Mississippi Christian Living April 2022 by Mississippi Christian Living

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contents APRIL 2022 VOLUME 16, NUMBER 10

PUBLISHER

MS Christian Living, Inc. EDITOR

Katie Eubanks katie@mschristianliving.com MANAGING EDITOR

Suzanne Durfey ART/GRAPHIC DESIGN

Sandra Goff

A student completes her schoolwork at Magnolia Magnolia Speech School founder Libba Matthews Speech School. See feature on page 24. (right) always depended on God.

SALES

Suzanne Durfey, Ginger Gober CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

columns 8 As I See It Christ’s resurrection and raising children

10 Modern Motherhood A mother’s perspective on Easter

12 Mission Mississippi Moments Truth without love is not truth at all

13 Health & Wellness The Lord’s Prayer and your health

14 This Is My Story How I found my family in Cambodia

22 Food for Thought Recipes from Holy Trinity

27 Lagniappe How Life Plan Communities can enhance seniors’ health

28 A Cup Of Encouragement A time to plant — and to revive

29 Tough Questions Ministers keep their eyes on the cross during worship at Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Madison County. See cover story on page 16.

cover story

My son says he doesn’t believe in God

in every issue 6 Editor’s Letter 30 Quips & Quotes 30 Advertiser Index

16 Holy Trinity Anglican Church Gathering around the table

feature

Coming next month Dr. Meredith and Joel Travelstead on marriage and ministry

24 Magnolia Speech School Building on a firm foundation

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Brian Crawford, Chris Fields, Dan Hall, Dr. Fred Hall, Courtney Ingle, Laura Lee Leathers, Alli Mellon, Anna Claire O’Cain COVER PHOTOGRAPHY

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EDITOR’S LETTER

Some truth for when you’re wound too tight

f you’re on social media, you probably know what happened at the Oscars on March 27: Will Smith hit Chris Rock.

If you haven’t heard about it, then yes, you read that right. No, it wasn’t a gag. Rock, who was onstage presenting, made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s bald hairstyle, which she’s been sporting for a few months. Smith walked up onstage, hit Rock, sat back down, then yelled at the comedian (to use a G-rated paraphrase), “Stop talking about my wife!” He yelled it twice. For context, Jada Pinkett Smith has a condition called alopecia, which causes hair loss. Rock almost certainly knew this. Later in the show, Smith won Best Actor. One of the ﬁrst things he said during his tearful acceptance speech was that he felt “overwhelmed” by what God was calling him to do in life right now. He also apologized to the Academy and to his fellow nominees (he apologized to Rock the next day on social media). I don’t know if Smith is a believer in Christ, but for the intent of this column, it doesn’t matter. Christians, we’ve all been in his shoes. No, not at the Oscars. But we’ve all been overwhelmed, and we’ve all reacted poorly. I wish I could give Smith a hug and say, “I get it.” Yes, I’ve been there too, though I’ve never punched anyone in anger. Even good stress (like, say, being a respected, Oscar-nominated actor) can pull us taut. I get to run a Christian magazine for a living — something I’ve wanted to do since I was a college freshman — but it’s often overwhelming. I’m in a new relationship that’s turning out better than I ever could’ve prayed for — but like any relationship, it requires a lot of mental and emotional effort. Any “extra” stress on top of that, and it’s not a question of if I’ll break, but when — and whether I’ll do it humbly, crying out to God, or in a more destructive way. Maybe you work at your dream job, but you’re drowning in deadlines. Maybe you’d do anything for your family, but for once you’d like to be alone for the weekend. Maybe you’re wound a little tight. Then somebody disrespects you or a loved one. Or you overbook yourself again, or you blow past your budget again, or you hit every red light on Lakeland again. Here’s what you and I have got to remember: That situation, or that mistake you repeated, or that person who hurt you, or even you yourself

6 APRIL 2022 ❘ Mississippi Christian Living

— none of those is your enemy. We have a real enemy. And praise be to God, we can already celebrate the devil’s defeat. So when satan (I don’t give him the dignity of capitalization) says you can’t do anything right; or that you need to get back at so and so; or that you’ll never escape all this stress; remember what Jesus bought for you in His death and resurrection: • Justiﬁcation, i.e., blameless standing before God (Romans 4:25) • Peace with God (Romans 5:1) • Hope, even in the midst of trials, that does not disappoint (Romans 5:1-5) • Salvation (Romans 5:10) • Reconciliation with God (Romans 5:11) • Newness of life (Romans 6:4) • The prayers of Jesus for you (Romans 8:34) Those are just some of the promises I found in the book of Romans. The New Testament is full of them. In Smith’s acceptance speech, he mentioned something fellow actor Denzel Washington had told him a few moments earlier: “At your highest moment, that’s when the devil comes for you.” Absolutely. The devil visits us at our highest moments … and at our lowest ones … and many of those in between. But when he does? Just remind him Whose you are. “If God is for us, who can be against us? … Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justiﬁes. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died — more than that, who was raised — who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? … I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:31-39 Happy Easter! Y

Katie Eubanks katie@mschristianliving.com

38 years,

AS I SEE IT

by DAN HALL

Christ’s resurrection and raising children (and grandchildren!)

“A

nd if the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He Who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of His Spirit Who lives in you.” – Romans 8:11 You will undoubtedly hear excellent sermons on Easter Sunday that will provide a powerful and theologically deep understanding of Christ’s resurrection. It’s crucial we understand those truths. But I will leave it to your church to carry that water. I want to touch on one powerful implication of His resurrection: He can now live in us by His Holy Spirit. As our verse above notes: That same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead is at work in us! I don’t have time to unwrap it fully, but it’s an incredibly powerful truth. This truth speaks to me as a dad. His Spirit helps me raise my children and engage my grandchildren. Let me illustrate this in three ways His presence has helped my wife and me. Knowing our children Combining my personality and life experience led me to want to know my children individually and deeply. I would often use tools like love languages or personality assessments. But one of the greatest tools is the Holy Spirit Himself. No one knows my child like our Father. I often would be praying or

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thinking about a specific child, and I might get a fresh insight into who they were or an activity that would specifically unlock a part of their heart. Music is a big deal in our home. It runs the gamut from hymns and worship to classic rock and contemporary. One day, after praying for my youngest daughter, I told her, “Come on, let’s go for a drive.” We opened all the windows and sunroof, grabbed a chocolate shake from Bop’s, cranked up the music and just drove, singing and talking. It became “our deal.” Protecting our children Another powerful tool the Holy Spirit gives us as parents is discernment. I’ve experienced it more in my ministry, while my wife had it strongest in our family. To this day, the kids get a little anxious if “Mom is sensing something.” One time in the middle of the night, she awoke sitting straight up in bed and felt this impression to go to a specific child’s bedroom. Well, said child was not in the bed! A little investigation revealed the irresistible temptation of Waffle House on this child. It has become one of those stories: “Hey Mom, tell so and so how you woke up and went to xxxx’s bedroom and she wasn’t there!” Our heavenly Father will guide us by His Spirit when we allow Him. Entrusting our children Finally, Christ’s resurrection gives me peace and confidence that, when my children face their own challenges, maybe even struggles with their faith, He has them in His care. That realization alone moves me from panicky prayer to confident intercession. This power applies to tragedy as well. I’ve buried too many children of friends and church members. It’s one of the most difficult things a parent will ever experience. But His resurrection means that, while I feel the pain of the loss and the grief of unrealized experiences in this life, this life is not “it.” After my sister died of ovarian cancer, I went to see my parents. Dad and I had a long talk. He wept, and we shared our common grief of not having Donna anymore. When talking to my mother about it, I worried that she wasn’t “processing her grief” like I had been told she should. Attempting a subtle intervention, I asked her, “Mom, how are you doing with Donna’s death?” I’ll never forget her answer, something to the effect of: “Oh, honey, I miss her so badly. But you know, I’ll see her again and have all of eternity to enjoy her.” I marveled at her unshakable faith rooted in the confidence that Christ’s resurrection also became our resurrection. I pray in this season of celebrating that we understand the incredible implications in our daily lives of Christ coming out of the grave. Y

Dan Hall is an executive and strategic coach to leaders and executive teams. He also works with organizations on team building, conflict resolution and communication skills. He and his wife, Hazel, have six children and four grandchildren. You can reach him at Dan@OnCourseSolutions.com.

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MODERN MOTHERHOOD

by COURTNEY INGLE

A mother’s perspective on Easter

f you’re a biological mother, then at some point you’ve spent nine months feeling the impact of a child growing in your womb. You’ve felt little twists and kicks, soreness, nausea, anticipation, fear, and elation until the day finally comes. You’ve labored, you’ve sweated, you’ve screamed, you’ve cried, you’ve pushed (and pushed), and maybe even had a risky surgery … all of it just to get it baby here. Then day by day, you watched little smiles, saw teeth push through, witnessed first steps, experienced feeding woes, barely functioned through sleeping woes, cherished first times, and maybe even celebrated some of the last times. (That last pack of diapers? Can I get an amen?) Your little baby started growing, learning, and developing their own sense of humor. You learned how to make them laugh, what their little idiosyncrasies were, and what comforted them after a scraped knee. It seemed no time passed at all before they started saying things like “When I grow up,” or “When I’m big …” In this Easter season, I can’t help but think of what Mary must have felt. With every shaky first step that her baby son Jesus took, He was one step closer to the cross. When other teenagers were spending their free time in the markets or with friends, Jesus was found in the temple doing His Father’s business. Surely, she was proud. Surely, she was filled with dread … after all, she was human, no matter how strong her faith was. Faith is tested. Surely she felt tested as she watched her Son be mocked, spit upon,

whipped, crowned with thorns, and nailed to a rugged cross. There’s no doubt in my mind that when Jesus took His last breath, Mary felt it. When His body was wrapped and sealed in that tomb, surely a piece of her was wrapped and sealed along with it. Undoubtedly, the horrors of watching her Son bleed and die woke her at night … even if she knew why He had to experience it all.

“ We want our kids to dream

big, right? (But) can you imagine a child … telling you that when they grow up, they’ll be the Savior of the world? That they’ll have to die? Do you think Jesus had to grow into that understanding?

”

So at Easter, we as mothers — whether we gave birth, adopted, fostered, or gained children through marriage — surely we have just a small portion of understanding of the love and faith it had to take for Mary to say “yes” to the angel that day. Every morning, just as we say yes to getting up and caring for our kids, Mary had to get up and care not only for her Son, but for the Savior of the world. Does your heart not break when you think

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of the cross through the eyes of a mother? We as mothers know that our children, whether they are 2 weeks, 2 years, or 62 years old — they’re still our babies. Here’s another perspective. We want our kids to dream big, right? We want them to live in that childlike innocence for as long as they can. We want them to set their sights on being astronauts, doctors, preachers or teachers (or even one of the members of Paw Patrol) because that’s what gets them excited; plus it is adorable to hear their little dreams, right? But can you imagine a child, 10 years old, telling you that when they grow up, they’ll be the Savior of the world? That they’ll have to die? Do you think Jesus had to grow into that understanding? This is what mothers should keep in mind this Easter season. Remember the practicality of the sacriﬁce of Christ — and it’ll give you a deeper appreciation to cleave to when you think of the Cross. BUT, don’t stay there in that somber reﬂection. Rejoice! This pain is not the end. Death was defeated! The King is alive! And because of it, we are all adopted into the family of Christ. Y Courtney Ingle and her husband, Jeremy, live in Crossgates in Brandon. They have a daughter, Taylor Scott, who is 4 years old, and a son, Jacob Leon, who is 6 months old. Courtney is a stayat-home mom and homemaker and can be emailed at courtneyinglewrites@gmail.com.

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MISSION MISSISSIPPI MOMENTS

by PASTOR BRIAN CRAWFORD

Truth without love is not truth at all

“T

ruth without love is brutality and love without truth is hypocrisy.” – Warren Wiersbe

When thinking about the nature of truth, it is vital that we understand that most truth acknowledged only serves us and others well when it is truth applied. Nodding in agreement when we’re told that the temperature is 20 degrees below zero is not helpful if we leave the house in a T-shirt and shorts. “All men are created equal” is a simple truth to acknowledge, but an ineffective truth if it doesn’t lead to all men actually being seen as equals. Truth acknowledged is only truly acknowledged when it is applied. Jesus embodies this sentiment: “And the Word became ﬂesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” - John 1:14 God in the ﬂesh not only declared Himself gracious (truth acknowledged), but actually walked in that grace (truth applied). However, this truth is not only meant for Jesus. The apostle Paul calls all of Jesus’ followers to a similar embrace: “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.” - Ephesians 4:15 Paul’s words are essential but elusive for the Christian in this culture and age. We are in the culture and age of “Facts don’t care about your feelings” and “Baby, I’m simply telling you what God loves, the truth!” In other words, we’re more concerned with the rightness of our words, and

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not necessarily the righteousness in how they’re stated. However, living in deeper Christian truth requires that we be concerned about both. DEEPER truth requires that we care not just about the facts but about the person who’s receiving them. Grace and truth. Truth in love. While it is important to be right in our content and our facts, it is just as important that the content leads us to acting rightly toward those around us. As Christians pursuing deeper truth, the question that must always be before us is not simply, do we know the truth, but what is that knowledge doing to us? If the truth we speak doesn’t come with grace and love, then the truth we speak really isn’t true to us. It’s this posture that we must take into the ongoing work of reconciliation. It is true that we are all created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26); it is true that, through Christ, we are all a part of one body (1 Corinthians 12:27); but what are these truths doing to us? Pursuing deeper truth calls for all of these truths to shape us, transform us, and drive us toward a sacriﬁcial application of them. More and more as I’ve consumed the content of truth, my life has been reformed with the conduct of truth. Whether fellowshipping and having a tough conversation about race, or serving alongside people who might not look like me, organizations like Mission Mississippi have taught me not just to acknowledge the truth that we’ve been reconciled through Christ but to apply it through ongoing dialogue and activity where we cross the racial and cultural divide. Even today as I reﬂect on the weekly morning men’s group that I’m part of, I’m reminded that what makes the group work is not simply the truthful statements that are shared consistently to challenge our thinking, but the commitment to share and receive those statements with patience, grace, love and humility, to change when necessary. The content of truth matched with the conduct of truth is what unlocks the group’s potential to gain meaningful ground in truly living reconciled. Truth acknowledged AND Truth applied. How about you? Have the truths of our faith driven you away from the segregated corners of your life into fellowship across racial and ethnic lines? Have the uncomfortable historical and sociological truths concerning race in America stirred in you a commitment to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep? Have any of these truths caused you to stand more boldly in solidarity with your brother and sister in the pursuit of unity and living reconciled? When we pursue deeper truth, we move from mere acknowledgement of truth to its application; from mere facts to facts dressed in grace; from mere knowledge to knowledge wrapped in love; and from being right while divided to being righteous and united. Y

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Pastor Brian Crawford is a husband, father of two boys, and bivocational lead pastor of the recently launched City Light Church in Vicksburg. Brian and his wife, Candi, are natives and long-time residents of Vicksburg and have a passion to share the love and gospel of Jesus Christ with the city they hold dear. When he isn’t engaged in pastoral ministry, you will ﬁnd Pastor Brian either working at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, dating his wife, reading books, watching Marvel movies with his boys, watching sports of any kind, or hanging out with his church family.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

by CHRIS FIELDS

The Lord’s Prayer and your health

s Christians, our go-to prayer is the Lord’s Prayer. It’s

always being recited, whether corporately during church services, in the home among family, or individually. It’s recited on television, written on postcards — it’s all over the place! We used to say it in the locker room before games for whatever reason, like it was going to enable us to win, as if our opposing team wasn’t also saying it in their locker room to help them win. Memorizing the Lord’s Prayer is like the first thing we do after we accept Jesus, and some people know it even before they know Jesus. I remember a time when my brother stumbled through the words while praying it over our family, and my mom got so mad that she cut him off mid-prayer and eyed him like he was a blasphemer. In all seriousness, Jesus used this prayer to teach His disciples to pray, but the message of the prayer is rooted in action, not just words. The prayer was meant to solicit a response from heaven based on our willful acts of submission and obedience to the Lord’s will here on earth. “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed (or greatly honored and revered, which can only be done through willful submission and obedience) be thy name. Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” I will stop here, because that last line is what I want to focus on. One of the main things we think The (Lord’s Prayer) about attaining in heaven is perfect was meant to solicit a health, especially for individuals response from heaven who live their lives with disease. But as the Lord’s Prayer says, He wants based on our willful His will to be done on earth just as acts of submission and it is in heaven, so He’s made healing just as attainable now as any other obedience to the promise, if not more so, right down Lord’s will. to the air we breathe. I know a lot of times when we think of air, we think of toxicity, but we also consume oxygen from air, which is an essential nutrient that fuels the heart. The Lord in His infinite knowledge and wisdom created an environment for humanity to live in perfect health. When we think about all the healing agents of the “good” foods we consume, and the wonderful benefits of physical activity, exercise and stress-free living (Paul hit the nail on the head when he said it’s better for people to stay single because a lot of married folks stressed each other out), we should think of how we were created and how everything was created for us, not by us. When we think of advancements in medicine, we should think of God’s grace and mercy and how He created an environment for us to thrive and heal in. Nothing God created is manmade — it’s only discovered — and true enough, man had to be smart enough to discover it, but man’s intellect is not absent of God’s omniscience. Medicine has rapidly advanced, along with the knowledge of how to care for our physical health. But God’s will must still be done via our willful submission and obedience. Well, how do I submit to Him so His will of physical health and wholeness can be made available to me here on Earth? Good question. Submission requires knowledge and understanding before anything. The

“

Bible tells us that if we seek Him, we will ﬁnd Him, but knowing where to look for Him sometimes seems to elude us. God is in His creation. His imprint, trademark and patent are all over it. Since we are His created beings, learning yourself and your body is the ﬁrst step to submission. Here are some steps:

◼ Know your current health status. The thing with most diseases is, they can lie dormant and go undetected for years before your body tells you something is wrong, and by that time, minor has turned to major and reversible has turned to irreversible.

◼ Know your family health history. This allows you to take steps to reduce your risk of developing disease and can improve medical treatment if needed. There are plenty of other points I can give, but those two often go neglected. They provide a solid foundation, because if I don’t know how I am (or was) disobedient, I won’t know how to obey. Y

Chris Fields is the founder and executive director of H.E.A.L. Mississippi and a graduate in kinesiology with advance studies in nutrition. He serves as a clinical exercise physiologist/CPT and is credentialed in Exercise Is Medicine through American College of Sports Medicine.

”

mschristianliving.com ❘ APRIL 2022 13

THIS IS MY STORY

by ALLI MELLON

How I found my family in Cambodia

never wanted to live overseas. As

founding director of The Hard Places Community, my plan was to live in America and send long-term missionaries into the hard places. My passion was raising up and empowering young people to fulﬁll every dream God placed in their hearts, to use the global platform He’d given me to launch people into their futures. In January 2009, I took a team to Cambodia, the number 1 country for sexual exploitation of very young children. Our goal was to join the ﬁght against the horror these little ones lived every day. Research proved girls as young as 5 were sold on a daily basis for sex with grown men. When we arrived in Phnom Penh, we discovered the situation was worse than we imagined. We began serving alongside those who’d come to Cambodia years before us, immersing ourselves in the issue and longing to see kids Back row in yellow, Bella (left) and Nadia Mellon. set free. Front row, from left: Alli, Scotty, Anna Claire and My plan was to be in Cambodia for only three months, paving the way for future long- Nash Mellon. term Hard Places Community teams. Though I loved every minute of the new anti-trafficking ministry being born right before my eyes, I was anxious to return to the States. I’d come to Cambodia still grieving the loss of a long-term relationship with the man I’d thought I would marry. I found myself wondering if my deepest desire to be a mother would ever come to pass. I was constantly crying out, “Lord, where is my family? Where is my baby?” My three months in Cambodia ended and teammates began to leave as planned. Then the completely unexpected happened. God told me – Jeremiah 29:11 to stay. The setup for our future team was going so well, and we’d been asked to start a program for trafficked children in a former child brothel. “Alli, don’t get your hopes up, but there’s a baby The relationships my team had made were girl. Do you want her?” My new friend growing stronger by the day, and if I stayed just proceeded to tell me there just might be a way, a few more months in Cambodia, all the there just may be the slightest chance this baby logistics for the long-term team to succeed could be my daughter. Three days later, I rode would be in place. Stay. Staying went against the back of a motorcycle taxi through a my plan and seemed contrary to my every monsoon to meet this baby. My baby. dream. Stay. I came back to my house that night with her I kicked and screamed and cried and raged at God. I did not want to stay. Finally, in tears of in my arms, this time in a tuk-tuk to protect her from the weather. She was 5 weeks old and I did surrender, I agreed to remain in Cambodia for not have a diaper, a bottle, or baby formula. We another three months. stopped at a quick stop, and I bought every A few days later, I received a phone call:

“ For I know the plans I

have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

”

14 APRIL 2022 ❘ Mississippi Christian Living

baby item the store had. Before I arrived back at my house, I named her Isabella Ruth, meaning beautiful, consecrated to God. I never wanted to live overseas. I have lived in Cambodia for the past 13 years. But today, I am Mama not only to Bella, but to four more precious hearts God’s entrusted me with. Four months after taking Bella home, Anna Claire came into our lives, born at 27 weeks and gasping for air with undeveloped lungs. Holding two newborns in my arms, I went through the steps and hoops to legally adopt them, meaning my stay in Cambodia turned into three years before they became American citizens. The minute the girls’ adoptions were complete, my son Nash came home, followed one year later by his biological sister Nadia. I thought our family was complete then, but we had another surprise four years later when Scotty became our forever baby. This time, we are really done! People often say my kids are “so lucky.” I know luck has nothing to do with our family, and that only God could have given us to each other, could have walked us down the long, hard roads we’ve traveled to wind up here. I’m the blessed one, that I get to be their Mama. I never wanted to live overseas. God turned my plans upside-down and into something wild, loud, imperfect and wonderful: family.

Alli Mellon is the founder and executive director of The Hard Places Community, an international nonprofit whose mission is to be “a glimpse of light in the darkest corners of this world.” Her team in Phnom Penh, Cambodia fights against the child sex trade and works with young men coming out of male brothels. In recent years, the ministry has expanded into work with refugees in Greece and plans to open a third base in Madagascar later this year. The Hard Places Community is also working on an initiative to combat the sale of young girls across Mississippi. Alli is mom to five children ranging from ages 3 to 13, all of whom were adopted in Cambodia. The Mellon family is temporarily based near Alli’s parents in Mississippi while they work toward her youngest three children’s American citizenship.

If you aren’t sure whether you have a relationship with God or where you’ll go when you die, please don’t put this magazine down until you’ve read the following:

✝ THE PROBLEM For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. – Romans 3:23 For the wages of sin is death … – Romans 6:23a The natural result and consequence of our sin is eternal death, or hell (Revelation 20:15), separated from God. This is because God is completely perfect and holy (Matthew 5:48), and His justice demands that sin be punished (Proverbs 11:21).

✝ THE SOLUTION … but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. – Romans 6:23b But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. – Romans 5:8 Jesus Christ died in our place on the cross and took on the punishment for all our sins (Isaiah 53:4-6). Then God raised Him from the dead (John 20)!

✝ HOW TO RECEIVE SALVATION If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. – Romans 10:9 Trust in what Jesus has done for you — His death for your sins and His resurrection — and trust Him as Lord.

✝ IS IT FOR ANYONE? For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. – Romans 10:13

✝ THE RESULTS Therefore being justiﬁed by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. – Romans 5:1 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:38-39

✝ WHAT TO DO NEXT So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. – Romans 10:17 If you decided to trust in Jesus, grow in your faith by reading more of God’s Word in the Bible. We recommend the gospel of John (it comes just after Luke) as a good starting point — or Romans! Finding a church close to you that teaches faith in Christ is another important step. It’s crucial to spend time with other believers so we can encourage each other in our faith. If you have questions about anything on this page, please contact us at 601.896.1432, or send us a message on Facebook @MSChristianLiving, Instagram @mschristianmag or Twitter @MSChristLiving.

mschristianliving.com ❘ APRIL 2022 15

COVER STORY

by KATIE EUBANKS

STEGALL IMAGERY

From left: Jon David Cole, Gina Morris, Father Ryan Streett, Angela Morrison and Bill Morris at Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Madison.

16 APRIL 2022 ❘ Mississippi Christian Living

Holy Trinity Anglican Church GATHERING AROUND THE TABLE

From 1 ‘flavor’ to many “It was a mustard-seed beginning,” says founding member Bill Morris (no relation to Gina). In the early 2000s, Bill and his wife, Camille, along with a handful of other Jackson metro couples, felt

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But for members of Holy Trinity — with backgrounds ranging from Baptist to Catholic — this Madison County church has become the soil where their faith in Christ has grown. Gina Morris, one of several members gathered in the Holy Trinity sanctuary for this interview, sums it up: “Nobody (here) has an agenda but to worship the Lord.”

Father Ryan Streett, rector of Holy Trinity.

God calling them to something different. They just weren’t sure what. They started meeting regularly, studying the Bible and praying together. As the group grew, “we knew we needed to be under authority,” Bill says. They decided to form an official congregation in the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). The Holy Trinity website explains the most important ACNA beliefs first: “Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life: No one comes to the Father but by Him. The Holy Bible, Old and New Testaments, is the inspired Word of God, containing all things necessary for salvation, and to be the final authority and unchangeable standard for Christian faith and life.” Otherwise, what sets Anglicans apart is their worship service, which culminates each week not in the pastor’s sermon (though it is definitely present), but in the Holy Trinity church member Bill Lord’s Supper. Morris. STEGALL IMAGERY

or folks whose blood runs Baptist, the little grey building with the red door on Bozeman Road might seem like a portal to another world: Holy Trinity Anglican. What’s an Anglican, anyway?

mschristianliving.com ❘ APRIL 2022 17

STEGALL IMAGERY

JUSTIN DEVANTIER

Father Ryan preaching.

teenager.) And Clark has been able to connect with both rector (senior pastor) Father Ryan Streett and Father Eric Geisbert, assistant for youth and family ministries, in meaningful ways, Angela says. “They’re not untouchable.” That sense of connection at Holy Trinity is most present during the Lord’s Supper. “What’s humbling and beautiful at the same time, is knowing you’re invited to be at the foot of the cross — and you never know who will be on your right and on your left,” she says. Sometimes the person on your left didn’t know they’d be there the ‘We’re not in competition’ night before. That was the case for Gina, When Angela Morrison and her who woke up on a rainy Sunday in family started attending Holy Trinity, February 2011 and felt God nudging “we were sort of tired and needed a her toward Holy Trinity. place to rest,” she says. “It was storming, raining cats and “We have four kids, a lot of busyness. dogs that day. But I knew God was … There was a body of Christ that telling me to go,” she says. Despite being didn’t just welcome you in but wanted only vaguely familiar with Holy Trinity to know your story — with no then, she opened her computer, found judgments. They wanted to pray with the service time, and went. me and for me. She knew a few people, like Bill “It’s not superﬁcial,” Angela says, and Camille, but more importantly, “I noting the tendency for Christians to just felt the Holy Spirit,” Gina recalls. smile and say, “I’m good” on a Sunday. The result? “I’ve never gone anywhere “People really know your story.” else (since).” Each week during the Lord’s Supper, She’s quick to say, “We don’t want to the Holy Trinity prayer team stands make it sound like we know best and From left: Jonah, Anna, Cecily and Ryan Streett. ready to intercede for anyone who everyone else is wrong. But this is the needs it, and Angela has taken advantage church where God wanted me to be.” of that. Bill agrees: “We’re not in competition She also appreciates that “there was with other orthodox churches. We’ve got never a question what was coming from the pulpit” as she and her family the same mission as the Presbyterian church across the street, and the stepped into a new environment. Pentecostals down the street, and the Baptist church a little farther down.” “This church (stands) on the solid rock of Christ. They have scripture written on the studs.” Diversity, not division When that scripture is proclaimed, it even reaches Angela’s son Clark, By 2014, God was drawing more and more people to Holy Trinity, and who’s 14. the church was holding services at the St. Anthony Catholic School gym in “As we’re leaving one Sunday, he looks at me and says, ‘Mom, Father Madison after bouncing around several locations. They launched a capital Ryan’s sermon was insane!’” (That’s a good thing, in case you don’t speak campaign to build their own worship center. COURTESY OF RYAN STREETT

Holy Trinity member Jon David Cole loves that Anglican worship is rooted in the Book of Common Prayer, described as “the scripture arranged for worship,” which has been in use since the 1600s. “I didn’t know I could find a church that was faithful to God’s Word but also had an ancient foundation,” Jon David says. “If Martin Luther walked in, he’d know exactly what was going on.” That said, it isn’t just one type of person who is showing up at Holy Trinity. “Initially, it was one flavor,” Jon David says. “Then people flooded in from everywhere.”

18 APRIL 2022 ❘ Mississippi Christian Living

PHOTOS BY STEGALL IMAGERY

“We saw miracles in the financial realm,” Bill recalls. “It was obvious God wanted to build this church.” Especially since Bill insisted at the time, “Nobody’s going to be called on (to give)” — which is basically the polar opposite of how a pledge drive works. Holy Trinity held a dinner at The Country Club of Jackson. Fifty or 60 people came, and church members shared testimonies about how Holy Trinity had impacted them. “We raised more than we could’ve possibly imagined that night,” Bill says, “without any (coercion).” Donations were anonymous. “Only our treasurer, Forbes Watson, would know, and he never tells anyone anything.” Holy Trinity has a three-phase construction plan and has completed phase one. Last year they started raising money for the other two phases, held another dinner, and brought in more than twice the amount they raised in 2014. They’ll start work on phase two, including their education building, soon. “I was astounded at the first (capital campaign),” Bill says, “but God said, ‘You think that’s something?’” “(God) saw inflation coming up,” Ryan quips with a laugh. Holy Trinity is home to folks from Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian and Catholic backgrounds. They come from all over metro Jackson and even as far as Kosciusko. The congregation includes young and old, black and white, “people with money and people with none,” Bill says. “We’re not driven by issues, which typically divide churches. You’d have to hunt for a political sticker on a car.” While political beliefs certainly differ among members, “we don’t bring that stuff in here,” he says. Also, because the church is so new, “Nobody has any claims on it (like) ‘My grandmother donated this window.’” “We all have one goal: to learn and live God’s Word,” Gina says. “Satan has tried many times to get a foothold. Don’t think there’s never trials and tribulations. But it’s been beautiful to watch this church come together and pray.” With members from various backgrounds, baptism could be a lightning rod of division at Holy Trinity. The ACNA baptizes infants, not as a mark of salvation but “as a correct way of bringing children into the care of the church,” says Jon David. Then when someone is ready to own their relationship with Christ, he or she goes through the process of confirmation with a church mentor, who walks them through what their faith means. (At Holy Trinity, confirmation happens when that person is ready, not at a predetermined age.) That’s different than Baptist churches, where baptism happens not at infancy but only after conversion. Holy Trinity will happily accommodate believers who want to receive baptism by immersion. But Anglican churches don’t include “dunking” baptismals. The solution? Like many contemporary church plants, Holy Trinity performs baptisms in a horse trough, out on the lawn in God’s creation. At the end of the day, whether a baby is dedicated or baptized, the ultimate goal is for that child to come to saving faith in Jesus Christ, Ryan says. “They’re given a gift in their baptism as an infant — but what good is that gift if you never open it via faith in Christ?”

“If Martin Luther walked in, he’d know exactly what was going on (at Holy Trinity),” says church member Jon David Cole.

“It’s not superficial,” says Holy Trinity church member Angela Morrison of the congregation. “People really know your story.”

‘We’ve already said yes in our hearts’ Several “good, godly men” have led Holy Trinity, Gina notes. Former rectors have included Rev. Tim Smith and Canon Keith Allen, who accepted a call to a church in Vero Beach, Florida a couple of years ago. Ryan’s story might be a little different than theirs. “God met me in a very dark place,” the South Carolina native says, and after he got saved and called to ministry, it was an Anglican “biker priest” who mentored him. “He was a guy who had worked construction for 30 years and then become a priest in his 60s,” Ryan says. The priest no longer rode motorcycles but proved to be a kindred spirit for Ryan, who at that time mschristianliving.com ❘ APRIL 2022 19

was training to become a Presbyterian minister and working on his master’s degree. Ryan’s master’s thesis was about a group of 19th-century pastor/scholars who strove for “liturgical renewal.” That got him curious. Then he discovered the Book of Common Prayer. “(That) really helped to ground this ADD person in the daily rhythms of worship — the confession of sins, the reception of grace, the praise of God, and the systematic reading of the scriptures, along with experience of an Anglican communion service,” Ryan says. Between the mentor, the thesis, and the Book of Common Prayer, Ryan became an Anglican and joined an ACNA church. Eventually, the rector 20 APRIL 2022 ❘ Mississippi Christian Living

there asked him to consider becoming a priest, and he did. That same rector, now bishop of South Carolina, put Ryan’s name in the hat when he was serving in South Carolina and Holy Trinity was looking for a new rector in early 2020. When Holy Trinity’s search committee called Ryan, he noticed they were “a people of prayer,” he recalls. Also, normally, when an ACNA church looks to hire a rector, the candidate interviews with the search committee and the vestry, or leadership team. “But this is such a family, they wanted interviews with the congregation,” Ryan says. That left an impression. And the Streetts — both Ryan and his wife, Anna — left an impression on Holy Trinity too, Bill says. After one of the congregational interviews, Bill asked to pray over the couple. His prayer went something like this: “Lord, I don’t know who You’ve chosen for us, but I’m going to be very disappointed if it’s not Father Ryan.” Before Ryan and Anna left town after a series of interviews that May, they both felt the same way. After discussing it as a couple, Ryan says, “I grabbed Gina and Forbes (Watson), who was head of the search committee, (and said) ‘I just want you to know, if you call us, we’ve already said yes in our hearts. We love you guys.’” Gina still tears up thinking about it. She and the rest of the committee were so conﬁdent, they didn’t interview anyone else. They called Ryan that same night while he and Anna were visiting her grandfather in Como, Mississippi. The Streetts would move to the metro area in July 2020. Like Angela, Bill praises what he hears from the pulpit at Holy Trinity. “I’ve not heard one thing out of (Father Ryan’s) mouth that was not totally consistent with the Word of God,” Bill says. “He’s one of the ﬁnest preachers, but he doesn’t preach. He tells the unadulterated truth in love.

PHOTOS BY STEGALL IMAGERY

MCL Editor Katie Eubanks (far left) interviews (from left) Bill Morris, Angela Morrison, Father Ryan Streett, Gina Morris (no relation to Bill), and Jon David Cole at Holy Trinity.

STEGALL IMAGERY

JUSTIN DEVANTIER

Worshippers leave the church and go into the world to be witnesses with their eyes on the cross.

“I’ve not heard one thing out of (Father Ryan’s) mouth that was not totally consistent with the Word of God,” says Bill Morris of the preaching at Holy Trinity.

(And) he’s so humble in spite of how good he is.” Quick to deﬂect, Ryan smiles and replies, “The devil tells me that all the time.” Anna, too, is humble — and accessible, Angela says. “I love the accessibility of the clergy and everyone in this parish.”

and the wine as a symbol of Christ’s body and blood, given as payment for their sins. “(That’s) where we are most ourselves,” Ryan says. Jon David says taking communion is the most important thing he does each week. “To have that type of sound theology and teaching, and to be forced every week to admit your need for a Savior and come to that table … Wild horses couldn’t keep me from that table.” Y

‘We imagine the roof being peeled off’ An Anglican service is often called a liturgy, which means “the work of the people,” as the congregation “actively participate in the drama of the Gospel,” according to the Holy Trinity website. That includes everything from reciting the Nicene Creed to participating in prayers like this:

Minister: Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; People: have mercy on us. A typical service at Holy Trinity includes all the elements one would expect at church: prayer, praise, confession of sin, and the proclamation of God’s Word. All of those elements come together in an intentional way that “forces you to slow down,” the Holy Trinity website says, and reminds you why you’re at church to begin with. Despite the formality of the service, it’s not rigid, Jon David says. “You’ll ﬁnd a good mixture of traditional and modern worship.” And while you might not see folks running the aisles, the Holy Spirit is very present, Ryan says. “The Spirit is the One that enables us to pray and to worship. The Spirit evacuates space and time, and it’s as if Christ is here with us. “When we get to that sanctus (when the congregation recites ‘Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of power and might … ’), you’ll see clergy with our heads down, and that’s us imitating the seraphim from Isaiah 6. They’re these magniﬁcent creatures, but they cannot look at God without coming undone,” Ryan says. “Then we look up, and we imagine the roof being peeled off this place.” That kind of awareness of God’s presence necessitates getting right with Him — and with our neighbors. “(We want to) make sure we’re at peace horizontally before we come to the table (for the Lord’s Supper),” Ryan says. “I’ve seen that happen. Someone will say, ‘Dude, I was totally a jerk. I should not have said that,’ and the other person will (pass the peace of Christ).” The number one thing that unites believers at Holy Trinity is the table — the observance of the Lord’s Supper. After taking time for both corporate and personal prayer and confession, members receive the bread

Hol y T r i n i t y Anglican Church Come worship with us

Maundy Thursday - April 14 at 6pm Good Friday - April 15 at 12 and 6pm

Easter Vigil - April 16 at 7pm Easter Sunday - April 17 at 10am

432 Bozeman Road • Madison, Mississippi

mschristianliving.com ❘ APRIL 2022 21

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Recipes from Holy Trinity

verybody knows the church cookbook is a great recipe resource, so we’ve raided the

collective recipe drawer of Holy Trinity Anglican Church, the subject of our cover story (see page 16), for three recipes that would be perfect for your family’s Easter dinner this year. Enjoy! Y

HARLEQUIN PIE Recipe provided by Gina Morris, originally by Bennette Morris. Serves 8. CRUST ¼ cup sugar 1½ cups finely chopped pecans 1 egg white FILLING (prepare while crust is baking) ½ cup milk 16 large marshmallows 1 tablespoon instant coffee 1 egg yolk 1 cup heavy cream ¼ cup chocolate chips 1 tablespoon milk

Grease the bottom of a 9” pie plate. Cut a circle of waxed paper to fit bottom of pie plate and place in the bottom. Butter the top of the waxed paper. Beat egg white until frothy. Combine with sugar and pecans. Mash the crust mixture onto bottom and sides of pie plate. Bake 12 to 15 minutes at 375°. Remove from oven and immediately run a knife around edge of crust. Cool 10 minutes. Lift crust out of pie plate, remove waxed paper, and return crust to pie plate. While crust is baking, melt in a double boiler the ½ cup of milk, marshmallows and instant coffee. Beat and add egg yolk to mixture, stirring well. Let cool and partially set in refrigerator. Whip heavy cream and fold into cooled mixture. Pour into crust. Melt chocolate chips in tablespoon of milk over low heat. Dot the top of the pie with the chocolate and cut it into the filling with a knife to make a harlequin design. Freeze!!! Before slicing, let pie sit at room temperature 5 to 10 minutes.

22 APRIL 2022 ❘ Mississippi Christian Living

COFFEE-RUBBED RIB STEAKS Recipe provided by Bill Morris (no relation to Gina Morris), originally found in a magazine. Note: Follow exactly! FOR RUB 2 tablespoons ground espresso beans (not instant), regular or decaf 1½ tablespoons light brown sugar, lightly packed ½ teaspoon ground chipotle chili pepper 1 tablespoon paprika 1½ teaspoons granulated garlic powder ½ teaspoon whole mustard seeds ¼ teaspoon hot red pepper flakes 1½ teaspoons kosher salt 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper FOR STEAKS 2 (1¼ pound) boneless ribeye steaks, 1¼” to 1½” thick Canola or olive oil Kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper

Combine all rub ingredients and set aside. When ready to cook steaks, preheat oven to 425°. Brush steaks lightly all over with oil. Season steaks all over with salt and pepper. Rub 1 tablespoon of the coffee rub on the top of each steak and let them stand at room temperature 10 minutes. (Any extra coffee rub can be stored in freezer and used again within 2 months.) Heat a dry cast-iron skillet, large enough to hold the steaks comfortably, over medium-high heat 5 minutes or until very hot. Add steaks, with the rub side down, and cook without moving for 3 minutes, until bottoms of steaks are a deep brown. Flip steaks and cook 2 more minutes. Transfer the pan with the steaks to the hot oven and cook 5 more minutes for medium-rare meat. An instant thermometer inserted in the middle will only register about 110°, but steaks will keep cooking while they rest. Remove steaks from skillet to a plate, cover with foil, and allow to rest 10 minutes. Slice and enjoy!

EASTER PASTA SALAD Recipe provided by Angela Morrison 1 package vermicelli noodles, cooked and drained 1 can sliced ripe olives, drained 5 green onions, chopped 1 red bell pepper, chopped 1 jar pimento, chopped 2 tablespoons lemon juice 2 to 3 tablespoons mayonnaise ¼ cup olive oil 2 heaping tablespoons Cavender’s All-Purpose Greek Seasoning

Mix together all ingredients, keep in fridge, and allow to sit overnight, as it gets better! Can add grilled chicken or boiled shrimp if wanted.

MAKE

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mschristianliving.com ❘ APRIL 2022 23

FEATURE STORY

by ANNA CLAIRE O’CAIN

Magnolia Speech School Building on a firm foundation

ince the 1950s, Magnolia Speech School in Jackson has served children with hearing and speech impairments. From the school’s early days in the late Elizabeth “Libba” Matthews’ home to its current facility in Jackson and soon-to-be new home in Madison County, God has remained the foundation of the school. Laying the foundation One of 13 children and the daughter of a preacher, Libba and her siblings were raised to trust in God from a young age. As Libba grew older and started a family, she clung to her faith when she received some hard news: Her son Keith was deaf. “When they found Keith to be deaf at age 6 months, the first thing they did was turn to God,” says Jackson native Shellie Matthews, Keith’s wife. “Everything Libba did — she first prayed, then would follow the leading of the Holy Spirit from day one until that school was founded. It’s remarkable as to how everything just fell into place.” Libba was disappointed to think Magnolia Speech School students participated that Keith would grow up unable in the groundbreaking ceremony for the new communicate verbally as other campus in Madison County. children could. She also wondered how her large family would all be able to learn sign language so they attending. They soon moved the classes outside could communicate with Keith. But of Libba’s home and began meeting in a God had plans that were greater church, then in various buildings throughout than what Libba imagined. the Jackson area. “One thing led (to another) and As Magnolia Speech School grew during the An artist’s rendering shows what the new campus will look like. one of (Keith’s) pediatricians early ’70s, Libba and others began raising suggested, ‘Do you know that deaf children can now learn to speak and lip money to fund the school’s current location. read?’” Shellie says. Libba had never heard that before. The pediatrician Shellie says that Libba and her husband, C.D., were sensitive to the Holy shared some more information with Libba, and she contacted the John Spirit’s guidance, and a lot of prayer went into the founding of the school. Tracy Clinic in California, which had a home-based learning program for “Had they not prayed and left it up to God, I don’t think this school ever children from birth to age 3. would have started and ever would have been a Libba completed the program with Keith success,” she explains. and wanted him to continue learning. A good Mark Matthews, Libba’s son and Keith’s friend of the Matthews family who also had a brother, shares a recollection of the early days of deaf child recommended the Central Institute Magnolia Speech School: for the Deaf in St. Louis. “(Parkway Baptist Church) really was Shellie explains, “They did not know how probably the first major supporter of the school,” they were going to afford to put him there, but Mark says. “They supplied the first building other Libba said, ‘God provided everything.’” The than our house … The whole school was a God Matthews family moved to St. Louis, where thing. The church prayed for Mother constantly Keith was enrolled at the school. It was there and was very supportive of what she was doing. that someone encouraged Libba to enroll in the “Mother always gave credit to God, no teacher-training program, and she did. While question about it.” Mark says the school is “one Keith went through the preschool program, of those things that you don’t know how it Libba went through the teacher training. existed — but it did, and it thrived because of “When she came back to Jackson in 1956, she His involvement.” Magnolia Speech School founder Libba Matthews, left, and former executive director had all of her training — she was ready to work Jackson native Anne Sullivan Brawley, former Anne Sullivan Brawley. with deaf children, to teach them how to speak executive director of Magnolia Speech School, — but there was no place to do it,” Shellie says. worked there for over 30 years. “There was a group of parents in Jackson that heard about her. She started “There’s been a strong spiritual leading through the years with this seeing a handful of children in her home.” More and more children began program. It all comes from our founder Elizabeth (Libba) Matthews,” Anne 24 APRIL 2022 ❘ Mississippi Christian Living

says. “It was nothing that I did. Mrs. Matthews was my mentor, and as I learned as a young teacher under her the methods to help the children, I also learned how to depend on the grace of God.” As a small nonproﬁt with relatively low tuition, Anne and the staff wanted any child who needed services to be able to attend the school. For many years they survived without any public funds and depended solely on fundraising and donations. After becoming executive director, Anne saw God’s provision ﬁrsthand. “There were many days that I would go to the mailbox the day before I was supposed to pay the staff, and I didn’t have enough money in the bank to pay the staff. … I would open the mailbox and there would be a check from a donor. It would be for almost the exact amount I needed.” God used those moments to humble Anne and remind her that she was involved in something much greater than herself. “It was God’s will that the school served these children,” she says. “The longer I worked there, the deeper my faith became.” Present day Jackson native Sharon Smathers is a teacher at Magnolia Speech School and has worked there approximately 27 years. “We have a methodology that is called the association method. (That’s) our curriculum,” Sharon says. Implementing the curriculum is like using building blocks, starting out with the basic phonics sounds then progressing to reading, writing and saying them. “We start putting sounds together and making words. They learn how to listen for them and identify them, and they learn how to read the simple words, and they learn how to write.” The association method is a multisensory approach and includes writing as a major component. “We try to incorporate all the senses to help the children learn,” she says.

Magnolia Speech School founder Libba Matthews works with a student in the school’s early years.

In addition to the quality curriculum, Sharon shares another reason why she loves the school: “One thing in my opinion that makes Magnolia such a wonderful place for the children that attend is the whole child — it’s kind of a global approach.” Students’ language acquisition and growth seem to transform them from the inside out, she says. “You can just see them coming down the hall and they’ve got their head up and their shoulders back and they’ve got a smile on their face. (You) can just see that conﬁdence that they didn’t have maybe in the beginning. “I literally feel like I see miracles happening all the time. A child that

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Be a part of Building Hope

buildinghopemss.com 733 Flag Chapel Road • Jackson MS 39209 • 601-922-5530 • magnoliaspeechschool.org mschristianliving.com ❘ APRIL 2022 25

one day couldn’t do one task is able to do it,” she says. “I can feel the Lord’s hand in all of it. We believe in the children, and we believe that Magnolia is here for a purpose.” New location, same foundation Valerie Linn, originally from Kosciusko, is Magnolia Speech School’s executive director and has served there since 2014. Valerie shares about God’s provision of a new school campus, set to open this fall, as well as some special details that will make it a unique space. “We are just so thrilled by this,” she says. “The library backs into the tree line (of the property) and the library is to be like a treehouse library. (I) know it’s going to bring a lot of joy and peace and encourage (in) children a love of reading.” From the lighting to the types of materials used to build the walls, the new campus was strategically designed with children with hearing impairments in mind. “That is really really impressive and shows how far construction has come,” Valerie says. “We will have so many things that we haven’t been able to have (before).” Even though a new state-ofthe-art campus will soon be bustling with students and teachers, Valerie remembers the school’s spiritual roots. “Our school has always had a strong Christian foundation from Ms. Libba,” she says. “When we were looking at the A Bible is placed in the concrete order of events for the foundation of the executive director's groundbreaking, we certainly office at the new Magnolia Speech wanted someone there to lead School campus. us in prayer.” With the staff at Magnolia attending various churches and the school receiving support from multiple churches, Valerie was unsure whom to call on. Then someone suggested, “What about our neighbors?” Valerie contacted Father Ryan Streett, rector of Holy Trinity Anglican Church (see page 16), located right next-door to the new campus, and he gladly agreed to lead the prayer. “He was the most lovely person. His prayer was amazing. It was just perfect,” Valerie says. Another fun connection: “The woman who sold us the property … she goes to that church.” In addition to being bathed in prayer and nestled next to a church, the new campus contains physical reminders of God’s presence. In the actual concrete foundation, there are Bibles placed throughout the school. “We got one of Libba’s Bibles, one of Anne’s Bibles, and I (contributed) my childhood Bible that was given to me by my parents,” Valerie says. “Ms. Libba’s Bible is right as you walk into the building, then Anne’s Bible is in the executive director’s office.” Valerie’s Bible was placed in the conference room, where many important decisions for the school will be made. “It’s symbolic of the way we make decisions there and keeping our mission and the thought of Christ’s work at our center,” she shares. “When you keep those things at your center, you’re going to make the right decisions.” Y For more information about Magnolia Speech School, call 601.922.5530 or visit magnoliaspeechschool.org. 26 APRIL 2022 ❘ Mississippi Christian Living

LAGNIAPPE

submitted by ST. CATHERINE’S VILLAGE

How Life Plan Communities like St. Catherine’s can enhance seniors’ health and well-being

tudies have shown that seniors who live in a Life Plan Community that includes multiple levels of care on one campus reported that their social, intellectual, physical and emotional wellness improved after moving there. This may be because Life Plan Communities tend to offer environments rich in services, programs, amenities and opportunities that support overall health and well-being. That’s the case at St. Catherine’s Village in Madison. Here, the all-inclusive Life Care program allows residents to move into an independent living apartment or home, then transition to assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing if and when the need arises. Both environmental resources and personal competence are important to aging well and work together to determine an individual’s optimal level of function, say gerontologists. Stress is a major factor contributing to one’s attitude and overall outlook on life, and Life Plan Community residents reported lower levels of stress than seniors living in other environments. This may be due in part to knowing they are guaranteed services throughout their lifetime and will have a smooth transition as their care needs change. Another reason Life Plan Community residents report they feel more optimistic may be because they are surrounded by a support system night and day. At St. Catherine’s, for

example, seniors are around others who are in the same life stage and going through similar experiences, and they have the assistance of caregivers in times of need. Residents also can participate in a variety of organized activities — from choir to gardening club to daily

“ Life Plan Community residents reported lower levels of stress … This may be due in part to knowing they are guaranteed services throughout their lifetime. ” devotions; from mixers and events to arts, crafts and painting classes — to increase their happiness and reduce stress. Being physically ﬁt is just as important to a senior’s well-being as emotional health. Staying active contributes to physical wellness, while being sedentary for too long during the day increases health risks. It’s easy for seniors living

on their own to succumb to bad habits if no one is around to encourage them to get up and get moving. At a Life Plan Community, there are activities for all ﬁtness levels. St. Catherine’s not only has an on-site ﬁtness center and heated indoor pool, it also offers a variety of exercise classes. These include stretching, chair yoga, low-impact cardio, water aerobics and more. A healthy diet rich in nutrients not only feeds the body but also can help cognition and memory in seniors. St. Catherine’s makes it easy for residents to eat well by including nutritious dining options and meal plans. When a Life Plan Community resident does experience a health issue, he or she has access to treatments and caregivers trained in senior living. Located on 160 picturesque and wooded acres, St. Catherine’s Village provides the right care at the right time through independent living in garden homes and apartments; assisted living in Marian Hall; memory care in Campbell Cove; and skilled nursing in Siena Center, Tuscany and Hughes Center — all in a protected environment. To learn more about senior living options at St. Catherine’s Village Life Plan Community, visit StCatherinesVillage.com or call 601.856.0123 to schedule a one-on-one tour. Y

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mschristianliving.com ❘ APRIL 2022 27

A CUP OF ENCOURAGEMENT

by LAURA LEE LEATHERS

A time to plant — and to revive

rowing up on a small farm in Illinois, our family had a huge garden that kept us busy all summer. If you’re

interested in starting a garden, the Bible should be your ﬁrst resource. After all, time began in the garden. In the beginning On the third day, “God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth;’ and it was so.” - Genesis 1:11, NKJV

Then God tells us He has given man all these things for food, and that Adam was placed in the garden to tend and keep it. Imagine a gourmet blend of fruits and vegetables at your fingertips! Chapter 3 gives an account of original sin. Everything changed! God cursed the land, and humanity has had to work hard to produce food since then (Genesis 3:17-19). The perfect environment was now full of thistles and weeds, pestilence and disease, and of course, deer. A time to plant Solomon wrote that there is a time to plant and a time to harvest (Ecclesiastes 3:2b). The Bible doesn’t give us a step-by-step planting guide, but it does mention items that we should plant (see sidebar). Now is the time to plant a garden. Section off a spot in your yard — or consider container gardening. For children, a kiddie pool works great; don’t forget to drill holes in the bottom. Let them choose their favorite foods. Give them the experience and pleasure of planting, and teach them the difference between the plant and a weed. Let them do the harvesting and cooking. Don’t be afraid to try new seed varieties. My parents let me order the children’s garden pack from the seed catalog when I was a child. Resources for gardening information and ideas: ◼ Seed catalogs ◼ YouTube (“how-to” videos) ◼ Pinterest ◼ Your county extension agent, or Mississippi State University’s Extension website ◼ MSU Extension’s Fall Flower & Garden Fest in Crystal Springs (October) ◼ Gardening groups (see sidebar) Gardening revivals During World Wars I and II, people were encouraged to plant “liberty” and “victory” gardens. When inflation soared at the end of the ’70s, people turned back to gardening. Over the past several years, due to inflation and broken supply chains, there seems to be a resurgence in homesteading, gardening, bee pollination and cut flower production. Besides better-tasting food, gardening provides fellowship, exercise, education, and the fun of watching things grow and harvesting something you planted.

28 APRIL 2022 ❘ Mississippi Christian Living

The garden near the cross It’s important to note that not only do we need a gardening revival, planting seeds in the s-o-i-l; we each need a revival in our s-o-u-l-s, knowing Jesus and living by the Word. As we approach Easter, it is time to read about and remember the night of Jesus’ arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. At Gethsemane, Jesus spent time in intense prayer and deep agony as He anticipated the cross. He was then betrayed, arrested, and brought before the Sanhedrin and Pilate (Matthew 26, Mark 14, John 18:2). After a mock trial, He willingly went to the cross to die, to make atonement for our sin. After His death, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus requested Jesus’ body. John’s gospel notes that they buried Him in a nearby tomb — in a garden (John 19:41). But the grave could not hold Him (Romans 6:9-10). He’s alive! Is it time for you to go to the garden and thank Jesus for all He has done? Have you indeed given your heart to Him? As you spend time in the garden, ask Him to renew and revive your soul. I challenge you to plant a liberty (from sin) and victory (in Jesus) garden. When you share your produce, remember this is also an opportunity to share about what happened in the garden, on the cross, and in the tomb (John 14:6). He is alive indeed! Y

What to plant Vegetables – cucumber, leek, onion, garlic

Herbs – aloe, coriander, cumin, dill, fennel, frankincense, hyssop, marjoram, mint, myrrh, saffron, sage Fruits – apple, ﬁg, date, olive, grapes, almond, walnut, pomegranate, melons Flowers – anemone, crocus, cyclamen, hyacinth, iris, narcissus, tulip Gardening groups on Facebook ◼ The Gardener’s Workshop

◼ Mississippi Gardening ◼ Cut Flower Connections– Farmer to Buyer ◼ Garden Mama: Nellie Neal ◼ Mississippi Farmers Market Community ◼ Garden Answer Favorite seed catalogs ◼ The Whole Seed Catalog by Baker Creek Heirloom

Seeds – rareseeds.com

◼ Burpee Gardens – burpee.com ◼ Breck’s – brecks.com ◼ Johnny’s Selected Seeds – johnnyseeds.com ◼ Park Seed – parkseed.com ◼ David Austin Roses – davidaustinroses.com

TOUGH QUESTIONS

Attorney Job: The Adventures of a Great Lawyer!

by DR. FRED HALL, LPC

My son says he doesn’t believe in God

“A Masterpiece in Jurisprudence!”

QUESTION: My 14-year-old says he doesn’t believe in God anymore. Should I still make him attend Easter service with us, or let him make his own choice? ANSWER: Thanks for the question, reader. This is an children from harm but also to place them in interesting question with no easy or onethe path of righteousness. Going to church, dimensional answer. The real question appears whether on Easter Sunday or any other to be, should you allow or support your teen Sunday, is good training and witness for who doesn’t believe in God to skip out on a your son. family tradition of going to Easter service? At this point in their While that seems harmless growth, children don’t get enough, the real issue is a to opt out of family son who doesn’t believe activities simply with an “I At this point in their don’t want to” or “I don’t and then wants to not follow the faith traditions growth, children don’t believe in that.” Allowing of his family. of these two beliefs get to opt out of family either People, even teens, to gain traction will struggle with their identity activities simply with an potentially start many and whether they believe more I-don’t-want-to’s that ‘I don’t want to’ or ‘I and have saving faith in will be hard to quell. It is don’t believe in that.’ God. That is not new. never a good idea to give What may be new for you, youth or children so much reader, is the fact that your freedom that they cannot son is now voicing that disbelief or deﬁantly make good family decisions. Until they leave saying, “I don’t want the God of this family.” you, you are responsible for them: mind, body, Either way, part of the issue is keeping him soul, and especially spirit. in the atmosphere and community of believers Going to Easter service, yes. Getting to opt who will encourage him yet challenge his faith. out because of your belief system, no. Having Just being around other believers can be additional conversations to investigate your testimony and witness enough for those son’s beliefs, in order to know better how to wandering or searching for meaning to come pray, absolutely. into a real relationship with Christ. I would Remember, kids of all ages need structure support this staying around other believers, and their parents’ guidance. They might not even if the child does not really want to do it. enjoy the structure, but they can respect you Part of our job as parents is to shield our for it. Y

No other set of books, except the Bible, will prepare the reader for an abundant life NOW and for a glorious ETERNITY better than Attorney Job, Hallelujah, Love & War and The Sound of Glorious Marriage Music. These books can be reviewed and purchased at amazon.com. Select Books and type in “by Joe Ragland.”

“

ATTY JOE RAGLAND, J.D., LL.M., LL.D. Personal Injury Trial Attorney/Workplace Injuries Tel. 601-969-5050 • Info: www.raglandministries.org Click CONTACT to subscribe to Ragland Newsletters

”

Dr. Fred Hall is a licensed professional counselor (LPC), supervisor, life and leadership coach and consultant. He works with individuals, couples, families and organizations in training, speaking, consulting and clinical practice. He does clinical work at Cornerstone Counseling in Jackson.

mschristianliving.com ❘ APRIL 2022 29

QUIPS & QUOTES ADVERTISER INDEX

{

CUT OUT THE SCRIPTURES AND QUOTES AND PLACE THEM AROUND YOUR HOME FOR DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT!

}

ADVERTISING PARTNERS

PAGE

Belhaven University...................................................2

✂ For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth. ~ JOB 19:25, NKJV

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; the one who believes in Me will live, even if he dies.” ~ JOHN 11:25, NASB

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia! Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia! Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia! ~ “CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAY,” CHARLES WESLEY

I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!

And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.

~ MARK 16:6, RSV

And with great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. ~ ACTS 4:33, RSV

The message of Easter is that God’s new world has been unveiled in Jesus Christ and that you’re now invited to belong to it. ~N.T. Wright

EyeCare Professionals............................................11

H.E.A.L. Mississippi ...................................................13

Holy Trinity Anglican Church.............................21

Hope Hollow Ministries..........................................12

For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.

Joe Ragland .................................................................29

Magnolia Speech School ...................................25

Mascagni Wealth Management ...................32

~ 1 CORINTHIANS 15:3-5, NKJV

Mercantile Mississippi..............................................9

He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.

Miskelly Furniture ........................................................5

Mission Mississippi .................................................29

~ 1 PETER 2:24, NLT

OCD Organizing.........................................................23

After death something new begins, over which all powers of the world of death have no more might. ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer

For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. ~ 1 CORINTHIANS 15:21, NIV

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” ~ MATTHEW 28:18-20, NLT

30 APRIL 2022 ❘ Mississippi Christian Living

Capital Ortho...................................................................8

~ROMANS 6:8-11, NLT

~ PHILIPPIANS 3:10-11, NLT

And he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him.”

C Spire .................................................................................3

Pine Grove Treatment Center ............................7

Primos Café..................................................................23

Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company ..........................................26

St. Catherine's Village............................................27

St. Dominic's..................................................................31

Stegall Imagery..........................................................23

Sunnybrook Estates ...............................................10

Twin Lakes ........................................................................11

WE CAN CHECK YOUR VITALS. BUT ONLY YOU CAN TELL US WHAT’S REALLY VITAL.

Half of your healthcare is in the stories you share with us. Because before you’re a patient, you’re a person – and what you’re thinking, feeling, and hoping for can help us to personalize your recovery and improve your outcome. stdom.com/WeListenWeHeal