River Region Christian - April 2022 by KeepSharing

www.facebook.com/auburnopelika.parents

FLU & PNEUMONIA

FACTS

Flu & Pneumonia Vaccines Reduce Illnesses, Doctor Visits, Hospitalizations, Missed Work & School.

U L F T H G FI A I N O M U & PNE

alabamapublichealth.gov/imm 1

www.facebook.com/auburnopelika.parents

Volume 23, Issue 12

Feature Articles

APRIL 20 2 2 Columns

page 8

page 2

Publisher’s Note

Faith @ Work: Kesha Shaw

Jason Watson

Local Mary Kay Consultant Kesha Shaw is all about serving others and is doing just that in many capacities. Find out who inspired her servant’s heart early on and also what practices she includes in her daily walk with Christ to keep her heart near to Him.

page 4

Pastor's Perspective Dr. Peyton Hill, First Baptist Prattville

page 15

Moments with Kym Kym Klass

page 12

Alabama State University’s RealTalk Ministry

page 16

The Intersection Bob Crittenden

by Kym Klass Zach Beasley, along with wife Nicole and volunteers, heads up a powerful ministry on the campus of ASU where “real” conversations are had with biblical application centered around the Gospel of Christ. Learn how you can join with RealTalk through volunteering, giving or attending!

page 21

Women Arising Pastor Kemi Searcy

page 24

Counselor’s Corner Madalyn Caldwell, LPC

page 18

How to Get Kids As Excited About Easter as Christmas

by Carl and Lizzie Laferton Unique activites and traditions that are sure to get your children counting down to a Christ-focused Easter!

page 28

Dave $ays Dave Ramsey

In Every Issue page 6

Books to Read page 8

page 22

Faith @ Work

River Region Easter Listing

page 26

Local churches invite you to Easter musicals, Good Friday services, Easter Egg Hunts, Sunrise Services and more. 1

Support Groups April 2022

River Region Christians

Our Mission... We believe the Good News concerning the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is worth sharing with our friends and neighbors in the River Region. Each month we deliver this life-changing message to the centers of activity across our community in a user-friendly and relevant way to empower and equip all those seeking to grow closer to God. Join us in this mission by sharing a copy with your neighbor or by becoming an advertising partner starting next month.

Editor DeAnne Watson deanne@readjourneymagazine.com

Publisher

Jason Watson jason@readjourneymagazine.com

Research Editor Wendy McCollum

Contributing Writers Madalyn Caldwell, LPC Tim Challies Bob Crittenden Dr. Peyton Hill Kym Klass Carl and Lizzie Laferton Dave Ramsey Kemi Searcy

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

Digital Manager Scott Davis

Ad Design

From the Publisher We’re All Cracked Up! Did your parents hide your Easter basket on Easter morning? One year my basket would be hidden in a bottom cabinet behind the pots and pans. Then the next year it might be inside the dryer. I loved finding my basket full of marshmallow peeps, a few Cadbury Eggs, and jelly beans that had sifted to the bottom through the plastic green grass. There were only plastic eggs in the basket those mornings because the real eggs were used for the egg hunt after church. Now egg hunts are fun, but to this day the best part about the egg hunts at our house is the Egg Battle that follows. For the Egg Battle, each person wraps their hand around an egg with a little of the top or bottom showing. Then one person hits the bottom of their egg to the top of the other person’s egg. The one whose egg cracks loses. The losing egg is usually sprinkled with salt and eaten while the champion continues to the next round. In the end, there is only one victor. We come up with some odd ways to celebrate holidays, and often the traditions we follow don’t have much to do with the meaning of what we’re celebrating. Why again am I eating a chocolate bunny? (I’m not sure, but I like it!) My family didn’t start doing the Egg Battle to reveal biblical truths, but it turns out that our Egg Battle may be the most truly “Easter” thing we do outside of time at church that morning. That’s because Easter is about celebrating Jesus becoming the Victor over sin and its penalty of death. You and I fall short of meeting Creator God’s requirements just like our first parents Adam and Eve did in the garden. They chose to disobey God and death came as a result of their disobedience. Now, we are all born from that same line and under the same curse of sin and death. Thankfully, God sent Jesus, His Son, to rescue us. Jesus was born of a virgin and escaped Adam’s cursed lineage. Free from the curse of sin at birth, Jesus then chose to be obedient to God’s will and lived a perfect life. Then, at the end of His ministry, Jesus took on death, sin’s curse. The unblemished Messiah hung on the cross, took His last breath, and died. Yet, on the third day, He rose again. But how? Acts 2:24 reports, “God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.” Death couldn’t hold the perfect man, and in the end, Jesus stood the Victor over sin and death. And as the Victor, He offers all who will trust and hope in Him the same victory over sin and death. He offers us His righteousness so that our sin’s penalty is removed and we can live forever with Him and the Father. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 states, “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.” On our own, we’re all cracked up! But Jesus invites us to stand with Him on the podium of His Easter Victory. Believe in Him and live!

Tim Welch, Welch Designs

River Region Christians is published monthly by Keep Sharing, P.O. Box 230367, Montgomery, AL 36123. For information, call 334-213-7940. River Region Christians is copyrighted 2022 by KeepSharing. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. The opinions expressed in River Region Christians are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the owners, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products or services herein. River Region Christians has the right to refuse any content that is not consistent with its statement of faith.

River Region Christians

April 2022

. ner

April 2022

River Region Christians

Pastor’s Perspective by Dr. Peyton Hill, First Baptist Church of Prattville

Tale of Two Gardens This month Christians will remember the death and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Good Friday and Easter Sunday form the central event of history. Most churches will gather in some way to sing songs of the cross and the empty tomb, and pastors will seek to point their congregations to the forgiveness of sins and hope found in Jesus. But in preparation for Good Friday and Easter Sunday, I want you to consider the garden. John’s Gospel tells us that Jesus was crucified in a garden (John 19:41). John also mentions that Jesus was buried in that same garden (John 19:42). Later, Peter and John entered that garden and found that Jesus was no longer in the tomb (John 20:6–8). Mary Magdalene was weeping in the garden when Jesus appeared to her, but she did not recognize him. In fact, Mary assumed that He was just the gardener (John 20:15). Yet it was

River Region Christians

April 2022

in the garden that Jesus opened Mary’s eyes so that she could behold Him, her resurrected Messiah (John 20:16). At first glance, the setting of the garden seems to be a detail that is unnecessary to think on too deeply. It’s hard to imagine the garden carrying much significance at all, especially considering the circumstances of the crucifixion and resurrection. Except, what if the garden is one of the major points John wants his readers to take note of from his account? Matthew, Mark, and Luke do not mention the garden as the setting of the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, but John (who writes decades later) highlights the garden more than once to make sure his readers do not miss the significance of the setting. But why? John wants to give his readers a bit of déjà vu. Have you ever had that weird sensation like you have been here before? John’s betting on it. You see, just as John begins his Gospel by taking his readers back to Genesis by writing, “In the beginning” (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1), he ends his Gospel by taking his readers back to Genesis, too. When God created the first man and first woman, He placed them in a garden (Genesis 2:15). This garden was the setting of Adam and Eve’s unhindered fellowship with one another and their unbroken communion with God. But when the serpent entered the garden and tempted the first man and woman, Adam and Eve disobeyed God and sinned. When God came to them in the garden, they ran and hid themselves 4

(Genesis 3:8). But God found them, and when He did, He gave them consequences for their sin. For Adam, the earth would now produce thorns and thistles (Genesis 3:18). For all of Adam’s descendants, death would now be the norm (Genesis 3:19). They would be removed from access to the Tree of Life (Genesis 3:24). The situation was horrible, but amid the consequences God offers hope. He promised the serpent that a seed would come from a woman and that seed would reverse the curse by trampling on the snake’s head (Genesis 3:15). Now, all these years later, John takes us back to a garden. He introduces us to the Last Adam, Jesus Christ. This Last Adam willingly walks into the garden, and He takes on the consequences of our sin. He wears the thorns as His crown (John 19:2), a sign that Jesus has come to bear the curse of sin. He goes to the garden to be hung on a Tree of Death. Jesus dies on the Death Tree so that we can have access again to the Tree of Life. He is placed in a tomb, but on the third day he rises again. The garden that had brought death now brings life. Jesus, in the garden of resurrection, demonstrates that sin and death cannot hold Him down. He alone has the power to overcome the grave. Now, for those of us who are in Christ, the story of the garden has come full circle. In Adam, we were cursed and sentenced to death. But now, in the Last Adam, we receive grace and are granted new life. Christ has entered the garden, and He has overcome the curse for us. Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday, indeed!

Peyton joined FBC Prattville in August 2019 as senior pastor. He is passionate about preaching Christ from the entire Bible and motivating believers for global missions. Peyton is married to Jordan Lee, and they have four children: Harper, Zane, Elliot and Wren. Visit www.fbcprattville.org for more information and service times.

es ow 8). uld

t at g

EASTER AT FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH PRATTVILLE

n ss

GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE APRIL 15, 6:00 PM EASTER SERVICES APRIL 17, 9:30 AM & 11:00 AM

st, e.

Check out more Easter events at fbcprattville.org/easter.

g ev-

SERVICE 9:30 AM Traditional TIMES 11:00 AM Contemporary Connect with us: @fbcprattville

FBCPRATTVILLE.ORG

r, rg

April 2022

River Region Christians

Is It Unspiritual to Be Depressed?

The Real Cost of Social Media

by Paul Ritchie

by Chris Martin

Is it unspiritual to be depressed? Or perhaps, said better, is it necessarily unspiritual to be depressed? Most of us would agree that the answer is “no.” Of course we would want to include some nuance to affirm that spiritual malaise or emotional despondency can sometimes be the result of sinful thoughts or actions and in such cases there may be a connection with a lack of spirituality. But we also know that sometimes depression appears mysteriously, providentially, and unprovoked by any sin or transgression on our part. We know that some of the people who are most spiritually mature can still suffer through very dark valleys. But while we affirm there is no necessary connection between depression and a lack of spiritual obedience or maturity, I do wonder whether our initial instincts sometimes betray us. I do wonder whether beneath our well-rehearsed answers there is a part of us that really does believe that depression and other forms of emotional distress or mental illness are associated with sin and immaturity. This is an urgent issue to Paul Ritchie, a pastor in Ireland who struggles with depression, anxiety, and O.C.D. In his new book, Is It Unspiritual to Be Depressed, he discusses his own struggles with mental illness, seeks to help those who struggle in similar ways, and offers counsel to those who are attempting to help loved ones. “In this book,” he says, “I want to draw on my own experiences and thoughts on issues related to depression and anxiety. I am coming from an evangelical Christian perspective and I want to show you how the good news about Jesus is good news for your mental health. I want to do something to take away the stigma and misunderstanding that surrounds mental illness, particularly in church circles. There is also a chapter for those of you seeking to help people in your church or family who struggle with depression and anxiety.” He discusses when and how Christians should speak about their mental health with other believers and medical professionals, how God means to help in times of struggle, and how those who are depressed can believe they are forgiven even when they feel so guilty. He also gently covers suicide before offering a number of ways each of us can help people in our own churches who are depressed and anxious. This is a well-written and helpful little book that I am certain will be a blessing to many. I’m very glad to recommend it to you with confidence that it will serve you well.

Like it or not, we live in a world dominated by social media. While many older forms of media continue to exist and to exert their influence, all have in some way had to bow before the ascendancy of new media. It is pervasive, it is ubiquitous, it is addictive, and it is changing everything. Yet because social media rose with lightning speed and so quickly became nearly omnipresent, we may already have lost sight of the influence it has over us. David Foster Wallace once famously told of two young fish who were swimmingly merrily along when they met an older one. That older fish nodded at them and asked, “How’s the water?” As they swam away, one turned to the other to ask “What’s water?” And in much the same way, social media has become so integral and essential a part of our lives that we may have stopped noticing it. Yet it is so dominant, so powerful, so manipulative, that we need to notice it and to ask how it is changing us, how it is forming us, how it may even be owning us. Chris Martin’s new book Terms of Service: The Real Cost of Social Media is meant to help us see that the proverbial water we swim in these days is toxic and that it has been made toxic by social media. The goal of the book “is to help you recognize that social media is changing the way you think, feel, and live. Like water to a fish, social media has come to pervade the lives of everyone.” Indeed, it has become very nearly inescapable and unavoidable. Thus his call is not to delete all of our accounts and to try to exist without them. Rather, “I simply want you to recognize that social media is changing how you think and feel about life and largely in negative ways.” Having come to such a recognition, you may wish to delete your accounts or you may wish to simply reorient your relationship with them. Either way, understanding the way social media works will lead to some kind of application in your life. I’ll close with the words of the brief endorsement I wrote after reading an early manuscript of this work: Chris Martin has established himself as one of the foremost Christian thinkers when it comes to digital technologies in general, and the social internet in particular. In this book, he demonstrates why it is so important for Christians to think well about these world-changing, heartshaping, soul-forming technologies. I highly recommend Terms of Service to anyone who wants to better understand how we can take back what they’ve so eagerly taken from us.

River Region Christians

April 2022

th e

hat ey d nd it. d s,

ter b-

nt of

April 2022

River Region Christians

Kesha Shaw Mary Kay Consultant Administrative Assistant, Women Impacting and Lifting Lives

zation, and founder and administrative assistant of a new non-profit organization, your work is undoubtedly a ministry. What is most rewarding about your acts of service? KS: I believe through servicing, people will see the heart of God through our acts. Serving others is rewarding because you allow yourself to become a vessel of God’s grace and loving-kindness. I love to see people smile, especially children. Serving helps to put the focus on others and not on myself. RRC: It’s refreshing to start your day with an open heart... a heart ready to receive. What is a part of your morning routine that helps you accomplish this? KS: I have to be honest. I never had a consistent morning routine. I would thank God for the day, say a prayer, and keep it moving. For the past year or so, however, I have been more intentional. I am a part of a prayer group that meets Monday through Friday on a conference call to pray. During the call, someone will provide a song of the day and another will read a passage of scripture. Then we share our prayer requests, give praise reports, and someone, if not all, will pray over prayer requests.

RRC: You live by one of the most powerful Bible verses, “Treat others the way you want to be treated.” How has that scripture influenced your life? KS: Well, I have always been taught this principle by my parents. As a girl, I always stayed close to my mom, and she taught me to love people through my actions, not just with words. She has a giving heart and has groomed me to do the same no matter how people treat me. I strive to be kind so that I will receive kindness in return. I strive to show mercy so that I will be shown mercy in return. RRC: As a Mary Kay Consultant, administrative assistant for a women’s organiRiver Region Christians

April 2022

RRC: You are still battling Papillary Thyroid Cancer that has metastasized. Understandably, it comes with challenges. How does your strength within your faith help you overcome those obstacles? KS: When I was diagnosed almost 11 years ago, I was devastated. I had the moment of tears I needed to shed, and I still do from time to time, but I would look in the faces of my daughters and husband, realizing I desire to live for years to come. I do have to admit I am shocked how this cancer has affected my body, going through all the procedures and surgeries I have endured. I take oral chemotherapy pills daily that keep cancer from spreading. 8

By the grace of God, I’m still here to tell the story. RRC: What advice, from your own experience, would you give to someone else diagnosed with thyroid cancer? KS: I would tell them first to acknowledge the diagnosis and don’t be in denial. Secondly, I would say cry. Cry to grieve the diagnosis, but remember, cancer is not necessarily a death sentence. Next, I would say encourage yourself with the Word of God and listen to music that feeds your soul. Remain as positive as you can, knowing that God has your life in His hands. RRC: How do you maintain your faith walk, even when adversity strikes and first-world problems are all around us? KS: I am part of a Bible study group of friends, Berean Bible Fellowship. We have been meeting for at least 17 or 18 years now. We meet once a week, and I gain more understanding of God’s Word to apply to my life. We don’t just talk about the scriptures. We want to understand how to incorporate them into our daily lives. RRC: What devotionals or books would you recommend to someone looking to strengthen their faith beyond the church walls? KS: There are so many books out there to purchase. I believe a great start is to download the Bible App (YouVersion) on your devices. A daily scripture is posted and there are hundreds of devotionals on their site to study. You choose the topic, and there should be at least one article that provides scriptures, commentary, and a daily devotional.

Kesha Shaw is a native of Birmingham and moved to Montgomery in 1995. She’s married to Isaac Shaw, Jr. of nearly 20 years. They have two children; Kourtney Shaw (16) and Eden Shaw (14).

The ma The Yes We ma dea we can

8:3 9:4 11:0

These days, it can feel like all we hear is “no.” Sadly, too many of us picture God only in terms of what He is against. The Easter Season reminds us that God says “Yes”—Yes to life, Yes to joy, Yes to second chances, and Yes to you. We invite you to join us on a journey through Holy Week, marking the steps of Jesus that led him to the cross, through death, and out the other side into resurrection life. At Frazer, we believe that Jesus not only lives, but also that in his life you can discover God’s “Yes” to your new life today. S U N DAY S C H E D U L E

8:30 AM–9:30 AM ...Traditional Worship 9:45 AM–10:45 AM ..Sunday School for All Ages 11:00 AM–12:00 PM..Contemporary Worship

o Jr. y

APRIL

H O LY W E E K E V E N T S

pe o

10 APRIL

13 APRIL

14 APRIL

15 APR

Palm Sunday Worship Stations of the Cross Interactive Prayer Journey Maundy Thursday Communion Good Friday Worship Easter Sunday Celebration

WATCH US ON WFRZ TV & ONLINE AT WWW.FRAZER.CHURCH DOWNLOAD OUR APP | 6000 ATLANTA HWY. IN MONTGOMERY 9

April 2022

River Region Christians

2022 Montgomery Prayer Breakfast and the Capital City Bible Reading Marathon

The 2022 Montgomery Prayer Breakfast is scheduled for May 5, in downtown Montgomery. His Vessel Ministries invites local citizens to join them on this day in a spirit of humility and prayer. The prayer breakfast begins the local acknowledgment of the National Day of Prayer. The purpose of the prayer breakfast has always been and continues to bring together the local citizens to pray for all those in authority over the County and City of Montgomery. It is an opportunity to pray and give thanks for the goodness the community experiences. A devoted time of prayer will be offered on this morning as well as special music. Held at 201 Dexter Avenue, downtown Montgomery, from 7 am to 8:30 am. A full buffet breakfast will be served. Tickets for the breakfast are $30 per person. Individuals may purchase tickets at His Vessel Ministries located at Union Station or online at hisvessel.org. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come first served bases. The breakfast will kick off the 8th annual Bible Reading Marathon with the reading of the Old Testament from homes, churches, neighborhoods all over the region. On Friday afternoon the New Testament will be read aloud at His Vessel Ministries through Saturday. Local churches, businessmen, and interested individuals of all ages are encouraged to participate by reading publicly or privately from their home in 15-minute segments. The purpose of a Bible Reading Marathon is to speak the powerful Word of God over our city and state. If you wish to be a part of reading the Bible during the Bible Reading Marathon, you may sign up at www.hisvessel.org and click on the Bible Reading Marathon.

River Region Christians

April 2022

YWA Dessert Theatre at Frazer Church

The Youth Worship Arts (Frazer’s student choir) will host a Dessert Theatre called “Celebrate Good Times!” on April 24 at 3 PM. The event will offer an afternoon of dessert and music. Tickets are $10. Proceeds from the event support YWA’s Summer Mission Tour. Tickets to the event can be purchased in the Frazer Atrium through April 17, or from any YWA member.

At al,

Th wa ti o

Re sh reg ma C wa bu

s!” er

ed ,

Communities of Transformation Awareness Walk

Saturday, May 14, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. at Lagoon Park, Pavilion One near the Pete Peterson Lodge, Montgomery 36109. The COT Awareness Walk: Addressing Poverty Through Community is a fundraiser to help spread awareness around poverty and holistic poverty alleviation. Many families are challenged by the broken systems in our communities such as transportation, food security, affordable housing, and access to resources. We hope to bring awareness to the daily struggles of many families in our communities and our holistic approach to alleviation. At COT, we believe that poverty is more than a lack of financial resources. We believe that spiritual, relational, physical, and intellectual resources are just as important for a balanced and thriving lifestyle. We use the power of a supportive community to strengthen all of these dimensions. The Awareness Walk will be a 2-mile walk at your pace. Your $25 registration fee will support Communities of Transformation in our efforts to alleviate all forms of poverty. Register by April 22nd to ensure tshirt delivery prior to the event. All registrations after the 22nd will be mailed as soon as possible. Local COT sites will offer a location to walk with a community of people, but participants can complete the walk in their own location. More information can be found at https://www.communitiesoftransformation.org/.

A Night At The Piano with Michael W. Smith

Sunday, May 15, 2022, 7 pm First Assembly Montgomery. Tickets may be purchased at montgomeryfirst.org.

The Brand New Tour with Matthew West

Friday, April 29, 7 pm Frazer Church in Montgomery. Doors will open at 6 p.m. Tickets may be purchased in advance online. Visit frazer.church.

April 2022

River Region Christians

rea lea do leg co

bib As stu

‘Re We life mi

Ala wh so

wh to arc ge

he go vio an

leg did

by Kym K

lass

A fellowship among believers is a safe place to be – it is what Zach Beasley has witnessed during his time as a campus minister at Alabama State and Tuskegee Universities. The students crave it! River Region Christians

April 2022

He met his wife in college around 2005. They were both led to Christ, and married in 2008. They had their first two children while in college, then graduated and had two more. It was while working at Strong Tower at Washington Park Church sweeping floors that he was asked if he could pray one Sunday. Then, he was asked to teach. After, he was asked to pray over a new job. Since its inception in 2017, Zach and Nicole have served as volunteers with Strong Tower iENGauge youth group. After serving as interim youth leaders in early 2019, they accepted the opportunity to lead iENGauge. Currently, Zach works with teens ages 13-18 and Nicole works with the children ages 5-12. Beasley arrived to the State Board of Missions in September 2019, and shortly after, began working as the campus minister at ASU and Tuskegee. Together, the two campuses serve about 200 students. Currently, RealTalk hosts weekly Bible studies where the topic of discussion is presented in the form of a question and answered from a biblical worldview using the Holy Bible as the final authority. This is all possible by the grace of God and the help of volunteers, student leadership team and ministry partners. When Covid hit in 2020 – just a year after he started the ministry at ASU – the number of participants stood at four. “After our first semester, many students didn’t come back to campus,” Beasley said. Asked what made him not walk away after Covid, Beasley said, “It’s Jesus. I felt like ‘Lord, if you send one, I’ll continue to invest,’ and he sent me four. I confidently will send them into any situation: to teach, evangelize … they’ve been well trained. “Those four students are service leaders in RealTalk. They continue to be faithful in participating and serving and trusting and growing in the Lord.”

Beasley feels that while they obviously want to learn, what really comes to play is their general desire to grow as they learn. And that includes in Christ. It is what he sees working with dozens of students at both campuses through his “RealTalk” College Ministry, a name he said was developed by students for its concept of being able to have real conversations. RealTalk is a place where these conversations are had with biblical application centered around the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As a ministry, there are weekly Bible studies open to college age students and social events throughout each month. “Anything we talk about is in the word of God,” he said. “At ‘RealTalk,’ we do focus on fulfillment of the Great Commission. We do evangelism on campus. We’ve had students give their life to Christ. We do local missions, stateside and international missions. “Before that, we do service projects – somewhere in Alabama, and usually near Montgomery. And from there, those who are Christians, we invite them to do something local, then somewhere in the U.S., then international.” Beasley talks about this with the assurance of knowing where he belongs. That where he was led is where he is meant to be. But it wasn’t always his vision. He dreams of becoming an architect, having received a degree in architecture from Tuskegee University. “I didn’t want to go to college; my parents made me go,” he said. “I grew up in Fairfield, Alabama. In elementary school, I got into a lot of trouble. I was intrigued by gang life – not by the violence, but by the money. They ran our community and streets and made money. My parents said, ‘Oh, no, you won’t.’” He was sent to different schools. When he graduated college in 2013, he felt the Lord calling him to Montgomery. He didn’t have a job, but his wife, Nicole, said to trust the call.

April 2022

River Region Christians

Beasley doesn’t take credit for it all. He uses people from Strong Tower and also the community. There’s a Bible Boot Camp he offers every summer – an intense, 40-hour training, when students are taught to study their Bible, share the Gospel, and make disciples who make disciples. The students he works with on campuses are between 18 and 25 years old. The age range is important, he said, because of where they are in life. “If we consider the Great Commission and take the Gospel to the ends of the earth, we all should be looking to the nations to share the Gospel. But not everyone has the means to get to these different locations. The most people can afford … they can get to AUM or Tuskegee University. We reach the nations just by driving to the campus. “You can reach the nations without hopping on a plane. The Lord has just gifted me with college kids. With college students I get to sit with them and have conversations on theology and doctrine. It is a different conversation that I don’t have with younger kids.” Of the college students he ministers to, Beasley said, “This is what they do all day, they’re in school. As a college student, the thirst for knowledge doesn’t end with a major.” Asked why what he does is so important, Beasley said, “Because without Christ, we would all perish. I truly believe in the Gospel as the power to save. The reality is, I am completely

wholeheartedly in love with Christ. I had a student say that about me and my wife … that they want to love the Lord like we do. The Lord has given me so much.” When Beasley originally began RealTalk, they were all college men – 12. And from there, it began to grow. And when the women learned about it, their numbers surpassed the men. The women eventually formed RealGrace which is led by a member of Strong Tower, as well as Nicole. “They are rocking and rolling,” Beasley said. “This is a safe place for women and men to get together and talk about Christ. All meetings are rooted in scripture. One of my student leaders facilitates the Bible studies. “The Lord has given me great talents and gifts, but nothing brings me more joy than ministry. I’d rather have joy in the Lord than money and be miserable.”

How can you help?

You can reach Zach Beasley at zbeasley@alsbom.org.

Do you wish to donate?

Visit Strong Tower’s website, https://strongtowerawp.com, and click on the Giving link. A drop down menu offers a link to RealTalk. Checks can be sent to 2840 Boys Club Road, Montgomery, AL 36108. RealTalk College Ministry can also be found on Instagram and Facebook under @realtalkministryal. Kym Klass is a contributing writer and Communications Director of the Media Ministry at Frazer Memorial UMC in Montgomery.

my so do

tru ch no

me wo sch co on me ex

Schedule your retirement review today. It’s been said that we spend more time planning vacations than planning for retirement. Let’s set aside some time to create positive change for you and the people you care about and understand: • How much you’ll need to retire • If you are on track for your retirement goals • Which IRA is right for your retirement needs – Roth or traditional • The importance of asset allocation and how it can help as you work toward your long-term goals

It’s more than just money. Investing is about realizing the possibilities of your future. Sang Y Chung, AAMS®, CRPC® Financial Advisor 1951 Berry Chase Place Montgomery, AL 36117 334-271-9573

River Region Christians

April 2022

edwardjones.com Member SIPC

the “Ar me be co hu

yo you

cou – if thr I ha op glim

ing An ou on

Sto

olhe

Remaining Obedient When You Feel God’s Pull

For months, I had felt a pull. A pull, knowing God was at work in my life. That change was coming. That something was developing, and all I had to do – or could do – was sit and wait. And obey. But really, just wait and trust. Because I knew searching for this change wasn’t the right path to take. And not my path. I received an email one day asking me to consider being part of a group that would serve as “chaplains” at an area school during a crisis. To work alongside community leaders with a school that not only cares deeply about the welfare and mental health of their children, but of their extended school family. It was a chance to serve. But before the initial meeting, I kept wondering, “Are they sure they want me?” and “Why me?” And also, “Is this part of what I’ve been feeling lately?” With the pastors and community leaders I saw on the list, I was humbled, certainly. But still, curious. At the initial meeting, we were told, “If you’re wondering whether you belong here, you do.” And I had to suppress as much as I could my smile, knowing this was the work – if even part of it – that God was working through me. The pull – or part of it – that I had been feeling for months. It was an opportunity He was providing to serve. A glimpse of the continuous story He is writing. I had to be faithful to that. I crave serving. And in ways that involve my passions. And in ways that force me to grow and step outside of my comfort. With people I cannot only walk alongside, but also learn from. I had to remember to stop doubting. Stop wondering. Worrying. “God isn’t wor-

rying what you’re worrying about,” I was told recently. So why was I? Have you ever wondered what God has in store for you, and then received an answer so clearly, that all you can do is suppress a smile in a room full of people you’re about to walk beside in stressful situations? Because the answer you received was the exact question you asked? I had to whisper the quietest of whispers that day, “Okay... okay.” I whisper a lot. Usually, it is in response to something God has worked so magnificently around me – in personal situations, at my job, my family, relationships – that all I can do is sit in awe.

change we know is coming? A change we feel in our soul. Because when we can do this, when we can trust fully, it will build our faith and increase trust in all situations. And our faith becomes strengthened in trusting a God sovereign over our lives. And when we trust, we believe in His steadfastness. Trusting during that pull means we are certain that during both our difficult and good days, that He is working through us. This isn’t just about being invited to a meeting and being asked to serve with a dozen others. It is about remaining faithful and continuing to serve not others, but God – first. And allowing everything else to fall into place.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) We talk a lot about looking back on our lives or situations and see how God worked and brought us to where we are today – how all the hardships helped us become stronger, better. But how often do we trust Him in the process? How often do we trust that when we feel that pull, that we can remain obedient? That in our prayers, we don’t ask over and over what it is we’re feeling. That we don’t question God why it is taking so long to produce a 15

April 2022

River Region Christians

Religion and a Sense of Well-Being The Bible has plenty to say about spiritual and emotional health and well-being, and when we appropriate God’s resources, we can have satisfaction in Christ. We continue to be steadfast and satisfied in the Lord, regardless of trying external circumstances. Gallup’s Mood of the Nation survey unveils somewhat of a dichotomy, to which I think that Christian believers can relate. Frank Newport of the Gallup organization, who has been a guest on The Meeting House, wrote the survey summary, and in the opening lines, stated:

Gallup’s January Mood of the Nation survey confirmed the finding that Americans are largely satisfied with the way things are going in their personal life, despite their remarkable lack of satisfaction with the way things are going in the U.S. more generally. Newport certainly has an interest in analyzing the role of faith that emerges from Gallup data, and he writes in the summary:

The January Gallup data indicate that 92% of those who attend church services weekly are satisfied, compared with 82% of those who attend less than monthly. The difference is even more evident in terms of the percentage who report being very satisfied -- 67% of those who attend weekly are very satisfied with their personal life, compared with 48% among those who are infrequent attenders. Weekly religious service attenders are, in fact, more likely to say they are very satisfied than are those who make $100,000 or more in annual household income. River Region Christians

April 2022

He referred to what he calls “a series of in-depth studies” regarding the “religion/ wellbeing connection” around 10 years ago. The findings were presented at a major conference in Washington, D.C. He writes that in a summary that was published following the conference, “The very religious rate their lives more positively, are less likely to have ever been diagnosed with depression, and experience fewer daily negative emotions. The very religious also make much better health choices than do those who are not as or not at all religious.” Newport cited other studies over the last decade or so, and made this sweeping statement: “...the basic finding, as our recent Gallup data reinforce, is robust. There is an enduring and very well-substantiated finding of a correlation between individuals’ personal religiosity and various measures of wellbeing, happiness and mental (and, in some instances, physical) health.” The article is fascinating, and deals with “religion” in general rather than Christianity. Newport essentially rejects the notion that religious practice could be encouraged or reinforced through public policy and notes the seeming decline in religiosity that research has shown. I would contend that policymakers should be making decisions based on principles that are consistent with those upon which this nation was founded, upholding concepts rooted in the Scriptures - principles that can serve us well in our individual and corporate lives. He does say:

Certainly, if citizens become better acquainted with the research showing the positive effects of religion on wellbeing, it’s possible they might be more likely to choose to be religious. It is also possible that current trends in religiosity could be reversed in the future, that the nation could become more religious, and that, in turn, could have a salubrious effect on the nation’s wellbeing. But there is little evidence at the moment that religion, and perhaps the wellbeing that goes along with it, is going to have an increased presence in Americans’ lives in the years ahead. Newport relates that religious practice could increase “organically,” writing that, “Religion in the U.S. has undergone significant ups and downs over time, particularly as evidenced by periodic ‘great awakenings’ since the 1700s.” Therein lies the hope and the challenge for the Church. I think what could be termed “organic” could better be described as a move of God in the hearts of His people. But, while a sovereign God can certainly do what He will, we are reminded that the primary instrument that He uses in order in this world to testify to His greatness is the Church, the body of Christ. We can evaluate whether or not we are living out a contagious Christian faith. It makes sense to think that if someone is seeking a sense of positive personal wellbeing and the research is clear that religion can enhance that wellbeing, then everyone would be rushing to that type of experience. Even in light of the overwhelming, unconditional love of God being made available to us, people continue to reject our Savior. I would think that one reason is because of a lack of evangelistic fervor. I also think rejection comes because there is a cost - in order to experience His life, we have to die to ourselves. Doing that can certainly result in the discovery of more of the abundant life that Christ has made available to us.

Faith Rad

WE ARE HERE FOR YO U TO H E A R

Jesus died for you!

e t

elire ,

TUNE TO 89.1 FM | DOWNLOAD OUR FREE APP LISTEN LIVE ON FAITH RADIO.ORG | TELL YOUR SMART HOME DEVICE “PLAY WLBF”

1 - 8 0 0 - 2 3 9 - 8 9 0 0 • w w w. FA I T H R A D I O. o r g

iy gs’

e d

d n ss

ne ellon e e.

in e ult ife

Faith Radio April 2022 Ad.indd 1

April 2022

River Region Christians

2/18/22 10:13 AM

ap live ord tha wit or for pre the

pa ou sle ou wa by Carl and Lizzie Laferton

ter

to tur Oc ea de ex cu it t ca ab by

be wid ma so Fri the de tha ma is a

River Region Christians

Our children seem to spend their lives counting down the sleeps to something. Birthdays, Christmas, end of term, family vacation... there’s always something for our 5 and 7-yearolds to count down the sleeps to. April 2022

It’s their natural response to a day approaching on the horizon of their young lives which they know will be out of the ordinary. It’s what they do about anything that others around them are talking about with enthusiasm—be it family, friends, or the wider culture. It’s how they look forward to events that they remember from previous years when their memory fuels their anticipation. Which should beg the question for parents: as Christians, what do we want our children to be counting down the sleeps to? And, what can we do to kindle our kids’ excitement about the things we want them to love? Our answer to that first question is: Easter. But that doesn’t happen by accident. With Christmas, it’s not hard for kids to get excited about it, because our culture tells them it’s exciting from (at best) October onwards. (In fact, the challenge each December is not so much to engender excitement but to seek to ensure the excitement is about Christian things, not cultural things.) But at Easter, it’s easier for it to pass by without much excitement because by and large, with the exception of a brief focus on eggs, the culture passes by the weekend. Yet, precisely because Easter hasn’t been adopted and overwhelmed by the wider secular culture, it’s easier for us to make Easter exciting for all the right reasons within our families. Of course, Good Friday and Easter Sunday should not be the only time we talk to our kids about the death and resurrection of Jesus, anymore than Christmas should be the only time we marvel together at his incarnation. But this is a calendar-given opportunity to cel-

ebrate the center of our faith in a way that shows why it’s so exciting. So, how?

1. Communicate Easter Excitement. Excitement is caught as

much as it is taught. So if we talk about how much we are looking forward to Easter, then our children will, too. You could help your kids to work out how many sleeps away Good Friday is. You could use or make an Easter calendar, that works in just the same way as an Advent calendar, to enjoy a shared sense of anticipatory excitement in the weeks before the Easter weekend.

2. Create Easter Traditions.

Traditions are repeated shared activities that form memories. Of course, traditions can become empty of meaning, or inflexible impositions. But at their best, they teach, they excite, and they shape us. So, form traditions that work for your particular family that create memories and foster excitement about the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. What might this look like? In one sense, we don’t know! The point of Christcentered family traditions is that they are produced by that family, for that family. But here are some suggestions that may work out for your particular context: some are things we do, some are things we’re planning to do, and some are things we’ve heard of others doing:

Teach and Enact

Find visual ways to enact what happened on the cross. Each Good Friday, we create a two-foot tall cross out of card-

10 OFF

Learn more about

50 PURCHASE

board and tack it to a wall. Every member of the family writes down on post-it notes some recent ways we know we have sinned. We then each stick them on the cross. We talk about why Jesus died – look at a verse such as 1 Peter 3 v 18 – and then we turn the cross over on the wall. The sins are gone. And we give thanks that that is what Jesus did with our sin.

Neurofeedback. Schedule your FREE initial consultation today!

Help for :

www.herbshopwellness.com 19

ADHD / Learning Disorders Anxiety / Stress / P.T.S.D. Depression / Mood Insomnia / Sleep Disorders Dementia / Alzheimer’s Migraines / Much More! April 2022

River Region Christians

Children born into all kinds of circumstances have dreams and dreams are powerful. WE DO WHAT WE DO BECAUSE CHILDREN HAVE DREAMS.

Share the surprise of the empty tomb. On Good Friday, we make an ‘empty tomb’ cake – a normal cake with a hollowed-out, inverted muffin stuck on the top. We put a Lego guy inside the tomb and roll a stone (well, a round biscuit) over the entrance. The kids go to bed… and when they wake on Easter morning, the stone/biscuit is rolled away and the Lego guy is gone! Pause your normal family devotions for a week or two before Easter, and use them to focus in particular on the events of the first Easter, or their place in the whole arc of the Bible’s redemptive-historical story. Head outside and find things in nature that enable you to teach the events and significance of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Sail a toy boat on a pond and talk about the calming of the storm… pick up fallen branches and reenact Palm Sunday (parents make good donkeys)… climb a tree and tell the story of Zacchaeus, and of the tree on which Jesus died…

Celebrate and Enjoy

Decorate your house with Easter decorations—home-made paper-chains, Bible verses, spring flowers, children’s Easter-themed crafts, a mini empty-tomb garden. Almost all of us decorate at Christmas—why not at Easter? Look back over the year since the last Easter, using some photos, and talk about what difference the Gospel has made to you as individuals and a family in that time. What prayers have you seen answered? What have you particularly learned/appreciated about Jesus?

Share and Reach Out

Invite some of your church family round on Maundy Thursday, recline on the floor, and share a simple Passover meal, reading the account of the Last Supper together. Invite neighbors into your home—it is amazing what a conversation-starter Easter decorations, an advent-style Easter calendar, an empty tomb cake, and so on can be. Find ways to “wash feet” for your community—whether it is helping at a homeless shelter, giving gifts to local charities, visiting an elderly care home, litter picking… The possibilities are endless—and so is the potential for growing in excitement! The cross of Christ and the empty tomb are the highlights of the Bible story. Let’s make it the highlight of our families’ year, too.

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

ChildrensAL.org

Used with permission from www.challies.com. River Region Christians

April 2022

of cle to sta pro se se so su wa trie loo all the fam –f wa tat sa the

pla on wh pru Go lat

We tha co be mo tha etc of an so

to so

a he

ver

for m

is as-

y y. s’

When God Says: Wait Up! Most of us know the Bible story of Abraham and Sarah. Although they clearly had heard the promise of God to have a child multiple times, circumstances did not add up. They took the promise and “helped God along” by securing Sarah’s servant to bear a son... “just to be sure” the promise was fulfilled. They tried to make God look good. After all, they had left the familiar - home, family, and religion – for Yahweh. It was for “His reputation” and their saving face that they bypassed God’s timing. Have you ever gone ahead of God’s plan in your life? Most can find at least one time when we “just got it done,” when stepping up the timeline seemed prudent to us, but we lacked faith in God’s timing. Why does God seem so late in fulfilling His promises to us? Getting ahead of God is easy to do. We are an instant society. Conveniences that our great grandparents couldn’t conceive of consume us. Time has become the currency of the 21st century more than money. We would rather pay than do: for food, childcare, lawncare, etc. These things are not bad in and of themselves, but we have raised the ante on their importance so that we can somehow get a few hours back. Most women have the natural ability to manipulate, even for the “right” reasons. The goal always seems better than

the means to that end. We say things in a certain way, do favors to entreat a positive answer, or stage situations specifically to ensure we will get our desires. The cause is righteous: a positive ending. However, we need to check our ways and means. Not only should we be more truthful to others, we need to be truthful to ourselves. Anytime we try to manipulate a person, a situation, or God Almighty, we are perpetrating a lie that goes south. Remember, God will not be manipulated in any way. He is sovereign and what he says goes...period. Getting ahead of God does not make things right, no matter how positive the outcome. We must confess and repent of thinking we can somehow see better and know better than the God who created us. We must quit accusing God of being slow and begin exhibiting the same patience He has. He is not silent during this time. “In a little while...” He tells us to wait because not everything has aligned for the best outcome. (John 16:16) Who are we to accuse the Almighty of anything anyway? Proverbs 16:9 compares our abilities with God’s: “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” We must have confidence in the God 21

we say we worship and give Him charge of all. Our long-term plans may go awry permanently. Like the couple who saves for retirement and are too ill to spend it on vacations and a house in Florida, we must have a plan toward the goals God gives us but release God to His preferences. We either trust Him or we don’t. The older couple can find other creative ways to have adventures together. I bear witness to ones who create meaningful times within their means and abilities. God’s timing shows His love toward us. Ecclesiastes 3:1 assures us, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” When we embrace His plans and timing, we have His grace to boost us up in the times of waiting. We have a sunrise and a sunset each day to celebrate. We have roses to smell and people to love. What we have taken for granted can become beloved parts of our lives. God’s sense of timing takes a measure of faith as we acknowledge and trust Jeremiah 29:11-12: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Isn’t God amazing? So, women of God, stop trying to play God and let God be sovereign over your days, and hours, and minutes. Enjoy what you have. Don’t allow the future to become the present when God has not specifically ordained acceleration of His plan. Let the perfect God bring perfect timing to bear in your dreams and goals for your future. Be bearers of patience to teach those around you as they see how peace has entered your life while you wait. And walk with Him, not in front of Him! April 2022

River Region Christians

Easter Services, April 17, Courtyard service at 9 a.m. with breakfast following Regular service time 11 a.m. with music and Easter message. Capitol Heights Baptist Church 2514 Madison Avenue, 264.6461 Palm Sunday Easter Musical Morning Worship April 10, 10:30 a.m. Easter Worship Service Sunday, April 17, 10:30 a.m.

Christchurch ad on page

RIVER REGION

Aldersgate United Methodist Church 6610 Vaughn Road, 272.6152 Palm Sunday Musical, Sunday, April 10 @ 10:30am in the Sanctuary and online. Good Friday Tenebrae Service, Friday, April 15 @ 7:00pm Egg Hunt Saturday, April 9 @ 10 am Easter Celebration Services, Sunday, April 17, 6:15 am Virtual SonRise Service 8:15 am, Traditional Worship 10:30am, Contemporary Worship

8800 Vaughn Road, 387.0566 Palm Sunday, April 10 at 9:30 a.m. Maundy Thursday, April 14 at 6:30 p.m. & Gethsemane Watch, 8 p.m.- Midnight Stations of the Cross available all day on April 15 Good Friday Services, April 15 at Noon-1p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Easter Vigil with Baptisms and Receptions, Saturday, April 16, 8 p.m. Son Rise Service, Easter, April 17, at 6 a.m. Easter Sunday Services at 9:30 with Easter Egg Hunt following service.

First Baptist Church, Prattville

at a

First Presbyterian Church, Prattville ad on page 14

211 S. Chestnut Street, 365.6387 Easter Service, April 17, 10:30 am Visit us at firstpresbyterianchurchof prattville.com.

ad on page 11

Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church

Dalraida UMC

Su Pr

ad on page 5

138 S. Washington Street, 365.0606 Easter Services, April 17, 9:30 and 11 am Visit us at fbcprattville.org.

3817 Atlanta Highway, 334.272.2190 Easter Celebration Butterfly Release, April 17 Visit www.dalraidaumc.com.

Cornerstone Christian Church 301 Dalraida Road, 273.8595 Easter Sonrise Service, April 17 a.m. with a breakfast following.

H a

ad on page 9

Eastmont Baptist Church 4505 Atlanta Highway, 277.6300 Passion Play, April 9-10 at 5 p.m. and Easter Morning Worship, April 17, 8:30 and 11 a.m.

Blue Ridge Baptist Church 4471 Jasmine Hill Rd, 567.4325 Palm Sunday, April 10 at 11 a.m. with Children’s Easter Story Musical, lunch following with Egg Hunt

Evangel Church 3975 Vaughn Road, 272.4882 Easter Egg Hunt, Sunday, April 10 after Children’s Worship service at 10:30 a.m. Easter, April 17, Worship at 10:30 a.m.

April 2022

ad on Back Cover

305 S. Perry Street, 834.6310 Palm Sunday Service, April 10 at 8:30, 9:45 and 11 a.m. Easter Communion and Lord’s Supper, April 13 at 6 p.m. Good Friday Service, April 15 at 12 p.m. Easter Sunday Worship Services Sunday, April 17, 8:30, 9:45 and 11 a.m.

First UMC, Montgomery 2416 West Cloverdale Park, 834.8990 Palm Sunday Service & Festivities, April 10, 8:45 and 11 a.m. with festivities on front lawn at 10:30 Maundy Thursday, April 14, 5:30 and 7 p.m. Good Friday Tenebrae Service, April 15, 7 p.m. Easter Sunday, April 17, 7 a.m. Sunrise Service 8:30, 9:45 and 11:00 a.m. Worship Services

Church of the Brook 2890 Highway 14, Millbrook, 285.5783 Easter Services, Sunday, April 17, at 10:30 a.m.

Beacon of Hope Church of God 1045 Coliseum Boulevard, 274.0932 Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, April 16 at 10:30 Easter Celebration, Sunday, April 17 at 10:45 a.m. Nursery Available

River Region Christians

First Baptist, Montgomery

6000 Atlanta Highway, 272.8622 Stations of the Cross, April 13 noon until 8 p.m. and April 14-15 from 10 am. Until 6 p.m. Please join us in Wesley Hall for a series of stations depicting Jesus Christ on the day of his crucifixion and accompanying prayers. Maundy Thursday, April 14 from 6-7 p.m. Good Friday Service of Darkness April 15 from 6-7 p.m., Sanctuary Easter Worship services 8:30 am, 11am

W E

. all

Gateway Baptist Church ad on page 20

3300 Bell Road, 272.9494 Sunrise Service in conjunction with Grace Presbyterian, Legacy Anglican and Young Meadows Presbyterian will be April 17 at 6:30 a.m. outside of Grace Presbyterian at corner of Bell Rd and Atlanta Highway Easter Services, April 17, 10:30 a.m. Grace Presbyterian Church 5 Bell Road at Atlanta Hwy, 272.4930 Palm Sunday Worship, April 10 at 10:30 Maundy Thursday Communion, April 14 at 6 p.m. Easter Sunrise Service and breakfast, April 17, 6:30 a.m. Free breakfast following Sunrise service. Worship Service, 10:30 a.m. GracePointe 1565 Ray Thorington Road, 271.2525 Palm Sunday, April 10, 10a.m. Easter Worship Services Sunday, April 17, 10a.m. Easter Egg Hunt following service.

Heritage Baptist Church ad on page 15

1849 Perry Hill Rd, , 279.9976 Easter Worship, April 17, 10:15 a.m. Please visit hbcm.net for information.

Church of the Holy Comforter 2911 Woodley Road, 281.1337 Maundy Thursday, Holy Eucharist, April 14 at 7 p.m. Good Friday, April 15 at 7 p.m. Holy Saturday Eucharist, April 16 at 9:30 a.m. and Easter Vigil Eucharist at 7 p.m. Easter Sonrise at 7:30 a.m. Easter Sunday, April 17, 11:15 a.m. Lakeview Baptist Church 9225 Atlanta Highway, 213.3080 Easter Worship Service, 10:45 a.m.

Ridgecrest Baptist Church 5260 Vaughn Road, 277.0011 Palm Sunday Special Musical Service, April 10 at 10:45 Easter Sunday, April 17 at 10:45 a.m. Saint James UMC 9045 Vaughn Road, 277-3037 Palm Sunday, April 10, Children’s processional at 10 am. Children’s Donkey Rides, 11 a.m. until noon. Ancient Tabernacle, Sunday, April 10-17 Join us and tour the life replica of the ancient Hebrew Tabernacle. Self guided tours are open 24 hours a day. Maundy Thursday, April 14, Service at 6 p.m. in the Traditional Sanctuary. Good Friday, April 15, Contemporary Service in Family Life Center with us at 6 p.m. Easter Egg Hunt, April 16, 11 a.m. Easter Sunday, April 17, Sunrise at the Pines Service, 7 a.m. Contemporary Service 10 a.m. Traditional Service 11:00 a.m. Taylor Road Baptist Church 1685 Taylor Rd., 271.3363 Easter on the Lawn, April 16, Noon - 2 p.m. Friendly pet show-off, food, games, inflatables and more. Easter Service, April 17, 10:30 a.m. Titus New Home Baptist Church 7 Weeks of Easter, April 10, 3-5 p.m. in the gym of New Home Baptist Church. This Easter, travel the road through Jerusalem as if you were in ancient Israel when the greatest man who ever lived walked the earth. This family event takes travelers on a mini-tour featuring reenactments of the final days of Jesus’ life on earth through to His resurrection. Travelers will also taste the Passover meal, pass by the garden at Gethsemane, visit Barabbas in his jail cell, meet a Roman guard who was part of Jesus’ crucifixion detail, and finally, experience the power of the empty tomb and Jesus’ resurrection. Visit www.newhometitus.com.

Morningview Baptist Church 125 Calhoun Road, 272.2304 Good Friday Service, April 15 at 6 p.m. Easter Sunday, April 17, 10:30 a.m.

Vaughn Forest Church 8660 Vaughn Rd., 279.5433 Night of Worship and Baptism, April 14 from 6-7:30 p.m. Easter Sunday, April 17, 9:30 and 11:00 www.vaughnforest.com

The Ridge Church Wetumpka YMCA, 200 Red Eagle Drive Easter Sunday Services, April 17, 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. For information, please call 452.3650

Woodland United Methodist Church 4428 Wallahatchie Rd, 272.7230 Palm Sunday Cantata, April 10, 10 a.m. service with Easter egg hunt following. Traditional Services at 8 and 10:30 a.m. Contemporary Service at 9:15 a.m. 23

April 2022

River Region Christians

Faith vs. Fear? And the peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 KJV

Constant worries, fears, and feelings of uneasiness are often experienced in today’s society. Through various forms of news, media, and social platforms, we are consistently intaking reports of bombings, impending wars, crime upticks, gas prices, and the ever-present COVID-19. These feelings of anxiety can be confusing for Christians. For one, we are taught to trust and have faith in God, but we still have feelings of angst as we listen, watch, and experience all of the madness in the world. We are also taught to cast our burdens on the Lord, which seems easy to do until fear takes over. Whether it be fear of safety or worries of looming doom, we can try to cast them to the Lord and still struggle. God understands our pain and struggle, in fact, Psalm 55 specifically addresses the fear that comes with the wickedness of the world. We must now learn how to apply an old lesson to a new problem. Despite the mental battles we face due to overwhelming fear, we can manage faith and anxiety. Here are 5 tips to make anxiety manageable:

1. Pray and Work.

Going to God in prayer is a wonderful way to relieve our worries and turn them over to God, but prayer without works is dead. As you pray for relief of your worries, also create a list of these worries, and begin to determine the possibility that these fears may actually occur. River Region Christians

April 2022

2. Believe in God. God created us in his image, and he knows us very well. He knows and understands that there will be times when we have doubt and fear takes over. Having several Bible verses to recite and reflect upon during times of worry or fear can reinforce your ability to lean on your faith. 3. Spend Time with God. A strategy for anxiety that I often use with clients is Dream Vacation. This activity allows you to shift your focus from the experience that is causing you worry and fear and begin to focus on creating a mental image of your dream vacation. If you have often imagined what Heaven would look like, I encourage you to continue this thought. When anxious feelings begin, shift your focus from the problem to imagining Heaven and all its glory. 4. God’s Blessings. When thoughts of fear and worry begin to overwhelm our minds, we can quickly forget how much good is going on in life. Begin your day by writing down a few things that you are thankful for, promises God has kept to you, and blessings that you have received. Allowing our minds to focus more on the positive aspects of our lives can help to lower anxious thoughts.

5. Connect with God. Grounding is a

helpful tool in allowing us to connect with the world that God has prepared for us. Try placing your hand in water or in the grass. Close your eyes and focus on what you feel and begin to connect with the physical world. While you ground yourself, remind yourself that just as God created the Heavens and the Earth, he also created you with a purpose and a plan. In the midst of fear and uncertainty, God remains ever present.

Madalyn Caldwell is a licensed professional counselor. She enjoys working with clients of all ages to overcome life transitions, anxiety, depression, and trauma. Madalyn is certified in trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy and is training to become a registered play therapist.

ws en

or m

o gs

si-

ry .

vth

e nsid in g

April 2022

River Region Christians

any Che

Adoption

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

Alcoholic / Addiction

Location: Caring Center of FBC, 52 Adams Avenue CrossRoads Support Group is for addicts/alcoholics and family members. Meets at 6 p.m. Tuesdays and follows a Christcentered 12-step program. Call 264-4949. Location: Christchurch Anglican Church, 8800 Vaughn Road next to Southern Homes and Gardens Celebrate Recovery meets every Friday night. Dinner at 6:00, nursery available for children 4 and under. Large Meeting starts at 6:30. For more information, contact Dolly McLemore 334-301-3490. Location: Dalraida United Methodist Church 3817 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery An Alanon meeting is held at 9 am on Saturday mornings. Call 272.2190 for details. Location: Grace Presbyterian Church, Corner of Bell Road and Atlanta Hwy. Alcoholics Anonymous and Alanon meetings are held Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, at 6 p.m. An Open AA Speaker meeting is held on Saturday at 6 p.m. An Alanon & AA held on Sundays at 2 p.m. Location: Grace Point Community Church, 78223 Tallassee Hwy (Hwy 14), Wetumpka Celebrate Recovery- every Tuesday night- 6:15pm. All are welcome! These meetings are a safe and loving environment for individuals seeking to conquer their hurts, habits and hang-ups! gracepoint.info. Location: Heritage Baptist Church, 1849 Perry Hill Rd, Montgomery, AL Route1520 is a Christ-centered recovery movement dedicated to showing the way home for men impacted by sex and pornography addiction. Meets: Mondays, 6:30 – 8:00 PM CST. No Childcare Provided. Email montgomery@route1520.com, visit http://www.route1520.com/ men/groups-for-men/ or call 877.200.1520. Location: Journey Church, 435 Sheila Blvd, Prattville Celebrate Recovery - Christ-centered 12-step for anyone struggling with addiction or life-challenging issues. Mondays beginning at 6:15 pm. Childcare available.

River Region Christians

April 2022

Call John Pearse at 303-243-4308 or visit myjourneychurch.com. Location: Landmark Church, 1800 Halcyon Blvd. RSVP- This is a 12 step spiritual recovery program for overcoming addictions. Wednesday @ 6:30pm in Rm. 121 of the Life Center. Location: Prattville Church of Christ, 344 E Main St. CASA - 12 step (Christians Against Substance Abuse) spiritual recovery program, for overcoming addictions. Class begins each Wednesday evening @6:30 PM. Please call 334-365-4201 for additional information. Location: St. James UMC, 9045 Vaughn Road Celebrate Recovery meets every Thursday night from 6-8 pm in the Youth Room. This is a Christ-centered 12-step group for anyone struggling with an “addiction or life-challenging issues.” For information, call Chris Henderson at 334-215-0427. Location: First United Methodist Church, Wetumpka 306 W. Tuskeena Street ‘Fresh Start’ Recovery meets every Thursday, 6-8pm (meal included). In 2011, Fresh Start Motorcycle Ministry (FSMM) began when God laid it on the heart of a lifetime biker to minister to those with his background. All are welcome, not a requirement to own/ride a motorcycle. For any information contact ministry leader, Paul Henderson, 334-201-5428. Location: Trinity Presbyterian Church, 1728 S. Hull Street, Montgomery Route1520 is a Christ-centered recovery movement dedicated to showing the way home for men impacted by sex and pornography addiction. Meets Wednesday from 6:30-8 pm. For more information email riverregion@route1520.com, visit http:// www.route1520.com/ men/groups-for-men or call 877-2000-1520.

Alzheimer’s / Dementia

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

Cancer

Location: Aldersgate UMC, 6610 Vaughn Rd Cancer Survivors Support Group is sponsored by Samaritan Counseling Center. We would love to have anyone (patient or family member ) join us. Thursdays at 1 pm. Please call before attending just to make sure we are meeting that week. Please call Debbie D at

467-4578 or Ben W at 202-1912. Location: ChristChurch, 8800 Vaughn Road Cancer Support Group for general cancer. Tuesday afternoons at 1 pm. For more info, please call Christy Holding at 531-1390 or Debbie at 467-4578. Location: Frazer UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy. Central Alabama Multiple Myeloma Support Group meets from 10 a.m. to noon the second Saturday of every month in Room 3105. We have guest speakers, video presentations, printed information and a group that welcomes sharing their journey with myeloma in an informal setting. Refreshments are provided. Contact Joe Crowley at 334-207-4385 or jpcrowl46@yahoo.com Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy. Women of Hope Breast Cancer Support Group, providing education, awareness, and mentoring for breast cancer patients/survivors, family and friends, meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in Room 8114. Call 220-4599 or e-mail womenofhope@charter.net

Divorce

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

Loc Com org mee

Loc Ery and sup from eryn

Loc Gri parl

Loc Gri Eas 272

Loc 304 Mo for thro eac 462

Loc Gri info at 2

Loc 155 Gri 7:0 Ali

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 334-399-6918. For information about counseling services or to request a guest speaker please call the Alabama Council on Compulsive Gambling at 334-277-5100.

fell spe For pro 446

Loc MO can enc of r spe chil Tue Con

Grief

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

act om

Location: First UMC, 100 E. Fourth St, Prattville Grief Share, Wednesday evenings at 6 pm in the church parlor. Led by Michael Beatty. Call 365-5977.

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

st he 4.

eet

hts

y S

ity. 1/2 i-

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

Parenting

Location: First Baptist Prattville, 138 South Washington Moms LIFE (Living In Faith Everyday) meets twice monthly from 8:30 - 11:45 am in the chapel at the Church from Aug May. We offer a time of fellowship, Bible study, musical guest, special guest speakers and a lot of fun!! Cost is $5 per meeting. For moms of all stages and ages of life. Childcare provided by reservation. Call April Scott at 828446-6666. Location: First Baptist Church, 305 S. Perry Street MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) is a place you can share a good meal, make new friends, and find encouragement as you face the everyday challenges of raising your little ones. We have educational speakers, great conversation, and fun activities. Free childcare is provided. Meetings are every 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 9:30-11:30 a.m., September through May. Contact Tiffany Alewine at 241-5165.

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

MOPS meeting, their children are lovingly cared for in the MOPPETS program. Email Denise Braswell at deniseorscott@yahoo.com. Location: St.James UMC, 9045 Vauhgn Road Moms in Prayer International: This is a Christ centered interdenominational prayer ministry made up of moms, grandmothers, aunts or any woman who wants to gathers to pray for their children and schools. Meets every Sunday afternoon from 3:004:00. Call Annette Jones for more information on joining us or training to start your own group. 850529-4730 or email Montgomerymipac@gmail.com.

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

River Region Christians

Date Night Can Be Inexpensive AND Fun! Q. We’re trying to get control of our finances by living on a budget. We also have about $18,000 in debt we are trying to pay off. My husband brings home $3,400 a month, and I am currently taking care of our eight-month-old baby. We would like to have a date night once a month, and he thinks we should set aside $200 for this. Under the current circumstances, I feel like this is too much. What do you think? A. If you’d told me you guys make

$150,000 a year, I’d say go have a great time. But with your income, and a lot of debt on top, I’d put the brakes on that amount. It sounds like he’s looking for an outlet to unwind and have a little fun, without giving a lot of thought to the big picture. The good thing, though, is you’re working together and beginning to take this personal finance thing seriously.

River Region Christians

April 2022

My advice would be to lower the date night amount to about $50 right now. That’s plenty for a reasonable dinner and a babysitter for a couple of hours. You might not have to figure babysitting expenses into the equation at all if you have family or friends nearby. Going out on a date doesn’t have to mean spending a lot of money. Years ago, when my wife and I were broke, we did tons of stuff that didn’t cost a dime. Things like hiking and picnics are great ways to spend quality time together, while keeping your pocketbook in your pocket. Just be creative, talk about it together and make sure you find ways to have a little us time on a regular basis.

Should I Tithe On My Business? Q. My wife and I are Christians, and we own a successful small business in our town. Should businesses tithe?

A. This is a good question. Giving is never a bad idea unless you do it irresponsibly and to the point of putting your family in financial danger. To the best of my knowledge, the Bible only addresses the topic of tithing by individuals—not businesses. Personally, I don’t give a tenth of my business gross or net until I receive my paycheck. When that happens—meaning it’s profit that I’m going to pay taxes on, or it’s salaried income out of my business—I tithe on the profits. So, I can’t really tell you I’ve found Biblical instruction to give a tenth of your business. Hope this helps!

for big smiles and even bigger innovations. Treating patients and families with genuine compassion, kindness and respect is the rule here, not the exception. But while a smile can make you feel welcome, it can’t make you feel better. That’s why, at Jackson Hospital, we never stop working to bring advanced treatments and technologies to the community – including state-of-the-art Robotic Surgery, which can lead to less pain, reduced scarring and shorter recovery times. YOUR HOME FOR HEALTH

www.facebook.com/auburnopelika.parents

COME CELEBRATE THE SAVIOR! SUNDAY, APRIL 17

SUNDAY, APRIL 10 8:30 AM PALM SUNDAY WORSHIP BIBLE FELLOWSHIP CLASSES

8:30 AM EASTER WORSHIP CELEBRATION BIBLE FELLOWSHIP CLASSES

9:45 AM PALM SUNDAY WORSHIP BIBLE FELLOWSHIP CLASSES

9:45 AM EASTER WORSHIP CELEBRATION BIBLE FELLOWSHIP CLASSES

11:00 AM PALM SUNDAY WORSHIP

11:00 AM EASTER WORSHIP CELEBRATION

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER VISIT MONTGOMERYFBC.ORG/EASTER

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13 6:00 PM EASTER COMMUNION FRIDAY, APRIL 15 12:00 PM GOOD FRIDAY WORSHIP

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH MONTGOMERY

MARK BETHEA, PASTOR / 305 S PERRY STREET / MONTGOMERY, AL 36104 334.834.6310 :: MONTGOMERYFBC.ORG 1