Alabama Ranks
#44
in HPV Vaccinations in the United States
ALABAMAPUBLICHEALTH.GOV/ORALHEALTH
ORAL HEALTH OFFICE Promoting Smiles Across a Lifetime
Volume 21, Issue 3
Feature Articles
JU N E 2 0 1 9 Columns page 2
page 12
Publisher’s Note
Faith @ Work:
Jason Watson
Jessica Weyreuter
Jessica Weyreuter is the founder of Dream Court, a non-profit tennis program for special needs athletes. She shares how faith in Christ truly changed her life and outlook, how she landed on and why she loves her career, plus what she feels is most important when it comes to sharing her faith with others.
page 4
Pastor's Perspective Michael Trull, Thorington Road Baptist Church
page 10
Pondering the Journey Sam Whatley
page 17
Women Arising Pastor Kemi Searcy
page 14
Reflected Truth
page 21
Counselor’s Corner
by Sederick Fluker
Dr. Jessica Gibbe-Fernandez
Discover how the mirror of God’s Word can transform our spiritual appearance.
page 26
The Intersection Bob Crittenden
page 18
page 32
Outward Sight, Inward Vision by Katie Blair
Learn about this wonderful ministry of Aldersgate United Methodist Church which is offering strength and support for those with vision loss.
Dave $ays Dave Ramsey
In Every Issue page 6
Books to Read page 8
Around Our Community page 22 page 12
VBS Guide
Faith @ Work
Vacation Bible Schools kicks off in June, and our guide has many options for your kids throughout the summer!
page 28
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Our Mission... We believe the Good News concerning the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is worth sharing with our friends and neighbors in the River Region. Each month we deliver this life-changing message to the centers of activity across our community in a user-friendly and relevant way to empower and equip all those seeking to grow closer to God. Join us in this mission by sharing a copy with your neighbor or by becoming an advertising partner starting next month.
Editor DeAnne Watson deanne@readjourneymagazine.com
Publisher
Jason Watson jason@readjourneymagazine.com
Associate Publisher Gena Hill
Research Editor Wendy McCollum
Contributing Writers Katie Blair Bob Crittenden Dr. Jessica Gibbe-Fernandez Sed Fluker Dave Ramsey Kemi Searcy Dr. David Steele Pastor Michael Trull Sam Whatley
Advertising Opportunities Jason Watson ads@readjourneymagazine.com (334) 213-7940 ext 702
Digital Manager Scott Davis
Ad Design
Tim Welch, Welch Designs
From the Publisher Last weekend our friends brought up the Enneagram Personality Test. Since I hadn’t taken this type of personality test before, they all took turns stating what they believed me to be. Well, after hearing their thoughts about my clearly special and unique personality, I naturally had to find out the truth. I found a free test online, and wouldn’t you know it, my friends know me pretty well. According to the Enneagram and my friends, I’m an 8w7, which is the “Challenger” mixed with the “Enthusiast”. If my mom was still with us she would definitely agree. Yes, it’s true I like a good challenge... and one of the greatest challenges I’ve faced is being a father. It’s not necessarily that my children are difficult children, although they have been at times, but rather the challenge is me being the dad to them that I want to be. I watched a father and his five-year-old son playing together yesterday and it made me think about my son, our first born, when he was that age. I cracked a smile as I thought about those sweet and easy times. It feels great to be your son’s hero. But as time marched on the stakes grew higher, and the conversations became more weighty. I had to “bring it” much more than in the past, and reaching hero status wasn’t as easy. That’s been the case for all three of our children. They come to know too much of the truth over time – that I’m not a good hero. Honestly, I now know that’s the way it’s supposed to work anyway. John the Baptist said it perfectly when speaking about the true hero, Jesus, saying, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” I do want my kids to look up to me, but not so they see MY GREATNESS, but rather to see MY DEPENDENCE on the true hero, Jesus. That’s what each issue of River Region’s Journey is all about. We want to spur everyone on towards a greater faith and dependence on Christ, because that’s where true life exists. As we celebrate Father’s Day this month, gladly accept all the Hallmark cards, new socks, golf balls and fishing lures you receive. You deserve them all. But, don’t forget that the greatest gift you can give your children in return is a model for what it means to have Jesus, your hero, as the Lord of your life.
Distribution Manager Charles Silliman
River Region’s Journey is published monthly by Keep Sharing, P.O. Box 230367, Montgomery, AL 36123. For information, call 334-213-7940. River Region’s Journey is copyrighted 2019 by KeepSharing. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. The opinions expressed in River Region’s Journey are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the owners, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products or services herein. River Region’s Journey has the right to refuse any content that is not consistent with its statement of faith.
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Come Worship with Us!
Founded Upon God’s Word
Liturgically Joyful
At Christchurch, Holy Scripture serves as the final authority for our teaching and preaching. Indeed, over the course of three years, almost the entire Bible is read aloud and preached upon.
At Christchurch, worship involves the entire congregation, as we offer God praise, thanksgiving and adoration using worship traditions that can be traced back to the earliest days of the Church. Our worship is not designed to entertain us, but to honor the true “audience” of worship, the Lord!
Warm and Loving
Committed to Mission
By God’s grace and through His Spirit, the people of Christchurch enjoy the richness and joy of being a true family. We’d love for you to become a part of us! Regardless of who you are, you will always find a home at Christchurch.
The people of Christchurch respond to God’s Word by going out into the world proclaiming the good news of Jesus, and we joyfully serve as His hands and feet whether in places like Uganda and Guatemala or within Montgomery.
Sunday Worship: 9:30 a.m. Christian Education: 11:00 a.m. on Sundays and 6 p.m. on Wednesdays
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8800 Vaughn Road, Montgomery, AL 36117 www.christchurchmgm.net 334.387.0566
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Pastor’s Perspective Michael Trull, Thorington Road Baptist Church
Choose Greatness How many of you desire greatness? Remember as a child when you believed that you were going to be great at something? It could have been that you desired to be the greatest president this country has ever known. Or the greatest Olympian that has ever competed. Or the greatest CEO of any company that has ever existed. Or the greatest teacher to have ever taught. Or the greatest doctor to perform a surgery. There was something within us, as children, that believed we could be great at something. Yet somehow, we have believed a lie that greatness is found only in one of two ways: accumulation and accomplishments. Greatness is only for those who have acquired much like the Warren Buffetts, the Donald Trumps, or the Bill Gates of the world. These men have everything that money can buy. They have
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big houses, fancy cars, private jets, and nice boats. In fact, they may own more than one of these things. Or we believe that greatness is only for those who have accomplished much, like Tiger Woods, Albert Einstein, or Steve Jobs. Men like these have won championships, received notoriety, and produced tremendous products. And because we have not accumulated or accomplished like these men, we believe that we can never be great. You may think that greatness is for only a few. You may feel that greatness is for someone else and not for you. But I want to show you from God’s Word that greatness is a choice. Jesus said, “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus says that if you want to be great, then be a servant. A Gallup poll discovered that only 10% of church members are active in any kind of personal ministry in their church. What is even more amazing is that 50% of all church members said they have no interest in serving in any ministry of the church. Yet, what Jesus is saying here is that serving others is important to Him. Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church, tells the story of a time when Dan Cathy, president and CEO of Chik-FilA, was in southern California checking on some of the new restaurants that were going up. 4
“We were looking at the building. While we were there we were hungry so we went next door to, I think it was a Taco Bell. It was some other fast food in competition with Chick-fil-A. We’d been out, our hands were all sweaty and dirty and we went in the restroom and washed our hands. Then I watched Dan take out extra sheets… This is the CEO of a chain of restaurants. I watched him pull them out and I watched him hand clean the sinks of the Taco Bell bathroom we were just in. I looked at him and said, “Thank you for doing that, Dan.” He said, “Rick, we teach our staff to always leave any place they are at better than it was when they found it, whether it’s our place or not.” So, we can choose greatness by serving others; Jesus certainly did. Jesus spent time with the outcast and the poor, helped those who could not give anything in return, and washed the disciples’ feet. Finally, his ultimate act of service was when he gave His life for those who could not save themselves. Now we may never be called upon to give up our lives for others to the point of death, but we are called upon to give up our lives for others. Are you willing to give up your schedules? What about your plans? How about your preferences? Are you willing to give up your dreams? What about your position? How about your money? Are you willing to serve when it is inconvenient? As Christians, we must be willing to trade the world’s standard of greatness for God’s standard of greatness.
Michael Trull is the Lead Pastor of Thorington Road Baptist Church (450 Ray Thorington Rd., Montgomery). Service times are: 9:30am Bible Study, 10:30am morning worship. Michael and his wife Crysta live in Pike Road and have three sons. Michael became the Lead Pastor in August 2017. Contact Thorington Road or learn more by visiting www.trbaptist.org.
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Passions of the Heart
The Logic of God:
52 Christian Essentials for the Heart and Mind
John D. Street (2019)
Ravi Zacharias (2019)
We find ourselves in the midst of a culture that is awash in sexual sin. Yet ironically, there are very few resources available to help people deal with this vexing problem. Some books minimize sexual sin and even ignore its pernicious effects on the lives of people. Other books address the subject aggressively but fail to subject it to the weight of biblical revelation. Instead of approaching sexual sin through the lens of the gospel, it is dealt with psychologically, which in the final analysis is unhelpful. John D. Street offers a different approach; one that is biblical, timely, and practical. The book is arranged in three parts.
Ask students of apologetics, “Who has wielded the weightiest influence in the 20th century?” There may be a variety of responses, and will, no doubt include the well-known names of Francis Schaeffer, Gresham Machen, and C.S. Lewis. Each of these influential thinkers are with their Savior in heaven. Who has stepped in to continue the legacy of these titans of the faith in our generation? In my mind, Ravi Zacharias must be included in that list. He has encouraged Christian thinkers to craft careful biblical arguments and equipped them to engage people in the marketplace of ideas. But he has also challenged the skeptical mind with his brilliant intellect, keen insight, and winsome personality. The Logic of God is targeted to Christian readers but it would be an excellent resource for skeptics to consider as well. Each chapter follows a predictable pattern. A topic is introduced, a Scripture is offered, and a brief 2-3 page discussion ensues. At the end of each chapter, readers are invited to consider a series of reflection questions and to walk down a path of personal application. As an avid reader, I must say that Zondervan has gone to great lengths to make this a beautiful book. The hardback edition includes high quality glossy paper. The writing style is engaging and lucid. The person and work of Jesus Christ is celebrated. The Word of God is treasured. And readers are challenged to think through the exclusive nature of truth. One of the things that emerges in this book is Ravi’s passion to wed reason and faith. This makes his style unique and resembles the pattern that Francis Schaeffer popularized in the twentieth century. Zacharias writes,
Part One: The Nature of the Heart and Its Passions Dr. Street ’s aim is to highlight the deception nature of the heart. Such a view runs counter to conventional wisdom that says lays claim to the autonomous heart. The author shows how “heart idolatry” manifests itself and how the end result is enslavement, in this case, sexual sin. Part Two: The Motivations of Sexual Idolatry The author digs deeper into the heart of sexual sin by revealing its hidden motivations. Various desires such as self-pity, discontentment, anger, and fear are exposed as sinful motivations that undergird sexual sin. Part Three: The Characteristics of a Pure Heart The final section proves to be the most helpful as Dr. Street sets forth the criteria for lasting heart change, which is found exclusively in the gospel. The gospel reveals sin and applying the truth of the gospel brings death to the flesh. Street adds, “The heart ruled by sexual lust must be ministered to in such a faithful and determined way that the Holy Spirit may use the gospel to transform the enslaved person by the power of God. This is the beginning of lasting change from stubborn and enslaving sexual sin.” Passions of the Heart: Biblical Counsel for Stubborn Sexual Sins contains a wealth of biblical resources that will both equip biblical counselors and challenge sexual sinners to turn from their sin and cast all their hope upon their Savior, banking on his redemptive benefits found in the gospel. Highly recommended. River Region’s Journey
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“The connecting of faith and reason is the wonderful journey of the soul. When one’s thinking is set aright again and when the flesh has its shackles broken, the mind and body come under God’s liberating and fulfilling plan. Then we see as He designed us to see. When we come to know our Creator, the questioning is not for doubting but for putting it all together and marveling at His wonders.” Zacharias has a gift for blending rationality and experience and wouldn’t think of having it any other way. His approach is desperately needed in these postmodern times. Highly recommended. 6
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Live with Tim Hawkins & Bob Smiley
Friday, August 9, at 7:00 pm Vaughn Forest Church, 8660 Vaughn Road, Montgomery. Fore more information call 334279-5433 or visit www.vaughnforest.com.
The Gridiron Men’s Conference
The Gridiron Men’s Conference will be on Friday and Saturday, June 14 and 15, at the Legacy Arena at the BJCC in Birmingham. Friday’s session will be from 7:00 p.m until 10:00 p.m. and Saturday’s session will be from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Featured speakers will be Tony Evans, James Merritt, Michael Jr., Jake Olson, and Phil Waldrep. Music will be provided by Charles Billingsley and Josh Turner. Register online at www.gridironmen.org or call 1-800-374-1550.
Why not try church this Sunday? Whether you’re new in town or new to the whole “church thing,” we are working to be a place where everyone can find hope, build connection and make a difference. When you’re ready, give us a try!
Try church from home.
Try church in person.
frazer.church/live or WFRZ TV 11:00am Contemporary Worship Livestream 9:30am Traditional Worship Livestream
6000 Atlanta Hwy Montgomery 8:00, 9:30 or 11:00am Sundays Nursery/Children’s Programs at all services
WWW.FRAZER.CHURCH/TRY | 334-272-8622 | 6000 ATLANTA HWY. MONTGOMERY
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Speak - As You Go
with the Skit Guys, Tom Richter, D.A. Horton, More Than This, Bryan Drake
Friday, July 19 – Saturday, July 20 Eastmont Baptist Church, 4505 Atlanta Highway Montgomery. Visti www. speak. ymlink.org for more information. Organized by Alabama Baptist Church State Convention.
Email your ministry news and events to deanne@readjourneymagazine.com! Hope Inspired Ministries presents Comedian Jeff Allen
Tuesday, July 16, Vaughn Park Church of Christ, 3800 Vaughn Road, Montgomery. Join Hope Inspired Ministries for a night of comedy featuring Jeff Allen. Jeff Allen’s rapid-fire humor, which centers on marriage and family, is a hit with all ages. A live comedy favorite, Jeff has appeared on Showtime, Comedy Central, VH1 and more. He starred in the critically acclaimed film, Apostles of Comedy, the syndicated comedy series, Bananas, his own onehour comedy special, Happy Wife, Happy Life and the Warner Bros. comedy film, Thou Shalt Laugh. Jeff’s Dry Bar Comedy videos went viral earlier this year, introducing him to tens of millions of new fans worldwide. At times both gut-wrenching and hilarious, Jeff’s one-man show, The America I Grew Up In, offers a unique view into his crazy world. For more information, visit Hope Inspired Ministries on Facebook!
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It Wasn’t Really an Accident I knocked a glass candle chimney from our mantlepiece in December 2005. It shattered glass all over the floor. I learned years later that it really wasn’t an accident. Not that I dropped it intentionally, but the Lord had a hand in it. How do I know? Let me explain. The candle was one of a pair. Therefore, we went to the candle store to find either a matching chimney, or two new candles. While there, I noticed something for sale more appropriate for Easter than Christmas. It was a model of Jesus’ empty tomb (nine inches wide, five inches deep, and eight inches high). A figurine of the
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risen Christ stood at the opening with a light shining behind it. Something about that little model captured my interest. I had read about tombs in the Bible, but had never seen a model of one. We bought it and set it up in our living room, even though it was Christmas. Our pastor came by and said, “That is what I want in front of our church.” With the approval of our church leaders, I asked several people for ideas on how to build a tomb. A stage technician at Alabama Shakespeare Festival explained how he constructed the tomb for Romeo and Juliet. Two first-class carpenter friends from another church volunteered to build the plywood structure using my model as a guide. In about two weeks, we had a tomb (nine feet wide, five feet deep, and eight feet high) set on wheels. Church members chipped in to cut, shape, and paint thick slices of Styrofoam to resemble stone blocks. Others added greenery to the roof and sides. For several years this life-sized replica served as the backdrop for our church’s Easter Sunrise Service. But God was not through using that tomb. For the past nine years it has become the focal point for a Sunrise Service that draws people from three denominations to worship together. The body of Christ is finding unity in the risen 10
Lord around this wooden replica covered in Styrofoam rocks. So, I ask you, “Was my blundering with the glass chimney truly an accident? Could God have been behind it all?” Consider another accident, this one from the Bible. The Apostle Paul was teaching in Troas about midnight one night. “Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. ‘Don’t be alarmed,’ he said, ‘He’s alive!’ The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted,” (Acts 20: 9-10, 12; NIV). Was the young man’s fall an accident? Perhaps, but God showed His power through that “accident” by having the Apostle Paul raise a man from the dead. Paul preached on until daylight. How much impact for Christ do you suppose his words had after people witnessed that miracle? God delights to use our blunders to bring about His purposes. So, if you feel something in your life has spun out of control, it is not out of His control. The broken glass and Paul’s fallen boy illustrate that through our mistakes God is setting the stage to do greater works than we can imagine. We see temporary events. He sees the eternal. Are things broken in your life right now? Are you having trouble seeing how God could ever put the pieces back together, how He could ever make the dead to live again? Don’t despair; trust Him. Consider God’s promise, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness,” (2 Corinthians 12:9; NIV). Let’s face it; we are weak. But that just makes us depend on God more. And as we give Him our blunders and brokenness, He gives us His life, His hope, and His peace. He makes something beautiful to replace what we thought we needed. You may one day realize that events you thought were accidents, were not. He was in charge all along.
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Our Statement of Faith In keeping with Protestant theology, we believe that the Bible, as contained in the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, is fully inspired by God and therefore inerrant in the original manuscripts. The Bible is the only essential and infallible record of God’s self-disclosure to mankind. The Scriptures are the authoritative and normative rule and guide of all Christian life, practice, and doctrine. They are totally sufficient and must not be added to, superseded, or changed by later tradition, extra-biblical revelation, or worldly wisdom. The Bible is perfect in every way and shows us how to become and live as Christians. The way of becoming a Christian is by faith alone in Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, who came to us, born of a virgin, in full human form while remaining fully God. Jesus was, and is, perfect, and was crucified so that others could live. Three days later He rose from the dead, never to die again. He ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God the Father, where He, the only mediator between God and man, continually makes intercession for His own. Those who have faith in Jesus as their Lord in this life, and Savior from damnation in the next life, now live by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, becoming more like Jesus everyday.
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We believe that God is one God. The one God has three persons: the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Just as God is one, so also, all believers are to be one. We believe in the unity and fellowship of all those that have faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. We are one in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, His Body, which is composed of all men, living and dead, who have been joined to Him through saving faith.
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*All editorial content published needs to be in agreement with our Statement of Faith
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RRJ: Jessica, thank you so much for taking the time to share how your faith is at work in the community where God has placed you. To begin with, when did your faith in Christ begin? Jessica: I knew of God’s existence growing up, but I had the feeling He was either mad at me or far away from me. I thought Jesus was like the character of a fiction movie. I didn’t buy the story that he was born from a virgin, died, and rose from the death. The Holy Spirit was something weird to me, and the Bible sounded very contradicting and inconsistent. I grew up in a family where we went to church mainly on Christian holidays. My home was loving and my parents caring, but I wasn’t always able to fully receive, believe and accept love as I grew into a teenager. I suffered loneliness River Region’s Journey
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and unworthiness through high school, college, graduate school and five years of traveling the world playing professional tennis tournaments. I lived my life trying to earn the approval of my family, teachers, coaches, and friends by being the best I could at everything I did. In my own mind I constantly fell short. Even though my life seemed okay from the outside, I was hurting on the inside. Some days I didn’t want to be Jessica. In my late 20s I still had no identity, no purpose, no direction and I feared the uncertainty of the future. Falling on my knees one day at 29 years old, I pleaded with God to show me He was real. I begged for my life to matter. I surrendered, realizing I could no longer carry this weight alone. I started to pray for His wisdom, guidance, and understanding. At the beginning, I was really testing and questioning, wondering if he really could give me the desires of my heart like it says in Psalm 37:4, but I was curious and continued searching. Believers showed up to minister to me. I went to Bible studies, listened to testimonies and learned about spiritual warfare. For the first time in my life, the negative voices went away. God was the only explanation. God showed me He was real. Life started to fall into place. Even though I couldn’t see God, he started to become almost tangible. It felt good to be free, so I continued offering my life to Him. RRJ: God has blessed you with athleticism in tennis as well as a heart for individuals with special needs. When did your idea for Dream Court first come to you? Jessica: The idea of Dream Court was a vision that came to me after a combination of events. First of all, sport has always been important in my life. As a kid, sport was the middle point of my day. Through my studies, I developed a special interest for integration and inclusion, and 12
after graduation, my goal in life became clearer. I wanted to improve people’s lives through the power of sport. At that time I could not get hired by a company due to immigration difficulties, so I applied for a tennis visa and started a sport consulting company to use sport for social and economic development. A local lawyer, Mays Jemison, introduced me to the Miracle Baseball league, and the moment I saw it, I started to entertain the idea of doing something like that with tennis. The idea was wild, I was just fresh out of school, and I didn’t know people in Montgomery. I remember searching for my next step in life and even had two job interviews up north… but I couldn’t get the idea of Dream Court out of my head. Quite honestly I would have preferred to go to a big city, work a 9 to 5 job, get a regular pay check, and enjoy my early 30s… but I felt God saying this is what you are supposed to do right now. I didn’t know what to do, I didn’t know how to do it, I didn’t know where to start… but I decided to step out in faith and give it a try. RRJ: People invest time and energy into developing their career, their bodies and relationships, but often neglect the spiritual dimension of their lives. How do you actively pursue spiritual growth? Jessica: Investing time and energy in personal development has been a priority for me. I try to find the balance between career, body and relationships, but I have learned the more I invest in my spiritual growth, the better everything else falls into place. I pursue spiritual growth by reading my Bible every night, listening to Christian music in my car, praying, and fasting. I used to think that Christian people were boring and weren’t allowed to do a lot of things, but I learned they can be full of light and fun and adventurous, so it feeds my spirit to hang out with people who follow Christ, too.
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RRJ: Has Colossians 3:23 been a reality for you? (“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.”)
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Jessica: There were so many days that I didn’t feel like working, days that I was tired or that I would have preferred to do something just for myself. There are days where I am discouraged, feel unappreciated, or treated unfairly. That’s when I remind myself that I don’t work for people, but for God, and it definitely changes my attitude. I must admit that I can be moody and overreact in the moment, and even shed some tears here and there, but then I remind myself to straighten that crown God gave me, and stop acting like a victim! RRJ: What makes you feel closest to God? Jessica: When I sit still in my prayer corner, when I see a child smile, when I feel the wind while being in nature, when I drive by myself, when I go for a run. RRJ: What kind of person would you be without Jesus in your life? How would you be different?
Jessica: I would be an obnoxious, annoying, and self-centered version of Jessica. I would probably be fearful of what people think, of what could go wrong, and of the future in general. I used to be overly critical, very judgmental, and constantly finding fault in people’s action. Now it’s easier to love and forgive people even when I don’t understand them. RRJ: Do you have a favorite scripture or story from the Bible? Jessica: Favorite scripture: “Trust in God with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) I rely on this Scripture daily because I am such a control freak, and I want to figure everything out. RRJ: What do you feel is the most important thing in sharing your faith with others, especially non-believers? Jessica: I believe in preaching the gospel to everyone, and use words only when necessary. I remember arriving in the South and finding it totally obnoxious
when people would ask me: what church to you go to and are you saved? On the other hand, I enjoyed meeting people who radiated light. I was drawn to their peace, joy, kindness and gentleness and I was curious to know the source of it. I also believe that sharing our testimony can be powerful. When we share our stories in a real and messy way, we give people permission to see where we came from, our reality and our change. I was broken, I felt lonely, I didn’t have hope in a better future, I heard voices that told me I didn’t fit in, I entertained thoughts that I was inadequate, I didn’t completely like myself. Vulnerability is contagious. By taking our masks off, we release some of the things that keep us trapped in our walls and encourage others to do the same. My life changed after I gave it to Christ, and it keeps getting better the more I surrender.
Jessica Weyreuter is the founder of Dream Court, a non-profit tennis program for special needs athletes. She was born in Germany and grew up in Montecarlo, Argentina before coming to America on a tennis scholarship at Lindsey Wilson College in Kentucky. Jessica is a member of Church of the Highlands in Montgomery.
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Mirror, mirror - not just on the wall; so many mirrors, who can count them all?
us our physical appearances, but in reality, we are not just physical beings. We are actually spirit beings who possess souls and live in physical bodies. This is how God wonderfully designed us, and physical mirrors can only show us one aspect of ourselves – the physical, but what about our spirits? That’s the inward part of us that no one sees with physical eyes. It’s who we “really” are, and just as we have a physical appearance to maintain, we also have a spiritual appearance to maintain.
There are mirrors in our homes, cars, purses, restrooms--pretty much everywhere! But why the mirror obsession? Could it be a symptom of our society’s extreme vanity? Perhaps it’s an indicator of selfcenteredness or an overindulgence in our own selves as human beings. There may be many other theories to suggest why our world is seemingly obsessed with mirrors, but the simplest reason may be in the logic that we simply like to look good. From our earliest existence until now, we have used mirrors to aid us in looking our best as it relates to physical appearances. Needless to say, we place great value in mirrors because they help us achieve our daily appearance goals. However, mirrors are limited in that they can only show River Region’s Journey
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Reflected Truth Too often we are guilty of spending too much time on how we look outwardly when we should spend more time beautifying ourselves from within. In order for this to happen, we need a spiritual mirror to see our spiritual appearance, and such a mirror exists. It’s called the Word of God! It reveals to us the inward truth about 14
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ourselves and gives us the opportunity to make spiritual changes where needed. But one may ask, how does it all work? How do we see our true reflections in mirrors? Well, both a natural mirror and God’s Word, a spiritual mirror, work the same way. They both use light to reflect images of our true appearances. This is what I call reflected truth. However, in natural mirrors this reflected truth is only made possible by natural light or sunlight, but in the spiritual mirror of God’s Word, reflected truth comes from Sonlight. That’s right! Jesus, the Son of God, is the light of God’s Word to the world.
Distorted Truth
All mirrors, natural or spiritual, will always reveal truth to those who look into them – every single time without fail, yet mirrors can be intentionally altered to reveal a distorted truth. Let me explain. Perhaps you’ve visited the inside of a funhouse at an amusement park or fairground before? If so, then you would have likely encountered what is referred to as a distorted mirror. A distorted mirror is a natural mirror that has been intentionally altered to reflect a distorted truth. For example, a distorted mirror will make you look tall when you’re actually short; it will make you look fat when you’re actually thin. Therefore, how you truly look will always be distorted and unreliable. This type of altering of a natural mirror is okay for a funhouse; however, God’s Word should never be intentionally tampered with or distorted. Deuteronomy 4:2 (NKJV) says, “You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.”
The Transformation
It’s amazing the transformation we can experience in just a few hours from the time we go to bed to the time we wake up in the morning. With messed up hair, crusted eyes, and a number of other unsightly blemishes to our physical appearances, the natural mirror becomes our most trusted ally in helping us transform ourselves back into images we can be proud. Likewise, God’s Word is a powerful mirror of transformation in helping us look more like Christ. However, this doesn’t exclude us from playing a part in our own transformations. 15
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I believe there are three things we must do to experience transformation after receiving reflected truth from the mirror of God’s Word:
1. Accept the reflected truth. It would seem insane to argue with a mirror for only reflecting truth. The mirror is totally neutral and doesn’t tell us that we are the fairest of them all when asked, like in the “Snow White” story. No, we must accept the reflected truth of the mirror and decide to make the necessary changes to our appearances – both physical and spiritual. A willingness to act shows that we accept the reflected truth as is and that we are on the pathway to transformation.
2. Be willing to change.
One of the great blessings of our humanity is something called “free will”. God has given us the ability to make our own independent choices. Therefore, even when confronted with the reflected truth of God’s Word, we still have a choice whether to make changes in our lives or stay the same. James 1:23,24 (NIV) says, “Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.” Being creatures of habit, we don’t like change; however, change is the doorway to total transformation.
3. Look in the mirror daily.
Imagine what life would be like without mirrors for a day or even a week. It’s frightful to think about, right? The ability to change our appearances for the better would no longer exist. Just think, ladies. There would be no lastminute makeup applications while looking in the sun-visor mirror and driving full speed in the morning commute! Now relax and exhale; it was just an example, but point well taken I’m sure. The thing is we really should look in a natural mirror daily so as not to neglect restoring order to our undesired appearances. That being said, how much more should we also look in the mirror of truth, God’s Word, daily? Psalms 119:9,10 (NKJV) states, “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!” As truth is reflected through God’s Word daily, the Holy Spirit becomes our personal makeup artist of transformation! Our blemishes of sin and shame are removed, and we begin to look like “redeemed images” of God. That’s why we can’t afford to go one single day without looking in the mirror of God’s holy Word. Sederick Fluker is a published author of the book The Winning Team: A Victory Guide for Total Team Success and Executive Director of the Montgomery S.T.E.P. Foundation.
River Region’s Journey
June 2019
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Effective Single Parenting Valerie, a mother of three teenagers, sat in the pew behind the youth director looking weary and discouraged. “What’s up?” the youth leader asked. “I am so tired of my kids’ father, aka my ex. He disappoints them every week, saying he will pick them up to spend time with them and then shows up too late to do anything or doesn’t show up at all. It was one thing for him to frustrate me when we were married, but now he frustrates me with the kids. It is like the old wounds keep reopening almost every week.” Many single moms and dads do not only have to face the emotional challenge of raising their kids by themselves, but they often have to deal with the leftover problems associated with their exes. It is daunting at best, and there are so many nuances to situations like Valerie’s that give single parenting a position of great valor! Most important to your success as a single parent is your health spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically. Growing in these four areas will bring you to your best as a person and a parent.
Spiritual Health for Single Parents Our God is a tender and caring Being who treasures those who need special care and nurturing. Think about Abraham’s concubine, Hagar, who birthed Abraham a son because Sarah was barren and couldn’t. Hagar hadn’t chosen to be joined to him to provide a son, but through personality clashes and arrogance, Sarah rejected her.
Then Abraham threw Hagar out of the family, to keep peace. Wandering in the desert with her son, God visited Hagar and gave her promises of a hope and a future for both her and her son. Yes, He cared! It is only in Jesus that you can find rest for your soul. (See Matthew 11:28.) He realizes you may be weary, you may be overburdened, but you can find rest. You don’t have to do anything on your own. God wants to partner with you to solve all the issues you face. Your identity in Christ assures this.
Mental Health for Single Parents One of the most prevalent mental health issues is depression. Depression can come from the guilt of being divorced. This is especially true of many Christian divorcees who vowed, “Till death do we part.” Others can feel a heavy sense of failure because of the stigma of losing a spouse. Unresolved anger can build to a place where you don’t want to rehash the issues in your head one more time, yet you can’t seem to get the thoughts out of your head. They become a heavy weight on your mind and heart and can be difficult to release. If you have continuously negative thoughts about your ex-spouse, you will often find these come to the surface via a word slip, body language, or a facial expression that signals to your children as to how you feel. Are there issues you can forgive your ex-spouse for right now? Perhaps you can forgive little things that 17
your ex learned growing up from his/her family. As time goes forward, you can begin to strengthen to the point of forgiving him/her for other actions and words. Your overall goal is to eventually achieve total forgiveness.
Emotional Health for Single Parents You can lose yourself in your multiplied tasks, decisions, and care for the family. Single parents can be devoid of time for replenishing and healing. Set aside certain times for you to receive care. Prioritize these according to their recuperative effects and their costs of time and money, but do put them on the schedule! Jesus only had three years to bring to salvation, train, and disciple a dozen “nobodies.” He could have pressed his followers into a frenzy with an aggressive timetable. But He said, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while” (Mark 6:31, NASB).
Physical Health for Single Parents The normal healthful practices that are recommended for all adults obviously are important for you as a single parent. A proper diet, exercise, and regular checkups are important, as expected. With children now relying on you even more than before the divorce, you should be aware that your health has quite a bearing on you completing the job that is set before you. I recommend that you find the promises of God throughout the Word and put each of your children’s names into the verses. Recite these promises to reclaim who you are…a wonderful, blessed woman who has been given special permission to raise incredible creations straight from God’s heart. The blessing is there for the taking. Grab hold! June 2019
River Region’s Journey
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Betty Cates clearly remembers the spring day nine years ago that a dear friend and church member ran up to her and literally grabbed her by the collar and cried out, “I’m going blind, what am I going to do?” Cates, who was serving as the Director of Christian Education at Aldersgate United Methodist Church at the time, was in charge of planning the summer activities for the women. “I immediately began to pray for her and others in our congregation who were also dealing with loss of sight.” Cates figured maybe there was someone she could bring in to speak to the women that summer about vision loss, but she wasn’t quite sure about who that someone might be. Two weeks later, Cates learned about a cooking class and made arrangements to offer the class as a summer activity. The leader of the class had a brochure with her advertising a camp for the blind at Blue Lake Methodist Camp in Andalusia, Alabama. “I had never heard of a camp for the blind and began to ask about this. To my amazement, our cooking class instructor was the person in charge of this camp for the blind and offered us two $500 dollar scholarships!” Two people who were going blind were sent to the camp, along with one sighted person who would look after them. “They had a wonderful time,” recalls Cates. “I learned that they could live a happy and productive life even though they faced blindness.” River Region’s Journey
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by Katie Blair
While at camp, the two attendees were advised to get in a support group, so they came to Cates and asked her if she would find such a group for them. “I told them I would be glad to do this, not knowing that there was no such group in Montgomery.” It was during her search that she made the decision to start a group from the ground up. There was just one problem: Cates had no idea what she was doing. “With a lot of prayer, I emailed out letters to ten churches in Montgomery, telling them what we wanted to do and inviting them to attend a meeting in our church to discuss starting a support group for the vision impaired in our community. Out of the ten churches, five sent representatives to our meeting.” Through that initial meeting, the group, now known as the Outward Sight; Inward Vision Support Group, has grown to include members from all over the River Region experiencing various stages of vision loss. Some members are legally blind, while others have a new diagnosis of macular degeneration and other forms of deteriorating vision loss. There is a range of ages
from young adults to senior adults that come from all walks of life. No matter the age of the individual or the stage of vision loss, the group’s ministry goal is the same:
“We want to be there for those struggling with loss of sight by providing them encouragement, knowledge about community, state, and national resources that are available to them. We want them to know that they are not alone.” And just as the invitation to attend the camp for the blind sparked the birth of this group, the group still sends members to camp each year. Those going to camp are asked to pay the $25 registration fee and the support group is able to pay the balance of the cost for camp.
“We saw how beneficial the Extreme Eye Retreat had been with our two original campers and wanted others to be able to go. Since most persons losing their eyesight have limited resources, we knew we needed to be able to help pay for their camping experience, so we started a fundraiser called Dining in the Dark. Those going to camp are asked to pay the $25 registration fee and the support group is able to pay the balance of the cost for camp,” Cates said. The proceeds from the dinner, which is going in its seventh year, also allow the group to go on outings such as traveling to the school for the blind in Talladega, to Selma, and Andalusia for vision workshops. Support is also given to various programs and events such as Troy State Readers Program by providing radio receivers for the blind. The groups also provides large print calendars, and a scholarship for a blind child to attend WinShape Camp for Communities in Montgomery, as well as support for an Easter Egg Hunt for children who are blind.
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This year’s Dining in the Dark event will be held on July 18 at 6:00 pm in Aldersgate’s Christian Activity Center. The keynote speaker will be The Reverend Dr. Karl Stegall with special piano music performed by Pete Maddock. The tickets are $25 each and include dinner. All proceeds go to people with vision impairment. Tickets may be purchased through the church office or by contacting a group member. Cates, who is now retired from her position at Aldersgate, continues to head the group and facilitate their needs. She reflects on the beginning of the group and how it has grown into a community of support for those in the River Region coming to terms with vision loss. “God was in this from the beginning. I did not know where to go, but God sent the right person to teach a cooking class, the one person in the Alabama West Florida United Methodist Church Conference who had all the answers.” God has placed many others in the group’s path that have helped them get the support group going, as well. But no matter the size or age of the group, Cates says that there is still work to be done and that they will continue to minister to the needs of those with vision challenges. “What a blessing it has been to bring hope and life back into those who are feeling hopeless when they hear the words from their doctor that eventually they will be blind.” The Outward Sight, Inward Vision Group meets the second Thursday of each month from 1:00-2:30 pm in room 23 at Aldersgate United Methodist Church at 6610 Vaughn Road in Montgomery. The group is open to anyone who is sight impaired and their sponsors.
Katie Blair is a graduate of Auburn University in Montgomery with a degree in Elementary Education. She currently serves as the Director of Children’s Ministries for Aldersgate United Methodist Church. She is a freelance writer and blogger who writes about family life. She resides in Montgomery, Alabama with her husband, two children, and their dog, Rosie.
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June 2019
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Emotional Wounds
PTSD & Chronic Trauma Trauma is caused by any event beyond a person’s ability to handle at the time. PTSD develops after a person is exposed to or witnesses a seriously traumatic event, including combat or deadly attacks, sexual assault, a serious accident, etc. Christian counselor H. Norman Wright contends that the neurological evidence shows: “This is not just an emotional response to troubling events; it’s the expression of a persistent deregulation of body and brain chemistry, and brain chemistry can be altered for decades. With this change, arousing events can trigger flashbacks. Trauma creates chaos in our brain. Trauma causes an emotional as well as a cognitive concussion.” While our bodies are “…fearfully and wonderfully made…” Psalms 139:14, we live in a fallen world, and our amazingly adaptive brains can be fragile when pushed beyond a limit. Many of those suffering are combat veterans who have served our country and deserve our support and care. People with PTSD can experience depression, anxiety, violent thoughts, nightmares, flashbacks, trouble sleeping, physical pain, feelings of hopelessness, lack of concentration, and other symptoms. They are also at a higher risk for self-harm and suicide. Most of us have been exposed to information about PTSD; however, there are many other types of trauma not related to death or mortal danger. Continued physical, psychological or sexual abuse, toxic and unhealthy relationships, and interpersonal
betrayal can also result in a prolonged and increased stress response. When people are repeatedly or chronically exposed to physical, emotional or sexual abuse, their brains and bodies learn to see the world as dangerous and become caught in the flight, fight, or freeze response. While they don’t always develop the full range of PTSD symptoms, as with lifethreatening traumas, these are people who later, even after the abuse has ended, experience anxiety and depression symptoms. Their brains learn to stay vigilant, worried, fearful and to perceive constant threats in the world and in relationships. Abuse in relationships can present in many ways. Sexual and physical abuse may be easily identified, but some verbal, emotional and psychological abuse is not that straightforward. Even well-meaning partners and parents can unintentionally damage their loved ones. Here is a list of the most common abusive and traumatizing behaviors in relationships. The first four come from a well-known clinician and researcher, John Gottman. 1. Criticism – verbally attacking someone’s personality or character 2. Contempt -- making someone feel beneath or worthless 3. Stonewalling or the silent treatment – removing yourself from the relationship 4. Defensiveness or circular arguments – failing to take responsibility 5. Name-calling or labeling person as the negative behavior 6. Accusations and making a child or partner feel and believe they are always doing something wrong 7. Gaslighting -- causing another to question reality 21
8. Bullying 9. Blaming and making other responsible even for abusive behaviors and comments 10. Threats of abuse, hurting self or another, threats of leaving/abandoning 11. Manipulation 12. Condescension and/or sarcasm 13. Demeaning comments and put downs regarding appearance, gender, race/ethnicity, size, religion, etc. There is hope! It is never too late to identify what may be damaging or what behaviors and responses create trauma in children, partners and other loving relationships. Learning to observe our responses, managing our emotional reactions while identifying and negotiating solutions can have a major positive impact. We may help those we love or ourselves by seeking professional help. Therapists and clinicians work to lower the anxiety resulting from these experienced traumas and help us learn how to regulate emotions. Finally, it is important to rely on our faith while letting God’s love guide us, learn to love according to His design, and remember that God is with us. Whatever our struggles, we know that He will walk alongside us as we grow, learn and teach others. “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20b). Dr. Jessica Gibbe Fernandez is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of Alabama. She is originally from Mexico and fully bilingual in Spanish and English. Dr. Gibbe Fernandez joined the center since her internship in 2006. Jessica’s clinical interests include marriage and couples therapy, healthy relationships, and family therapy. She sees adolescents and adults with depression, anxiety, stress, self-esteem and personal growth issues, life transitions, gender issues and sexuality issues, family adjustment and acculturation.
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River Region’s Journey
Gateway Baptist Church ad on page 20 3300 Bell Road, Montgomery In the Wild June 24-28, 9 am- Noon Ages: Completed 1st through completed 5th Call 272.9494 to register.
Saint James UMC ad on page 7 9045 Vaughn Road, Montgomery ROAR June 10-12, 9 to Noon Ages: K5-5th grade Call 277.3037.
2019
Vacation
Woodland United Methodist Church
Bible Schools Blue Ridge Baptist ad on page 24 4471 Jasmine Hill Rd, Wetumpka In the Wild July 14-18, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. A family night musical performance will be held July 21 at 6:30 p.m. Call 567.4325.
Cornerstone Christian Church ad on page 16 301 Dalraida Road, Montgomery ROAR: Life is Wild, God Is Good! July 8-12 in the evenings from 6 - 8 p.m. For more information, call 273-8595.
First Baptist Church ad on Back Cover 305 South Perry Street, Montgomery In the Wild June 17-21, 9 a.m. to Noon You can register at www. MontgomeryFBC.org or call 834.6310 for more information. River Region’s Journey
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ad on page 10 4428 Wallahatchee Rd, Pike Road ROAR June 17-20, 5:30-8 p.m. Ages: 4 years old -6th grade Call 272.7230.
First Baptist Prattville ad on page 25 138 S. Washington Street, Prattville In the Wild June 24-28, 8:30 to noon Ages: 3 years - 6th Grade. Children must be 3 years old by September 2 to attend. For more information and/or to register visit fbcprattville.org or call 365-0606.
First Presbyterian Church ad on page 23 211 S. Chestnut St, Prattville The Incredible Race June 4-6, 6-8 p.m. Ages: 4 years old through entering 6th grade Call 365.6387.
Frazer Memorial UMC ad on page 8 6000 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery Power Up July 8-11; 9 a.m. to Noon Ages: Rising K4 year oldsFinishing 5th grade Call 272.8622. 22
Aldersgate United Methodist Church 6610 Vaughn Road, Montgomery WinShape Camp, June 10-14 Cost: $219 (scholarships available) Incredible adventure where we combine sports, recreation, arts, Bible study and worship! Ages: Completed Grades 1st-8th Register at www.aldersgateumc.org or call 272.6152.
Autauga Heights Baptist Church Will be held in the Pratt City Park Theme: Meet the Master Builder: Everything is Awesome with Jesus! July 8-12, 9-11:30 a.m. Ages: 4 years – 6th grade Call (334) 322.3222 for info.
Calvary Baptist Church 431 W. Fourth Street, Prattville Prophets of Old June 1, 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Ages: Preschool – K; Grades 1-6 Registration Information: 334-365-5213 (church) or 334-546-5755 (Patsy).
Camellia Baptist Church
201 Woodvale Road, Prattville In the Wild June 2-6. Kickoff June 2 at 4 p.m. and the rest of the week from 6-830 p.m. Ages: 3 year - 6th grade, plus adult classes. Register at www.camelliabaptist.com. Call 365.0231.
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Capitol Heights Baptist Church
2514 Madison Avenue, Montgomery In the Wilds June 3-8, 9 a.m. to Noon Ages: 4 years old by Sept. 1 to 6th grade. Call 264.6461.
Century Church
500 Avenue of Learning, Pike Road Elementary School Power Up: Raise Your Game July 15-18, 6-8 p.m. Ages: Rising Pre K4 – Rising 6th grade Please call (334) 801.9080 for information.
Church of the Highlands
4255 Taylor Road, Montgomery Summer Blast June 24-26, 8:15 a.m. to Noon Ages: Entering K in the fall through 6th grade. Please visit www.churchofthehighlands.com.
Dalraida Baptist Church
3838 Wares Ferry Rd., Montgomery In the Wild June 3-7, 9 a.m. – Noon Ages: Kindergarten through 6th grade Call 272.2412.
Eastern Hills Baptist Church
3604 Pleasant Ridge Road, Montgomery In the Wild June 3-7, 8:30 – Noon Ages: 4 years (by August 1st) through 6th grade Call 272.0604 or www.ehbconline.com.
East Memorial Baptist Church 1320 Old Ridge Road, Prattville The Incredible Race June 17-21, 9 a.m. to Noon Ages: 4 years through 8th grade Call 365.7500.
Eastmont Baptist Church
4505 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery The Incredible Race June 10-14; 9 a.m. to Noon Ages: 4 year - grade 6 Register online @ www.eastmont.org or call 277.6300.
Elizabeth Baptist Church
15627 Troy Highway, Mathews On Safari with God: Proverbs 27:1 July 29-31, 6– 8 p.m. Ages: 3 – adults included. Dinner provided. Please call 281.4506.
Evangel Church
3975 Vaughn Road, Montgomery July 8-12, 6-9 p.m. Ages: Grades K-5th grade Call 272.4882 ext. 107.
First Baptist Church, Wetumpka 205 W. Bridge Street Roar: Life is Wild, God is Good June 17-21, 5:30– 8 p.m. Ages: K-6th grade. Call 567.5191.
First Christian Church
1705 Taylor Road ROAR June 7-9, 5:30- 8:15 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to noon, Sat. & Sun. Light dinner served Friday and lunch served Sat. & Sun. Ages: 4 years old – 6 grade Please call for more information, 270.1320 www.fccmontgomery.org.
First UMC, Montgomery 2416 W. Cloverdale Park Theme: To VBS and Beyond June 10-14; 9 a.m. until noon Ages: 3 through 5th grade. Call 834.8990.
First UMC, Prattville 100 E. Fourth Street ROAR June 17-21, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Ages: Open to children who have just completed Kindergarten through 6th grade. Call 365.5977.
Fountain City Baptist 492 East Main Street, Prattville The Incredible Race June 23-27; 6 - 8 p.m. Ages: 4 years to 12 years old. Call 365.2034.
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River Region’s Journey
Glynwood Baptist Church 376 N. McQueen Smith Road, Prattville Into the Wild June 2-6, 5:45-8:30 pm Ages: 4 through grade 6 For more info and to preregister, go to www.glynwoodbc.com or call 361.9180.
Grace Presbyterian Church 5 Bell Road, Montgomery “Let’s Celebrate” Creative Arts Camp June 3-7, 8:45 a.m. until 1 pm. Drama, Singing, Creative Movement & Art Ages: 6 years to entering 6th graders. Registration deadline is May 23rd. Please call 272.4930 or visit www.discovergrace.org.
GracePointe Church 1565 Ray Thorington Road June 9-13, 6-8:30 p.m. Ages: 4-12 years Visit www.grace-pointe.com to register or call 271.2525.
Hayneville Baptist Church 1180 State Hwy 21 N, Hayneville In the Wild July 14-18, 5:45 until 8:30 p.m. Ages: K4 - 6th Grade (grade completed) Email: hbc@connecthbc.com or (334) 548.2620.
River Region’s Journey
June 2019
Heritage Baptist Church, Montgomery 1849 Perry Hill Road In the Wild June 24-28, 8:30 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. Complete 4K - 5th grade Call 279.9976.
Heritage Baptist Church Prattville
1357 S. Memorial Drive In the Wild June 9-13, 6-8:30 p.m. K3 through completion of 6th grade Call 365-2372.
His Vessels Ministry, Montgomery Union Station, Downtown Montgomery Patriot Camp (Teaching children about the founding of our nation) June 4-7, 9 a.m. until noon Ages: 6 – 12; Cost is $22 per child. Call 334-356-4478 or email info@hisvessel.org.
Holy Spirit Catholic Church 8570 Vaughn Road, Montgomery ROAR July 22-26, 9 a.m. to Noon Ages: Entering Preschool – rising 5th grade Call 277.1989 or register online at www.holyspiritmgm.org.
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Lakeview Baptist Church
9225 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery In the Wild, Dates: TBA Ages: 4 years old thru entering 6th grade Call 213.3080.
Landmark Church
1800 Halcyon Boulevard, Montgomery Armor or God June 23-26, 6 - 8 p.m. Ages: Nursery through adults Call 277.5800.
Metropolitan UMC
3108 Rosa L. Parks Avenue, Montgomery Who-o-o-sh - Take Flight to Where God Leads You July 10, 11, 12 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Dinner at 5:00 p.m.) All ages are welcome! Call 263-0950.
Millbrook Presbyterian (PCA) 3480 Main Street, Millbrook The Incredible Race: One Family, One Race, One Savior June 17-21; 5:30-8 p.m. Ages: Entering K5 thru 5th grade For registration, call 285-4031.
Morningview Baptist Church
125 Calhoun Road, Montgomery ROAR June 3-7, 9 a.m. to Noon Ages: Completed Kindergarten-5th grade Call 272.2304.
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Taylor Road Baptist Church
1025 Rifle Range Rd., Wetumpka Into the Wild June 10-14, 8 - Noon Ages: Completed K5 through 6th grade Call (334) 567.4458.
1685 Taylor Road, Montgomery Into the Wild July 17-21, 8:30 a.m. to Noon For children who have completed K5 through 5th grade. Call 271.3363.
Mulder UMC
Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist
810 Weoka Road, Wetumpka Basic Elements with Jesus June 10-14; 9 a.m. to Noon Ages: Completed K5 through 6th. Register online @ www.tlifeonline.com or call 567-3665.
1550 East Washington Street, Montgomery On Safari: Managing what Belongs to God June 17-21, 5 – 8:30 p.m. Please call 265-1807 for more information.
450 Ray Thorington Road, Montgomery In the Wild June 2-6; 6 - 8:30 p.m. Ages: K5 yrs. to 5th grade. Call 396.9376.
3454 Firetower Road ~ Wetumpka To Mars and Beyond June 9-12; 6 – 8 p.m. For more info please call 567.4225.
Redland Baptist Church
1266 Dozier Rd, Wetumpka The Incredible Race June 16-19, 6-8 p.m. Super served at 5:30 Ages: 5 (by Sept. 1) to graduated 5th grade. Please call 567.8649.
Ridgecrest Baptist Church 5260 Vaughn Road, Montgomery In the Wild June 3-7, 5:25 - 8:30 p.m. Ages: 4 to completed the 6th grade. Visit rbcmontgomery.com or call 277.0011.
Thelma Baptist VBS
Thorington Road Baptist
Trinity Presbyterian Church
1728 S. Hull Street, Montgomery Fixer Upper: Wait ‘til you see what God can do! June 3-7, 9 a.m. to Noon. Ages: Pre-K 4 through completed 6th grade Call 262.3892 to pre-register.
Trinity UMC, Prattville
610 Fairview Avenue, Prattville Rolling River Rampage June 9-13, 5 - 8 p.m. Dinner provided for children every night. Call 365.7339.
University Church of Christ
5315 Atlanta Highway You’ve Got a Friend in Me, Proverbs 17:17a June 23-26 5-6:30 p.m. on Sunday and 6:30-8 p.m. Monday-Wednesday Ages: newborn thru 6th grade Adult classes will be available. Please call 386.7320 or visit www.ucoc.org.
Vaughn Forest Church
8660 Vaughn Road, Montgomery In the Wild June 3-7; 9 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Ages: Entering Kindergarten - entering 6th. Registration at www.vaughnforest.com.
Vaughn Park Church of Christ
3800 Vaughn Road, Montgomery June 23-26, Theme and time TBA For more info contact Carrie Stark at 272.2665.
Whitfield UMC
2673 Fisk Road, Montgomery Rolling River Rampage June 10-13, 5:30- 8 p.m. Ages: 3 years to 6th grade. Call 281.2467.
Young Meadows Presbyterian Church 5780 Vaughn Road Sports Camp 2019 June 3-7, 9 a.m. until Noon Ages: Kindergarten -6th grade Call 244.1385.
VBS | June 24 - 28 fbcprattville.org/vbs 25
June 2019
River Region’s Journey
Chicken? When you travel by air, an aspect of the experience is the mind-boggling array of restaurants that you will find in large airports; with choices ranging from chain stores to local establishments, you can sit down, stand, or walk to a terminal seat. Those flying in and out of San Antonio will not be treated to the fast-growing fastfood chain known as Chick-fil-A. FoxNews. com reported that the City Council “rejected the inclusion of Chick-fil-A” from a new concession agreement at the airport, according to KTSA. Why? Well, you know the answer. While political leanings of some dining establishments, such as, say, Starbucks, are tolerated, the family- and faith-friendly philosophy upon which Chick-fil-A has been founded is out of favor with the San Antonio bourgeoisie. Fox quotes Councilman Roberto Trevino, per News 4 San Antonio: “San Antonio is a city full of compassion, and we do not have room in our public facilities for a business with a legacy of anti-LGBTQ behavior.” He was proud of the city’s effort to be a “champion of equality and inclusion.” Pay attention to the language: a belief in traditional values consistent with Biblical truth and support for traditional marriage are considered to be “anti-LGBTQ.” This was, of course, a reference to Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy’s personal statement of support for Biblical marriage many years ago. Fox says that the liberal think-tank Think Progress had, “published tax documents revealing that in 2017, the Chickfil-A Foundation gave over $1.8 million in charitable donations to some organizations that have come under scrutiny regarding their stance on LGBTQ issues.” One example: Fox pointed out that according to CBS News, one of those organizations, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, has a “Statement of Faith” that says it believes “marriage is exclusively the union of one man and one woman,” and believes River Region’s Journey
June 2019
“sexual intimacy” should only be expressed “within [that] context…” Perhaps a number of our cultural ills could be solved if people would believe and behave consistent with those principles! Chick-fil-A responded with a statement: “We have a fundamental code of conduct at Chick-fil-A: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” The chain said that “Our intent is to have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.” The restaurant asked for “meaningful dialogue” with city officials in the wake of this rejection. Attorney and columnist David French says the city is acting illegally, expressing “unconstitutional fake outrage.” He writes on the National Review website that “the government may not condition the ability to operate a business on the government’s distaste for the religious or political donations of its owners.” He calls it, “pure viewpoint discrimination.” He doesn’t mince words when he says:
Until the decision is reversed, San Antonio isn’t a “champion of equality and inclusion.” It’s an instrument of censorship and bigotry. The Washington Examiner reports Ken Paxton, Attorney General of Texas, will be investigating the city for state violations; and he’s asked for a Federal investigation, which echoes the sentiments of Christian legal firm First Liberty, according to USA Today. Chick-fil-A was excluded from consideration by Rider University as a campus dining option. A dean at the school,
Cynthia Newman, resigned; she is quoted by Baptist Press: “I endeavor every day to do exactly what Chick-fil-A puts forward as its overarching corporate value: to glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to me and to have a positive influence on all who come into contact with me.” Dr. Everett Piper, president of Oklahoma Wesleyan University, wrote in the Washington Times:
Christians are now considered verboten. Show any evidence of believing in a biblical God and biblical morality and you will be shut down. You will be forbidden to sell your product. Your “intolerance” will not be tolerated. He also stated:
…if you dare say anything about any of this in the public square, or if you have the actual temerity to try to practice the tenets of your faith in your business or your public life, we will sue you, we will silence you, we will fine you, we will malign you, we will blackball you, we will de-platform you, we will not buy from you or sell to you. We will crush you. Submit or be destroyed. In addition to the blatant misrepresentation of Christian teaching that is on display here, we see the evidence of a culture-wide lack of engagement. Instead of engaging in dialogue with Chick-fil-A, the powers that be in San Antonio are, to use another meaning of the term, being “chicken,” not courageous. It is very easy to hide behind a corporate or government banner and hurl false narratives. Discussion can be productive and lead to understanding; lack of it can result in polarization and lead to further contempt.
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June 2019
River Region’s Journey
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Adoption
Location: Journey Church, 435 Sheila Blvd, Prattville Celebrate Recovery - Christcentered 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: 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: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy and First UMC, Millbrook 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., Room 8114 at Frazer. For more information call Jill Sexton at 409-9477.
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.
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 Christ-centered 12-step program. Call 264-4949. Location: Dalraida UMC, 3817 Atlanta Highway Alcoholics Anonymous meets at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays. 272.2190. Alanon meets at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays.
Location: 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 for more information.
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Location: Landmark Church, 1800 Halcyon Blvd. RSVP- This is a 12 step spiritual recovery program for overcoming addictions. Using the steps and Bible we help build self-esteem, responsible behavior, the making of amends for our destructive actions, and to fill the void in our hearts in a loving relationship with God. Wednesday @ 6:30pm in Rm. 121 of the Life Center. Location: Prattville Church of Christ, 344 E Main St. CASA - 12 step (Christians Against Substance Abuse) spiritual recovery program, for overcoming
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June 2019
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• Beach Volleyball • Tennis • Canoeing • Golf • Archery • Gymnastics • Cheerleading • Dance • Chorus • Drama • Arts & Crafts • CIT Program • Campfires every night • Optional trips & more!
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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.
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.
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: 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 495-6350 for more information.
Location: First Baptist Church, 305 S. Perry Street Divorce Care Wednesday nights @6:30-8:00 pm in Room 405B. Child care is avail-
Cancer
Location: Aldersgate UMC, 6610 Vaughn Rd Cancer Survivors Support Group is sponsored by Samaritan Counseling Center. We would love to
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able. Contact Kathy Cooper at 241-5125 for further 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. Also, Divorce for Kids is available. Call 495-6350 or e-mail jan@frazerumc.org. Location: Vaughn Forest Church, 8660 Vaughn Road DivorceCare fosters a weekly supportive and caring environment to heal the hurt of separation and divorce. Call 279-5433.
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.
June 2019
River Region’s Journey
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. This is an open group for those who have lost a loved one to suicide and welcomes anyone regardless of their religious beliefs. Contact Cheryl Vinson at riverregionsos@ gmail.com with questions or for more information. 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 for info. Location: First UMC, 100 E. Fourth St, Prattville Grief Share, Wednesday evenings at 6 pm in the church parlor. Led by Michael Beatty. Call 3655977. Location: Frazer UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Grief Recovery Support Group meets Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m., Rm 3105. Call 495-6350 for more info. 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 or
e-mail mourningtomorning@gmail.com. Join us on Facebook. 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.
- 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.
Location: Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church 1550 E. Washington Street Grief support group meets every Monday at 6:00 P.M- 7:00 P.M. For additional information, please contact Alice Glover at (334)281-2754.
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.
Mental Health
Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Mental Health - NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) meets 2nd Monday of each month from 6:30 – 8:30 pm in Room 7205. Group provides understanding, education & information to family members & friends of those who suffer mental illness, Call Pat Cobb at 334-279-8331 for more info. NAMI Connection Support Group for individuals with mental illness meets every Thursday evening, 6:30 – 7:30 pm, room 3104. Call Braxton Benefield at 205-937-4848 or Pat Cobb at 334-279-8331 for more information.
Parenting
Location: First Baptist Prattville, 138 S. Washington Moms LIFE (Living In Faith Everyday) meets twice monthly from 8:30
Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Frazer mom2mom is a playgroup to connect mothers of ages birth to 5 at Frazer UMC to share fun and inspiration in our journey together, with our children, and with Christ. Email Mom2mom@ frazerumc.org 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.
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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.
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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: 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 Location: Vaughn Forest Church, 8660 Vaughn Road Are you in need of a time-out? MOPS joins mothers together by a common bond, to be better wives, moms, and friends along this journey in the trenches of motherhood. We meet the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month from 9:30—11:30 a.m. Childcare is provided. For info e-mail VFCMOPS@gmail.com.
Physical Challenges
Location: Aldersgate UMC, 6610 Vaughn Road Visually Impaired Support Group – Meets monthly on second Thursday 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. The group is called Outward Sight - Inward Vision and is for those with vision loss and their caregivers. Our mission is to assist those experiencing vision loss to maintain their independence. Call 272-6152. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy. Parkinson’s Support meets 4th Thursdays at 6 pm in Room 8114. Call 495-6350 for more info. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6 000 Atlanta Hwy. Ostomy Support meets every other month on the 2nd Sunday at 1:30 p.m. in room 3101. In 2018: Feb., April, June, Aug., Oct., Dec. Call 495-6350 for more info. Location: Vaughn Park Church, 3800 Vaughn Rd. Montgomery Area Down Syndrome Outreach Group meets 2nd Friday of each month from 6:308 PM. We have activities, speakers and special events throughout the year for the parents, siblings and children with Down Syndrome. Childcare is provided. Please visit www.montgomeryareadownsyndrome.com or our Facebook page (MADSOG) for information. Please contact MADSOG at montgomeryareadownsyndrome@gmail.com.
Send support group info to deanne@readjourneymagazine.com 31
June 2019
River Region’s Journey
Paying Extra Q. I’d like to start paying a little extra each month on my car loan, so I can get out of debt faster. Would it be a good idea to write a separate check for this extra amount? A. I think that’s a great idea! You can include the extra check in a separate envelope with the regular payment. In addition, write “principal only” in big, bold letters on the extra envelope and on the extra check. Make sure to also include the account number in the notation line at the bottom. Follow these guidelines, and you’ll be much less likely to run into problems as result of someone at the bank not paying attention. Some companies use payment booklets that have a box specifically for entering any amount you want applied directly to the principal. See if this is available to you, as well. Regardless, make
River Region’s Journey
June 2019
sure you keep an accurate, written record of the monthly and overall amounts you’re designating as “principal only.”
Starting the Home Buying Process Q. My husband and I are debt-free, and we have an emergency fund of six months of expenses saved. We’d like to buy a home in the $250,000 to $275,000 price range in the near future, and we plan on saving $60,000 for a down payment. It should take a little less than two years to save that much money. When should we begin the search for a good real estate agent and start the underwriting process?
A. I’m really proud of you two. You’re being very intentional and goal-oriented about getting control of your finances and the home buying process. I’d advise starting a conversation with a quality mortgage company when you’re
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about five or six months away from your savings goal date. There’s “pre-approval,” but there’s also something called “certified.” That’s a step beyond pre-approved, and it basically puts you in a position to make an offer when you’re ready for the purchase. So, getting certified as a buyer is very helpful. After that, sit down and talk with a few agents. Interview them, and decide on someone you like and trust. Find an experienced agent you’re comfortable with to guide you through the real estate world, and then start outlining your search and buying strategy. What I would not do is jump from agent to agent. There’s a tremendous benefit in finding someone you trust and feel good about. I’m talking about a buyer’s agent who’s going to fight for you. This means someone who will show you several different properties, keep your wants and needs foremost in their mind, and help you get the best possible buy on your new home!
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First Baptist Church Montgomery
VACATION Bible School
*Child must have turned 4 by August 31, 2018 to attend VBS.
June 17-21 9:00 am to Noon ages 4* through 6th grade
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www.montgomeryfbc.org/vbs
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH montgomery
305 South Perry Street Montgomery, AL 36104 334.834.6310