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• It’s safe, simple, and free of charge.

• It could keep you from getting COVID-19. If you still get COVID-19, it could keep you from becoming seriously ill.

• It will help you do your part to slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health of your family, your friends and your community.

• It’s an mRNA vaccine. These types of vaccines have been studied for more than two decades to evaluate their safety and effectiveness.

• It’s the first step toward life returning to normal.

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Volume 22, Issue 11

Feature Articles

FEBRUARY 2 0 2 1 Columns page 2

Publisher’s Note

page 8

Jason Watson

Faith @ Work with Shay Grant

page 4

We sit down with Shay Grant as she shares what it’s like to live out her faith day in and day out. Shay is a wife, mother of two, as well as a teacher at Trinity Presbyterian School.

Pastor's Perspective Scotty Harris, Grace Pointe Church of Christ

page 10

Moments with Kym Kym Klass

page 12

What’s the Purpose of Marriage?

page 14

Is marriage a contract? Is it a sacrament?

Learning why God created marriage will help you fulfill it’s purpose as husband and wife.

page 22

Women Arising Pastor Kemi Searcy

by Tim Challies

The Intersection Bob Crittenden

page 24

Counselor’s Corner

page 16

Isabel and Grib Anderson Sharing Advice for Before and After Your Wedding

Jessica Gibbe Fernandez, LMFT

page 28

Local newlyweds Isabel and Grib Anderson discuss how they prepared for a strong marriage during their engagement months and what they feel is most important in making a marriage work!

Dave $ays Dave Ramsey

In Every Issue page 6

Books to Read

page 18

Planning A 2021 Wedding

page 8

by Kimberely Carter Spivey

Faith @ Work

Planning a wedding during a pandemic is unchartered territory, but it doesn’t mean your special day can’t still be wonderful...even wonderfully unique!

page 26

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River Region’s Journey

Our Mission...

We believe the Good News concerning the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is worth sharing with our friends and neighbors in the River Region. Each month we deliver this life-changing message to the centers of activity across our community in a user-friendly and relevant way to empower and equip all those seeking to grow closer to God. Join us in this mission by sharing a copy with your neighbor or by becoming an advertising partner starting next month.

Editor DeAnne Watson deanne@readjourneymagazine.com

Publisher

Jason Watson jason@readjourneymagazine.com

Associate Publisher Savannah Bowden

Research Editor Wendy McCollum

Contributing Writers Katie Blair Tim Challies Bob Crittenden Pastor Scotty Harris Jessica Gibbe Fernandez, LMFT Kym Klass Dave Ramsey Kemi Searcy Dr. David Steele

Advertising Opportunities Jason Watson ads@readjourneymagazine.com (334) 213-7940 ext 702

Digital Manager Scott Davis

From the Publisher As a child, do you remember hearing your parents argue and yell?

For a few of you, that may have never happened.

Others, upon reading my opening sentence, felt a flash of heat stretch across your neck and face because the memories of your parents’ conflict flooded your mind (and heart). I’m somewhere in between. I had two great parents who still got into arguments loud enough for me and my brother to hear a few times a year.

It’s revealing how when we think back on our parents’ interaction with each other, vivid emotions and memories appear so quickly and clearly. As a child, like a dog who’s scared of the thunder, I would run and cry when my parents argued angrily. Now, as a husband and father, I too have regretfully sent my kids running when I’ve lost my temper.

Hopefully, in your home, there was the other side.

The side where love and grace overcame the darkness of shortcomings and insecurities displayed through anger. Where wrongs were made right and bonds were made stronger through perseverance.

That other side, in it’s truest form, is the way of Christianity. The Scriptures explain why we argue and quarrel, that our sinful hearts are the root cause of such things. Yet, the Scriptures continue further to reveal a greater hope that overcomes our sins with love and grace. That hope is the birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension of the perfect one, Jesus, who atones for our sins. Not by our own contorted works of self-righteousness are we set right, but by His works of true righteousness we are saved when we trust in Him by faith. In this life we all fall short, and, on our own, deserve to be punished. But, as Romans 8:1 states, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

The aim of this issue is to bring the work of Christ into your marriage...from the planning of your special wedding day until “death do you part”. Ignoring our sinfulness is a

recipe for marriage failure because it breeds resentment, strife and anger. On the other hand, understanding God’s love, grace, and mercy given to us then allows it to flow through us to our spouse. Only then can husband and wife partner as one to worship God and walk in His truth and freedom by the power of His Spirit at work in us. That journey together won’t be perfect because our own sinful desires are still at war inside of us, causing conflicts in our marriages. But by His grace we will overcome and learn evermore of the goodness and beauty of our beloved Father in Heaven.

Ad Design

Tim Welch, Welch Designs

River Region’s Journey is published monthly by Keep Sharing, P.O. Box 230367, Montgomery, AL 36123.

For information, call 334-213-7940. River Region’s Journey is copyrighted 2021 by KeepSharing. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.

The opinions expressed in River Region’s Journey are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the owners, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products or services herein. River Region’s Journey has the right to refuse any content that is not consistent with its statement of faith.

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PLEASE JOIN US FOR

ASH WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 17, 2021 12:00 PM AND 6:30 PM IN-PERSON AND ONLINE

Join us for Worship with Communion each Sunday at 9:30am

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Pastor’s Perspective

by Scotty Harris, Grace Pointe Church of Christ

A Valentine’s Prayer Anyone Can Pray February, the month for our annual customary observance of Valentine’s Day, replete with boxes of chocolate, Cupid’s arrows, heart-shaped cards and romantic, candle-lit dinners is upon us already! As such, it is a great time to turn our attention to matters of the heart; to values, founded on the rock-solid base of God’s unshakable Truth, that will help us build marriages and relationships that will stand the test of time.

Typically, we laugh a lot about dating and courtship, about romance and marriage. Folks married even a few weeks or months can appreciate the sarcasm of the fellow who suggested that “marriage is when you agree to spend the rest of your life sleeping in a room that’s too warm, beside someone who’s sleeping in a room that’s too cold.” True, true. Then there’s the fellow who observed that “most girls marry men just like their fathers – which

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probably explains why most mothers cry at weddings.” Come on, now; you know that’s funny.

Well for all the light-hearted jabbing we do about the subject and however else we might define marriage, like most any significant relationship of depth and tenure, marriage is spelled W-O-R-K. You know the old cliché that “you get out of anything about as much as you put into it”? This is especially true of marriage. Good marriages, resilient relationships don’t just happen; they are made and maintained by the solid, steady, daily work of commitment at the expense of self-sacrifice on the part of both parties involved. Love is not something we merely fall “into” our “out of” as feelings rise and fall, flourish and fade. Biblical love, God’s kind of love for the world, is what one wills to do to make the other person sense that they are fully loved, securely and unconditionally. The return on that kind of love to the lover tends to be fully reciprocal, especially when the two are committed to loving each other “as Christ loves the church” (Ephesians 5:25) – unselfishly, sacrificially, with nothing held back. This is holy work, sacred work; a level of work so deep that it should be always bathed in prayer for the enriching strength of the Holy Spirit of God to help us to do it well.

Some time ago, a Love and Marriage Gallup study of 657 married couples was conducted for Psychology Today. The study noted that “one of the best predictors of whether or not a couple is happy together is joint prayer.”

This study seems to bear out the maxim that “the couple that 4

prays together, stays together.” And we thought it was only a cliché.

Well, on the note of mutual prayer as essential and life-giving to healthy relationships, I would like to suggest the following prayer(s) for married and single persons who want to deepen the quality of our relationships not only on Valentine’s Day, but the year round.

If you’re married, take a moment to recommit yourself to a marriage characterized by “leaving and cleaving” (Genesis 2:24-25), by oneness and sacredness.

If your marriage is in difficulty, pray for God’s healing power to come into your relationship. Surrender yourself to Christ so that your spouse can see Jesus in you.

If you are a widow or widower, thank God for the good memories of life with your spouse. Ask God for the grace and promise of his comforting presence in your life each day.

If you are single because of divorce, pray for a deep, intimate relationship with God to fill the void in your heart and life.

If you are a single parent, ask God to be the missing parent / Father for your children.

If you’re not married, and want to be married, pray that God will bring the best to you in his own time. Commit yourself to purity and tell the Lord that you won’t settle for second best in a spouse. Trust him in this.

If you have the gift of singleness, ask God to help you make an eternal impact in his kingdom work through every facet of your life – work, church, and community.

Your gift in this way is beyond your comprehension in this life; eternity will reveal the value of what you have dedicated to God’s glory and the good of others.

Here’s praying for you and yours, a Happy Valentine’s year; may the grace of Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you always.

Amen.

Scotty Harris is senior pastor at Grace Pointe Church of Christ on Ray Thorington Road in Montgomery.

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God, Greed and the (Prosperity) Gospel

The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self

Costi W. Hinn

Carl R. Trueman

The so-called prosperity gospel has been a virtual “wrecking ball,” inflicting damage on the unsuspecting, infiltrating local churches with a diabolical message of health and wealth, and inviting the wrath of a holy God. The prosperity gospel is not another version of the gospel. It is “a different gospel,” one that not only devastates and deceives – this gospel damns.

False gospels must be confronted, as Paul addressed the Galatians who turned to the “gospel” of the Judaizers in the first-century.

The sexual revolution of the 60’s fundamentally changed the cultural landscape in North America. Yet, percolating beneath the surface was an even more diabolical worldview; a worldview that many are unfamiliar with. Even those who have engaged with the history of Western civilization may be jolted when the implications become clear.

The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self by Carl R. Trueman pulls back the veil and alerts us to the underlying ideologies that have catapulted our current views about self and sexuality in the Western world. Trueman shows readers in a precise and shocking way how men have forgotten God and presents reasons for their tragic decision.

The driving argument of Trueman’s work is this:

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel- not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. (Gal. 1:6, ESV).

Costi W. Hinn confronts the prosperity gospel in his latest book, God, Greed, and the (Prosperity) Gospel. Hinn clearly defines the poisonous effects of this pernicious movement: “The prosperity gospel is here to stay and is spanning the globe, doing damage to the true gospel of Jesus Christ. It is an evil that poses as a blessing but is truly a curse. It appears to be a loving extension of God’s goodness but is arguably the most hateful and abusive kind of false teaching plaguing the church today.”

Hinn describes how he grew up and was groomed to serve alongside his famous uncle, Benny Hinn and how God revealed the diabolical underpinnings of the prosperity gospel, which led to his repentance, conversion, and departure from the movement.

The author describes the origins of the prosperity gospel and the core elements with all of its trappings. He demonstrates from Scripture why prosperity teaching is abominable and warns readers to flee from its deadly influence.

Costi Hinn does not shy away from controversy. But he also speaks the truth in love and his arguments are grounded in grace.

God, Greed, and the (Prosperity) Gospel is sure to raise eyebrows.

Hinn’s work is a labor of love that will serve the church well. And it will surely draw some people out of this false system and lead them to the truth.

The issues we face today in terms of sexual politics are a symptom or manifestation of the deeper revolution in selfhood that the rise and triumph of expressive individualism represents.

The emphasis we find in Trueman bears some similarity to John Piper’s recent contention that “the essence of sin is minimizing God and making much of self.”

Several negative reviews have been submitted that are not sympathetic to Trueman’s work. What these reviews fail to understand is that The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self is neither a lament nor a polemic. It is in the words of Trueman, “an attempt to explain how the revolution of the self came to take the form it has in the West and why that is so culturally significant.” The goal of the author is achieved and is undergirded by meticulous research from multiple angles – theological, sociological, psychological, and beyond.

The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self should be celebrated for its candor and penetrating analysis of the human condition. It sufficiently lays the groundwork for more study and deeper discussions in the coming days.

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Night to Shine 2021 Hosted by Thorington Road Baptist Church on February 12 Night to Shine is an unforgettable prom night experience, centered around God’s love, for peope ages 14 and older with special needs.

What does NTS 2021 look like?

NIGHT TO SHINE VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE o The virtual experience will be a prerecorded video event. We want to ensure anyone, in any time zone, will be able to view the event from start to finish. o The virtual experience will NOT be a Zoom call or live streaming event. o The virtual experience will be easily accessed via a weblink. o The virtual experience will be compatible on a smartphone, tablet, computer or smartTV. o The virtual experience will be viewable beginning at 6pm EST but will remain available for a period of time following February 12, 2021 to allow every honored guest the opportunity to view it start to finish or even re-watch it! o The virtual experience will include a 3D animation, special message dropins from some favorite celebrities, music with words on the screen for guests who want to sing or dance along karaoke-style, a virtual crowning ceremony and more! We are specifically crafting this program to be interesting, exciting, stimulating, and fun for guests with special needs and their families. o Every honored guest will receive their Night to Shine Virtual Experience Gift Kit complete with fun favors and, of course, a crown or tiara!

Church Holds Yard Sales Monthly Capital City Church of the Nazarene will hold yard sales on the first Saturday of every month in 2021 beginning March 6, from 7:00 til noon.

There is something for everyone!

4450 Vaughn Road, Montgomery For more information call 334-272-8176.

Marriage Renewal Conference Fountain of Grace Church 881 McQueen Smith Road, Prattville Saturday, February 13th, 9:30 am til 3:30pm.

We won’t be able to do childcare. COVID-safe environment. There will be three speakers (our pastors), skits/drama, videos, and worship. No cost. Please call (334) 365-5511 to register.

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ticing ways He works in our lives and in the world everyday - even in the little things that we may take for granted.

RRJ: For most of us, family plays an important role in our lives. In what ways has your family been instrumental in your faith journey?

Shay: They are my biggest encouragers.

They pray for me and with me. They help encourage me to read the Bible, and not only attend worship services, but participate in our church (volunteer, missions and tithe).

RRJ: For Christians who struggle to live their faith beyond the church walls, what encouragement would you give them?

RRJ: Thank you so much for taking the time to share how your faith is at work out in the community where God has placed you. To begin with, how long have you been a follower of Christ?

Shay: I have always been a “Jesus girl” but was officially baptized at age 12.

RRJ: As Christians, our primary purpose in life is to glorify God. In what ways are you able to glorify Him in your occupation or while at work?

Shay: I am so lucky to have the opportunity to openly pray with my students, my coworkers and parents of my students. I try to build relationships with my students and their families. I try to be a faithful prayer warrior and accountability partner with my co-workers. I hope to point those around me to God by praising Him and noRiver Region’s Journey

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Shay: First PRAY! Then find a mentor (a friend) you think may be able to guide you. I have several I look to for advice and guidance.

RRJ: How does your Christian faith shape the way you approach your job?

Shay: Faith, hope and love - 1 Corinthians 13. I have faith that God is with me and wants what is best for me and the children in my class. I have hope in Him. He has done so much for me and His word is my daily hope. I have love for my students and others because He showed me the greatest love of all - Jesus.

RRJ: Faith @ Work is about living your faith wherever God has placed you. In your work at Trinity, how does being a Christ follower fuel your actions each day?

Shay: I hope it guides my words and actions in my daily life at work, especially with the children as I guide them and am an example to them.

RRJ: What are some key things that have sustained your faith on the tough days?

RRJ: What do you enjoy most about your job?

Shay: Praying, reading or quoting Scripture and listening to or singing hymns/ Christian songs. When I get down, upset, or frustrated, one thing I do is “count my blessings, name them one by one, count my blessings, see what God has done.” It really helps bring God’s blessings in focus.

I had leukemia several years ago and during my two year treatment I kept a blessing journal to remind me of God’s goodness and faithfulness. I highly recommend everyone to try counting their blessings just like the old hymn says.

Shay: I love the creativity involved in teaching. I like finding different ways to present information and to help reinforce skills. I want to reach every way a child learns. I also love the energy of the children in the early grades. They usually come to school eager to learn.

Shay and her husband, Wayne, have been married almost 27 years and are the parents of two children: Aubrey, 22; and Allison, 16. Shay retired from Montgomery Public Schools after 28 years and is in her second year of teaching at Trinity Presbyterian School. Shay and her family attend First Baptist Church in Montgomery where she has served in the nursery and preschool department, taught Vacation Bible School, been a camp counselor, and chaperoned for various children’s and youth activities.

RRJ: We have been living in strange times lately. What are some tools of the Christian faith that keep you focused on loving God and loving others?

Shay: I read the Bible and focus on Scripture as I pray. I enjoy listening to praise music in my car, in my classroom and at home.

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Finding Your Prayer Closet Before getting behind the wheel ahead of a four-hour drive that would take me down a long stretch of an interstate with nothing but fields on either side, I took to social media and asked if anyone had any prayer requests.

I knew I could lose myself in the silence this trip offered, and that it would be the perfect time to focus without distractions.

I tend to spend my time on the road listening to podcasts, or just lost in thought.

It is rare I turn the music on for the specific purpose of filling the quietness and solitude.

So instead of listening to podcast voices – including Lisa Whittle’s Jesus Over Everything, Brene’ Brown, StoryTellers Live, Jen Hatmaker, and other podcasts focused on running and mental health – I wanted to turn inward.

For myself, for others.

And I was humbled when the requests came in: there were medical appointments that had created anxiety, a wayward son who hadn’t returned home, others dealing with depression, and even more who told me “God knows” – and I spent almost all of those four hours immersed in prayer.

It was my version of a “prayer closet.”

I don’t have a literal one in my home, although I’ve always wanted to create a space for it – a place with four walls that I feel would ward off all distractions of a television, phone, other people. Even the dog.

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who River Region’s Journey

February 2021

sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:6 My room was my car. At night, it is my bedroom. On my morning runs when I’m alone, I can feel as enclosed as I need to – just me and God on empty roads and long miles.

A missionary friend shared on her social media page recently: “I have found that spending less time on Facebook, and more time in my prayer closet, has done wonders for my emotional health... especially these days.”

I asked her to tell me about her prayer closet, knowing she lived in an efficiency apartment.

She laughed, “Oh, it’s my shower.”

A prayer closet is a place where you can go alone, in privacy, to spend quality, focused time on prayer. It’s important for us to adopt this discipline in today’s super-electronically connected world. We need a quiet and still space to be able to quiet our hearts to hear God’s voice. It is a place to silence the noise of the world so God’s voice becomes louder than the voices around us. – ibelieve.com There are benefits to praying in an enclosed space as we are called upon to do.

But when that’s not possible, we need to find our own places, our own walls. Where it is just us. Where we turn off the volume and movement around us.

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went 10

off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”

Mark 1:35 Where is that for you? I listened to a friend share how God wakes her up at 3 a.m. to start praying. There would not only be prayer, but song. And she shared how the house was so still, and that it was the perfect time for her. I’m certain that happens to many of us. I know if I’m not in prayer or song the moment I wake up, then I’m there two seconds later. My closet.

“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.”

Colossians 4:2 Understand through this that you don’t need an actual closet – we know this. I can still envision one in my home, and will try and make that happen this year. But the sole purpose of having a “prayer closet” is to make time for you and God without distraction.

You’ll hear runners say they “went to church this morning” when they ran their miles on a Sunday. Same with cyclists and walkers – and, really, they will say this on any day of the week. You could have found your roads where the sunrises greet you, or on the dirt paths where the silence squashes doubts and fears and where you turn everything over to God. Whatever you do, and wherever it is, create your “closet” intentionally. Find your purpose there. Find your roads and path and allow it to engulf you in your relationship with God.

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Our Statement of Faith In keeping with Protestant theology, we believe that the Bible, as contained in the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, is fully inspired by God and therefore inerrant in the original manuscripts. The Bible is the only essential and infallible record of God’s self-disclosure to mankind. The Scriptures are the authoritative and normative rule and guide of all Christian life, practice, and doctrine. They are totally sufficient and must not be added to, superseded, or changed by later tradition, extra-biblical revelation, or worldly wisdom. The Bible is perfect in every way and shows us how to become and live as Christians.

Mending kids’

HEARTS

It’s what we do best.

The way of becoming a

Christian is by faith alone in Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, who came to us, born of a virgin, in full human form while remaining fully God. Jesus was, and is, perfect, and was crucified so that others could live. Three days later He rose from the dead, never to die again.

He ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God the Father, where He, the only mediator between God and man, continually makes intercession for His own.

Those who have faith in Jesus as their Lord in this life, and Savior from damnation in the next life, now live by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, becoming more like Jesus everyday.

We believe that God is one God. The one God has three persons: the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Just as God is one, so also, all believers are to be one. We believe in the unity and fellowship of all those that have faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. We are one in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, His Body, which is composed of all men, living and dead, who have been joined to Him through saving faith.

Our team of more than 325 healthcare professionals is recognized for its excellence in providing world-class cardiac care in an environment best suited to the needs of our patients.

From tiny babies to teens, we care for Gentry Garrett and every child like our own.

About our Center l

26 board-certified cardiologists, intensivists, anesthesiologists and surgeons

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435 cardiac surgeries performed in 2020, including 4 heart transplants

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More than 675 cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology procedures performed in 2020

For Children’s Financial Assistance information, call 1.844.750.8950 or visit www.childrensal.org/financial-assistance

*All editorial content published needs to be in agreement with our Statement of Faith

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by Tim Challies

What’s the purpose of marriage? A brief search turns up a host of answers representing a multitude of worldviews. These answers reveal no end of confusion, but most perspectives can be summarized under two headings.

Is Marriage a Sacrament?

A second view of marriage is marriage as sacrament. This is the view that dominated Western culture while it was under the control of the Roman Catholic Church. While the Reformation disrupted it, its vestiges remain even outside Catholicism. In this view, marriage is a sacrament under the control of the Church and, like all sacraments, provides saving power to those who participate in it. After all, according to the Church, all of “the sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us.” Though this view is said to be founded on Scripture and the writings of Augustine, it is actually founded on a mistranslation of Scripture and a misinterpretation of the Church Father.

The contract view and the sacrament view are compelling because both contain elements of the truth. Marriage is meant to provide mutual comfort to the husband and wife, as Solomon makes clear: “Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 9:9), and “Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth” (Proverbs 5:18). J.R. Miller writes, “The married life … is God’s own ideal of completeness. It was when he saw that it was not good for man to be alone, that woman was made and brought to him to supply what was lacking. The divine intention, therefore, is that marriage shall yield happiness, and that it shall add to the fullness of the life of both husband and wife; that neither shall lose— but that both shall gain.” However, comfort and joy are meant to be the result of marriage, not its foundation or essence. Their lack in a marriage does not justify its dissolution.

Is Marriage a Contract?

The most common view in Western culture is marriage as contract. In this view, marriage is essentially a contract between two autonomous individuals, which they use a means of fulfillment or selfadvancement. Those who hold to this view understand marriage as a man-made institution that was created for the mutual benefit of those who choose to enter into it. Because human beings invented marriage, it remains in effect only as long as human beings find it beneficial and desirable. When it no longer provides fulfillment or self-advancement—when it becomes inconvenient, unenjoyable, or just plain difficult—it can and should be easily dissolved. Such a marriage “works” only as long as it benefits the two individuals.

It is worth pointing out that the understanding of marriage as a contract leads smoothly and inevitably to the acceptance of alternate forms of marriage, including same-sex unions. If marriage is a man-made institution that exists for the mutual benefit of individuals, humans are free to form any kind of union that appears to be beneficial. In fact, “marriage equality” becomes nothing less than a human right. A human-made institution can always be expanded or reformed to accommodate the wishes of humanity.

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Meanwhile, though marriage is not a sacrament that dispenses divine life upon the husband and wife, it is a means by which God sanctifies us and makes us more like Jesus. Paul writes, moreover, that marriage provides a legitimate outlet for sexual desire and, in that way, preserves us from sexual sin: “But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband” (1 Corinthians 7:2). Hence, Gary Thomas posits the question: “What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy?” Yet even something as good and noble as holiness is not the primary purpose of marriage.

What Does the Bible Say About Marriage?

The highest purpose of marriage is to display to the world the sacrificial love of Christ for his bride, the church.

Though marriage provides many wonderful benefits including mutual comfort, godly offspring, sexual fulfillment, and a means of avoiding sexual sin, these are not its highest purpose. Marriage is not a manmade institution primarily for man’s benefit, but rather a God-made institution primarily for God’s glory. The highest purpose of mar-

riage is to display to the world the sacrificial love of Christ for his bride, the church. Here is how Paul teaches this: “‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church” (Ephesians 5:31-32).

Before God united Adam and Eve in the very first marriage, he already had something else in mind. Before he joined the first husband to the first wife, he was already thinking forward to what that marriage and every subsequent marriage would portray: the relationship of Jesus Christ and his church.

Every marriage is meant to display the truth about the covenant-keeping love of God for his people. In this portrait, the husband is a display of Jesus Christ who woos his bride, who leads her, who cares for her, and who is intimately united to her; the wife is a display of the church who is drawn by Christ, who joyfully follows him, who joins in his life and work, and who is intimately united to him.

Marriage gives us a vivid picture of the kind of love God has for his people and the kind of love his people have for him. It gives us language to use to understand and describe something so beautiful, so wondrous. As Tim Savage writes, “We marry, not primarily for our own benefit and pleasure, nor principally for the comfort of mutual affection, nor

ultimately for the joy of bearing and raising children. We marry because in a work of unparalleled glory the Lord built this union.

We marry because of his glory.”

What is the purpose of marriage?

There are many proposed answers, but they are essentially divided by this key question: Is marriage an institution created by man or by God? Gary Thomas says, “The key question is this: Will we approach marriage from a God-centered view or a man-centered view? In a man-centered view, we will maintain our marriage as long as our earthly comforts, desires, and expectations are met. In a God-centered view, we preserve our marriage because it brings glory to God and points a sinful world to a reconciling Creator.”

Once we recognize that God created marriage, we search the Scripture to carefully and faithfully ensure we understand why God created it. There we find that God intends for marriage to be a lifelong union between a man and woman that displays the glory of God in the Gospel.

Tim Challies is an author, blogger and book reviewer. Visit him at www.challies.com.

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Keeping Love Alive Selma is like so many people I know: “My marriage is stale. I thought our love would last forever when I met Devon, but now...” Finding love in this love-crazy culture is often easy, but finding real love, staying in love, and keeping that love alive requires hard work, which we are often reluctant to do. The passionate, romantic love we desire in our marital relationships, or a dating relationship, means we must be willing to put forth time and energy to give to our boyfriend or spouse what we wish to receive from them.

The famous motivational speaker Dr. Buscaglia said, “What love we’ve given, we’ll have forever. What love we fail to give, will be lost for all eternity.”

This “Dr. Love” is speaking truth, but I am reminded that the original Love Doctor is God, the inventor of love and marriage.

He says that love is kind; it is giving. He gave us the ultimate picture of real love by demonstrating it on the cross. He gave love in order to receive love from us. By His example, we should treat all people, especially our spouses, the same way we want to be treated. If we desire our spouses to dote on us, we must model what we want by first doting on them.

If we interviewed 100 unhappy married women about what constitutes the problems in their marriages, the huge percentage will decry how unaffectionate their spouses are. I know this to be absolute fact because I live and work among women. I have come to know all too well how unhappy most wives are.

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Lack of affection is a primary cause as to why many marriages end up in divorce. As young girls, we dream and plan our weddings in our tender imaginations. These images are carried along the course of life to shape and form our belief systems, and the expectations that funnel our desire for affection and intimacy.

We may go into relationships later in life as if we are baby dolls wanting to be held, pampered, and loved.

We expect tender hugs and holding hands. We expect our husbands to receive some kind of revelation to stop on their way home from work to bring take-out because we don’t feel like cooking. The problem is that men can’t read our minds. They don’t know what we need if we fail to communicate.

What we don’t communicate goes unanswered, which creates a void within our souls. We then react to this void based on our feelings, by shutting down.

We don’t want to be touched, becoming disrespectful, nagging and debasing our husbands, etc. All of these negative behaviors are rooted in our unmet needs and expectations.

Here are some points to help us revive our love and keep it bursting with passion:

1. Communicate Your Feelings

Let your spouse know how you feel about everything; your expectations and desires, as well as your likes and 14

dislikes. If he does not know what hurts you he is liable to repeat the hurt. Learn your spouse in the same way. Being open is one of the major keys to harmony. Dangerous assumptions will be made if you don’t communicate. Talk to each other by asking questions, rather than making assumptions.

2. Restore Your Friendship

Most couples start out as friends, doing activities that friends experience.

They chat on the phone for hours at a time, about little or nothing of note.

They go to shows, lunches, and dinners.

They love spending time together. They became lovers, but they were friends first.

Years after couples say, “I do,” life begins to happen and the first alliance they lose is their friendship. The same couple, who couldn’t hang up the phone when they were miles apart, eventually does not say more than two words to each other when in close proximity. If you find yourself not knowing what to say to your spouse, it is an indication you’ve lost your friendship.

You must strive to get it restored.

3. Give Forgiveness Liberally

Offenses will come, but the Bible tells us, “Let not the sun goes down on your anger” (Ephesians 4:26). Settling disagreements quickly is a must in order to forge a healthy marriage

4. Recapture Your Passion

Jesus’ antidote for lost love was to look back to what sparked that passion in the first place, and simply repeat those love actions. Ask yourself, What did I do to fill his love tank? Be spontaneous. Initiate date nights and love making. Yes, women can be initiators in this territory! Look attractive for your man.

Love, laugh, play, and pray together.

Sisters, enjoy the results of working hard at love, as well as the process along the way!

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Isabel & Grib Anderson Sharing Advice for Before and After Your Wedding Thankfully, all of our meetings to plan the wedding are fond memories. I loved spending time planning with my mom, Grib’s mom, and Mary Sanders of MaryMe, who used her wonderful talent to help us plan our wedding.

Grib and I both agree that our favorite part of our wedding day was the ceremony that was filled with deep connections and love. Rev. Walter Albritton, our lifelong pastor who confirmed both of us in 6th grade and is a family member on Grib’s side, performed our ceremony. Mary Sanders, who planned the wedding, even babysat me when I was younger. We were surrounded with many loved ones, and we felt all the love as we committed ourselves to each other with God at the center.

Many couples spend the majority of their engagement planning for the “wedding” with little preparation for the “marriage”. How did you prepare for a marriage that could start off on the right foot and grow better with time?

During our engagement, we met with our pastor, Rev. Walter Albritton, for marriage counseling to prepare us for our lives together. This was the most important “wedding planning” that we did. For two people who have known each other most of their lives, we had to have important conversations that we would not have initiated ourselves. These sessions led us to have several

When did you two meet and begin your love relationship?

Grib and I have known each other since 1st grade and both grew up going to Saint James United Methodist Church. In 5th grade after a children’s event at church, Grib told his friend (and eventually one of his groomsmen), Dylan, that he had “dibs on Isabel.” The feelings were mutual and our 5th grade crush grew.

In high school we began dating and our crush blossomed into a love relationship. We dated in college, then Grib proposed in July 2018.

When and where were you married? What are your fondest memories of your wedding and the days leading up to it?

Our wedding was on August 1, 2020 at Thornfield Plantation in Millbrook, AL. This was not our original date... we rescheduled to this later date because of Covid. One of my fondest memories of the days leading up to our marriage is the night after we got engaged. Grib, his mom, his dad, and I went out to a nice restaurant at the beach to celebrate. Grib’s dad unexpectedly passed away on May 4, 2020, a little less than three months before our wedding. This memory will always be treasured because we got to have this celebration with his parents, whose marriage is a great testimony of unconditional love.

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significant discussions to develop a stronger foundation and knowledge of each other--and even the really hard conversations about money and future budgeting.

As you seek to honor Christ above all else, how would you say that focus helps you have a right attitude toward your new spouse?

My parents (Janet and Andy Krantz) and Grib’s parents (Will and Gayle Anderson) both have/had marriages that seek to honor Christ above all else.

Their marriages are testimonies to us. Grib and I have both committed our lives to Christ and now have a marriage that is built on a foundation of our faith in Jesus. We know that our life together will have many challenges and will not be perfect all the time. We will lean into our faith, just as we have done through grief and sadness with the passing of Grib’s father. We believe that if our hearts have Christ at the center during all of our days, whether it be the best days or the worst days, we will always have love for one another.

What advice would you give couples to help them prepare for marriage and to help them grow in oneness after their wedding day?

Go with the flow! As a 2020 bride and groom, we were actually forced to go with the flow. Dates were changed and our plans were thrown for a loop. While the world and wedding planning was chaotic, we were reminded that sometimes we have little to no control over circumstances.

This taught us both to live in and enjoy the present and each other.

Of course, our biggest piece of advice is to invest in your marriage and meet with a pastor or someone who will guide you and help prepare you for your lifelong commitment to each other.

Photos by Brittany Jayde Photography.

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It’s no secret that the pandemic took the world by storm, and life as we know it changed in early 2020.

We faced uncharted waters and a lot of uncertainty. It was the beginning of an unprecedented challenge for the wedding industry and brides-to-be.

Experts in the field have been devastated by the coronavirus crisis.

Couples are left questioning, should we postpone our wedding or find safe ways to navigate around the coronavirus?

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This year, the idea of what a “traditional wedding” typically looks like is changing.

The pandemic has redefined that across the globe. Though we’ve welcomed 2021 with open arms, the reality of COVID-19 still lingers and cannot be overlooked, which has forced many couples to rework expectations and decision making towards their big day.

The first thing to do is to keep calm. If your wedding day happens to be in the midst of the coronavirus crisis, you might be wondering what you should do if your wedding is potentially affected. And remember, although your special day might look different from your original dream plans, it does not lessen your special day. With the added stress of preparing and planning for a wedding alone, we understand the additional stress of planning a wedding during a global pandemic.

According to a bridal and design expert from HauteFetes, hiring a full-service wedding planner has always been a valuable investment when planning your wedding.

However, with all of the changes happening due to COVID-19, hiring a wedding planner is vital. The expert also suggests when you partner with a full-service wedding planner, you have design and planning support throughout your entire journey leading up to walking down the aisle—even if some of it is virtual!

Nevertheless, weddings are here to stay, and it’s still a day that can be magical and memorable with safety precautions, unique styles and trends, and most of all, intentionality. As we lean into 2021, we want to share some of the most popular and unconventional trends of the year. We want to ease your worries and provide you with the best advice and tips to ensure your wedding will be all the rave this year.

The Menu

When it comes to tying the knot, one can’t help but imagine an elegant and delicious spread of food for their guests to enjoy. No matter how beautiful the venue or how great the DJ or band is, more than likely, people are going to remember if they enjoyed what they ate. Not to mention discussing the food selections while they 19

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graze appetizers, hors d’oeuvres, or the main course. We’re not writing off reception buffets for 2021, but according to experts, they probably won’t be making a hit debut at weddings soon. However, there is a way to incorporate it into your big day. To enhance your guest’s experience, here are some creative and safe ways to do so suggested by an industry expert, Beth Griffiths of Whoa Nelly Catering.

“We’re strongly advocating for attended buffets. With having the buffet staffed to put food on the plate, you’re limiting the number of hands touching the utensils. Buffet stations may also be spaced out throughout the venue to avoid over-crowding, with a method put in place to structure the way guests are being served to limit standing in a line.”

elderly to attend, such as your grandmother?

According to a recent study by The Knot, which surveyed people who were supposed to attend a wedding amid the coronavirus pandemic, 71% of guests say it’s important to receive information on health and safety measures before RSVP-ing. Even more specifically, 63% of guests want to know your mask policy, and 60% want to know the size of the guest list. Evaluating these types of questions and suggestions will allow you to prepare and implement safety measures at your ceremony to ensure everyone is comfortable and enjoys the special occasion.

Consider Your Guests

For sure, there is one thing that reigns the holy grail of weddings by far. And that is saying yes to the dress. A bride wearing a stunning wedding gown is the focal point of a ceremony. This year, the 90s are making a comeback with streamlined silhouettes like sheaths and 90s inspired slip dresses as opposed to voluminous ball gowns and mermaids, according to Shelly Brown, The Knot’s Senior Fashion and Beauty Editor. Also, shorter dresses are trending into 2021, giving the surge of smaller and more intimate ceremonies.

With the pandemic, smaller guest lists, more casual, personal vibes, and even some full virtual weddings—shorter

Desiring your family and friends to witness you exchange vows with the one you love is understandable. However, determining or altering the guest list post-COVID is essential for the safety of your guests. It’s something that you should discuss with your partner while considering how it will influence your decision. For example, are you willing to change from a larger ballroom wedding of 250 guests to a smaller backyard wedding of 50 guests?

Other things to consider are, would you be comfortable hugging and dancing with your guests? Is it imperative for the

Wedding Dress

dresses are becoming ideal for the occasion. As for an outdoorsy bride, capes and tulle overskirts are perfect. Not to mention if you have to transition to a different venue or inclement weather occurs.

Believe it or not, brides are opting for a fun and unique look, and jumpsuits have been their go-to for versatility this year.

The Venue

Although some venues are closing and some vendors are going out of business, don’t let the pandemic put a damper on your I Dos! If you’re determined to have your magical day, it can happen with a bit of imagination and creativity. Backyard enchanted weddings or “deck out your deck” weddings are becoming more popular during these unforeseen times. Not only are they sentimental, but safe. It allows socially distanced seating arrangements, a small and intimate setting amongst family and close friends, and a breathtaking sunset—depending on the time of day. Or, if you’d like to pivot your wedding plans in a different direction, opt for a drive-in movie wedding (live-stream it on the big screen for remote guests) or consider a tailgate wedding.

No one knows what lies ahead with COVID-19, but we are hopeful. What we do know is how timeless a wedding ceremony is with your loved ones, and you deserve the opportunity to have your special day!

Kimberley Carter Spivey is a freelance writer, blogger, author, and entrepreneur. When she’s not working as an Instructional Systems Designer and copy-editor on Maxwell AFB, she’s busy freelancing, blogging, or toiling away at her next book. Her debut book Bloom: How to Get from Good Enough to a Life You Love can be purchased on Amazon and girlyouwrite.com.

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12/21/20 3:59 PM

Top 10 Topics of 2020 It’s time for the Top 10 Topics from the previous year, encompassing stories covered on The Meeting House impacting the Christian community. I recently shared information on these Top 10 Topics of 2020 and included comments from various guests from The Meeting House on Faith Radio.

10 - Equality Proclamation signed by African-American pro-life leaders

In a historic gathering in Montgomery in September, national African-American prolife leaders gathered at His Vessel Ministries to sign the Equality Proclamation, which declared that black unborn children were being disproportionately targeted for abortion and announced their petition filed before the Alabama Supreme Court.

9 - Thousands converge on Washington, DC to pray, repent

Throughout 2020, there were concerted prayer efforts encouraging Christians to pray for our nation, especially in light of the election in November. Two major events occurred in Washington, DC in September on the same day - Franklin Graham’s Washington Prayer March and The Return, which was led in part by Jonathan Cahn.

8 - New U.S. Supreme Court justice supported by Christian leaders and organizations

Justice Amy Coney Barrett was confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court, enjoying a broad base of support among Christian leaders, who were encouraged

by Barrett’s reputation as a jurist who would interpret the Constitution as written. Incidentally, one of the first cases that Justice Barrett heard was a religious liberty case involving a faith-based adoption agency that was restricted by the city of Philadelphia because it would not place children in homes headed by same-sex couples.

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7 - U.S. Supreme Court rules on definition of “sex”

A U.S. Supreme Court case with a potential impact on the Christian community had to do with employment law and the definition of “sex,” which some contended would include sexual orientation and gender identity.

Three cases were combined before the U.S. Supreme Court in the Bostock decision, in which four liberals on the court, Chief Justice Roberts, and Trump appointee Neil Gorsuch ruled in favor of this bold redefinition of the word “sex.”

6 - Evangelicals voice concern about election integrity

Even before the Presidential election of 2020, there were concerns about the overall topic of voter integrity. Honest elections should be an issue that all Americans should be concerned about, and the Bible is clear about the importance of truth and integrity.

A number of Christian leaders were actively involved in speaking out regarding what they saw as evidence of voter irregularities, and regular virtual prayer meetings were held on that topic.

5 - Pro-life women elected to Congress There were several threads regarding the 2020 election involving the Christian community. Another example is the groundswell of pro-life women who were elected to Congress during this election cycle.

4 - Evangelical support for President Trump stays strong for 2020 election

The Presidential election became a divisive occasion for Christians, including evangelical believers, as evangelical support for President Trump from 2016 was challenged by Christian leaders who did not vote for the President, due in part to personality matters. A number of evangelicals who perhaps less-than-enthusiastically supported Trump in 2016 expressed their satisfaction with the Administration’s support for life, 22

liberty, and Constitutional judges. In the end, the President seemed to retain most if not all of his evangelical support.

3 - Christians seek to respond Biblically to racial unrest

The brutal murder of George Floyd on the streets of Minneapolis became a nationwide flashpoint for racial issues, and gave an opportunity for the Church to lead the way in responding in the area of race relations. Across America, the existence of racial tension gave believers the opportunity to address how we can address matters of race relations in a positive, constructive, and Biblical way.

2 - Local government restrictions challenged by churches, claiming unfair treatment

The story that dominated so many people’s lives in 2020 continues into 2021 and is reflected in the top 2 topics. While churches were certainly attempting to minister in the midst of the COVID pandemic, in many areas, churches and ministries found themselves restricted in the size and nature of their worship gatherings - while churches claimed they were essential, some officials treated churches less fairly than other types of gatherings.

1 - Churches, ministries deal with fallout from Coronavirus

The #1 topic has to do with the way that ministry continued, even in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic. Thankfully, so many churches and ministries were committed to providing spiritual perspective in the midst of crisis. Faith Radio adopted the theme, “Faith Over Fear,” and posted a “Coronavirus Response” page with links to Faith Radio programmer content and interviews from The Meeting House. While the nation attempts to get its footing during unstable times, the Church can exalt Jesus Christ as a source of stability.

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Are Your Relationships Healthy?

The human brain pushes individuals to relate in groups, families, and the community. As well, and most importantly, humans have the drive to be in “meaningful” relationships (from marriages, friendships, even children/parents). There are healthy relationships that have “manageable problems”, and then there are toxic relationships that are destructive to mind, body, and spirit.

If we look at unhealthy relationships and try to diagnose them like any other mental health issue, we would look for: “clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning” (DSM-5). So, this would mean looking at how problems in the relationship affect work, other significant relationships, or health. In unhealthy relationships, one or both spouses may become ill or cease to function well (physically, psychologically or even socially). This has a negative impact on others, including children.

As a Marriage and Family Therapist, I see a number of couples dealing with relational issues. Most couples deal with issues involving communication, different financial goals, separation of household chores, children, in-laws and sex. Some River Region’s Journey

February 2021

relationships are abusive – verbally, physically, and/or emotionally or psychologically.

If you are struggling in your relationship, seek help early. The average couple only seeks marital therapy after dealing with an issue more than five years. This means that negative sentiment of the relationship often has deteriorated and now overrides any positives the couple previously had to salvage the relationship, so they feel disconnected and lost. But even in these cases, there is something that can be done. Working together, we can still salvage the positives and restore the connection.

As therapists, we are unable to dictate the future of the couple.

Nonetheless we are responsible in creating awareness, consciousness and possible positive change.

Of course, there is great weight in the couple dynamics and how they together deal with or solve issues. Therapy can help.

Is your relationship unhealthy?

Do you spend much of your time worrying about the relationship? Does that get in the way of other significant or important activities? (i.e. professional, family or children, spiritual or growing self).

Do you like who you are or how you feel in the relationship? Do you believe you are emotionally and physically healthy? Are there more negative experiences in the relationship than positives? Do you have family members or friends worry about you 24

and the health of the relationship? Have you asked to get help for the relationship and the other person refuses?

If you believe that a relationship in your life is toxic or unhealthy, seek spiritual guidance and professional help.

What does the Bible say about healthy relationships?

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.(1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

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For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. (2 Peter 1:5-7)

Dr. Jessica Gibbe Fernandez is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of Alabama. She is a Certified Sex Therapist, a Certified Hypnotherapist, a Clinical Fellow of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, The Alabama Counseling Association, and an Approved Supervisor for the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Jessica’s clinical interests include marriage and couples therapy, healthy relationships, and family therapy. She sees adolescents and adults with depression, anxiety, stress, self-esteem and personal growth issues, life transitions, gender issues (LGBTQ+), sexuality issues, family adjustment and acculturation.

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Adoption

Location: Vaughn Forest Church, 8660 Vaughn Road, Montgomery APAC, Alabama Pre/ Post Adoption Connection Support Group: This group provides education and social interaction for adoptive families. Meets 3rd Tuesdays, 6-7:30 p.m. For more information call Jill Sexton at 409-9477.

Alcoholic / Addiction

Location: Caring Center of FBC, 52 Adams Avenue CrossRoads Support Group is for addicts/alcoholics and family members. Meets at 6 p.m.

Tuesdays and follows a Christcentered 12-step program.

Call 264-4949.

Location: Dalraida United Methodist Church 3817 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery An Alanon meeting is held at 9 am on Saturday mornings. Call 272.2190 for details.

Location: Grace Presbyterian Church, Corner of Bell Road and Atlanta Hwy. Alcoholics Anonymous and Alanon meetings are held Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, at 6 p.m. An Open AA Speaker meeting is held on Saturday at 6 p.m. An Alanon & AA held on Sundays at 2 p.m.

Location: Grace Point Community Church, 78223 Tallassee Hwy (Hwy 14), Wetumpka Celebrate Recovery- every Tuesday night- 6:15pm. All are welcome! These meetings are a safe and loving environment for individuals seeking to conquer their hurts, habits and hang-ups! gracepoint.info.

Location: Heritage Baptist Church 1849 Perry Hill Rd, Montgomery, AL Route1520 is a Christ-centered recovery movement dedicated to showing the way home for men impacted by sex and pornography addiction. Meets: Mondays, 6:30 – 8:00 PM CST. No Childcare Provided. Email montgomery@route1520.com, visit http://www.route1520.com/ men/groups-for-men/ or call 877.200.1520.

Location: Journey Church, 435 Sheila Blvd, Prattville Celebrate Recovery - Christ-centered 12-step for anyone struggling with addiction or life-challenging issues.

Mondays beginning at 6:15 pm. Childcare available.

Call John Pearse at 303-243-4308 or visit myjourneychurch.com.

Location: Landmark Church, 1800 Halcyon Blvd.

RSVP- This is a 12 step spiritual recovery program for

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February 2021

overcoming addictions. Using the steps and Bible we help build self-esteem, responsible behavior, the making of amends for our destructive actions, and to fill the void in our hearts in a loving relationship with God. Wednesday @ 6:30pm in Rm. 121 of the Life Center.

Location: Prattville Church of Christ, 344 E Main St. CASA - 12 step (Christians Against Substance Abuse) spiritual recovery program, for overcoming addictions.

Class begins each Wednesday evening @6:30 PM. Please call 334-365-4201 for additional information.

Location: St. James UMC, 9045 Vaughn Road Celebrate Recovery meets every Thursday night from 6-8 pm in the Youth Room. This is a Christ-centered 12-step group for anyone struggling with an “addiction or life-challenging issues.” For information, call Chris Henderson at 334-215-0427.

Location: First United Methodist Church, Wetumpka 306 W. Tuskeena Street ‘Fresh Start’ Recovery meets every Thursday, 6-8pm (meal included). In 2011, Fresh Start Motorcycle Ministry (FSMM) began when God laid it on the heart of a lifetime biker to minister to those with his background.

All are welcome, not a requirement to own/ride a motorcycle. For any information contact ministry leader, Paul Henderson, 334-201-5428.

Location: Trinity Presbyterian Church, 1728 S. Hull Street, Montgomery Route1520 is a Christ-centered recovery movement dedicated to showing the way home for men impacted by sex and pornography addiction. Meets Wednesday from 6:30-8 pm. For more information email riverregion@route1520.com, visit http:// www.route1520.com/ men/groups-for-men or call 877-2000-1520.

Alzheimer’s / Dementia

Location: First UMC, 2416 W. Cloverdale Park, An Adult Parkinson/Alzheimer’s respite ministry meets from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Lunch is served. Contact Daphne at 834-8990.

Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy An Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregivers’ Support Group meets on the first Thursday of each month at 10:30 a.m. in Room 3103. Call 495-6343. for more information.

Cancer

Location: Aldersgate UMC, 6610 Vaughn Rd Cancer Survivors Support Group is sponsored by Samaritan Counseling Center. We would love to have anyone (patient or family member ) join us.

Thursdays at 1 pm. Please call before attending just to make sure we are meeting that week.

Please call Debbie D at 4674578 or Ben W at 202-1912.

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Location: ChristChurch, 8800 Vaughn Road Cancer Support Group for general cancer. Tuesday afternoons at 1 pm. For more info, please call Christy Holding at 531-1390 or Debbie at 467-4578.

Location: Frazer UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy. Central Alabama Multiple Myeloma Support Group meets from 10 a.m. to noon the second Saturday of every month in Room 3105. We have guest speakers, video presentations, printed information and a group that welcomes sharing their journey with myeloma in an informal setting. Refreshments are provided. Contact Joe Crowley at 334-207-4385 or jpcrowl46@yahoo.com Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy. Women of Hope Breast Cancer Support Group, providing education, awareness, and mentoring for breast cancer patients/survivors, family and friends, meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in Room 8114.

Call 220-4599 or e-mail womenofhope@charter.net

Divorce

Location: First Baptist Church, 305 S. Perry Street Divorce Care Wednesday nights @6:30-8:00 pm in Room 405B. Child care is available. Contact Kathy Cooper at 241-5125 for information.

Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Divorce Care meets each Tuesday from 6 – 7:30 p.m.

Come to the Library area. This group will provide support & guidance to assist you in working through the issues, pain & pressures surrounding divorce. Call 495-6343 or email rnave@frazer.church.

Gambling

Location: Cedarwood Community Church, 10286 US HWY 231 in the Wallsboro/Wetumpka community.

The church is 1 1/2 miles past Tutweiler prison.

Gamblers Anonymous, Saturdays at 6 pm. and Mondays at 6:30 pm. Call 567-0476.

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Location: Mental Health of America, 1116 South Hull Street, Montgomery. Sundays @ 5 pm.

For more information about the GA meetings call 334-399-6918. For information about counseling services or to request a guest speaker please call the Alabama Council on Compulsive Gambling at 334-277-5100.

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Grief

Location: Cornerstone Christian Church, 301 Dalraida Road River Region Survivors of Suicide meets on the second and fourth Thursday of every month (excluding holidays) from 6:30-8:00 PM. This is an open group for those who have lost a loved one to suicide and welcomes anyone regardless of their religious beliefs. Contact Cheryl Vinson at riverregionsos@gmail.com with questions or for more information.

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Location: Eastmont Baptist, 4505 Atlanta Hwy. Compassionate Friends is a national self-help support organization for families grieving the death of a child meeting first Tuesdays at 7 pm. Call (334) 284-2721 for info.

Location: First UMC, 100 E. Fourth St, Prattville Grief Share, Wednesday evenings at 6 pm in the church parlor. Led by Michael Beatty. Call 365-5977.

Location: Frazer UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Grief Recovery Support Group meets Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m., Rm 3105. Call 495-6350 for more info.

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Location: Grace Baptist Church, 304 Old Montgomery Highway, Wetumpka Mourning to Morning is a Christian growth group for mothers who have lost a child, from before birth through adulthood. Meets the last Thursday night of each month.

For info, contact Alice Scarborough (334) 462-4775 or Gwen Ellis (334) 567-8754 or e-mail mourningtomorning@gmail.com. Join us on Facebook.

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Location: Millbrook FUMC, 3350 Edgewood Rd Grief Share meets Sundays from 5-7 p.m. For more information or to sign up, please call the church office at 285-4114 or email churchoffice@mfumc.org.

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Location: Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church 1550 E. Washington Street Grief support group meets every Monday at 6:00 P.M- 7:00 P.M. For additional information, please contact Alice Glover at (334)281-2754.

Mental Health

Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Mental Health - NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) meets 2nd Monday of each month from 6:30 – 8:30 pm in Room 7205. Group provides understanding, education & information to family members & friends of those who suffer mental illness, Call Pat Cobb at 334279-8331 for more info. NAMI Connection Support Group for individuals with mental illness meets every Thursday evening, 6:30 – 7:30 pm, room 3104. Call Pat Cobb at 334-279-8331 for more information.

Parenting

Location: First Baptist Prattville, 138 S.Washington Moms LIFE (Living In Faith Everyday) meets twice monthly from 8:30 - 11:45 am in the chapel at the Church from Aug - May. We offer a time of fellowship, Bible study, musical guest, special guest speakers and a lot of fun!! Cost is $5 per meeting. For moms of all stages and ages of life.

Childcare provided by reservation. Call April Scott at 828-446-6666.

Location: First Baptist Church, 305 S. Perry Street MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) is a place you can share a good meal, make new friends, and find encouragement as you face the everyday challenges of raising your little ones. We have educational speakers, great conversation, and fun activities. Free childcare is provided. Meetings are every 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 9:30-11:30 a.m., September through May. Contact Tiffany Alewine at 241-5165.

Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Frazer mom2mom is a playgroup to connect mothers of ages birth to 5 at Frazer UMC to share fun and inspiration in our journey together, with our children, and with Christ. Email Mom2mom@frazerumc.org for info.

Location: Landmark Church, 1800 Halcyon Blvd.

Single Moms Support Group, Wednesday nights at 6:30 p.m. in classroom 118. For information call 277-5800.

Location: Perry Hill UMC, 910 Perry Hill Road Single Moms’ Care and Support Group meets 2nd and 4th Thursdays from 6:15 - 8:00 PM. December meeting will be on the 11th. Free snack supper provided to moms and children. Child care for infants -16 years. Call 272-3174.

Location: Redland Baptist, 1266 Dozier Rd, Wetumpka A MOPS group will be held 1st and 3rd Tuesday’s of every month during the school year, and has scheduled play dates and moms nights out through the summer and beyond. While moms are in a MOPS meeting, their children are lovingly cared for in the MOPPETS program.

Email Denise Braswell at deniseorscott@yahoo.com.

Location: St.James UMC, 9045 Vauhgn Road Moms in Prayer International: This is a Christ centered

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interdenominational prayer ministry made up of moms, grandmothers, aunts or any woman who wants to gathers to pray for their children and schools. Meets every Sunday afternoon from 3:00-4:00. Call Annette Jones for more information on joining us or training to start your own group. 850-529-4730 or email Montgomerymipac@gmail.com.

Physical Challenges Location: Aldersgate UMC, 6610 Vaughn Road Visually Impaired Support Group – Meets monthly on second Thursday 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. The group is called Outward Sight - Inward Vision and is for those with vision loss and their caregivers. Our mission is to assist those experiencing vision loss to maintain their independence. Call 272-6152.

Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy. Parkinson’s Support meets 4th Thursdays at 6 pm in Room 8114. Call 495-6350 for more info.

Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy. Ostomy Support meets every other month on the 2nd Sunday at 1:30 p.m. in room 3101. In 2018: Feb., April, June, Aug., Oct., Dec. Call 495-6350 for more info.

Location: Vaughn Park Church, 3800 Vaughn Rd. Montgomery Area Down Syndrome Outreach Group meets 2nd Friday of each month from 6:308 PM. We have activities, speakers and special events throughout the year for the parents, siblings and children with Down Syndrome. Childcare is provided. Please visit www.montgomeryareadownsyndrome.com or our Facebook page (MADSOG) for information. .

February 2021

River Region’s Journey

Let Kids Make Mistakes (and Learn From Them) Q. We just started teaching our sevenyear-old about money. He’s very eager to learn, and he seems to be grasping the basic ideas quickly. He’s young, though, and of course he makes mistakes from time to time. Should we step in and fix things when a mistake he made means he can’t do something he wanted to do?

A. It’s always hard on parents when they see their children suffer because of a choice the child made. But sometimes it’s best to love them so much that you’ll let them make mistakes, and make sure they learn from them, while they’re still under your protection. Reality can be a great teacher when it comes to learning how the world works, and sometimes

River Region’s Journey

February 2021

one sting from a bad decision when you’re young is all it takes to teach a kid a lesson that will last a lifetime.

As a parent, you’re always looking for teachable moments. First, make sure you’re giving him a chance to earn some money. That means work, no allowances.

We’re talking about kid-sized, age-appropriate tasks. There’s a ton of value and self-esteem that go handin-hand with being paid for a job well done. Once you pay him for the work he does, then you have chances for more teachable moments about saving, spending, and giving—and the importance of each.

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If I were you, I wouldn’t run in and fix things. By this, I mean I wouldn’t just hand him money he didn’t earn so he can still get or do what he had in mind.

But don’t fuss at him or brush it off, either. Gently explain why things didn’t work out the way he hoped.

Then, talk through what he might have done differently to help make the situation better next time.

Kids are smarter and often have more understanding and comprehension skills than we give them credit for. My guess is you won’t need to have this kind of conversation more than once or twice!

First United Methodist Church is a community of faith that is committed to loving God and loving people. Our mission is to make disciples of Christ for the transformation of the world, and we invite all people to come as you are and join us as we build His kingdom!

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VIRTUAL SERVICE @FUMCMontgomery www.fumcmontgomery.org WSFA Channel 12 FUMC Montgomery

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