May 2025

Gò0dNews

About Us

WRITERS

Chrissie Joy Jackson

Danette Reeves

Garrett Nudd

Granger Hughes

Hayden Lanier

Jan Merop

Jonathon Wright

Judy Hood

Katie Loveless

Katie Taylor

Mitch Jolly

Monica Gambrell

Nathan Bonilla

Dr. Rob Debelak

Sandy Saffles

Sheneka Land

Steve Knapp

Tammy Madden Zebbie Brewster

SALES

Matthew Ruckman

423-503-1410

Email: goodnewstn@gmail.com

DESIGN

Caleb Prytherch

Kylie Fowler

Email: art.goodnews@gmail.com

PHOTOGRAPHER

Paula Knipp

423-310-4207

FACEBOOK

GoodNews CM

EDITOR/ARTICLE COORDINATOR

Sandra Gilmore

Email: articles.goodnews@gmail.com

PUBLISHER

Matthew and Bethany Ruckman

Cell: 423-503-1410

Email: goodnewstn@gmail.com

OFFICE

423-790-5378

WEBSITE

goodnewscm.com issuu.com/goodnewscm

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!

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.

from the Pastor’s

The Centrality of Precepts

by Nathan Bonilla

If we look closely, we will see that the precepts given in the Old Testament foreshadow and reveal Christ. We see how the sacrificial system, the moral laws, and the prophetic writings all point to Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice, the perfect law-keeper, and the promised Messiah. By considering His precepts, we gain a deeper understanding of who Christ is and what He has accomplished for us.

The centrality of precepts in our spiritual walk cannot be overstated. Psalm 119:4 KJV declares, “Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.” This call to diligence is a divine mandate to carefully observe and adhere to God’s instructions. In a world filled with distractions and competing voices, it is crucial for us as believers to anchor our lives in the solid foundation of God’s Word.

Diligence in keeping His precepts means actively seeking to understand and apply His commandments in every aspect of our lives. This dedication reflects our love for God and our desire to live in a manner that pleases Him. Psalm 119:15 KJV says, “I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.” Meditation on God’s precepts involves more than just a casual reading of Scripture; it requires a deep, contemplative reflection on His Word. This process allows the truths of God’s commandments to flood our hearts and minds, transforming our thoughts and actions. By fixing our eyes on His ways, we align ourselves with His divine purpose and direction. This focused meditation helps us to better understand His will and equips us to live out our faith with conviction and clarity.

Pointing people to Christ is the ultimate aim of considering God’s precepts. Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the law and the embodiment of God’s perfect will. As we meditate on and diligently keep God’s precepts, we are drawn closer to Christ, who perfectly exemplifies and fulfills every commandment. In Christ, we find the perfect model of obedience and sacrifice. By following His example

and relying on His grace, we are empowered to live lives that honor God and reflect His love to the world. This Christ-centered approach not only transforms our personal walk but also serves as a powerful testimony to others.

As the Church of God embraces this joy, it becomes a powerful witness to the world, showing others the beauty and fulfillment found in a life dedicated to Christ. By delighting in God’s statutes, we not only enrich our own spiritual lives but also invite others to experience the same joy and transformation through Jesus.

Psalm 119 serves as a timeless reminder of the paramount importance of God’s precepts. They are our guide, our source of life, and our path to deeper communion with Christ. As we diligently keep, meditate on, and delight in God’s precepts, we draw closer to Him and reflect His light to a world in need. Let us commit ourselves anew to these divine instructions, finding in them the wisdom, strength, and joy that only God’s Word can provide.

Nathan J. Bonilla serves as the Senior Pastor of Zion Assembly Church of God in Cleveland, Tennessee. He is the Southeast Representative for the Museum of the Bible in

How important is the difference between growing our wealth and withdrawing it?

Growing Our Wealth Versus Withdrawing It

Money Matters Granger Hughes with

Driven by a passion to educate, inform and prepare future retirees, Mr. Hughes works with his father to help provide educational opportunities for clients as well as others in the community. He feels a responsibility to help inform those who may otherwise not be aware of strategies, changes, and opportunities available to them when it comes to their financial well-being.

Understanding the distinction between the contribution and distribution phases of wealth accumulation is essential for effective retirement planning. While accumulating wealth during our working years focuses on growth through consistent contributions, the distribution phase requires a careful strategy to ensure that our savings provide sustainable income throughout retirement.

Contribution Phase: Building Wealth

During our working years, the primary goal is to accumulate wealth. This phase involves regular contributions to retirement accounts such as 401(k)s or IRAs, often utilizing strategies like dollar-cost averaging. By investing a fixed amount regularly, regardless of market conditions, we purchase more shares when prices are low and fewer when prices are high, potentially lowering our average cost per share over time. This approach harnesses the power of compound growth, where earnings generate their own earnings, significantly enhancing the growth of our investments.

Distribution Phase: Managing Withdrawals

Transitioning to retirement shifts the focus from accumulating assets to managing withdrawals. The sequence in which returns occur becomes crucial during this phase. Sequence-of-returns risk refers to the danger that the timing of withdrawals from a retirement account will harm the investor’s overall rate of return. Experiencing poor investment returns early in retirement, when portfolio balances are higher due to accumulated contributions, can significantly impact the sustainability of withdrawals.

During our working careers it doesn’t matter when the losses occur so long as we don’t touch the money. Our average 4.8% return ends up being the same between portfolios A and B. However, once in retirement even though we have an identical average return of 4.8%, we have a wide gap between the two in terms of dollars left after 20 years. The difference between the contribution phase and the distribution phase is not merely a matter of saving versus spending. It requires thoughtful

consideration of how we position our assets throughout both phases, especially when it comes to risk management, tax strategies, and distribution planning.

Strategies to Mitigate Sequence-of-Returns Risk

To safeguard retirement income against unfavorable sequences of returns, consider the following strategies:

1. Diversify Your Portfolio: Maintain a mix of asset classes to buffer against market volatility. Diversification can help mitigate the impact of poor performance in any single investment.

2. Adjust Asset Allocation Over Time: Gradually reduce exposure to high-risk investments as retirement approaches, aligning your portfolio with your risk tolerance and income needs.

3. Establish a Sustainable Withdrawal Strategy: Determine withdrawal rates that balance income needs with the longevity of your portfolio. Some experts suggest the “4% rule” as a starting point, but it’s essential to tailor this based on individual circumstances and market conditions.

4. Maintain Cash Reserves: Keep a portion of your portfolio in liquid, low-risk assets to cover several years of living expenses. This approach allows you to avoid selling investments during market downturns, preserving the potential for recovery.

5. Regularly Review and Adjust Your Plan: Periodically assess your financial situation, investment performance, and changing needs. Adjust your strategy as necessary to stay aligned with your retirement goals.

In conclusion, the transition from the contribution phase to the distribution phase necessitates a shift in strategy from growthfocused accumulation to preservation and sustainable withdrawal. Understanding the impact of sequence-of-returns risk and implementing strategies to mitigate it are crucial for ensuring that retirement savings provide reliable income throughout retirement. By proactively managing asset allocation, withdrawal strategies, and diversification, retirees can enhance the likelihood of financial security and peace of mind in their later years.

Retirement planning is the process of determining how you can meet your goals through the proper management of your financial resources.

Tax planning should not only assess your tax situation at retirement and in the present, but also look towards the future.

Social security strategies are various approaches that an individual may take to maximize their social security benefits.

There is more to Medicare than meets the eye. Making the best decision for your situation at age 65 is one of the biggest retirement decisions one may make.

Estate planning is a key element of a successful financial strategy. It ensures you will leave a legacy that provides for your loved ones by properly protecting and distributing your wealth according to your wishes.

If you're ready to take the next step in your retirement planning journey, call (423) 664-4203 today to explore your

What is Your Testimony?

by Hayden Lanier

Ilove hearing people share their testimonies. It is truly beautiful to hear someone talk about how they came to know Jesus. But unfortunately, I have heard people share a version of their testimony where they made no mention of Jesus or salvation. Your testimony is not the story of good things God has done for you or how the Lord led you to a particular school or career path. Your testimony is not limited to how God helped you overcome some struggles or trials. These things are a part of your testimony, and God certainly uses them, but your testimony is primarily the story of how you were dead in sin but have now been made alive in Jesus. Your testimony’s details are unique because we are all unique. We have different backgrounds and varying life experiences, so share those details. Be discerning about what you say (for example, maybe don’t tell someone you just met about a sin you still struggle with), but be honest. Make it personal and truthful.

If you’ve never shared your testimony, a good way to structure it is to answer these three questions: 1. What was my life like before Jesus? 2. How did I come to know Jesus? 3. What is my life like now with Jesus?

This model is something that we see laid out in Scripture, with one well-known example being Ephesians 2:1-10. This passage answers these questions by teaching that before Jesus, we were dead in sin, following after the world and after Satan, living in the passions of our flesh, and we were children of wrath by nature (Ephesians 2:1-3). But God has made us alive with Christ, saved us by grace — not by works — raised us up and seated us with Him in the Heavenly places (Ephesians 2:4-9). The third question — who we are now — is also answered in that we are God’s workmanship (Ephesians 2:10), which means that we are His masterpiece! God has good works for us to do that He has already planned for us, “that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10 ESV).

Knowing Jesus changes everything. You cannot have a testimony apart from the one you are testifying about. Tell others you were dead in sin but are now alive. You were

following after whatever the world said and whatever your fleshly nature prompted you to do, but you have been saved by the grace of God alone. You were born in a fallen state by nature, but now God continues to show you the riches of His grace in kindness in Christ.

You might wonder why this is important or if you need to share your testimony. There is power in your testimony because there is power in the gospel. There is power in your testimony because your testimony is the truth of how you have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus. There is power in your testimony because there is power in the God who has changed your life, and you want others to know Him as well. Telling others your testimony makes sharing the gospel personal and builds a connection between you and them. Your salvation story is one of the greatest tools you have been equipped with as a child of God.

May you boldly proclaim how God has “called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9 ESV). Have you encountered Jesus; has He changed your life? If so, who can you share your testimony with?

Hayden Lanier attends Shorter University and works at Cave Spring Baptist Church. You can find more of his writing on his blog, setyourmindabove.wordpress.com. 12 // May 2025

dNews for Men

One of the Last And Greatest: John 11

by Jonathon Wright

Waiting and Watching

Mary and Martha sent a message to Jesus, their Lord, teacher, and close friend. They waited for what seemed like an eternity, their eyes glued to the window, watching for some sign of Jesus on the horizon. When they saw the messengers, they ran out to meet them inquiring, “Is He coming? What did He say?”

“He did not tell us when He was coming.” But He did say, “This sickness would not end in death” (John 11:4).

Right after this, Mary and Martha did not seem happy. The servants thought what Jesus said would make them happy. “What's wrong? Is Lazarus okay?”

Mary did her best to fight back the tears. “No, He's dead.”

“NO! You can't be serious. When and how did it happen?”

Mary could not speak and was trying to compose herself. The servants turned to Martha, waiting for her to reply. “It happened last night. I watched as he closed his eyes and went to sleep. There was such a wonderful expression of peace and God's presence in the room” (John 11:11).

“At least he died in his sleep.” The servant said this to make her feel better.

But Martha's face showed no sign of encouragement. “The priest left a few minutes ago. The whole town is going to be here soon for the funeral. We can't call it off and wait for Jesus. They might think we're crazy if we tell them what Jesus said. They might even laugh and say we are foolish to believe in Him.”

Later that day, Mary and Martha endured a long funeral service without Jesus. As the funeral continued to drag on, they hoped Jesus might show up and put an end to this nightmare. But Jesus didn't come.

Four days later, Martha and Mary stopped looking for Jesus. When He finally showed up they wondered why he didn't come to the funeral. Martha was the first to see Him. Jesus tried to tell her that He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead. Martha had no idea what He was

about to do. She believed Jesus was going to raise her brother on the last day.

Lazarus, Come Forth

When Mary saw Jesus, she fell at His feet and cried. Her tears rushed over her like a tidal wave and her grief consumed her like a loud, roaring hurricane. Jesus saw, heard, and felt her pain. In a brief moment of weakness, He started to groan and wail like Mary, After regaining His composure. He went to the tomb and told Lazarus to come forth. Then everyone watched in amazement as he walked out of the tomb alive!

Wish We Had Been There

I can only imagine how they must have felt. I wish I could have seen the look on everyone's face when Lazarus stood before them. This was one of the last and greatest miracles Jesus did to show He was the Son of God. I am so glad that God and Jesus do great things in this life. His promise of eternal life also gives us hope that one day we will see our loved ones. One day He will wipe away all the tears and pain of this life. There will be no more death or mourning. Praise God forever. See Revelation 21:4.

for Women

Grace for Glory

by Katie Loveless

Have you ever needed to be at two places at once?

There's nothing like being stretched a mile wide to bring you to the end of your humanness. As a solo parent, back-to-school routines bring summer to a screeching halt. Add extracurricular practice and event schedules to the mix and any sense of paced routines seems to get knocked out of the park as each day exacts its own demands.

As I write, I gaze at a vase of drooping flowers centered on the table in front of me. Yellow mums have waxed dim. A yellow rose droops and gives out. Leaves hang limp as if by a thread. I smell a hint of death that the decaying flora gives off. I marvel why I haven't tossed the flowers yet. I zero in on a few buds that remind me of the answer. There is life still holding on. At the central most part of some of the flowers, there is vibrancy contrasting the surrounding decay. There are some stubborn buds still holding out hope. They encourage me. Being the last to wither against a backdrop of faded glory somehow gives me hope. Though seasons change, God's supply will not. He will remain a present help in times of trouble, never suffering his glory to fade.

There will be glory in today and glory in tomorrow. Hope remains persistent. It is not a perpetual discard. It is not tossed out, left to decay, or trampled underfoot. It is present in the centering, remembering who our help comes from. Hope is a person, Jesus. He ministers to us through the agency of His Holy Spirit. We are not left alone to fill the vase with glory amid decay.

Rather, we stand much like flowers in a vase that rest as they stand. We rest and stand right where we are, summoning God's glory to revive us and lift our heads once more.

We are not left alone to run the plates and cover all the bases in our own strength. There is one who can cover all the bases when we cannot. There is one who willingly steps up to the plate when others can't, don't, or won't. There is one who is always at the ready and always on the go. Like a baseball player knocks it out of the park and makes a home run, there is one who really can be at two places at one time and can cover a multitude of issues with infinite grace. There is one who can bring the goodness of grace to bat who then summons mercy to run in full glory.

As I consider this, I bring all my many issues to the One, the heartbreak over disappointment. The grief over betrayal. The sadness over solitude. The weariness with steady parades. The survey of borders, boundaries, and limits. The longing for comfort and refuge. The desire for more when less is creeping in. The stepping and the waiting as I go from one thing to the next.

Practically speaking, there is very little I can do about each of these things. I am affected by variables outside of my control, be it time, places, or people. All I can do is bring everything to the One who can either change them, pace them, or give me grace to face them. He's the only one who can cover me with mercy while I am left covering all the bases. He's the only One who can give grace for glory. As for me, I'll take that covering any day of the week.

Angela Coates Ramona Thompson

Crissy Graham

Anna K. Carden

by Sheneka Land

Grandparenting with Purpose

by Sheneka Land

Have you ever needed to be at two places at Family and friends gathered at the post-graduation celebration for the bright young man who had just received his Bachelor of Science degree with a number of honors. The next pursuit was a journey into the world of medicine as he had been awarded a number of scholarships to a prestigious medical school. Both laughter and tears testified to the joy of the milestone day as words of congratulations and well wishes flowed.

One conversation in particular stood out as a grandparent shared their sentiments of the day and wishes for the future. “I hope I live to attend your graduation from medical school, but I’m afraid I will not.” From time to time, the young man would mention that conversation, in hopes that his grandparent would indeed remain in good health so as to share in the future milestone moment.

Four years passed and the much-anticipated day of graduation arrived, and the grandparent had indeed lived

to participate in the celebrations. However, somewhere along the way, the grandparent lost sight of the magnitude and joy of sharing the milestone moment with the grandson, adult children and other family members and friends when the grandparent chose not to attend. The excuses were shallow, poor, and inappropriate: “My spouse isn’t feeling well, so it wouldn’t be fair for me to attend without them.” “I need to stay home and take care of the dogs, and besides, I need to paint the kitchen cabinets.” This is an example of the complete lack of others’ awareness and one’s own self-awareness when a person becomes oblivious to the negative impact of their words and actions or lack thereof.

In another situation, two young men recounted memories of weekly visits with their grandmother. “She always talked hateful to us, never wanting us in the same room with her where she mostly watched HGTV. Only when Dad walked into the room did she talk in

sweet tones, as if she had been doing the same outside his presence. We never looked forward to going to her house, as we were treated as nothing but trouble, so unlike the grandparent experiences our friends often spoke of. Although she knew we were coming each week, no lunches or fun activities were ever prepared for us. In fact, we were shamed for opening the fridge, and if we told her we were hungry, she would say, ‘Go tell your dad.’ There are no memories of playing catch with her in the backyard, no memories of being held on her lap, of having a book read to us, or being held in her arms or perched on her hip. She chose to not enter our world. And Dad always had to bear the complaints against us for just simply being kids.”

It is true that one can be full of days while not abounding in wisdom. Some grow old, having never learned how to build healthy relationships. Sadly, these individuals often live their sunset years in loneliness and regret as the consequences of a narcissistic lifestyle become painfully evident. Grandparents who do not lovingly engage with their grandchildren not only cheat themselves of rewarding relationships, but they also cheat their children and grandchildren of longed-for relationships.

One sure way to build healthy relationships with our adult children is to love our grandchildren well. In fact, grandparenting presents a redeeming opportunity to love children in ways we may not have been aware of during our parenting years. If we have grown in selfawareness, others-awareness and have pursued emotional intelligence (a sure path out of narcissism), we have come to understand the joys of loving our own.

Fellow grandparents, let’s step up to the plate and provide unconditional love to our children and grandchildren by being kind, affirmative, and helpful in ways most important to them. In our sunset years, we will be thankful that we created strong bonds and filled a treasure box of memories that will prove to be our legacy gift. Although we have silver in our hair, may we have gold in our hearts.

Sheneka Land and her husband, Jon, live in Cleveland, Tennessee. She earned an MDiv from Pentecostal Theological Seminary in Cleveland, Tennessee, and serves as lead chaplain at CHI Memorial Hospital in Hixson, Tennessee.

The Hidden Cost of Loneliness

by Steve Knapp

What comes to mind when you think of the term “public health crisis”? If you are like me, it is easy to think of COVID-19 or even more generally a virus or medical disease that can cause serious physical sickness or death. Yet in a report published in 2023, former US surgeon general Vivek Murthy declared loneliness to be a public health crisis in America. The report shares that half of Americans reported experiencing loneliness shortly before the start of COVID-19, and loneliness is associated with greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and premature death. It is easy to assume that loneliness has only increased since those statistics were found, especially during the height of the pandemic. If we think of loneliness as just an emotional feeling, we are gravely underestimating its impact. If loneliness is the disease, then it stands to reason that social connection is the cure. And that is accurate: social connection is associated with better physical and mental

health outcomes. As a mental health counselor, I can experientially attest to the positive impact of social connection and the negative effect of loneliness in the lives of my clients. My research related to resilience consistently has pointed to social relationships as critical for the development of resilience, which is why I include it in my resilience model. And as a Christian, the Bible is clear that we need other people. There are numerous examples of this, such as God at creation saying it is not good for man to be alone or Jesus sending his disciples out in pairs. Even Jesus himself had close friends (Peter, James, and John), and we can feel his disappointment when the disciples were sleeping while he was praying in the garden prior to His crucifixion.

So why does loneliness happen? One answer is that it is simply easier to do things on our own. But the bigger reason from my perspective is that we have been hurt by others. Whether directly (such as criticism or abuse) or indirectly (such as being ignored or neglected), the wounds from our

past can often communicate to us in the present to not open up to others. While it would be nice if the old expression “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me” was true, the reality is we are relational and emotional beings who are negatively impacted moving forward in real ways when others hurt us. And when we experience enough of that in our lives, we will self-protect believing that avoiding being honest with others is the better option. As understandable as that it is, living in this way causes worse long-term damage in the end.

So how do we honor the wounds we have experienced while still moving towards social connection and avoiding loneliness? If all we ever do is self-protect, we can only be left with loneliness in the end. But if we are vulnerable with anyone and everyone, we will unnecessarily receive new relational wounds from people who do not have our best interests at heart. The simple yet challenging answer is by taking small steps of vulnerability where we give people the opportunity to show us they can be trusted. And while it is more complicated than the space of this article can describe, there are three simple qualities to look for in recognizing who to be vulnerable with and potentially trusted: present, truthful, and gracious. We need people who will be present

Southern Charm

enough to sit with us in our pain and victories, gracious enough to love us exactly as we are without needing to be anything different, and truthful enough to be honest in providing both encouraging and challenging words we need to hear. While no one (other than Jesus) will do this perfectly, a healthy connection will develop when someone consistently demonstrates these qualities.

Having enough of these interactions with safe people, both in terms of the consistency and depth of the interactions, will help ward off loneliness over time. But we have to take the risk and be courageous to give this chance to others because there is the real risk of being hurt by others depending on how they respond. So think of someone who generally embodies these qualities and reach out to them to get together. If you can’t think of anyone, pray for God to reveal opportunities for you to find these people because He desires you to experience a meaningful social connection. And don’t forget to be that someone to others.

About The Author

Steve Knapp is a licensed professional counselor and the manager and therapist at Resilient Therapy, LLC in Cleveland, TN. Through his work as a therapist, he seeks to help transform stories of suffering into narratives of hope, healing, and growth. He is married to Kellie, and they have a five-year-old daughter named Eliana.

for Everyone

Becoming an Overcomer

by Zebbie Brewster

When I was a child growing up I remember hearing my mom praying during the day. I am thinking she would be in the back bedroom praying while me and my two younger brothers were in the living room and my dad would be at work. I am sure she needed that quick moment alone with God. Even if we could not hear all she was praying, we knew what she was doing. She was setting the example for us to know that every day needed to be prayed about.

It wasn’t long after that time that Mom started having some health problems. As a child I couldn’t do a lot to help, but I knew to pray. That brings to my memory that

prayer. I want to hear every word my mom is praying aloud! It is awesome to still hear her calling our names in prayer. She thanks God for us, that God has allowed her to still have her three children at her age and our ages. She thanks God for her home, health and healing.

Something new she prays for is that God would help her to be an overcomer. It seems that her body is wearing out and daily she faces the challenges of living in her pain-filled body. So all those years ago when Mom set the example of praying daily for her children, she knew that only with God’s help would we be able to make it through. We too would have families to pray for and about. Our lives have not been without their problems. Every night Mom thanks us for continuing to pray for her, as she says she sure needs the prayers. At my mom’s age there is not a whole lot she needs anymore in her life than heartfelt prayers. I don’t know where I would be without my mom’s prayers and I thank God for them. I too want to be an overcomer.

at night before we went to bed, we had a family prayer time. We would bow on our knees next to the couch in the living room. We were all talking to God at the same time. That was probably 60 years ago. The power of prayer has not changed.

My mom still reminds me to pray about everything. Every night before I leave her to go home, we hold hands and pray. Most of the time, I am the one to lead us in

Webster defines overcomer as to conquer, to overpower, to get the better of. The Bible speaks of Jesus being our overcomer in John 16 verse 33 KJV, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Pray that you find God’s peace as you trust Him to help you overcome whatever life sends your way.

Zebbie Brewster resides in Summerville, Georgia. She is an active member at Perennial Springs Baptist Church.

A Mother’s Love

by Sandy Saffles

When the Lord made mankind, He knew the woman would be the caregiver of the world. She was created to grow and nurture humankind. She was called Eve.

Mother to all! Imagine the happiness, sadness, joy, and worries Eve must have felt, the children she bore, the gifts from God to protect, teach, and love.

Some of you may relate to watching your children grow up and stray from the Lord. Your hopes and dreams for them may have turned into heartbreak. The fear can be overwhelming.

Your mother’s teachings may have included putting God first, being kind, respectful, standing up for your beliefs, and prioritizing family. She may have taught you to work hard and take care of yourself, all to be a better person. Eve was the mother to sons and daughters. One of her sons killed the other. It was a sinful world then, just as it is today. Considering the heartbreak Eve must have felt, did she dwell in misery? The Bible tells us no, she kept believing.

A dear friend often reminds me, “Where there’s breath, there’s hope.” Eve’s faith remained in God. She didn’t give

up despite her heartbreak. When her third son, Seth, was born, she said, “God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” She had seen sin and the devil firsthand, yet she held onto God’s promise. She trusted that from her, a Savior would be born.

A mother’s love, my mother was one of the best. Hardworking, loving, strong, and brave are just a few adjectives to describe her. She loved me and my sisters, Susan and Joy, with all she had, with all she knew.

The Bible is full of stories of a mother’s love. Jochebed loved through sacrifice. Exodus 2 tells of Moses’ birth and how his mother saved his life. Think of biblical mothers: Mary, the ultimate mother; Ruth, Hannah, and Naomi. The Bible is full of examples of motherly love.

A mother’s love doesn’t fade because of her child’s mistakes. It deepens, strengthened by God’s promise. Sometimes, we must put on our armor and prepare for battle. Victory comes to those who trust the Lord.

As much as we love our children, God loves them more. His love is so powerful that He sent His Son to die for them, for me, for you!

Think of your mother now. In her worst moments, when grief overwhelmed her, can you still see how she loved you? Mothers put on brave faces for their children, even when their worlds are falling apart. Their faith isn’t lost in loss but sharpened by it. With the Lord by her side, she is unstoppable.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5 NLT).

A mother’s love never gives up. My favorite verse is 1st Corinthians 16:13-14 NLT, “Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love.”

Your earthly mother’s love is beautiful. Your heavenly Father’s love is all consuming. He loves you when you don’t love yourself. He knows your thoughts. He made your mother for you.

I understand that not everyone had a great mother. But, we all have a Father in Heaven who will be there for us if we ask Him into our hearts. He will be your comfort and strength if you trust Him.

I have been without my mother for five years now. It’s a sadness I will never get over. But I rejoice in knowing I will

Owned

see her again! My joy is knowing my Heavenly Father will never leave me.

A mother’s love is great, but knowing my Heavenly Father is something I invite you to experience.

1 John 4:9-12 NIV, “This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

You are a gift from God. If your mother’s past mistakes weren’t failures, then neither are yours. Honor is at the end of your story because God made it so. You are proof that God forgives and redeems.

My prayer is that I love, forgive, and treat my child as God treats me.

Gò0 dNews for Everyone

Boundaries

by Mitch Jolly

The Lord performed the first wedding ceremony in Eden for His image-bearing creatures Adam and Eve with the mission of filling the earth with other image-bearers and ruling over creation as his co-regents. It is perhaps a little bit of an oversimplification, yet I believe the work from Genesis 1 can be placed into two large categories: Parenting and the vocational ordering of creation.

Let’s study the outskirts of the parenting category by introducing boundaries as part of our parenting work. Why boundaries? Boundaries are part of the nature of God and boundaries are all over creation as God’s means of separating order from chaos. Some boundaries are built-in and naturally reward those who keep them or discipline those who break them.

Because of the curse of sin and the resulting chaos incited by the serpent, parenting is a continual struggle to create order physically, emotionally, and mentally by setting and keeping the right boundaries. Chaos is the work of the serpent. Order is the labor of God’s people through relationships, our homes, and the physical labor of creation’s domains.

One of the many tools the Lord gives us to multiply order and defeat chaos is the gift of boundaries. What is a boundary? “Boundaries define us. They define what is me and what is not me. A boundary shows me where I end and someone else begins, leading me to a sense of ownership,” explains Dr. Cloud and Townsend, “Boundaries” p. 31.

Knowing what I am supposed to be responsible for and what I am not responsible for is freeing. Are you aware of how boundaryless we can be? Boundary-less-ness is a function of darkness and the chaotic work of the Serpent. If I am willing to own what I’m responsible for, God’s options for good are joyfully available. If I don’t own what I’m responsible for, good options get cut off, and I will receive corrections.

Physical boundaries are real. Spiritual boundaries are just as real, and because of the curse of sin, our spiritual blindness, and an active enemy who seeks to sow chaos, they are harder to perceive. Physical and spiritual

boundaries come from the nature of God. He defines Himself as distinct from His creation by letting us know He is holy. He defines for us what constitutes meeting His standard of holiness. Holiness is a boundary.

Boundaries are a gift from God to us for order. Make an effort to become aware of them, set them, and obey them. Teach your children to accept the “no” and grow in truth. To either be unaware of or ignorant of boundaries is evidence we have to grow in the knowledge of God and

the knowledge of ourselves. This is why John says if we say we love God and hate our brother we don’t know God. To say we are not aware of or don’t practice boundaries is to admit we still don’t understand God’s standards, and thus we don’t understand humanity very well. As you parent, challenge any instruction that dismisses “NO” as a good and healthy means of protecting and training children.

As a parent, pursue what is true. Be a curious seeker of truth. Hide God’s word in your heart, and study all things to know what is true. Pass this curious seeking of truth on to your children by including them in the search.

Don’t lose heart. Keep setting boundaries. Keep obeying the Lord. Lean on each other for support.

This article was adapted for our format from Pastor Jolly’s website, theologyinthedirt.com.

Mitch Jolly resides in Rome, Georgia. He can be reached at

Sound Advice: Mastering Hearing Health with Ahlberg Audiology and Hearing Aid Services

At Ahlberg Audiology and Hearing Aid Services, your hearing is their priority. Founded by Cleveland native Dr. Tiffany Ahlberg in 2015, Ahlberg Audiology has become the premier hearing destination in East Tennessee for hearing and tinnitus patients. Having practiced since 2000, Dr. Ahlberg strives to ensure that she and her staff are uniquely positioned to address hearing healthcare concerns for patients in her community. Audiology is a relatively small profession with less than 10,000 Doctors of Audiology nationwide. Many people are unaware that an audiologist is a hearing professional with a clinical doctorate (Doctor of Audiology, Au.D.). Thus, audiologists diagnose and treat hearing, balance, and tinnitus issues.

Ahlberg Audiology’s team of experienced providers include Dr. Tiffany Ahlberg Au.D., Dr. Kelsey Mullen Au.D., Dr. Grace Young Au.D,. and Chris Ashcraft, HIS. Recently, Chris Ashcraft joined the Ahlberg team of providers. Chris Ashcraft, a proud native of Chattanooga, calls Cleveland home with his wife and two children. A dedicated U.S. Navy veteran and University of Tennessee at Chattanooga alum, Chris has been practicing as a Hearing Instrument Specialist in the Chattanooga area for over seven years. Chris is deeply passionate about helping patients reconnect with the world around them through improved hearing. He specializes in conducting thorough hearing evaluations, fitting hearing aids, and troubleshooting devices, all while guiding patients through their aural rehabilitation journey.

Ahlberg Audiology providers combine their vast experience with staying current on the latest and most upto-date technologies to provide their patients with the best care available. Patient services in the office are provided by Beverly Stevison, Breanna Tuggle, Audra Finder, Vicki Adkins, and Donny Ahlberg.

The practice has been voted number one for Audiologist and Hearing Aid Center by the Reader’s Choice “Best of the Best” for eight consecutive years, establishing them as the most qualified hearing healthcare office in this area. They are best known for offering the best hearing healthcare with state-of-the-art technologies and patient care. Their services include diagnostic hearing evaluations, custom earmolds and earplugs (for musicians, hunting, flying, etc.), cerumen management (earwax removal), hearing conservation, central auditory processing screening, tinnitus treatment, comprehensive hearing device services, and cochlear implant programming.

The office is proud to be Cleveland’s only Lyric provider. The Phonak Lyric is the world’s smallest hearing device. It is inserted by an audiologist and can stay in the ear for up to three months. The patient who wears the Lyric can sleep and shower in the device, and there are no batteries to change.

Audiologists at Ahlberg Audiology employ the highest standard of care for each patient, including best practices which include individualized programming and Real-Ear Measurement verification to ensure optimal technological performance for hearing aid patients. Ahlberg Audiology is the only facility in Bradley County that contracts with the Veterans Administration to provide veteran care for audiology services.

Offering many different product lines sets this practice apart from others allowing Ahlberg Audiology to have hearing devices available for everyone. According to Dr. Ahlberg, “Some people are most interested in price, while others want a superior product for hearing background noise. Some specifically need Bluetooth capabilities, and some want rechargeable devices. Some want tiny, virtually invisible, in-the-ear devices, and others choose to keep the ear canal open with the unit behind the ear. There are options in technology, price, and performance for everyone. Our audiologists conduct a wide variety of tests to determine the exact nature of an individual’s hearing problem and present a variety of treatment options to patients with hearing impairment. When appropriate,

they dispense and fit hearing aids and provide hearing rehabilitation training.“

Hearing loss is a pervasive public health concern with potentially significant negative consequences if left untreated, which makes audiology an essential part of health care. Untreated hearing loss can negatively impact the quality of a person’s life, including economic health (reduced occupational opportunities and income), psychosocial health (withdrawal and isolation), and mental health (cognition, depression, dementia, and even suicide) in addition to harming patient-provider communications and patient compliance with healthcare provider treatment plans.

Ahlberg Audiology has two convenient locations: In Cleveland at 4220 Ocoee Street North and in Athens at 650 Congress Parkway South. The hours of operation are Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Friday, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. For more information about Ahlberg Audiology, visit www.ahlbergaudiology.com or www. facebook.com/ahlbergaudiology. Call (423) 641-0956 (Cleveland) or 423-212-9110 (Athens) for your whole family’s hearing wellness and listening needs.

Celebrating

for Gardeners

The Death of Envy

by Monica Gambrell

Hank Nadu, my one and only brother, inherited our mother’s green thumb. He has the ability to coax anything to grow. He has always loved being in the great outdoors, learning new things about gardening, and working the earth with his hands. It literally takes my breath away when I see the works of his hands. But in stark contrast, I have killed most any plant I’ve ever tried to grow. I’ve even killed cactus before. I envy his gift, but let me share one final event that convinced me of a truth I had not considered before.

as she could have been had I not been involved. You see, as we planted, he sank one seed and I the next, and so on down the row. When the seed produced plants, only every other one survived. And I am quite sure it was the seed I had planted that failed. She only had half the crop of corn that she should have had because of me. These results fully convinced me that I should no longer covet that gift. I should leave gardening to the ones gifted to do it and keep my eyes open to whatever gift I might have instead.

I was temporarily living at my mother’s house. Her neighbors knew how much she loved to garden. She had a space beside her home she rigorously tilled and tended. It was Spring and a kind neighbor, Mr. Stinnett, walked down the hill from his house to plant corn in my mother’s garden. It was a surprise that we had not expected; I simply heard him puttering around the empty garden space and went out to inquire what he was doing. I knew I wasn’t qualified, but he very generously told me exactly what to do and displayed it clearly. I thanked him profusely for his gift of seed and time, but my mother was not as happy

I can’t be like Hank or my mother, but I can be the best me I can be. Do I still attempt to garden? Yes, but in very small ways. I plant a tiny raised bed of herbs and leave God to take care of them. Only then do they grow. Like everyone else, I have lived through a very specific set of trials and challenges. And like everyone else, my giftedness has been molded by them. I can do all things through Christ, yes. But when I work within my giftedness, it doesn’t seem as much like work. Let’s decide together to stop longingly looking at someone else’s gift, and start celebrating the way that we are created to be. We are not without gifts; we are uniquely made to serve in our own capacity.

1 Corinthians 12:4 ESV, “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.”

Father God, every time I think I have learned a lesson You are teaching me, I realize that I still have so much more to learn. I think about Hank and my mother (and now my daughter, Rachel) bringing such beauty into the world through gardening, and execute my own paltry efforts to do the same in different ways. Help me to keep my eyes off of others and on You, Lord. You told us that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). May we believe that deeply. You want us to flourish in our own uniqueness, not languish because we want to be like someone else. Amen

Gò0 dNews for your Taste Buds

Classic Juicy Beef Burgers

Celebrate National Burger Day on May 28, 2025, with Classic Juicy Beef Burgers. This recipe is straightforward and focuses on making the perfect, succulent burger with minimal fuss. Ideal for grilling or pan-frying, these burgers are sure to be a hit at any gathering or barbecue.

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef (80% lean, 20% fat)

• 1 teaspoon salt

• ½ teaspoon black pepper

• ½ teaspoon garlic powder

• ½ teaspoon onion powder

• 4 hamburger buns

• Lettuce leaves

• Tomato slices

Instructions

1. Prepare the Beef Patties:

• In a large bowl, gently mix the ground beef with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Be careful not to overwork the meat, as this can make the burgers tough.

• Divide the meat into 4 equal portions and shape each portion into a patty about ¾ inch thick. Use your thumb to make a small indentation in the center of each patty. This helps the burgers cook evenly and prevents them from puffing up in the center.

2. Cook the Burgers:

• Grilling: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Place the patties on the grill and cook for about 4-5 minutes per side for medium-rare, or 6-7 minutes per side for medium. If adding cheese, place a slice on each patty during the last minute of cooking and close the grill lid

Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the patties and cook for about 4-5 minutes per side for medium-rare, or 6-7 minutes per side for medium. Add cheese during the last minute if desired.

Toast the hamburger buns on the grill or in a skillet until lightly browned, about 1 minute.

4. Assemble the Burgers: ead your desired condiments on the bottom half of each bun. Place a lettuce leaf, then the cooked beef patty, and top with tomato slices and pickles. Finish with the top half of the bun.

or added flavor, you can season the outside of the patties with additional salt and pepper before cooking.

• To keep the burgers juicy, avoid pressing down on them while they cook.

For Mother’s Day

by Judy Hood

Oh, how we love our mothers; Oh, how we love our fathers.

But, there’s a special bond between a mother and a child, One that grows all the while.

Mothers are sweeter than honey in the comb.

She’s always there to help.

She’ll never leave you alone.

She is lovelier than anything God has created. When she loves you, you can feel God’s love permeated.

She walks in God’s love each and every day.

She points you to Jesus and He shows you the way.

If you are blessed to have a Christian mom, Thank God in heaven that she does belong. Thank God that she prays day in and day out, That she loves you enough to pray for your soul.

So, when you get to heaven you can enter with a shout!

You can get Judy Hood’s poetry books at the Cleveland Public Library.

for Everyone

Unexpected Blessings, Unequaled Joy

by Tammy Madden

When I found out I was pregnant, I was overjoyed. We had tried for 17 years. I dreamed of either playing trucks and cars with a little boy or barbies and tea parties and painting nails with a little girl. The part that never crossed my mind was becoming the mom of a special needs child. She was born so healthy but at 14 months old she sustained an anoxic brain injury. How could this be? How did my perfectly healthy baby come home a different child?

I didn't know what I would do with myself. How would I become this super mom? I watched as more and more sensory issues presented themselves. No longer could she stand the sight of nail polish. It gagged her. So many things gagged her, anything white like Cool Whip, mashed potatoes, sheets, blankets. What? How? I didn't understand sensory issues. We began physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. We were told she was blind, deaf, and would never walk or talk.

Oh but GOD! Jeremiah 29:11 KJV says “For I know the thoughts I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not evil, to give you an expected end.”

We held on to that verse. We kept our eyes on Jesus. We have never once given up hope. Our daughter has become our reason for living, for breathing, for serving God. We would not change her if we could. She has taught us more than we could ever teach her.

If you are a special needs parent just hang on. Just watch how God uses that child. You will never have to worry about them using drugs, drinking, or getting

mixed up with the wrong crowd. My Megan has brought a smile to so many people on days that they thought they could not go another mile. Because of her and her testimony, I have watched altars fill up and peoples’ lives changed. If you are that parent who needs another special needs parent to turn to, know my door is always open. My ringer is always on. I am here day or night. Don't let what any doctor says bring you down. Just look him in the eyes and tell him exactly what we

told Megan's many doctors, “While we respect your opinion, we serve a far greater physician!”

Someone asked me not long ago what it was like to be a special needs mom and I quickly through a few words together. As I was sitting here tonight I began to think about what I said in those few sentences. Well my heart came crashing down around me. I began to think about it more. Being a special needs parent is not for the faint of heart. It's also not for a person without God in their life. Being a special needs parent means listening for every breath they take while they sleep. It means laying your hand on their chest all night counting the heart beats. It means always having a bag packed and ready to go to the hospital for who knows how long each time. It means listening to the beeps and sirens going off in the ICU. It means being shoved out of your child's hospital room while they try to revive her. It means turning them over to a nurse you never met for them to go in for their 10th, 20th, 30th, or even 100th surgery. It means praying to God they make it out alive. It means praying God will

the entire body with structural care, chemical/nutritional imbalances, and mental/emotional (NET) work.

STRUCTURAL - any interference with the communication between our brain and our body results in dis-ease and dysfunction. We use advanced chiropractic techniques to identify and correct structurally.

EMOTIONAL - feelings of stress, anger, overwhelm, depression, and anxiety have an underlying source. Whatever we don't express in life, we will repress until it gets expressed in the form of dis-ease, dysfunction or a behavior or characteristic we don't like about ourselves.

Dr. Chance uses Neuro Emotional Technique as a way to find current day stressors that may relate to traumas (big or little) in your past that are suppressing the function of your physiology today.

CHEMICAL - Toxicity and deficiency are the two underlying sources of nutritional imbalances in the body. Dr. Chance uses Professional Applied Kinesiology to address the fields of dysbiosis (ex.. Lyme, fungus, parasites, bacteria, virus, etc.), food sensitivities, toxic metals, hormone imbalances, chemical and electromagnetic field sensitivity, nutrient deficiencies, as well as neurological desensitization techniques.

send them at least one friend when they start school. It means praying the other kids don't make fun of them. It means therapy after therapy.

BUT....with all that being said, it also means never taking even one minute for granted. It means praising her when at 10 years old she finally learns to write her name. It means praising God when she comes home from school with note after note from all the teachers singing praises to her for her kindness. It means never worrying about her getting with the wrong crowd. It means crying in church when I hear her singing and praising God above all the other children!

Is it easy being a special needs mom? NO! Would I change her? Not in a million years! I wish I were younger because I would adopt as many special needs kids as God would allow!

Rhonda Vest McClure

My name is Tammy Madden. I live in the beautiful foothills of North Georgia in Chatsworth. I am married to my amazing husband, Gene and we have a beautiful daughter named Megan.

Praying for the One

by Katie Taylor

When you’re young and in love, you think it will last forever. Sometimes it does, but it’s hard to keep it strong when you’re growing up and changing and moving off to college. You feel like you have control over everything and nothing at the same time. You feel as though God is constantly handing you opportunities, but simultaneously showing you that He is always in control.

When I was younger I read a book called Praying for Your Future Husband. At first, reading that book felt like a major cliche. Praying for your future husband, meeting someone who checks all your boxes, and making a list for what you hope your future husband will be like; is all something we learn in youth group and we’re encouraged to do to help strengthen our faith and help us understand patience.

In college, I thought that I met the man I was going to marry. He was a Christian; he loved me; he took care of me, and made me feel heard and understood. He was a reconnection from high school, a classic story. I had prayed for my husband, read the book, filled in the blanks, and there he was. We talked about marriage and kids, what our house would be like, and where we would live. We were long distance but making it work. I thought this was it and that I was done with the dating thing. That was until I met the man I knew I would marry.

Eventually, my boyfriend and I broke up. It was one of the worst heartbreaks I have ever experienced. But, the heartbreak was short-lived because God had brought me solace. He brought me another opportunity at love, and this time, it was the one.

The difference between the relationship with the man I thought I would marry and the relationship with the man I knew I would marry was the certainty I felt. I had never felt a feeling like this before and I knew this had to be something that God had sent me.

Yes, you read that correctly. I met the man I knew I would marry while dating the man I thought I would marry. It was a very scary and confusing feeling. I felt like I was living in some kind of bad romance novel.

I prayed, and prayed, and prayed again, for six months. I reread that book and it just made it all the more confusing. I knew this was a lesson in patience and a test of my faith, so I just had to let God handle it and do what I could do which was to pray and wait.

I will leave you with this. God will always lead us in the right direction. Sometimes we’ll take a detour and wonder if we will ever get back on track. Everyone feels these feelings, and I hope my story brings you peace with whatever may come your way. Patience is a tough thing to learn, but Jesus will lead you through to the other side.

Katie Taylor is a senior at Dalton State College. She will earn her bachelor’s degree in English in May. She lives with her husband Aaron, and their cat Rafiki in Ringgold, Georgia.

Are You a Peter or a Paul?

by Danette Reeves

When Peter met Jesus, he was a fisherman, doing what fishermen do: fish. His days and nights consisted of mundane, everyday life. Fish, mend the nets, count the fish, sell the fish, and care for the homeplace, his wife, and mother-in-law—just everyday life.

When Paul (previously called Saul) met Jesus, he was on his way to persecute Christians. Acts 9:1-2 NASB tells us, “Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the High Priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.” Do you hear the description? He was still breathing threats and murder. It was constantly inside of him, around him, in his thoughts. It was what he did. It was who he was.

Paul's transformation was so visible. He changed from this murderous, hateful man to the writer (led by the Spirit of God) of 13 books of the Bible. Paul was proclaiming in the synagogues, “This Jesus is the Christ” (Acts 9:22 NASB). His transformation was phenomenal! People everywhere knew who Paul had been—especially those believers of the Way. They were still frightened of him. Had he truly changed? Is he trying to trick us? Can we trust him? Is this true?

am honest. I had abortions; now I fight for life. Jesus saved me as a child, and I have tried to live for Him my whole life. I grew up in church and was a model church member, but I was not saved until I was 40.

What is your testimony? Were you dramatically saved and changed like Paul? Or was your change a slower growth like Peter's, two steps forward and one step back?

Peter's change was quieter, slower. He believed Jesus to be the Messiah, yet he had his own ideas of what that meant. He grew day by day. He would walk strong in his faith, even enough to walk on water (Matthew 14:28-31). Later, he betrayed Jesus (Matthew 26:69-75). Yet Peter did grow spiritually to be a strong leader in the birth of the Church, preaching and teaching about Jesus.

We all have a testimony. I was lost; now I'm found. I was blind; now I see. I was a drug addict; now I'm free. I murdered someone; now I'm forgiven. I was a thief, now I

How God met you and changed you is part of your testimony. Be like Paul and declare loudly, “Jesus is the Christ.” Be like Peter and incrementally grow as you know Jesus more deeply. Preach to those who do not know. Tell how God transformed you…dramatically or quietly. Tell of His faithfulness. Share how He transformed you from the darkness to the light (Ephesians 5:8).

It doesn't matter if you are like Peter or Paul. This journey is all about Jesus, the One who transformed you. Share your story.

Danette Reeves and her husband, Charlie, live in Cleveland, TN. They attend The Church at Grace Point. One of their joys is being Oma and Opa to four grandchildren. Her heart’s desire is to be a student and a teacher of the Word, and a consistent follower of Jesus.

for Everyone

Just A Glimpse: The Transformation of a Prophet [Habakkuk 1-3]

by Dr. Rob Debelak

Apair of perplexing problems shape the passionate prayers of Habakkuk. God’s answers to the prophet’s questions are alarming (1:1-11; 1:12-2:20). By the close of their dialogue, Habakkuk is devastated. Deferring to the LORD’s wisdom, Habakkuk’s surrender finds voice in eloquent devotion (3:17-22). His perspective of justice is transformed by a brief glimpse of God coming as the Judge of creation (3:1-16).

Plea

Confronted with the prevalent violence in his community (1:2), Habakkuk is dismayed by the lack of divine response (1:2-4). His theological conundrum is the result of an honest assessment of his world. Left unchecked, rampant social ills threaten to diminish the honor of God’s law. He struggles against the perception that God has turned a deaf ear (1:2). The LORD’s reply, however, is not what Habakkuk expected (1:5). God is sending the vile Babylonians as His agent of punishment against wayward Israel.

These formidable warriors boast a résumé of terror (1:6-11). The puzzled prophet ponders how a nation more sinful than Israel can correct the covenant people (1:13). Like a vigilant sentry, Habakkuk waits for an explanation (2:1). The delay models the prophecy; those patient in faith will see God's words fulfilled (2:3).

Presence

God uses the Babylonians but will hold them accountable (2:6–20). A prophecy of judgment on the oppressor follows the call to faithfulness.

Elements of praise and worship prepare the prophet for his visionary encounter. Salient reminders recall the LORD’s exclusive worthiness (2:13-14). Opposition to idolatry (2:1820) emphasizes the futility of venerating inanimate objects. Humanity is made in God’s image, not the other way around. God is King, and creation silently bows to Him!

Tension mounts. Anticipating judgment reaches its limit, and fear grips Habakkuk (3:2). Praying mercy prevails in dispensing justice, he foresees the LORD’s coming. God’s appearance is visible (v 3)! He is glorious and bright; rays of light emanating from His powerful hands (v 4). Plague-like destruction and lightning precede Him (v 5). He pauses and judges the Earth (v 6), leveling high places (v 7). The sovereign King punishes the waters (v 8). Brandishing His bow, His fury is unleashed (v 9).

The mountains tremble, and the sea groans (v 10). Accompanied by cosmic disturbances (v 11), this is judgment day. The nations are liable; God’s anointed ones are rescued (v 12-15).

The devastation is total. The LORD’s audio-visual response to Habakkuk’s plea for justice is overwhelming. Stunned, the prophet’s lips quiver; mortified by the vision, his body shook (v 16).

Praise

The severity of approaching judgment would be earthshattering. Redemption was certain; judgment would be cataclysmic. Humbly, the prophet resolves to worship. One brief glimpse of the mighty LORD changed him. Dead to himself (3:16), his hope in God (3:17-18), he prays:

Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

Symbols of hope and promise, temple services included these ceremonial commodities. Regardless of economic failure or spiritual decline, Habakkuk’s devotion is undeterred. He renders praise even if sacred supplies become scarce.

What of us - will our praise endure times of devastation? May a fresh awareness of God’s holiness, the certainty of His return, and respect for His infinite power move us to humble, resolute, genuine worship.

More Than a Paradigm Shift

by Garrett Nudd

Acouple years ago, my middle daughter, Campbell, and I visited a local Starbucks. We had orders for Joy and all three girls. A tall vanilla-bean frappuccino, two pink drinks, and a banana nut bread— room temperature, not warm.

Have you ever gone through the drive through at Starbucks and realized that it would’ve been faster to go inside? Or maybe even to go to Colombia and harvest the coffee beans yourself? Not to mention, when you’re in the store, time flies because you are people-watching, smelling the fresh-ground coffee, and listening to the whooshing sound of the drink machine as the baristas fulfill custom orders of happiness. It’s a magical playground for your senses.

But in the drive-through line, Starbucks feels like a race between a turtle and a snail, where no one wins.

On this day, the line was even slower than usual. I couldn’t believe it. I tried to keep my patience because my impressionable, teenage daughter was riding with me. Keep in mind, I rarely order anything for myself from Starbucks. I was there purely out of love for my wife and children.

After eventually working our way closer to the pick-up window, there were only two cars left in front of us—and

probably two hundred behind us, but that was their problem. I had suffered in the wilderness, now it was their turn.

I watched as the driver at the window paid for and then received her order. And then she remained at the window and ordered additional food, at least that’s what it looked like. Wait, what? That meant she had to pay again AND the staff must’ve been going crazy because now she had another order below all the other orders above her. This was not an efficient use of time, and it was unbelievably annoying.

I decided I’d use the opportunity to give Campbell a lesson in preparedness and courtesy. “This is taking a long time, Campbell, and there are a lot of cars behind us,” I said. “Always remember when you place your order to get it right and keep it succinct as a courtesy to the customers behind you.”

Campbell nodded. Maybe she understood or maybe she just wanted me to be quiet, I didn’t know.

Finally, they drove away.

Now we were on deck. Only one car remained between us and our order. I watched as they paid for their order, and just like the car in front of them, they talked with the window attendant for an unusually long time.

“What? Their order isn’t ready yet either? Come on!” I said.

A couple minutes passed, and the window attendant handed their order out the window. After taking her drinks, she continued to speak with the window attendant. Then she handed them her credit card—again!

I was furious.

“Unbelievable! She must be adding to her order, too? What’s wrong with all these people?”

Eventually, they drove off.

As I approached the window and curtly handed the attendant my phone for the app, she said, “Oh, there’s no charge today. The person in front of you paid for your order.”

“Pardon me?”

“There’s no charge,” she said. “The person in front of you paid for your order. It’s been going for about a dozen cars now.”

Ohhhh. Slow down, Garrett. Now that’s a paradigm shift.

“Well, I’d like to pay for the person behind me,” I said cheerfully. She gave me their total, charged it on the app, and off we went.

Quite a shift, in both my head and my heart. That’s MORE THAN.

If we want to be practical, obviously, with each person paying for the person behind them, we were all still paying. Yes, and we were receiving a gift. The gift is that when someone is intentional about saying, “I’m going to do something nice for the stranger behind me,” it makes me want to do something nice in exchange and keep it going down the line.

I have no idea how long that chain of kindness continued that day, but I’m sure at some point it probably ended—probably the guy by himself who looked in his mirror and saw a Suburban full of six or seven hungry passengers behind him.

But I’d like to think it ended with someone who really needed the extra shot of kindness.

SLEEP WELL, LIVE WELL

Garrett Nudd serves as director of communications for AdventHealth Georgia. His recent book, MORE THAN: Discovering How Your Story Reveals God’s Beautiful Truth About You, challenges readers to shift their paradigm from less than to MORE THAN.

for Kids

Frolicking Like a Calf

by Jan Merop

Hello, Kids! This article is part of our Chatty Critters series. Check in future issues for another installment in this series.

The green pastures tempted Frisky – again!

Glancing quickly over his shoulder, Frisky saw his mother happily grazing with the mama cows. He set aside her warning not to stray too far from the other calves.

And, for the most part, he almost always obeyed.

Frisky thought, There’s just something about springtime and sunshine that makes me want to skip and jump and explore new places.

Meanwhile, his mama and the other cows enjoyed God’s green grass where they were.

“I try not to smother Frisk,” said his mom; “but he doesn’t realize that his pure white coat is tempting to rustlers and can bring danger.”

“He is unusually beautiful,” said her friend. “One day he will understand your heart.”

She knew God had made calves with a frolicking nature. She pictured Frisky kicking up his heels delightedly when his stall was opened. His exuberance always brought a smile to her. She didn’t want him to be fearful…just careful.

She lifted her soulful brown eyes to check on him once more and discovered only tan, mottled, and black calves playing together. Pure white Frisky was nowhere to be seen.

Panic invaded her calm nature as she moved deliberately toward the pastures beyond the book. As she came closer, she began to moo a sound that her little calf knew very well.

Frisky was about to cross the brook when he noticed that the green, glowing grass was actually shiny, flat, and trampled. Then he saw men on horseback riding toward him.

His heart started beating faster and harder than ever before. The beat of it screamed D A N G E R!!! His mom’s persistent voice echoed in his mind.

“God has gifted you with an exceptionally white coat. Protect yourself from those who may want what you have.”

“Moo!!!” His mom’s cry alerted him. Turning swiftly, he propelled his legs into a flying leap home.

Frisky and his mom nuzzled each other while he listened to her warnings again.

“I’m sorry, Mom. I know now that I was being careless and selfish. Please forgive me for making you worry.”

Then he admitted that the glowing sunlit grass looked too good to be true. And it was! “I’m saving my energy for the right pastures!” exclaimed Frisky.

Exploring Truth Through God’s Creation

“The sun of righteousness (Jesus) will dawn on those who honor (respect) my name, healing radiating from its wings. You will be bursting with energy, like colts frisky and frolicking.”

Malachi 4:2, The Message

The Calf and You

Have you ever been so happy that you wanted to kick up your heels, dance, and jump for joy?

The Bible says that person is like a frolicking calf that’s just been released from his stall.

Calves are portrayed as among the happiest of God’s creatures in the Bible.

We’ve all been given at least one special Gift (like Frisky) and should treat it with care. God will use it to help others know about Him. Seek truth and be full of care for the Things that matter to God.

Then you’ll be like a happy, carefree calf in The Bible…leaping for joy!

Remember, when tempting things appear too good to be true, they usually are TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE!

Sticky Notes for the Brain

by Chrissie Joy Jackson

Have you ever had a word or a conversation pop up from somewhere in the recesses of your mind that you didn’t remember you remembered? Words of encouragement, a verse, a shared conversation get stored away somewhere in your mind, ready for use when needed. Sometimes it is years later when the words come back to you, as if they were said yesterday.

When I was driving a community van before I retired, a lady named Rosa gifted me with words that at the time seemed nice for her but irrelevant for me. She said, “You know, I am a widow, I live alone. I am never lonely. When my husband died, I asked the Lord to keep me from being lonely. He has. I feel Him with me every day.” I was married and couldn’t imagine what living alone was like.I didn’t realize those words would stick in my brain like a sticky note to be used years later when needed. She was just sharing her heart with me. She had no idea how her testimony would be a comfort for me one day.

When my husband died, I told his sister, “I don’t know what to do. I have never lived alone. I had Chuck when the boys grew up and were on their own. Who am I now?”

She told me, “Just be. Be you.” Simple words that have resurfaced during several difficult times of self-doubt. After the memorial service, the flurry of activity was over, and the house was quiet, Rosa’s words were there. I also remembered the words of Jesus as recorded in Hebrews 13:5 NKJV, “He himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” He never has.

Then there was the time I had ovarian cancer. My teacher told me something I still say often: “What I know is more real than what I feel.” Second Corinthians. 5:7 NKJV confirms this, “We walk by faith and not

by sight.” Another lady said, “Remember the words, ‘it came to pass.’” That little phrase from God’s word was a beam of light and solid truth. Cancer is now but a twentytwo-year-old memory to me.

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver” (Proverbs 25:11 NKJV).

Always be ready to give a word of encouragement. You may forget you ever said the words. You may never know how deeply they impacted the person. Your words to another may become a sticky note in their brain that will show up in their future giving them the courage or the comfort they need.

I remember when my boys were still little guys. It was an especially hard time in our lives. I was shopping at a Cash and Carry grocery store. You would have to be a senior citizen to remember that one! A German pastor’s wife who I loved so much told me, “Pray in the spirit every day. Ask God to give you the words to pray when you don’t know what to do.” Then she prayed for me, out loud, there by the dairy section. That conversation gave me courage, and started me on a journey of a deeper prayer life.

Be thoughtful about what you tell others. Negative words can be the stickiest words of all and be just as potent.

Ephesians 4:29 NKJV says, “Let no corrupt word proceed forth out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”

Which words do you have to put on someone else’s sticky note for their brain that will bless their lives?

Chrissie Joy Jackson is a retired widow and a member of Living Word Church. Sharing the love and care of the Father through missions is her passion.

Cleveland Church Directory

African Methodist Episcopal

Price Memorial AME Zion 254 Dooley Street NE, Cleveland, TN 37311

Anglican

Mission Cleveland 1165 Church St SE, Cleveland, TN 37311

Apostolic

First Apostolic Church Of Cleveland 4859 Freewill Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (229) 343-6880

Assembly of God

The Collectives Church 1976 Westland Dr SW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 641-0193

Triune Assembly 301 Sunset Drive Cleveland, TN 37312

Baptist

Antioch Baptist Church

2807 Old Alabama Rd. SW McDonald, TN 37353

Avenue Church

1720 Perry St SE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-0489

Beacon Baptist Church 505 Corvin Rd NE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 472-7056

Bellefounte Baptist Church

132 Bellfounte Rd NE, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 336-2312

Bethel Baptist Tabernacle

3165 Buchanan Rd SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 479-5820

Berean Baptist Church

2355 Bucks Pocket Rd SE, Old Fort, TN 37362 (423) 478-1697

Big Spring Baptist Church 1415 Hardwick St SE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-1101

Blue Springs Baptist Church 699 Blue Springs Church Rd SW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-0932

Candies Creek Church

294 Old Eureka Rd Charleston, TN 37310 (423) 479-3731

Cedar Springs Baptist Church 723 Cedar Springs Church Rd SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 479-5506

Center Point Baptist Church 1205 Lower River Rd NW Charleston, TN 37310 (423) 336-2133

Cleveland Cowboy Church 3040 Blythe Rd. Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-7936

Cloverleaf Baptist Church 2290 Waterlevel Highway Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 339-3617

Clingan Ridge Baptist Church 2412 Georgetown Road, NW Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 472-3511

Covenant Baptist Church

249 Calhoun Rd SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 559-2653

Dalton Pike Baptist Church 3055 Benton Pike NE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 472-7606

East Cleveland Baptist Church 1145 Arnold St NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-8728

Echos of Mercy Baptist Church 535 Durkee Rd SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 715-9739

Elkmont Baptist Church 4030 Old Freewill Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 479-4600

Emmanuel Baptist Church 1227 Powerline Dr NE, Cleveland, TN 37323

Farmland Community Church 1675 Greendale Dr. SE Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 473-9891

First Baptist Church 1275 Stuart Road Cleveland, Tennessee 37312 (423) 709-9100

Galilee Baptist Church

665 Old Chattanooga Pike SW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 241-2740

Henegar Baptist Church 7423 Mouse Creek Rd. Cleveland, TN 37312

Hopewell Baptist Church 188 Old Georgetown Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 479-3763

Lebanon Baptist Church 1411 Old Parksville Rd NE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 479-6700

Macedonia Baptist Church 3119 Spring Place Rd SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 479-1713

Maple Street Baptist Church 1700 Maple St NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 478-3622

Maranatha Baptist Church 453 Blue Springs Ln SE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 614-8991

Michigan Avenue Baptist Church 2741 Benton Pike NE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 472-8891

Mt Carmel Baptist Church 7619 Blue Springs Rd, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-1620

New Friendship Baptist Church 1344 Chatata Valley Rd NE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 476-6007

New Salem Baptist Church

175 Ladd Springs Rd, Cleveland, TN 37323

North Cleveland Baptist Church 2815 Ocoee St N, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 476-8524

Oak Grove Baptist Church 4452 Bates Pike SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 479-9125

Old Pathway Baptist Church 224 Rymer Rd NE, Cleveland, TN 37323

Parkway Baptist Church 185 Meadow Ln SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 339-5522

Philadelphia Baptist Church 910 30th St SE, Cleveland, TN 37323

Philippi Baptist Church 2325 Old Harrison Pike NW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-5385

Pleasant Grove Baptist Church 799 Inman Street East Cleveland, Tennessee 37311 (423) 476-4081

Public Church 850 17th St. NW Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 458-4405

Ridgeview Baptist Church 1501 S Ocoee St, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-5119

Samples Memorial Baptist Church

371 Samples Chapel Rd SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 476-2329

Shenandoah Baptist Church 138 Osment Rd SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 339-0103

Shiloh Baptist Church 357 Highway 64 Ocoee, TN 37361 (423) 338-4292

Shiloh Baptist Church 3406 Blair Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 479-5755

Stuart Park Baptist Church 850 17th St NW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-6741

Tasso Baptist Church 164 Old Charleston Rd NE, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 559-2114

Temple Baptist Church 3070 Harrison Pike, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-6813

Thompson Spring Baptist Church 5660 Bates Pike SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 790-1823

Union Baptist Church 797 Hughes Lake Rd SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 559-1720

Valley View Baptist Church 4657 Spring Place Rd SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 472-7707

Waterville Baptist Church 4555 Dalton Pike SE, Cleveland, TN 37323

(423) 472-5582

West Cleveland Baptist Church 1959 Westland Dr SW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-8927

Westwood Baptist Church 4001 Georgetown Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 472-1534

White Oak Baptist Church 2043 White Oak Valley Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 559-2359

Catholic

St Therese Catholic Church 900 Clingan Ridge Dr NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 476-8123

Charismatic

Cleveland Christian Fellowship 695 S Ocoee St, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-2642

Church of Christ

North Bradley Church of Christ 1510 Stuart Road NE, Suite 207 Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 473-3298

Church of God

Community Chapel Church of God 807 Blythe Ave SE Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-2143

Church of God Sanctified, Inc. 746 First Street N.E. Cleveland, TN. 37311 (423) 479-3895

East Cleveland Church of God 900 15th St NE Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-3389

Fellowship of Praise Church of God 931 Inman Street East Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-3121

Grace Community Church of God 4745 Mouse Creek Road NW, Cleveland, TN 37312. (423) 614-0708

Heritage Fellowship Church 4635 South Lee Hwy McDonald, TN 37353 (423) 476-6316

International Worship Center Centro Internacional de Adoración 533 Central Ave. NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-1977

Kinser Church of God 141 Kinser Road Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 476-7400

Lakeview Community Church 105 Pound Street SE Cleveland, TN 37323 (423)-790-5805

North Cleveland Church of God 335 11th St NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-5513

Michigan Avenue Church of God 515 Minnis Road NE (423) 284-7573

Mt Olive Church of God

3522 Harrison Pike, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-3381

Mt View Church of God

210 Roadway Dr SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (706) 455-3528

Pine Hill Church of God 1484 Old Alabama Rd McDonald, TN 37353 (423) 488-0939

South Cleveland Church of God 1846 Volunteer Dr SW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-6382

Westmore Church of God 2440 Legacy Pkwy NW Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 479-3415

Church of God of Prophecy

Cleveland Spanish COGOP 2610 Grove Ave. Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 473-7199

Durkee Road COGOP 201 Durkee Rd. Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 472-4384

Keith Street Ministries COGOP 4000 Keith ST. NW Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 476-2448

Peerless Road COGOP 3301 Peerless Rd. NW Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 303-2680

Spring Place COGOP 2530 Spring Place Rd. Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-6414

Wildwood COGOP 140 Wildwood Ave Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-6584

The Church of God

The Church of God Jerusalem Acres 1826 Dalton Pike SE Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-1597

Community

Fellowship in Christ 1025 Beech Circle NW Cleveland TN 37312 (423) 314-2382

Disciples of Christ

First Christian Church 3625 N. Ocoee Street Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 472-6682

Episcopal Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church 320 Broad St NW, Cleveland, TN 37311

Lutheran

First Lutheran Church 195 McIntire Ave NE, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 472-6811

Latter-day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 4200 Pryor Rd N.E. Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 503-6394

Methodist

Big Springs Methodist Church 1196 Hardwick St SE, Cleveland, TN 37311

(423) 476-5242

Black Fox United Methodist 1820 Old Chattanooga Pike SW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 339-1908

Broad Street United Methodist 155 Central Ave NW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-5586

First United Methodist Church 3425 Ocoee St N, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 476-4504

Mt. Zion Methodist Church 7223 Georgetown Rd Cleveland, TN 37312

Pleasant Grove Community Church 3043 Pleasant Grove Church Rd SW Cleveland, TN 37311

Red Hill United Methodist Church 527 Red Hill Valley Road SE Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 728-5413

Tasso United Methodist 1106 Tasso Ln NE, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 479-4457

Trinity United Methodist Church 731 1st St SE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 614-7900

Valley Head Methodist Church 920 Mouse Creek Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 472-0575

Wesley Memorial Methodist 3405 Peerless Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 472-9578

Pentecostal

Faith Memorial Church 910 17th St NW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-6281

First United Pentecostal Church 4095 Peerless Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 476-9436

Revolution Life Church 1525 Jones Ave SW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 310-7287

Full Gospel House of Prayer 1500 Wildwood Ave. Cleveland, TN

Nazarene

Cleveland First Church Of The Nazarene 2712 Henderson Ave. Cleveland, TN 37312 423-472-7371

New Hope Church of the Nazarene 4514 Waterlevel Highway Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 473-3379

Non-Denominational

Benton Pike House Of Prayer 2615 Peach Orchard Hill Rd, Cleveland, TN 37323

Christian Fellowship Ctr 895 6th St NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-9591

Church Alive Ministries 6315 Mouse Creek Road NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 476-8133

Church At Grace Point 2595 Old Freewill Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 728-5050

Cleveland Community Chapel

1823 Forest Ridge Dr. Cleveland, TN 37311

Cleveland Cornerstone Church 533 Broad St NW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-1775

Community Hall Church 1305 6th Street Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-2178

Crossroads Community Church 1000 South Lee Highway Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 716-2871

Dwelling Place Church International 523 Urbane Road NE Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 790-5200

Eagle’s Chapel Church 133 Beaty Dr NW Cleveland, TN 37312

Eleven22 Church 1701 South Lee Hwy Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 488-4526

Evening Light Gospel 200 20th St SE Cleveland, TN 37311

Freedom Fellowship Church 3555 Blue Springs Rd, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 478-0654

God’s Family Fellowship 2823 South Lee Hwy Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 458-4490

Graceway Chapel 221 14th St NW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 728-2226

Jacob’s Tent Fellowship 1080 Montgomery Ave NE, Cleveland, TN 37311

The Journey Church 3191 South Lee Hwy, McDonald, TN 37353 (423) 728-4100

Living By Faith Ministries 1175 King Edward Avenue Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 457-9072

Living Stones Church 4165 Peerless Rd NW Cleveland, TN 37312

Living Word Church 930 25th Street NW Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 339-3028

Mount Zion Prayer Center 650 25th Street NW Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 478-5044

New Life Bible Church 155 S Ocoee St, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-3882

Redemption To The Nations 2750 Keith Street NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 591-7886

Restoration Fellowship 211 Trewhitt Dr SE, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 479-4249

Rock Bridge Community Church 3635 Georgetown Rd, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 641-1485

The Sanctuary 1203 Smith Dr. Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 478-2843

Tasso Christian Church 1135 Tasso Lane, Cleveland, TN 37312

(423) 479-2705

The TRIBE 1175 King Edward Avenue SE Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 380-8802

Tri-State Cowboy Church 200 Natures Trail SW, McDonald, TN 37353 (Building 3) (423) 303-8954

United Christian Church 2200 Peerless Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-4277

Unity Christian Ministries 2419 Georgetown Rd NW Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 473-9338

Walker Valley Community 787 Lauderdale Memorial Hwy Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 336-9696

Wings Of Love House Of Prayer 855 5th Street SE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 716-5394

Presbyterian

Charleston Cumberland Presbyterian Church 8267 N Lee Hwy, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 336-5004

First Cumberland Presbyterian 161 2nd St NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-6751

First Presbyterian Church 433 N Ocoee St, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-5584

Flint Springs Cumberland Presbyterian Church 515 Flint Springs Rd Cleveland TN. 37323 (423) 284-6397

Prospect United Cumberland Presbyterian Church 310 New Murraytown Rd. NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 476-6181

St James Cumberland Presbyterian 151 Short St NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 472-5762

Trinity Presbyterian PCA 1780 Stuart Rd. NE, Cleveland, TN 37312 (423) 559-9595

Seventh Day Adventist

Bowman Hills Adventist 300 Westview Dr NE Cleveland, TN 37312

Cleveland Fellowship Church 211 Trewhitt Drive Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 671-7497

East Cleveland Seventh-Day 801 Howard Circle SE Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 476-9299

Ladd Springs Seventh-Day 5860 Bates Pike SE Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 476-1889

Zion Assembly

Zion Assembly Church of God 5512 Waterlevel Hwy, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 476-3337