Gò0dNews
About Us
WRITERS
Carl W. Corser
Charles Finney
Chris Mullis
Chrissie Joy Jackson
Courtney Fox
Dorothy Teague
Erin Clay
Garrett Nudd
Hayden Lanier
Jan Merop
Jennifer Govea
Katie Loveless
Kenneth E. Ware
Mitchell Maloney
Paula Burgner
Rick Hughes
Dr. Rob Debelak
Zebbie Brewster
SALES
Matthew Ruckman
423-503-1410
Email: goodnewstn@gmail.com
DESIGN
Caleb Prytherch
Email: art.goodnews@gmail.com
PHOTOGRAPHER
Paula Knipp
423-310-4207
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.
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Joy Jackson
Gratitude For Mother
by Carl W. Corser
Mother, of what value is she to me? How much impact did she have upon my life? Where would I be today if it weren't for my mother?
I want to take this time to show my appreciation for my mother. Because of her life, I have a Christian heritage. Because of her teaching, I have some backbone in my character. I am truly blessed to call you my mother, Georgia Ruth Corser.
How about you and your mother? If your feelings are good or bad towards your mother, she is still your mother. The Bible says she is to be honored by you. If forgiveness needs to be given, then do so, and then pray that God will help you with your emotions concerning your relationship with your mother.
There is not a mother or a father who is perfect upon this earth. We should always look to discover the good in our parents. God will bless you for doing so.
How about these words about our gratitude for our mothers?
M - Mom
So much time we spend each year, Showing gratitude as we should show all year, Please accept our apologies, Mother Dear, We will try to do better this year.
O - Originator
So it tis, from the depths of her being, God creates the special little things, Who many times fill our hearts with great joy, Oh, who knows, God's gift may be a girl or boy.
T - Trustworthy
Many times big and little hearts come to her, Spilling every care they have her way. She just seals those words deep within her, Then to her knees for your cares she will go to pray.
H - Honorable
She clothes her home with strength and honor. She rises to work early for her family to care. She labors diligently, fully earning her honor, The tasks of home she's blessed with God's strength to bear.
E - Encourager
From her tender heart comes words of wisdom. From her tongue are written the laws of kindness, Edifying God's gifts of love entrusted to her with wisdom, Encouraging their little hearts of sadness with gladness.
R - Rewarder
Good and favor always comes from our precious mother. Even if we did not do well, though so hard we tried.
Keep on trying, tis the words we often hear from mother. Worry not. I'll always be there, just because you always tried.
Lord, we bless every mother today. Refresh everyone with strength, joy, and peace. May she know joy and gladness that her labor was not in vain. May it be well with her soul as she is blessed with honor.
Blessings, dear readers, as we all live past Sunday this week.
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.
FThe One Big Beautiful Bill: A New Era for Retirement Planning
Money Matters Rick Hughes with
Driven by a passion to educate, inform and prepare future retirees, Mr. Hughes founded Hughes Retirement Group in 2007. His main interest is helping his clients in reducing their taxes.
or years, the financial world has been holding its breath for the "sunset" of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA).
That uncertainty ended on July 4, 2025, when the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) was signed into law. This sweeping legislation does more than just extend existing rules; it fundamentally reshapes the landscape for retirees, business owners, and families looking to protect their legacy.
Permanent Tax Clarity
The most significant win for retirees is the permanent extension of the individual income tax brackets. Previously, tax rates were scheduled to spike in 2026, which would have hit those on fixed incomes particularly hard. By making the lower 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37% brackets permanent, the OBBBA provides a stable foundation for long-term income planning. You can now project your tax liability with much greater confidence, making strategies like Roth conversions more attractive while rates remain at these historic lows.
The “Senior Bonus” and Social Security
A cornerstone of the OBBBA is the new Senior Bonus Deduction. Available from 2025 through 2028, taxpayers aged 65 and older can claim an additional deduction of up to $6,000 per person ($12,000 for married couples).
While the bill did not officially repeal the tax on Social Security benefits, this bonus deduction acts as a powerful "workaround." For middle-income retirees, this extra deduction can lower your taxable income enough to significantly reduce —or even eliminate—the federal tax burden on your Social Security checks. Note that this benefit phases out for single filers earning over $75,000 and joint filers over $150,000, so timing your withdrawals is more critical than ever.
SALT Relief and Standard Deductions
The OBBBA also addresses the "SALT" (State and Local Tax) cap, which has been a pain point for many. The limit has been
raised from $10,000 to $40,000 through 2029 (for those earning under $500,000). Combined with a permanently higher standard deduction—now $31,500 for married couples—more Americans can keep a larger portion of their hard-earned savings.
A Landmark Shift in Estate Planning
For those focused on legacy, the OBBBA is a game-changer. The federal estate and gift tax exemption has been increased to $15 million per individual ($30 million for couples) for 2026 and beyond. This "permanence" means that instead of the exemption automatically dropping back to roughly $7 million, it would now take an act of Congress to lower it. This provides a unique window to move assets out of your taxable estate without the fear of a looming deadline.
Looking Ahead: Trump Accounts and Healthcare
The bill also looks to the future with the creation of “Trump Accounts”—tax-deferred investment vehicles for children under 18. Additionally, it expands HSA eligibility, allowing “Bronze” and “Catastrophic” plans to qualify as highdeductible health plans (HDHPs), giving more people access to triple-tax-advantaged savings for healthcare costs in retirement.
Conclusion
The One Big Beautiful Bill offers a rare gift in the financial world: clarity. However, many of its most beneficial provisions—like the Senior Bonus and the expanded SALT cap—are temporary and set to expire after 2028 or 2029.
Proactive Planning Tip: Now is the time to review your "tax-optimized" retirement strategy. Whether it's accelerating a Roth conversion or re-evaluating your estate plan, the window of opportunity is open, but it won't stay open forever.
Contact Hughes Retirement Group today to discuss the impact of the OBBA on your retirement today by calling or texting 423- 664-4203, or by visiting hughesretirementgroup.com.
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
The Four Elements of Prayer
by Jennifer Govea
Since Jesus is part of the Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – He has no needs. He is the Creator and existed before the world began. He is Alpha and Omega and will exist after the world ends. But Jesus chose to become the Son of Man and walk among us. He chose to put on physical flesh and experience our wants and needs so that we can see that he truly understands us. He did not need to eat, drink, work, rest, get baptized, or pray, but He did all this and more to model these daily habits for us. Dr. Adrian Rogers uses his sermon entitled How to Connect with God through Prayer to explain, “We do not pray to impress or inform God, but to invite Him...to fellowship with God, so He can develop and grow us.”
God and feel some sort of barrier between us that I realize I have something I need to confess.
The Lord’s Prayer, featured in Matthew 6 and Luke 11, is an outline that Jesus gives us for what elements should be included in our conversations with God. A common way to remember the four parts is the acronym ACTS –Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication.
Adoration means to praise God. Jesus starts His prayer with, “Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored.”
Confession means to lay before Him any sin you have said, done, or thought. Jesus says, “and forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us.”
Thanksgiving is thanking the Lord for all His many blessings.
Supplication is sharing your needs with God and asking Him for help. Jesus puts it this way, “May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done here on earth, just as it is in heaven. Give us our food for today… And don’t let us yield to temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”
If I am being honest, my prayers are usually ATS, and I accidentally leave out the C. It’s not until I am talking to
Here is an example of what ACTS looks like in everyday life:
A - God, you are the Creator of the Universe. You are Maker of Heaven and Earth, and your reign never ends. There is no one like you!
C – I was impatient this morning with my son, and I’m sorry for my harsh words to him. Lord, I confess that I have a short fuse and need help controlling my emotions.
T – Thank you for another day to glorify you. Thank you that my son has been accepted in the school we enrolled him in. Thank you for bringing my husband home safely from work.
S – It’s hard parenting a teenager, Lord. Please give me wisdom, kindness, and compassion when interacting with him. Please help him to look to you for guidance and direction. In Jesus’ name, amen. There is no magic formula, and they don’t have to be in that order. And even if you don’t include or forget one, that doesn’t mean that God will not hear you and will not respond. It’s just a good way to properly focus on the reason for prayer.
Angela Coates Ramona Thompson
Crissy Graham
Anna K. Carden
Keep Your Heart Open
by Chris Mullis
Matthew 26:69-75 NLT: “Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl came over and said to him, ‘You were one of those with Jesus the Galilean.’ But Peter denied it in front of everyone. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ he said. Later, out by the gate, another servant girl noticed him and said to those standing around, ‘This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.’ Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. ‘I don’t even know the man,’ he said. A little later some of the other bystanders came over to Peter and said, ‘You must be one of them; we can tell by your Galilean accent.’ Peter swore, ‘A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!’ And immediately the rooster crowed. Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: ‘Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he went away, weeping bitterly.’”
Someone out there needs to read this.
I know you’re hurting because you’ve been betrayed. Or maybe you’re just disappointed because someone you trusted failed you. Maybe you’ve been abandoned. Whatever it is, the pain cuts deep—not just because of what they did, but because you loved them honestly. You showed up. You gave your heart. And they walked away.
Believe me, I’ve been there.
Over the years, I’ve faced betrayal from many people I loved—family, friends, even ministry partners I called brothers and sisters in Christ. Sometimes people you pray with, labor beside, even cry with disappear without warning or explanation. Sometimes they hurt you in ways you never saw coming. Sometimes they just walk away.
I’ve often been tempted to just close off my heart. Maybe you’ve felt that too. You think, ‘If I don’t let anyone in, I can’t be wounded again.’ It feels safer. Cleaner. Easier.
But that’s not the way of Christ. Christ is love. And love is beautiful. Love is worth it, even though love is vulnerable and brings with it the possibility of being hurt. If you close off the pain, you close off the grace. So I keep my heart open.
Jesus knew betrayal intimately—Judas with a kiss, Peter with a denial, the disciples who ran away when the
soldiers came to arrest Jesus in the garden. And yet, Jesus never hardened His heart. He still loved. He still forgave. He still held his heart open, even on the cross. In fact, Jesus made Peter—the one who denied Him three times—the rock foundation upon which He built the Christian Church.
Jesus calls us to love—despite the fact that we will sometimes be hurt, and even though people will often fail us. Jesus calls us to love as He loves us because love is the only way to heal the world. When we choose to keep our hearts open, we bear witness to a different kind of strength—not the kind that builds walls or crushes our enemies, but the kind that carries a cross and offers forgiveness.
If you're reading this and you’re tempted to give up on people…I understand. But don’t let their betrayal or disappointment or pain harden your heart. Don’t let disappointment deaden your faith.
There is still goodness in the world. There are still people worth trusting. And most of all, there is a Savior who knows exactly how you feel. He never walked away. And He never will.
So I choose to keep my heart open like Christ. And I hope you will too.
to honor Mothers
Hope Is in the Room
by Katie Loveless
For as long as I can remember, I have loved babies. I enjoy being around children and having a front row seat to their discoveries. Something about that reignites memories of joyful discovery for me, too. I love how they parade in so vulnerable, yet such champions. They are warriors in every way, fighting to advance and maturing at astonishing rates. They are a perfect example of how to fight like a victor, even though every day is hard.
Recently, my pick-up plans were upended by a traffic jam that lasted nearly an hour. I was late to pick up everyone at all the stops. In prayer, I conceded that every day is HARD. I got the image of a rock climber, and I pleaded with God for an easier ascent.
I caught myself looking for a mountain I can climb more easily when what God is really calling me to do is move it altogether. You may be wondering what rock climbing has to do with babies. It seems like an awkward contradiction until you remember that babies are continually doing hard things and advancing quickly because every day, everything is a challenge.
Recently, I heard a sweet grandmother dote on the idea of picking up her beloved granddaughter. She was concerned that picking her up less often would dampen their rapport. I reassured her that it would be good for both of them to enjoy the challenge. Babies are forgiving in nature. While they more readily express frustration as they mature, they also learn to accept challenges with grace.
In my opinion, babies are born with hope. They are the epitome of potential and their lungs shout about it right at the start. I have funny stories of each of my boys being born as they displayed indicators of their emerging personalities. From day one, they demonstrated that they are a force to be reckoned with.
Maybe you're like me, and you love new beginnings, too. Maybe seeing them in human form takes on a holy delight. If you can relate, it's a wonderful indicator that hope is in the room. If you've ever been in the delivery room, you know what I mean. There is nothing like watching a baby take its first breath and utter sounds of protest. You almost
yours waiting on them to take theirs, as if to lend them your strength.
Our heart goes out to them in that moment, recognizing that life is so very HARD. Yet, there is hope. We are rooting for them. We know they were born for this moment. We know they were born to do HARD things. And so…we let them…because hope is in the room.
“But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you” (Psalm 39:7 NIV).
“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4 KJV).
“There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off” (Proverbs 23:18 NIV).
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast” (1 Peter 5:10 ESV).
“That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe” (1 Timothy 4:10 NIV).
This article is adapted with permission from Katie’s blog, arisetoo.blogspot.com.
Katie Loveless is a social worker, wife, and mother of five boys. She is a student of grace who enjoys writing, gardening, and empowering others to pursue stability.
hold
The Second Coming of Christ: The Parable of the Ten Virgins
by Kenneth E. Ware, MDiv
One day a fourth grade school teacher had to leave the classroom for a brief moment and return.
She told her students to keep working on their class project quietly in her absence. When the teacher left the classroom, some students soon began to lose focus. Some laughed, played, got loud, threw paper, fought, and disrupted the classroom. Some took a break and stopped working on their project, while others kept working faithfully and quietly. The students didn't know the teacher had a hidden camera in the ceiling and could see everything going on in the classroom. When the teacher came back, she found half of the class loud, playing around, and not working. Those who were loud, playing, and not working were disciplined and failed the class. Those who remained faithful and worked quietly were rewarded and promoted.
Jesus Christ has a hidden camera in the ceiling. He knows all and sees everything we're doing. Some Christians
are making preparation for His return. They are faithfully working and quietly serving the Lord in His absence. Some have become complacent, comfortable, and unproductive. Others are playing around, wasting time, and living undisciplined lives.
In Matthew 25:1-13, the Parable of the Ten Virgins depicts how many will not be prepared to meet the Lord Jesus Christ at His glorious return. Five virgins were wise (they met Jesus). Five were foolish (they didn’t meet Jesus).
The five foolish virgins neglected to bring oil for their lamps as they went out to meet the Bridegroom (vv.1-9).
The Bridegroom (Jesus Christ) returned to meet the virgins (the Jews) not to choose a virgin to marry. He introduces His new Bride (the Church) to them and to establish the wedding feast - the Millennial Kingdom (v.10). The five wise virgins enjoyed the pleasure of celebrating the wedding feast along with the Bridegroom.
Just as the Jews should anticipate the Return of Christ, Christians should also be living in a constant state of readiness for the Rapture of the Church with earnest expectation. Yet, there is a difference between the Rapture and the Return of Christ.
The Bible says, “It is required in stewards that we be found faithful” (1 Cor. 4:2), “Making the most of your time for the days are evil” (Eph. 5:15-16; Col. 4:5), “Blessed is the slave whom his master finds so doing when He comes” (Matt. 24:45-51), “Be steadfast, unmovable...” (1Cor. 15:58), “Be on the alert, your adversary… (1 Pet. 5:8), “Gird your mind for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope… “ (1Pet. 1:13), “For the grace of God has appeared… Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:11-15), “Behold I come quickly and My reward is with Me” (Rev. 22:12), and “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ... “ (2 Cor. 5:10).
Practical Insights on the Five Wise Virgins
1. They were Venerate of the Return of the Bridegroom (v.1)
2. They Valued the Return of the Bridegroom (v.4)
3. They were Vigilant as they waited to meet the Bridegroom (v.9).
4. They were Victorious at the Return of the Bridegroom (v.10).
What are you doing in Jesus’ absence? Will you be found faithfully serving the Lord upon His return? Or are you just sitting around every day doing nothing for the Lord? Keep your wicks trimmed and your oil burning for the Lord Jesus Christ.
Kenneth E. Ware, M.M., M.A.B.S., M. Div. a graduate of Temple Baptist Seminary, is Pastor of New Sholar Avenue Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He’s also a Christian Writer and an Expository Bible Teacher at Samford University Ministry Training Institute (MTI). He and his wife, Tonia, have been married 29 years.
About The Author
The Grave Marker of a Good Man Who Lived Alone in His Thoughts
by Charles Finney
In our journey through life, we encounter many who travel by our side, sharing burdens, joys, and challenges alike. Yet, there are others whose path seems isolated, marked by quiet introspection and solitude—a man who lives alone in his thoughts. His grave marker stands as a testament to a life lived in contemplation, a life perhaps misunderstood but rich in the hidden wisdom of the heart. The Bible speaks to us of these individuals, encouraging us to understand that no man’s journey is hidden
from the eyes of God, for “the LORD looketh on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7 KJV).
In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon reflects on the solitary man, one whose thoughts are his closest companions: “There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good?” (Ecclesiastes 4:8 KJV). The image is one of a man who toils and
When we see the grave marker of such a man, we may wonder, “Did he know love? Did he experience fellowship? Was his life a lonely path?” But God, who sees what man cannot, knows the depths of such a life. For the solitary who seeks wisdom and dwells in truth is not truly alone. The Psalmist writes, “Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off” (Psalm 139:2 KJV). God was present in the quiet hours, in the midnight watches, when this good man was alone with his thoughts. His silent prayers, his meditations, his quiet offerings of a contrite heart— these were all witnessed by the One who searches all hearts and rewards those who seek Him in secret.
The solitary thinker may have spent many days contemplating the works of God, the brevity of life, and the depth of eternity. As the Scriptures teach us, there is a sacredness in quiet reflection: “Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still” (Psalm 4:4 KJV). It is within the stillness that we often hear the voice of God most clearly. To this good man, each thought was a prayer, each moment a step closer to the wisdom that only silence can bestow. Perhaps, though misunderstood, he walked closer with God in those moments alone than many who walked surrounded by multitudes.
About The Author thinks deeply, not for the company of others, nor for earthly gain, but for the satisfaction found in understanding. This man’s thoughts are a refuge, a place where he communes with the mysteries of life and the voice of God.
When we stand before his grave, we are reminded of our own journey and the solitude we, too, encounter in our inner lives. Let us remember that God calls each of us into moments of silence, into times when we must face ourselves, our thoughts, and the presence of God alone. This quiet man’s life calls us to remember that solitude with God is a treasure beyond measure. For as Jesus Himself often withdrew from the crowd to be alone
with the Father, we, too, are invited to commune with our Creator in the quiet chambers of our heart.
Let us not pity or judge the man who lived alone in his thoughts. Instead, let us consider that his journey, though quiet, was filled with purpose. The Apostle Paul reminds us, “For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself” (Romans 14:7 KJV). Though this man may have lived in solitude, his life was seen and valued by the Lord, and his thoughts, though unshared, were precious in the sight of God. For the greatest work of a man’s soul may not be seen by others, but it is always seen by God.
As we think on this solitary life, may we be moved to appreciate the beauty of time spent with God, of a mind devoted to truth, and of a heart yielded in prayerful thought. And as his grave marker stands quietly, a testament to a life lived in contemplation, may it remind us that God walks with us even when others cannot. The Lord Himself says, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5 KJV). For the good man who lived alone in his thoughts, that promise was a faithful companion, a reminder that he was never truly alone.
In this world, where silence is rare, and solitude often feared, may we remember that in quietness there is strength, and in stillness, God speaks. Let this good man’s life remind us to seek the quiet places, to live with integrity in our thoughts, and to let the Lord guide us through the pathways of our minds and hearts. And as we walk our own paths, whether surrounded by many or alone with our thoughts, may we strive to live in such a way that, when our own grave marker is set, it may testify of a life well-lived, marked by a heart that sought and found peace with God. Amen.
Charles Finney—minister of inspirational Good News, retired various positions and industries, management and operational, freelance writer, author of “Grandpa-Good News
From The Good Feel Cornfield.” Writings are a remembrance of family, farm life and church upbringing to be a blessing to all!
for Parents
Pull Heaven Down
by Katie Loveless
As a mom, I like tuck-in time. My children may not readily admit it, but they do, too. It's a time where the busyness of the day gives way and tired souls can find their rest. It's also a time where we can punctuate the day with prayer and petition. My children sometimes do this with me first making the desires of their hearts known.
My middle son, Grayson, is very skilled at this. In fact, he often will hold my hands with a lingering pull the way someone would pull a wagon. He takes hold and won't let go until he makes his heart known. It's during this tug of war that he will say, “Wait, wait. I have one more thing to say,” or “Wait, wait. I have one more thing to tell you.” Many times he will whisper his wish list as birthdays, Christmas, and other gift-giving occasions draw near. It was during a recent tuck-in that he confessed his desire for heaven.
As we talked about it, I explored the pull of Heaven on his heart. I wanted to know what Heaven had that he wanted. He talked about its beauty and majesty. He talked about a grand palace and gold that he wanted to live in. He spoke of the difficulty of waiting for something so beautiful and special, and began to cry. My heart ached for the longing in his.
I soon doled out encouragement the way a mother would serve a plate of food. I invited him to worship so heaven could come now. I assured him that worship would bring Heaven to earth and his longing for it would be filled. I began to sing the refrain of a favorite hymn, “It is Well with My Soul.” Though it took some encouragement through the tears, I invited Grayson to echo every line that I sang. He soon obliged and his younger brother in the room echoed too. I let my voice fall back as the boys began to take the lead and echo one another.
Grayson's heart lifted higher as he began to pull Heaven down the same way he pulled me closer to whisper a request at bedtime. His eyes twinkled and his mouth curved bravely into a sweet smile. His hands came together as he pulled at heaven more as if to say, “Wait, wait, I have more to tell you.”
Darling one, this is God's heart for you. He longs for you to long for Heaven the way you desire a treasured possession. The same way you would boldly petition your parent for a present, he wants you to petition Heaven to come to earth.
Let's get into our 1, 2, 3 challenge.
Challenge 1: Locate a souvenir from a place you have traveled or visited. Maybe it's the home of a relative, and they sent something home with you. Maybe it's a postcard, keychain, or token from a place you went to like a city, museum, or zoo. Maybe it's a photograph of a special time. Maybe it's a collection from nature like a rock or piece of wood you saved after an adventure. Think about how you bring the memory of that place into the room you are in now.
Challenge 2: Read the Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6:9,10 CSB: “Therefore you should pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, your name be honored as holy. Your kingdom come, your will be done.’”
Challenge 3: Worship to pull heaven down. Consider singing a worship song about the kingdom of heaven. One option is Kingdom by Summit Kids. Listen with a grown-up and challenge one another to sing the refrain, the part of the song that is repeated. Pick a line of the song and pray it.
Katie Loveless is a social worker, wife, and mother of five boys. She is a student of grace who enjoys writing, gardening, and empowering others to pursue stability. See her blog at kidsjewelskeepers.blogspot.com.
for Everyone Woman at the Well
by Erin Clay
Have you ever walked into a room and felt instantly uncomfortable, convinced that everyone is judging you? Have you done something you were ashamed of and dreaded facing the people who knew? At some point in our lives, I think we have all felt like the woman at the well from the story in John 4:7- 42.
She came to draw water in the middle of the day, the hottest part, specifically to avoid the other women. As an outcast in her social circle, she was likely the subject of gossip and shame for the life she had lived. Her choices had left her feeling isolated and ashamed.
But on this day, a man was waiting there. He initiated the conversation, a shocking act since he was a Jew and she was a Samaritan, two groups that had despised each other for generations. It wasn’t just breaking social etiquette; it was completely erasing a centuries-old border of racial and religious hostility towards each other.
The man who was speaking to her, Jesus, met her right where she was and revealed a miraculous knowledge of her life. By asking for a drink, he offered her the dignity that the world had stripped away. He knew everything she had ever done, yet he spoke to her without condemnation. In that moment, Jesus revealed himself to her as the Messiah. He didn't wait for her to be holy; he chose her, a non-Jewish woman, just as she was.
Overwhelmed by this encounter, she was completely transformed. In her awe, she left her water jar behind, the very symbol of her daily burden and her need to hide, and ran back to the town. The whispers and judging glances no longer mattered. She ignored her own insecurities and risked everything to share the good news with the very people who shunned her. Though she was justified in her fear of being judged, the people listened when she exclaimed what Jesus had done. At that moment, she refused to let her past define her or let the opinions of others stop her when she shared the news about Jesus.
This story highlights two powerful truths for me.
First, I need to get over myself and be bold in telling others about Jesus. My insecurities and my fear of “what people might think” are insignificant compared to the transformative love of God. The woman’s story is a powerful reminder to speak up, not just to the people I’m comfortable with, but to the people I fear might reject me. Our testimony isn’t about our own perfection; it’s about His grace.
Second, Jesus meets us where we are and just as we are. He intentionally revealed himself to a Samaritan outcast to show that she was worthy and that he loved her, despite knowing everything about her. So often, we think we need to get our lives together before we can approach God. We might think we need to clean up the mess before we can enter the church. The truth is, we will never be "good enough" on our own. He meets us in our mess, loves us unconditionally, and through that love, we are changed from the inside out.
I love the ending in verse 39, which says, “Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony.” Look at the ripple effect of her courage. Because she didn’t let her past or pride hold her back from telling others about Jesus, a whole community was transformed and introduced to the Messiah.
For the Least of These
by Mitchell Maloney, President of Real Life Village
Life is a series of connections with people that God uses to accomplish His purposes.
What exactly are God’s purposes?
According to Jesus in Matthew 22:37, 38b NKJV, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
At Real Life Village we have been on a mission for the past few years to see the vision that God has placed on our hearts become a reality. We want to create a loving and safe place for our adult ‘neighbors/Villagers’ with IDD. My wife, Sharon, and I are the parents of twin 35-year old sons, Brandon and Jonathan, who have been diagnosed with Autism and IDD (Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities). They are our sons and we love them. Today, as young men, they require 24/7 supervision, and though we provide them with as many opportunities as possible, we are concerned about their future.
“What will happen to them when we can’t care for them anymore?”
Many years ago, we began to dream about building a safe place for them to not only live but to thrive. We envisioned a place where they would receive the care they require as well as the opportunity to live purposeful and safe lives in a nurturing and loving environment. It has now been about two and a half years since we first introduced Real Life Village to you through GoodNews Christian Magazine. RLV is quickly becoming a reality through the God-given connections we are continuing to make throughout our wonderful home of Cleveland, Tennessee. For example, connecting with GoodNews a couple of years ago at the Tennessee Church of God State Campmeeting has been a wonderful blessing to us to help get the word out about who we are and what we do.
Last month we informed you that we had applied for licensure for our Real Life Village Day Program. Within the past two weeks we have now received our State Licensure
to begin ‘Real Life Day,’ scheduled to operate from 9:00am - 3:00pm weekdays. We are now actively interviewing qualified staff. This program will initially start in the Student Ministries Building located on the Westmore Church of God campus at 2500 Legacy Parkway, Cleveland, TN, 37311. We’ve been preparing the classrooms and getting the spaces ready for our first day program participants. If you know of someone you believe may benefit from this program or are interested in applying for employment, please contact our office at (423) 813-3492. We are praying for the right connections for this important phase of opening ‘Real Life Day.’ At RLV, we offer support not only to the IDD family member, but also to their families. Even if our upcoming day program doesn’t seem like the right fit for a particular family, we offer support to try to connect families with additional services and therapies that are more suited to their particular needs. Please don’t hesitate to contact us to receive needed information or support.
The property for Real Life Village is on the backside of the Westmore COG campus on the former Rolling Hills Golf Course. It is a beautiful property with many benefits including easy access to the interstate, medical facilities, and much more. The plans for the project are becoming more exciting by the day. Bulba Builders Construction has been chosen to build the RLV Community Center. Everything is now in place for site work to begin. Men and Women of Action, under the supervision of Bulba Builders, will be providing services to complete construction on our first building. This represents just one more facet of the favor of God in helping us continue to make the connections needed to see this dream become a reality.
The mission and vision of Real Life Village is about so much more than the needs of one family. This dream has been on the hearts of my wife Sharon and me for several years. Developing something of this scope is no small undertaking, but God has been faithful to us each step of the way. Just a couple of examples of God’s favor on RLV include receiving a unanimous vote in the TN State Legislature, making RLV the official Pilot Program for East Tennessee, as well as being able to acquire such an ideal piece of property for Real Life Village.
As RLV continues to grow and develop, we envision a loving home full of people just like our sons who require additional support and help. They are those that Jesus calls our “neighbors.” We are called to love and care for them as we would care for ourselves. If we are going to live as Christ teaches, we must remember that we’ve been commissioned by God to not only look out for our individual interests, but to live our lives in such a way that we provide and look out for the needs of others also. It turns out that we have many ‘neighbors.’ Our goal is to see Real Life Village become a place where each one that participates in our services experiences a place where they can live a life of safety, love, and purpose.
We saw the principle of ‘connections’ on full display at our most recent RLV Vision Banquet last fall. We were so encouraged to see not only many from our church families in attendance, but also respected community and business leaders. At Real Life Village we recognize that God desires to use each one of us to equip and encourage those around us. We cannot fulfill this dream without the continuing support and connections of our great and loving community. We need each other. We need you! Please continue to pray for us moving forward. If you would like to volunteer, support us, or reach out for more information, please contact our office at (423) 813-3492. You can go to reallifevillage.com for more info or to donate to this vision.
“And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me” (Matthew 25:40 NKJV).
Gò0 dNews for Music Lovers
Bluegrass, Orchestras, and the Body of Christ
by Hayden Lanier
For the past two to three years, I have been on a bluegrass kick in my music-listening tastes. What I think makes this genre unique and well worth listening to is the blending of instruments. In bluegrass music, there is typically a guitar, fiddle, mandolin, and banjo (or additional instruments, such as an upright bass) all playing at the same time. Each instrument plays a different melody, harmony, or strumming pattern, yet they all combine to produce a truly incredible sound. Bluegrass songs can be upbeat or somber, joyful songs for dancing, or melancholy songs intended for solitary reflection, and each instrument works together to produce the desired sound and effect on the listener.
The same applies to a concert band or an orchestra. These are all made up of a wide variety of instruments, from woodwinds and brass to percussion and strings, or perhaps even a vocalist accompanist. Each instrument plays a different part, or maybe even within each section of instruments, there are different parts being played! But when the entire group of musicians comes together, every note played or plucked melds together to produce something wondrous.
I believe the arrangement of a bluegrass group or an orchestra illustrates how the body of Christ works. God’s Word teaches us in 1 Corinthians 12 that Christians are different members of the body of Christ led by the same Spirit. He made us different parts, but we work together to love Christ and serve His church. Some are teachers, some have the gift of wisdom, some have knowledge, and others have faith. Not everyone should be a pastor, not everyone should lead worship, not everyone should help in the nursery, and not everyone should run a sound board.
orchestra plays a different part. And, like in music, each part of Christ’s body comes together to form something beautiful that can only be knitted together by the rich diversity of people’s unique giftings.
It is good to reflect on and recognize how God has gifted and equipped you to serve and share. There may be a temptation to try to be someone or something you are not, but we should consider how the interests and abilities God has given us coincide with our calling. Do you enjoy fellowship or showing hospitality to others? Then spend time with them, welcoming them into your home and sharing your time with them. Are you a talented writer, musician, or speaker? Then take the opportunities you have to write, play, or proclaim God’s truths to the world. Are you an introvert who feels more comfortable keeping to yourself? Then seek out ways to serve in your local church behind the scenes, performing the tasks that don’t receive recognition but are no less important.
Those who are in Christ are the family of God, the church of Christ, and the people led and filled by His Spirit. If we were a bluegrass group, some of us would be fiddles, some mandolins, and some banjos. If we were an orchestra, some of us would be clarinets, some trumpets, and others violins. In the Church, some of us are preachers and teachers, others possess a welcoming spirit, and many support ministry in ways that go unseen. Regardless of our role or calling, we are all called to serve. However God has equipped you, look for how you can glorify Him and make Him known to a world desperate for the truth.
We all have different jobs as part of the body of Christ, just like each instrument in a bluegrass group or an
Hayden Lanier is a follower of Jesus, a graduate of Shorter University, and he works as an elementary school teacher.
Gò0 dNews for your Taste Buds
Skillet Fried Green Tomatoes
By May in the Smoky Mountains, the earth is wide awake. Rhododendrons bloom on the hillsides, front porches fill with rockers and coffee cups, and every home garden begins to whisper the promise of summer. While the juicy, vine-ripened tomatoes are still weeks away, there’s one green treasure that gets an early start: those first, firm, unripened tomatoes just begging to be sliced, breaded, and fried.
In Appalachian kitchens, fried green tomatoes are more than just a way to use up what’s not yet ripe—they’re a celebration of the season.
The recipe is basic and simple and doesn’t require a special occasion. Just cornmeal, a hot pan, and someone to feed. Slice the tomatoes thick, dip them in a buttermilk bath, then dredge them in a seasoned cornmeal mix before dropping them into a sizzling skillet of oil. The result? Crispy edges, tender centers, and that signature tang that only green tomatoes can bring. You will want to eat them right off a paper towel-lined plate, maybe with a spoonful of homemade chow-chow or a dab of mayo?
It’s the kind of food that turns a quiet May afternoon into a memory. And in the mountains, that’s what meals are for—not just nourishment, but the building blocks of story and connection. So whether you’ve got your own garden, a farmers market nearby, or a neighbor with a generous spirit, give this classic Appalachian dish a try. It’s a taste of May you won’t forget.
Ingredients:
• 3–4 medium green tomatoes, firm and unripe
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 egg
• 1 cup cornmeal
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon paprika or cayenne (optional)
• Vegetable oil or bacon grease, for frying
Instructions:
1. Slice tomatoes into ¼-inch thick rounds. Lay them on paper towels and sprinkle lightly with salt. Let them sit for 10–15 minutes to draw out moisture, then blot dry.
2. In a shallow bowl, whisk together buttermilk and egg.
3. In another bowl, combine cornmeal, flour, salt, pepper, and paprika or cayenne if using.
4. Dip each tomato slice into the buttermilk mixture, then dredge in the cornmeal coating. Press lightly to help it stick.
5. Heat ½ inch of oil or bacon grease in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, carefully add the tomato slices in batches. Fry 2–3 minutes per side, until golden brown and crispy.
6. Drain on paper towels and serve hot—with a little mayo, ranch dressing, or even a spoonful of chow-chow relish.
Crisp, tangy, and best eaten with your fingers, these fried green tomatoes are a Southern Appalachian classic—and a perfect way to welcome May’s return to the table.
What God Is Like
by Chrissie Joy Jackson
Warm, comforting sunlight after a cold rain
A cool breeze on a sweltering day
Arms spread wide as you twirl
That is what God feels like.
Strong arms wrapped around you as you cry
The delight of holding a kitten
The roar of a waterfall, a thousand feet high
That is what Jesus is like.
A light turned on in a room so dark
A map when you are lost
Blossoms that bloom from what appeared to be dead
The Holy Spirit is like that.
Billions of stars filling the night
Roaring rivers, mountains, lightning, and seas
Created things that amaze
God’s power is revealed like that.
A gentle kiss on the forehead
The fierceness of a lion protecting its cubs Mysteries, secrets, and treasures revealed Almighty God, Three in One.
Strong, gentle, mighty, and humble
A perfect, multi-faceted diamond
A singer, a warrior, a friend.
That is what God is like.
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.
Misty BOLT MEET
Misty found herself led to insurance, and specifically to Medicare.
These unique life experiences shaped Misty and fueled her drive to succeed for others. She is relentless in her fight to help those in need. Today she does so through her business, Medicare Misty, which helps people navigate the confusing world of Medicare.
Are you Strong?
by Zebbie Brewster
Psalm 28:7 KJV: “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise Him.”
Are you strong? Did you use to be stronger than you are now? I remember one day my husband and I were leaving a store after shopping. We were behind a lady carrying an umbrella in one hand and pushing her buggy with the other hand. Thinking that she was elderly and might need a hand, I offered her my help. She said she was fine and proceeded to get her bottles of water out of her buggy and put them in her vehicle. She was used to
He was telling me on that visit that he had accidentally misplaced his dentures. He had put out a reward of $100.00 for the one who could return them to him. How far could my dad’s plate of dentures have gone from his hospital bed?
My dad went to sleep a week after that and passed on to his eternal reward. His wife, my stepmom, was faithfully by his side. I guess today the memory seems like it happened only yesterday. It seems the cause of death for my 93-yearold dad was arthritis and the pain that comes from it. His heart was still good physically. I think his body was just worn out and he died of old age.
taking care of herself, and she was stronger than I had thought. I guess I was thinking that I would have needed help and she must also. As I heard a friend say, “We do what we have to.” That “have to” part could entail anything that might come our way. Life is so uncertain and if we live in fear of what might happen next, our life loses its joy and purpose.
As I write this on a spring morning, it brings back memories of going to visit my dad on Saturdays. I remember one of the last times I had visited him. He had asked me to come that day and visit with him. By this time in his life, he was still able to have company visit.
He did not stop believing in himself. That is the great example he was for those around him. My mom has told me that when you stop believing in yourself, you die.
I want to encourage you to not give up on yourself. Keep believing in yourself. You prayerfully do what you can do and trust God to help you with the rest.
My dad also had a really great sense of humor. Laughter will help you stay young also. It will help if you can learn to laugh at yourself. We can all be quite amusing! My dad’s denture plate was found under his recliner after he passed on. I don’t think the reward was ever collected.
May I encourage you today to keep trusting in the joy of the Lord to be your strength? The load is always a lot lighter when you have someone to help you carry it.
Pray that you make today one of those days you do something you have been putting off to do. The weight of regret is too heavy of a load to carry around.
Nehemiah 8:10 KJV says, “Then he said unto them, ‘Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry: for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’”
Zebbie Brewster resides in Summerville, Georgia. She is an active member at Perennial Springs Baptist Church.
for Health & Fitness
Little Lessons, Lasting Impact
by Courtney Fox
“Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old, he will not depart from it”
(Proverbs 22:6 NKJV).
In Proverbs 22:6, we’re reminded of the importance a loving, consistent parent can have in the life of a child. Every move we make has the potential to positively impact our youth. They observe even the most minor and insignificant ways we navigate through life, and when we can exemplify a Christ-like nature, their behavior will soon model after what they see.
Maximize the Moments
Our children don’t grow by decades in a day, even though it seems that way. They grow by moments. We can maximize the moments by considering how to incorporate healthy and Godly habits. As they grow, so can your parenting skills when you plan for little lessons with lasting impact.
Real Life Applications for Parents and Children:
• Spend a portion of your day outside.
• As much as possible, listen to your children with steady eye contact.
• Prioritize routine health exams, physicals, dental screenings, etc.
• Frequently reflect on your day and be open to talking about your emotions.
• Let your bedtime routine include listing what they are proud of from the day or what went right that day.
• Try new foods often, especially unprocessed, whole foods.
• Find opportunities to learn life skills with your children.
• Incorporate acts of generosity when possible.
• When possible, let your child put away/set aside your phone. This signals your full attention.
• Forgive others, offer grace, resist resentment, and discuss this with your little ones.
• Go to church as regularly as you can. Plan your week around service times.
• Make opportunities for little ones to participate in household chores.
• Witness to others about the Lord.
• Never stop asking questions and learning. Model recovering from mistakes in front of your children. Let them see you manage a re-do and learn from your mistakes.
• Volunteer in ways that your children can be included.
• As you keep your promises, make a statement that the promise is being kept. “As promised, we’re getting ice cream,” for example.
This list is compiled of ways to achieve greater physical, mental, and emotional balance. At the core of it all is guidance from the Lord. Let Him lead your life. Then during the highs and lows of life, your children will learn to cling to the Savior.
In Ephesians 6:4, we are encouraged to teach our children, not to provoke anger. “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4 NKJV). Letting your children see you handle conflict will not only better equip them for the flawed real world, but it will also put a desire in you as a parent to seek Godly direction knowing you are leading by example.
If you need help in this area, call out to the Lord. Ask for Him to give you discernment in all decisions as you raise your children and faithfully pray to be the parent they need. He sees the desire of your heart and rejoices when you raise them by His Word.
Courtney is a married mother to two daughters and a nurse supervisor. She has completed a half marathon, triathlon, and a full marathon. She encourages you to “LIVE WELL!”
for Everyone Just the Right Touch
by Dr. Rob Debelak
Matthew 8:1–4
Jesus confronts the dreaded disease of leprosy, addressing the desperate hopelessness of humanity with uncanny compassion.
Desperation (vv 1-2)
Completing His sermon (Matthew Chapters 5–7), Jesus descends the mountain accompanied by a large crowd (8:1). An unnamed man stricken with leprosy approaches, injecting the scene with tension. Lepers were ostracized as social outcasts. Adding insult to injury, they were avoided, mocked, ridiculed, and segregated from society. Yet here he was – a walking symbol of death among them.
The stench of cultural scorn silently foments, and against all odds, the leper takes a bold step toward healing. Leprosy was medically incurable - science had failed him, his people shunned him, and his social community failed him. The debilitating disease was interpreted as God’s judgment, leading some religious leaders to publicly humiliate lepers for sin. Absent empathy, his faith network had failed him, too. Jesus is this man's last hope.
Wading through the crowd, he bows before Jesus, begging for cleansing (Mark 1:40). Daring to take this risk speaks of his desperation. The leper respectfully addresses the Lord (8:2). This anonymous sufferer does not question Christ’s ability to heal, and his spirituality rightly defers to the will of God (v 2). Remarkably, he asks for cleansing. In the context of devotion, the petition is a desire for ceremonial purity (v 2).
Deliverance
(v 3)
The Great Teacher was filled with compassion. Jesus responds affirmatively and does the unthinkable— in plain view of the massive crowd, He touches the leper (Mark 1:41)! The gesture acknowledges his value as a human being made in the image of God. Luke says the man was covered by the disease, suggesting an advanced stage of his condition (5:12). He has suffered so long with his horrible ailment; it was likely he had not experienced the care of a friend through so much as a handshake for many long years. Jesus’ touch offered him acceptance—the days of his rejection were over (Mark 1:42; Luke 5:13).
Directives (v 4)
Messiah instructs him to hold news of his healing in reserve. He is to go to Jerusalem, present himself to the priest, and offer the required sacrifice (Mark 1:43-44; Luke 5:14). Among the many possibilities for this request, the man is not to be sidetracked, but to diligently fulfill the Torah's requirements. The healing occurred in Galilee; the temple was in Jerusalem to the south—a five-day journey on foot. Without delay, he was to follow the expectations of Leviticus 14. He would submit to priestly inspection, offer sacrifice, perform a series of washings and shavings, wait another week of inspection, and offer sacrifice once more. Called to honor the word of God, his faithfulness would be a testimony to a community that rejected him and to a priesthood that knew the law but had never seen healing like this before!
One ponders how he would afford even the most basic of sacrifices. Scorned and without work, he existed on the benevolence of others. A charitable donor might fund the sacrifice of the impoverished. His restoration would serve as an opportunity to restore a community that had rejected him. But, contrary to Jesus’ directions, he testified of his healing, and readers can only guess if he ever obeyed and traveled to the temple.
Depiction
Leprosy’s repulsive appearance depicts the disfigurement of sin’s deadly effect on a person’s life. Only the Savior’s compassionate touch can remedy this otherwise incurable problem. Gratefully, Jesus hears the sufferer’s request.
Dr. Rob Debelak is Professor of Bible at Lee University. He has taught at Lee University for 30+ years and is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He and his family reside in Cleveland, Tennessee.
for Discovering More
Who Knew?
by Garrett Nudd
Around the time I was born, my father decided to take up golf. It was probably because a colicky baby is the only thing more frustrating than golf, and he figured he’d take his chances on the golf course. I’ve always wondered why when you start participating regularly in most sports people say, “I play soccer” or “I’ve started swimming,” but when it comes to golf, you say, “I’ve taken up golf.” Like it’s a lifestyle or a religion. I guess it’s kind of like being vegan or doing CrossFit.
My father made a lot of good decisions in his life like marrying my mom, instilling strong values, and work ethic in his children, and taking up golf. Fortuitously, my parents had three sons, so together we were an automatic foursome on the golf course. And quite honestly, taking up golf helped make him a better father because we spent so much time together.
When I was eleven, my parents joined the local public golf course — Rolling Hills Golf Club. It was the perfect place for my brothers and me to learn the game. Eventually, we worked at the golf course. We started out cleaning golf carts and picking up driving range balls. Later, we graduated to working in the golf shop. That was nice because it had air conditioning and a soda fountain with as much free Dr. Pepper as we could drink.
Every April, The Masters tournament takes place at Augusta National Golf Club. Rich in tradition, prestige, and pimento cheese sandwiches, The Masters is the penultimate event. I suppose some might say it’s a cultural phenomenon, at least in the sports world. At the time, tickets to the practice rounds—on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before the tournament actually started—were quite easy to come by.
Tall pines emerged from beautifully timed azaleas. Not a blade of grass was out of place. I had a little point-andshoot camera, borrowed from a friend, and — though I didn’t know it at the time — I was creating quite possibly the worst photographs in human history. When each golfer swung the club, I pressed the shutter and simultaneously moved the camera along with the flight of the ball. Later in my college Introduction to Photography class, I learned
that technique is called panning. The only problem is it doesn’t work on golf balls that are going 140 miles per hour and are smaller than an egg. The result was three rolls of photographs blurred beyond identification, and a couple of shots where the ball was nothing more than a streak across the print, leaving no idea which golfer had even hit the shot. If someone had told me I’d one day make a living behind a camera, I'd have laughed so loudly the security detail would have quickly escorted me off the grounds and restricted me from returning. If you know, you know.
Who knew? As a youngster and into my teens, I was absorbed with all things golf: the beautiful surroundings, the players, the travel, the fellowship, the competition. The Lord knew then, I’d never be a professional golfer. He also knew that someday I would become an awardwinning professional photographer, a plot twist I never would’ve imagined.
So stop, look, and listen to what the Lord is doing in your life. He’s creating MORE THAN while you are occupied with something else. I can assure you. Listen closely, watch expectantly. Your MORE THAN—though blurred and out of focus—just might be right under your nose!
The Power of God’s Word
by Paula Burgner
When you are going through a battle and you feel like you can’t win, just know that you are not alone. There is always someone there who is greater than the battle that you are fighting. Just call on His name. The Bible tells us this in Mark 4:39 KJV: “And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, ‘Peace, be still.’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”
When you get tired of going through things and feeling alone, it’s at that moment you can decide to accept God into your heart. Then you will get an overwhelming peace come over you, and instantly you will feel His presence, knowing He is there with you. Jeremiah 29:13 KJV tells us: “And ye shall seek me, and find me.” God will restore what has been taken away from you, and He can break the chains that are holding you down and set you free. The more you study and read God's Word, the more you will understand that, because of His love and grace, we can do all things through Christ. This is because once you are saved, the spirit of God will come upon you, and show
you that He can turn the impossible into the possible. Philippians 4:13 KJV tells us: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
When it feels like the giants of fear and failure are trying to come after you, remember that God said, in His Word, “Do not fear.” Isaiah 41:10 KJV tells us: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee.” There will always be things that try to tear you down, or make you feel like you will never get through the trial that you are walking through. When this happens, just remember to speak to the storm that you’re in about how powerful God is, and remind the storm to look at what God has done on the cross, in the grave, and that the stone was rolled away. He changed everything completely. Mark 11:23 KJV tells us: “That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.”
When you aim to go on a two mile walk you might think, oh that’s not that far, but the more you walk, the more it can feel like the trail you are walking on seems to change direction and take forever to get to the end of the two miles.
When you are driving somewhere you may think, oh, I can change the direction that I am going and I will get there faster, but you end up taking twice as long. If you are lost and have never given your life to God, it can feel like certain things are so far away, and that everything keeps changing. Things in life are always going to change, no matter what we are doing, but when you decide to give your heart to God, you will start to see that not all changes are bad.
As you put God first in your life, you will see that everything else will fall into place. Matthew 6:33 KJV tells us: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” In every season of life that we go through, God's Word will always be the same. It will never change. Isaiah 40:8 says: “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the Word of our God shall stand forever.”
The more you read God’s Word, the more you will learn that He never has and never will break His promises to us. The Bible speaks of this truth in Psalms 89:34 KJV: “My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.” When you have accepted God into your heart, and the more you read His word, you will begin to understand that the word of God gives you life and makes life worth living. Matthew 4:4 KJV tells us: “But he answered and said, ‘It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.’”
Nothing in this life ever stays the same, but the Word of God and His love will never change. The Bible tells us of this in two different verses: the first in Hebrews 13:8 KJV: “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever,” and in Malachi 3:6 KJV: “For I am the LORD, I change not.”
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 a new book, Grounded by God’s Grace.
Chatty Critters and Friends Series: Squawking like a Chicken
by Jan Merop
“Peck, peck, peck! Squawk! Squawk! Squawk!
The sounds from the chicken yard were pretty dependable. Either the chickens were pecking at their feed or squawking at intruders or some annoyance.
But not all the chickens were content with how things were.
“Why does the rooster get to crow every morning? I’d like to try that myself,” said Sassy, the chicken. “It’s not like I get to sleep in while he shatters the morning silence with his racket!”
In the background his proud COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO could be heard loud and clear as it announced the dawning of a new day.
Sassy’s friend, Bessie, contentedly warmed her eggs. She squawked only when danger was near. Wanting to help her friend, she said, “Why not be satisfied with your unique role? You haven’t been given a voice to crow! With all the squawking and complaining you do, your voice sounds like rusty nails being pulled from the coop.”
Sassie ruffled her feathers till she looked about to pop!
“Humph!” she muttered under her breath while thinking about the words of her friend. Does my voice really sound like rusty nails? She cringed. That means even if I could crow, it wouldn’t be with the giftedness God gave the rooster.
Meanwhile, an eagle flew high above the chicken coop—not wishing for a warm hen house to live in, but delighted to be who his Creator designed him to be.
“Bessie,” said Sassy, “you’re right. I’m sorry.”
From that time on Sassie, Bessie, and the other chickens clucked contentedly
together. They were determined to live out their days happy in their God-given life as chickens.
Sassy’s spirits soared beyond the henhouse roof, much like that of the eagle.
Exploring Truth Through God’s Creation
“I have learned in whatever state I am to be content… I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:11 & 13 KJV).
The Message puts it this way: “I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.”
The Chicken and You
We can peck and squawk – ever complaining and never getting anywhere. Or we can soar high like the eagle rejoicing in who God made us to be. After all, even a contented chicken carries out God’s plan with the heart of freedom seen in the eagle.
Your attitude will determine your soul’s altitude. The choice is yours.
Let your spirit soar no matter who or where you are!
A Piece of God’s Heart
by Dorothy Teague
It’s hard to describe the bond between a mother and her child. She carries the baby for nine months. Her body being the safe place for them to grow. In turn, the baby hears the voice of the mother and knows her gentle touch. It is an intimate relationship before and after birth. No one knows you like your mother. Mothers have an unconditional love for their children, willing to make sacrifices so that their child can have a good life. She puts their needs before her own. A mother’s love is closest to God’s love for us.
There are many examples of extraordinary mothers in the Bible. Moses, who led the children of Israel out of slavery in Egypt, had such a mother. Jochebed hid Moses until he was three months old, defying Pharaoh’s order that all male Hebrew babies be drowned. She made a waterproof basket and set Moses in the Nile River. She tasked her daughter to watch over him from the reeds on the bank. It was there that God had the daughter of Pharaoh find him and stir within her a desire to raise Moses as her own. He even arranged for Jochebed to be Moses’ nurse so that he was raised in his own home for a time, then he went to live in the palace and lived as a royal Egyptian prince. Jochebed gave Moses away to save his life, so that God’s plan could be fulfilled for the Israelites to be saved and led to freedom (Exodus 2:1-8).
Hannah, the mother of Samuel the prophet, was barren for many years. She was made fun of and taunted by her husband’s other wife for not having children of her own. Yet, Hannah stood in faith and continued praying for a child. She promised God that if He would bless her with a child, she would give him back to God. God answered her prayer and Hannah kept her promise, giving Samuel over to Eli to live in the temple and serve God there. It was Samuel that anointed Saul, the first king of Israel. Later, he also anointed their greatest king, David. Hannah was obedient so that Samuel could be part of God’s intricate plan (I Samuel 1:2-2:21).
One of the most well-known mothers was Mary, the mother of Jesus. She sacrificed her reputation in the village, being pregnant before marriage. She left her home and gave
birth to him in squalid surroundings, a stable filled with animals. She gave up her own plans for her firstborn for God’s plan of salvation for mankind. She had to watch from the foot of the cross as her son died.
There is a common thread that is woven throughout the stories of the Bible. It is the theme of obedience. We must be obedient to God’s will and His plans even when we don’t understand. Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us that God’s plans are higher and better than ours. God loves us unconditionally,
giving us chances again and again to follow His will. “His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is His faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23 RSV). He left the Holy Spirit here to comfort us and be our guide. But God knew we would need a special person in our lives to comfort us with loving arms when we fall down or hold us when our hearts are breaking. So He gave us mothers with tender hearts full of compassion to be with us during our earthly journey, to guide us, teach us, and set us on the right pathway. God left a piece of His heart with us and He named it “Mother.” “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you” (Isaiah 66:13 NIV).
Dorothy Teague is a Tennessee
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 of God 4635 South Lee Hwy McDonald, TN 37353 (423) 476-6316
Iglesia de Dios Comunidad de Esperanza/COG Community of Hope 2779 APD 40, Cleveland, TN 37323 (423) 464-5691
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
Prospect Church of God 2220 Harrison Pike, Cleveland, TN 37311 (423) 479-3020
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
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 3687 Blue Springs Rd, Cleveland, TN 37311 (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
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