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Gò0dNews September 2026

Complimentary

Christian Magazine

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goodnewscm.com // September 2026

131 Kraft Dr Dalton, GA 30721 (762) 760-3799 nelsontractor.com

Dig Deep For Success.

About Us WRITERS

Bill Silvers Brittany Crabtree Carl Corser Dorothy Teague Eric Golden Garrett Nudd Hayden Lanier Kristen West Pastor Detrick Redding Paula Burgner Sharon Eldridge Sue Lavigne Terrie Long

SALES

Matthew Ruckman goodnewstn@gmail.com 423-503-1410 Andrew Ruckman goodnewsmarketing1@gmail.com 423-432-3406

DESIGNER

Riley Evans art.goodnews@gmail.com

PHOTOGRAPHER Paula Knipp 423-310-4207

EDITOR/ARTICLE COORDINATOR Sandra Gilmore articles.goodnews@gmail.com

PUBLISHER

Matthew and Bethany Ruckman goodnewstn@gmail.com 423-503-1410

Hello Friends, We want to take a moment to tell you who we are and what we are about. Our names are Matt and Bethany Ruckman and we have six beautiful children, Brendon, Kailey, Andrew, Leah Jean, Emma, and Cooper. We live in Cleveland, Tennessee, and love what this town has to offer! We have started GoodNews Christian Magazine because we feel that when God, family, and community are combined, lives will be changed. GoodNews Christian Magazine is a complimentary, Christian lifestyle publication. You can find us throughout the community in retail establishments, churches, restaurants, and more. Our magazine opens the door for Christians to work together to grow and strengthen our community through relevant editorial and effective advertising. GoodNews Christian Magazine is written by men and women in the community who love and serve the Lord. Our hearts are open and willing to be used by God to reach out to the community to spread the GoodNews!

OFFICE

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SOCIAL MEDIA GoodNews Christian Magazine Catoosa 4

Disclaimer All of the content in the GoodNews Christian Magazine is for general information and/or use. Such contents does not constitute advice and should not be relied upon in making (or refraining from making) a decision. Any specific advice or replies to queries in any part of the magazine is the personal opinion of such experts/ consultants/persons and is not subscribed to by GoodNews Christian Magazine. The information in GoodNews Christian Magazine is provided on an “AS IS” basis, and all warranties, expressed or implied of any kind, regarding any matter pertaining to any information, advice or replies are disclaimed and excluded. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement or article we deem inappropriate.

goodnewscm.com // September 2026

Contents

SEPTEMBER 2026

from the Pastor's Desk 06 GoodNews The Power of Our Freedom By Pastor Detrick Redding

for Everyone 08 AGoodNews Life of Consistency By Hayden Lanier

Money Matters 10 GoodNews Annual Shake & Bake 2026 By Hughes Retirement Group

GoodNews for Men 12 Divine Appointments in

Desert Places By Eric Golden

for Prayer Warriors 24 GoodNews Pray Without Ceasing By Paula Burgner

for Kids 26 GoodNews In All Seasons By Brittany Crabtree

for Athletes 28 GoodNews Running With Him By Bill Silvers

12 GoodNews for Women 14 Today I Sat with My Betrayer By Terrie Long

for Discovering More 30 AGoodNews Picture’s Worth MORE THAN a Thousand Words By Garrett Nudd

for your Taste Buds 32 GoodNews Cast Iron Apple Fritters

for Artists 18 GoodNews A Life-Long Artist

GoodNews Poetry 34 It's a New Day

Cover Story 20 GoodNews Red Stone Estates:

GoodNews for Families 36 Casting Shadows

for the Discouraged 22 GoodNews Up, Up, and Away

GoodNews for Our Nation 38 Honoring 9/11 and Healing

By Carl Corser

Where You Get to Live Your Life and Forget Your Age

By Sharon Eldridge

By Kristen West

By Dorothy Teague

from Loss By Sue Lavigne

Gò0dNews from the Pastor's Desk

The Power of Our Freedom by Pastor Detrick Redding

We have been granted a new spiritual life in Christ, a life that is Spirit-led and Spirit-defined. The Spirit of the living God quickens our mortal bodies. Even while living here on the earth, we are still spiritual beings. This is essential for the believer to embrace. But let’s face it. The enemy is still out there trying to trick us into territory that is forbidden and even trying to connect us to the memory of the forbidden journey before Christ, trying to plague our minds and our hearts.

Then look at verse 2: “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me (us) free from the law of sin and death.” The law of the Spirit works in our corner to free us from condemnation because condemnation comes from the law of sin and death. Even Paul said it this way in Romans 7:17 AMPC, “…it is no longer I who do the deed, but the sin (principle) which is at home in me and has possession of me.” He exposed the sin nature and didn’t take the blame on himself.

This is a problem that needs to be addressed. So many are trapped in the game of blame and condemnation. I’ve seen many believers lose their peace. Some believers have committed suicide because of guilt. Guilt is the ammunition of the enemy. He uses it to steal what we have in Christ. He tries to convince us that we have no worth. He knows that we have access to God and to all that God has for us. He knows that we are in right standing with God because of Calvary. Remember, we are new creations in Christ. We must embrace this truth.

In Christ, it’s safe to say the blame is to be on the devil. The devil has been influencing people ever since the beginning. Remember, it started in the Garden of Eden. He tricked Eve to disobey God. Then Adam followed suit. God came to them in the Garden and they said, “We hid ourselves because we were naked.” He immediately knew that they had disobeyed, but remember God’s response? “Who told you that you were naked?” As I read that, I hear God saying, “Who is the culprit for this mess?” Adam blamed Eve, which wasn’t accurate, but Eve identified the snake as the enemy. This was true. The serpent, being used by the devil, was the influencer of disobedience. He persuaded Eve, yes, through the lust of flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life. However, this was not what she was created for. Listen back to what Paul said in Romans 7 TPT: “…it’s not my true identity doing it…” Glory to God! Now that’s freedom!

Now, how do I deal with this guilt practically? Good question. Human nature wants to have a point of blame, a point of reasoning. So, let’s give one. John 10:10 says, “The thief comes to kill, steal, and destroy…” Who is the thief? None other than the devil, our adversary. His whole objective is to do these things to us. Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” We are to walk after the Spirit, not the flesh. The flesh wants to have a pity party and even a blame party. However, the Spirit knows who the blame is. The Spirit has been dealing with the “accuser of the brethren” for years. 6

Detrick Redding, born and raised in Rome, Georgia, is a husband to Toris and father to 4 children. Called to pastor at an early age, he currently pastors at Rally Up International Ministries in Rome, Georgia. Detrick has a deep passion for not only seeing people born again, but knowing their true identity and what is made available to all in Jesus Christ.

goodnewscm.com // September 2026

Focus

by Rosemary Edwards

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Gò0dNews for Everyone "The Ploughman" by Peter Morgan

A Life of Consistency by Hayden Lanier

When I think about the kind of life I want to live, there is one word that could be used to describe it. I want to live a life of consistency. The men and women who inspire me, the individuals I look up to, are people who lead consistent lives. By definition, consistency means “firmness of constitution or character; persistency” (MerriamWebster). Those who lead lives of consistency live in such a way that their character, their attitude, and their behavior are unwavering. They devote themselves to the Lord; they attend church regularly, serve in the ways they have been called to, read the Bible, pray, and seek to know Christ more. They go to work every day, work hard, persevere through issues, and do their best at their job, glorifying God in the way they do so. They love their family, sacrificing for their spouse and loving their children, always thinking about how they can better lead them. They are dependable; you know that you can always count on them in a time of need and that they will be a helpful presence. To actually live the life God has called us to as His people requires consistency. It is far easier to make a public declaration for Jesus and say that you are going to change than to actually live a life of obedience surrendered to God. The Bible describes the kind of life we should live as “a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the 8

knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:2-4 ESV). A consistent life is marked by peace and quiet, but also Godliness and dignity. The Bible says here that leading such a life is good and pleases God, who desires all people to be saved. A life marked by consistency glorifies God and points those who are far from Him to the truth. The alternative is a life of inconsistency. This means that you have no steady anchor, no sure and firm foundation. Your life is a tumultuous sea of changes, an unceasing spinning of revolving doors. Your ideas and beliefs about the world change with the times. Your loyalty to your friends and family depends on your emotions. An inconsistent life is unpredictable, and it yields an unreliable person. However, most tragically, such inconsistency means we are disobedient to the Lord and unpleasing to Him with our lives. This is not the kind of person I want to be, and I pray it is not who you want to be, because God has called us to a greater life. I’d like to close this devotional with a few Bible verses that speak of perseverance and consistency in your walk with the Lord. May they encourage us to live in such a manner.

“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” (1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV). “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9 ESV). “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23 ESV).

See www.setyourmindabove.com for more from Hayden Lanier.

Hayden Lanier is a follower of Jesus, a graduate of Shorter University, and he works as an elementary school teacher.

goodnewscm.com // September 2026

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Huges Retirement Group Presents:

ANNUAL SHAKE & BAKE 2026 IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN! Join us for the Hughes Retirement Group Annual Medicare Shake & Bake event on Thursday, October 1st. This year’s event will be held at Westwood Baptist Church with class time options of 10:00 am, 12:30 pm, and 2:00 pm. What is the Medicare Shake & Bake event, you might ask? It is a free, educational event that shakes up the A, B, C’s of Medicare. During this event we will discuss plan changes for the upcoming year that will be crucial to the evaluation of your Medicare needs and current coverage. The timing of the event is just before the Annual Enrollment Period, which runs from October 15th – December 7th. It is during this time that individuals can make changes to their current supplemental and drug plans. The event is geared towards providing much information that individuals will need to enter AEP confidently. After class, we welcome attendees to let all the information provided bake in while they visit the many senior focused services that will have booths set up to help continue this educational experience for our community. These vendors are all directly related to the needs of seniors and are also vendors that Hughes Retirement Group and their employees have worked with. 10

The following vendors will be set up to answer any questions you may have about their services: Ace Hardware Handy Man Services AccentCare Home Health Ahlberg Audiology Award Realty – Marica Botts Bradley County Trustee Office Brittany Mowery Photography Burns, Henry & Kirksey Channel 12 Companion Funeral Homes Garden Plaza HHM CPAs – Adam Osborne Louver Shop McCartney Family Chiropractic Medical Equipment – James

We understand that there are a ton of choices and a lot of information geared towards seniors during this time of the year regarding Medicare. Our hope is to offer sound education to our community about their options, while also providing them the opportunity to connect with businesses in our community that value helping them live the best life they can.

Kerminsky Misty Mountain Florist Nana’s Books & Bears Pinnacle Financial Partners Project Free 2 Fly Rachel’s Home Management Renew Exteriors Southeast Charcuterie State Farm – Mark Riden Terra Running Company The Roaming Cup 3 Rivers Radio Group Walkup Pool Services Westwood Baptist Church

If you would like to attend our Annual Medicare Shake & Bake Event, please text the word SHAKE to 423-212-5698. We look forward to seeing you there.

(423) 664-4203 HughesRetirementGroup.com

Insurance products are offered through the insurance business Hughes Retirement Group. Hughes Retirement Group is also an Investment Advisory practice that offers products and services through Impact Partnership Wealth, LLC (IPW), a Registered Investment Adviser. IPW does not offer insurance products. The insurance products offered by Hughes Retirement Group are not subject to Investment Advisor requirements. Any and all other services related to Medicare are an outside business activity and are not offered through or supervised by Impact Partnership Wealth, (“IPW”) LLC. Hughes Retirement Group is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Government or any governmental agency. Neither the firm nor its agents or representatives may give tax or legal advice. Individuals should consult with a qualified professional for guidance before making any purchasing decisions.

goodnewscm.com // September 2026

EDUCATIONAL

STRATEGIC

PERSONALIZED

Gò0dNews for Men

Photo by Joseph Corl on Unsplash

Divine Appointments in Desert Places by Eric Golden

Since the beginning of time, God has been aligning people at certain times and in certain places to accomplish His will in their lives. From Abraham and Melchizedek, to Joseph and the cupbearer, to Moses and the burning bush, every significant person in the Bible began their ministry because of one divine appointment. These appointments were sometimes on the heels of great victory, but were often in times of great distress. Sometimes they were by rivers of water, but other times in desert places. Such was the case with Philip and the Ethiopian. Philip had been ministering in Samaria. It was a place full of activity. People were bustling all around. Life was exciting. The ministry was exciting. People were hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and responding with excitement. Healings and miracles were breaking forth. I am sure that Philip was feeling pretty good about his situation. Then God spoke to him and said, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza” (Acts 8:26 ESV). Scripture indicates that this is a desert place. Philip could have disobeyed. Success in Samaria could have kept him anchored there, but he would have been anchored in the wrong place. God had a plan. He had set a divine appointment in the desert place between Philip and an Ethiopian eunuch who had the ear of a queen. Had Philip said, “I have more important things to do,” or “I don’t even like the desert place,” or “I am fine right here in my successful ministry,” he would have missed the opportunity of a lifetime. He would have missed the opportunity to change a heart that would go on to (potentially) change a nation. 12

Maybe you can relate to Philip. Maybe things are going really well for you right now, but God is calling you to something different that does not make as much sense. Maybe you relate better to the Ethiopian eunuch, traveling through the desert, trying to understand God’s Word. The truth is that, in our lives, we can often feel like we are in a desert place. Whether it be our emotions, our health, our relationships, or our finances, life has a way of making us feel dry and thirsty. It is in the desert places where our prayer life feels useless, study feels daunting, and worship feels worthless. It is in the desert places that we often want to give up and throw in the towel. These are the places we try to avoid. However, it is in that desert place that we can experience more of what God wants to do in our lives. For Philip, it was simple obedience to leave the success of Samaria and do what God said. For the Ethiopian eunuch traveling through the desert, searching for meaning in God's Word, it was a divine appointment with Philip that changed everything. What Acts 8:26-31 teaches us is that even in our desert places, God can set up divine appointments that can change hearts and nations. Will you take the time today to evaluate your desert place in light of God’s goodness and ask, “What next?”

Eric Golden and his wife, Laken, pastor Lakeview Community Church in Cleveland, TN.

goodnewscm.com // September 2026

Gò0dNews for Women

Photo by Kris Tian on Unsplash

Today I Sat with My Betrayer by Terrie Long “But I say unto you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44 KJV). Today I sat with my betrayer. I had so much to say, but God said, “Not today,” and shifted my focus and emotional posture away from my betrayer and my agency to set the record straight. My focus went to enabling me to hear what He had to say. He reminded me of His own betrayals and how His Father’s mission and the power of the Holy Spirit empowered Him to remain focused on the big picture, which was to show others, even His betrayers, love, kindness, and forgiveness. As a result of daily prayer and a strong connection with His Father, Jesus was able to walk with restraint, humility, and quietness, speaking only when necessary and speaking words from above. Amid betrayal, denial, and murder, He remained the epitome of Agape love, a love that keeps on loving, a relentless and unfailing love! Could it be that in this season of betrayal, whether you are the recipient or extender, that God is using this experience to reveal, protect, and transform you? No matter the road that led to the betrayal, it hurts us all, but if we allow Him, God can come into the fragmented aftermath of our disappointed expectations and penetrating hurt, and He can transform us! He can renew us, restore us, and yes, He can reconcile us through the power of Agape love. My brothers and sisters, we CAN experience the ministry of reconciliation. 14

As I reflected on Jesus’ courage and desire to love at all costs, my heart began to fill with a renewed desire to please Him and to reflect His character as I faced my betrayer. I could literally feel my heart changing and being transformed as He reminded me to be careful how I treated my betrayer, because I’ve been a betrayer too. It is in my DNA to run, hide, self-preserve, even if unconsciously so. I, too, have let others down, so He gently nudged me toward the seat, and He lovingly whispered in my ear to extend grace and to speak of Him, not the acts of my betrayer, and to be like Him. So, as I entered the space where my betrayer sat, all the rehearsed words were now gone, and I felt this strange, but exhilarating, desire to love and forgive! To my utter amazement, I felt a freedom and a joy that caused me to speak only of God’s goodness. I began to praise His name, and as I did, the past seemed to fade in the shadows of the cross. Today, I sat with my betrayer and testified of God’s goodness! I bragged on God, and as I did, even my betrayer smiled. And when I left my seat, I left with a heart restored and no longer with a betrayer, but with a fellow sojourner. Who is your betrayer? Consider forgiving them, and if given the opportunity, share with them what God has done for you. Terrie Long is a public speaker, soloist and inspirational author. She is an active member of the Orchard Park SDA Church in Chattanooga. Terrie can be contacted at Terrie.Ruff@lpnt.net.

goodnewscm.com // September 2026

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Catoosa County Church Directory

Baptist Anchor of Hope Baptist Church 2613 Lakeview Drive Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742 706-866-8318 Battlefield Baptist Church 178 South Cedar Lane Oglethorpe, GA 30742 706-866-1316 Boynton Baptist Church 4093 Boynton Drive Ringgold, GA 30736 706-952-1551 Briarwood Baptist Church 26 Ellis Springs Road Ringgold, GA 30736 706-965-9177 Burning Bush Baptist Church 2195 Burning Bush Road Ringgold, GA 30736 706-866-1989 Calvary Memorial Baptist Church 2 E Gate Drive Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742 706-866-6183 Calvary Memorial Baptist Church 518 Highway #41 Ringgold, GA 30736 706-891-9340 Catoosa Baptist Tabernacle 4994 Highway 41 Ringgold, GA 30736 706-935-4323 Cherokee Valley Baptist Church 1495 Cherokee Valley Road Ringgold, GA 30736 706-935-6220 Christ First Church 5994 N Hwy 27 Lafayette, Ga 30728 706-764-2212 Clearview Baptist Church 2183 Dietz Road Ringgold, GA 30736 706-866-0164 Cloud Springs Baptist Church 207 Cloud Springs Road Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742 706-866-0164 Ebenezer Baptist Church 77 Hackett Road Ringgold, GA 30736 706-965-7970 Faith Baptist Church 308 Boynton Drive Ringgold, GA 30736 423-509-5334 First Baptist Church Ft. Oglethorpe 2645 LaFayette Road Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742 706-866-0232 First Baptist Church of Ringgold 7611 Nashville Street Ringgold, GA 30736 706-935-2358 Friendship Primitive Baptist Church 851 Ooltewah Ringgold Road Ringgold, GA 30736 706-935-2382 Gospel Way Baptist Church 31 Bowling Road Ringgold, GA 30736 706-891-9866 Grace Baptist Church 7638 Nashville Street Ringgold, GA 30736 706-965-7969 Harvest Baptist Church of the Deaf 1314 Old Three Notch Road Ringgold, GA 30736 706-375-7107 Video Call: 706-956-0445 Heritage Pointe Baptist Church 60 Dyer Bridge Place Ringgold, GA 30736 706-858-0976 Hickory Grove Baptist Church 5010 Houston Valley Road Ringgold, GA 30736 706-673-6999 Keith Baptist Church 1573 Keith Road Ringgold, GA 30736 706-450-0963

Lakeview First Baptist Church 10 Hudson Street Rossville, GA 30741 706-861-4262 Living Faith Baptist Church Highway 41 Ringgold, GA 30736 706-891-1817 Midway Baptist Church Highway 41 North Ringgold, GA 30736 706-937-2317 Moriah Baptist Church 2864 Battlefield Parkway Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742 706-866-8843 Mount Peria Baptist Church 341 Sparks Street Ringgold, GA 30736 706-935-4887 Mount Pisgah Baptist Church 66 Westbrook Road Ringgold, GA 30736 706-935-3031 Mount Vernon Baptist Church 1006 Mount Vernon Road Ringgold, GA 30736 706-935-3872 Nellie Head Memorial Baptist 2379 Catoosa Parkway Tunnell Hill, GA 30755 706-935-5236 New Bethel Baptist Church 1635 Salem Valley Road Ringgold, GA 30736 706-965-3500 New Friendship Baptist Church 3833 Salem Valley Road Ringgold, GA 30736 New Heights Baptist Church 158 Ooltewah Ringgold Rd Ringgold, GA 30736 706-965-9838 New Liberty Baptist Church 923 Graysville Road Ringgold, GA 30736 706-937-4754 Old Fort Baptist Church 18 Van Cleve Street Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742 706-861-2807 Parkway Baptist Temple 65 Stuart Road Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742 706-866-0325 Peavine Baptist Church 1089 Peavine Road Rock Spring, GA 30739 706-375-4721 Philadelphia Baptist Church 1065 Pine Grove Road Ringgold, GA 30736 706-891-5683 Pine Grove Baptist Church 46 Pine Grove Road Ringgold, GA 30736 706-891-2427 Pleasant Grove Baptist Church 7769 Alabama Highway Ringgold, GA 30736 706-935-3348 Pleasant Valley Baptist Church 1995 Ooltewah Ringgold Rd Ringgold, GA 30736 706-537-3633 Poplar Springs Baptist Church 422 Poplar Springs Road Ringgold, GA 30736 706-965-4461 Salem Baptist Church 1947 Keith Salem Road Ringgold, GA 30736 706-965-3907 Shiloh Baptist Church 24 Kay Street Rossville, GA 30741 706-861-4359 Victory Baptist Church 1013 Layfayette Road Rossville, GA 30741 706-866-0371 Welcome Hill Baptist Church 223 Inman Street Ringgold, GA 30736 706-965-4814

Nazarene Battlefield Parkway Church of the Nazarene 3220 Battlefield Parkway Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742 706-866-9838 Non-Denominational Battlefield Assembly In Messiah 195 Ashley Lane, Rossville, GA 30741 304-890-0949 Battlefield Church of Faith Highway 41 South Ringgold, GA 30736 706-937-7729 Battlefield Praise & Worship 1337 Battlefield Pkwy, Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742 706-913-0531 Chosen Generation Ministries 92 W Patterson Avenue Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742 423-779-6777 Church of Living Faith 7623 Alabama Highway Ringgold, GA 30736 706-937-5673 Crossroads Church 7638 Nashville Street Ringgold, GA 30736 crossroadsringgold.com Faith Builders International 8309 Highway 41 Ringgold, GA 30736 256-338-5031 Grace Memorial Church 118 East Nashville Street Ringgold, GA 30736 706-965-7969 The Gathering 2290 Cloud Springs Road, Rossville, GA 30741 706-841 0161 Light House Church 1201 Lafayette Road Rossville, GA 30741 706-861-2715 Living Waters Ministries 1337 Battlefield Pkwy Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742 423-255-8655 New Life Church PO Box 1973 Ringgold, GA 30736 706-866-7799 Ridgeland Point Church 1417 Happy Valley Rd. Rossville, GA 30741 RockPointe Church 1278 Cross Street Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742 706-820-6523 Untethered Church 2473 Lafayette Road Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742 423-991-6067 Venue Church 3969 Cloud Springs Road Ringgold, GA 30736 423-637-7100 Woodstation Church 13198 Alabama Highway Ringgold, GA 30736 706-965-3360 Presbyterian Chickamauga Presbyterian 700 7th Street Chickamauga, GA 30707 706-375-3432 Christ Fellowship 1176 North Three Notch Rd. Ringgold, GA 30736 706-937-4115 First Presbyterian Church 1 Harker Road Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742 706-866-2521 Hope Fellowship 2000 Twin Cedars Rd Chickamauga, GA 30707 hopefellowshipepc.org Morton Memorial 560 Red Belt goodnewscm.com // Rd.September 2026

Catholic Saint Gerard Catholic Church 3049 Lafayette Road Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742 706-861-9410 Church of Christ Cohutta Road Church of Christ 2233 Mount Vernon Road Ringgold, GA 30736 706-935-3884 Fort Oglethorpe Church of Christ 6 Harker Road Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742 706-866-4124 Ringgold Church of Christ 4099 Nashville Street Ringgold, GA 30736 706-965-2820 Church of God Boynton Church of God 1956 Three Notch Road Ringgold, GA 30736 706-937-6300 Indian Springs Church of God 2256 Highway 41 North Ringgold, GA 30736 706-937-3599 Noble Church of God 75 Glass Rd Lafayette, GA 30728 Ringgold Church of God 117 Emberson Drive Ringgold, GA 30736 706-935-2056 Wallaceville Church of God 236 Harp Switch Road Chickamauga, GA 30707 706-375-2736 Community Battlefield Ministries Church 64 3rd Street Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742 706-866-9090 Green Pasture Community Church 1008 North Beaumont Road Ringgold, GA 30736 706-375-7333 Lee’s Chapel Community Church 3253 Catoosa Parkway Ringgold, GA 30736 706-935-9928 Rock Bridge Community Church 265 Poplar Springs Rd, Ringgold, GA 30736 706-279-3175 Episcopal Church of the Nativity 1201 Cross Street Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742 706-866-9773 Full Gospel Yates Spring Full Gospel Church 1300 Yates Springs Road Ringgold, GA 30736 706-638-2305 Methodist Boynton UMC 4246 Boynton Drive Ringgold, GA 30736 706-866-2626 Fairview UMC 2112 McFarland Avenue Rossville, GA 30741 423-653-1043 Fort Oglethorpe UMC 1733 Battlefield Parkway Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742 706-820-6314 Graysville UMC 2331 Graysville Road Ringgold, GA 30736 706-891-9253 Newnan Springs UMC 78 Monanaw Avenue Rossville GA 30741 706-866-6724 Ringgold UMC 7484 Nashville Street Ringgold, GA 30736 706-935-4777

Chickamauga, GA 30707 706-338-7176 Seventh-Day Adventist

Battlefield Community SDA Church 96 Hillman Lane Ringgold, GA 30736 706-861-5999

Lookout Mountain SDA Church 6083 Hwy 157 (Atop Lookout Mtn) Rising Fawn, GA 30738

706-375-6708 Grace Baptist Tabernacle 27 Jones Rd Rock Springs, GA 423-362-3158 Grand Center Baptist Church of Chickamauga 1753 Grand Center Rd Chickamauga, GA 706-375-8505 Happy Home Baptist Church 704 N Chattanooga St. LaFayette, GA 30728 Harbor Light Baptist Church 600 Crane St. LaFayette, GA 30728 423-605-0917 Lafayette First Baptist Church 201 N Main St, LaFayette, GA 30728 706-638-3727 Lake Howard Baptist Church 1528 Lake Howard Rd. LaFayette, GA 30728 423-304-4990 Linwood Baptist Church 18 Steele St. LaFayette, GA 30728 706-638-6527 Liberty Baptist Church 1334 Johnson Rd. Chickamauga, GA 30707 706-375-3859 Lookout Baptist Church 8645 Highway 193 Chickamauga, GA 706-931-2356 Macedonia Baptist Church 12461 E Highway 136 LaFayette, GA 30728 Marble Top Baptist Church 7131 N Marble Top Rd Chickamauga, GA 706-375-3536 Mt Hermon Baptist Church 2373 Hog Jowl Rd Chickamauga, GA 706-858-5650 Naomi Baptist Church 4171 E Highway 136 LaFayette, GA 30728 706-638-4601 New Harvest Missionary Baptist Church 2034 Highway 337 LaFayette, GA 30728 706-764-6257 New Home Baptist Church 256 New Home Rd. LaFayette, GA 30728 North LaFayette Baptist Church 1649 N Main St LaFayette, GA 30728 Oakwood Baptist Church 115 Oakwood St Chickamauga, GA 706-375-5760 Peavine Baptist Church 1089 Peavine Rd Rock Springs, GA 706-375-4721 Prospect Baptist Church 194 Prospect Church Rd LaFayette, GA 30728 706-397-2908 Ridgeview Baptist Church 1001 Magnolis St. LaFayette, GA 30728 334-300-4733 Ridgeway Baptist Church 1594 Ridgeway Rd. LaFayette, GA 30728 706-638-6832 Rock Springs Baptist Church 194 E Turnipseed Rd Rock Springs, GA 706-810-8199 Second Baptist Church 500 W Main Street LaFayette, GA 30728 706-638-2779 Shield Baptist Church 12684 N Highway 27

Chickamauga, GA 706-375-2554 Shiloh Baptist Church 46 Manning Mill Rd. LaFayette, GA 30728 706-397-8427 Sunnyside Baptist Church 3573 Round Pond Rd. LaFayette, GA 30728 423-364-9701 True Life Baptist Church 1115 N Main St. LaFayette, GA 30728 706-996-8571 Walnut Grove Baptist Church 55 Walnut Grove Rd. LaFayette, GA 30728 706-638-1377 Woodstation Baptist Church 42 Round Pond Rd. LaFayette, GA 30728 706-764-1794 Catholic Our Lady of the Mount Catholic Church 1227 Scenic Hwy, Lookout Mountain, GA 30750 706-820-0680 Church of Christ Church Of Christ 105 Crittenden Ave Chickamauga, GA 706-375-2222 Highway 27 Church of Christ 1684 S Highway 27 LaFayette, GA 30728 706-638-4644 Lafayette Church of Christ 104 W Main St. LaFayette, GA 30728 706-638-1890 Steele Street Church of Christ 4 Steele St. LaFayette, GA 30728 423-505-9583 Church of God Catlett Community Church 122 Round Pond Rd. LaFayette, GA 30728 423-309-4649 Cooper Heights Church of God 12598 Highway 193 Chickamauga, GA 423-903-3759 Cove Road Church of God 620 N Chattanooga St LaFayette, GA 30728 678-467-6982 Covenant Life Worship Center 7001 Lafayette Rd Chickamauga, GA 706-375-5286 LaFayette First Church of God 301 Daugherty St. LaFayette, GA 30728 706-639-7329 LaFayette Church of God 1002 S Main St. LaFayette, GA 30728 706-450-0872 Noble Church of God 75 Glass Rd. LaFayette, GA 30728 706-764-1093 Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Hall 457 Rodrunner Blvd. LaFayette, GA 30728 706-638-4342 Methodist Elizabeth Lee Methodist Church 139 Cove Rd Chickamauga, GA 706-375-2182 LaFayette First United Methodist Church 301 S. Main Street LaFayette, GA 30728 (706) 638-2057

Ringgold Seventh-Day Adventist Church 124 Kittle Street Ringgold, GA 30736 706-935-3741

Walker County Church Directory

Assembly of God Cross Connection 703 N Main St. LaFayette, GA 30728 706-639-3303 Gospel Tabernacle Assembly of God 1661 Highway 27 Chickamauga, GA Baptist Antioch Baptist Church 236 Crow Gap Road Chickamauga, GA 706-539-1117 Bethel Baptist Church 4068 S Highway 341 Chickamauga, GA 706-375-3756 Bethlehem Baptist Church 278 Oak Grove Road Chickamauga, GA 706-375-2797 Bethel Memorial Baptist Church 198 Pledger St. LaFayette, GA 30728 706-638-2995 Bethesda Baptist Church 13432 Highway 151 LaFayette, GA 30728 706-638-9450 Calvary Baptist Church 908 Bronco Rd. LaFayette, GA 30728 706-638-8710 Cassandra Baptist Church 1371 W Cove Rd Chickamauga, GA 706-539-1046 Center Grove Baptist Church 68 Center Grove Church Rd Rock Springs, GA 706-764-2060 Center Point Baptist Church 118 Center Point Rd. LaFayette, GA 30728 706-764-1753 Chattanooga Baptist Church 7300 Highway 337 LaFayette, GA 30728 Christ First Church 5994 N Hwy 27 Lafayette, GA 30728 (706) 764-2212 Christian Home 2518 Garretts Chapel Rd Chickamauga, GA 423-313-5230 Community Baptist Church 14 Kemp Rd. LaFayette, GA 30728 706-638-1774 Corinth Baptist Church 2524 Corinth Rd. LaFayette, GA 30728 706-638-3963 East Armuchee Baptist Church 3196 E. Armuchee Rd. LaFayette, GA 30728 706 375-4512 Emanuel Baptist Church 639 S Main St. LaFayette, GA 30728 706-638-1751 Faith Baptist Church of Chickamauga 14251 Highway 193 Chickamauga, GA 423-760-8895 Fairview Baptist Church 108 Jenkins Rd. Rossville, GA 30741 706-866-5744 First Baptist Church 603 7th St Chickamauga, GA 706-375-2733 Friendship Baptist Church 1200 N Chattanooga St. LaFayette, GA 30728 706-638-3560 Garrett’s Chapel Baptist Church 3235 Garretts Chapel Rd Chickamauga, GA

Rock Spring Methodist Church 3477 Peavine Rd Rock Springs, GA 30739 706-375-5345 Non-Denominational Battlefield of Life Worship Center 56 Kevin Ln. Rock Springs, GA 770-827-6718 Calvary Chapel Refinery 101 E Peachtree St, Rossville, GA 30741 706-806-9444 Care Mission 105 N Chattanooga St. LaFayette, GA 30728 706-638-3664 Cowboy Church of Lafayette 196 County Line Rd, Rock Spring, GA 30739 423-596-7227 Faith Worship Center 200 S. Chattanooga St. LaFayette, GA 30728 423-313-7035 Gospel Light Christian Fellowship 36 Fortune St. LaFayette, GA 30728 706-996-8535 Hope Fellowship 2000 Twin Cedars Rd Chickamauga, GA 30707 706-375-4673 Life Gate Church 204 N Main St. LaFayette, GA 30728 706-638-7620 Mission Bridge Church 807 N Main St. LaFayette, GA 30728 423-364-6771 Mount Zion Church 223 Dunwoody Rd. LaFayette, GA 30728 706-638-1238 New Bethel Christian Fellowship 4009 Round Pond Rd. LaFayette, GA 30728 706-638-6904

Power of Life LaFayette Church 798 W Main St LaFayette, GA 30728 423-596-7034 River of Life Church 807 W. Maqin St. LaFayette, GA 30728 423-596-7034 The Haven - LaFayette 415 Chestnut St. LaFayette, GA 30728 706-996-8150

Presbyterian Chickamauga Presbyterian Church 700 7th Street Chickamauga, GA (706) 375-3432 Highland Presbyterian Church 1211 W Noth Main St. LaFayette, GA 30728 706-638-8940 Lafayette Presbyterian Church 107 N Main St. LaFayette, GA 30728 706-638-3932 Quaker New Friendship Baptist Church 281 Friendship Rd Chickamauga, GA 706-375-7198 Wesleyan Gordon Lake Weslyan Church 29 Gordon Lake Rd. LaFayette, GA 30728 706-638-6517

Gò0dNews for Artists

"Charing Cross Bridge, London" by Camille Pissaro

A Life-Long Artist by Carl Corser

My life is a canvas upon which I have the opportunity to craft a beautiful rendering of my life. God provides the brushes and the paint. At the time that I come to the age of accountability, I am responsible for every brushstroke and paint color, which is added daily to my life’s canvas. When I’ve made wise, life-building choices, my paint colors are bright and glowing with unique brush strokes. When I’ve made foolish and life-destructive choices, I have ceased to be creative with my brush strokes and have begun choosing dark paint colors to apply to my life’s canvas.

make ugly choices with Him knowing what the finished painting of our life’s canvas looks like?

What influences guide my canvas application choices? Who influences the canvas application choices? When do the results of those canvas application choices begin to appear upon my life’s canvas?

Maybe we should take a second look at differences between the two polarizing influences, critique and criticism? Maybe our memory needs to be refreshed on how powerful these two influences are in the finished life’s canvas? Maybe we should consider the source of the critique and/or the criticism?

There are many influences that we face daily. We must choose how we allow them to shape our present life, which affects our future. These influences will be either positive or negative in nature. No matter their nature of content, we are solely responsible for our reactions to them with choices by brushstrokes and paint color. These choices will be presented to us multiple times daily. Upon their encounter, we must accept or reject one of the influences, whether it be the positive or the negative option. Life will not allow us to choose both. Our choice will directly affect the beauty or the ugliness that is displayed upon our life’s canvas. This is the key factor to us having a beautiful or an ugly canvas. God gave us a free will and the ability to choose whether we want our life’s canvas to be a beautiful or an ugly display of our life’s choices. Didn’t God create us and then say that we were beautiful in His eyes? I wonder how God feels when we 18

We begin life with a blank canvas, ready for us, the artists, to begin applying colors to it. That accountability rests upon our shoulders as we progress through life’s decisions, choices, and abilities. At the end of life, will our decisions reflect how well we encountered critique and criticism? It is of life-changing importance which one we allow to affect our choices of brush strokes and paint colors being applied to our life’s canvas.

Why is it that one can build us up so much, while the other can accomplish so much destruction within our life? Maybe if we understand the definitions of the two influences, we can find wisdom in our view of them. A critique is a structured, balanced, and constructive evaluation meant to improve our life and our methods of painting our life’s canvas. A critical focus is a negative approach to viewing our flaws. It’s faultfinding, an expression of disapproval, which is so destructive and judgmental. Wow, no wonder our feelings are so polarized concerning these views. Scripture is full of instructions that will guide us in the right choices in our life’s canvas painting process. Those verses will instruct us to choose wisely, seek uplifting relationships, not to fear man's influence, and to seek God first on every choice that we encounter in life. goodnewscm.com // September 2026

So, it really is up to us, concerning our decisions, which will determine how beautiful our life’s canvas becomes upon being finished when we depart this life on earth. Oh my, how much beauty we have control of as we endeavor to paint our life’s canvas. God gave us beauty upon His creation of us. We have the ability through His great care to finish with a beautiful canvas. Oh, what a challenge we have before us to seek wisdom in our life’s choices. Life’s wisdom is much more precious than gold and rubies. Oh my, how beautiful our life’s canvas can become, more beautiful than these beauties mentioned in Scripture. Beautiful paint colors and correct brushes, in the right hands, will create a beautiful life’s canvas. May we prayerfully consider our choices and decisions which will enable us to become very successful, having the privilege of being those right hands painting our life’s canvas.

May our life’s canvas be such a beautiful testimony of the glory of God working in our lives. The acceptance of critique and applying it to our painting process will make our life’s canvas so beautiful. The acceptance of destructive criticism will certainly end our painting process with great displeasure. My friend, you will never be left alone, having the full responsibility of painting your life’s canvas and the painting technique choices if you seek God’s wisdom daily. His guidance will be sufficient in your making your choices as to the right brushes and right paint colors to create a beautiful life’s canvas. It will be a great pleasure to present it to your Creator when your life is finished upon this earth. You’ll be hearing the words, “Well done, thou good and faithful artist.” Carl Corser is an ordained bishop, author of a devotion book, "Living Past Sunday," business owner, farmer, author of a devotion website, carlcorser.com. Carl has pastored several churches.

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Red Stone Estates: Where You Get to Live Your Life and Forget Your Age

ed Stone Estates is a vibrant, welcoming community where comfort, care, and connection come together seamlessly. The mission is to provide an environment where residents can thrive, supported by a team of compassionate professionals who prioritize well-being and individuality. The Red Stone Estates team takes pride in offering highquality independent living amenities for seniors throughout the Chattanooga region. This community is committed to creating an environment where residents can enjoy comfort, convenience, and peace of mind while maintaining the independence they value. From thoughtfully designed apartments and engaging social activities to exceptional amenities and a welcoming atmosphere, every

detail is focused on helping residents live life to the fullest. Director of Marketing Mike Key emphasizes, “At Red Stone Estates, you’ll find more than a place to live. You’ll find a community you’ll be proud to call home.” Genuine Interest. Heartfelt Compassion. The Gift of Service. The Red Stone Estates team takes pride in sharing and giving of themselves to residents. Each team member at Red Stone Estates has a love for seniors and delights in being a part of creating the best environment possible all day, every day for residents and their families. Executive Director Rhonda Stallings shares the Red Stone philosophy and approach, “A serving heart is a happy heart! It is

our pleasure to serve our residents and community. We strive to treat all residents, team members, family members, and guests with dignity and respect.” Creative. Inspired. Delicious. Get ready to enjoy a fine dining experience on a daily basis. The Red Stone chefs are superb at elevating dining from “just a meal” to a sensory dining experience. They take pride in each meal’s preparation with fresh, high-quality ingredients. Lunch and the evening meal are included as part of the Red Stone Estates package. Family and guests are always welcome. Families or friends can enjoy a larger private family dining experience with the separate area made available upon request.

goodnewscm.com // September 2026

Ready. Set. Go! Socialization is absolutely vital for quality of life as well as physical and emotional health. The Activities team will develop, schedule, and direct both onsite and offsite activities and outings that are designed to be fun and relaxing while also strengthening and conditioning mental, emotional, cognitive, and physical health. Executive Director Rhonda Stallings shares, “At Red Stone Estates, you can live your life well and forget your age, the perfect combination to support a healthy, high quality of life. We take immense pride in the vibrant, supportive community we’ve built. But don’t just take our word for it. Hear directly from the residents and families who call our community home. Their heartfelt testimonials speak volumes about the exceptional care, amenities, and lifestyle we strive to provide each and every day. Read testimonials on our website to discover why Red Stone Estates is the premier choice for senior living.” Your destination for premier independent senior living in the Chattanooga area. Red Stone Estates offers a welcoming community where comfort, connection, and convenience come together. Here are features you can expect in the apartments: • Patio or balcony in most apartments • Washer and dryer in every apartment • Dishwashers and ceiling fans in each apartment • Convenient and easy “tap” key cards for apartment entry • Utilities included (cable and telephone hook-ups provided) • Fully ADA compliant apartments

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Gò0dNews for the Discouraged

Up, Up, and Away by Sharon Eldridge Have you ever had the opportunity to chase a hot air balloon? As a kid, I remember the excitement of watching hot air balloons in the evening skies with my dad. On one occasion, a hot air balloon landed in the pasture just behind our house. A parade of trucks came rolling up the driveway following it to our property. The crew worked quickly, as they grabbed ropes and pulled it down to the ground. They removed any remaining air from the material and folded it all into a neat stack before packing everything in the trucks, leaving just as quickly as they came. There is a big difference between hot air balloons and balloons filled with plain, old hot air. I don’t remember who taught me how to blow up balloons or how to tie the ends to keep all that hot air trapped inside. But I do know, if the end was not tied, the balloon would go sailing across the room as the air whooshed out of it. Occasionally life becomes very busy and very tiresome. The long days and early mornings can leave me feeling completely worn out and weary. I honestly feel like a balloon that has been filled with a bunch of hot air, but no one tied the end, and it sends me flying in all directions as the air whooshes out, leaving me on the floor, empty and deflated. Have you ever been there? It feels like there’s no chance of moving unless someone picks you up and fills you back up again. Sometimes another person picks us up, and they breathe their own hot air into us – and even tie the end! But we just end up being bounced back and forth between our obligations. Every now and then we bounce into something sharp or someone rubs us the wrong way, and POP! It might cause people to avoid us because 22

they are afraid that we might pop under pressure, while others think it’s fun to hear us squeak. The words and actions of people who love us can give us a “lighter than air” feeling. Like being filled with helium. We feel as if we can float above all our circumstances; however, those same people hold on to us tightly, keeping us tethered to the earth. But God allows us to be beautiful, uniquely-designed hot air balloons. The fire of the Holy Spirit creates a lift that is perfectly controlled. His basket attached to us can be full of people who need to see things from His perspective. He controls the winds as we shift into the flow of His assignments. He never takes His eyes off of us as we float along, touching the clouds. He knows when we need to land, and He will send a team of people to help us land safely. He never abandons us or leaves it to chance for us to be found. He pursues us and is ready to quickly assist us if the winds become too harsh. Instead of being bounced around, we are able to relax and enjoy the view as He directs our flight. Up, up, and away! “This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you... For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up in honor. Rise up, My darling! Come away with Me, My fair one!” (1 Timothy 1:6a, 7; James 4:10; Song of Songs 2:13b)

Sharon Eldridge is a newly published writer, excited to see where the Lord leads as she develops a new blog.

goodnewscm.com // September 2026

Gò0dNews for Prayer Warriors

Pray without Ceasing by Paula Burgner

At some point in our life, we all have those thoughts of “That's never going to happen,” or “That’s impossible.” And we all speak those words too often. However, we never stop and think, “Nope, I am not going to think this way or I am not going to speak that way.” We usually will get what we speak as our words and thoughts we speak come from the heart. The Bible tells us this in Matthew 12:34 KJV: “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Sometimes things in life can seem so impossible until we see that it has come to pass. Often, we find ourselves lost as to what to say when we are trying to find the right words to pray, when all we have to do is believe when we pray. The Bible tells us this in Matthew 21:22 KJV: “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” Prayer doesn’t have to be perfect; it just needs to come from the heart. When you pray, it is better to have a heart without words than to have words without a heart. We must always pray and never give up. Just as the Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV: “Pray without ceasing.” Don’t ever think that anything is too hard for God as it is not. The Bible tells us this in Jeremiah 32:17 KJV: “Nothing is too hard for thee.” A lot of times right after you get done praying for something, you let the doubt set in, and this causes your thoughts to wander back and forth. This is why when we pray, we must ask in faith. Just as the Bible tells us in James 1:6-8 KJV: “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” When we ask God for some things in prayer, we must believe that we will have them. 24

The Bible tells us this in Mark 11:24 KJV: “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” You know those times in life when you’re listening to a song and you get that shaky feeling deep inside you? It’s as if something is trying to pull you up out of your seat and the tears just start to fall and you’re not even trying to cry. Well, this is the moment that you know when God has laid something on your heart. When something is on your heart you can take it to Him in prayer, no matter how impossible things may seem at the moment, just remember to ask knowing that He will hear you. The Bible tells us that God hears our prayers in 1 John 5:14 KJV: “And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us.”

Paula Burgner is a strong-willed, outgoing girl who loves spending time with her husband and working out. She believes in her heart that you can do anything you put your mind to. Paula is the author of the book, Grounded by God’s Grace.

goodnewscm.com // September 2026

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Gò0dNews for Kids

In All Seasons

by Brittany Crabtree

Fall is a beautiful season! Maybe it is your favorite one! It is a time when we go back to school, start a new routine, see the changing colors in the leaves, and hang out with family and friends around a bonfire or at a football game. There are many things to celebrate and enjoy in the fall, but there can also be many changes. Sometimes when things change, it can be scary! A lot of times, changes can be good, but they can also be challenging. Have you ever felt nervous about starting a new school year? Have you ever been afraid to try something new? Does it make you feel anxious when things around you change?

Photo by Mariia Zakatiura on Unsplash

If so, you are not alone! When we go through new seasons and changes in our own lives, it can be overwhelming and make us feel afraid. Sometimes we don’t want things to change even if it is for our good. In these new seasons and in times when we are scared, the Lord is there to comfort us with His presence. Jesus is there to walk with us through new and changing seasons. Psalm 23:1-3 NIV says, “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” The passage of Psalm 23 reminds us that just as a shepherd cares for his sheep, the Lord cares for each of us. When we go through a hard time or something happens in our life that is scary, the Lord is there to give us just what we need and bring peace into our lives. When we are anxious, He can help us to rest. When we face a challenge, He provides strength. When we are afraid, He can help us feel calm. In our relationship with Jesus, we can walk through new changes and seasons with confidence!

As you begin a new school year with a new class and teacher, know that Jesus is with you. If you are nervous about trying new things this fall, Jesus can give you strength. If things are changing with your family or your friends, Jesus is there to comfort you and remind you that you are not alone. Luke 15 tells us that Jesus, the Shepherd, leaves the 99 sheep to go find the one that is lost. Jesus is continuing to pursue you because He loves you! I hope that even in times of change, you can see the beauty all around you, just like the changing of the leaves in the fall, because of Jesus. You can pray to God and share with Him everything that is surrounding you and how you feel. Jesus will be there to comfort you and remind you that God can use all things for His good and His glory. In all seasons, He is our peace and our shepherd. Brittany Crabtree is the Public Kids Director and women's ministry leader at Public Church in Cleveland, TN. She has a heart for Gospel-centered community and studying the word of God. Brittany enjoys traveling to new places and spending time with family and friends.

goodnewscm.com // September 2026

Gò0dNews for Athletes

Running With Him by Bill Silvers

July 2026 is my birthday month. At 88 years old, most people are slowing down. I’m speeding up. I never considered myself a runner. I’ll be honest: I don’t even like to walk. But at 81, God placed something unexpected on my heart. He called me to run. It didn’t make much sense then, and some days it still doesn’t. I’ve learned that when God calls, the best response isn’t understanding, but obedience. What started with 5K races has turned into something far greater than I ever imagined. In June 2025, I competed in my first USA Track and Field Masters Championship. I finished fourth in the nation in the 400 meter and fifth in the 200 meter. I was also blessed to run with an amazing team in the relays, where we brought home the gold in the 4x100m, 4x400m, and 4x800m. Later at the Kentucky Senior Game, I competed against athletes from 13 states and placed first in the 1500m, 800m, 400m, and 200m. I even won the 50m by just 0.02 seconds! One of the greatest challenges wasn’t just the competition. It was the pace: five races, two and a half hours, very little recovery time. That day reminded me of something important: if we never push ourselves, we may never see what 28

God is capable of doing through us. Training for those moments didn’t happen overnight. I committed six days a week to preparation, spending hours at the gym, on the basketball court, and walking through the North Georgia mountains. Those walks became more than exercise; they became encounters with God. Along those quiet paths, my prayer life changed. I had always done most of the talking. When you spend hours alone with God, surrounded by His creation, you begin to listen. And in that listening, I found strength not just for running, but for life. Running, for me, is no longer just physical. It’s spiritual. The apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 9:24–25 NIV, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize… They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” That Scripture reshaped how I see every race. I’m not just chasing a finish line. I’m pursuing something eternal. When the races get hard, I hold on to the promise of Isaiah 40:31 NIV: “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary.” I’ve felt that renewal. There have been moments when my body said stop, but God said keep going.

People sometimes look at what I’ve accomplished and focus on the medals. The real victory isn’t in what I’ve won. It’s in what I’ve learned: • It’s never too late to start something new. • Obedience can lead you places you never planned to go. • What feels impossible in your own strength becomes possible when you trust God. James 1:12 NIV reminds us, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” That promise keeps me moving forward, both on the track and in life. At 88, I’m still running. Not because I have to, but because I’m called to. If there’s one thing I hope others see in my journey, it’s this: you’re never too old, too late, or too unlikely for God to use.

Bill Silvers from Ellijay, Georgia, began running competitively at age 81. He runs to the glory of God!

goodnewscm.com // September 2026

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Rebuilding Lives, Restoring Hope In Northwest Georgia, safety is not something everyone can take for granted. For individuals and families facing domestic violence—or for youth with nowhere else to turn—the Family Crisis Center of Walker, Dade, Catoosa, and Chattooga Counties, Inc. stands as a lifeline of hope. As the only domestic violence shelter and youth cottage in the Northwest Georgia area, the Family Crisis Center provides refuge, advocacy, and a pathway forward for some of the region’s most vulnerable residents. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the Center’s doors never close to those in crisis. At the heart of the organization’s mission is a simple but powerful commitment: rebuilding lives. Survivors of domestic violence arrive often with little more than courage and the need for safety. The Center offers secure shelter for victims and their children, along with essential support services designed to help families stabilize, heal, and begin again. Advocacy, emotional support, and ongoing assistance ensure that clients are not only safe in the moment, but supported as they plan for a more secure future.

Visit Our Website thefamilycrisiscenter.org 29

Gò0dNews for Discovering More

A Picture’s Worth MORE THAN a Thousand Words by Garrett Nudd

Laughter filled the gallery. Congratulations echoed between the exposed brick walls. Well-wishes rolled across the century-old original pine floors. The walls proudly displayed our best work—portraits of perfect families and weddings from around the world. Each one had been carefully curated to showcase our creative vision and commitment to providing quality custom one-of-a-kind artwork unlike anything that was currently available in our community. It was an eclectic location on Main Street in the heart of Chattanooga’s Southside. The urban area was poised for promise, but it wasn’t going to happen overnight. We were driving the change. Well, I don’t know if we were technically the drivers per se, but at least we were on the bus. And we had paid dearly for our seats. It was all quite an investment. Nevertheless, we were trend setters. Pioneers. Risk takers. This is what we had worked for, and it felt great!

over the front desk. Our neighbors loved the new sign out front. Several of them commented on it and that made me feel good. Validation is so important. They were rooting for us. Perhaps our success would impact theirs. That's one of the beautiful things about community. In the back of our studio, we had a sign that reminded us of our purpose—an unofficial mission statement that kept us on track. Our business is photography, but it is no more important than a smile, hug, or kind word. Our mission, goal, and purpose is to make people feel good about themselves. That is far more important than the craft of photography. If we make people feel special, they will like us. And if they like us, our business will take care of itself.

In my time as a photographer, I learned that way too many people, We had a new name: Cobblestone unfortunately, see themselves as Rue. And a new sign. Two signs less than. It was our unwritten actually. Both hand-crafted by a local mission to work and push and use steel artisan. We had paid dearly for our position to influence people for those too. But you gotta have a sign, MORE THAN. That was our MORE right? And if one sign is good, two THAN. We gave more of ourselves signs must be better. One sign hung during those ten years than I over the front door and the other could’ve ever imagined, but the 30

results were absolutely beautiful. Our clients gave us MORE THAN and they allowed us to give MORE THAN, and – even though we closed the photography studio in exchange for more traditional work that would allow me to be home on the weekends with my family – for that we will always be grateful. The psalmist wrote, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalms 37:4). I saw that promise as an invitation for MORE THAN and I claimed that promise regularly. I didn’t know what I’d do if God made good on His promise, but I thought it sure would be fun to find out. What passion or pursuit do you have that is nagging at your heart? Do you have a project or product or service you would like to unleash to the world? What steps can you take today to move yourself closer to achieving that exciting goal? Remember, your MORE THAN dream deserves to be shared, and the world is waiting for you.

This excerpt from Garrett’s book, MORE THAN Discovering How Your Story Reveals God’s Beautiful Truth About You, is adapted to our format and used with permission.

goodnewscm.com // September 2026

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Gò0dNews for your Taste Buds

A Sweet START TO APPALACHIAN AUTUMN

Cast Iron Apple Fritters

Sweet, spiced, and perfect for the season’s first apples

Ingredients:

September in the Smoky Mountains is a season of in-between. The air is cooler in the mornings, but warm by afternoon. Goldenrod paints the fields, and the green hills begin to blush with hints of red and rust. It’s the month when summer lingers, but fall knocks at the door.

1 cup all-purpose flour

And nothing says September in the mountains quite like apples. All across the region, orchard trees begin to droop with fruit—crisp, tart, red-andgold apples that taste like the turn of the season. In mountain communities, it’s a time of canning and cider-making, of hayrides and festivals, of handing a child a paring knife and letting them help peel apples for pie.

¼ teaspoon nutmeg

But one of the most delightful—and easiest—ways to enjoy those first apples is with a batch of cast-iron apple fritters. Lightly crisped on the outside and soft on the inside, these fritters are laced with cinnamon and dotted with chunks of sweet apple. They’re fried golden-brown in a skillet and finished with a dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of glaze.

¼ cup sugar 1½ teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon cinnamon ⅓ cup milk 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup peeled and finely chopped apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp work well) Vegetable oil for frying Optional Glaze: ½ cup powdered sugar 1–2 tablespoons milk Dash of vanilla

If you imagine, you can hear the sound of a grandmother’s voice on a chilly September morning: “Go grab a few apples off the porch basket—we’ll make fritters before the sun hits the hill.” The generations before us didn’t follow a recipe, just used their hands and instinct. With or without a recipe, the spirit is the same: simple, seasonal, and meant to be shared.

Instructions:

Fritters are best served warm, alongside a mug of coffee or spiced cider. Whether you’re feeding your family on a lazy Saturday or sharing with neighbors after Sunday service, this recipe captures the heart of early Appalachian autumn.

Heat 1–2 inches of oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium heat. When oil is hot (about 350°F), drop batter by heaping tablespoons into the oil. Do not overcrowd the skillet.

These fritters are more than just a sweet treat. They’re a reminder that even as seasons change, some things—like warm kitchens, family traditions, and the taste of mountain apples— stay delightfully the same. 32

In a medium bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. In another bowl, beat together milk, egg, and vanilla. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry just until combined. Fold in chopped apples.

Fry 2–3 minutes per side or until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to paper towels to drain. If desired, mix glaze ingredients and drizzle over warm fritters—or simply dust with powdered sugar. goodnewscm.com // September 2026

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Gò0dNews Poetry

It’s a New Day by Kristen West

It’s a new day… Thank You for Your mercies and kindness. Thank You for Jesus and His unwavering love. Thank You for never giving up on me. (Lamentations 3:22-23) It’s a new day… Help me to pick up my cross and follow You, Not because it’s easy or popular But because it’s good and right. (Matthew 16:24-26) It’s a new day… Help me to see people through Your eyes, Respond to people like You would, And love them like You do. (I John 4:19-21) It’s a new day… I choose to lay all my cares at Your feet. Help me not pick them back up. You are the only One strong enough to carry them. (I Peter 5:7) It’s a new day… Use me to encourage someone today; To show them who Jesus really is, And to reflect Your heart in a meaningful way. (Hebrews 10:24-25) It’s a new day… Please fill me with Your Spirit; Arm me with Your Word; Surround me with Your favor. (Galatians 5:22-23; Psalm 5:12) It’s a new day… I surrender all. I choose You. I love You. (John 15:5) This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24)

Kristen West works at Rock Bridge Community Church with a heart for staff leadership, development, and care. She is a communicator with a passion to inspire, encourage, and challenge others in their daily walk with Christ. She writes and publishes weekly content on her blog at kristen-west.com.

goodnewscm.com // September 2026

Calling All Wordsmiths!

Interested in writing for GoodNews?

We accept writers of all ages and diciplines!

Guidelines: • Article word count: between 300-500 words • Content: anything! just keep it family friendly with a Christian lens • Submission format: Google Doc or Word • Bio: Tell us about you! 50 word max • Photo: Good quality emailed as a separate file

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Email your article, bio, and photo files to Sandra Gilmore at articles.goodnews@gmail.com

Questions? Contact Sandra Gilmore articles.goodnews@gmail.com 35

Gò0dNews for Seniors

Casting Shadows by Dorothy Teague

Today is Labor Day, the last summer holiday. As I sit and watch the boaters, my mind drifts back to the days when I was out there skiing and flying around on my jet ski. Doesn’t seem so long ago, but then I realize how much time has come and gone! Those days passed so quickly! With the end of long sun-drenched days comes crisper, cooler weather and shorter daylight hours. When summer gives way to fall, I can’t help but think about life and how fleeting it is. Being a poetry lover, I think about how some of the great poets describe one’s life as a day. The morning is the early part of life and “the setting of the sun” is the closing of life. When I was young, I didn’t stop to think about the hours of my life ticking away. I thought I had “all the time in the world.” But as I’ve gotten older, I am more conscious of my age and the time I possibly have left. The Bible speaks about the fleeting nature of life. James 4:14 NKJV asks the question, “For what is your life?” That is a somber question for all of us to ask ourselves. What does our life consist of? Have we laid up treasures in Heaven through doing good deeds and serving our fellow man? Or do we have selfishness and pride written into the story of our life? The answer James tells us is that “It is even a vapor, that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” Job 8:9 NIV says: “our days on earth are a shadow.” This is a metaphor, comparing how short our lives are to a nonsubstance thing such as a shadow, but it really started me thinking about whether I have made a difference in my life.

In every season and time of our lives, we cast physical shadows. We cast longer shadows when the sun is low in the sky whether it be in the early morning, late afternoon, or early evening. It has to do with the angle of the sun, the time of day, the season, and the distance from the light source. Just as we cast physical shadows on the ground, we also cast our spiritual shadow or influence upon others we walk this life with. Taking the poet’s analogy a step further, if we start early in life to do good and the will of the Father, we will have a longer time to cast our shadow on this world. But it is interesting to note that one of the factors of a longer shadow is that the closer an object is to a light source, the larger the shadow. So, the closer we are to the “Son,” our light source as Christians, the longer our shadow will be cast upon this world to make a difference. Our time on earth is short in the grand scheme of things, so what we do with our time really matters! Do we live it for selfish gain or do we give of ourselves to help others? We should live a life that is pleasing to God, one that honors Him with our actions, time, and gifts. What we spend our time on is where our shadow will fall. How will YOU cast your shadow for HIM? Dorothy Teague is a Tennessee native, who resides in McMinn County with her husband, Lewis, on their farm. After completing 31.5 years as a teacher in the Bradley County School System, she is active in her church at Eastanallee Baptist Church where she is a member of the choir and praise team.

goodnewscm.com // September 2026

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Gò0dNews for Our Nation

Honoring 9/11 and Healing from Loss by Sue Lavigne

As we approach the 25th remembrance of that fateful day, September 11th 2001, I would like to share a time of healing for me. My friend’s husband, Robert “Bob” Houtz, lost his daughter, Angela “Angie” Houtz that day at the Pentagon. He wrote a song for her to express his heart and his grief, and several years later I was given the song. With God’s help, I revised it to the words in this article. Not only did I feel the loss that so many people felt that day, but I also felt a loss that I never expected, the loss of not knowing a father’s love for his daughter. I remember playing this song and weeping as God pulled back the curtain of my emotions to reveal a hurt left by the emptiness of my father’s love for me. The words “Jesus, please hold her till I get there, Please hold my little girl for me,” were expressions of a father’s love for which I had always longed. It meant so much to finally find an expression of a father’s love that I lacked growing up and also knowing that there is a greater love for me in the arms of Jesus. Maybe there are many of us who have not had the comfort of a father’s love. Maybe there are some of us who have lost a child and have felt the grief of that loss. I pray that this song gives you comfort knowing that those loved ones, in Christ, are truly in the arms of Jesus, our Savior. 38

For Angie byBy Susan Lavigne and Robert Houtz As the smoke filled the air, how could I dare, Even begin to believe That my little girl was gone, my days grew so long Lost in my pain and my grief Then I lifted my eyes, oh Lord I cried Help me, my heart is distressed And Lord, if you please, my sorrow you’d ease If you grant me this one request Chorus: Jesus, please hold her till I get there I don’t know when that will be O’ Jesus, please hold my little girl for me As the years have passed by, we still miss her and cry For she left this world so very young But each time I pray, I get stronger everyday Held in the arms of God’s Love And a peace fills my mind when I dream of the time I’ll take her in my arms once again All the pain will disappear, as I’m holding her near But Lord, until then Jesus, please hold her till I get there I don’t know when that will be O’ Jesus, please hold my little girl Jesus, please hold my little girl O’ Jesus, please hold my little girl for me

I pray that the words of this song and the remembrance of your own heart will help you find peace and comfort in whatever loss you have experienced.

Sue Lavigne is a member of West Rome Baptist Church in Rome, GA, and a Christian speaker and songwriter.

goodnewscm.com // September 2026

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