River Region's Journey Jan 21

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Volume 22, Issue 11

Feature Articles

JAN UARY 2 0 2 1 Columns page 2

Publisher’s Note

page 8

Jason Watson

Faith @ Work Carole Smith

page 4

Meet the owner and instructor of Family Karate Center in Montgomery. Carole shares about her lifelong faith in Christ and how teaching martial arts, bully prevention and self defense classes is a passion that keeps her excited about going to work each and every day.

Pastor's Perspective Kyle Searcy, Fresh Anointing House of Worship

page 10

Moments with Kym Kym Klass

page 12

Women Arising Pastor Kemi Searcy

page 14

Considering a Faith-Based School?

page 18

by Kimberly Blaker

The Intersection

Counselor’s Corner Allena Burbage, LPC

page 24

Parents consider private school for many reasons, including an interest in religion being part of their child’s daily education. Learn the right questions to ask when choosing a faith-based school for your child and family. page 20

Bob Crittenden

page 28

Dave $ays Dave Ramsey

In Every Issue

Ministry Spotlight:

Westside Wood Works

by Katie Blair

Discover a ministry iwhere jobs for men who desire to earn a living wage are created through wood working, while being mentored in critical life skills and hope through Jesus Christ. Find out where to purchase their goods and how to volunteer.

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Books to Read page 8

Faith @ Work page 26

Support Groups January 2021

River Region’s Journey

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 Savannah Bowden

Research Editor Wendy McCollum

Contributing Writers Katie Blair Kimberly Blaker Allena Burbage, LPC Bob Crittenden Kym Klass Dave Ramsey Kemi Searcy Pastor Kyle Searcy Dr. David Steele

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

Digital Manager Scott Davis

From the Publisher 2021 Reboot I’m the tech guru in my house. Not because I know everything about technology. It’s because I bought most of the tech we use. Some of you fellow tech gurus know this, that if you’re the family tech guy you get yelled at from other parts of the house.

Things like, “Dad, the internet’s not working!” Or, “Honey, which HDMI setting is for Apple TV?” No matter the tech requiring support, I have a secret weapon I use that allows me to remain in high tech esteem with my family. Tools aren’t even needed for this one. My secret weapon is THE REBOOT! A good reboot works so often because it shuts down all the unnecessary clutter and focuses on applying resources to what matters most.

Heading into 2021 I could use “Reboot”. What about you? Is it time to clean away all the clutter and focus your energy and resources on what matters most? For a 2021 REBOOT, prioritize your life by beginning with that which will have the greatest impact -- Your Heart. The Bible describes the heart as the core of your desires and emotions saying, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

When we prioritize our hearts to what matters to God our actions will reflect His will and reward us with His peace in Christ. Support this top priority by reading God’s word consistently and by meeting with other Christians to study His word together. There’s nothing better for your soul. When our hearts aren’t tracking with God, everything else gets out of line and life just doesn’t work like it should.

Reading River Region’s Journey each month will also help. It’s our mission to publish God’s truth and help keep you focused on what matters most. I’m so thankful for all the great teachers who write for us each month. I’m also thankful for all the local businesses that share Journey with their customers. What a difference they make by doing so. Whenever you see a new edition of Journey make sure you grab your copy to fill your heart with God’s truth.

Throughout this next year, make my secret weapon your secret weapon by asking often if you need to reboot and refocus on what matters most. Happy New Year!

Ad Design

Tim Welch, Welch Designs

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 2021 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.

River Region’s Journey

January 2021

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As we emerge from these difficult days, we invite you to come

Worship with Us!

Founded Upon God’s Word

Liturgically Joyful

Warm and Loving

Committed to Mission

Sunday Worship with Communion, 9:30am Join us indoors, outdoors, or via live-stream!

Wednesday Evening Christian Education for all ages, 6:00pm Please visit the Christchurch Montgomery YouTube page, which is full of sermons, teachings, and many full services!

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Pastor’s Perspective

by Kyle Searcy, Fresh Anointing House of Worship

The Voice of Fountains If you travel west from the Alabama State Capitol, down Dexter Avenue, you will encounter the Court Square Fountain.

This fountain was built in 1888, and its centerpiece is a cast iron statue dedicated to Hebe, a Greek goddess of fertility and youth.

It isn’t unusual to find evidence of Greek thought prevalent in the United States. Much of our philosophical and legal foundations come from Greek and Roman influences. Greek thought influenced southern states in both positive and negative ways. It gave us great government and splendid architecture, but it also sowed hierarchical thinking that became a seed for slavery. Charles Sumner, a Massachusetts Senator, argued that classical Greco-Roman philosophy was adopted by Southerners because of Greek views on slavery as a “positive good.” Interestingly enough, the Court Square Fountain marks the spot of one of the largest slave markets in the nation. By the time of the Civil War, only New Orleans had a larger slave market in the U.S. This fountain has been in the vicinity of many events that have given Montgomery an infamously famous name. Everyone who tours this city learns of the massive slave trade and the slave jails that lined Commerce Street. They learn about the telegram sent on April 11, 1861, from a building across the street from this fountain that started the Civil War. They learn of the first White House of the Confederacy being a few blocks from this fountain. They hear of Rosa Parks’ arrest for refusing to give up her seat to a white man on a bus just across from that fountain. They hear the story of the Freedom Riders being viciously beaten at the bus station two blocks to the south of the fountain. They also learn of Bloody Sunday, in which State Troopers beat peaceful protesters about 50 miles from the fountain.

If that fountain had a voice, it could tell many good and bad stories.

Let me speak to you about another fountain that is bearing a different kind of fruit. The Christian faith can be likened to a fountain. When Jesus died on the cross and shed His blood, that blood became the hope of all humanity. The power and blood of Christ changes hearts and minds.

River Region’s Journey

January 2021

It fosters liberating forgiveness and redemptive perspectives. That fountain also produced a mindset. It was this mindset that Martin Luther King Jr., a Baptist Pastor and the leader of the civil rights movement, believed in. Propelled by this philosophy, he led a non-violent movement that shifted America and the world.

It’s this philosophy that motivates many in Montgomery to evoke change.

Bryan Stevenson is a believer in Christ who moved to Montgomery in 1989, setting up the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) on Commerce Street, (the very street where slave brokers and slave warehouses were located). EJI seeks “to provide legal representation to people who have been illegally convicted, unfairly sentenced, or abused in state jails and prisons. They provide re-entry assistance to formerly incarcerated people.”

It’s this philosophy that has resulted in Montgomerians electing the first African American mayor in the city’s 201-year history, a Christ-follower named Steven Reed. Our Chief of Police, Ernest Finley, is another dedicated believer who is leading the Montgomery Police Department with great skill and grace. Sheriff Derrick Cunningham is another brother in Christ who is impacting our county with law enforcement principles based on scripture and a Christian world view.

Representative John Lewis was a native Alabamian and an ordained Baptist Pastor. He was born in Troy and spent quite a bit of time in Montgomery. John Lewis had his skull cracked open by the club of a State Trooper on Bloody Sunday and weeks later continued the march to Montgomery.

John Lewis recently died. His body was brought to Montgomery to lie in state at the Capitol. As his body arrived at the Capital, Governor Kay Ivey, another Christian leader, stood at the steps of the State Capital to pay her respects with great honor and humility. The police and state troopers paid him honor, and the state troopers’ dogs were held at attention, a stark contrast to dogs that were released on protesters in Birmingham. Peggy Kennedy, the daughter of former Governor George Wallace, paid her respects, symbolizing the change that has come to Alabama through 4

its successive generations. This fountain continues to produce great fruit.

Additionally, unity is increasing among believers in Montgomery. For many years, a group of black and white pastors have been meeting together under the banner of John 17. Jesus prayed, “Father make my followers ONE so that the world might believe.” Jesus’ message advocates sharing God’s liberating love and light with everyone. John 17 holds up the cross of Christ and proclaims that all people are made in God’s image, and we need to unite in the “beloved community” that Dr. King championed. We want to celebrate our progress because what is celebrated will be replicated in our city and beyond. We want Montgomery to be a model of unity where everyone is valued and respected.

We want our city to flourish because the life-giving wind of God’s Spirit is blowing away ugly barriers of prejudice and building bridges that lead to equality, harmony, prosperity and productivity.

We are a group of pastors that have a combined 120 years of experience serving this community. We celebrate the victories we have seen in our lifetime. We acknowledge there is so much more that must be done, and we are committed to doing our part to make it happen. But we celebrate the influence of the efforts of many who, under Christ’s influence, have facilitated progress. Now we want to help generate a beautiful new fountain of God’s internal healing and external harmony. We are praying for God’s redeeming waters of love, truth, forgiveness and unity to flow from this new fountain across Montgomery, spill over to Alabama and bring refreshment to our thirsty world.

Written by Kyle Searcy, Senior Pastor Fresh Anointing House of Worship, Montgomery, AL. Email Ksearcy1@gmail.com for more information. Other pastors leading John 17 with Pastor Searcy are: Jay Wolf, former pastor of First Baptist Church Montgomery; Ken Austin, New Walk of Life Church Montgomery; and John Ed Mathison, John Ed Mathison Leadership Ministries.

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Encouragement for the Depressed

One in Christ: Growing in Christian Maturity

Charles H. Spurgeon

James W. Walraven

He was the greatest preacher of the nineteenth century. And he is only one of the most important preachers in the history of the church. Heralded as the Prince of Preachers, this man was also afflicted with a host of physical ailments for most of his adult life. He was also a victim of depression. His name – Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Encouragement for the Depressed by C.H. Spurgeon is one of the recent titles in Crossway’s Short Classics series. Designed to preserve classic texts from some of the most well-known Christian writers, the series also aims to gain some new readers.

Spurgeon’s essay is an exposition of Zechariah 4:10a, which says, “For whoever has despised the day of small things …” The work is divided into two distinct parts.

The first part sets out to encourage Christians who battle depression. Spurgeon, as noted above, fought depression throughout his life. Yet, he is quick to remind his readers to refuse to be governed by feelings. “He that lives by feelings,” writes the preacher from London, “will be happy today and unhappy tomorrow; and if our salvation depended upon our feelings, we should be lost one day and saved another, for they are all as fickle as the weather, and go up and down like a barometer.”

Spurgeon assures the despondent that God is with them.

“Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon his knees, “ writes William Cowper. Indeed, the grace of God abounds when the people of God are drowning in sorrow. And Zechariah affirms, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the LORD.” Part two speaks candidly about the propensity for depression, even among God’s people. Spurgeon specifically notes that pastors fall prey to this vicious monster. Always the realist and biblicist, Spurgeon says, “Glory be to God for the furnace, the hammer and the file.”

Encouragement for the Depressed is a powerful antidote. This short book is a call to arms for Christians who battle despondency.

There are no therapeutics here. Spurgeon only offers the cure which is nothing less than the Lord Jesus Christ and his gospel.

Jesus prays for the unity of all believers in his well-known high priestly prayer.

He prays “that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:21, ESV). Tragically, the church is anything but united in our day. James W. Walraven addresses this concern in his most recent book, One in Christ.

One in Christ is a clear call to unity that is tethered to the truth of Scripture.

The author appeals to followers of Christ to obey the mandate to pursue unity, even in the midst of a fractured church. Several examples of disunity are cited which serves as a springboard for the main theme of the book – Christian maturity.

The basis of Christian unity is explained in basic terms that are easily understood. Finally, Dr. Walraven explores several ways to pursue maturity. One in Christ is an excellent introduction to new believers and will be of great help to seasoned believers as well.

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January 2021

Heaven is a World of Love Jonathan Edwards

Heaven is a World of Love was penned by Jonathan Edwards, the Puritan divine in the mid-18th-century. And while Edwards’s work is over 250 years old, it speaks directly to readers in our generation. Edwards has gained a reputation for preaching sermons focused on hellfire and brimstone. Indeed, messages like Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God do deal directly with the holy wrath of God. But what comes as a surprise to many is that Edwards took great delight in preaching and writing about our eternal place of rest.

Heaven is a World of Love not only describes our heavenly resting place; it draws readers into the very presence of God. In typical fashion, Edwards uses Scripture to alert readers to the reality of heaven. In the end, they will not only learn more about their heavenly home; they will have a greater desire to go there. Highly recommended!

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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

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RRJ: For Christians who struggle to live their faith beyond the church walls, what encouragement would you give them?

training and teaching now for 49 years, and each day I am even more excited that I get to do what I love and love what I do.

Carole: This is such a difficult time for all Christians who are currently unable to attend their church services in person and have that social interaction with their church family. I strongly encourage those unable to be united with their church family to stay in close touch with other members through virtual on-line Sunday School, Bible studies, and just oneon-one meetings to check on each other.

Coffee and prayer time is so appreciated by those who are shut in from others.

RRJ: Faith @ Work is about living your faith wherever God has placed you. In your work as a Karate Instructor, how does being a Christ follower fuel your actions each day?

RRJ: What are some tools of the Christian faith that keep you focused on loving God and loving others?

Carole: I am blessed that my Family Karate Center staff, students, and their parents are so wonderful and we are such a close martial arts family. Each tiny face I teach every day, ages two and up, reminds me of a most precious gift God has given us: CHILDREN! It would be impossible for me to hear a child’s laughter each day and not realize what a wonderful God we serve!

RRJ: Thank you so much for taking the time to share how your faith is at work out in the community. To begin with, how long have you been a follower of Christ?

Carole: My mom had my brother and I involved in the church since we were born. I was baptized in 1967 when I was seven years old. I made the decision to follow Jesus due to the happiness I felt from being in a wonderful church family, and the love I felt from my mom teaching me about God’s love.

RRJ: As Christians, our primary purpose in life is to glorify God. In what ways are you able to glorify Him in your occupation or while at work?

Carole: I am able to glorify God in working with my students each day. I realize that I am a role model for my students, and since children look up to their class instructors, my instructors on staff are Christian role models as well.

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January 2021

RRJ: What do you enjoy most about your job?

Carole: The most wonderful blessing in my job is teaching children, teens, and adults awareness of child predators, self-defense, and how to handle bullies. Bullies make children afraid to go to school, and I teach each child how to handle offensive, aggressive people in their environment. (We call this program Bully Busters.) I also love watching a shy child or teen with no confidence come alive with happiness and self-esteem as they progress with their technique and next rank.

Watching them break their first board, wrapping that black belt on them...I have as many tears of joy as their parents.

RRJ: How does your Christian faith shape the way you approach your job?

Carole: My faith gives me so much love and appreciation for my students. I have been 8

Carole: I truly believe that God chooses us for occupations we have a passion for. I have wanted to be a martial artist instructor since 1963 and wanted my own martial arts school since 1978. My Christian faith teaches me to appreciate even the tiniest of blessings, and to not take any blessing for granted. My Family Karate Center is my joy, passion, and my prayer room. I have padded floors that I can kneel on and pray for others each day!

RRJ: What are some key things that have sustained your faith on the tough days?

Carole: One of the toughest times in my 49 years of training/teaching would be the news that because of COVID-19 I would have to close my school and not be allowed to do what I love most each day, teach martial arts.

Just because I wasn’t allowed to teach in person didn’t mean a $3,000 rent payment, utilities, insurance, etc. wasn’t still due each month. I had to contact all of my students and try to maintain their training online. I still called them and sent the lessons online to them each day. I prayed for the health of my students and the frustration they and their parents were feeling with virtual school and being confined at home. I am quite happy that we are now open and following CDC guidelines to ensure our students can train in a safe environment.

Carole has been married to her husband, Sam, for nine years. She has been training/instructing martial arts since 1971. Her other passion is rescuing animals, and she has been a cat foster home where her rescue cats heal and prepare to be adopted into loving homes. She has attended Aldersgate United Methodist Church since she was born, and is very involved at Vaughn Park Church of Christ where she attends with her husband. She is active as a greeter and is a proud member of the church security team. Carole is a native of Montgomery and has lived here her entire life. The Family Karate Center is located at 8159 Vaughn Road, in Peppertree Shopping Center, and offers classes for ages two and up.

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How Using God’s Grace Allows For a Calm Spirit I’ve prayed for a lot of grace lately in the middle of a storm.

Grace in how I responded to a situation, how I responded to comments, how I moved forward in my own actions and truths. Grace in showing, that while a period of time can be difficult, that you can still show God’s love through your presence and handling of hardships.

The only way to be better rather than bitter is to extend the same grace to others that God extended to us through Jesus Christ.

We can learn a lot from that. We did learn a lot from that in 2020. We had much to be bitter about: restrictions, closed businesses, lost jobs, restructured home lives. Closed classrooms. It has been an adjustment like no other.

There has been anger, worry, an increase in mental health checks, stress.

And how we react is telling. Extending grace can mean offering allowances of understanding where we have no control.

It means showing kindness when hurt is thrown our way.

God has shown tremendous grace to us in circumstances we’ll never fully understand. We need to do the same. We need to show more of Him than of a sharp tongue.

If I’m not showing grace...have I forgotten the grace I’ve been shown?

– author John MacArthur River Region’s Journey

January 2021

There are several “taming the tongue” scriptures offered by blogger Arabah Joy, which provide ways to curb the bitterness and instead extend not only grace, but gratitude:

So will I ever sing praises to your name as I perform my vows day after day.

Psalm 61:8 There was a time when I was instructed to write every day something I was grateful for, and three things I accomplished. Doing this provided me deeper insight into my days, forcing me to look outside of my worries and to be grateful for what was happening right in front of me.

Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of His praise be heard.

Psalm 66:8 Arabah Joy says this is different than the previous verse in that it means you “bust out an audible ‘praise the Lord for his mercy and goodness’” every once in a while. Those around you, she says, need to know you believe in the God you’re always talking about.

Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.

Proverbs 17:1 This has tested me. We learn quickly – we should learn quickly – that sometimes, no response is the best response. When it comes to this, it is often best to sit still, to be still, and 10

let it go. Praying over this has been paramount in my life... learning when to react, and when to let another person’s words slide off with no response. Hard?

Yes. But sometimes showing grace isn’t always easy.

Arabah Joy includes this verse as well:

The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.

Proverbs 12:16 Have you ever had to close your eyes, take a deep breath, and pray for a grace so deep that you wondered where the strength of what you need would come from? That’s when you have to pull from your faith, that God’s grace will shine through you. Faith, that you can be an example of grace and calm.

There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Proverbs 12:18 Arabah Joy says to bring healing, not piercing, and to imagine harsh words like sword wounds on others as a way to show how they hurt.

We need to understand how we affect and impact others with our words, and how they can never be taken back. How offering grace to situations and those who have hurt us can only help moving forward. And how using God’s example of grace that He continues to provide for us will remind us to keep a calm spirit.

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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.

We believe that God is one God. The one God has three persons: the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Just as God is one, so also, all believers are to be one. We believe in the unity and fellowship of all those that have faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. We are one in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, His Body, which is composed of all men, living and dead, who have been joined to Him through saving faith. *All editorial content published needs to be in agreement with our Statement of Faith

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There is No Vaccine for This “Eat your vegetables,” I said emphatically to Emma, my daughter. “But I don’t like them,” she whined. I responded, “Don’t you know that there is some little girl just like you who wishes they could have those vegetables because they are so hungry.”

Reluctantly, the guilt projection took over and she picked up her fork.

Today, we are hearing words and phrases that never before have been used, like COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing, and flatten the curve. We have learned the differences between medical terms like quarantine vs. isolation, respirator vs. ventilator, and epidemic vs. pandemic. Then there is the elusive term that is being used: the “New Normal.” When the professionals use these words on television, we seem to picture something different from the next person. This New Normal can bring fear into hearts who hate change and resist it at every turn. For others, the changes that we will have on a long-term basis will be insignificant compared to what we value the most.

What are we to expect in the future?

Many small business owners will no longer have their dream of success. Large businesses are finding they don’t have to maintain expensive office buildings to house employees. What will characterize our daily existence? Will we look like the Asian countries who have continued to use masks since the SAARS virus hit them in 2003?

We have to admit that we have been spoiled in America. We experienced the horror of the 9/11 terrorists, but do not see the Middle East incidents that take away the simple act of going to a restaurant or store.

We have had to face criminal activity and violence, but at just a fraction of what many Eastern European countries have faced.

We have hungry and homeless people in River Region’s Journey

January 2021

the U.S., but we have not been exposed to widespread starvation and relocation of people. Even the prejudice and discrimination that exists in our country cannot compare with the genocidal disposal of anybody who does not meet the current governmental guidelines.

I am not minimizing our problems; I’m just trying to give some perspective to what we have faced compared to the rest of the world. Yet, Emma still doesn’t like eating her green beans even when I told her that somewhere in the world a child would give anything to have them. That is because she is spoiled.

Hebrews 6:12 says, “So that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” What is the worst that the New Normal could be? I don’t think it includes any lifestyle changes that we have to fear.

When Jesus was ready to ascend to heaven following His resurrection, the disciples knew there would be great change for them. Their lifestyles would completely revert to what they did before following Jesus all over the countryside. They would have to put up with those who didn’t approve of their relationship with the “itinerant preacher.” They were so undone by the change, they just stood there looking up at heaven after Jesus disappeared with their mouths open and question marks above their heads!

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Jesus had already told them what they needed to do next. They were to stay in Jerusalem and wait. For those A-type personalities, waiting would be excruciatingly unproductive. For the others, the waiting may not be the problem, but being sure of what could happen next could stress them out.

The point is that the disciples didn’t have a 5-year success strategy. They didn’t even have a one-week plan. Yet, when the Holy Spirit did arrive, it changed them forever. They became driven because of the power that Jesus had promised them.

They knew exactly what to do and most of them knew how to do it. Every personality represented by the disciples gave themselves to the task and became the spark that drove Christianity throughout the known world.

That was their New Normal.

You may have to wear masks everywhere for the foreseeable future. Instead of grumbling, try remembering that the mask does not cover your ability to speak His words to those you meet. Instead of feeling deprived because of social distancing, remind yourself that Jesus has distanced you from sin and its consequences. And when you have to wash your hands yet one more time, remember that your true washing is in the Word of God daily. Your new perspective can make the New Normal well beyond merely survival. It can make the future something to look forward to – an opportunity for new greatness, just as the disciples had in the first century.

Be great, woman of God, be great!

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If you’re thinking about sending your child to a faith-based school, there are many factors to consider, just like shopping for any private school. You’ll want to weigh out academics, enrichment opportunities, location, and price, to name a few. But with faith-based schools, there are additional factors you’ll want to consider.

This guide will help you to make an informed decision, so you can choose the school that best fits your family’s values and meets your objectives for your child’s education.

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Why do parents choose faith-based education?

Many parents of various faiths and even of no faith contemplate the idea of sending their kids to a faith-based school.

For those considering a private school, religious schools are sometimes a more affordable alternative. But there are many other reasons families may consider a faith-based school as well. Parents are often looking for a school that provides their child with one or more of the following: • a religious education that mirrors the families’ beliefs • teachings that instill faith and obedience to God • a better learning environment • the benefits of smaller class sizes • more individualized attention • a feeling of belonging in a community better college preparation • a more convenient or safer location than alternative options in the area

Is a faith-based school right for your family?

If you’re considering sending your child to a faith-based school, you’ll want to consider several factors. Begin by making a list of the reasons, or the pros, for send-

ing your kids to a faith-based school. This may include any of the reasons mentioned above, among many others.

But in making a thoughtful decision, it’s also essential to consider the cons. For your family, these may include: • the amount of time spent on religious studies, prayer, and other faithrelated activities that takes away from academics • admission policies that may exclude or not adequately assist children with particular learning, behavioral, or mental health disabilities, or other groups • fewer extracurricular activities • unaccredited textbooks and/or science and history curriculums based on the school’s beliefs rather than verified facts •lack of exposure to other faiths and cultures • Keep in mind, every faith-based school is different. The above may apply to some religious schools and not others.

Choosing a faith-based school that’s right for your family

If you’ve weighed out the pros and cons and decided in favor of a faith-based education for your child, the next step is to determine which school is right for

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your family. You’ll want to ask many of the same questions you would for any private school, such as: • How much is tuition?

• Is financial aid available?

• What is the student-teacher ratio?

• What are the teachers’ qualifications, and how are teachers supported?

• How much homework is there?

• What help is available if my child is struggling academically?

• What is the grading system?

• Are uniforms required, or is there a dress code?

• What is the discipline policy?

• What extracurricular activities are available?

• What is the school’s culture like?

• What is the school’s system for accountability?

Regarding the last question, faithbased schools don’t have the same governmental regulations as public schools.

So religious schools may not meet the exact stringent requirements. A few areas that may differ include teacher certification, curriculum, textbooks, special education, length of the school year, and health and safety requirements, among other aspects.

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Religious factors to consider

Whether your family is religious or not, there are several questions you’ll want to ask to determine if the school is right for your child.

If your family is religious, you may want to look for a school within your faith. Suppose your family isn’t religious or is considering a school of another denomination. In that case, you’ll want to find out how much of the curriculum and day is spent on faith-based activities.

Also, keep in mind that beliefs and practices vary widely even within particular religions and among denominations. You want to make sure the values instilled by the school you’re considering are in line with yours. To help you make that determination, talk to other parents whose kids attend the school. Also, ask the school staff the following: • How much of the school’s faith is embedded in the curriculum? What are the school’s teachings in science regarding biology and evolution? What about history, such as when life on earth began?

• How is religion taught in the classroom? Do students learn about other faiths as well? If so, are teachings about

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January 2021

different beliefs positive and respectful?

Or does the school discourage learning about other religions?

• What does the physical setting of the school and classrooms look like? Is it adorned with a lot of religious symbols and statements?

• What are the school’s beliefs and teachings on gender, sexual orientation, race, and other religions?

• If your family isn’t of the same faith as the school, what are your child’s options? Can your child opt out of religious classes, chapel time, prayer, and faith activities? Are students allowed to instead meditate, quietly express their own spiritual beliefs, or do homework?

• Does the school discourage kids from mixing with those of other faiths outside of school?

Whether your family is of the school’s particular faith or not, make sure you’re comfortable with the answers. Also, ask for a school tour, which can provide additional insight into many of these questions.

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How to pay for tuition If the tuition cost for a faith-based school is out of your budget, there are several options for covering tuition costs, similar to non-faith-based private schools.

• Ask the administrative office of the school you are considering what type of financing options it offers.

• Search online for private scholarships and grants in your state.

• Consider a loan program.

• Look into your state’s voucher program.

Visit https://scholarshipfund.org/apply/ other-sources-of-tuition-assistance/ for a selection of funding sources.

Choosing the right school for your child requires leg-work and can be a tough decision. But by making an informed decision, you can alleviate significant stress for yourself and your child.

It will also ease your child’s adjustment to the new school and reduce the likelihood of any regrets.

Kimberly Blaker is a freelance family writer. She’s also founder and director of KB Creative Digital Services, an internet marketing agency, at kbcreativedigital.com.

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Goodbye Fear, Hello Peace One summer in elementary school, my sister and I spent the days with my cousins and a sitter. I barely remember the sitter. I am not really even sure she talked to us much the entire summer.

However, what I do remember is she watched television all day, which we were not allowed to do. We would sneak in the den and perch under the side tables to get peeks of soap operas (which we were REALLY not allowed to watch), police shows, and all the fun reruns.

My favorite was The Love Boat.

Everyone was so happy to be going on an adventure on a big boat. There was waving, laughter, music, and a lot of confetti.

Love that confetti. Everyone on the dock waved wholeheartedly at the people on the boat, wishing them well until they return. We are all on the dock, throwing confetti at 2020… lots of confetti. Farewell 2020, you stayed too long, don’t come back. Hello 2021!

Now as we greet 2021, many of us hope for better. Better information on the news, better visits with our loved ones, better trips to restaurants and stores; just better. 2020 left us with words like, COVID-19, social distancing, virtual learning, masks protocol, quarantine, pandemic... and the list goes on. Not much confetti in that list.

These words can bring out different thoughts and feelings for us. For many of River Region’s Journey

January 2021

us, these words may evoke fear, anxiety, and stress. But 2020 also taught us to be flexible, to appreciate what we have, to slow down, and to breathe a bit more. No one year has been so exhausting and so stimulating at the same time. However, even with the beauty and blessings we may have learned, that does not mean the stress and fear did not remain.

Lack of sleep, mood fluctuations, irritability, worry, fatigue, difficulty with focus; all these symptoms can point to stress or anxiety. Sounds like a recipe from the 2020 cookbook for sure. Serve ‘em up! Stress with a side of anxiety, extra crispy please!

But what if 2021 still leaves you feeling these feelings? How can you say goodbye to fear and hello to peace?

There are many ways to deal with stress and anxiety. However, because we all have a lot to do in this new year, and not a lot of time for a clinical analysis, let’s break it down. Getting a handle on some of that past 2020 stress can be done by following the three Cs: Calm, Cope, and Call.

Calm. “Breath in and out” is what they say to do to feel calmer. (By the way, who is “they” and how do they know everything?) How can you try to be calm when everything around you seems to be chaotic? This first step is sometimes the hardest to do. Stop, take stock of how you are feeling. If you are feeling anxious or stressed, sometimes if you can just stop, it can help you evaluate your next step.

Psalm 46:10 states “Be still and know that I am God.” In our world, it is very hard to stop and be still. But when things seem overwhelming and anxious, just stop, breathe, be still for a moment and find your calm.

Cope. Merriam-Webster defines cope as “to deal with and attempt to 18

overcome problems and difficulties.”

Easier said than done, right? Sometimes it may feel that you have no time to self care, to cope. Mark 12:31 states, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” Mark 6:31: “And he said to them, ‘Come away by yourself to a desolate place and rest a while.” These verses indicate that self care is biblical and necessary for our health. So find what is fun and relaxing. A couple of Oreos and a Netflix show, yoga and deep breathing, running with your favorite four-legged friend, or maybe a chat with your favorite listening ear. Find what feeds you, what is fun, what is relaxing.

Call. The third step. Reach out. This sounds easy, but sometimes it is not. The tendency when we are overwhelmed is to isolate. We often have fatigue with our anxiety and stress. This fatigue can leave you wanting to be alone. This is the opposite of what we need. During times of anxiety and stress, you need to seek out a trusted someone. A friend, therapist, or family member. You can talk to them or maybe just sit and look into a calming fire pit. But have your support. Sometimes our support is just a thought away. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). With all the chaos and changes out there, it is so good to know we can call on our Lord and He never changes.

So let’s have pomp and circumstance as we step into 2021. Let’s have confetti.

Let’s celebrate. Eat cake. Look for the better. Seek hope. Say goodbye to fear and hello to peace.

Allena Burbage is a Licensed Professional Counselor at Samaritan Counseling Center. Allena works with children, adolescents, and adults. She lives in Montgomery with her husband and three children.

2021

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January 2021

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Crafting the Heart through the Hands of Christ

by Katie Blair

The story of Westside Woodworks is filled with parallels of the Gospel. The ministry was started by Mike and Susan Decker-Bunce, who moved to the River Region in the early 2000s so Mike could work in the construction process of The Waters, an innovative subdivision in Pike Road.

“We moved here in 2004 when Mike joined the development team who built the first phase of The Waters. He was responsible for coordinating all the contractors involved in the construction of streets, utilities, amenities and making modifications to the master plan as needed,” said Susan.

After the housing market suffered a major setback not long after they arrived in Montgomery, the couple began serving with local urban ministries in a deeper capacity, moving from The Waters to Washington Park.

“Mike and I have been a part of urban ministries for many years. Mike joined the staff of Common Ground in 2009 and I moved from volunteering to the director position at Sav-A-Life at about the same time. Sav-A-Life, which is now First Choice Women’s Medical Center, is not an urban ministry per se, but many of their clients are women who live in urban poverty and

The wooden cutting and charcuterie boards seem to glow from within as your eye takes in their display of red oak, poplar, and pine. The warmth of the natural wood shows through each piece that is as unique as the hands that crafted it, which is no mistake. The journey that brought the raw material to a place of beauty is a long one, not unlike the craftsman who has also been transformed in the process.

Welcome to West Side Woodworks, where jobs for men who desire to earn a living wage are created through wood working, while being mentored in critical life skills and hope through Jesus Christ.

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feel an extra measure of fear and hopelessness. Mike founded and directed an affordable housing ministry. Most of the residents turned out to be single women with children,” said Susan.

As the couple continued to serve, a pattern was emerging that they saw over and over again.

“In both ministries, the questions kept coming back over and over: Where are the fathers? What keeps them away from their God-given role as the father of their children?” asked Mike.

“Living in Washington Park, we walk and drive past these men every day. Like the parable of the Good Samaritan, would we be like the priest and the Levite who were too busy being religious to help them? This convicts us. We know that much of the reason is tangled up in our history...centuries of oppression and injustice,” said Susan.

How Westside Wood Works Took Shape The Bunce family says that woodworking was an idea that slowly grew as they continued to form relationships with their neighbors.

“Providing employment changes everything. The first problem you run into when you offer employment is the spiritual poverty that makes a person unhireable. It is necessary to make a big commitment to getting your hands dirty trying to bring spiritual health to men who don’t know what this is. Hope Inspired Ministries does a great job of helping men see the importance of a good work ethic and serving others through their work. Woodworking was chosen because it was something we knew how to teach,” he said.

“Mike was working with wood every day building affordable housing. In fact, his policy to gut each home down to the studs and move walls so the room layout worked better resulted in a lot of wood being removed and piled in the front yard where the City charged us to haul it to the

landfill. In contrast with other ministries that help men learn to do landscape maintenance or metal recycling, we saw woodworking as a skilled craft that could be a dignified career.

And the ability to use woodworking tools safely and productively translates into a career as a framing contractor, carpenter, cabinet maker and other well-paying jobs,” said Susan.

The process for becoming a skilled woodworker is a long one that requires dedication and determination. It’s not for everyone and the craftsmen are chosen with much thought.

“Because the need is so great and not everyone who says they want to work will actually follow through, we needed to

Connect With Us f bcprattville.org @fbcprattville

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January 2021

River Region’s Journey

establish a prerequisite for consideration,” Susan said.

“By requiring our employees to be graduates of the nine-week Hope Inspired Ministries program, we are able to see their follow-through and they begin their training with us as an extension of the HIM training. Mike volunteers to be a mentor for one of the HIM students and the final three-week internship that HIM requires is provided by us for that student, if he wants to do it.”

The training requires attentive focus on the skills being taught and commitment to safety. “Each employee’s training begins during the three-week internship required at the end of HIM’s nine-week program,” said Mike. “The internship we provide includes a lot of YouTube videos on the safe operation of each of the seven primary power tools we use.

A good friend, Bill Cornwell, allowed us to use his woodworking shop when we

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started because we were still trying to get our shop set up. Bill demonstrated the use of each tool and then watched the trainee try to do it. If the trainee started to develop any bad habits, especially skipping any of the safety steps, Bill stopped him and made him start over.

During normal production, there is a careful balance that must be established to make enough pieces to maintain sales revenue without going too slow because of a poor work ethic or going too fast, which increases the potential for injury.

“The primary goal of Westside Wood Works is to proclaim the gospel to men who want a living wage job bad enough to put up with our desire to mentor them and ‘get up in their business’. We know that, in time, most men will see both as good things,” explained Mike. “We will have to

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earn their trust. The goal at this point will be to have men whose lives have been transformed teaching other men what they have learned... both as woodworkers and as fathers. It is one of our ministry goals to see men advance in their careers. If they see an opportunity to work somewhere else, we will help them secure this job.”

Mike and Susan said that, like the woodworkers, they are also continuing to learn and grow. “We are learning as we go,” said Susan. “Our first employee had been working for some time in the shop and had never been to Amy’s Antique and Flea Mall where his pieces were on display to be sold.

Mike thought it would be good for him to be able to see so he closed the shop and took the employee there. At that time, I was applying the beeswax finish to the pieces as the last step before selling them. The employee saw the way his work came to life with the beeswax finish and could not believe his eyes that these were the same pieces he had made. He told Mike “the sun just came out in my heart.”

Now our employees apply the beeswax finish so they can appreciate their role in the full transformation of discarded wood into a beautiful household item.

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The response to the handcrafted items has been hugely positive and the items were a sought after gift items during the Christmas season.

“People who do not know about our ministry purpose are normally impressed with the craftsmanship and utility of our pieces. It is fun to see their enthusiasm jump when they learn about the men being offered a chance to be a father who provides for his children. Many people have asked if we can make something they have been wanting and would have bought at Target or online. We have been developing a good reputation for doing custom projects such as lazy susans, book shelves, and stove covers,” said Susan.

When asked if she had a favorite, Susan reflected on the natural beauty of each piece.

“Our favorite pieces are the ones that show off the beautiful wood grain and rich colors of certain wood. It is important to give the ultimate credit to the Creator of the trees. We think it pleases Him to pull this beautiful wood out of dumpsters and give it new life. It is a symbol of the work He is doing in the men we serve.”

Get Connected by Buying Westside Wood Works Products or Donating Your Time or Materials If you would like to get connected with Westside Wood Works, there are several opportunities to do so.

“We would love to talk to groups such as Sunday School classes about what we are doing. Of course, the pandemic will force us to do this only when it’s done safely.

We have an Etsy site which is called WestsideWoodWorksAL. We also have a booth at Amy’s Antique and Flea Mall, 849 N. Eastern Blvd.

If anyone would like to be part of a mentor team for one of our employees, we would love to hear from them. They do not need to know anything about woodworking,” said Mike. “In addition to the need for mentors, as we grow, we will continue to need wood and tools. The best wood

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for our pieces is solid 3/4” tongue-andgroove flooring or siding. Many people experience water damage to their floors and replace large areas with new boards.

The old boards usually end up in a dumpster. We can use these boards. Old fence boards may still have enough life left in them to clean up and use. As we add people, we will need more tools for their work stations.

Table saws, radial arm saws, miter saws, jig saws, and oscillating multi-tool saws are the primary saws we use.

We can also use a lot more clamps, planers, any kind of sander and sandpaper. A drill press would also be very helpful.”

You may contact Westside Woodworks by email at susan.westsidewoodworks@gmail.com.

Katie Blair is a freelance writer who has a deep interest in sharing stories about everyday people living extraordinary lives for Christ. She lives in Wetumpka, Alabama with her husband Steve, and their dog, Rosie. She is the mom of two young adult children and serves as a children’s ministry partner with Frazer Church.

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River Region’s Journey

Reset Economic leaders are scheduled to meet in Singapore for the World Economic Forum. The Christian website, Sovereign Nations, published a piece that warns of the COVID-influenced agenda that could be discussed there, centered around the launch of “The Great Reset.” Desmond Berg reposted a Sky News story, opening with this line:

Sky News host Rowan Dean says the next World Economic Forum in Davos has morphed from a “jet-setter climate gabfest” into a sinister “anti-democratic enterprise designed to destroy your job, steal your prosperity and rob your kids of a future”.

The article relates that Dean identified a “disturbing trend among many of the world’s left-wing elites to increasingly conflate COVID-19 with climate change...

Many are going so far as to suggest that all the measures applied to the coronavirus, the lockdowns, the destruction of businesses, the suppression of dissent, curfews, strong-arm police tactics, should become the ‘new normal’ for dealing with climate change.”

We’ve already seen how COVID has been used to clamp down on freedom of religion in states across our nation. And, there have certainly been lessons that have been and will be learned with regard to this virus that was largely unknown less than a year ago. COVID has brought economic peril, and it has apparently yielded an opportunity through which movers and shakers can capitalize in order to implement counterproductive social policies.

Columnist Patrice Lewis of WND.com states:

In the spirit of never letting a crisis go to waste, COVID has offered the perfect opportunity to destroy the world economy and usher in some of the most ridiculous, draconian and (listen carefully) unsustainRiver Region’s Journey

January 2021

able social agendas to ever exist. Communism is never sustainable. Ever.

Lewis quotes Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum: “To achieve a better outcome, the world must act jointly and swiftly to revamp all aspects of our societies and economies, from education to social contracts and working conditions. Every country, from the United States to China, must participate, and every industry, from oil and gas to tech, must be transformed. In short, we need a ‘Great Reset’ of capitalism.” She points out: “Schwab also famously said, ‘You’ll own nothing’ and ‘you’ll be happy about it.’”

Lewis writes: “Everything that’s happened so far in 2020 – lockdowns, destruction of small businesses, crippled economy – is an attempt to shove people into such desperate circumstances that they’ll beg their elite overlords to ‘save’ them.”

Where is religion in this “equitable” world? The World Economic Forum website has a clue: “The COVID-19 Response Alliance for Social Entrepreneurs will help faith-based organizations and social entrepreneurs enact radical change and rebuild a better future.” The mantra: “We must build the world we want out of this disruption, so that markets work for the whole of society, not just a few. For what is the purpose of a free market if the people who make it possible are not themselves free?

How we earn, how we spend and how we sustain the world and each other need a radical rebalancing.” Would the practice of Christianity be replaced by the “religion” of humanism?

John Zmirak of The Stream, writes: “I fear that the most powerful people, groups, and institutions in the West have passed a tipping point. I think they have sold their souls, and frankly lost their minds. The virus panic proved for some enough to snap their last attachment to reality. Others see it cynically, as a pretext for finally acting on cold, inhuman ideas they have toyed with for decades.” He asks: “Will our churches, hastily shuttered, ever reopen? Will state governors continue to wield god-like power over the movement and livelihoods of their citizens — even as they rain death down on patients in nursing homes?

Tear it all down! That’s the language of the streets of our nation, and found in the more sophisticated boardrooms of those driving global change. The JudeoChristian foundation is at risk, and there are those who, in the name of saving our planet and saving humanity, are willing to build on new and “radical” foundations, based on human ingenuity rather than Biblical wisdom.

But, the Bible does point to a oneworld government, with a dominating world leader. Following a seven-year period of tribulation, the second coming of Christ and His thousand-year reign, there will certainly be God’s “great reset.” Revelation 21, verses 1 and 2 say: “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”

The world is going global and rushing headlong into oblivion; but we know from God’s Word that His plan is at work.

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12/21/20 3:59 PM

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: Dalraida United Methodist Church 3817 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery An Alanon meeting is held at 9 am on Saturday mornings. Call 272.2190 for details.

Location: Grace Presbyterian Church, Corner of Bell Road and Atlanta Hwy. Alcoholics Anonymous and Alanon meetings are held Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, at 6 p.m. An Open AA Speaker meeting is held on Saturday at 6 p.m. An Alanon & AA held on Sundays at 2 p.m.

Location: Grace Point Community Church, 78223 Tallassee Hwy (Hwy 14), Wetumpka Celebrate Recovery- every Tuesday night- 6:15pm. All are welcome! These meetings are a safe and loving environment for individuals seeking to conquer their hurts, habits and hang-ups! gracepoint.info.

Location: Heritage Baptist Church 1849 Perry Hill Rd, Montgomery, AL Route1520 is a Christ-centered recovery movement dedicated to showing the way home for men impacted by sex and pornography addiction. Meets: Mondays, 6:30 – 8:00 PM CST. No Childcare Provided. Email montgomery@route1520.com, visit http://www.route1520.com/ men/groups-for-men/ or call 877.200.1520.

Location: Journey Church, 435 Sheila Blvd, Prattville Celebrate Recovery - Christ-centered 12-step for anyone struggling with addiction or life-challenging issues.

Mondays beginning at 6:15 pm. Childcare available.

Call John Pearse at 303-243-4308 or visit myjourneychurch.com.

Location: Landmark Church, 1800 Halcyon Blvd.

RSVP- This is a 12 step spiritual recovery program for

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January 2021

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 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 495-6350 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 4674578 or Ben W at 202-1912.

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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 495-6350 or e-mail jan@frazerumc.org.

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.

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Grief

Location: Cornerstone Christian Church, 301 Dalraida Road River Region Survivors of Suicide meets on the second and fourth Thursday of every month (excluding holidays) from 6:30-8:00 PM. 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.

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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 365-5977.

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.

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.

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 334279-8331 for more info. NAMI Connection Support Group for individuals with mental illness meets every Thursday evening, 6:30 – 7:30 pm, room 3104. Call 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 - 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: 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: 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 info.

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, 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 3:00-4:00. Call Annette Jones for more information on joining us or training to start your own group.

850-529-4730 or email Montgomerymipac@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, 6000 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 6:30- 8 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. .

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January 2021

River Region’s Journey

Making Your Financial Resolutions Stick in 2021 Q. One of my resolutions last year was to start living on a budget, and gain control of my money. I never realized how easy it would be to get discouraged early on. Can you give me some encouragement to help make my financial resolutions stick in 2021?

A. The secret to making a goal into a reality is getting started. It’s really that simple. You also have to be realistic and accept the fact that nothing—especially things you’ve never done before—works out perfectly the first time around.

That leads to the next step, which is patience. Most people think about losing 20 pounds, and immediately feel it needs to happen in the next month or so. It doesn’t. And mostly likely, it won’t.

Like almost everything else worth doing,

it’s something that requires sacrifice and focus each day over an extended period of time. Crash courses are usually painful and rarely work out well. But once you’ve done something a few times, it becomes an easier and easier part of your daily routine. Pretty soon, it’s not a chore or something you’re afraid of.

Making a budget and gaining control of your finances works the same way.

When you first create a money plan, it probably won’t work out exactly as you hoped. That’s okay. It will barely work the second month, but it won’t be as

scary, because you’ve already done it once. By the third month, you’ll have a much better feel for it, and your stress levels will go way down because you already know the basics. It just takes determination, patience, and intensity to get through the rough patches that go along with starting anything new.

Don’t fall into the same old trap. Give yourself a little grace, but keep your eyes on the prize. It may feel like things are beginning slowly, but you can make this happen if you’ll just stick with it!

HELPING YOU GET HEALTHY IN THE NEW YEAR!

$10 off $60 purchase River Region’s Journey

January 2021

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First United Methodist Church is a community of faith that is committed to loving God and loving people. Our mission is to make disciples of Christ for the transformation of the world, and we invite all people to come as you are and join us as we build His kingdom!

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