Merry Christmas!
MCL’s Christian Leaders of the Year
What helps them live their call
● Bill & Becky Caldwell: Hostages for Jesus
● Why I’m an Uber evangelist
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
DISTRIBUTION ASSISTANTS
Nettie Williams, Jerri and Sammy Strickland, Rachel and Bob Whatley
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PHOTO BY STEGALL IMAGERY
From left: MCL Christian Leaders of the Year Gregg Divinity, Betty Hodge, Kate and Blaine Totty, and Altina Burton-Middleton shared their stories with MCL Editor Katie Ginn. See page 20.
Bonus tip: Dress up for movie night! I somehow convinced Stephen to start watching the Western miniseries “Lonesome Dove” with me, so we had to get a photo that was “on theme.”
10 ways to add color to dark days
Well, it finally happened. Before we even “fell back” at the end of Daylight Savings Time, Stephen and I were driving home in the dark one evening, and I felt the existential dread seep in. In the shorter days of fall and winter, when the sunshine is sparse, I sometimes feel a bit of depression.
Mine is a mild case. I have a friend who purchased a special light and sits in front of it each evening at this time of year in an effort to avoid the blues.
Wherever you fall on the seasonal affective disorder (SAD) spectrum — or even if you’ve never felt that gray blanket of gloom settle over you — here are 10 tips to add life and “color” to our physically dark seasons.
1. Go outside, even when it’s cloudy. A little vitamin D is better than none at all!
2. Listen to Christmas music! Even though Jesus probably wasn’t born on December 25, it’s fitting that we celebrate His birthday at the darkest time of year, as His light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it (John 1:5). Also, when you turn on the Nat King Cole, sing along. According to Sing Up Foundation, when you sing, endorphins and oxytocin are released. “Oxytocin enhances feelings of trust and bonding, which explains reports that singing improves depression and feelings of loneliness.”
3. Host a game night if you can. If your calendar is already stuffed, simply inject a good old-fashioned game of Monopoly (or charades, or whatever) into your next gettogether. Stephen and I did this with his family a few months ago, and I felt like a kid with no responsibilities.
4. Stay on a steady diet of prayer and scripture. I might only take 15 minutes each day to sit on the back patio (see tip number one), breathe, talk with God, and read a bit of His Word. But those 15 minutes can give me a better outlook and prepare me for whatever is ahead. God’s presence and His Word are sweeter than anything else on this list!
5. If you can, buy yourself a Christmas gift. Maybe this sounds selfish. Maybe some of you don’t need this directive. But personally, I can’t remember the last time I bought a frivolous article of clothing, and sometimes
a pretty outfit can make the dreary days look brighter.
6. Read a good book. The night of November 5, I curled up with a collection of late author Jim Harrison’s nonfiction. While Stephen watched election returns, I was breathing the open air with Harrison while he described flushing grouse in Michigan or fishing for tarpon in the Florida Keys. (No, I had never seen either of those creatures before.) Need to escape holiday stress, or decompress from political vitriol for 30 minutes? Read about something completely different.
7. Try a new recipe. My tendency to cook the same thing over and over (and over) hasn’t always been great for my mental health. Thankfully, Stephen has broken me of that humdrum habit. What’s one dish you’ve always wanted to cook? Google an easy version, and spice up your kitchen routine.
8. Spend time with animals. According to Children’s Hospital New Orleans, “Petting or playing with (pets) has been shown to release endorphins and promote relaxation.” I wouldn’t suggest adopting a pet simply because the days are dreary — not unless you really want to care for said pet the rest of the year. But if you don’t have a pet and don’t want one right now, see if there’s a local shelter (such as Webster Animal Shelter in Madison) where you can visit furry friends.
9. Go for a drive. Take the family — or not. Maybe ask your spouse to watch the kids. You could tool around looking at Christmas lights or venture onto a country road for a change of scenery.
10. Get active! In the words of Elle Woods of “Legally Blonde”: “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. And happy people just don’t kill their husbands.” The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends 150 minutes of “moderate” aerobic activity or 75 minutes of “vigorous” aerobic activity per week. But even 10-minute sessions throughout the day can make a difference. So find something active you can enjoy. It doesn’t have to be a traditional “exercise” as long as it gets your heart rate up! Y
Katie Ginn katie@mschristianliving.com
How will you slow down this
season?
he Christmas season is upon us! Christians will celebrate the birth of our risen Savior, Christ our It is such a joyous season — and for Christians, one of peace, as we reflect on the promise of what that perfect baby in a manger represents.
This Holiday Season, Try Giving the Gift of Fincial Peace
But obligation, commercialism, and the busyness of the season can rob us of the opportunity to reflect and enjoy this fleeting moment. The dull roar of the December to-do list in our heads can
So how do we slow down? How do we pull the emergency brake on the chaos carousel that is spinning us between parties, programs, presents, and more? Here are some things I’m trying this Christmas season to slow down with my family and embrace our time together.
Skip the Christmas movies — grab a book instead
Personally, watching a movie with my kids turns into a frenzied, clumsy reenactment of a cage match from the ‘90s. So this year, we’re skipping it. We will check out a few Christmas-themed books from the library and spend the month of December reading together. It may not happen every night, but it will create a moment of simplicity, and the kids will get a kick out of animating our voices to match the characters. Your family can also work through the book of Luke this month, paying particular attention to the birth of Christ.
Whether you’re helping someone from church clean up their yard, volunteering at a soup kitchen, or making paper ornaments for your neighbors, find a way to serve this season as a family. This doesn’t have to be complex or chaotic. A simple gesture will allow your family to experience the joy of giving to others in any capacity. By doing this, your family can live out Matthew 5:16 — “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Set down the screens
Every television show will have a Christmas special. Susan on Instagram will crack out her iconic decorations again, and TikTok will feature all the holiday hacks. But the constant consumption of information overloads us! Even if we’re sitting quietly while we scroll, we’re not present in the moment. We’re zoned out and missing the life in front of us. Set down the screens and slip out of the social media cycle for a bit this Christmas. Take the tablets away from the kids and work on Christmas crafts or cookies instead. Take this time to look at the real, meaningful gifts bestowed upon us daily. These are the gifts worth praising God over; He’s the original gift giver, as stated in James 1:17 — “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
How will you slow down this season? 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.
Take time to look back before 2025
As I write, there are less than 50 days till the last day of 2024. Whew! But before you rush into the new year with your daily planner, pen, and stickers, let’s take a moment to look back over the past 12 months. Because this column is called Redefining Retirement, we will use words beginning with the letter “R” as we review the year.
Reflect
When we reach a particular stage in life, some of us can’t remember what we did yesterday, let alone 11 months ago. That is why it is good to keep a journal or a log. Now, let’s do a little memory exercise.
Write down five of your most memorable events for the year — for example, one of my items is my granddaughter’s wedding in April. Next, list five of your most significant challenges. Perhaps you or a family member have had a health crisis, the loss of a loved one, the transition to retirement, finances, or tough decisions.
“Brethren,
How did you see God at work through the things you listed? What did you learn? How did He provide?
Rejoice
Scriptures tell us we are to rejoice always. Take a moment to read the book of Philippians and highlight the word. The book was written by Paul, who celebrated even while enduring great suffering. As you recap your year, ponder on the goodness of God in your life.
No matter what you and I are going through, as Christ followers, the Lord promises He will never leave or forsake us. Rejoice! Furthermore, the scriptures do not promise smooth sailing. We are to be grateful for all things. Why? Because they grow our faith, trust, and obedience.
I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
– Philippians 3:14, NKJV
Restart
Paul looked back, but he didn’t stay there. We can’t change the past, but we can grow from our experiences, repent of our sins, rise above our failures, and celebrate our victories — all because of God’s grace.
Only God knows what each day will bring next year. But every morning, His mercies are new (Lamentations 3:23). He has a purpose for us to fulfill. Psalm 90:12 reminds us to live wisely because life is short.
Refresh
In Mark 6:30-34, Jesus told the disciples to go to a deserted place and rest alone. They needed a time of refreshment. Why? So they would be ready for additional ministry. We need to do the same.
During the last week of December, try to carve out a designated spot and time to pray, plan, and prepare for the days ahead. Grab that calendar or daily planner to mark those appointments, vacations, exercise, holidays, and celebrations. But also set aside time each quarter to be alone with the Lord. In the hustle and bustle of our to-do lists, we need time to pull away and be refreshed.
Renew
As I read articles about aging, the number one priority before exercise and healthy eating is to saturate your heart, soul, and mind with the Word. Do you have a reading plan? You can create your plan, use the chronological Bible, or use the M’Cheyne Reading Plan. I use The Five Day Bible Reading Plan (FiveDayBibleReading.com).
Years ago, based on a friend’s suggestion, I established a spiritual theme (read the article at justbetweenus.org/everyday-life/faith-forthe-new-year/making-new-spiritual-resoluti ons/). Doing this has proved to be beneficial in my spiritual growth. Look back with gratitude and move forward, flourishing in faith. Happy New Year! Y
Laura Lee Leathers is a writer and speaker. Imagine Lois Lane, over 65, living on a farm. Her metropolis is the area of freelance writing. Her primary love interest is the Word of God. She digs for information, interviews fascinating people, offers a cup of biblical hospitali-tea, encourages, and helps others with the how-to’s of life. Visit LauraLeeLeathers.com.
God’s requirement for us? Surrender.
Christmas is the season of giving, right? Well, “To whom much is given, much is required”! This Bible verse (Luke 12:48) sums up our Christian walk. Here’s what I mean:
• God gave the world the gift of natural life, and the gift of eternal life by way of His only begotten Son, Jesus. God’s requirements for Himself: Watch as humanity rejects and slaughters His Son, and watch as humanity (even those who profess Him as Lord) misuses His name. He won’t intervene because when He created the world, He gave dominion over it to humanity, and He gave us free will. God is bound by His word, and He knows our dominion will last until His Son returns to claim the kingdom of earth.
• Jesus, God’s Son, was given the kingdom of earth to rule forever. God’s requirement for Jesus: Death. This required Him giving up His throne next to His Father in heaven, leaving a kingdom of subjects created to obey Him, and
accepting a kingdom of subjects created with free will — most of whom would reject, kill, and blaspheme Him. Like God the Father, Jesus is bound by His word, but because He was made flesh as a human, He had the ability to choose.
• Humanity, through the death of Jesus, has been given the gift of eternal life. We have also been given the gift of natural life. God’s requirements for us: Surrendering our natural life and being subjects to His will, principles, and precepts.
“ Once you begin to surrender to His will, you will begin to peel back the layers of His will and requirements. This is what it means to seek Him and find Him, act on His principles, and grow in our understanding of His requirements. God is a never-ending gift.”
If I could choose, I would choose God’s requirements for humanity all day, every day, because they seem so much easier. However, our requirements are still quite difficult for us.
I wake up every morning to pray. That’s a good Christian thing to do, right? But every morning, I’m asking forgiveness for my previous day’s actions, and I commit the same offenses over and over. When it’s time to talk to God, one of His requirements is that I acknowledge how I didn’t act according to the understanding He has given me. I have to acknowledge the ways I haven’t surrendered my life.
I was given the gift of natural life. I was given the gift of understanding how I’m supposed to live according to His willand I still drop the ball. Am I still to expect to receive His gift of eternal life? Sure, because God’s gift keeps on giving.
I’m tired of taking that gift for granted. This Christmas, I would like for you all to join me as I truly surrender my life to Him according to my understanding of His requirements. We owe Him that much.
Here’s the warning: “To whom much is given, much is required.” Once you begin to surrender to His will, you will begin to peel back the layers of His will and requirements. This is what it means to seek Him and find Him, act on His principles, and grow in our understanding of His requirements. God is a never-ending gift.
As Christians, it’s our job to take up that calling, and the world needs us to do it. This is my health and wellness challenge to you this next year and all the years of our lives. Y
Chris Fields is the executive director of H.E.A.L. Mississippi, a nonprofit whose mission is to reduce the impact of diabetes and other cardiometabolic disease in Mississippi. Our vision is to establish a high-quality, easily accessible standard of care for diabetes and cardiometabolic diseases. God created us to be whole and healthy, and He’s made provisions for us to walk in His divine plan related to our health and healing.
CPC Metro congratulates Betty Hodge, Community Relations and Program Director, and Pastor Gregg Divinity, Board Member, for being chosen as MCL Christian Leaders of the Year!
Thank you for your faithful commitment to building a culture of life with CPC Metro. We honor your Christian leadership in our community.
The gift of one another
There is nothing like a painted dawn in the Mississippi Delta.
On a recent hunting trip, I arrived just before sunrise and took in the quiet solitude as I sat against a large oak. Stars stretched across the sky in ways that we cannot see when under city lights. As the breeze whispered through the branches carrying the scent of persimmon, the first sliver of sunlight appeared on the horizon to begin waking the day.
One of the many gifts given to us by the outdoors is the opportunity to unplug from routine, work, distractions, and human-made noise. Away from screens and deadlines, we find a unique openness in these moments. Nature brings perspective, and sometimes, as it did for me that morning, invites us to reflect on the profound gifts in life.
It is an almost unbelievable love story. For over 25 years, Stacy and I led nearly parallel lives. We attended rival schools and then the same college, shared mutual friends, and even lived within blocks of each other at different times. Still, our paths didn’t cross
meaningfully until many years later. We also had in common, without knowing it, the mutual challenge of having enough patience to find the love relationship that we each hoped to find. God had a plan, weaving our lives together in ways we couldn’t have anticipated. God wove the tapestry for this story many years ago.
Love, as C.S. Lewis said, requires vulnerability, a willingness to open our hearts fully, despite the risk of hurt. It is in this openness that we experience what Webster’s Dictionary defines love as: “unselfish, loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another.” This love doesn’t just apply to romantic relationships; it extends to all areas of life. God calls us to love selflessly, as seen in Matthew 22:37-39 — “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (and) love your neighbor as yourself.” This command is a call to be more intentional in our spiritual and human relationships.
As adults, we often wait impatiently for the “gifts” we desire, like kids on Christmas morning — whether for love, career progress, or fulfillment. But scripture reminds us of the value of patience. Colossians 1:11 encourages us in “being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience.” God’s gifts don’t always come when we
expect, nor do they always look the way we imagined. But when we trust His timing, we receive blessings beyond our own plans.
In this season, may each of us give thanks for the relationships God has placed in our lives and trust that He will provide the right connections in His time. Whether you’re surrounded by loved ones or in a period of waiting, may His grace guide you. To share a prayer ending from a recent church service that is fitting for this topic: Let us give thanks for the gift of one another. 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 grandboys.
Chris (right) and Stacy Bates.
Why I’m an Uber evangelist
To be a “good Southern Baptist” in the ‘70s and ‘80s required several basic behaviors in addition to genuine faith in Jesus Christ: Attendance at Sunday school, morning worship, Training Union, and evening worship, and playing on a church league sports team.
One other night was included as a bonus: Tuesday night visitation.
I had no problem with the first five “requirements.” But while I faithfully participated in visitation programs, I was uncomfortable knocking on the doors of prospects or recent visitors. Afterward, we’d return to the fellowship hall, and people would tell about these miraculous conversions they’d led, while I sat quietly feeling humiliated. And I made my living selling. What was wrong with me?
Fast forward about 15 years: I had made a dumb mistake and purchased a business for $2 million. In reality, it was worth around $400,000. I was living in a state of panic and despair.
Then we found a visionary who felt he could turn things around. While we were meeting to close the sale of the business, a courier arrived with an overnight envelope. The envelope contained the personal guarantees my wife and I had signed for $2 million. Across the personal guarantee was written, “CANCELED.”
CANCELED. Forgiven. The weight of the debt had been removed. No strings attached. I made zero profit on the sale of the
company, but I now had zero debt! I drove home that night thanking God. “Lord, if there is anything I need to learn from this, let me know.”
It was as if His voice spoke from the front seat to me: “You could have worked the rest of your life … and it is conceivable that you could have paid this debt ... But you had a sin debt on your life that there was nothing you could do about … and My Son wrote ‘CANCELED’ in His blood.”
I quickly agreed with God. But then He added something a little uncomfortable: “I want you to tell this story to as many people ... especially other business owners, C-suite executives, and business people as you can.”
I responded, “But Lord, it is the American dream for a poor boy to grow up, work hard, buy a business, build it up, and then one day sell it and retire to the beach. It is pretty embarrassing for me to tell this story.”
“Well … it was embarrassing for My Son to hang naked on the cross for your eternal forgiveness.”
So, now I occasionally drive for Uber. I came to understand that after all those years of feeling inadequate for evangelism, I had a natural story to share with not only business leaders but whoever would listen.
I am still working full-time with my company. (The new owner was kind enough to keep me on.) But after work or on weekends, I log on to my Uber Driver App and see what happens. I like to meet new people and learn about their lives. I have been able to share my story countless times. You have your passenger sort of “captive” for a few minutes, and if the conversation allows, I’ll launch into the details.
One recent day I picked up a senior vice president for Nokia who was visiting for a meeting in Jackson. As a businessman, he was intrigued by my story.
The next call was for a pickup at the Regency Inn Hotel on Highway 80. I figured, correctly, that this would be a prostitute. She eased into the backseat but never said a word. Stayed on her phone the whole time.
God said, “OK, big boy … you like to talk to executives. What are you going to say to her?”
I keep a steno book on my front seat and ask every rider if there is something I can pray for them about the next morning. I’ve never had anyone refuse. As she got out, I interrupted her call to ask if she had a prayer request. “Pray that I can regain custody of my child,” she said.
So, I drive for Uber for the prostitute. I drive for Uber for the Nokia executive. I drive for the poor people who can’t afford a car. And I drive because God told me to. Y
Kendall Smith is celebrating his 50th anniversary being associated with Barefield Workplace Solutions, serving as president of the Office Products Division. He and his wife are active members of First Baptist Jackson. Kendall is in the editing stage of his fourth book, “From The Loading Dock to President: The Rise and Near Failure of a Mississippi Businessman.”
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.
Have you ever found yourself staring at a cluttered space and feeling overwhelmed by the sheer amount of stuff that seems to multiply over the days and months — and then it turns into years? Maybe 23 years, to be exact? Well, I recently embarked on a little adventure of my own — cleaning out my garage after years of lugging around too many boxes from a few moves.
It has been a life filled with decision fatigue, especially after navigating through some tough circumstances. Recently, I waited for the first day of nice weather and got to work to clean the clutter out and use our garage for its intended purpose: cars!
Let me tell you, the sense of freedom and clarity I have experienced was absolutely worth the time I’ve spent over the last several weeks going through every single box and making hard decisions to keep, give away, or throw away items I’ve had for years.
As I sorted through boxes of forgotten treasures and stuff that just needed to be thrown out, I realized that decluttering isn’t just about tidying up our physical spaces. It’s also about refreshing our souls. So many memories and emotions were in all of the clutter; it was much-needed therapy for me. Do you need to do this too?
It’s important to start small and celebrate progress along the way!
When faced with a mountain of clutter, it’s easy to feel paralyzed. Instead of tackling everything at once, start with a small area — like a single box or a corner of your garage. Celebrate each little victory! I found myself talking a lot to myself while listening to music or a podcast. I’d say things like, “Keep going” ; “You got this”; “Don’t stop”; “Make a decision”; etc.
“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin” (Zechariah 4:10, NLT). This verse reminds us that every small step counts in God’s eyes. Each item you let go of is a step toward a more peaceful space and a more peaceful mind!
And after!
As you sift through your belongings, ask yourself, “Does this item bring me joy or serve a purpose?” If it doesn’t, it might be time to let it go. Holding on to things that weigh us down can hinder our growth and joy. I found a box of pictures with so many duplicates from the years when you always chose to get double exposures. It was hard, but I threw away every single duplicate photo. I didn’t even know they were there before I opened the box anyway.
There is freedom for you on the other side of decluttering! Grab a friend to help hold you accountable! Y
Shay Greenwood is a wife, mom, and mentor who loves helping women be their best selves! Follow her on Facebook and Instagram @shaygreenwood.
Before Shay’s garage cleanout …
MCL’s 2024 Christian Leaders of the Year
Their stories, their struggles, and what helps them live out their callings
Clockwise from top left: Gregg Divinity, Kate and Blaine Totty, Altina Burton-Middleton, Betty Hodge.
Each year, MCL asks for nominations for Christian Leaders of the Year to be featured in our December cover story. This year’s honorees shared about everything from church planting to praying for prodigal children who have yet to come home. If you’re a follower of Christ who wants to make an impact, these leaders’ stories will encourage you!
MEET THE LEADERS
Altina Burton-Middleton Overseer of God’s Glory Ministries in Raymond
From her nominations: “She sees something in me that I seem to be avoiding, but she continues to pray and wait for God’s vision to manifest in my life. My son passed away at the age of 19 years old and who was there to catch me, my pastor. She also started Young Ladies with Class, focusing on girls ages 10-17.”
– Queen Hatfield, church member
“She is compassionate, dedicated, and enduring. She is up when the birds start chirping, and down when the sun goes down. She is constantly in prayer for those in need.”
– Delisia Watts
Betty Hodge
Community Relations and Programs Director, Center for Pregnancy Choices Metro Area (CPC Metro)
From her nomination: “She takes time to get to know each woman (and) maintains a relationship with them. (She is) always dreaming and building and grabbing other women along the way to involve them and challenge them and just love on them.”
– Nicole Allen, fellow church member
Blaine and Kate Totty
OPEX Program Director, Ergon, and cardiac nurse practitioner, Jackson Heart, respectively
From their nomination: “Blaine and Kate are two of the most spiritually encouraging and uplifting people I’ve ever met. … They have their three children hand out bags of food and supplies to homeless people ... They have organized a group to bake homemade sweets for the Jackson (Fire Department). Blaine and Kate have also organized a food and gift drive for a needy family in Holmes County during the Christmas season.”
– Lauren Strickland, friend
Gregg Divinity
Pastor of New Vineyard Church, with campuses in Jackson, Utica and Natchez
From his nomination: “He feeds 1,500 kids a day. He has a school preK-5th grade and afterschool care, (and) he feeds them breakfast, lunch, and dinner ... He has two buildings he has renovated for teens (and) plans to teach them career skills.”
– Betty Hodge, ministry partner
Interview starts on page 22
THE INTERVIEW
Katie Ginn: Who are the Christian leaders who influenced each of you?
Altina Burton-Middleton: My father was a pastor, and his father, and my uncles — it’s in the family bloodline.
Blaine Totty: Both of my parents have always been involved in the church. They’ve always used extra space in our house for people who needed a place to stay that serve in ministry.
Betty Hodge: One would be Janine Mangum. She’s (operations) director here at the CPC. As a new believer many years ago, she took me in and taught me what grace looks like.
Also Freddy Brown at Restoration Church. He was my pastor who was a spiritual father to me.
Gregg Divinity: Probably in ministry, for me, it was Pastor Algernon Stamps, the originator of Stamps (Super) Burgers (in Jackson). He was a pastor as well in Utica. He would pick us up in a brown Gran Torino station wagon, and I was 4 years old, and he would take us to church, teach us the Bible, and feed us.
Kate Totty: The first one was probably my youth minister, Greg Taylor, at First United Methodist Church in Clinton many moons ago. He was really cool. (laughs) He would zipline in for youth, literally. But he just lived such a Christlike life in such humility. As an adult, Amanda Box, she was our connections minister. We would meet at Broad Street for coffee and share life. She mentored me, especially with young children.
KG: How did each of you get to where you are today in ministry — and Tottys, that can include jobs or parenting as well?
BH: My husband and I were going through (the) adoption of three of our daughters. In that timeframe, we felt our church needed more of an orphan care ministry. Then, though, the state was allowing same-sex (couples) to foster. That felt really messy at that time.
I had heard about Embrace Grace (classes), which were for single expectant mommas. And (I thought), I can take in these women, lead groups, hopefully help them keep their baby, hopefully teach them ways to where their kids are not in foster care. The CPC would send me moms (for the classes). (Then) the CPC came to me and said, we want you.
ABM: I kept having dreams. I’m a dreamer like Joseph. I had this dream where God was showing me the ministry. In the dream, I was pregnant, and the doctor was saying, ‘It’s time to have this baby,’ and I was saying, ‘No it’s not.’ My sister had one of the same identical dreams, and for me that was confirmation.
We started out with 40 people meeting in my living room, then in the garage, then at our first church. This year we bought our first building with 18 acres of land.
A lot of us came from a broken church. Before I was a pastor, I was a first lady. And we found out the pastor wasn’t a lot of what we thought the pastor was, and he was on drugs.
It finally got to a point of, I can’t take it anymore. (But even as we separated I thought), I have to do something. I can’t just leave these church members.
KT: I feel like our story is kind of boring. (laughs)
BT: We met in college. We had a pastor and mentor at Campus Crusade for Christ, Butch Simmons, who started a group that turned into a little church there. We stayed with that through college.
When we got married, we knew we wanted to attend a church where we could get involved. Even before we officially placed membership (at Meadowbrook Church of Christ), we were teaching youth classes.
From there, we got involved in ministries, a lot of work that our church has done through Stewpot. ... Now we’re trying to think of ways to get our kids thinking more like that.
From left: Gregg Divinity, Betty Hodge, Kate and Blaine Totty, Altina Burton-Middleton.
KG: And your church is currently meeting at ...?
BT: Sunnybrook.
KT: The children’s home. It’s been sweet. They’re in our Sunday school now. We pray for their birth moms.
You asked about jobs. And I feel like no matter what you’re doing, you are still an ambassador for Christ. I try to talk to my patients ... Just being able to ask them, ‘Can I pray with you?’ or, ‘Do you have faith in Jesus?’ It’s hard sometimes to be bold ... but it’s a really neat opportunity. I need to be bolder.
GD: God saved me on February 25, 1995, on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. I had an out-of-body experience. At that time, I didn’t believe in God. ... But I always said I would say, ‘Lord, have mercy’ before I die, just in case I could sneak in. But then God showed me, ‘You don’t know when death is coming. You need to make sure you’re ready.’
(After that experience) for probably four months, I went to church every day. I was finding revival services. I couldn’t find something on Saturday, so we started our own Bible study.
I was a Sunday school teacher, and then God called me to preach (at) a little country church in Utica. Then I got called to New Jerusalem and became assistant pastor there.
Then in March 2006 ... when I got in the (church) parking lot, God told me that was my last day there. On Easter, He said, ‘Start a church in your living room.’ So we did. We didn’t have 40, we had about 14. (laughs) We’ve moved probably eight times (since then).
We have a preschool and an after-school program. We like to say, ‘Salvation and education, and we’ll change a nation.’
KG: What’s one part of your ministry that you struggle with?
ABM: My son was a dynamic football player, who graduated from Callaway High School in 2020. Somebody laced my baby. (They gave him) a bad drug, which changed his mentality. So we fight to this day. (But) I’m crazy enough to believe (God’s) going to restore him.
I have asked God a thousand questions. How can I help so many other people and I can’t help somebody in my own household? I take that blessed oil and I anoint him, and I command demons and devils to loose him and let him go.
I don’t know how they even convinced him to (take the drug). He has surgery and doesn’t even want to take pain pills.
But I believe all things work together for the good. It don’t feel good, but somehow it’s going to work for the good.
KT: In my struggle, I work part-time, and then mothering is fulltime, and I thought I was going to be this amazing mom, and it’s been very humbling. We have a 9, 8, and 5-year-old. We have great kids. But (it’s) revealed my selfishness and impatience.
It’s made me lean on the Lord. In my faith, I’ve always felt like, ‘I got this.’ We (often) give Him a little lip service, but do we say, ‘I depend on You’?
BT: My engineering brain wants Christianity to be a book of simple-to-understand rules, black and white. I want my kids to be able to see that it’s not that. Life is life. Christianity provides hope in a broken world. But Christianity is not this perfect thing where
KG: What’s your favorite part of your ministry?
ABM: My support system ... especially my (current) husband. (And) my church, how receptive they are. I can’t stand judgmental people (who) make you feel like if you fall, you are doomed. What was the purpose of the blood (of Jesus)? So I shy away from that (judgmentalism), and I teach my church to shy away from that. But they are so supportive of their pastor, even through hard times.
BT: I’d say delayed fruit. Somebody may have seen something that you (or someone else) did, and five to 10 years later, that story is still in their head. Hearing those successes later on.
perfect people go. Just how to do that, how to give them the right perspective ... that’s a struggle.
BH: I also have a prodigal who’s been in addiction from age 19 until now, and he’s 27.
Through our adoption (of our daughters), God used that to build my faith over the years. Now, going through this with my son, he’s been on the street, sometimes I haven’t heard from him in weeks ... In the groups I lead, I’m very vulnerable. The women know I’ve got this going on.
You have to be vulnerable (when you’re going through trials). That leads other people, when they don’t (just) see all the polished people.
I’m just thankful that the Lord has sustained me through it. So my girls don’t have to see a mom that is just completely broken over it.
GD: I have the same struggle, being in ministry and your kids barely want anything to do with it. (I want my kids) to know Jesus and live for Him. That’s not something they want at this juncture. I always tell everybody ... ‘They’re working on their testimony.’ (laughs)
(Another struggle is) the LGBTQ community, and how to minister in that arena. (God) said, ‘With lovingkindness have I drawn you.’ We can’t get to the point where we’re not receptive to people. Sometimes we just want to change folks. But God’s got to change them. In fishing, you never catch a clean fish.
The other (struggle) is getting more laborers. ... Getting people to understand, you’ve been saved for something.
KT: I helped co-lead a discipleship group ... and one of the mainstays is a time of confession. We spend 30 minutes in prayer with a prayer partner. It’s been life-altering for me. It’s brought up sin patterns that have been present since I was a child. We don’t offer each other any advice (in that 30 minutes). We just pray.
GD: One of my favorite parts is this right here — meeting other people in ministry. We see others on the journey that continue to encourage us.
And then seeing a changed life. You see them in the dumps, in the dirt ... and then they’re deacons.
BH: Because of our pro-life community, we can send (moms) to Pastor Gregg for a Single Mom University class. We can connect with different churches that have (resources). We can send them to phlebotomy school.
It’s seeing women seeing a new vision. ... They’ve got four kids and think, ‘I’ve got to have an abortion.’ They’ve got all these (problems) that are valid. But I can say, ‘Will you just trust us? Let us see if we can help you. Don’t rush into this.’
And seeing my girls who are still at home, my little ducklings following after me. ... Even my granddaughter, who is a CPC baby, which is another story.
KG: What helps each of you fulfill your calling?
BT: I heard about this on a podcast: Every night, I pray and I thank God ... and then when the alarm clock goes off (in the morning), that’s when I ask God for things. So many times, your prayers are just asking.
BH: My family is so supportive of me ... because I’m busy. They really pick up a lot of slack. And then to be with a team that is here for the mission. We get to pray, we get to have a devotional time. If there’s a salvation, there’s someone running through the hall
Christianity is not for “perfect people,” said Blaine Totty (right).
Betty Hodge
Altina Burton-Middleton
Blaine Totty
Gregg Divinity
“Sometimes we just want to change folks. But God’s got to change them. In fishing, you never catch a clean fish,” said Gregg Divinity.
ringing the bell. (Also) at my church, I don’t have to go through a lot of red tape (for my single moms’ ministry).
ABM: At the time I needed it the most, I found out I actually could fall and get back up. How about that? ... That blood on the cross was for a reason. Tap into the blood.
GD: I realize God is able. Because I look at where He brought me from. There’s somebody out there who needs to hear.
KT: For me ... being a mom and never having a break, even a nap (can be helpful). Jesus even withdrew from the crowd to pray. He
slept on the boat when the storm was raging. (If) you just grind it out all day every day, you’re going to be worthless to the people around you.
KG: What encouragement would each of you give someone who wants to follow in your footsteps?
BH: If people knew half of my story, they’d say, ‘What is she doing speaking at churches?’ Don’t count yourself out. I don’t have college degrees.
ABM: God doesn’t call the equipped but equips the called. He knew I wasn’t prepared.
GD: Always be humble, realizing God’s Word says He resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). Be humble enough to have mentors. Two of mine are Bishop Ronnie Crudup and Dr. John Taylor of the Metro Baptist Association.
BT: God does the work. All you have to provide is a little bit of a seed. Don’t get discouraged.
KT: As a Christian female and a mother ... too many yeses are usually not honoring to God. I’ve been the worst at spreading myself too thin. I’m trying to ask God to help me do it differently. Y
Church of Christ
Kate Totty
Bill and Becky Caldwell: Hostages for Jesus
When Bill and Becky Caldwell went to bed at their home in Little Rock on December 1, 1991, they had no idea that they’d be spending the next afternoon as hostages in their own attic.
Around midday, escaped inmate Paul Jerome Spiers broke into the Caldwells’ home and escorted them upstairs at gunpoint. For three hours, the Caldwells prayed, shared the gospel with their “new friend,” and even helped him negotiate with police via the walkie-talkie he had stolen.
“We were never afraid,” Becky says now in the den of the Caldwells’ home in Madison County. “People don’t understand that. I just think that’s God.”
Baptism by flood
Before they were fearless hostages, the Caldwells were high-school sweethearts in Memphis. Becky had been saved as a child “and was witnessing on the playground the next day,” Bill says. He himself was not a believer when he met his future wife.
Despite being unequally yoked, “I just didn’t like anybody like I liked him,” Becky recalls. A few years after she married Bill, he met Jesus, thanks to a desperate need for parenting help. He took the kids to Sunday school so they could learn “how to behave better,” and he attended worship himself.
“(At church) the Lord just pounded into my heart how much He loved me. I was not a willing recipient of that message. It took several iterations before I understood He really did,” Bill says.
Bill knew he’d done a terrible job of running his life, he says. “I was ready to be saved, and I was ready to live saved.”
When Bill started following Jesus, the Caldwells were living in Jackson after moving a couple of times for his job in the printing business. “We were living in what we now know is the flood area,” he says.
During the 1979 flood, the water rose “over the curtain rods,” Becky recalls.
“They gave us a single-wide mobile home in our front yard while our house was being renovated,” Bill says. “There was no airconditioning. (I was) traveling in my work …”
A friend gave them a window unit airconditioner, but it spit water “right where the kids would slip and fall as they would go to the bedroom,” Becky says.
Nobody could sell a house in the Jackson floodplain after 1979, so the Caldwells stayed put. Four or five years later, “in the second flood, we had the grace that the water was only up to the countertops,” Bill quips.
“I was learning what it was like to know (Jesus) and walk with Him in the middle of a crisis,” Bill says. But he praises Becky for her sense of humor through even the worst situations:
“It’s medicinal,” he says. “I think the Proverbs say that.”
For instance, after the second flood, Becky hung a sign in a tree out front: “House for sale, reduced to $750,000.” (“I think we paid $37,000 when we moved in,” she says with a laugh.)
Moving to criminal headquarters
For the first 10 years of Bill’s Christian life, he was so grateful to Jesus, he spent every spare minute at the church. But he and Becky had four kids in five years. He was needed at home.
Finally, a friend showed Bill something: He’d been obeying Philippians 2:12, “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling,” but he’d failed to notice the next verse: “For it is God who is in you both to will and to do according to His good pleasure.”
Bill knew he hadn’t earned his salvation, but he was trying to live it out in his own strength. Now he knew he didn’t need to do that either. “All of a sudden, my working (for the Lord) took a whole different context,” he says.
Around that same time, the Caldwells were hosting a Bible study in their home.
Bill and Becky, pictured at their home in Madison County, are still active with family, church, and ministry after 53 years of marriage.
“I just didn’t like anybody like I liked him,” Becky recalls of her high-school sweetheart Bill, pictured here on their wedding day.
Not every teacher receives an excuse note like this!
“Everybody (in the group) got more excited about, there’s more to this Christian life than attending church,” Bill says.
Fittingly, God soon called the Caldwells out of Jackson to inner-city Little Rock, where they would work in full-time ministry for five years. Their house was “right in the (headquarters) for being a gang member, a drug dealer or a prostitute,” Bill says. “We lived in that with our four by then teenagers.”
The Caldwells joined a church that had its own housing, K-12 school, and Bible college, known as a missions institute, where Bill and Becky served.
Within six months of moving to Little Rock, the Caldwells were faced with Paul Jerome Spiers.
Held hostage
That morning in December 1991, Spiers was at a supervised clinic visit when he overpowered his police guard, took her revolver and walkie-talkie, hijacked a car in the parking lot, and sped away.
He only made it a couple of miles before he wrecked the car, got out and ran, and burst through the Caldwells’ front window. At first, he came to the bedroom door — gun on full display — and demanded the car keys. Becky had just gotten home, and Bill was just waking up from a nap after a long couple of ministry days. Becky pushed Bill back and tossed the keys to Spiers.
But when Spiers turned to leave and saw the squad cars already parked outside, “it was hostage time,” Bill says. Spiers directed the Caldwells up to the attic, where they would be his human shields in the event of a shootout. By God’s grace, the Caldwell kids were at school.
Immediately, “(Becky) starts witnessing to this guy,” Bill says. As Spiers positioned the Caldwells to sit cross-legged on the floor in front of him, “she asked him straight out, ‘Are you saved?’”
Spiers’ response: “You need to be quiet now, ma’am.”
“Over the course of time, (Spiers) settled down,” Bill says. “I said, ‘I’m a pastor. Do you mind if I pray for you?’ He said yes if you do it quietly. So we did.”
Police started communicating with Spiers via his stolen walkie. Unfortunately, “The police negotiator got caught lying four different times,” Bill says.
“And I’m hollering, ‘Get a new person!’” Becky says.
Despite the drama, Becky wasn’t afraid, she says. “I remembered the scripture from Revelation that says, ‘They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto death.’ And I said, ‘God, I like the first two. But I don’t believe that You brought me to Little Rock to kill me.’”
She even told Spiers, “I do carpool at 3:30.” Spiers assured her, “We’ll be finished.”
Meanwhile, Bill got his own word from the Lord: “I heard, ‘Look at yourself, son.’ So I look down, and the only way I can articulate what I saw was the peace of God on me.”
Bill asked God to give that same peace to Spiers. “And we actually got to see that evolving over the next hour or so.”
Spiers convinced the police to find his
The Caldwells were front-page news in Arkansas after being held hostage in their home.
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girlfriend — who had turned him in — so he could talk to her on the walkie. If they did that, Spiers said, he would give himself up. “They went and found her on the job and brought her out there,” Bill says.
However, “They didn’t coach her at all beforehand. She got on that walkie-talkie and was just ugly to him. We’re saying, no, no, that’s not what you say!”
After that conversation, Spiers asked Bill, “Now what?” Yes, Spiers was asking his hostages for negotiation advice! Bill encouraged him to hold up his end of the deal.
“By this time, this peace that passes understanding was starting to show up on him a little bit,” Bill says. “He lays the gun down on the floor, pulls the bullets out of his pocket, and hands me the walkie-talkie and says, ‘Here. Get us out of here.’”
One thing you won’t see in an action movie: “Everybody had to go to the bathroom after (three hours),” Bill notes. “So I told the police, it’ll be five minutes, but we’re coming out. … The SWAT team, they’re all out there, (and) we’re going to the bathroom one at a time.”
While Bill was in the bathroom, “I took (Spiers) over to the window he had broken
Caldwell family, from left: Ryder and Riley Craft, Robyn (Caldwell) Craft, Kati Caldwell, Taj Hill, Clay Caldwell, Bill and Becky Caldwell, Alex Jackson, Jayne (Caldwell) Jackson, Will Jackson, Brad Jackson (back), Audrey Jackson Wallace, and Jordan Wallace. Kati Caldwell is pregnant with her and Clay’s son, Varek, in this photo! Not pictured: Karen Caldwell Hughes and Robert Hughes.
into,” Becky recalls. “I said, ‘I don’t suppose you’re planning on fixing that, are you?’ And he said, ‘I wish I could.’”
Finally, the odd trio emerged from the house, and Paul Spiers was arrested without further incident. They all rode downtown separately, and the Caldwells gave their statements to police. (Becky didn’t make it to carpool, but a friend picked up the kids.)
Immediately after their interviews, Bill and Becky went to the jail to “finish our conversation with Paul,” Bill says, “because we knew God was working on this guy.”
The jailer wouldn’t let them in. “It’s not good for the case,” he said. But that night, an elder from the Caldwells’ church led Paul Spiers to Jesus.
“It was a serious salvation,” Bill says. He and others from church got to visit with Paul several times after he was moved to the county jail.
Eventually, Paul was extradited to New Jersey. “But we had a season where we got to see the genuineness of what happened in our attic,” Bill says.
The incident also spurred Becky to start ministering to female inmates in Arkansas. “We (sent) 700 Christmas cards I think that year,” Bill says.
‘We didn’t sign up for this’
By the time the Caldwells moved back to the Jackson metro a few years later, their two
older children were ready to pursue college and careers. One of those kids was Clay.
Like his mom, Clay Caldwell was an evangelist, Bill says. During high school, “(Clay) worked at Chick-fil-A, and they threatened to fire him for witnessing on the job too much.”
Then Clay discovered drugs at a Christian college. For the next 20 years, he was a “prodigal” living in addiction, Bill says.
“We actively prayed Philippians 1:6 over him (that God would ‘finish the good work He started’ in Clay). Both our Bibles were worn out. We’d tell God, ‘We know You’re in this, but we didn’t sign up for a 20-year wait.’”
Bill and Becky did their best not to lecture Clay or try to “fix” him against his will.
“I think our experience working with others had taught us that forced interventions have a very low success rate, and more often than not, they make the wall even thicker,” Bill says. “Clay had plenty of preaching from others.”
Eventually, God answered the Caldwells’ prayers: Clay was able to quit drugs and start walking with Jesus again. Today, he works in full-time ministry in Colorado — and just had his first child, with wife Kati, at 49 years old.
“He’s got the energy for it,” Bill says. “We don’t know which one to watch more, the baby or him.”
53 years and counting
After 53 years of marriage, Bill and Becky might not be wrangling four kids under 5 anymore, but they’re still busy in the best ways.
“(Becky’s) calling hasn’t changed at all,” Bill says. “She’s an amazing mom, and now she’s a grandma. Our oldest granddaughter got married this year. We’ll have four or five family gatherings this year. (Becky’s) fingerprints are on everybody.”
Bill stays active with church and loves mentoring men. He’s also involved with the Jackson Leadership Foundation, a gospelcentered nonprofit aimed at creating spiritual, social, and economic transformation in the capital city. Bill has mentored JLF ministry partners and is a member of the foundation’s governing board.
“I’ve been involved with (JLF) for five years now. It rekindled the Little Rock experience we had. It’s been one of my big chapters.”
If all of that sounds like a lot for a couple of retirees, Bill says he still quotes Philippians 2:13, a reminder of Who empowers them for service.
“There is work to do, but the fact that God loves us and indwells us with His will for our lives — we make Christianity a lot harder than it has to be.” Y
St. Catherine’s expands Memory Care residences
St. Catherine’s Village kicked off the holiday season with the opening of the Camellia neighborhood in its acclaimed Campbell Cove building. This brings the total number of Memory Care residences within Campbell Cove to 36. To celebrate, new residents who sign an agreement this year can lock in 2024 pricing and receive thousands of dollars in annual savings.
Designed to support individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and other memory-related challenges, Campbell Cove provides a secure, soothing and homelike environment. It is licensed by the state of Mississippi as an “Alzheimer’s Assisted Living” property. The building’s architecture minimizes obstacles, and the layout features wayfinding cues and clear circulation paths to help individuals navigate more easily from place to place. Outside are secure landscaped patios and a walking garden so residents and their families can spend time outdoors in a protected setting.
Monthly fees cover 24-hour professional nursing; supervision of self-administered medications; assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing and grooming; three meals a day; coffee and refreshments; utilities except telephone and internet; weekly housekeeping and linen laundering; and 24-hour security.
St. Catherine’s Village has received “Exemplary” recognition for its personcentered programming at Campbell Cove. Activities encourage engagement through a variety of stimulating experiences and familiar sensory interactions. Scheduled events, entertainment and spontaneous connections support cognitive and physical abilities. From social and cultural programs to recreational and spiritual activities, offerings enhance the quality of life for all.
Who could benefit from Memory Care?
The holidays present an unassuming opportunity to check on older loved ones whom you might not see on a regular basis. During gatherings and reconnecting with family, you can look for certain signs that could indicate they need Memory Care support:
● Are they unable to remember familiar names and dates?
● Do they appear confused?
● Are they struggling with decisionmaking?
● Do they seem overwhelmed, lonely, or less attentive to their hygiene?
● Are they expressing feelings of anxiety or irritability that are out of the norm?
● Do they find it hard to climb stairs or move around comfortably?
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.
● Are they experiencing noticeable weight changes?
These are just a few indicators that suggest it could be time to consider a new living arrangement where Memory Care is a priority.
The value of a Life Plan Community
Memory Care at Campbell Cove is just one of many senior living options available at St. Catherine’s Village, Madison’s premier Life Plan Community. On the 160-acre campus is a full spectrum of care to meet seniors’ needs as they evolve over time. Residents can begin in Independent Living and enjoy maintenance-free living in singlelevel garden homes or apartments, then transition seamlessly to higher levels of care such as Assisted Living, Memory Care and Skilled Nursing as needed.
St. Catherine’s Village is proud to be the first Life Plan Community in Mississippi accredited by CARF-CCAC, a designation that recognizes excellence and adherence to rigorous standards for Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs). Y
For more details on the Campbell Cove holiday special or to learn about St. Catherine’s Village Life Plan Community, visit StCatherinesVillage.com or call 601-856-0123 to schedule a tour
Keeping your bones and joints healthy: 7 tips for staying active at any age
Maintaining healthy bones and joints is essential for an active and fulfilling life, whether you’re navigating your 20s or enjoying your golden years. A proactive approach to bone and joint health can make all the difference in how you feel and move each day. Here are some tips for keeping your bones strong, joints flexible, and body ready for anything!
1. Prioritize weight-bearing and resistance exercises
Regular physical activity, especially weight-bearing and resistance exercises, is one of the most effective ways to maintain strong bones and joints. Activities like walking, hiking, tennis, or strength training place healthy stress on bones, stimulating bone density. Building muscle strength also supports your joints, reducing wear and tear and lowering the risk of osteoporosis and arthritis as you age. Aim for 30 minutes of weight-bearing exercises most days, and incorporate resistance training exercises at least twice a week.
2. Nourish your bones and joints with a balanced diet
Your diet can significantly impact your bone and joint health. Calcium and vitamin D are crucial for bone density, while protein supports muscle and bone tissue. Dairy products, leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and fortified foods are excellent sources of calcium. Get enough vitamin D by spending some time outdoors or through fortified foods and supplements if necessary. Additionally, omega-3 fatty acids — found in fish, flaxseed, and walnuts — help reduce inflammation, which can alleviate joint pain and stiffness.
3. Watch your weight for joint health
Carrying extra weight can put stress on your joints, especially your hips, knees, and ankles. Studies have shown that even a modest weight loss can reduce joint pain and slow the progression of osteoarthritis. Maintaining a healthy weight helps prevent unnecessary strain, keeping you comfortable and mobile for longer.
4. Protect your joints by focusing on flexibility
Flexibility exercises, like stretching, yoga, and Pilates, enhance joint mobility, reduce stiffness, and improve your range of motion. These activities not only keep your muscles and tendons supple but also support better posture and alignment, which can prevent joint misalignments that lead to pain and injury.
5. Don’t ignore pain — address it early
It’s easy to ignore joint pain, especially if it seems minor, but this can lead to more serious issues. If you experience persistent pain, swelling, or limited range of motion in a joint, consult a healthcare professional. Early intervention can prevent small problems from becoming chronic conditions.
6. Avoid overuse and vary your movements
Repetitive movements or high-impact activities can wear down your joints over time. If you’re active in sports, cross-train to
balance your workouts and avoid overworking the same muscles and joints. Mixing up your activities, whether through swimming, cycling, or strength training, can prevent overuse injuries and give your joints a chance to recover.
7. Stay informed and proactive
As we age, our bone density and joint flexibility naturally decrease. Keeping up with regular check-ups, especially as you enter middle age and beyond, can catch issues early. Working with your doctor or physical therapist to develop a plan that fits your needs is a valuable investment.
Whether you’re in your prime or well into retirement, it’s never too early or too late to care for your bones and joints. Adopting healthy habits can keep you moving with confidence for years to come! Y
Dr. Adam Smitherman is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine with Capital Ortho. Locally owned and operated for over 30 years, Capital Ortho provides general and specialized orthopedic care to individuals of all ages. Find a location near you today in Flowood, Madison, Clinton, Brookhaven, Hazlehurst, Kosciusko, or Magee. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, visit capitalortho.com or call 601.987.8200.
St. Dominic’s clinic serves patients for free
Since 1996, St. Dominic’s has operated a community health clinic at 1100 W. Capitol St. in Jackson, offering free primary care to low-income families and people experiencing homelessness. Located within the Stewpot Community Services building, the clinic is staffed by a consultative family practice physician, a fulltime family nurse practitioner, a medical assistant, a counselor, security, and volunteer nurses and physicians.
In May 2024, the clinic was renamed in honor of Sister Mary Trinita Eddington, OP, who founded and served patients as a nurse practitioner there for more than 25 years. In November 2024, the clinic celebrated one year of being reopened after a temporary closure for renovations and repairs following flood damage. Since reopening, the Sister Trinita Community Clinic has remained busy, with more than 4,400 patient visits over the course of the year. Some months, the team sees more than 500 patients!
As a community outreach ministry of St. Dominic Hospital, clinic operations are supported through donations to the St. Dominic Health Services Foundation and other in-kind support of supplies and personal care products.
“We are so fortunate to have so many individuals who are willing to share their charitable items and monies with us,” said Mary Watkins, nurse practitioner at the clinic. “Every single thing we receive is 100 percent utilized within our local underserved and uninsured community.”
Every person who enters the clinic is met with a warm welcome and cared for with loving, compassionate hands. Each year at Christmastime, the clinic team prepares 30 to 50 bags filled with needed items to share with regular patients. These items are collected throughout the year and may include new socks, gloves, toiletries, and personal care items. While children are not the majority of the patients the clinic sees,
the team also keeps a few special toys on hand for young guests who may come in with a loved one.
Recently, a new patient with a history of chronic ear infections sought help from the clinic. After diagnosis of a current infection, the patient received antibiotic treatment and began to experience rapid improvement in hearing and comfort.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to see the smiles, delight, appreciation and relief our clients experience,” said Watkins. “None of this would be possible without the support of donors and the community.”
Patients of the Sister Trinita Community Clinic are welcome with no appointment necessary. Services include:
● Routine checkups, treatment of acute illnesses
● Blood pressure and blood sugar checks
● Sports or employment physicals
● Limited chronic care, nutrition counseling
● Waived lab testing, scheduling of lab
● Referrals for specialty care and social services
● Assistance with prescriptions
● Supplies and equipment
In addition to primary care services, the clinic provides a variety of educational programs for children, adolescents, and adults to promote disease prevention and safety. Y
Learn more about how you can support this initiative and other community healthcare initiatives by contacting the St. Dominic Health Services Foundation at 601-200-6910, or donate online at stdom.com/foundation.
Community clinic team members (back, from left) Mary Watkins, nurse practitioner; Dominique Williams, medical assistant; and John Weisenberger, patient services representative, gather with Sister Trinita Eddington (front).
Sharing stories of real-life Christianity the good, the bad, and the “oh my word” — from believers who’ve been there.
Season 2 starts January 2, 2025!
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AT WORD OF LIFE
H I GH LA N D C OLO NY | 8:30, 10 & 11:30AM
Drs. Chad & Alecia Moore
“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
~ PHILIPPIANS 1:6, ESV
“Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.’ ”
~ JOHN 14:6, NLT
“And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.”
~ 1 JOHN 5:11, ESV
“Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
~ 1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18, KJV
“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
~ PHILIPPIANS 3:14, NKJV
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
~ PHILIPPIANS 4:8, ESV
“Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ ”
~ 1 PETER 5:5-6, NKJV
“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior.”
~ TITUS 3:4-6, ESV
“For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith.”
~ PHILIPPIANS 3:8B-9, ESV
“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf.”
~ MICAH 5:2, NLT
“And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”
~ JOHN 1:5, KJV
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.”
~ PROVERBS 17:22, NLT
