Mississippi Christian Living: August 2024 by Mississippi Christian Living

Back to school

Teachers and coaches share encouragement for parents

Retirement reading list

● Don’t waste the youth sports season!

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contents AUGUST 2024

Goff

Chris Bates, Shay Greenwood, Kiel Higginbotham, Courtney Ingle, Laura Lee Leathers, Julie Liddell Whitehead COVER PHOTOGRAPHY Stegall Imagery

Nettie Schulte, Jerri and Sammy Strickland, Rachel and Bob Whatley

Mississippi Christian Living P.O. Box 1819 Madison, MS 39130 601.345.1091

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Mississippi Christian Living is committed to encouraging individuals in their daily lives by presenting the faith stories of others and by providing information that will point every person, at every stage of life, to a deeper, authentic, personal, and life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ. Views expressed in Mississippi Christian Living do not necessarily represent those of the publisher. Every effort has been made by the Mississippi Christian Living staff to insure accuracy of the publication contents. However, we do not guarantee the accuracy of all information nor the absence of errors and omissions; hence, no responsibility can be or is assumed. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2024 by MS Christian Living, Inc.

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Eight metro-area teachers and coaches sat down with MCL Editor Katie Ginn for our back-toschool cover story. See page 30.

With Stephen on a recent date night.

Sick of the darkness? Follow the Light!

Sunday, July 14, was a heavy day at Broadmoor Baptist Church.

First, like the rest of America, we were processing the attempted assassination of a presidential candidate. At the beginning of the service, we prayed for our country.

Then at the end of the service, our pastor updated us on allegations of past sexual abuse at Broadmoor. According to an investigative report by a third-party ﬁrm, a former Broadmoor youth pastor groomed and manipulated a teenage girl into an inappropriate “relationship” a few decades ago; now the church is examining its policies and procedures in order to prevent future harm. We had a service of lament that Wednesday, and church staff have hosted a few Q&A sessions for members. Sandwiched in between the topics of the assassination attempt and the sexual abuse report was the sermon, which our pastor had planned months before. The message was about what happened when David gave in to temptation and reaped the consequences. Yikes.

David’s temptation (this time) was to say what was on his mind when he should’ve kept his mouth shut.

I said to myself, “I will watch what I do and not sin in what I say.

I will hold my tongue when the ungodly are around me.”

But as I stood there in silence …

The more I thought about it, the hotter I got, igniting a ﬁre of words.

(Psalm 39:1-3, NLT)

We know David’s “ﬁre of words” was sinful because he repented of it. He also begged God for mercy:

I am silent before you; I won’t say a word, for my punishment is from you.

But please stop striking me!

I am exhausted by the blows from your hand. When you discipline us for our sins, you consume like a moth what is precious to us. Each of us is but a breath.

(v. 9-11, NLT)

Wow, what a Sunday — a triple whammy. Of course, the people who wrote the sexual abuse report were not beholden to Broadmoor’s schedule. Neither was the Trump shooter. I’m so glad our pastor got to take a break the next week.

It really can feel like God is “striking” us for our sins sometimes. A political

assassination attempt? In our country? A report revealing years of sexual predation by a youth pastor? In our youth group? I feel sick. God, please have mercy!

My next response is often to get mad at the evildoers, in this case the would-be assassin and the former youth pastor. But that’s an incomplete response. These sins are symptoms of a bigger problem, one that can’t be solved by better government or church policies.

The political divide is deadly as a bullet because we’re a deadly people. Yes, it’s easy to draw a line between ourselves and “active shooters”: They’re hateful and ignorant, and we’re — well, we’re Christians! But what does our social media look like? What do our conversations sound like? Jesus said if we call our brother a fool in anger, we’re in danger of hell ﬁre (Matt. 5:22-24). Y’all smell that smoke?

Why should it shock us that someone tried to kill a presidential candidate? After all, we ourselves — the body of Christ, who are supposed to love God and love people — often post tirades instead of exhortations. There is a difference between the former and the latter; if we learn it, maybe folks will listen to us.

The sexual abuse question gets even uglier, because it happened in a Christian context (and still happens in far too many churches). One of the root issues might be that the Western church is starting to think like the world — about marriage, about sex, and about one’s own “happiness.” For instance: Unhappy in your marriage? You shouldn’t have to make it work; do whatever makes you happy! Never mind what Jesus said.

God can and will heal us from all of this. But we have to repent and ask for it:

“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” – 2 Chronicles 7:14, ESV.

It doesn’t say, “If the sinners repent.” It says, “If My people turn from their wicked ways.” If we’re sick of the darkness, we need to follow the Light. Y

Katie Ginn katie@mschristianliving.com

Goodwill Industries of Mississippi Salutes Metro Jackson’s Outstanding Volunteers

Goodwill Industries of Mississippi cordially invites you to attend an exclusive dinner honoring this year’s outstanding volunteers.

Thursday, August 15, 2024

The Country Club of Jackson Jackson, Mississippi

• Reception: 6:30 pm

• Dinner: 7:15 pm

2024

• Presentation of Honorees: 8:00 pm

For reservations or more information, please call 601-953-2569.

This year’s slate of honorees is a testament to the generosity of which the human spirit is capable. They have given freely of their time and talents so that those less fortunate among us may find their true potential. Please mark your calendars and plan to join us as we honor metro Jackson’s outstanding volunteers on August 15, 2024.

Jordan Bryan Shannon Hillman Chris M. Howard

Mary Ann Kirby

Rachel Lott Hollidae Morrison Teresa Renkenberger

Houston Sherrod Kathy Woodliff Ella Boykin Youth Honoree Taylor Caton Youth Honoree

Youth Honoree

Gertie McCarthy Youth Honoree

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Back-to-school closet cleanout

Help Secure their

Beyond the Classroom

s the summer draws to a close, my mind is on all things school. The one thorn in my ﬂesh is my son’s messy bedroom closet and overloaded bedroom drawers. Anyone else feel me?

Here are three tips to help you clean out those closets and get your kids’ clothes organized for the new school year:

Purge and declutter

Before you can even think about organizing, you need to get rid of anything that’s no longer wearable. Go through each item in your child’s closet and sort it into three piles: keep, donate/sell, and discard. Be ruthless: If it’s stained, torn, or hasn’t been worn in a year, it’s time to let it go. Consider hosting a yard sale or selling gently used items online to make some extra cash for new school clothes.

Get the kids involved: Have them help sort clothes into piles and decide what they want to keep or donate. You can even let them be in charge of running the yard sale or online sale!

Categorize and group

Once you’ve purged your child’s closet, it’s time to organize what’s left. Sort clothes into categories like tops, bottoms, dresses, and outerwear. Within each category, group similar items together (e.g. all T-shirts, all jeans). This makes it easy to see what you have and what you need to buy. Use storage bins or baskets to keep items like socks, underwear and accessories organized and out of sight.

Get the kids involved: Have them help categorize and group clothes, and let them pick out the storage bins or baskets they

Utilize vertical space

Maximize your child’s closet space by using stackable shelves or hanging rods with multiple levels. This will help keep clothes off the ﬂoor and make the most of your closet’s vertical space. Consider installing shelves or hooks for items like backpacks, lunchboxes, and extra shoes. And don’t forget to use the back of the door: Over-the-door storage racks or hooks are perfect for hanging jackets, hats, or bags.

Get the kids involved: Have them help measure the closet space and decide where to install shelves or hooks. They can even help hang up clothes and organize their backpacks and lunchboxes.

Following these three tips while also getting your kids involved, you’ll be able to tackle that daunting closet and get your kids’ clothes organized in no time. Happy cleaning out and happy new school year! Y

Shay Greenwood is a wife, mom and mentor who loves helping women be their best selves! Follow her on Facebook and Instagram @shaygreenwood.

The greatest lessons start at home

Backto school is upon us yet again. If you’re like me, you’re searching for ways to make the transition a little easier: meal prep, planning outﬁts for the week, and so on. But as I started acting on these systems, I felt a little convicted: What have I done to boost some faith-based systems in my home?

Here are some things I’m starting this school year to model a walk with Christ to my kids (my kids are 6 and 3, so tweak these tips accordingly):

Breakfast and Bible: As the kids eat breakfast, I’ll ask them about the Bible verses and Bible stories they’re learning at school. We’re blessed to have them attend a Christian school, so the Word is built into their day. During the school year, I’ll follow along with whatever scripture the school focuses on for consistency and memorization.

After-school chat: My kids love to tell me about their day, and I love to ask! But instead of asking, “What did you do today?” I’ll ask what Bible story they heard and how someone was kind to them. This helps them meditate on the Word and live it out throughout the day.

Bedtime: Bedtime is a precious time in our house. My husband and I take turns laying with our kids until they fall asleep. We ask them about their day, read stories, and pray with them. I’ll ask them if they want to pray for one of their school friends or teachers. We start having them lead the prayer at 2 years old, and we keep it simple. “God bless Mama, God bless Daddy, God bless Mawmaw,” and yes, we may end up asking God to bless the unicorn nightlight or the excavator pillow, but the point is to teach them the discipline of regular prayer. By the time my daughter was 4, she had been praying her heartfelt little prayers for a while.

Don’t neglect the church: We attend church on Wednesday nights and Sundays. We go to the Wednesday night meal for the fellowship (and grab a Happy Meal on the way if the kids aren’t having what the church is serving) and stay for the service. On Sundays, the kids know it is church day. We pick out clothes together at bedtime on Saturday and talk about how excited we are to get to church on Sunday. This small step helps a lot. Not only are we building excitement for the time in church, but we’re also helping ease the Sunday morning rush. (Lionel Richie wrote “Easy Like Sunday Morning” four years before having his ﬁrst child. He didn’t understand that Sunday mornings are, in fact, not easy at all.)

As you move forward with this new school year, don’t let the rush of the daily routine distract you from your God-given mission found in Deuteronomy 6:5-7:

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. Y

Courtney and her husband, Jeremy, live in Brandon and are members at Park Place Baptist Church in Pearl. They have a daughter, Taylor, and a son, Jacob. Courtney is a full-time homemaker and can be reached at courtneyingle89@gmail.com.

St. Catherine’s Village unveils reopened wing at Campbell Cove

St. Catherine’s Village, Madison’s preeminent Life Plan Community, is excited to announce that it is reopening a wing of its award-winning Campbell Cove building to make a limited number of residences available to seniors who would beneﬁt from memory care.

Campbell Cove provides a protected, calming and homelike environment for those facing cognitive challenges from Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and other forms of memory loss. The newly opened wing has 12 furnished private bedrooms along with a common living room and dining area. Now Campbell Cove will be able to accommodate a total of 36 memory care residents.

In total, Campbell Cove has three color-coded wings, each serving as a small yet distinctive neighborhood to foster familiarity. At the same time, the common spaces permit family-size gatherings. The three wings converge at a large multipurpose area with an arts and crafts room, recreation center, country kitchen, and living room. This layout offers residents a blend of private and communal spaces, allowing for personal time while also providing the option to engage in various activities

obstacles, enabling residents to preserve their independence as long as possible.

Outside are secure landscaped patios and a walking garden so residents and their families can spend time outdoors in a recognizable and protected setting.

Care is activity-focused, with the goal of promoting involvement and engagement through an array of stimulating activities and familiar sensory experiences. Scheduled events and entertainment, along with spontaneous interactions, reinforce cognitive

Mississippi as an “Alzheimer’s Assisted Living” property. Monthly fees include three meals a day; coffee and refreshments; supervision of self-administered medications; assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing and grooming; 24-hour professional nursing staff; utilities except telephone and internet; weekly housekeeping and linen laundering; and 24hour security.

and physical functioning, thus helping residents maintain their independence. These activities, which range from social to cultural, recreational to spiritual, enhance the quality of life for those living in Campbell Cove.

All staff members at Campbell Cove are specially trained in a social model of care, providing compassionate and nurturing assistance while supporting each resident’s capabilities and affirming their dignity. Caregivers take a holistic approach and adapt the environment to meet the changing needs of residents as they progress through their journey. This person-centered programming has earned Campbell Cove “Exemplary” recognition.

Campbell Cove is licensed by the state of

Specifically designed to support individuals who are easily confused and wander, the floor plan features wayfinding cues and clear circulation paths to guide individuals and help them navigate more easily from one place to another. The building’s architecture also minimizes Enrich your life at St. Catherine’s Village, Madison’s preeminent all-inclusive Life Plan Community. Whatever your senior living needs are, you’ll find the right care at the right time.

Unparalleled services, amenities and care are the hallmarks of not only Campbell Cove but all of St. Catherine’s. Located on 160 acres in Madison, it is the ﬁrst retirement community in Mississippi to earn accreditation by CARF-CCAC. This “commitment to excellence” seal signiﬁes that the campus exceeds the standards established by the only international accrediting body for Continuing Care Retirement Communities.

The private, gated community boasts wooded grounds, protected and beautiful outdoor spaces, a caring staff, on-site residentcentered nursing care, and a mission-focused environment for adults age 62 and older. As a Life Plan Community, St. Catherine’s Village provides the right care at the right time through independent living in apartments and garden homes, assisted living in Marian Hall, memory care in Campbell Cove, and skilled nursing in Hughes Center, Siena Center and Tuscany.

To learn more about the newly released Memory Care residences in Campbell Cove, call 601-856-0123 to schedule a tour. Or visit online at any time at StCatherinesVillage.com. Y

Your retirement reading list

“Education is the best provision for old age.” - Aristotle

Education is essential for old age because it reduces memory loss and keeps cognitive skills sharp. Many community colleges offer arts, computer, cooking, and ﬁtness classes. There are ballroom dancing, bridge, and ﬁnancial courses about retirement planning or Social Security and Medicare. Churches provide Bible studies, mission endeavors, and teaching or tutoring opportunities.

But what class can you take to help you navigate growing older, make wise decisions, and ﬁnish well?

A syllabus to follow

Jesus is our Teacher, and He wrote our syllabus, the scriptures (John 1:1). The Word promises to give us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). The Word of God is our foundation and go-to for how to live, decision making (Proverbs 3:5-6), guidance (Psalm 25:4-5), wisdom (Proverbs 9:10), and truth (John 14:6).

We would be wise to study Psalm 90 and pray verse 12 daily: “Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts” (HCSB).

One of my favorite passages is from the book of Isaiah: “Even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you” (46:4, NKJV).

The older we grow, the more saturated our minds need to be with God’s Word. We never stop learning. His Word is living and active, meets our daily needs, and brings comfort and encouragement.

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Don’t waste the youth sports season!

With fall quickly approaching, many families with young kids will find themselves flocking to ball fields and courts throughout Mississippi. Sports certainly have the attention of our culture. Research shows that over 50 percent of kids aged 6-17 participate in sports regularly. That means 250,000 to 300,000 Mississippi children and their families are regularly involved and invested in sport.

Athletics are a great gift from God. Like any gift, they can be used to enjoy Him and point others to Him. However, as we have experienced, sports can also be used as a wedge: between us and God, between us and family, and between us and friends. There’s no shortage of videos and articles depicting the ugly that sports can bring out of us.

Now more than ever, families need help navigating youth sports. If we let it, sports will build into our children (and reinforce in the adults) a me-centered life. It can become an idol that pits fathers against sons, mothers against daughters, friends against friends, all in the name of a game. So how do we make sure not to waste this

season? It can be an incredible time of investment into our kids and families. It can also be a season full of great witness to the community around us. As we embark on another season, here are two questions to consider to ensure we don’t miss the opportunity God has laid in front of us:

“ Now more than ever, families need help navigating youth sports. If we let it, sports will build into our children (and reinforce in the adults) a me-centered life. It can become an idol.”

1. What message will I communicate to my young athlete? Our kids will be susceptible to believe that their success or lack thereof deﬁnes who they are as individuals. This is not helped when the most trusted adults in their lives affirm this by the way we respond to their athletic

performance. Parents should be vigilant to make sure our kids know that our love and support of them is not dependent on their athletic performance. Over time, this voice will build them into strong and conﬁdent young men and women. (And better athletes, too!)

2. What message will I communicate to the world? Christian families who are involved in sports should see this season as an incredible opportunity for kingdom impact and consider ways to reach this community of people God has placed in our lives. The dramatic highs and lows of sports will squeeze us and put our faith to the test. John 13:35 says, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Let’s pray that God would change our perspective to see sport as a great gift and vehicle to enjoy Him and point others to Him. Don’t waste this season! Y

Kiel Higginbotham is the state director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) in Mississippi. He also directs the FCA Force baseball and softball clubs. He and his wife, Lara, live in Brandon with their two boys, Jett (10) and Lake (6).

Faith in education

8 teachers and coaches on their calling, how God has moved, and their hopes for students and parents

MCL Editor Katie Ginn recently interviewed eight teachers and coaches from metro-area independent schools. These leaders discussed why they do what they do, how they’ve seen God move in their students’ lives, and what they want students (and parents!) to know. For the full interview, listen to MCL’s “A Closer Walk” podcast by searching for “Mississippi Christian Living” on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

WHO THEY ARE

Mary Margaret Boudreaux: Upper-school math teacher and math department chair, St. Andrew’s Episcopal School

Jesse Taylor: Head boys’ basketball coach, upper-school Bible teacher, Jackson Academy

Josh Glidewell: Lower-school Bible teacher, school chaplain, head junior high /assistant varsity basketball coach, Jackson Prep

Tyler Thiessen: Assistant athletic director, sixth-grade Bible teacher, junior-high girls’ basketball coach, Christ Covenant School

Erick Lofton: Seventh-grade Mississippi Studies teacher, head freshman /assistant varsity baseball coach, assistant junior-high football coach, Madison-Ridgeland Academy

Pack Toler: Offensive coordinator, eighth-grade Bible teacher, Hartﬁeld Academy

Marilyn Sawyer: First-grade teacher, The Redeemer’s School

Kendal Waters: Third-grade teacher, First Presbyterian Day School

WHAT THEY SAID

Thank you to Fondren Church Senior Pastor Robert Green for letting us use his fabulous study for this interview, and thank you to the church for providing the perfect space for the cover shot!

Katie Ginn: How did each of you decide to go into teaching or coaching?

Erick Lofton: I was coming out of high school and college at the time when Tony Dungy was becoming a big deal, and Hugh Freeze was taking over at Ole Miss — before all of his extracurriculars came out — just seeing (how) they could win at football while also putting their faith on display was really cool for me. (It was) what I wanted to be for my students.

Kendal Waters: I love children. And I feel like children have a bigger role than they even know ... And I want them to know just how beautifully and wonderfully they are made. … I look at my classroom as a mission ﬁeld.

Jesse Taylor: We’re from Chattanooga.

About six years ago, we felt the Lord was stirring us up to make a move. … and we got a call from Jackson Academy. A coaching spot opened up.

What they were looking for was a youth pastor type. I had played basketball at Mississippi College. When I got that call, it was kind of a shock. Then immediately when I told my wife about it, she was like, this is it. It was just immediate peace.

Tyler Thiessen: Coming out of college, I knew I loved sports. I played basketball in college. I knew the impact my coaches had on me, both the high school and college level — as well as my teachers.

Before Christ Covenant, I was at Reformed University Fellowship at Belhaven as an intern. I was weighing the idea of pursuing seminary-trained ministry or counseling, or working in athletics.

Christ Covenant came along … and I got to see the impact you could have on kids.

Mary Margaret Boudreaux: I went into teaching because I was extremely fortunate to have a fabulous math teacher from 10th through 12th grade who inspired in me for the ﬁrst time a love of that content and made it come alive so much that I wanted to study it and share it with other people. She had this way of making students feel capable, like they didn’t have a ceiling.

Pack Toler: I had a desk job that I didn’t really enjoy, didn’t find fulfilling. … I (had) played for some great coaches who were really good men. David Horner and Ricky Black were hugely influential in my life.

I actually called David (now head of

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Actually, it wasn’t luck at all.

Congratulations to our students, teachers, coaches, and alumni whose hard work paid off.

“My teachers, they weren’t my teachers — they became my counselors, my friends, my mama at school,” said Marilyn Sawyer.

school at Hartﬁeld), because he was my basketball coach, and I wasn’t calling for a job — I was just asking, do you think this is something I would enjoy, that would be a good ﬁt? A week later, he called me back and said there was actually a teacher that just left, and they had an opening. … I got to be back around sports and be around kids.

Marilyn Sawyer: My pull started when I was a child. My grandmother couldn’t read, so my family hired a tutor. But of course they had to work, and I was the youngest, so I had to go to the tutor with my grandmother.

What I saw that lady do for my grandmother was outstanding. … I was able to see what she was doing and then go home and mimic it. ‘Come on, Grandma, trace the “A.”‘

Also, when I was 12 or 13, my brother was murdered. But my teachers, they weren’t my teachers — they became my counselors, my friends, my mama at school. The way the Lord moved them to show me so much love, I wanted to be that too.

Josh Glidewell: I was a youth pastor for 10-plus years and just really felt like that door had closed. … I knew I loved teaching

“When I got that call (from JA), it was kind of a shock … (then) immediate peace,” said Jesse Taylor.

the Bible, and teaching in general, and coaching. I had been around sports my whole life.

I had a passion for the next generation, to help them be all that God has called them to be. Teaching and coaching have given me that opportunity … the impact that I can have (in a) short period of time really is what motivates me.

KG: How have y’all seen God move in the lives of your students and athletes?

EL: Fourth of July week, I got to go and be with a group of 40 to 50 kids from our school through Madison County Young Life. (We) got to be on the mountain, phones away. Seeing guys you’ve spent so many hours with start to just pull the veil back and be more vulnerable with each other, it’s just really cool — especially for that kid that’s so quiet, but on night four, there’s a little bit of redness in the eye, the tear, and he begins to share.

KW: Something that happened this year that stuck out to me, one of my students came here from another country, and this was the ﬁrst time he’d heard about Jesus. … He went home and taught his mother how to pray, and she became a Christian. She asked the Lord into her heart.

JT: There was a group that came last year to the Brandon Amphitheater and shared (at the Go Tell crusade). That kind of changed how we were approaching our teams. Almost our entire team went with us. It was voluntary. Then I saw a couple of them being vulnerable with each other, with the coaching staff.

From a classroom standpoint … we talk about apologetics a lot in our class, because I feel like that college age kind of gets away from the church and you have questions that you don’t have answers for. A couple years ago, I got an email from a (former) student: ‘What was that guy we used to listen to, and what were his points?’ It was just refreshing to hear ... Some of these things come up a couple years later when they’re a sophomore in college.

TT: Teaching sixth-graders from Genesis through Revelation, going through every book of the Bible (this year), I watched their questions change throughout the year. They’re different people by the end of

sixth grade. I’ve watched their questions change from, ‘Why did God create Adam and Eve?’ or ‘Why did they sin?’ to teaching them the gospel and they’re seeing, ‘Oh, this impacts the way I live my life today.’

MMB: I think I see it the most in the informal moments with students, especially with students that you’ve had a long relationship with. Maybe class has started but you’re not actually starting the lesson right on time. You allow a little bit of space there for catching up. It can be really surprising and also encouraging the things they’ll talk about when there’s not structure — (and) they’ll ask big questions. And I see that as a sign that the Holy Spirit is softening their hearts.

PT: I get the pleasure of leading our senior mission trip every spring break to go to the Dominican Republic ... Getting to see the difference in these kids I had (in class) as eighth-graders, and then take them on a senior mission trip, they’re not even the same kids. That has been amazing. Twelve of the students each of the last two years have gotten baptized.

“Teaching sixth-graders (the Bible this year) … They’re different people by the end of sixth grade,” said Tyler Thiessen.

MS: As a ﬁrst-grade teacher, I wonder if they’re processing (scripture). One time we had them write a paragraph, which for a ﬁrst-grader is like two sentences. The

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prompt said, ‘What is love to you?’ When the assignment came back, (one student’s paper) had nothing on it. I pulled him to the side and said, ‘Baby, what’s love?’ He was like, ‘I don’t know.’

So I took him to the scripture of 1st John where it teaches that God is love. And I showed him where it said love is a deed. And I would say something when he would do acts of love in the classroom — because he was doing it and didn’t realize it. Like if a student forgot to bring a snack, he’d be one of the ﬁrst ones to say, ‘Ms. Sawyer, can I share mine?’

Then I came back to the question and said, ‘Now what is love?’ and he said, ‘Love is when you give somebody that don’t have food, food. Love is when my mama washes my clothes. Love is when God sent His Son to die for me.’

JG: We started our chapel for the ﬁrst time for our middle-school and upper school. It’s not mandatory. I had little faith we would have anybody show up that ﬁrst time in January. (But) I walked in there and it was packed. (One) thing I see in the younger generation is just a desire and passion for the Lord.

“A lot of (eighth-graders) want to be the best athlete (or) best-looking … (but if you think) I want to be a loving husband, a loving father, a generous person … what we need to be doing now is developing those character traits,” said Pack Toler.

KG: What’s one thing you wish your students understood that seems to be a challenge for them?

JG: Balancing their life to where they’re not stressed. I think one of the biggest things I see today with kids is, they’re just exhausted from busyness. … They’ve got to ﬁgure out how they can not only do well in the classroom but how they can grow spiritually and excel on the athletic ﬁeld.

MS: For ﬁrst-graders, it would be their mindsets. Parents sometimes don’t understand how words have so much power. (The kids) come to me, and I have to shift their mindsets from ‘I can’t’ to ‘I can.’ I have to ask the Lord to help me.

PT: With eighth grade, the biggest struggle is getting them to understand how important this time is. A lot of them are only concerned with — they want to be the best athlete, they want to be the bestlooking, they want to make a bunch of friends and make sure that certain person is interested in them … (but) character

doesn’t just show up when you’re an adult. It’s formed through years and years.

If you’re able to look forward (and think) I want to be a loving husband, a loving father, a generous person … what we need to be doing now is developing those character traits.

MMB: I think the number-one thing that I want my students to know is that their value is not based on their academic or athletic performance, but that they have inherent value because they are children of God made in His image. And that is so hard.

It’s the kids who do the best in school or in sports that struggle with this the most. So then when they experience failure, they’re having this identity crisis. So more than anything, I just want them to know they are loved deeply by our Father — and that it is good to pursue excellence, but all of that is to be for God’s glory and not for themselves, and that they can rest.

TT: There are two things: One, coolness

doesn’t exist. It’s just a construct of the mind. We rank ourselves (but) it means nothing. They need to relax and be willing to be vulnerable and be goofy. Whatever they have that they think makes them cool, that’s a misplaced identity. Also, the kids that think they’re at the bottom … they need to know they matter just as much, because their identity is in Christ.

Also, moving from (head knowledge) to a real deep trust in that God that they know created them.

JT: In Hebrews 12, where it talks about laying aside every hindrance or sin — something that can (help them) is, are you spending four hours on TikTok at night? It doesn’t have to be just sin that keeps you from following Christ. It can be things that you wouldn’t view as (inherently) sinful.

KW: One thing I want my students to know is not only that I love them, but just how deep the Father’s love is for them … That frees them up to be the person that God has called them to be.

EL: The biggest thing I see and try to restructure with their thinking is … that resumé, work hard mindset that our kids are getting. You’ve got to stand out, you’ve got to do more, you’ve got to make yourself better than everybody else. And that bleeds over into their walk with Christ, where it feels like they’re constantly failing.

(Our kids have) the anxiety of, I’m never going to reach where my momma wants me to be, or where my daddy wants me to be, or where my coach wants me to be. But at the end of the day, that’s not how God views us. He died while we were still sinners. It wasn’t that He waited for us to take a shower and change clothes and look good.

KG: What’s one thing you wish parents knew?

EL: It’s not that it’s not a good thing for (students) to be told, hey, you need to work hard ... But this past week (at Young Life), listening to my guys, that was where the majority of them were just so fearful of failure. So just continuing to encourage them that our failures God can always turn to His glory.

KW: For parents, just that each child is different. They’re all going to grow and change at their own rate, and just to celebrate where they do things wonderfully and don’t fret too much on their failures. And speaking as a parent, just how big of a role parents play in pointing their children

toward Jesus, being a disciple maker. Children learn by telling them, but they learn more by showing them.

JT: As a coach, I’d love for parents to understand that it is OK for your son or daughter to be uncomfortable. (There’s)

“The number-one thing that I want my students to know is that their value is not based on their academic or athletic performance,” said Mary Margaret Boudreaux.

“It’s not that it’s not a good thing for (students) to be told, hey, you need to work hard ... (But that’s) where the majority of them (are) so fearful of failure. (Parents need) to encourage them that our failures God can always turn to His glory,” said Erick Lofton.

not a coach that I’ve met around this Jackson metro area that does not care about the kids. But those coaches are tasked to win a game, right? So it is OK to allow those moments of adversity for their growth.

TT: That our kids really are some awesome kids. We really do love working with your kids. And as believers, we can trust that the Holy Spirit is working in these kids’ lives. … even through hard questions. We don’t have to run away from the questions. We know God’s Word is true.

MMB: Sometimes when I talk to parents (they’ll say things like) ‘They don’t have enough self-control.’ (Or) ‘It’s like they’re not motivated.’ And I’ll say, ‘Gosh — it sounds like they’re a teenager.’ I want to encourage parents that it’s OK that your teenager is acting like a teenager — because they’re not through yet.

PT: That we’re in this together. If we’re both following Christ, then our goal for the student is exactly the same. Being a parent is difficult. It’s difficult being a teacher. It’s difficult dealing with teenagers.

“If the best that my student can do is to get a B, let’s celebrate that (when they do it),” said Josh Glidewell.

So just them knowing we’re in this together.

MS: That ‘no’ is an answer. If a teacher is correcting a child, it’s not in hate. It’s

because I know their potential. If I never tell little Johnny that 2 + 2 doesn’t equal 5, he’s going to say, ‘Well, Ms. Sawyer didn’t say anything, so it must be right.’

JG: This is a lesson that I’m also learning as a parent of two kids — that it’s OK to mess up and fail. That doesn’t deﬁne them as a person. On the basketball court, if they make a turnover, or on a test instead of getting a 95, my son will freak out if he gets an 89 — that doesn’t make him any less of a person.

If all we ever teach our kids is that you failed, you messed up, they’re going to begin to think, ‘I’m not allowed to do that.’ But in our jobs, we’re going to mess up ... There’s all these times in coaching where (I think), ‘I wish I would’ve done this,’ but that doesn’t deﬁne me.

We want to see our kids succeed. (But) if the best that my student can do is to get a B, let’s celebrate that. We can’t be good at everything. Y

Read more encouragement from other metroarea teachers and coaches starting on page 40.

BRIGHT MINDS

More metro teachers and coaches weigh in: Encouragement for parents as the school year approaches

Gage Posey, head football coach, Canton Academy

Most educators probably start getting more questions from parents when summer starts winding down. Parents have so much to think about when it comes to their children’s routines, and I’ve realized they’re afraid their child won’t have what they need because of something their parents didn’t do.

My high-school football coach and now good friend and coworker, Tripp McCarty, shared this quote with me: ‘Prepare the child for the road; don’t prepare the road for the child.’ It’s natural for us to try to make things easier for our kids, but it’s our job to equip them, not make their path smoother. Learning how to navigate obstacles makes our kids better students, athletes, and people.

Teachers and coaches aren’t always great at communicating how they feel about their students and/or athletes. If parents realized how much we love their children, they would rest easier. We don’t always make decisions that everybody likes, but anyone I know in education is making decisions daily that they think are best for their students — and most of them are probably praying for those kids every night.

Kids today struggle with insecurity because of social media. To them it seems everyone else is getting drafted, getting that scholarship, looking great, and enjoying a perfect family. Kids are comparing themselves more than ever, which is

causing them to lose their identity. We adults know that God created us all uniquely, and we need to be teaching kids to embrace their distinct God-given traits. I hope my students and players leave the classroom or ﬁeld knowing that the best thing we can do is to be who God intended us to be.

One of the most important things parents can do is encourage their children to have a grateful perspective. The way kids look at things usually determines how they act. If our perspective is focused on being grateful in EVERY situation, we start seeing God’s beauty on the smooth and hard roads. What grounds me when things aren’t going my way in coaching is remembering that I have the greatest job in the world and being grateful for that.

The winning teams aren’t always the most ‘coached up’ teams. The team holding the championship trophy is usually the team that believes the most in themselves, their school, the coaching staff, and their community. That starts with parents who love them and let them navigate hard roads. My experience is that almost every parent is doing the best they know how. Parents should give themselves and their kids some grace and not wear themselves out trying to make the road smooth.

Parents should also know that their children’s teachers and coaches hear the voices of those who parented and coached us. My Papaw Stark, the most kindhearted man I’ve ever known, would remind me, ‘Kindness is not debatable in any situation. It is always right to be kind.’ Sometimes that takes humbling myself, whether it’s a winning or tough season. 1 Peter 5:6-7 says, ‘Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.’

Whether your children are on the smooth or hard road today, you are not the only one looking out for them. Their coaches and teachers are too, and so is God, who is way more in control than any of us.

David Parker, athletic director and head football coach, Clinton Christian Academy

As a new school year begins, I strongly advise parents to incorporate prayer into their routine with their children. Teaching them to pray for their teachers, friends, and themselves is crucial for their spiritual development. By encouraging children to bring all aspects of their lives to God in prayer, parents help instill a lifelong habit that nurtures their faith.

Additionally, parents should pray for their children’s teachers, coaches, administrators, and peers. This not only shows support for their child’s academic and social environment but also helps alleviate parental anxieties.

Praying together as a family, whether on the way to school or at bedtime, strengthens bonds and creates a safe space for children to share their concerns openly. This practice fosters trust and openness within the family, making it easier for children to discuss any challenges they may face.

Ultimately, integrating prayer into daily life teaches children the importance of seeking spiritual guidance and support in all circumstances. It’s a lesson that builds resilience and fosters a deeper connection to their faith, beneﬁting them throughout their lives.

(Article continues on page 42)

Grace Asagunla, middle-school math teacher and volleyball/ tennis coach, Hillcrest Christian School

We are heading into the new school year with excitement and hope for all that God has planned! We are lifting you, our HCS parents, up in prayer as we work together toward shining the light of Christ in every child’s life!

Preston Gordon, high-school principal, Discovery Christian School

Parents, as you seek to guide your children this school year, I encourage you to include these as top priorities: Pray for your children. Praise character over performance. Protect your children from sin, but not from adversity.

‘Endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope’ (Romans 5:4).

Jessica Gregory, fifth- and sixthgrade math and science teacher, Mt. Salus Christian School

As a parent and teacher, I begin to feel anxiety rise as summer’s end gets closer. Someone said anxiety is thinking of the future without seeing the grace and love of Christ in it. This helps me put my worries into perspective. Things will always happen that we are not expecting. The kids will still get sick. There will still be homework. Someone will be sad, and the year might still be challenging. However, we can know the love and grace of Jesus Christ is already

World-class biblical education. Right here in Mississippi.

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abounding in everything that will come our way this school year.

Proverbs 12:25 says, ‘Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.’ So, here is your good word for this school year: God has it under control! He will give us what we need. Jesus is already there extending His help to us (Hebrews 4:16). So as anxiety rises, replace it with Truth, knowing that God’s promise is that He will be with us through it all!

states, “Imprint these words of mine on your hearts and minds, bind them as a sign on your hands, and let them be a symbol on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Be active in spiritual education and worship in your home.

Finally, one of the most important pieces of armor in the Christian battle is prayer. Pray for your children every day that they are making good, godly decisions. Let them ‘catch’ you praying for the concerns in your life. And then pray with your family, giving thanks always to God for His many blessings.

John Clendinning, high-school English teacher and STAR Teacher 2024, Park Place Christian Academy

Raising children in this darkening world can be overwhelming in comparison to the problems we faced as students. Take heart, for God, who ordained the concept of family, is the same today, yesterday, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). It is now more important than ever to raise families that will make a difference in this world. Here are three steps that may help you equip your student for this world.

First, be sure that you are providing solid Christian leadership in your home. In Titus 2:7, Paul writes, “Set an example of good works yourself, with integrity and dignity in your teaching.” As parents, are we the image of Christ that we want our children to see, to imitate?

Second, be involved in your children’s education. Our students spend almost 9,000 hours in school from kindergarten through eighth grade, and parents should not assume that student education should be left solely to the teachers (edweek.com). Additionally, parents should not leave spiritual education to pastors, Sunday school/ life group teachers, or youth ministers. Deuteronomy 11:18

Matthew Sigler, theology teacher and assistant varsity baseball coach, St. Joseph Catholic School

As Christian parents, you have the opportunity to watch your children grow academically and spiritually.

We as Christian teachers have been given a massive gift, the responsibility of being catechists to students, and I can assure parents that this is not taken lightly. Our faith offers a foundation of values that guide our interactions and decision making, and we strive to be role models for our students every day.

As a coach, my faith has also played a large role outside the classroom. Through prayer and reﬂection, I ﬁnd the resilience to overcome challenges and maintain a positive outlook.

As this school year begins, we recall why we chose a Christian education for our children. Lord, please watch over our students and educators as we begin this journey. Fill our hearts with Your love. Remind us that all we do is to glorify You. Thank You, Lord, for Christian education. Y

Your favorite public school teachers and coaches

Public school educators and coaches are some of the hardest-working individuals we know, and we asked YOU to name your favorites. Read on to meet just a few of Mississippi’s brightest lights — and be on the lookout next year to submit YOUR tributes!

Jennifer Adams is a choir teacher at Germantown Middle School who allows the love of Jesus to shine through her. Even when she is challenged with things that contradict her beliefs, she responds in Love. Her love of the Lord is why she serves her students so well!

– Jeff and Pam Miley, small group leaders

My mother, Stephanie Housley, has taught at the Rankin County School District for many years as a family and consumer science teacher. She has a passion for serving others and exempliﬁes hospitality to those at her workplace and in the community.

– Anna Claire O’Cain, daughter

Emma Couch, computer science teacher at Lovett Elementary School (in Clinton), is not only the most incredible teacher but she loves each one of her students and shows them the love of Christ without even having to say His name!

– Jarred Couch, husband

When people hear the name Melanie Hardy (sixth-grade math and science teacher at Yazoo County Middle School), it’s usually followed by, ‘Oh, she was my favorite teacher,’ or ‘She’s the sweetest person ever.’ When I hear her name, I think loving mother, tremendous educator, and God-fearing Christian. She is the individual I strive to be like every day.

– Sarah Elizabeth Hardy, daughter

There’s no doubt about it — teaching is hard. But as followers of Christ, the way teachers deal with these challenges should be radically different than how everyone else does. As the Brandon High School FCA sponsor, Scott Huskey promotes building strong character and establishing relationships with other Christians to hold one another accountable.

– Teresa Howell, parent of BHS student

Coach Scott Huskey shined for Christ in many ways on the ﬁeld. As a girl who was on his cross-country team, he created many examples of what having a relationship with Christ is like. We would always pray for strength and positivity before our races to be able to run for Christ in the right manner. Him also being a leader for Christ on the ﬁeld meant that he was also creating a Christ-like team by glorifying God.

– Savannah Martin, BHS Class of 2024

“ Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

– Proverbs 22:6

Ronald Huddleston’s heart for God, the students, and the parents he served was evident from our ﬁrst interaction. His nurturing yet structured demeanor with students encourages them to be the best God intends for their lives. As principal of Midtown Public Charter School, he goes beyond a name on a teacher’s roster and sees students as individuals who will contribute positively to their community. He is a leader led by God.

– Tonja Murphy, former coworker

Tonia Kersh of Northside

Elementary in Pearl is not afraid to talk about her faith in front of staff or students. She is able to touch so many students in a positive way. She retired last year, but she still does long-term subbing, and she will always be a legend at Northside!

– Dr. Teena Welborn, former coworker

My precious daughter is a fourthgeneration teacher who loves her students (eighth-grade U.S. history at Olde Towne Middle School) and shows them the love of Jesus through everything she does. She goes above and beyond to show each student how much she cares for them. Carney Holloway Lomas is living out her calling!

– Suzanne Hollingshead, mother

I was Lindsey Robinson’s admin in Simpson County. She loved her students! She went above and beyond to get test scores high while keeping Christian values. She was the sweetest to everyone: parents, students, fellow teachers. She portrayed Christian values with everything she did and said. She now teaches eighth-grade science at Raleigh High.

– Dr. Teena Welborn, former coworker

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The pledge card and the book deal

On August 27, 2023, my church had been doing a fundraising campaign challenge. And as clear as day, before the sermon started on the day we were to make our pledges, I heard God telling me to say that I would give my ﬁrst book advance to the church.

Context: I have been a writer all my life, professionally since 2000. I had spent the past year sending a collection of short stories, titled “Hurricane Baby,” to 69 small-press publishers. I didn’t have a literary agent; it was just me, my book, and a longheld dream. I only had two publishers left on my list. Then I was going to quit writing for good. No more wasting time on dreams.

Very rarely had God spoken to me directly like this. But I wrestled with this word throughout the service. Was I trying to manipulate God into doing something that wasn’t in His will for me? Was I selﬁshly asking Him to bless my efforts at publication but dressing it up in religious language? In the end, I just obeyed by writing what God said onto the card and dropping it into the offering box.

On September 10, 2023, we came back from Sunday school, and I saw an email on my phone from Madville Publishing of Lake Dallas, Texas. I had sent my manuscript to them on August 15, and they said it would be a few weeks before I heard back from them.

I was bracing for a rejection.

Instead, Kimberly Davis, the publisher, told me the press loved the book and wanted to publish it in August 2024, and she told me the terms of their standard contract.

I sat there stunned until my husband, Bob, walked by. I said, “I sold ‘Hurricane Baby.’” I told Bob the story of the pledge card. I wrote my pastor to tell him the story and that I’d be giving the first earnings check since I did not get an advance. He emailed back, “When the Lord led the Israelites into the Promised Land, He specifically told them to dedicate the city of Jericho to Him. … Their obedience to giving Him the first ‘proceeds’ of the land opened the door to Him giving them the blessings from the rest of the Land.”

I feel like another promise from scripture has been fulﬁlled in me: “May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.” - Psalm 20:4, NIV.

Happy reading, everyone! Y

“ I had spent the past year sending a collection of short stories (to) 69 smallpress publishers. I didn’t have a literary agent; it was just me, my book, and a long-held dream. I only had two publishers left on my list. Then I was going to quit writing for good.”

Julie Liddell Whitehead lives and writes from Mississippi. An award-winning freelance writer, Julie has covered disasters from 9/11 to Hurricane Katrina. She writes on mental health, mental health education, and mental health advocacy. She has a bachelor’s degree in communication with a journalism emphasis, and a master’s degree in English, both from Mississippi State University. In August 2021, she completed her MFA from Mississippi University for Women. Meet Julie at her signing at Lemuria Books in Jackson on August 24, and purchase “Hurricane Baby” at MadvillePublishing.com.

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.

Shelter for the soul

We were building a gazebo in July in Mississippi. The heat was oppressive, and it was a cloudless weekend without a wisp of wind. In those conditions, just standing outside can be draining, but we were constructing a slab with no shade while working with metal, large timber posts, and sheets of tin rooﬁng. A couple of fans and a bottle of sunscreen offered only moderate relief.

It was a coming together of friends, neighbors, craftsmen and other people who are in addiction recovery with one mission in mind. The rear porch area of the main building at Harbor House Chemical Dependency Center was simply an open space with a concrete pad, which was certainly not inviting for relaxation or enjoyment. Being just outside of the rear door of the women’s unit, it had potential as a great area for a time out. The clients sometimes need a break from the process of consistently working on themselves and doing the work of ﬁnding sobriety and a new way of life. As the project was completed after weeks of preparation and two

A sweaty construction project provided a spiritual metaphor for columnist Chris Bates (second from left).

full days of work by the crew, we circled together for a prayer of thanks and dedication. All involved were exhausted but elated. That prayer included gratitude for the facility and program, for each of the lives that are impacted by the services there, and most speciﬁcally for impacted hearts for the many souls who will ﬁnd shelter, shade and rest under this new structure.

We all need shelter, shade, and rest. Today’s pace of life is too fast, and distractions are constant. Psalm 91 includes, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.’”

In truth, the adjustment of the pace of life is only part of the answer. One of the great rewards promised to us through the Word is entirely fulﬁlling rest. It is rest in Him, knowing that despite the world and life on life’s terms, we are under the shelter that takes care of our souls. Y

Chris Bates is CEO of AgoraEversole, a full service marketing agency in Jackson, and can be reached at Chris@AgoraEversole.com. He and his wife, Stacy, live in Madison and have adult children and three grand boys.

Immersive Religious Experiences Await at the Two Mississippi Museums

Groups of 10 or more are invited to attend the Museums for FREE

of Mississippi History

See a replica of Mount Helm Baptist Church, which was built in 1868 for African Americans who, prior to the Civil War, had worshipped in the basement of First Baptist Jackson. Mt. Helm is the oldest Black church in Jackson and has been available to worshippers for nearly two hundred years. A theater in the Museum’s church exhibit contains pews for visitors to sit on while viewing a highlight reel of Mississippi history from Reconstruction through the 1927 Mississippi River Flood.

The Two Mississippi Museums, the interconnected Museum of Mississippi History and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, stand as twin institutions dedicated to chronicling the complex and intertwined histories of Mississippi and its people. Within these museums, the treatment of religion is reflected, both its pivotal role in shaping the state’s cultural landscape and its intersection with broader social and political movements.

The Museums invite visitors to engage with the complexities of faith, identity, and social change in Mississippi’s history. Both museums in this Smithsonian-affiliated complex, which opened to national acclaim in December 2017 under the purview of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH), feature re-creations of church buildings that show short films about the state’s history:

Mississippi Civil Rights Museum

You can also watch a moving film about Freedom Summer 1964 while sitting in the pews of a rural church structure inside the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. While this exhibit space is not constructed to model a specific church, the structure represents the role that many Black churches played as community centers and schools during the Freedom Summer Project, and as a result were targets of white supremacist violence and destruction, particularly by firebombing. Despite the assumption that churches should be a safe space, over sixty Black churches were bombed in 1964, and church members were forced to gather outside in fields. The film shown inside this church exhibit—voiced by Oprah Winfrey—tells the story of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party and features visual and sound effects of bombings and fire.

Religious narratives within these museums are not confined to Christianity alone. They encompass a diverse array of spiritual practices and beliefs, reflecting Mississippi’s multicultural heritage and the contributions of Jewish, Muslim, and other religious communities.

Church groups or other religiously affiliated organizations of 10 or more can now visit the Two Mississippi Museums for free. The Museums also provide these same groups an opportunity use the event space at a discounted rate, including a large auditorium in between the two museums that could be ideal for a church banquet, pastor’s conference, or other event.

The Two Mississippi Museums offer much more than just a recounting of historical events. Visiting them is a profound experience that will resonate deeply with religious groups from various backgrounds.

For information on how to schedule a free visit to the Two Mississippi Museums for your church group, call 601.576.6902 or visit twommgrouptours@mdah.ms.gov. For information on discounted event rentals for faith-based organizations, call 601.576.3810 or email eventrentals@mdah.ms.gov. Made possible by a grant through Lilly Endowment’s Religion and Cultural Institutions Initiative.

Museum

OUT THE SCRIPTURES

“For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.”

~ PROVERBS 2:6, KJV

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

~ JAMES 1:5, KJV

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.”

~ EPHESIANS 1:17, NIV

“How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!”

~ PROVERBS 16:16, KJV

“Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

~ COLOSSIANS 4:5-6, KJV

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”

~ EPHESIANS 5:15-16, ESV

“Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.”

~ PROVERBS 13:3, ESV

“Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world’s standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise.”

~ 1 CORINTHIANS 3:18, NLT

“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”

~ PSALM 90:12, ESV

“Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.”

~ JAMES 3:13, ESV

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.”

~ MATTHEW 7:24, NLT

“Fear of the Lord teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor.”

~ PROVERBS 15:33, NLT

“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”

~ JAMES 3:17, KJV

“Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.”

~ DANIEL 12:10, NIV