April 2017

Gò0dNews April 2017

Complimentary

Christian Magazine

ROME

7 1 0 2MMER

SU MPS CA •

Walking With God: Literally p. 6

•

Motherhood Stress p. 20

•

Not A Cheerful Giver p. 34

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About Us

Writers

Alicia Klepper Andrew Lee Bill Fortenberry Caleb Prytherch Charles G. Laws Darren Schalk Debi Lewis Delaney Walker Emily Bangura Gary Graves Kent Howard Mike Ellis Stacey Brown Thomas Morrison

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 four beautiful children, Brendon, Kailey, Andrew, and Leah Jean. We live in Cleveland 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!

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Melissa Sprouse 205-566-7103 melissas.goodnews@gmail.com

Design

Caleb Prytherch

Photographer Alan Pickard 706-537-2627

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Distribution 5000 Monthly

Editor

Wanda Griffith

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Matthew and Bethany Ruckman Phone: 423-503-1410 E-mail: goodnewstn@gmail.com

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Letter from the Editor

C

ommunications experts tell us that the average person speaks enough words to fill twenty single-spaced, typewritten pages every day. This means our mouths crank out enough words to fill two books of 300 pages each month, twenty-four books each year, and 1,200 books in fifty years of speaking. Thanks to phones, voicemail, and face-to-face conversations, words comprise a large part of our lives. So the kinds of words we use are important.

I read where there are more than 800,000 words in the English language, but 300,000 of these are technical words and scientific jargon used only by specialists in various fields and disciplines. That leaves you and me with 500,000 words to communicate in our daily lives. Of course, nobody has a vocabulary of half-a-million words. In fact, the average person knows only about 10,000 words and uses only about 5,000 of them in everyday speech.

That’s it—just 5,000 commonly used words to communicate a universe of ideas, emotions, events, and desires.

Soft words sung in a lullaby will put a baby to sleep. Excited words will stir a mob

to violence. Eloquent words will send armies marching into the face of death. Encouraging words will fan to flame the genius of a Rembrandt or a Lincoln. Powerful words will mold the public mind as the sculptor molds his clay. Words, spoken or written, are a dynamic force.

The articles I edited in this month’s issue have powerful words of the good news that can transform our lives. Stacy Brown (see page 34) describes how we are called to give—not just our words—but our time, our treasure, and our talents in order to experience pure joy that comes from giving with a pure heart.

Love, friendship, laughter, and virtually every emotion we feel is inspired by words.

Unfortunately, fear, anger, frustration, and hatred are also invoked by words. Every word and sentence we use has the power to shape how others see us and how they see Christ in us. Our words have the power to bless or curse—to “sentence” others to healing and hope or gloom and despair; forgiveness and freedom or guilt and bondage; blessings and applause or discouragement and despondency. Beginning today, let’s resolve to speak words that bring blessings, peace, and hope to everyone in our lives.

April 2017

Gò0dNews Christian Magazine

Pg 4 Pg 6 Pg 8 Pg 10 Pg 12 Pg 14 Pg 20 Pg 22 Pg 24 Pg 26 Pg 28 Pg 30 Pg 32 Pg 34

About Us GoodNews from the Pastor’s Desk Waling With God: Literally

by Gary Graves GoodNews for Kids A Changed Person

by Charles G. Laws GoodNews on Money Matters “Taking the Fun out of your Refund”

by Andrew Lee GoodNews for Men Dear 19-Year-Old Me

by Darren Schalk GoodNews for Women Step Away from the Measuring Stick!

by Alicia Klepper GoodNews for Parents Motherhood Stress

by Debi Lewis GoodNews for Life Opening Lines—An Old Travesty in a New Wrapping

by Delaney Walker GoodNews for Health & Fitness Are You Really Healthy?

by Thomas Morrison GoodNews for Teens Are You Tired?

by Caleb Prytherch GoodNews for Seniors Finding Hope In A Graveyard

by Mike Ellis GoodNews Player of the Month The “Joshua” Award

by Kent Howard GoodNews for Everyone Mission House

by Bill Fortenberry GoodNews for Everyone Not a Cheerful Giver

by Stacey Brown

Pg 18-19

Pg 16-17

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.

Gò0dNews from the Pastor’s Desk

Walking With God: Literally

After I learned to listen for God’s voice, our time together became more personal and intimate.

by Gary Graves

H

ave you ever heard the voice of God? I can’t say

or why there is so much evil in the world, but it wasn’t. It

that I have heard an audible voice; the voice I

was more personal and intimate. If I can recall anything,

often hear is much louder than that. It may seem

it was more like, “Where have you been, I’ve been

a little strange to many to ask that question, but if the

missing my time with you.” “Can we just walk together

Christian life is a personal encounter with God, which it

and enjoy each other?” The only thing close to describing

is, then it should not seem strange that He would speak

that moment is an event that happened over and over

to us from time to time. Problem is; we just need to learn

while I was dating my wife. We used to talk on the phone

how to listen.

for long periods of time, but as I reflect back to so many

One of the times I heard that distinct voice was a

years ago, I have to remind myself that there was not

typical day with a full calendar and not enough hours

much talking most of the time. I wouldn’t say anything;

in the day to get everything done. Not only were

she wouldn’t say anything, but just knowing each of us

there administrative things to get done, but there was

was on the other end of the line was enough. I often say

sermon preparation, calls to make, emails to send, and

that we just got on the phone and listened to each other

Little League Baseball to watch. In the middle of phone

breathe. That’s what it was like. I know you remember

calls from the car, I heard, “Take a walk.” It didn’t

those times. “You hang up first; no, you hang up first,” so

make any sense to put on hold all the things I needed

we would listen to the breathing a little longer.

to get done, but I had heard that voice before and I

So I began walking with God, literally. You might

knew something good was in store if I would just be

see me on the river walk or downtown on Broad Street

obedient. So I took a walk literally. I didn’t know what

walking, I might nod, wave, or say hello, but make no

to expect so I began with no expectations of anything

mistake about it, I am not alone. I am at ease. I am at

earth-shaking or life-changing.

peace. I am with Him.

God must have been in a talking mood that day because I mostly just listened. I would like to tell you that the conversation was about how the world was formed,

6 // April 2017

Gary Graves is the senior pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Rome, Ga. He can be reached at gary@calvaryrome.org.

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Gò0dNews for Kids

A Changed Person

T

As a child I realized that the patterns and regularity of nature were not by chance; there had to be a God who controlled the perfect timing of it all.

by Charles G. Laws

he earliest recollection I have of my life was

Him. Could a human, just a little boy (or anyone for

when I was six or seven years old. I loved

that matter) come to know this Being who created the

playing outside with bushes, flowers, and nature

universe and controlled it?

around me—a trait that has followed me throughout

My family did not go to church, and I had no

my life. I enjoyed nature and did much thinking about

knowledge about what church was about. Several years

how things came to be. I knew that it was not by chance

later a lady, Mrs. B, came around the neighborhood,

and observed how nature followed cycles—cycles

which was largely unchurched, asking children to go

of beginning, cycles of growth, and cycles of death.

to church and Sunday school. She would pick them up

I looked into the skies many times and observed the

and bring them back home after it was over. I gladly

patterns there. I watched the moon as it went through

volunteered to go. Maybe I would learn of this God that

its phases and revolved around the earth, held in its

I believed existed! It wasn’t long before I encountered

position by some unknown force. The sun rose in the

John 3:16-17, the most profound statement I had ever

east and set in the west daily. The hours of daylight

heard: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one

changed from long days of sunshine to very short days

and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not

of sunshine, and the moon varied accordingly.

perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his

I looked into the night skies and saw the stars, each one following its pattern with regularity. All of this beauty and regularity could not be by chance, so I arrived at a premise that if all the patterns and regularity were

Son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through Him” (NIV).

Here the words God and Son are capitalized, meaning that not just any god, but the God who created all things. The teacher went on to explain that God sent

controlled, there had

His Son into the world to save it and gave Himself as a

to be a God—an

sacrifice because we all had sinned and come short of

all-powerful Being,

the glory of God.

who created all

The fact that “whoever believes in him shall have

of this beauty

eternal life” was also profound the first time I heard

and controlled

it and it still is today. The teacher gave an “altar call”

the perfect

right there in the Sunday school room to accept God’s

timing of it

Son as Lord and Savior. I thought, If someone would die

all. I knew of

for me, forgive me of all my sin, and give me eternal life, then

this God, but I

He is certainly worthy of my accepting Him. I accepted

did not know

Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior that morning. I became a changed person because now I not only knew of God and his Son, but I knew Him!

8 // April 2017

Charles G. Laws is a member of Cleveland First Church of the Nazarene. He has a B.A. degree with a major in mathematics and minors in physics and education from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville TN and a M.A. degree with a major in mathematics from The University of Tennessee (UTK). He enjoys reading, chess, walking and listening to music.

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“Taking the Fun out of your Refund” MONEY MATTERS WITH DR. ANDREW LEE

Dr. Andrew Lee is professor of English at Lee University. He also serves as a coordinator for Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University. He and his wife Esmerelda have three children.

I

realize my title for this column may seem

cash in a savings account solely for emergencies

depressing, like an old spinster schoolmarm

(new tires, fix the car’s alternator, buy the

carrying a ruler and patrolling the aisle of the

children’s medicine which your insurance

classroom, ready to whack any inattentive student.

won’t cover). Once you have that first thousand

But hear me out, please. A quick search online reveals

dollars in this emergency account, you should

that the average tax refund this year is $3000 per

work on saving a full three to six months’ of

taxpayer. For a married couple with two incomes,

living expenses in this same account in case of

you can do the math—quite a nice “windfall” every

a job layoff or short term disability. For most

spring. But there’s the problem. Remember that a tax

people, this would mean a cash account of

refund is not a gift; it’s your money that you allowed

between $8,000-$12,000 dollars. This allows you

the government to keep all year without paying you a

to quit using credit cards for emergencies and

cent of interest. The IRS is simply returning your own

finally cut up those cards.

money to you, yet many people are giddy over their

2. Pay off debt. In my last column, I described the

refunds as though they’d won a small lottery prize.

awkwardness of loaning your relative or friend

That attitude explains why many of us are tempted

some money, and then watching as they go on

to splurge and spend every nickel of it. Rather than

a shopping spree. If you’re the debtor, use your

going on that cruise, buying that couch or computer

refund to actually pay off your loans.

or new cell phone, I’d like to offer the following

3. Start your retirement account or kids’ college

suggestions for your tax refund (and if you’ve

fund. By depositing that tax refund into an IRA

already spent your refund on that cruise, make a

or college savings plan, you’d be amazed at the

resolution next year, to try one of these more practical

results nearly two decades later.

ideas instead).

1. Build up your emergency cash account, save it.

Everyone needs at least one thousand dollars

10 // April 2017

Remember Proverbs 21:20, “a foolish man devours all he has.”

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Gò0dNews for Men

Dear 19-Year-Old Me

by Darren Schalk

D

ear Nineteen-Year-Old Me,

I miss your smooth, unwrinkled face and fluid

Last night I played softball for the first

joints. I miss your ability to eat everything and not gain

time in several years. It wasn’t pretty. And a

a pound. I miss your head full of hair and your hairless

friend who’s only slightly older than me went down

nose and ears. Makes me wonder what else happened

hard with a pulled hamstring. I was not so unfortunate,

while I was sleeping. Have I shrunk a couple inches?

although my hamstrings are screaming at me today.

Did my IQ drop? If so, how would I ever know? Have my

Which reminds me, who decided to call them hamstrings? I always picture a bunch of pigs playing stringed instruments when I hear that word—like a piggy string

fingernails stopped growing? Do I no longer love duck-billed platypuses? (We can safely rule that one out, I still love them—dodged that bullet.) This whole aging thing is scary.

ensemble.

So, how does one age

Today I had to take

gracefully? Seems like it’s

several headshots for

an impossibility to me. An

upcoming events. When I

improbable equation. I will

had the chance to review

most definitely not be aging

them, I was not pleased.

gracefully, but maybe you

I looked old and chubby.

can. I will go down into

What happened to you,

the annals of life kicking

nineteen-year-old me?

and screaming. Of course,

When did these wrinkles

it probably won’t last long

around my eyes become so

because I’m sure as I kick, I

pronounced? When did my

will pull a hamstring while an

gut start poking out? When did hair start leaving my head and migrating south to my ears and nose?

ensemble of pigs plays Beethoven in the background. But I won’t be able to hear them. My hearing will be

When did I start grunting every time I

gone by then.

stand up? When did you become me?

Aging disgracefully,

Last week I started performing interviews for an

Thirty-something-year-old you

assistant. When did I become a professional, conducting interviews and searching for assistants? When did

Adapted from Darren’s book, Dear God We Need To Talk

life creep up on me? When did I cross the line from

Permission granted by Charisma House Media©

“boydom” to manhood? It all apparently happened

Available on Amazon or locally at White Wing Bookstore

while I was sleeping, unbeknownst to me. I thought I was still you, nineteen-year-old me. But I’m not you anymore. Now I’m me. And I really, really miss you.

12 // April 2017

Darren Schalk is lead pastor of Keith Street Ministries, curriculum editor for the Church of God of Prophecy, and the author of Dear God We Need To Talk. He has been featured on radio and television programs across the nation discussing topics of faith and discipleship. Find out more at DarrensChalk.com or ksm.church.

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Gò0dNews for Women

Step Away from the Measuring Stick!

Accepting God’s Word and His presence recalculates all of our self-inflicted benchmark values.

by Alicia Klepper measure—dollars, sometimes cents, jean size,

W

declares, "God is who He says He is! God can do what

height, time of the day, people who like us;

He says He can do!" is the only meter we need to be

ith so many quantities and things to

Faith—that pure, sometimes wobbly, position that

and people who don't. Then contributions, donations,

reading. So when the scales, the budgets, the sizes,

gas in the tank, vacation days, disposable incomes,

the incomes and the reports, and the numbers don't

overwhelming outcomes appraisal of a home, and upside

measure up to what we were expecting or hoping for,

down value of a car are enough to leave even the blessed

let's appraise it all next to the magnitude of our God.

of the blessed feeling like they're always coming up

The One who measures limitless in His faithfulness,

short. Who said all that mattered anyway? Since when do

infinite in His love, immeasurable in His ability,

numbers hold value over God's words? And if you have

unceasing in His mercy, and boundless in His provision.

reached the mature place where none of it gets to you, I

Instead of gauging what we see with the instrument of

can't relate. But I hope to meet you there one day. Save

our feeble perspectives, let's calculate our circumstance

me a seat, I'm on my way.

next to a God who can't be measured.

Occupied with not measuring up in a particular area,

A wise woman once comforted me with these

I came across a sign that read, "God's not checking your

words: "It's only numbers. And they all belong to Him

bank account, He's checking your faith." This made me

anyway," (Carol Oswalt, my mom).

realize that's it's not only my figures that are skewed,

So let's step away from our measuring stick of

but I'm gauging the wrong things entirely. Even if every

how things should look and how they don't by picking

measuring stick we carry around in our minds lined up

up God's Word, the only genuine standard of

to our ideal expectations, we are still completely and

measurement for our lives. When we accept it,

sorely lacking if faith isn't our exclusive mile-marker and

His word and His presence recalculates all of

God isn't our sole source of satisfaction.

our self-inflicted benchmarks of value, so that we will come to see that what is of worth is found completely in Him. “And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to Him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen” (Eph. 3:18-21 NLT).

14 // April 2017

Alicia Klepper and her husband Mark have been married for 15 years. They have 3 children and are active members at Peerless Road Church of God of Prophecy.

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Call: 423.503.1410

Rome Church Directory

African Methodist Episcopal Bethel AME Church 22 Nichols Rd Rome, Ga 30161 706-295-0019 Summer Hill AME Church 1981 Kingston Hwy NE Rome, Ga 30161 706-235-7113

Apostolic

First Apostolic Church of Rome 3213 Cave Spring Rd Rome, Ga 20161 706-235-9551

Baptist

Antioch Baptist Church 4526 Big Texas Valley Rome, Ga 30165 706-232-7248 Armuchee Baptist Church 6648 Big Texas Valley Rd NW Rome, Ga 30165 706-766-3018 Berean Baptist Church 8 Skyline Dr Rome, Ga 30161 706-295-9832 Blue Pond Baptist Church 1291 Morrison Campground Rome, Ga 30161 706-235-3296 Bryant Chapel Baptist Church 24 Shady Lane Rome, Ga 30161 706-235-9768 Calhoun Avenue Baptist Church 1021 Calhoun Ave Rome, Ga 30161 706-234-4431 Calvary Baptist Church 101 Broadus Rd NE Rome, Ga 30161 706-1461 Cedar Creek Baptist Church 5440 Black Buff Rd Rome, Ga 30161 706-777-8360 Cedar Valley Baptist Church 3024 Cedartown Hwy SW Rome, Ga 30161 706-295-0978 Community Chapel Baptist Church 3733 Black Bluff Rd Rome, Ga 30161 706-232-4070 Desoto Park Baptist Church 1107 Cave Spring Rd Rome, Ga 30161 706-232-6207 Dykes Creek Baptist Church 3181 Kingston Hwy NE

16 // April 2017

Rome, Ga 30161 706-291-7790 East Rome Baptist Church 601 Cedar Ave Rome, Ga 30161 706-234-8553 East View Baptist Church 901 Kingston Ave Rome, Ga 30161 706-291-8250 Emmanuel Baptist Church 1414 Old Dalton Rd Rome, Ga 30165 706-232-3939 Enon Baptist Church 3105 Turkey Mountain Rome, Ga 30161 706-295-5052 Fellowship Rome Baptist Church 314 Burnett Ferry Rd Rome, Ga 30165 706-234-9416 Fifth Avenue Baptist Church 416 N 5th Ave Rome, Ga 30165 706-291-0689 First Baptist Church 100 E 4th Ave Rome, Ga 30161 706-295-1150 Flatrock Baptist Church 848 Cunningham Rd Rome, Ga 30161 706-234-9976 Friendship Baptist Church 2283 Calhoun Rd NE Rome, Ga 30161 706-295-4803 Garden Lakes Baptist Church 2200 Redmond Cir Rome, Ga 30165 706-234-6615 Greater Mount Calvary Baptist Church 445 East 14th St Rome, Ga 30161 706-234-5047 Hill Crest Baptist Church 2202 N Broad St Rome, Ga 30161 706-291-8806 Hollywood Baptist Church 112 Lombardy Way Rome, Ga 30161 706-234-6642 Huffaker Road Baptist Church 94 Huffaker Rd NW Rome, Ga 30165 706-295-0384 In Focus Baptist Church 12 N Hughes Rome, Ga 30165 706-234-8963

Lakeview Baptist Church 80 Salem Dr Rome, Ga 30165 706-235-2149 Lovejoy Baptist Church 436 Branham Ave Rome, Ga 30171 706-232-1917 McFall Baptist Church 3011 Rockmart Rd SE Rome, Ga 30161 706-235-5673 Mount Alto Baptist Church 1915 Huffaker Rd NW Rome, Ga 30165 706-232-5102 Mount Carmel Baptist Church E 20th St Rome, Ga 30161 706-232-8777 Mount Olive Baptist Church 17 E Pennington Rome, Ga 30161 706-234-6413 New Antioch Baptist Church 4553 Calhoun Rd NE Rome, Ga 30161 706-295-2248 New Bethel Baptist Church Weathington Dr Rome, Ga 30161 706-291-8939 New Canaan Baptist Church 3 Excelsior St Rome, Ga 30165 706-291-1984 New Hope Baptist Church Hwy 156 Rome, Ga 706-235-0250 New Hope Baptist Church 399 Moran Lake Rd Rome, Ga 30161 706-290-0507 North Broad Baptist Church 1309 N Broad St Rome, Ga 30161 706-295-2100 PisGah Baptist Church Alabama Rd Rome, Ga 30161 706-232-4431 Pleasant Grove Baptist Church 500 N Division St Rome, Ga 30165 706-235-0731 Riverside Baptist Church 38 Ash St Rome, Ga 30161 706-291-8114 Saint Paul Baptist Church Pleasant Valley Rd

Rome, Ga 30161 706-235-5037 Second Avenue Baptist Church 823 E 2nd Ave Rome, Ga 30161 706-232-3663 Sherwood Forest Baptist Church 1 Goodman Rd Rome, Ga 30161 706-291-6174 Shorter Avenue Baptist Church 1410 Shorter Ave Rome, Ga 30165 706-234-8266 South Broad Baptist Church 508 South Broad St Rome, Ga 30161 Spring Creek Baptist Church 2636 Chulio Rd SE Rome, Ga 30161 706-234-1220 Springfield Baptist Church 113 Smith St Rome, Ga 30161 706-295-7217 Thankful Baptist Church 935 Spider Webb Dr Rome, Ga 30161 706-291-8132 Trinity Baptist Church 1728 Calhoun Rd NE Rome, Ga 30161 706-295-3368 Unity Baptist Church 2261 Pleasant Valley Rd Rome, Ga 30161 706-232-2184 Victory Baptist Church 756 Turner Chapel Rd Rome, Ga 30161 West End Baptist Church 107 Mississippi Dr Rome, Ga 30165 706-235-1971 West Rome Baptist Church 914 Shorter Ave Rome, Ga 30165 706-232-9722 Wilkerson Road Baptist Church Wilkerson Rd Rome, Ga 30161 Woodlawn Baptist Church 1649 Cartersville Hwy SE Rome, Ga 30161 706-232-4171 Word & Way Baptist Church New Rocketmart Rd Rome, Ga 30161 706-234-8729

Catholic

Saint Mary Catholic Church 911 N Broad St

Rome, Ga 30161 706-295-7014

Charismatic

Cornerstone Church 324 Mathis Dr Rome, Ga 30165 706-234-4923 Solid Holy Rock Church 700 Kingston Ave Rome, Ga 30161 706-295-3022

Christian & Missionary Alliance Missionary Alliance 306 Coker Dr Rome, Ga 20165 706-235-9190

Church of Christ

Church of Christ 108 E Callahan St Rome, Ga 30161 706-291-0675 Oak Hill Church of Christ 1500 Martha Berry Hwy Rome, Ga 20165 706-291-0351 Redmond Road Church of Christ 30 Redmond Rd Rome, Ga 30165

Church of God

Armuchee Church of God 4974 Martha Berry Hwy Rome, Ga 30165 706-232-4414 Beech Creek Church of God 3000 Alabama Hwy NW Rome, Ga 30165 706-234-7466 East Rome Church of God 210 E 18th St Rome, Ga 30161 706-232-0704 New Hope Overcoming COG 200 Nixon Ave Rome, Ga 30161 706-234-4695 North Rome Church of God 1929 N Broad St Rome, Ga 30161 706-234-3516 Rome AOH Church of God 504 Decatur St Rome, Ga 30165 706-295-2999

Church of the Nazarene

Church of the Nazarene 20 Glenda Dr Rome, Ga 30165 706-234-5023 Rome First 26 Glenda Dr SW Rome, Ga 30165 706-234-5023

Episcopal

Church of the Transfiguration

304 Coker Dr Rome, Ga 30165 706-234-0197 Saint Peter’s Episcopal Church 101 E 4th Ave Rome, Ga 30161 706-291-9111

Foursquare

Rome Foursquare Church 308 Reservoir St NE Rome, Ga 30161

Full Gospel

Christ Gospel Church 619 Chulio Rd SE Rome, Ga 30161 706-234-7744

Independent Bible

Grace Bible Church 614 Dalton Rd NE Rome, Ga 30165

Lutheran

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church 3000 Garden Lakes Blvd Rome, Ga 30165 706-232-7257

Methodist

Beech Creek 1537 Old Summerville Rd NW Rome, Ga 30165 706-235-4973 Holsey Sinai CME Church 1233 Martin L King Rome, Ga 30161 706-295-7265 Lindsay Chapel UMC 9 College Park Dr SW Rome, Ga 30161 Livingston UMC 21 E Lakeshore Dr SE Rome, Ga 30161 Metropolitan UMC 700 Broad St Rome, Ga 30161 706-291-8660 Mt. Pleasant UMC 100 Dodd St Rome, Ga 30165 706-232-4350 New Bethel Methodist Church Reeceburg Rd Rome, Ga 30161 706-235-9700 North Rome UMC 706-291-6704 Oostanaula UMC 74 Battey Farm Rd Rome, Ga 30161 706-292-0084 Rome First UMC 202 E 3rd Ave Rome, Ga 30161 706-291-8590 Rush Chapel UMC 1225 Rush Chapel Rd

Rome, Ga 30161 706-291-7986 Scott Chapel UMC 3 Chambers St NE Rome, Ga 30161 Second Avenue UMC 801 E Second Ave SW Rome, GA 30161 Silver Creek UMC 585 Reynolds Bend Rd Rome, Ga 30161 706-234-2518 South Broad UMC 546 S Broad St Rome, Ga 30161 706-232-5230 Trinity 606 Turner McCall Blvd SW Rome, Ga 30165 706-291-0033 United Methodist Church 700 E 2nd Ave Rome, Ga 30161 706-291-6113 Wesley Chapel UMC 9 College Park Dr SW Rome, Ga 30161 West Rome UMC 1003 Shorter Ave Rome, GA 30164-2247 706- 234-6214

Non-Denominational

Chapel Hill 1818 Kingston Rd Rome, Ga 30161 706-232-9177 Cornerstone Church of Rome 324 Mathis Dr Rome, Ga 30165 706-234-4923 Glorious New Jerusalem Church 537 W 12th St Rome, Ga 30165 706-295-2045 Glory Tabernacle Church 300 Watson St Rome, Ga 30165 706-235-0888 Gospel Harvester Church 1246 Cartersville Hwy SE Rome, Ga 30161 706-290-9858 Lighthouse Church of Rome Lighthouse Dr SE Rome, Ga 30161 706-291-0864 New and Living Way Bible Church 59 Dykes Creek Rd Rome, Ga 30161 706-233-9200 Words of Faith Tabernacle 3134 Rockmart Rd Rome, Ga 30161 706-314-9158

Orthodox All Saints Church 615 Cleveland Ave Rome, Ga 30165 706-378-4474

Pentecostal

Cannon Temple Holiness Church 308 Porter St Rome, Ga 20161 706-233-9001 Christ Temple Holiness Church 1321 Martin L King Rome, Ga 30161 706-235-3787

Presbyterian

First Presbyterian Church 101 E 3rd Ave Rome, Ga 30161 706-291-6033 Westminster Presbyterian Church 1941 Shorter Ave Rome, Ga 30165 706-235-8561

Seventh-Day Adventist

Rome Bethany Seventh-Day Adventist Church 307 E 14th St SW Rome, Ga 30161 706-292-0067 Seventh-Day Adventist Church 2526 Cedartown Hwy SW Rome, Ga 30161 706-234-4117

FREE Add/Update Church Directory

issuu.com/goodnewsrome // 17

FEATURED COVER STORY

Action Rent All

F

Three Businesses in One

by Emily Bangura

or the last thirty-four years, Action Rent All has

about new equipment and party items the store has to

made Cartersville and Rome, Georgia beautiful and

offer. Mrs. Sheffield says, “We can help you with any

fun-loving places to be. They provide inflatables for

project, from planning a wedding to planting a garden and

parties, decorations, tables and chairs for large events, and the tools required for all your party needs.

a lot in-between.”

For tool equipment, you can rent bobcats, excavators,

Doyle and Ann Sheffield started their business in

trenchers, chain saws, blowers, man lifts, scissor lifts,

Cartersville in 1983 and expanded their company to Rome,

aerators, and chippers and many other tool needs in the

Georgia, in 2008. After maintaining a friendly competition

Rome location.

with them for many years, they acquired Eddie Rents in late December of 2008. Now their son and daughterin-law, Steve and Patty, own both locations. It was an easy decision to combine the two companies into one and continue to provide individuals and businesses with equipment and party rental needs.

Services Offered

In August of 2016, they bought a new building and

moved to 90 E. Callahan Street, Rome, Georgia, and went from 10,000 square feet to 27,000 square feet. General Manager of the Rome store, Isaac Ball, has been with the company for sixteen years and is elated about the new building and all that the new size means in terms of both quality and quantity. The new building will allow for more displays and more room between displays so as not to crowd the viewing sections. Action Rent All is excited

18 // April 2017

With all of your lawn and garden needs, Heather Hapner is the person to talk to. Action Rent All in Rome, Georgia, offers Stihl, Exmark, and Honda brands. She has been with the company for four years, and she has been with the outdoor power equipment business for twenty-

eight years. She is even a gold certified Stihl technician, along with being certified in Kohler, Exmark, and Honda.

In addition to tents, inflatables, all of the materials and accessories needed to supply any event or party, they also celebrate the first birthday to the 50th reunion. For party rentals, Wanda Meers is the woman in charge. She has been with Action Rent All for three years and can show you the beautiful showroom displays of their party rentals.

They have dishes, linens, tables, chairs, arches, tents, and much more. They even offer harvest tables that they built themselves, which are great for outside weddings.

At Action Rent All, the employees treat the customers as family. “We love to treat them as family; they are a part of our company. We laugh with them and we cry with them.” Working as a family-owned business for as long as Action Rent All has, brings with it a peace of mind to both the customers and the employees. The customers feel welcomed and loved when the employees crack jokes with them just like family members do. The feeling of family is not only for the customers, but also for the employees in relation to the owners. The owners are very relaxed, and

Caring Employees

Action Rent All’s service technician, Byron Kenney,

this leadership allows the employees to feel less pressure at the workplace and can focus fully on the customer at hand.

Action Rent All sees their mission as existing to serve

has been with the company for the last seven years. Before

the community of Cartersville and Rome, Georgia. They

that he was a servicing technician for thirty-seven years.

equip themselves with the best employees, who each have

Kenney is a certified technician for Honda, Exmark,

years of experience under their belt, in order to instill a

Kohler, and Kawasaki. For all the items they sell, they also

sense of confidence in their customers. Their customers

offer service shops to keep those machines up and running.

can always know that they are getting a well-trained and

In addition, they have a professional team that delivers,

experienced person to help them with their needs.

sets up, and tears down tents, tables and chairs, inflatables, tool rentals, and lawn and garden supplies.

Action Rent All would love to help you host your next party or event. Give them a call at 770-291-0222 or check them out online at www.actionrentall.com or on Facebook at Action Rent All Rome.

issuu.com/goodnewsrome // 19

Gò0dNews for Parents

Motherhood Stress

This article is an excerpt from a published book, Motherhood Stress, Finding Encouragement in the Ultimate Helping Profession.

O

by Deborah Shaw Lewis

ne morning, in 1989, I rolled out of bed and hit the floor running. Enroute to the kitchen to begin heating water for oatmeal, I flicked on the lights in all the bedrooms. Then I returned to the kids’ rooms to see who was upright and who remained comatose. One child was both.

The following minutes felt like the typical morning routine. Except it’s not really a routine when no pattern repeats itself even two days in a row, unless you count the familiar feelings of frenzy.

Andrew and Matthew, my nine and seven year olds were fine. A quick glance at their clothes: Nothing clashed; everything clean. No problems.

Three year old Benjamin needed a tug of assistance to get his jogging suit shirt over his head.

Lisette’s favorite teddy bear shirt was dirty. Several minutes went to consoling her, then coaxing her to wear a second choice. Then I changed the baby’s diaper, dressed him for the day, stirred dried oats into the boiling water, then tied Benjamin’s shoes.

With all children seated at the kitchen table, I nursed the baby while I ate my breakfast and ran through the morning checklist. Everyone have their book bags ready? Lunch money in order Field trip permission form signed? No. Where is it? Began search. Found it under the phone book. Signed it. Gulped down another three bites of breakfast. Hurriedly donned a jogging suit while everyone else brushed their teeth.

The kitchen clock said 8:08 as we walked out the door.

We were two minutes ahead of schedule for the drive to school. Until we stopped for a work crew doing road maintenance. The usual 10 minutes to school became 13 minutes, so I dropped three distressed children off to the ringing judgment of the tardy bell.

That, my friend, is motherhood stress.

20 // April 2017

What makes for stress in any job? An excess of novelty and uncertainty. A loss of control. High expectations. Ideals vs. reality. No clear guidelines or measures for success. Frustrations. Low status and low pay. Poor accountability.

That list of job stresses might as well be my job description as a mother.

You want novelty and uncertainty? Be a mother and try to figure out when you’ll get a good night’s sleep or when you can count on finishing any project you start.

Accountability? Some days I feel as if no one notices – or cares about – what I do with my children.

Other days I feel as if everyone has a different standard I’m not living up to.

Ideals vs. reality? Before my first baby was born, I thought about “taking some time off” to be at home.

I dreamed of outings to the park and visits to the library and wonderful afternoons baking cookies with my children. And the house in the background of my dreams was always spotlessly clean.

My reality includes parks and library trips and baking and lots of wonderful things: cuddling children in my lap, reading stories, watching children grow. In all my wildest fantasies, I could never have imagined all the joys of being a mom.

But I never pictured myself walking out the door, headed to the park, feeling guilty about the messy house we left behind.

Mothering has its wonderful ties. But it is more than playing with kids all day. It’s hard work. Important work.

Stressful work.

Mothers and fathers need to understand motherhood stress.

Deborah Shaw Lewis, author of 20 plus books—including Gifted Hands: the Ben Carson Story, kids’ edition—and Director of PALS, the mothers morning out at Trinity United Methodist Church In Rome, GA.

Church Activities & Events Second Avenue Baptist Church Family Egg Hunt

April 15, 2017 - 10:30am - 12:30pm

Fellowship Baptist Church Easter Egg Hunt

April 15, 2017 - 11am - 1pm

Breaking Down Barriers Men’s Conference 2017

Fri, Apr 7, 2017, 6:30 PM – Sat, Apr 8, 2017, 9:00 AM Cost is $42. This will be the second exciting year for the Breaking Down Barriers Men’s Conference. The 2017 conference is intended to draw men and boys to Christ; influence men and boys for Christ; and to call men out to stand for Christ in their daily lives. There are five great speakers scheduled. They include: Tim DeTellis from New Missions; Keith Boggs from Real Momentum Ministries; Pastor Kenny Grant from Calvary Baptist Temple; Coach John Grass from Jacksonville State University; and Dr. Johnny Hunt from First Baptist Woodstock. In addition to great speakers we will enjoy wonderful music from Brandon Snow and friends, fantastic fellowship, and delicious food.

Cornerstone Church Beautiful Wives Club

April 21 Hey Ladies! Be sure to attend our Beautiful Wives Club that is held every 3rd Friday night at 6:30pm. The Beautiful Wives Club is a time where wives can come together to encourage and challenge one another to love their husbands well. This comes from Titus 2:4. We will have light snacks and coffee.

Calvary Baptist Church Rethink Easter

Sunday, April 16th at 10:30am A worship experience at Ridge Ferry Park!

North Rome Church of God 2017 Rome Passion Play

April 7-9 and April 12-14 at 7:00PM Bring your friends and family, but arrive early! Seating is very limited. A Livestream link will be available to our gym and to the Internet for those who don’t make it early.

Gò0dNews for Life

Opening Lines—An Old Travesty in a New Wrapping “The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it.”

—Albert Einstein

R

by Delaney Walker

ecently, New Hope received an odd piece of mail

intact embryonic cadaver ($400 and $600). By far, the highest

inconspicuous in packaging, but offensive in content.

priced part is an unborn baby’s brain aged less than eight

Inside the envelope was a single folded-up sheet of

weeks, $999. This last one also comes with a guarantee: 30

paper. Upon further inspection, it turned out to be a pricing pamphlet for “Opening Lines,” a division of Consultative and Diagnostic Pathology, Inc. Sounds harmless, right?

It turns out a well-written name can cover a multitude

percent discount if significantly fragmented.

There was no return address on the envelope and the only personal touch to the pamphlet was one highlighted line: Prices in effect through December 31, 1999. I have no

of sins from the general

idea what the sender wanted

populace. Opening Lines

New Hope to do with the

was established “in order to

information. Maybe it was

provide a convenient and

a taunt, or perhaps he or

efficient way for researchers

she wanted to share the

to receive fetal tissue without

information. Whatever the

a lot of bureaucracy.” In

intention, it has served as a

case the reader misses the

reminder to me.

fine print, the pamphlet

Planned Parenthood has

dedicated an entire page

been in the news as of late

to the following: “FRESH

for its sale of unborn baby

FETAL TISSUE harvested and

parts taken from abortions.

shipped to your specifications

It would be easy for people

where and when you need it!”

to believe this is a new evil,

The company boasts of

but, as the pamphlet makes

its wide array of “specimens,” including livers, spleens,

clear, Planned Parenthood’s actions are an old travesty in a

pancreases, lungs, heart blocks, and spinal columns. In an

new wrapping. A country and a people with a moral code

effort to sweeten the deal, Opening Lines promises discounts

that not only supports abortion, but also celebrates it as an

for “specimens significantly fragmented.” How could a

action of empowerment, should not be surprised by the

research facility resist; especially when promised the service

dismemberment, sale, and dispersal of its weakest members.

fee is “lower than the industry average.”

The service fees range in amounts from $50 to $999 and

One question haunts me after looking through this pamphlet: what could have been different? This pamphlet

distinguishes between unborn baby parts that are younger

was supposedly printed around 1999. That was eighteen

and older than eight weeks (the former being the more

years ago. This evil was known eighteen years ago and yet

expensive of the two). The parts up for sale include, but

we still struggle with the sale of “specimens” today.

are not limited to cord blood ($125), thymus ($75 and $100

I do not want to look back in eighteen years with the

respectively), ears ($75 and $50), eyes ($75 and $50 with a 40

knowledge I could have done more to make this world

percent discount for a single eye), and bone marrow ($350

a safer place for our weakest, most fragile members, but

and $250).

instead stood on the sidelines.

Although a majority of the unborn baby parts are priced at $350 and below, a handful cost more, including gonads ($550), an intact trunk with or without limbs ($500), and an

22 // April 2017

Delaney Walker is the development director at New Hope Pregnancy Care Center. She is an avid fan of reading, exercising, and making silly faces at babies in the grocery store.

Gò0dNews for Health & Fitness

Are You Really Healthy?

The World Health Organization defines health as: “A dynamic state of complete physical, mental, spiritual and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

H

by Thomas Morrison

ow do you define health? Are people healthy if they do not feel sick? Consider Joe, who has felt in reasonably good health for sixty-five years. He hasn't

had his health checked or been to a doctor in

regular helper at her church. Is Linda healthy?

I hope my short stories are helping you to reaffirm that we are truly fearfully and wonderfully made. Health is not simply a physical commodity; it is much broader than that.

more than ten years, but this year his wife

Since it is dynamic, health is subject

Margaret convinced him to go. The

to change, and that should bring

doctor said she was fine, but, Joe

great hope. Since it includes

over the last ten years, had

every part of us and not just

developed elevated blood

the physical, it means your

sugars and hypertension. His

health is more than what

cholesterol also looked high, and

you eat and whether or not

there was a problem with his colon.

you exercise (though that's

Shortly thereafter, Joe is rolled into

included). It also includes

surgery to have a cancer removed from

your spiritual and mental

part of his colon. Now, I ask you, “Was Joe

state. Are you able to see and

really healthy?” After all, he felt fine.

encourage the good in people,

What about Chris? Chris is a triathlete.

or are you always cynical and

He is totally dedicated to his sport, and he runs,

negative? The quality of time you spend

bikes, and swims miles every week. His latest

with family, with friends, and with God are

checkup showed excellent heart health, and he is

perhaps the greatest measure of your personal

physically healthy in every way. Unfortunately,

well-being and health. How skilful you are at

his commitment to his training has been so

handling those relationships positively will affect

total that he has often had to miss his children's

the satisfaction of your life more than anything

school events, and his wife finally became so

else.

fed-up with his lack of attention that she left him. Is Chris healthy?

As you think about the physical, mental, and relational areas of your life, are you really

Or how about Linda? Her husband has

healthy, or do you have areas that need work?

Parkinson's disease, and in the last several

You cannot change your destination overnight,

years, her physical health seems to have taken

but you can change your direction overnight.

a downward turn as arthritis pain has flared up,

We here at the Bradley Wellness Center would

and she has had a couple of operations, including a

consider it an honor to partner with you in helping

hip replacement. Nevertheless, she always has a smile for you

you with those changes. Contact us at 706-278-WELL to start

and an encouraging word. She never seems to have a bad thing

a healthier lifestyle today!

to say about anybody. Rather than being slowed down by her operation, aches, and pains, she seems to be doing more than ever. She's a volunteer for several community groups and a

24 // April 2017

Thomas Morrison is the fitness coordinator and a personal trainer at Bradley Wellness Center in Dalton, GA, where he has served for the past 15 years. You can find out more about him and his other writings at www.bradleywell.com.

Gò0dNews for Teens

Are You Tired?

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

—Galatians 6:9 NIV

H

by Caleb Prytherch

ave you ever been tired? Now I know that we all have

of meeting to speak to the Lord and pleads to God on behalf

been physically tired before, but have you ever felt

of the Israelites. Moses asks God to show him His ways, so

so tired that you weren't sure how you were going to

that he can properly lead the people. I believe Moses must be

make it? Has it ever gotten to the point to where you almost

feeling pretty tired at this point and truly may not know how

felt as if you could never make a quick/easy decision? There

he is going to make it. Then the Lord speaks to Moses and

are so many things that we can have going on in our lives that

verse 14 says, “My presence will go with you, and I will give

we often feel as if we won't be able to survive one more day.

you rest” (NIV). Here, Moses is trying to figure out exactly

We have things like school, family, friends, work, and maybe

how he is going to lead the Israelites, and the Lord reminds

even sports that weigh us down and make us feel very, very

Moses that He is always with him and He will give him rest.

tired. Often times this tiredness makes it seem as if we are

How many times do we often feel like Moses, struggling

helplessly drowning.

Not only can tiredness be from physical things, but we also can allow this tiredness to creep

with where we are and with what we are doing? Maybe we desire to fulfill God’s will for our lives, but we have become weary and very tired trying to do so. Maybe we have

into our spiritual lives as well. We may

allowed things to creep into our lives that have taken us

go to church or be involved with our

off the path and made us very tired. We may feel like

youth group and at first it is all going

we won’t be able to make it through one more day,

well, but over time we allow the

but God gives us hope. I believe God is reminding us

things of this world to burden us

today, just as He reminded Moses, that

to the point that we lose sight

He will be with us and He

of why we really are going

will not fail us, but rather,

to church. We become so

He will give us rest. We

tired physically that we

need to rest in the peace

drown out the things

of God and allow Christ

of God in our lives

to give us the rest that we

and we miss what God

need. Our burdens are

desires to do in us and

not our own to bear, but

through us. This is not

rather Christ’s. Therefore,

a healthy way of living; in fact, it could lead to

let’s give our burdens/

devastating results if we keep up the same pace.

weariness to Christ and allow

In Exodus 33, we find the Israelites in the wilderness after they had built the golden calf.

Him to do some amazing things in our lives.

The Lord spoke to Moses and told him that the Israelites needed to leave and pursue the land where God had told them to go. The Lord, however, is not happy with the Israelites and how they had sinned. So Moses goes to the tent

26 // April 2017

Caleb Prytherch is a graphic designer and he designs GoodNews Christian Magazine. He is married to his beautiful wife, Bekah and he is currently working on completing his bachelor’s degree in pastoral ministry from Lee University.

He is passionate about ministry and seeing others reach their full potential through Jesus Christ.

Gò0dNews for Seniors

Finding Hope in a Graveyard

W

No graveyard need depress or discourage you because it was in a graveyard where hope was born more than 2,000 years ago.

by Mike Ellis

hen you have a strong desire or expectation for something to happen, you have hope. We are all familiar with the word. We use it in a number of ways; • “I hope I get that raise.”

• “I hope the doctor’s report is better this month.”

• “I hope everything works out for them; they are such a sweet couple.”

But where does this hope come from? Our hope may be in other people until they let us down. Our hope might be in our plans until they fall apart. Perhaps you have placed a degree of hope in your possessions, but they, too, can disappear. So if these sources of hope, along with many others, have the potential to let us down, where can we find a source of lasting hope?

Is it possible to find hope in a graveyard? What?

How in the world could anyone find hope in a graveyard? We have all been to a graveyard at one time or the other. We have seen the grave markers there reminding us that death is sure. We also notice that the length of life is uncertain. Some have had a long life, while others were very short. Along with the grave markers are the memories that come to mind.

We remember the influence of the one whose grave we stand beside. We cherish the fond memories as we reminisce a life that has passed.

The hope we are looking for can be very real at any cemetery we visit today because of a grave that was visited

28 // April 2017

more than 2000 years ago. In John 20, you can read of Mary Magdalene’s early morning visit to the tomb of Jesus. No doubt, memories flooded her mind. Her life had been radically changed by an encounter with Jesus. Perhaps she recalled all that Jesus had taught those who had followed Him. The memory of His cruel and painful death was certainly fresh on her mind. The strength of her memories added to the sorrow of her mourning. She stood “weeping outside the tomb” (John 20:11).

Hope was about to spring forth in the most unlikely of places—a hope that impacts us still today. She first met two angels who asked her, “Why are you weeping?” (John 20:13). Well, one typically weeps in a graveyard. For Mary, she wept over the death of Jesus, and she wept because His body was gone. Then she encountered the resurrected Jesus! He too asked her, “Why are you weeping?” (v.15).

When He called her name, she recognized who He was and hope was found in a graveyard!

We can have hope today and every day because the tomb is empty and Jesus is alive! He conquered death, He kept His word, and He gives life to all who trust in Him. A “living hope” can be yours “through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Pet. 1:3).

So live in hope!

Mike Ellis is the chaplain at Renaissance Marquis in Rome, Georgia. Along with serving the fine residents at the Renaissance, he is also active in speaking in churches. Contact Mike at mellis@renaissancemarquis.com.

3126 Cedartown Hwy Rome, GA 30161

706-295-0014

renaissancemarquis.com

Gò0dNews Player of the Month

The “Joshua” Award

Fellowship of Christian Athletes names Braden Hyde as the April recipient of the FCA Rome Area “Joshua” Award.

by Kent Howard

T

he Fellowship of Christian Athletes will present

and was selected to the National Honor Society. Braden

Braden Hyde with the FCA Rome Area “Joshua”

understands the challenges that he faces as a spiritual

Award for the month of April. Named after

leader but remains faithful, available, and teachable

Joshua, the award is presented monthly by FCA to

through it all. Like Joshua, he is tough, dedicated, and

honor courage, obedience, and leadership.

committed to leading his peers.

Hyde, a student-athlete at

He enjoys playing golf,

Rome High School, serves as

fishing, playing the guitar,

an FCA Huddle Leader and on

and aspires to teach and coach

the FCA Rome Area Student

when he graduates. His life

Leadership Council while

verse is Philippians 3:7 that

excelling in baseball and in the

reads, “But whatever gain I

classroom. In the process, Hyde

had, I counted as loss for the

demonstrates the courage and

sake of Christ” (RSV).

ability to lead well by serving

FCA is the largest Christian

his team, campus, and church

sports ministry in the world

in a variety of roles. He is very

and focuses on serving local

active in his church, Floyd

communities by equipping,

Springs Baptist Church, and has

empowering, and encouraging

participated in several mission

people to make a difference for

trips both locally and abroad.

Christ. For more than 60 years,

Academically, he has a 4.0 grade

FCA has sought to impact the

point average, participated in

world through the influence of

Governor’s Honors in History,

athletes and coaches.

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the heart and soul in sports, is touching millions of lives . . . one heart at a time. Since 1954, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes has been challenging coaches and athletes on the professional, college, high school, junior high, and youth levels to use the powerful medium of athletics to impact the world for Jesus Christ. FCA is the largest Christian sports ministry in the world and focuses on serving local communities by equipping, empowering, and encouraging people to make a difference for Christ.

30 // April 2017

MEDIA CONTACT: Kent Howard, Area Director.

706-506-2501 - khoward@fca.org

ALL NEW 2017 CAMARO

100 HIGHWAY 411 EAST, ROME, GA • 706.295.909 • RIVERSIDECHEVYROME.COM

Gò0dNews for Everyone

Mission House

Building relationships and making disciples by conducting Vacation Bible School and performing manual labor in the rural town of Ichmul, Mexico.

by Bill Fortenberry

W

ith little opportunity for education, healthcare, or to

that mission trip, I got a first-hand look at the work these teams

build an economy, you would think the rainforest

perform and the people they serve. San Francisco is a small

settlements of Ichmul, San Francisco, and Chan

community of about 600 residents where the women cook tortillas

Calotmul would be filled with sadness and complaint, but that is

three times a day and weave hammocks. I spoke with one weaver,

not the case. Bring out a soccer ball, sidewalk chalk, nail polish, or

Brenda, who makes six hammocks a month and is paid just $14 for

a guitar and you discover quickly that the families who live here

her handiwork.

have an appreciation for fun, seizing the opportunity to celebrate the smallest of occasions.

Many of the men work out of town on construction sites or make trinkets that are sold at Mayan ruins. Children as young as

Placed in the

six help their mothers weave hammocks, but they also love to play

hands of American

and giggle as Americans butcher their language in their attempts to

missionaries, those

communicate.

same soccer balls, chalk,

Emily Ann Burger,

and nail polish become

a student at Jacksonville

tools to introduce the

State University and

indigenous Mayans

HBC Rome member,

who live here to a hope

has been to Mexico

they know little about. This summer, mission teams from three

five times and has seen

Rome-area churches—HBC Rome, Shorter Avenue Baptist,

first-hand the fruit of

and West Rome Baptist, will work in these towns to help

her labor. “Each year

establish relationships, conduct Vacation Bible Schools, and

we come as a team of missionaries to share the gospel. We do so by

perform manual labor, all with the aim of building relationships

serving throughout their community and building relationships.

and making disciples. They will be based at Mission House

Through building relationships we earn the right to love on them,

International in Ichmul, Mexico, a mission center that has

and through loving on them, we earn the opportunity to share the

grown out of the jungle in the past five years.

gospel,” Emily Ann said.

At the head of Mission House are two couples with ties to

That is why Mission House has established a base here. It is

Rome—Maurcio Menesses, founder of Mission House, has led a

a place that facilitates relationships so that the hope of Christ can

church in Rome. His wife, Laura, is the daughter of Shorter Avenue

reach all nations.

Baptist Church pastor Skip Myers. Eli and Selene Castillo, who

Read more from Bill on his blog: www.kudzudad.blogspot.

serve as hosts for missionaries, met and fell in love in Rome. They

com. Find out about upcoming Mexico mission opportunities at

also serve as interpreters for the Americans who come to these

each of these web sites: www.hbcrome.org, www.westrome.org, www.

rural Mexican towns.

shorteravenue.org, or www.mymissionhouse.com.

A team of twenty-five families, college students, and individuals from HBC Rome spent a week there after Christmas painting and landscaping an elementary school,

painting lines on a sports court, and visiting families. As part of

32 // April 2017

Bill Fortenberry worked 17 years as a newspaper reporter, editor and columnist, and has worked in healthcare communications since 2001. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from the University of West Georgia. Bill has served with Rome-Floyd County Communities in Schools, Rome Action Ministries, Rome High School PTSO and in his church, HBCRome. He and his wife, Lisa, have two children, Ethan, a student at Middle Tennesee State University in Nashville, and Autumn, a senior at Rome High School. A storyteller at heart, Bill writes an occasional blog at kudzudad.blogspot.com.

7 1 0 2MMER

SU MPS CA BERRY COLLEGE SOFTBALL YOUTH CAMP

• Where: 2277 Martha Berry Hwy, Rome, GA 30149 • Ages: 7-13 • Register: (706) 368-6370 • Cori Theirmann: cthiermann@berry.edu

BERRY COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL CAMP

• Where: 2277 Martha Berry Hwy, Rome, GA 30149 • Ages: 6-11+ • Register: (706) 368-5630 • www.berryvbcamps.com

BLUE SKIES RIDING ACADEMY

• Where: 515 Puckett Rd, Emmerson, GA 30137 • When: M-F, 9am-3pm • Ages: 6-10 • Register: (770) 926-2003 • www.blueskiesridingacademy.com

CK DANCEWORKS, INC.

• Where: 3734 Cedarcrest Rd. #104, Acworth, GA 30101 • Ages: 3-10 • Register: (770) 975-7298 • www.ckdanceworks.com

CLAY HIGHTOWER TENNIS ACADEMY CAMP

• Where: Berry College • Ages: 9-11+ • Register: (706) 236-1746 • www.hightowertenniscamps.com

DARLINGTON SUMMER CAMP

• Where: 1014 Cave Spring Road, Rome, GA 30161 • Ages: 2-11+ • Register: (800) 368-4437 • www.darlingtonschool.org

EDUCATION PLAY STATION SUMMER CAMP

• Where: 127 Summer Street, Adairsville, GA 30103 • Ages: 3-11+ • Register: (770) 877-9105 • www.educationplaystation.com

HIGH COUNTY STABLES CAMP

• Where: 5508 Dallas Acworth Highway, Dallas, GA 30132 • Ages: 5-8 • Register: (404) 597-6000 • www.highcountystables.com

INDIAN SPRINGS HOLINESS CAMPGROUND CAMP • Where: 420 Waterford Dr. Cartersville, GA 30120 • Ages: 11+ • Register: (707) 655-0046 • www.wn.com

JOE MACHNIK’S NO. 1 GOALKEEPER CAMP & STRIKER CAMP • Where: 1014 Cave Spring Rd. Rome, GA 30161 • Ages: 8-11+ • Register: (706) 378-3706 • www.no1soccercamps.com

MUSIC THEATRE CAMPS

• Where: 7 N. Wall St. Cartersville, GA 30120 • Ages: 7-8 • Register: (770) 386-7343 • www.thegrandtheatre.org

Summer Camps

at Shorter University

June 5-8 & June 13-16 9:00 am to 11:30 am

$75

per child

$15

to purchase a racquet

Register at teachmetennis.org

Gò0dNews for Everyone

Not a Cheerful Giver

A

“We are called to give our time, our treasures, and our talents.”

by Stacey Brown

s a Christian, I learned to

What if a co-worker who lives on the

Because God loves me.

give early on. I happily

opposite side of town needs a ride

Because He wants me to

put money in the offering

home? What if the elderly couple

experience the pure joy that comes

plate on Sundays, then pass it to my

down the street needs help with

from giving with a pure heart. Jesus

neighbor with a prideful grin. I have

their yard work? Or what if God

tells us in Acts 20:35: “It is more

organized fund-raising events for

wants to get into my vanilla latte’ or

blessed to give than to receive”

youth groups, contributed my share

pedicure money? Now it’s personal.

(NIV). And in Luke 6:38 He says,

of casseroles to countless covered-

How do I cheerfully give that up?!

“Give, and it will be given to you.

dish luncheons, and I have made

My friend, Jim Talley, says that

A good measure, pressed down,

hundreds, nay thousands of Popsicle

we are called to give of our time, our

shaken together and running over,

stick, macaroni, and dried beans

treasure, and our talents. That’s a

will be poured into your lap” (NIV).

covered in paste works of art during

lovely theory that inspires cheerful

Simply put, we cannot out-give God!

Vacation Bible School weeks. These

giving until I have to give up my

Our greatest motivation for cheerful

are the giving events that I plan for

time, my treasure, or my talents.

and generous giving should be that

in my color-coated calendar. I am

I work long hours, and I do good

it pleases the Lord and reflects His

doing my part, and it is good.

things, so why would God request

gift of salvation to create in us a

So what happens when God asks more from me? Why should I give me to give beyond my plans? What

to that person who probably won’t

if a new young mother in the church

appreciate it anyway? It’s not fair! I

needs a break from the toddler life?

want to know why.

34 // April 2017

cheerful giver.

Stacey Brown is a solutions analyst and office manager for JBM Office Solutions in Rome. She and her husband Tom are members of Calvary Baptist Church.

Stacey’s tip for cheerful giving is to present the gift in the name of Jesus. What happens after, is His business.

NIKE SOCCER CAMP BERRY COLLEGE

• Where: 2277 Martha Berry Hwy Mount Berry, GA 30149 • Ages: 14-18 • Register: (800) 645-3226 • www.ussportscamps.com

PGC BASKETBALL CAMP

• Where: 105 Shorter Ave SW, Rome, GA 30165 • Ages: 11+ • Register: (512) 828-7311 • www.pgcbasketball.com

PREMIERE FOOTBALL PROSPECT CAMP

• Where: Shorter University • Cost: $30 for one day, $50 for both • Register: David Sims dsims@shorter.edu

POWER CHORD ACADEMY

• Where: 2277 Martha Berry Hwy Mount Berry, GA 30149 • Ages: 11+ • Register: (706) 862-2231 • www.powerchordacademy.com

PRIMROSE SCHOOLS SUMMER CAMP

• Where: 3660 Cedarcrest Rd Acworth, GA 30101 • Ages: >1-5 • Register: (770) 529-4100 • www.primroseschools.com

RLT ACADEMY SUMMER WORKSHOP 2017

• Where: DeSoto Theater • When: June 12-16 • 9:00am-2:00pm • Cost: $175 (Includes lunch daily & camp t-shirt!)

• Ages: 6-16 • Register: (706) 295-7171

TEACH ME TENNIS

• Where: Shorter University • When: June 5-8 & 13-16 • 9:00am – 11:30 am • Cost: $75 per child, $15 to purchase a racquet • Register: Teachmetennis.org

TYLER MURRAY BASKETBALL CAMP AT SHORTER UNIVERSITY

• Where: Shorter University • Cost: Session 1- $80, Session 2- $100 • Ages: 4-8, 9-14 • Register: (706) 233-7343 • Tyler Murray - tmurray@shorter.edu

VALLEY VIEW RANCH EQUESTRIAN CAMP FOR GIRLS

• Where: 606 Valley View Ranch Rd. Cloudland, GA 30731 • Ages: 8-17 • Register: (706) 862-2231 • info@valleyviewranch.com

Cost: $175 Tuition Includes Lunch Daily & A T-Shirt!

RomeLittleTheatre.com // 706.295.7171

7 1 0 2MMER

SU MPS CA

VIC MITCHEL GIRLS BASKETBALL CAMP AT SHORTER UNIVERSITY • Where: Shorter University • Cost: $50- Jr. Day Camp, $125 Full Day Camp • Ages: Jr. Day Camp (5-entering 4th grade) • Full Day Camp (9-entering 9th grade) • Register: (706) 233-7344 • Vic Mitchel- vmitchell@shorter.edu

YMCA DAY CAMP

• Where: YMCA • When: 1 week sessions available between May-July • Cost: YMCA Member- $85 • Non-member: $110 • Ages: 6-12

YMCA KINDERCAMP

• Where: YMCA • When: 1 week sessions available between May-July • Cost: YMCA Member- $57 half day/$85 full day • Non-member: $75 half day/$110 full day • Ages: 3-5

LIST YOUR SUMMER CAMP Contact: Melissa Sprouse

(205) 566-7103 • melissas.goodnews@gmail.com

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