama that would serve its neighborhood through walking toward a better community. She sought counsel and approval from the city of Detroit, where she had previously volunteered at a place called Hope House Detroit as its after-school reading program director. There, she witnessed firsthand this ministry’s impact on the neighborhood by seeking to love their neighbors like Jesus.

In 2020, Cain made this a reality in our capital city, opening Hope House Montgomery in Highland Park.

What does this ministry mean to you?

For me, this is about living out my faith. I believe that Jesus calls us to work through the Spirit and bring heaven to earth in ways that help restore and enrich people’s lives. I want to help people understand that regardless of status, gender, economic position, or ethnicity, that they have value and purpose. I think it starts by being and teaching how to be a good neighbor. Hope House Montgomery isn’t looking to do things in a huge way, but to

do the little things. Like help kids read, be hospitable to our neighbors even when they are not like me, and to seek to take care of the community both physically and spiritually.

What does it mean to have the support from Hope House Detroit?

I volunteered at Hope House Detroit when I lived there, and I have patterned Hope House Montgomery after them. We are partners with a similar mission. I support HHD and they support HHM. They

started with a reading program, and that was our first outreach and now it is going strong.

“With her sincere heart for the greatest good of children, her collegiate connections and zeal for life, and her steady devotion to Jesus, Candace Cain is a grand slam! Plus she is just plain fun! We are delighted by her passion to bring real. crazy.love to the children and youth of her neighborhood and are pleased to share in relationship with Hope House Montgom-

ery.” – Gary and Becky Gentry, Executive Director and Founders, Hope House Detroit (via hopehousemontgomery.org)

Are there parallels between the two locations - Detroit and Montgomery - or is each unique?

We are only three years old, and HHD is at the 15-year mark. They have a much larger paid staff and several locations, and have broadened their footprint to include job training and daily programming for youth. Hope House Montgomery has no paid staff at this point, although we are getting ready to start a campaign to

bring on a full-time staff member. We both have internship programs where we mentor and teach Christian hospitality and how to be a good neighbor.

We have two interns who are paid a stipend and live at Hope House Montgomery for free. They complete 6-8 hours a week working in the neighborhood, with the reading program, or other volunteer opportunities. I volunteer up to ten hours a week, and also live at Hope House Montgomery. We work together weekly to pray, plan, and recruit volunteers. Twice a week, we use 10 to 20 volunteers for our reading program. We have a monthly trash pickup and invite youth groups and neighbors to help us pick up trash. Weekly, we have a dinner and invite neighbors. The interns take turns cooking and showing hospitality around the table.

We passed out 150 valentines with cards and candy to our neighbors on February 14, and we try to do something

for families at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Our current interns are from Faulkner University and Alabama State University. Internships last an academic year up to two years. Generally, they are collegeaged students or grad students.

(An additional partner is Hunter Hills Church in Prattville – whose emphasis is not their building or programs, but the community of believers in which God is forming.)

Why should the community invest in this ministry?

Helping us train young people to choose to be intentional in their neighborhoods helps us all. A college education has benefits, but extending that to help young people practice being an active, positive and restorative member of a community – that is in need of love and is distressed – is of great benefit to us all. Many of the people look to move out of these neighborhoods, but I hope to teach us to stay and create a sense of connection and restoration.

How can the community pray for Hope House Montgomery?

We are looking for new interns as our current two are graduating and moving on to other work. Prayers for us to recognize

Amazing

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When people with extraordinary talent and passion are given the technology, the facilities, and the support, they achieve great things. The discoveries taking place today will help shape the future of treatments and lead to cures – benefitting not only our patients and families, but people across the country and around the world for years to come.

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how God is moving and working in our community and to move into that work. For our reading kids, that they continue to value themselves and others. Prayers for increase with our monthly donors so that we can bring on a full-time staff member.

In May, we have a church group coming from Nashville to help us with our “School’s Out Party.” We will feed the neighborhood, have a petting zoo, facilitate a craft, a book giveaway, and yard games. They will engage with our neighbors, and experience how God is moving in our little community.

What are your greatest needs?

Right now, funding for a full-time person. We are not looking to become huge. We just want to serve the families in Highland Park and have someone full-time who can be in the neighborhood consistently, updating our social media, keep us organized and planning educational and community activities that will serve our neighbors as well as collaborate with area churches and other nonprofits seeking similar relationships.

For the future, we hope to plant another Hope House in another distressed part of the city.

Programs offered:

Read Around the Block HHM hosts a reading enhancement program where elementary kids in kindergarten through 5th grade are invited to improve their reading skills in a fun and safe environment.

ESL Classes

English as a Second Language classes will be facilitated at 430 Polk Street beginning this fall.

Street Clean-Up

Each month Hope House will sponsor a street clean-up in the Highland Park neighborhood. Please check in with us to find out the dates. This is open to anyone willing to help.

How to volunteer, donate, and get in touch:

Visit: https://hopehousemontgomery.org/

Email: candace@hopehouse montgomery.org

Phone: 830-688-1074

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

Lonely

No More

May is commemorated as Mental Health Awareness Month, and it provides an opportunity for those who believe in Jesus Christ to recognize the power of Scriptural principles to help address mental health issues.

Last May, the U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, released an 85-page report on loneliness, described by Forbes magazine as “declaring loneliness a new public health epidemic in the United States.” The article quotes Murthy, who said, “Our epidemic of loneliness and isolation has been an underappreciated public health crisis that has harmed individual and societal health. Our relationships are a source of healing and well-being hiding in plain sight—one that can help us live healthier, more fulfilled and more productive lives...”

So, how do we fix it? A Connecticut Senator named Chris Murphy has an idea, according to the Washington Examiner’s Madeline Fry Schultz, writing for the Independent Women’s Forum website:

After the government shut down large swaths of society in early 2020, everyday Americans were feeling the brunt of Uncle Sam’s enforced isolation. More than a third of Americans struggled with “serious loneliness,” according to a Harvard survey conducted that fall. Now, the very same people who shamed others for going to parks or seeing their friends during the pandemic have a solution to fight the loneliness crisis: more government.

Senator Murphy tweeted out: “Today I’m introducing a groundbreaking bill – the National Strategy for Social Connection Act...It creates a federal office to combat the growing epidemic of American loneliness, develops anti-loneliness strategies,

and fosters best practices to promote social connection.”

Schultz referenced an Examiner editorial, which stated: “Social connection happens at a local level, so a national solution is impossible.” It also stated: “Centralization of power, attention, and action is a chief cause of social disconnection...”

I do believe there is a force that can address the loneliness problem in a meaningful way - the power of God’s Word and His Church. Hope for the Heart, the ministry founded by June Hunt, sent out a press release written by Meeting House guest Haley Scully of the organization, who responded to a recent Arizona State University study, which found that, “...not only are middle-aged Americans lonelier than their same-age peers in Europe and Israel, levels of loneliness are also increasing across generations in both the U.S. and Europe.”

A summary of the study quotes from ASU professor Frank Infurna, who said, “Middle-aged Americans are experiencing very high levels of loneli ness, especially baby boomers, but middle-aged adults in England, Italy, Spain, and Greece are now ‘catching up’ to their American peers...” For people ages 45-65, loneliness may not constitute an epidemic, but, according to that summary, “ loneliness might instead be endemic, or constantly present.”

and suicide. These represent a third of all problems treated today.”

So, it appears that loneliness occurs ir respective of age. And, as Scully points out, “We are made for relationship with God and one another. The very meaning of church – the assembly, the gathered people – is about relationship. We have an opportunity to play a vital role in providing a meaningful sense of community, support, purpose, and connection for individuals.”

Hope for the Heart offers resources that address applying a Biblical approach to mental and other issues through its website at hopefortheheart.org/free.

So, during this Mental Health Aware ness Month, we can consider how our Savior has come to bring us peace - with Him, with ourselves, and with one another. His abiding presence is with us even when we feel lonely. His healing, restorative power is available

Scully references a Gallup poll showing that 6-in-10 young people ages 18-24 “wrestle with loneliness,” and notes, “Although we are technologically connected more than ever, we are in many ways, more relationally disconnected than ever.” She adds, “Loneliness not only affects mental health and well-being but can also lead to more serious issues such as anxiety, depression,

Furthermore, we are part of a living organism called the Church, through which we can enter into rewarding relationships predicated on our common fellowship with God. God has created us as holistic beings - spirit, soul, and body, according to 1st Thessalonians chapter 5, so our Creator can minister to the deepest needs of our hearts and can provide power and wisdom to address the challenges we face in our minds. This ability can be released through our fellowship with one another. It is also heartening to see churches embracing mental health challenges and recognizing that the Scriptures and the love of fellow believers can be instrumental in addressing these needs.

Compassion and Support

Look outside! It’s that time of year that we all love. The birds are chirping, the pollen in the air is making us sneeze, and the days are becoming longer. The winter has melted away, but for some, the feeling of winter is still present. For some of us, the winter is a time of mental suffering caused by seasonal affective disorder. For many, the feel of winter is still present, and the first person we meet may have been in distress the last several months.

The symptoms of SAD begin to subside around this time of year, and a recently depressed neighbor may be struggling to get back into the community. What can we do to help someone who may be suffering in silence? We can help and support them through compassion. Compassion can be defined as the feelings that arise when one individual witnesses another individual’s suffering. Compassion can also be defined as the motivation that prompts our desire to help. Compassion can help us connect to others, mend relationships, and move forward in life.

The impact of Covid-19 has been widespread. Its conditions have forced many people to experience psychotic distress that could lead to depression, anxiety, and

post-traumatic stress disorder. Statistics taken in 2023 have shown that a vast number of the U.S. population experience mentally distressing symptoms daily and only 10% of the population sought a means to adequately address the symptoms. Because they failed to act, many have chosen to suffer in silence. How do we help these individuals...with compassion? The embodiment and the essence of compassion promote human dignity and concern for the well-being of others. True compassion in the community uplifts and promotes the importance of the uniqueness of all people.

One of the most significant issues is that we don’t know who is or has been suffering. Therefore, it would be a good practice to approach all of our neighbors with honor and respect. Many tend to forget that simple traits and skills go a long way. Romans 12:10 insists that we “love each other with genuine affection and to take delight in honoring each other.” Respect can be demonstrated through consideration and value for others. One who values and honors others is capable of showing compassion and support.

to talk and listening to their feelings can be comforting.

Another effective method that could reinforce listening is to offer reassurance. Reassurance can be simply letting them know that they are not alone and that help can be available. Individuals who are taking the helping role should try to stay calm. Sometimes, it is difficult to hear of the misfortunes of others. Feelings are interchangeable, and our calm can encourage others. Being patient is helpful as well. Sometimes, individuals may not lead with pertinent information, and it may take time to get the understanding needed to help. Patience is much needed because to lose patience is to lose the battle.

In our

efforts as good Samaritans, it is inevitable that we will encounter others who may need our help. The final step to help someone is to encourage them to seek help. The help that we can give may only go so far. Resources beyond our help are always available to those in need.

What does compassion and support in the community look like? Because people are different, compassion and support will look different. A few things can be done universally to help people in the community. Being a good listener is a supportive trait that shows compassion. Sometimes, individuals who are suffering want to be genuinely heard. Giving someone space

George Ishman knew at an early age he wanted to be an advocate for change and an inspiration for individuals who live in communities facing economic challenges. Ishman received his undergraduate degree in English from ASU in 2017, where he graduated Cum Laude. He obtained his Master of Science Degree in Counseling and Psychology from Troy University in 2021. As a new counselor, George is looking forward to helping clients find solutions and resources that will support their efforts to achieve their optimal level of functioning. George provides Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Behavioral Modification Therapy, and Supportive Therapy for adults and adolescents.

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 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 UMC, 3817 Atlanta Hwy, 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: 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. Email montgomery@route1520. com, visit http://www.route1520.com/men/groups-formen/ 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: 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, 306 W. Tuskeena Street, Wetumpka ‘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.

Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA) is open to all struggling with addictive sexual behaviors which may lead to guilt, shame, depression, anxiousness, and loneliness. Examples included use of pornography, adultery, fantasy, reckless sexual behavior, and more. Meetings are Sunday nights. For meeting times and location, please contact – MontgomerySAA@outlook.com or call 334245-1686. For more resources on sex addiction, please visit - https://saa-recovery.org/.

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. 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 Wednesdays, August 16 — November 8 | 6:00 PM | Room B405

Find help and healing in the hurt of separation and divorce. This class is a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences. Don’t go through separation or divorce alone. The seminar will feature videos of top experts on divorce and recovery, followed by support group discussion. Facilitated by Robert Gassman

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: Cornerstone Christian, 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 Baptist Church, 305 S. Perry St.

A GriefShare support group is a safe, welcoming place where people understand the difficult emotions of grief. Through this 13-week group, you’ll discover what to expect in the days ahead and what’s “normal” in grief. Since there are no neat, orderly stages of grief, you’ll learn helpful ways of coping with grief, in all its unpredictability—and gain solid support each step of the way. Wednesdays, August 16 – November 8 | 6:00 PM Room B415. Facilitated by Ben Kelley & Cathy O’Dell

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.

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 828-446-6666 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: Redland Baptist, 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.

How to Know When You Should Offer Advice/Help

Q. I’m worried about my younger brother, and I need some advice. He’s divorced and has a son, and lately, it seems like he only wants to be a dad when it’s convenient. On top of this, he’s very irresponsible with money for someone in their thirties. Our mom and dad passed away several years ago, so I feel like this leaves me to be the big brother and parent at the same time. I’m not sure how to help him. Can you give me some advice, please?

A. You’re a good and caring big brother to be concerned and want to help. And it’s a tough situation for you, especially with your parents no longer in the picture. When I help people on my show, I have the benefit of them calling in and actually wanting help. These folks care about what I think, and in most cases, they real-

ize things aren’t working for them. I don’t just walk up to people and say, “You know, what you’re doing is really stupid. Let me fix you.” I think that’s kind of the situation you’re in right now. So, before anything else, I’d begin to pray for him. Ask God to bring people into his life who will have a positive impact on him.

One of the worst things about these situations is watching people you love do bad things to themselves and the people around them. Honestly, I don’t know there’s really a lot you can do without becoming the enemy to some degree. You can always try to hold him to a higher standard, and refuse to tolerate immature, irresponsible behavior when you’re around him. You might even look for opportunities to use yourself as an example. I’m not talking about puffing out

your chest and pretending to be perfect. I’m just saying maybe point out areas in your life where you made mistakes in the past and how you fixed the problems. But going out and trying to actively intervene in his life without permission, or shaming him in hopes it’ll make him grow up and be a man, would probably do more harm than good. Approach him in a gentle, caring way. Again, not like some know-it-all, but just let him know you care and you’re there to help if he’s having difficulties. Take him out to lunch once in a while, or invite him over, and let him know you’re there for him if he needs to talk.

And remember what I said earlier about prayer? Bringing God into the equation is never a bad idea.

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