Mississippi Christian Living January 2023

meet your something blue.

One item your registry is missing? The speeds you need to stay connected on your big day and beyond. That’s where we come in, with nationwide 5G and blazing-fast fiber internet. You focus on throwing the bouquet. We’ll be throwing the best technology and customer service right to you.

Welcome to C Spire Country.

cover story

18 Mike and Amanda Clement

Their road to marriage, Oxford, and Omaha feature

24 Amanda Scott

Abortion, healing and hope

Coming next month

Dr. Alyssa Killebrew turns her pain into purpose

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 2022 by MS Christian Living, Inc.

Mississippi Christian Living is published monthly and is available for free at hightraffic locations throughout the tri-county area. Subscriptions are $29 a year.

POSTMASTER: Send change of address to Mississippi Christian Living, P.O. Box 1819, Madison, MS 39130.

MCL Editor Katie Eubanks (left) interviews Ole Miss Baseball Hitting Coach Mike Clement and his wife, Amanda, at the Trehern Dugout Club in Oxford — as a giant wall photo from the team’s 2022 College World Series win provides a celebratory atmosphere.

Amanda, Cooper and Mike Clement pose in front of “The Road to Omaha” statue in Omaha, Nebraska, during Ole Miss’ 2022 College World Series championship run.

PHOTO BY AUSTIN EUBANKS

Entering a new season of engagement has been awesome. Other new seasons haven’t been much fun — but blessings always await on the other side.

New challenges, new blessings

I’m 34 years old, and I still like opening Christmas presents. Due to magazine deadlines, I wrote this editor’s letter before Christmas, but I guarantee you I gathered all my gifts from Stephen and my family into an orderly little pile and admired them. All new, and all for me.

Most people enjoy anticipating and receiving gifts, material or otherwise. Mike and Amanda Clement, featured in our cover story (page 18), had months to prepare for their new daughter, Molly, born in November after our photo shoot and interview were completed. I had plenty of time to think about mine and Stephen’s new season of engagement, as we talked about marriage for months before he proposed.

Sometimes even unexpected gifts are fun — a surprise party instead of dinner out, or a little “happy” given for no official reason.

Other times, newness is forced upon us, and it is not welcome. That was certainly the case last month when Mississippi State University’s beloved “Pirate,” Head Football Coach Mike Leach, passed away suddenly after heart complications. Bulldog fans have grieved hard — and much of the state has, too. Despite any rivalries, Mississippi is a family at heart, and we miss our family member. MSU faces a new season now, one they didn’t ask for.

They say in order to get something you’ve never had, you’ve got to do something you’ve never done. Maybe it follows that if you’re experiencing a “new” challenge in life, God has something new waiting for you on the other side.

On New Year’s weekend 2012, my friends Brittney and Tonell and I were visiting my mentor, Raines, in my hometown of Russellville, Arkansas. New Year’s Day was a Sunday, so we went to church.

I’d been wrestling with spiritual questions that wouldn’t leave me alone — the same kind of questions that had tormented me before I came to know Christ. I’d recently read a Bible passage that had given me some comfort. Then, sitting in the pew at First Baptist Russellville, I looked through the church bulletin and saw that same passage staring me in the face:

“Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, who brings forth chariot and horse, army and warrior;

they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick: Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.

Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?

I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

– Isaiah 43:16-19, ESV

I pointed it out to Raines, and she said something matter-of-fact like, “Well, there you go.” She wasn’t surprised at all. Of course God would give me confirmation that He was indeed working a “new thing” in my life, despite my struggles.

However, those struggles got worse instead of better. Nearly two years after my Isaiah 43 moment, my mom said, “Maybe you should start seeing somebody.” She didn’t mean on a date. I found a good Christian counselor, and for nine years now I’ve been seeing her once a month, whether I feel like I need to or not.

God has surely dropped so many gifts into my lap since I started therapy. Some He might’ve given me anyway, while others have been a direct result of listening to godly counsel. The biggest gift has been a greater awareness of two crucial, eternal facts: 1) I have got to trust in Jesus and not myself, and 2) I can trust in Jesus; He is trustworthy.

I always want to remember these truths, because when I forget them, the ensuing reminders are never fun. But I’m happy God sees fit to remind me, instead of letting me walk in darkness without Him. And I’m happy He lets me experience new challenges so He can bless me in new ways.

I’m no expert on New Year’s resolutions. I forgot mine after a couple months last year. My only tip for all of us believers — whether we’re challenging ourselves in new ways or experiencing new challenges that we didn’t ask for — would be to remind ourselves of the new nature (2 Corinthians 5:17) and new daily mercies (Lamentations 3:22-23) that we have in Christ.

I pray God would help us all walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4), even in the midst of hardship, and that we’d experience new blessings on the other side. Happy New Year! Y

Eubanks katie@mschristianliving.com

Katie

38 years,

Christian mom, RESET for 2023!

What does our heavenly Father say about being a parent? God thinks parents are awesome, and they are to be honored and respected. Let’s start 2023 off with a new and amazing reset for ourselves and our children!

When I first started writing my book “Raising Whosoevers to Be the Heart of the Schools,” I thought there were “maybe” a couple of scriptures that specifically said to honor your mother and father, but boy was I wrong! I came across scripture after scripture commanding this. He wants you to be honored and respected by your children. Teaching your children how to respect you will lead them to respect others, like teachers or any adults.

The Bible tells us:

● Respect your mother and father (Leviticus 19:3).

● Honor your mother and father, so you may live long in the land that God has given you (Exodus 20:12).

● Honor your mother and father. Your God has commanded you so that you may live long and it may go well with you (Deuteronomy 5:16).

● Children, obey your parents, and you will live long on the earth. It is the first commandment with a promise (Ephesians 6:1-3).

● Obey your parents; it pleases the Lord (Colossians 3:20).

● Cursed is the man who dishonors his mother and father (Deuteronomy 27:16).

● A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother (Proverbs 10:1).

It is your responsibility as a parent to take this honored position seriously. Remember the Bible also tells us not to give rise, try to get a strong emotional reaction, aggravate, trick, manipulate, deliberately make angry, or annoy our children. If you are doing this, it will be difficult to gain that honor and respect. God gave our children rules to obey, but He also gave us instructions. They go hand in hand.

God has placed you in a position to teach, guide, and be an example for your children. If you are acting in a way that is causing you not to achieve that respect and honor, you may need to rethink your actions, attitude, and the way you are handling situations with your child.

God wants you to have a healthy and happy parenting experience, but of course Satan does not. He will try everything to create deception, chaos and conflict in your family. Stay on a biblical track when raising your children, so Satan will not bother you as much. The Bible

tells us he will flee, and that is exactly what we want as a parent raising children in today’s secular world.

As you start your new year, keep resetting your thoughts on how you can do better. One thing I noticed when I was an educator was that parents were so busy. Some had situations that could not be helped, but others chose a busy lifestyle that took time away from their children. It could have been too much time at the office, extra activities, or personal time (golf, friends, watching sports).

When Jesus was on this earth, He said to make disciples, and what a great place to start, your children! Make disciples in your own home, so they can go into our world and make more disciples. Think about how blessed we would be to witness the gift from God, our children, going into their adult lives and carrying out God’s purpose for them.

3 easy ideas to start your reset for 2023

1. Be in the Word daily! It is God-breathed and will speak to you directly.

2. Say something to your child every day about Jesus, scripture, or ask them about something they did that day that made Jesus happy.

3. This is BIG: Remember they are watching you and learning. Do not let them be confused by what they hear in church versus what they witness at home.

Before Jesus left this earth, He told us to strive for perfection, and what better area to strive for perfection than parenting! Our children are our future generation. We need all the little disciples we can create on the earth. Y

Dr. Teena Welborn is a retired educator and author of “Raising Whosoevers to Be the Heart of Our Schools.” Dr. Welborn and her husband of 37 years, Cliff, live in Florence, Mississippi, where they raised their three boys. They are members of First Baptist Florence. She can be contacted at tlmwelborn13@gmail.com.

“ Remember the Bible also tells us not to give rise, try to get a strong emotional reaction, aggravate, trick, manipulate, deliberately make angry, or annoy our children. If you are doing this, it will be difficult to gain that honor and respect.”

Thanks to

resource centers in Mississippi, more than 50,000

annually receive

necessary to

Through

Tim Neese: From worship leader to homebuilder

Tim Neese has lived in Flowood since he was 10 and is the owner and sole builder of Neese Custom Homes. He is husband to Mandy and father to his two daughters and son. Tim, a former worship pastor at Pinelake Church, spoke with MCL Contributing Writer Anna Claire O’Cain about what God has taught him through his business and how he uses his occupation to minister to others.

“The name of our business is Neese Custom Homes, and we are a custom home building company,” Tim says. “We mainly focus on new construction here in the Flowood, Madison, Jackson (and) surrounding areas.” Tim’s business walks alongside clients through nearly every part of their home’s construction, he says.

“We can help them from the very beginning of finding property to build the home on, to drawing and designing house plans, and then we kind of stick with them throughout the whole process — from conception to completion.”

He continues, “We’ve been super blessed.” Tim shares that his company has built well over 100 homes since their start in the summer of 2014. “I’ve just been incredibly blessed that God has brought us really just one great family and great clients.”

From serving as a worship pastor at Pinelake to transitioning to full-time work with his business, God has taught Tim new ways to reach his community. “(Using the business as a ministry) can be a challenging thing to do in any occupation that we’re in, just because I get so busy with the task at hand of building these homes and getting these clients what they want ... sometimes we can lose sight of that and often need to be reminded that God has put us in this place and (has) given us the degree of success that He’s given us so that we can be a minister for Him.”

Tim notes that everything they do in running their business, they strive to do in a way that’s honoring to the Lord. “From having integrity at the forefront of everything we do to openness, honesty — we try to treat all of our subcontractors and clients in a way that’s pleasing to the Lord.

“In the construction field, a lot of the laborers, sometimes they’ve had challenges in life that have brought them to where they are. They may not be in many environments where they’re treated with respect and dignity. We try to engage (them) where they are and encourage them.”

Tim says that God has continued to affirm truths to Him since the start of his business. “My dad has always told me from as long as I can remember that God honors those that honor Him, and that truth has held up with numerous scriptures for sure … we’ve seen that to be very true with our business (as) we continue to take steps toward Him.”

Tim says that he continues to surrender His business to God and allows Him to do whatever He wants with him and his business. “The more that we do that, we’ve seen God bless us more and more. … He’s just affirmed that truth that I’ve always known, but He’s affirmed it in super practical ways: ‘Tim, keep honoring Me, and I’m going to keep honoring you.’ When we stepped into building as a full-time profession, Psalm 1 was a huge scripture to us.

“We’ve just felt God say, ‘Whether you’re building homes or leading worship, fill in the blank — as you’re honoring Me with your daily steps, whatever you do, I’m going to bring blessing to that.’”

For more information about Neese Custom Homes, visit NeeseCustomHomes.com. Y

Anna Claire O’Cain is a former English teacher and current grad student in the clinical mental health counseling program at Liberty University. She is married to her best friend, J.T., a teacher and youth pastor. Most of all, she is a believer who is passionate about serving God through missions and worship.

MCL, she now uses her love for writing to serve the Lord in a new way.

Clockwise from top left: Hadley, Mandy, Tim, Harper and Titus Neese.

An image of you

Iwas about to become a teenager the first time I visited the Teton mountains. My family took a trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, just after Christmas that year. We got to experience the elk refuge, explore for other wildlife, take backcountry hikes, ski, and take in the indescribable rawness and beauty of the area.

Most vivid in my memory was a venture out to hike around part of Jenny Lake. We stood in awe and took in the unencumbered view of the Grand Tetons and their flawless reflection on the giant mirrored surface of the water.

Of the times that I have stood before the Tetons and soaked them in, the other most memorable was on my honeymoon with my wife, Stacy. We were there after the first few snowfalls of the year, and there was a new feel to the winter. We experienced dog sledding, wildlife photography, moonlit dinners overlooking the scenery, and many different views of the Grand Tetons.

We also hiked in the snow to the Chapel of the Transfiguration,

which I had also visited as a young guy, with its breathtaking view of those mountains over the small altar. That framed perspective of one of the most revered mountain ranges on the continent leaves little room for doubt about the power and imagination that formed it all. It is an unforgettable image.

Most people agree that God created and continues to offer amazing beauty all around us. Some of that beauty is as staggeringly large and breathtaking as the Teton Range. Regardless of where you or I may have traveled or whether we simply pay attention to the beauty in the community or countryside around us, there is true splendor.

Sunrises and sunsets can be constant reminders, no matter where we experience them. God created and continues to provide large and small beauty all around us if we look for it intentionally. He also created amazing beauty within each of us, most simply and profoundly because we reflect Him.

We know the story of Genesis and how God created mankind in

The window over the altar at the Chapel of the Transfiguration in Moose, Wyoming, offers a breathtaking view of the Cathedral Group of peaks, part of the Teton Range.

His own image. The Word additionally gives us countless examples of how we are recreated and reshaped as a reflection of Him. In Ephesians 4:24, Paul encourages us to “put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Given the insight into how each of us reflects God, is that not encouraging as we view both others and ourselves? Can we use that inward image filter better as we face self-doubt, anxiousness or fear?

Deciding your view is one of the amazing free gifts that we are given. God created such beauty in mountains, sunrises, and small reflections in nature. He also used the perfect model to mold each of us, both outside and inside. By realizing that, we can minimize our own self-defeating practices and then put better rhythms in place for our own lives. Brené Brown accurately said, “True belonging and selfworth are not goods; we don't negotiate their value with the world. The truth about who we are lives in our hearts.”

Given that, let us challenge ourselves to reflect well and know that truth about who we really are in our hearts. By viewing the beauty around us, let’s also acknowledge the scenery within us. Each of us can agree that we see it in others. Take that outward view and admit that others see it in you as well. Do not let others’ outsides determine your insides.

Most of all, be assured that God sees your inner beauty with the same perspective from which He sees His most majestic mountain ranges. Soak in His image of you. Y

Chris Bates is CEO and co-founder of AgoraEversole a full-service marketing agency in Jackson, and can be reached at Chris@AgoraEversole.com. He and his wife, Stacy, and their children live in Madison.

How will you ‘fashion’ your life in 2023?

How can I have a vision for my life for the coming year if the simplest daily decision to pick out an outfit stresses me out? Have you ever experienced coming into a new year and feel slightly overwhelmed by your life and its challenges? It’s much like our closet spaces — can someone just come in and clear out the clutter?

I feel you, friend! Life can be overwhelming, and it can be hard to focus our energies on the right things. Picking an outfit from a closet full of clothes can be just as stressful. I thought I would write this article about the latest fashion trends for 2023, but the Lord led me to help you to fashion and style a life you love.

Styling a life you love despite the obstacles you face takes time and attention. About 10 years ago, one of the most powerful things I started doing was to pick one word that would help me focus on being the best version of myself.

Instead of making New Year’s resolutions that would only stick for about seven days before I would forget and ask, “What were my resolutions again?” — I found myself sticking with the one word, implementing it, and using it all year as I made decisions. Jon Gordon, author of “The Energy Bus” and “The Carpenter,” says, “One word can change your life.” I found that to be so true!

My 2022 word of the year was “Unwaver.” (Hopefully by the time this is published, God will have led me to my 2023 word.) My scripture for Unwaver was from 1 Corinthians 15:58 — “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” Unwaver was how I fashioned and styled the rest of my year in every aspect.

For instance, when I chose out an outfit, I would remind myself to be unwavering about it … stick with it, don’t keep changing my mind about it, and believe that I had chosen well. Recently I was asked if I wanted to apply for a full-time job. Although it was flattering to be asked, I had to be unwavering that God had called me to this season of flexibility in running my own business while paying attention to my husband’s health as a priority.

Your word will always help you choose wisely, and most often, you can be quick about making your decision, knowing it’s based on a word the Lord gave you in the beginning of the year. But of course it takes practice.

Justin Cappon, a business coach, says to spend prayer time and write out your responses to these statements to help you get to your one word:

In my career, I desire…

With my friends/family, I will be…

With my spouse, I look forward to…

(If you want to print out the full document, it can be found at bit.ly/oneword2023.)

I would add this statement: In my relationship with the Lord, I desire….

As you respond to these statements, what’s the one word that stands out for you?

Shay’s word of the year for 2022 was “Unwaver.” What will your word be for 2023?

Once the Lord makes it clear what your one word is, you can Google the word to look at its definition and find a scripture that has the most meaning to you.

Year after year, I’m always surprised that I land on the one word that I needed the most, before I knew I needed it. We can trust God to be faithful in leading and guiding us.

Fashion and style sometimes have little to do with our outward appearance, but rather what’s coming from the inside out. Your word will even guide you into choosing items that reflect the direction the Lord is moving you. Allow the Holy Spirit to prompt you in using your new word.

I love using this scripture to focus my mind on how the Lord wants me to fashion my life:

“Do not let your adorning be external — the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear, but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight.” – 1 Peter 3:3-4

I would love to hear from you on the word you choose. Come and find me on the socials and share it with me. See you in my DMs!

PS: If you want to learn the 2023 fashion trends, go to whowhatwear.com. Y

Shay is a style coach with a mission to help women look and feel their best! Follow her on Facebook and Instagram @shaygreenwood.

Broadmoor Baptist Church

Register: Broadmoor.org/freshgroundedfaith 1531 Highland Colony Parkway, Madison MS

God is big enough

Back in April 2022, my health took a turn for the worse. I lost weight to where I was literally skin and bones. I didn’t tell my family or friends because I didn’t want them to see me like that. My husband and my son had to pick me up and carry me where I needed to go. I hated this because I have always been independent. Wheelchairs, no way — but in the end, yes way.

I would call all of my favorite prayer lines so they would put me on their prayer lists and agree with me for my healing. In June, I had a doctor’s appointment. As I was waiting, I felt the urge to get one of the Mississippi Christian Living magazines off the counter. I kid you not, as soon as I opened the magazine, the first thing I read was something like, “Why can’t we just pray now?” That was exciting to me.

I read the article. It was about Mark Hikes (“How ‘I’ll pray for you’ changed my life,” June 2022). I called his church and told the young lady that I would like to ask him and his wife to pray for me. I gave her my info and he called me on Monday, June 20, and left a message at 11:31 a.m. When I called him back, he told me that he would come by. I told him I would call him back. After about 30 minutes of me finally convincing myself that I heard him say he could “come by now,” I called him back and told him to come on.

When he got to our home, I was lying on my couch. That was pretty much where I stayed most of the time. He sat on the floor — the floor — at face level with me and prayed for me.

As they say, “The rest is history.” Since then, God has really raised me up! I’m still trusting God for my complete healing. I thank God for pastors and servants like my friend and brother Mark Hikes who are willing and obedient to “go now” and do God’s will. I am thankful to everyone who has prayed, for it is keeping me uplifted.

I pray that my testimony will encourage someone to keep the faith and know that whatever your situation is, God is the Healer! God gets the glory! God is big enough!

Dianne lives in Jackson with her husband, James, and son, Kendal. She is a stayhome mom and enjoys spending time in ministry and with her family, as well as meeting new people.

“ As I was waiting, I felt the urge to get one of the Mississippi Christian Living magazines off the counter.

I kid you not, as soon as I opened the magazine, the first thing I read was something like, ‘Why can’t we just pray now?’ That was exciting to me.”

Dianne before her illness.

Dianne in spring 2022.

Dianne now, trusting God for complete healing.

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.

From left: Amanda (with Molly, who made her appearance a month after this photo shoot; see page 20), Cooper, and Mike Clement at Swayze Field in Oxford.

Mike and Amanda Clement

Their road to marriage, Oxford, and Omaha

God doesn’t necessarily care who wins baseball games. That’s a startling statement coming from Ole Miss Baseball Hitting Coach Mike Clement — who helped propel the Rebels to their College World Series championship win last June — sitting with his wife, Amanda, in the Trehern Dugout Club in Oxford, while son Cooper entertains himself nearby.

Mike explains: “If you’re not convinced that there is something bigger than (a championship), then go win it and see what happens after. Life goes on. Even after you get what you’ve always wanted.”

Life has indeed continued in the months since Mike’s boys took the trophy. In fact, the Clements got a hint about their coming future before the championship run even started: They found out their second child would be a girl. Molly Lynn Clement was born November 4, 2022, after this interview was completed.

Parenting, marriage, and SEC coaching are a lot to manage, but God grows His children by calling them to hard things, and that’s exactly what He’s done with the Clements.

“The challenge always for us is to not feel too comfortable in any one spot — I mean spiritually,” Mike

says. “Being able to make the next step. I don’t think we’re called to a place of comfort.”

Forced to rely on God and each other

While Amanda grew up in Kingwood, Texas, and became a Christian in eighth grade, Mike “probably was drug (to church) kicking and screaming” in Marshalltown, Iowa, he says. But his parents had a solution:

“(We knew) if we (could) be quiet in the balcony of the church and mind our manners in Sunday school, we’d get to go to Golden Corral afterwards, which would be the one time of the week we get to go out to eat.”

Mike’s relationship with Jesus started when he was 18, but “for 10 years, I was really lukewarm,” he says. “Then I was introduced to a guy who would be my spiritual mentor when I went to College Station as a 28-year-old man. (His name was) John Jordan.”

Since then, “it’s been a daily walk,” Mike says.

College Station, Texas, is where he met Amanda, through mutual friends who set them up. She was teaching kindergarten at a private Christian school that she loved — but she soon loved Mike even more. When he explained that he’d have to move around a lot as a coach, “I was like, with heart emojis, ‘OK…!’” she recalls.

Mike wasn’t kidding: Just three months after he and Amanda got engaged, he moved to Kansas. “I found out whether she really loved me,” he quips. Sure enough, they got married and she moved to Kansas too.

“It was tough,” she says. “There (were) mixed emotions — excitement to be married and explore what marriage was like. Leaving my family in College Station. Moving to a state that’s really cold part of the time.” She and Mike also had to find a church and a community in a place where they knew no one.

Also, “I traded my dream job for my dream man.”

However, when asked how she has found her identity outside of Mike and their family, Amanda says that isn’t really important to her. “I’m grateful and blessed. I waited (for a family) for a really long time. By the time I got my son, that’s all I wanted to do. I truly enjoy supporting (Mike).”

For two years, the Clements were on a steep learning curve as they figured out marriage, a new job and a new place all at the same time. But all of that made the move to Oxford that much easier “because I saw how (God) provided for us (in the first move),” Amanda says.

“It’s almost a gift to be forced to go on your own and rely on God and your spouse.”

Mike agrees: “She’s supposed to be the most important person here on earth for me, and vice versa, and that was easy because we had no other choice.”

‘A heavy burden that I love’

The Clements’ most consistent prayer as a couple has been “that God would use us,” Mike says, and they’ve kept that mentality since moving to Oxford eight years ago.

That means opening their home to Mike’s players and their girlfriends. It means Amanda mentoring young women. It means Mike telling his team he loves them — every day.

“Some of them would roll their eyes and say, ‘That’s Clem being Clem.’ (But) I’m not scared to tell them I love them,” Mike says. “We have this awesome job, but it’s because of the players.”

Mike and Amanda found a church home at Pinelake Oxford, and just as importantly, they’ve got a wonderful small group.

“(We wanted to) have a group praying for us, doing life with us, being there for the wins and the losses that are not in sport,” Amanda says.

Some of the losses have included struggling for six years to have Cooper, and struggling to conceive again afterward.

When the Clements finally learned they were pregnant again, “(Mike) was running to third base (at Swayze Field in Oxford), and I just gave him a thumbs up,” Amanda recalls.

As far as baseball travel is concerned, “It’s a family deal,” Mike says. “I don’t think it’d work if it wasn’t. … Where we are very different is, Amanda would like to be on the go all the time. I am really good at 100 miles per hour and zero. … If they don’t go with me, I stay in the hotel.”

For Amanda’s part, “as soon as I know where we’re going, I look at how close the children’s museum is,” she says. They also visit family (hers in Ohio, his in Iowa) as they’re able.

Last spring, they went on a trip that kept getting thrillingly extended

Mike coaches practice at Swayze Field on October 11.

“It’s

— to Omaha, Nebraska, for the 2022 College World Series.

Last season, “we had a really talented group of players,” Mike says. However, “we crashed in the middle of the season. In April, we played really poorly (and we) had to climb out.”

Climb out they did. “When we started post-season play, it felt different,” he says. “But to say we had a chance to win the national title, I don’t know that I would (have said) that.

“We were playing our best baseball. In our sport, getting hot and staying there is really important.”

In talking about the Rebs’ championship run, Mike references Hebrews 11:1, which gives the definition of faith: “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

“I don’t want to take it out of context. But I know our players had that faith, both from baseball and from a faith standpoint,” he says. “I hope I taught them something, because they certainly have taught me something.”

When asked what they would tell the players who happen to read this article (or listen to the interview on the MCL podcast), Mike says:

“I would have to thank them for the impact they’ve made on me. … Them and their families have made such an impact on me and my family. I hope my son will treat a 3-year-old kid the way they’ve treated him.”

Amanda agrees. “My eyes welled up when you asked that,” she says. “I’ve had players on their hands and knees helping (Cooper) crawl, or getting him fruit snacks because they know he loves them, or showing up for his birthday party.”

The Clements have done their best to show God’s love to the players, too. And this year, they get to do it all over again.

“(Oxford is) an easy place to be comfortable at,” Mike says. However, “I continue to be pushed to understand how the Holy Spirit is pushing me to make an impact.”

Similarly, Amanda references the town’s informal nickname “The Velvet Ditch,” i.e., a place that’s so comfortable it’s hard to leave. “It took me awhile to understand what the term meant,” she says.

But again, “It’s not meant to be comfortable. Every year there’s a new opportunity with new players, families, girlfriends, and we do life with a new group of people.”

Mike describes his and Amanda’s calling perfectly:

“It's a heavy burden that I love.” Y

Cooper Clement (second from right) joins his parents for their MCL interview in the Trehern Dugout Club in Oxford.

a family deal,” says Mike, shown here kissing Cooper, of traveling with the team. Molly Lynn Clement was born November 4, 2022.

Tim Elko (left) celebrates with Cooper after winning the College World Series.

Hoisting the championship trophy.

The Clements (center) with their small group in Oxford.

30 years and beyond: Breaking down barriers and building bridges through living reconciled

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Mission Mississippi and its ongoing work of breaking down barriers and building bridges through living reconciled. I am excited about celebrating God’s work through Mission Mississippi in healing the racial divide. Sadly, the challenges of racism, racial strife, racial hatred, racial prejudice, and racial division still exist. Thus, the work continues. However, I enter 2023 with great confidence, excitement, and anticipation that God will complete the work He started 30 years ago through Mission Mississippi!

2023 is a transitional year for Mission Mississippi, both in terms of leadership change and celebrating 30 years of dedicated service. The number 30 connotes dedication, and I have been part of Mission Mississippi since its inception in 1993, with 30 years of continued service. I’ve served as a board member, a staff member, executive director, and president. I have experienced and witnessed the transforming power of living reconciled in my life, in the life of my family, and in the lives of so many others in this state and nation, as well as internationally. I am pressing on and looking forward to my participation and continued service with Mission Mississippi, however in a different capacity.

On behalf of the board of directors, it gives me great pleasure to announce that Pastor Brian Crawford of City Light Church, Vicksburg, will be the next president of Mission Mississippi beginning April 1. Brian planted and leads an intentionally multiethnic and multicultural church that fully embodies Mission Mississippi’s passion for living reconciled. He has served with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers for over 20 years in management and supervision. Brian’s leadership as a pastor and businessman will bring new energy to this important work of living reconciled. The board conducted a thorough search to find this young man and has committed to mentoring, training and equipping him over the next 90 days via the board, myself, staff, and other leaders. We look forward to introducing him and his vision for Mission Mississippi throughout the state during this time.

Mission Mississippi started as a metro Jackson movement, with racial reconciliation in the body of Christ as the key focus. One of our first taglines was “Changing Mississippi One Relationship at a Time.” Mission Mississippi is now a statewide movement with a network of local groups throughout the state. We are recognized nationally as a leading resource and catalyst for Christian reconciliation and racial healing. We have been able to accomplish this through relationships built on trust, respect, and truth. This is achieved by connecting people, cultivating relationships, and changing lives through listening, learning, and living out the reconciliation we have in Christ. Our network includes churches, organizations, ministries, businesses, schools, colleges, and universities

where we get to enlist, engage, equip, and empower communities to live a lifestyle of reconciliation.

Mission Mississippi has paved the way for churches, organizations, ministries, and communities to do reconciliation work. As one board member stated, “Mission Mississippi has prepared new ground and cleared the way by removing the stumps, stones and stumbling blocks.” In other words, breaking down barriers and building bridges through living reconciled. You know, reconciliation and living reconciled is not always tangible. The work we do is the “HEART” work, and that work is not always exemplified in tangible ways. However, the invisible makes the visible possible. It’s the heart change that’s allowed people to make positive changes in their personal, professional and everyday lives.

We have succeeded in getting people to the table who would otherwise not be sitting at the table, developing relationships where there was once hate and adversity. Now people are together working and helping transform communities to make life better for the whole. We are witnessing the intentionality of multiracial, multicultural churches, churches staying in the inner city, and people staying at the table even when it’s difficult. Pastors and churches are working together across racial and denominational lines to better their communities.

In recent years we have challenged the body of Christ to deepen their relationships with God and with one another. This past year we aimed to dig deeper into the racial divide and its manifestation in our

“ The work we do is the ‘HEART’ work, and that work is not always exemplified in tangible ways. However, the invisible makes the visible possible.”

A Mission Mississippi Day of Dialogue.

relationships. To do this, we started with right relationships — with God, with ourselves, and with others.

Now we are challenging ourselves and others to break down barriers and build bridges.

#BeABreaker&Builder Ephesians 2:14-22 Y

Neddie Winters is president of Mission Mississippi, an organization dedicated to racial reconciliation within the body of Christ. A proud alumnus of Alcorn State University, Neddie lives in Clinton with his wife, Tommie.

Mission Mississippi President Neddie Winters (right) with incoming president Brian Crawford.

Amanda Scott Abortion, healing and hope

Back, from left: Summer, Adam, Caitlyn, Lawson, Manden, Amanda, Jacob, Luke, Jacob (Jake) Jr. and Kayla Scott. Front, from left: Jacob (Tripp) Scott III and Liam Scott.

Editor’s note: This article contains a partial description of a late-term abortion.

In 2012, Amanda Scott was at a follow-up appointment with her chiropractor/nutritionist, Dr. Debra Barnes, 18 years after having an abortion as a teen.

“Some of the (physical) things I was dealing with, (Dr. Barnes) said, ‘Trauma can keep you from healing. Have you experienced any of these things?’ And she started naming stuff,” Amanda recalls:

“Have you lost anything in a fire?”

Yes — Amanda’s mother’s cake shop had burned just a few weeks after Amanda’s abortion.

“Have you ever lost a child?”

Yes — Amanda confessed that she’d had an abortion at 14 years old. Dr. Barnes told her there was a Bible study, held upstairs in the same building they were in, for women who’d experienced abortion.

Amanda asked if she could help lead the study, but learned she had to go through it as a participant first.

“It was the sweetest closure,” she said. “I didn’t even know there was a Bible study for something like this.” Now Amanda helps lead similar gatherings for women who’ve walked through abortion, including a Bible study starting in the spring semester via Broadmoor Baptist Church.

She wants women to know they can talk about abortion without being condemned.

“People aren’t going to beat your door down (to find healing) when they don’t believe they’re allowed to,” she says. “It’s a grief that you feel like you aren’t allowed to grieve.”

Amanda would know. But she also knows God’s almighty restorative power on the other side of that grief.

‘I just cried out to the Lord’

Amanda grew up in Jackson and went to Funtime Skateland on weekends. That’s where she met her now husband, Jacob, when she was 11.

But when she was 12, she met another guy who was 15 and started dating him even though she wasn’t allowed. Two years later, she was pregnant. She didn’t find out till she was four months along. It was a boy.

“I was too young to get pregnant, in my mind. It was not on my radar.”

Nobody took the news well — not her boyfriend, just a kid himself, and not her mother, a single parent who was scared for her little girl.

“The conversation (about whether to get an abortion) was not necessarily with me; it was (mine and my boyfriend’s) parents talking,” Amanda says.

She and her mom went to an abortion facility on Robinson Road

Extension in Jackson to confirm the pregnancy. The staff froze the screen during the ultrasound so they couldn’t see the baby move. Amanda and her mom went home, and a few weeks went by.

“Every week changed the dynamic,” Amanda says. Finally, the decision was made for her. She would have an abortion.

“My dad called the day before (the abortion) and said, ‘Don’t do it. I’ll take care of you’ — but he did not relay that to (my mom),” Amanda says.

Mississippi law prohibited late-term abortions, so Amanda, her boyfriend, and her mom went to a facility in New Orleans.

“By then, (the abortion) was a two-day process. I was not happy about that,” Amanda says. “But they told me I was too young (to have a baby). I was extremely anemic and weak, and I could damage my body forever — this was from the nurses.”*

On day one, “They encouraged me that I was doing the right thing because I still wanted to finish school,” Amanda says. “They inserted several (dehydrated) seaweed rods into my cervix to start dilation and labor.”

Amanda was in labor all night at the hotel. The next day, she was taken back to the abortion clinic — where she freaked out, ran out the front door, and wouldn’t come back in.

“I just totally refused. I was called everything in the book.”

Finally, she was informed that because they’d already induced labor, she would miscarry anyway — and if she didn’t complete the procedure, she might never be able to have children.

Just before the abortion, when she was alone, “I hit my knees and just cried out to the Lord,” she says. “There were blinds in the room, cracked just enough, and the sun hit me right in the eyes. I heard God say, ‘This will bless others one day.’”

Ironically, the abortion involved a “normal” delivery, complete with

1997;

pushing, Amanda says. “The baby was caught up under my ribs, so the nurses were massaging my stomach to get the baby to move.”

Many years later, Amanda wrote a letter to abortion, she says. “I was angry at the abortion itself as if it was its own thing – and it is,” she says. “It’s Satan.” The following is an excerpt describing her abortion experience: “Almost numb from the heartache and fear, I just turned my head and wept until it was over. When the doctor finished, I saw him hand the nurse a little pan. As she walked by me, I grabbed for it, knowing that my baby was in there. I just wanted to see him and say goodbye. Before I could, though, they held me down and gave me a shot in the arm, and that was it.”

Because Amanda had a D&E abortion (dilation and evacuation), she believes her son died during the procedure.

That was May 3, 1994.

“Momma’s cake shop (Decorator’s Delight) burned on Memorial Day,” just a few weeks later, Amanda says. “She saw that as God punishing her, even though God doesn’t do that.”

Amanda just before her pregnancy (above), and at 16 (above right).

Amanda and Jacob wed as teens on April 12,

separated after five years; found the Lord; then got baptized together by Dr. John Taylor in June 2004.

Due to the abortion and other traumatic events that summer, “I wound up in the hospital with anxiety attacks. I moved in with my older sister in Pearl,” Amanda says.

“They say life can go back to normal (after an abortion). Whatever. Mine was extremely traumatic, but everyone I’ve talked to who’s walked through this, even at four weeks, it’s traumatic. Even if you say you’re fine. There’s a place there (where that baby should be).”

She held fast to her experience with God from the abortion clinic, though she didn’t really know Him yet. “In my teen years, anytime I needed to share my story to help someone, I clung to that,” she says.

Eventually, she would find the purpose and peace that God had promised her in that moment.

*Teen pregnancies are riskier than others, but not as much in places with advanced healthcare like the United States. According to a paper published in 2021 at the National Library of Medicine, a 14-year-old pregnant mother has a 1.4 percent chance of stillbirth. When it comes to maternal mortality, much of the data focuses on low-income developing countries, but according to the World Health Organization, the maternal mortality rate for 15-year-olds in high-income countries is 1 in 5,400.

Amanda and Jacob’s oldest daughter, Caitlyn, with her sons (from left) Liam and Lawson. Caitlyn is technically Amanda’s stepdaughter, but “she’s my kid. She’s my girl,” Amanda says.

‘I was his first love, and he was mine’

Amanda reconnected with Jacob, the boy from the skating rink, and they dated off and on during their teens.

“We had mutual friends, and groups started going to the movies. He invited me as a friend to his company Christmas party, and we’ve been together ever since,” she says. “I was his first love, and he was mine.”

They got married when she was 17 and he was 19. Jacob had a daughter from a previous relationship, but his ex gave Amanda her blessing, and they’ve been co-parenting ever since. Amanda and Jacob then had a son of their own.

After five years of marriage, they separated, found the Lord, got back together — then had three kids back-to-back. Six weeks after their oldest daughter went to college, they “inherited” a niece and two nephews. The Scotts now have eight children total, and they live out in the country with four and half horses (one is a mini), five dogs and a cat. They’re still homeschooling two of the kids.

“We’ve just been blessed. There’s been a lot of hardship. But God is faithful,” Amanda says.

Along the way, she’s grieved the loss of her baby boy.

“I miss the child I didn’t get to raise. My oldest daughter is three months younger than he would’ve been,” Amanda says. “She’s my stepdaughter, but she’s my kid. She’s my girl. I will cut you (if you hurt her), you know?” she explains, laughing. “It’s been hard — first days of school, prom — but God said, ‘This is your blessing. You get to tell her all about (your son).’”

Like many women, Amanda has also felt the devil’s accusations after her abortion.

“I remember working with the babies at church and thinking, if parents knew … ”

In 2012, when going through that first abortion recovery Bible study, Amanda was praying and received a revelation of her baby’s name.

“It sounds kooky and crazy. I prayed, ‘God, if he has a name … ’ And I immediately heard, ‘A little boy named Levi. Momma, that was me.’” Amanda later found out from her Bible study leader that that kind of experience was actually very common.

In leading post-abortive Bible studies as a certified leader in the global ministry Surrendering the Secret, Amanda has heard about other common denominators among women who’ve had abortions: “Dreaming about tornadoes sucking you away; sleeping with the TV on; hearing the cries (of a baby) at night.”

Amanda and Jacob renewed their vows in April 2022 after 25 years of marriage.

In 2012, she and her friend Leigh Ramsey shared with local counselors and pastors about the desperate need for healing Bible studies for women who’ve had abortions.

“Preston (Crowe, counseling pastor at Broadmoor) was one of those men. I was a friend of his, so it was easier to shoot it straight,” Amanda says.

“Some women will go to the same counselor for 20 years and never, ever say (they had an abortion). Part of it was making them aware, you need a book on your shelf (at your office) that says the word ‘abortion’ — breaking the ice subtly so women know, ‘Oh, I can talk about that.’”

Finding healing and freedom

A few people have reached out to Amanda about her upcoming Surrendering the Secret Bible study, which is open to anyone, including women who’ve had abortions, those who want to help with crisis pregnancy care, and even men.

Participants will be separated by gender and will be placed in groups of five or fewer. Each group will have two leaders, one trained and one shadowing.

Amanda describes the freedom she’s seen women find on the other side of these studies:

“So many women who’ve walked through (abortion) don’t have kids because they’ve bought the lie that they don’t deserve kids. (But after the Bible studies, some of those women) have gone overseas and adopted children, or grown children have adopted them as their mother. They now have the freedom to accept the love of a child.”

Amanda detailed the peace she’s found — and her determination to help others find it — in another part of her letter to abortion:

“Yes, the tears will still fall. That’s what happens when you are free to finally let them. No more fear of judgment. No more fear of rejection from this world. You see, I am not alone here. There are many of us.

“Most of them know they are forgiven, but the Lord wants them healed and free! One by one the Lord is building His army. And when the healing comes, my prayer is that you will be the one left with an empty place.”

“But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit.

Those who see you will stare at you and ponder over you:

‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms, who made the world like a desert and overthrew its cities, who did not let his prisoners go home?’”

– Isaiah 14:15-17, ESV

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28, ESV Y

HOW TO HELP

Though statistics vary depending on which organization is reporting them, abortion is far more common than people realize, Amanda says. “We’ve had pastor’s wives in the Bible studies who’ve had abortions, and their husbands have no idea. We’ve had pastor’s daughters (who’ve had abortions) because of their father’s role in the church.”

In other words, “You are around someone (who’s had an abortion),” Amanda says. “Be aware and be humble. Educate yourself. And if you’re a Christian, they’re watching your every move.”

If a friend or loved one tells you she’s had an abortion, “(For them it feels) like the worst thing you’ve ever done times 30, probably,” Amanda says. “How would you want her to respond to you (if you confessed that)?” Above all, “really just listen (with) that gentle spirit.”

To learn more about crisis pregnancy care or Amanda’s upcoming abortion recovery Bible study, email her at anjscott97@gmail.com or Preston Crowe at pcrowe@broadmoor.org. More information on the Surrendering the Secret curriculum and training is available at SurrenderingTheSecret.com.

The CPC Metro and Pro-Life Mississippi also offer abortion recovery programs, which you can learn about on the next two pages.

ar-clad.com

Maximize the visual impact of your brand.

Grandkids Maverick (left) and Tripp Scott with Santa.

CPC expands Abortion Recovery Program

When most of us hear the word abortion, we think of the loss of a child’s life. We advocate for the child but may not realize the woman is hurt in the process as well. Often, the woman who chose the abortion is isolated by shame and left alone to live in the trauma of her choice.

I’m Jenny, and as the Abortion Recovery Coordinator at the CPC Metro, I know this trauma personally because I once believed the lie that all my problems would go away when I made the choice to have an abortion. I spent the next six years having a heart full of anger, hate, guilt and shame. My heart was hard and closed off so that I could not feel the pain I had buried inside. My abortion left me with more than just empty arms. It left me with a soul wound that desperately needed healing. These feelings are not just my own. They are common for women who experience abortion.

Lorin also found it hard to recover from her abortion. Like many women, Lorin believed that abortion would be the

best choice, but what she did not know was that she would carry the burden of her choice alone. “I believed the lie that it was the best thing for everyone involved, but it left me with nothing but a deeper well of emptiness and despair in my heart.” It was the secret that she took home with her from the abortion clinic. She felt shame about her decision, and grief quickly took hold of her life, but there wasn’t anyone to help her through it.

As a married couple, Ron and Tina share a similar experience with their abortion. They didn’t feel like they were provided resources for other options, so they chose an abortion without realizing the long-term consequences. The grief from their abortion damaged their marriage. Tina says, “That was a seed, and we saw it later in life. We experienced a lot of different issues in our marriage, and I didn’t know the problems it caused.”

At the CPC Metro, we want to see women and men spared from the harm of abortion by offering pregnancy resources and support, but we also want to offer recovery for those who have been hurt by abortion in their pasts, through a program designed just for them. I didn’t think I would ever live without shame, regret, anger and despair about my abortion until I attended a weekend retreat specifically for abortion healing. It was there that I received the healing God intended for me. I have joy now because of God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness. This is the healing that all women who have suffered from an abortion must find to be free again.

Lorin said it was only when she went through a healing ministry that she was able to “forgive herself and find hope.” Tina and Ron knew they were suffering and found help through the CPC Metro’s Abortion Recovery Ministry. Tina states, “I’m just grateful that the Lord showed us the avenue to receive the healing.”

With people like Lorin, Tina and Ron in mind, the CPC Metro will launch an expanded Abortion Recovery Program this year that will meet the post-abortive woman exactly where she is. We will offer oneon-one, virtual, and in-person sessions, group settings, and weekend retreats. Whether this is your first attempt at the healing process or you have previously attended another program, you are welcome. I know this program works because without it, Lorin, Tina and I would still be living in our turmoil instead of in freedom from our pasts. We needed someone to show us grace and provide a way for us to experience the redemptive healing of Christ.

All services offered in this program are at no cost to any participant. All information obtained is confidential. Y

Jenny Stigler is the Abortion Recovery Coordinator at the Center for Pregnancy Choices Metro Area, located in Jackson. She lives in Florence with her husband, Cameron, and their three children, Presleigh, Hendrix and Maverick. Jenny and her family attend Hickory Ridge Baptist Church in Florence.

Lorin found it hard to forgive herself for her abortion and find hope until she went through a healing ministry.

Restoring the family, 1 healing at a time

When I first came to work for Pro-Life Mississippi, I did not tell them I had an abortion in my past. I was one of the millions of women sitting at church and suffering in silence. I was ashamed of what I had done and did not think anyone would forgive me.

Everything changed when I and a PLM board member, Ester Mann, started working on a brochure titled “God’s love and forgiveness: Have I gone too far by having an abortion for God to love me?” I realized that I needed to ask God to forgive me for the sin of abortion.

For years, I did not talk about my abortion experience. Then I met another woman who I knew was hurting from her past abortion, and I wanted her to get help. I told her if she attended an abortion recovery class, I would do it with her. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done, but I am so glad I did. Now I have close friends who are godly women, as well as my Lord Jesus Christ.

At Pro-Life Mississippi, I am part of a unique group of Christians from many denominations who are united in their mission to not only save the pre-born from abortion, but to also save men and women from the trauma of abortion regret and guilt.

Guilt, regrets and sin keep each of us who was involved in the abortion experience separated from God and in need of healing that only Jesus Christ can provide. Abortion does not just affect the woman, but also the father of the child, the grandparents, the siblings, and the friend who may have helped with the abortion decision.

Between 1973 and 2021, there were 252,738 Mississippi women who received an abortion. If you take the number of women and include the men, her parents, and his parents, you have 1,516,428 souls in need of healing.

Considering the ripple effect of abortion trauma, Pro-Life Mississippi started organizing confidential post-abortion Bible studies at our office, which were open to men and women. Led by Barbara Beavers and other volunteers, “Forgiven and Set Free” post-abortion groups have met in person and via Zoom.

This year, Pro-Life Mississippi is joining SaveOne Ministries to provide faith-based abortion recovery groups statewide. SaveOne provides separate study guides for men, women, and family members that can be done simultaneously in one small group. We are planning a SaveOne chapter leader training in Hattiesburg on January 7 at Hardy Street Baptist Church. Our first SaveOne group will begin in late January at our Flowood office.

As a follow-up to these small group classes, Pro-Life Mississippi hosts monthly meetings called “Third Tuesday Gatherings” at the Flowood office. People can come hear testimonies and learn about the healing available through Jesus Christ. Men and women who have been healed are able to help those still struggling and teach the next generation, so they do not suffer from the same choices. Y

Tammy Tillman has been the office manager at Pro-Life Mississippi for 13 years. She is an Army veteran, a grandmother and a greatgrandmother, and has a bachelor of science degree in information technology. She lives in Ridgeland and attends Abundant Love Fellowship Church in Florence.

Are our habits writing checks that our bodies can’t cash?

What if salvation wasn’t free? What if there was a copay every time we got on our knees to pray for forgiveness? What if the consequences of even unintentional disobedience placed your salvation in severe jeopardy, and the more you unintentionally disobeyed, the harsher the consequence?

Say we have no idea that the disobedience exists, but we are reaping consequences that are only getting worse, leaving us no choice but to finally go to Jesus. When we come to Him, He tells us He can remove all our consequences and fully restore us, but the monetary price we must pay for restoration is exorbitantly high. Now our forgiveness is contingent on how financially responsible we are or the type of money we make on our jobs. Jobs are of course tied to our education levels. Say we aren’t as educated, so our jobs don’t pay as well, and Jesus gives us a monetary price we have no ability to pay. What are we left to

do? Our salvation is lost without Jesus’ forgiveness.

Now enter the U.S. healthcare system, where monetary value trumps human life and health. Everything we do within the U.S. healthcare system is tied to a dollar amount, and the unhealthier we are, the more it costs either us or someone else. Our ability to pay for our health dictates our quality of life — but it’s not our health we are paying for. It’s our ability to be forgiven of our mistakes or the mistakes of someone else. That’s what we are paying for.

When we start doing business with the U.S. healthcare system, it’s normally because we’re experiencing signs and symptoms of a disease we got from someone else (communicable disease), i.e., COVID-19; or a disease we are genetically and/or behaviorally susceptible to (non-communicable disease), i.e., cardiometabolic diseases, heart disease.

Certain non-communicable diseases, known as chronic noncommunicable diseases, are leading causes of death and disability. These diseases get worse over time if not properly addressed, but the problem with properly addressing these diseases is they can go undetected for years because signs and symptoms appear as normal bodily function. So you continue in unintentional disobedience to how your body was created, and the consequences get worse over time.

Let’s take weight gain for instance. We’ve been told that slowly progressive weight gain is a normal bodily function, right? As we age, our metabolic rate slows, and we consistently gain weight at a slow pace. We have been trained to think this is a normal bodily function — but it is a normal bodily function that can lead you right into a chronic noncommunicable disease that will have you doing business the rest of your life with a healthcare system whose “mercy” is contingent on your ability to pay. This slowly progressive weight gain is known as creeping obesity, which leads to a plethora of chronic non-communicable diseases that cluster, one leading to the other.

This new year, as you are making your healthy behavior change resolutions, I urge you make resolutions that will be sustainable for life, and to understand the goal is not just to lose weight but to prevent the onset of or reverse the effects of a chronic non-communicable disease that you may be susceptible to or are already experiencing signs and symptoms of. Y

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

“

We’ve been told that slowly progressive weight gain is a normal bodily function, right? (But it) can lead you right into a chronic non-communicable disease (and) a healthcare system whose ‘mercy’ is contingent on your ability to pay.”

How do I parent my 21-year-old child?

QUESTION:

ANSWER:

This is an excellent and poignant question regarding parenting an adult … although we may not think of them fully as an adult. I would first bring your attention to the great work you have done in getting them this far. Don’t gloss over that. Parenting and getting kids through the toddler stage, the pre-teen stage, and the “lose your mind” adolescent stage is no small task. You did it. Celebrate them and yourself for arriving at 21 years of age. Help them see that this milestone is a significant accomplishment and that you recognize it and them.

Additionally, you will need to “upgrade” your parenting. Much like the latest smartphone that needs periodic updates to maximize the functionality and efficiency of the device, you as a parent will need to shift your parenting style to be more consultative and less directive. Your young adult children still need your guidance and wisdom and the occasional “that’s not a good idea” statement from you, but more importantly, they need you to allow them to figure some things out for themselves.

Typically, parents shy away from this because they think their children will fail. Spoiler alert: They will. This is perfectly OK. They need to learn to work, struggle, and fail in order to readjust and work smarter. Some things will only come from experience. If you hover or give advice on everything, they will become dependent on you. While that might sound good initially, it fosters co-dependency, enmeshment, or learned helplessness within your child. Allow them to think and try things. Give parameters if you must, but let them dream and try things.

Lastly, pray and create an atmosphere for their “adulting.” Adulting helps them make critical decisions about life that may or may not make sense at the time. With your prayers, support, and guidance, they will see you as an ally and resource, not just mom and dad. They will see you as another adult they can trust and feel safe with. Remember that you are growing responsible adults capable of making tremendous, healthy decisions. Give them a chance to demonstrate that even while in college. This might mean relaxing the curfew or not forbidding certain people within their friend group. Learn to disagree yet keep the lines of communication open. Remember that everything is new in their world, and they see what fits and doesn’t in their lives.

Allow independence and interdependence. You will come to

appreciate both. Have fun with your adult child. Learn the fine art of silence. You don’t have to comment on everything they do. Learn to interact with them as adults. Have adult conversation and use adult consequence language in your talking. They will appreciate that.

Lastly, I leave you with the advice I received when my children started becoming adults: Be concerned but not consumed. Pray and work on balance with your young adult. They will respect you for your approach — either now or later. Y

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

Any tips on how to parent my 21-year-old college student who’s living at home?

‘Covered’ concert to benefit Little Light House in February

The first Fondren Covered event floored Jackson music lovers at Duling Hall in February 2012, and the show has since grown into multiple concerts per year, now known simply as “Covered.” From Beatles to disco and singer/songwriter tunes, Covered captivates attendees while raising money for local nonprofits. Each night brings together leading area musicians, many of whom are local worship team leaders and band members.

The next shows, Covered Music Festival Country, will take place at 7 p.m. February 8 and 9 at The South Warehouse in Jackson.

In 2022, Covered raised $100,000 for local nonprofits dedicated to causes like education and serving children with special needs.

“In 2022, Mississippi-based Trustmark expanded the reach of Covered by joining as its presenting sponsor,” said Gary Watts, the man behind the Covered concept and the founder of local technology company Fuse.Cloud. “Funds raised are used to aid area nonprofits while giving guests an unforgettable evening.”

Little Light House of Central Mississippi, located in Jackson, has received funds raised at the February Covered event for several years. This organization is a Christian, tuition-free developmental center serving children with special needs from birth to age 6.

Little Light House Executive Director Fran Patterson remarked, “We are thrilled to be chosen again as the beneficiary of Covered this February. The concert has raised more than $100,000 for us over the years, but more importantly, they have raised awareness of young children with special needs in the Jackson metro area.”

Tickets are available at covered-music.com. Y

✂

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

2 CORINTHIANS 5:17, NLT

~

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

~ PSALM 51:10, KJV

But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.

~ 2 PETER 3:13, NLT

Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

~ COLOSSIANS 3:9-10, NIV

I rejoiced in the Lord greatly because once again you renewed your care for me.

~ PHILIPPIANS 4:10A, CSB

Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

~ PSALM 103:5, KJV

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

~ ROMANS 12:2, KJV

Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.

~ PSALM 96:1, NIV

Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, who brings forth chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick: Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?

I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

~ ISAIAH 43:16-19, ESV

Put on your new nature, created to be like God — truly righteous and holy.

~ EPHESIANS 4:24, NLT

When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.

~ PSALM 94:19, NLT

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.

~ COLOSSIANS 3:1-3, NLT

ADVERTISING PARTNERS PAGE

AR-Clad Architectural Cladding Systems 27

Belhaven University 2 C Spire 3

Capital Ortho 21

Center for Pregnancy Choices Metro Area 28

Choose Life Mississippi ..........................................9

D-BAT Pearl ...................................................................21

Fireplace Chimney Sweep Solutions 33

Fresh Grounded Faith 15

Gateway Rescue Mission 33

Hartfield Academy 15 H.E.A.L. Mississippi 30

Jackson Leadership Foundation 21

Joe Ragland, author and attorney 33

Lakeside Moulding 11

Mascagni Wealth Management 36

Miskelly Furniture 5

Mission Mississippi 23

Oral & Facial Surgery of Mississippi ............21

P360 Performance Sports ...............................21

Pine Grove Treatment Center 7

Prime Care Nursing 33

Pro-Life Mississippi 29

Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company 13

St. Dominic’s 35

Stegall Imagery 23

Sunnybrook Estates 32

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

WE CAN KEEP YOU HEALTHY. BUT ONLY YOU CAN TELL US WHAT KEEPS YOU YOUNG.

Let’s Talk...

Have you ever wondered if your investment strategy needs a second opinion? Maybe you have unanswered questions. Maybe you need advice on your retirement plan.

The team at Mascagni Wealth Management might be exactly what you are looking for. We are a Registered Investment Advisor with over 30 years of experience helping Mississippians and their families. Let’s sit down over a cup of coffee and talk about your financial future. Call us today.

205 E. Main Street • Clinton, MS

For an free initial consultation, please call 601-925-8099 or visit mascagniwealth.com

MASCAGNI WEALTH MANAGEMENT, INC. IS A REGISTERED INVESTMENT ADVISER REGISTERED WITH THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.