River Region's Journey Christian Magazine May 2020 Issue

Volume 22, Issue 2

Feature Articles

MAY 2020 Columns page 2

Publisher’s Note page 10

Jason Watson

Faith @ Work: Scott Ballinger, M.D.

page 4

Scott Ballinger, doctor with ENT Associates of Alabama, shares his journey to faith in Christ, plus the ways he tries to glorify God through his work and life each day.

Pastor's Perspective Jay Thompson, Cornerstone Christian Church

page 8

Moments with Kym Kym Klass

page 15

Women Arising Pastor Kemi Searcy

page 12

I Once Was Found, But Now I’m Lost

page 16

The Intersection Bob Crittenden

by Tullian Tchividjian

Understanding the true meaning of the parable of the lost sheep will give you new insight into God’s extravagant grace... and to what lengths He will go to rescue you.

page 21

Counselor’s Corner Avery Berry, LPC

page 24

Dave $ays Dave Ramsey

page 18

Ministry Spotlight:

For Such a Time as This

by Katie Blair

Discover how area churches have been ministering in creative ways during the COVID-19 pandemic.

You’ll be encouraged to see the Church going forward and connecting in new ways.

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In Every Issue page 6

Books to Read page 10

Faith @ Work page 22

Support Groups May 2020

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

Community Coordinator Savannah Bowden

Research Editor Wendy McCollum

Contributing Writers Avery Berry Katie Blair Bob Crittenden Kym Klass Dave Ramsey Kemi Searcy Dr. David Steele Pastor Jay Thompson Tullian Tchividjian

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

From the Publisher This past weekend our 9-year-old daughter had her first sleepover. As everything was coming together you could see here excitement bubbling to all-time levels. It wasn’t long before this sleepover had turned into something bigger than Christmas morning. She was scheduling everything they would do together from fort building, pizza toppings, and movie choices. She had everything planned to a tee and couldn’t wait to see it come together!

Once the sleepover started it was pops of giggles and squeals as they dashed around the house. Everything was going amazing until our daughter’s friend wanted to change the plans.

Just like her excitement grew during the planning phase, now our daughter’s frustrations were growing equally high as her plans were being met with innocent opposition. Her plans weren’t working like she expected! Turns out that “Amazing First Sleepover” resulted in a lot of melt-downs and a very long nap the next day.

Watching my daughter get all out of sorts when her plans got messed up reminded me of how I’ve felt over the past six weeks during our socialdistancing experiment. As news updates have been released that I found disagreeable with my plans, I have gotten all out of sorts too. I think some of my frustrations were warranted, but many of them were revealing the idols of my heart.

This prayer from Christian counselor and author Barbara Duguid helped me see things clearer. She wrote, “Thank you for times of pain when you dismantle our idols and disarm the fortresses that we turn to instead of you.

When life is stormy, let us find safety, peace, and hope in Christ, our best refuge and only source of true and lasting strength.”

It’s been a hard past couple of months, but if it leads us to detach our grip from worldly idols unable to give us the life we desire and onto Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life, then we will be better for it in the end.

“Be still, and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10

Digital Manager Scott Davis

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 2020 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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Pastor’s Perspective

by Pastor Jay Thompson, Cornerstone Christian Church

Encouragement for Parenting From An Incredible God Parenting. It is a wild roller-coaster ride at best. Even the most confident and grounded of Christian parents eventually question to some degree their ability to be adequate for the challenge. Parenting conjures up images of hard work and the need for consistency. Perhaps for you it brings the warmth of knowing you did your best and relied on the Heavenly Father to make up for your shortfalls. And haven’t we all occasionally wished we had an opportunity to redo some things we surely could have done better?

One thing that is often sorely lacking in all our lives, but especially needed for Christian parents, is encouragement.

There are events and circumstances around us that can work against our

hope and optimism. The 93rd Psalm contains a lot of encouragement if we’ll take the time to hear its message. Within five verses laced with vivid descriptions of God’s might, a few words stand out in portraying the mighty King who loves us.

I’ve picked three to consider closely: Verse 1- the Lord reigns. Has assumed kingship. It’s not that God ever wasn’t king; there is a literary mechanism employed here that is common in ancient literature- referring to something that has always been as if it just recently started. The author is conveying a sense of the personal realization of God’s kingship over all things, best seen in His mastery over nature. In those days there was no force on earth considered more powerful than nature and any God big enough to reign over it was certainly big enough to be Lord over mankind. The encouragement for us is to trust His power working in, through, and for our lives. There’s nothing you’ll face that He can’t handle (Philippians 4:13)!

Verse 2God’s throne is established from of old. This word is from a primitive root meaning to “stand perpendicular,” with the sense of being firmly anchored.

Something that cannot be moved, disrupted, or shifted.

Note the same term is used in verse 1 about the

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“firmness” of the earth. But God’s throne is established “from of old.” The idea for us is one of permanence. We will never have to worry about God being replaced as Lord over all things. There can never be an improvement or a better leader to follow. There certainly will never be one who loves us more than Him. He is always working for our good as we commit our way to Him (Romans 8:28). And that includes our “way” of relating to our kids.

Verse 5- God’s testimonies are fully confirmed. The word itself is used to describe God’s written Law in the Pentateuch; otherwise it is a generic term that can cover requirements, warnings, regulations, or decrees. God’s testimonies make clear His position on whatever He speaks about. When we open the Bible we are looking into God’s Word and will for our lives. He doesn’t play games or try to hide things from us, rather He reveals what we need to know (Psalm 119:160). The encouragement for us is the life-changing power of the Word (Hebrews 4:12, 13; 2 Timothy 3:14-17).

Get into it. Use it as a weapon against discouragement or temptation of any kind. Defend your family- especially the children- with it!

In an era when keeping kids interested in the right path can seem very, very tough, giving in to the world’s ways is simply not acceptable for the Believer.

We are called and equipped to be used

by God to make a difference in lives and events around us. Be encouraged by the mighty God you serve! Share that encouragement freely!

Jay Thompson is pastor of Cornerstone Christian Church in Montgomery.

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Maturity: Growing Up and Going On In the Christian Life

The Vanishing American Adult

Sinclair Ferguson

Ben Sasse

In a style that Christians have grown fond of, Sinclair Ferguson gifts the church with Maturity: Growing Up and Going On in the Christian Life. Originally penned in 1980 and distributed with the title, Add to Your Faith, and in 1981 as Taking the Christian Life Seriously in the United States. To refer to this short work as a treasure would be an understatement as Dr. Ferguson presents the high points of the Christian life.

The high points are set forth in five sections, namely, growing up, standing firm, facing difficulties, pressing on, and maturity. At the heart of Ferguson’s work is the Pauline mandate for Christ-followers to be mature in Christ: “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ” (Col. 1:28). Ferguson adds, “The mature Christian has been finely shaped by the Holy Spirit and has been ‘filled out’ in a character which showed the fruit of the Spirit. Mature Christians possess the qualities which only Jesus Christ can produce, because he alone has exhibited them perfectly. This is maturity.” As such, we are not only “bound to the example of Christ, we are under the lordship of Christ.”

Each of the five sections assumes that readers desire to grow in Christian maturity. With the divine standard in place, the author carefully explains how maturity develops throughout the course of our lives. The various themes that emerge in these sections are deeply biblical and profoundly practical. Christians at all stages of maturity will benefit from Ferguson’s sound exegesis and practical application.

Maturity: Growing Up and Going On in the Christian Life truly lives up to its calling and invites readers to press and continue the sanctification process that was initiated at the point of conversion.

Highly recommended.

Senator Ben Sasse is concerned. He is concerned about the next generation. To put it bluntly, Sasse argues in so many words that we are experiencing a crisis of maturity. Young people are being raised to be lazy, self-indulgent, ungrateful, and unproductive citizens.

The Vanishing American Adult by Ben Sasse focusses on “rebuilding a culture comprised of resilient, literate, thoughtful individuals.” Tragically, many Americans fail to achieve this high standard. In a fascinating twist of irony, one of the first reviews I read on Amazon (which incidentally rated this book with one star) weighed in: “Did not hold my attention. I got very bored.”

Such a comment only heightens the appeal that Sasse makes and should prompt this reviewer to reconsider.

After brilliantly articulating our propensity to be passive, Sasse proposes five character building habits: • Discover the body its potential and its frailty, and the many diverse stages of life that lie ahead – by breaking free of the tyranny of one generation.

• Develop a work ethic.

• Embrace limited consumption.

• Learn how to travel and to travel light.

• Learn how to read and decide what to read.

The author develops each character building habits and provides “stepping stones” at the conclusion of each chapter.

Readers who participate will no doubt be encouraged and will likely take great steps to repudiate the prevailing passivity that dominates American culture.

The Vanishing American Adult is a much-needed corrective and will benefit many readers. The crisis that Senator Sasse presents is real and dangerous. Left unchecked, this crisis will lead to the the steady erosion of American culture and the loss of virtue. Thankfully, Sasse offer workable solutions to “stop the bleeding.” My hope is that many will listen, learn, and change.

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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.

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.

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Thoughts on Teen Dating A teenager’s life is often filled with wonder, new experiences, and finding themselves through both growth and adventures.

There is family life, church life, spending time with friends, staying up late studying and sending that last text message before closing their eyes for the night.

It is often enough to fill every hour of the day. And that’s not even all of it. Teens don’t only spend time with their friends – but they are also at the age when many begin dating.

So, where does dating fall into their life?

And what about the pressures that might come with it? And, with so much on their plate already, why date at all?

One River Region teen puts it this way: “Most teenagers don’t date to make themselves look better in the eyes of society, but of themselves. They feel like they’re empty and, instead of turning to God for that fulfillment, they look for it in an earthly relationship.” – Savannah Nelson I asked Savannah, a rising senior at Prattville Christian Academy – and a swimmer, blogger, and member of Prattville Church of Christ – for her take, on how, as a Christian, she approaches potential dating relationships.

What are some of the pressures that teens face with dating today?

So many! I know, personally, the hardest thing for me is the pressure to “keep up.” I don’t have a boyfriend, but some of my close friends do, and you know what?

There’s nothing wrong with that! The struggle, though, is trying to be content in where God has me in this season of life, and making full use of the opportunities He sets before me.

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As a Christian, how do you approach dating?

Before I answer this, you must understand that I am definitely NOT the normal when it comes to my standards of someone I date. When I date someone, I don’t want it to be just merely “for fun” or as a way to fill my weekends, but preferably (with) someone I could see myself marrying down the line. Now, does this mean the man I marry will be the only one I ever date? Absolutely not - even if it would be nice. Instead, it’s just about looking at it purposely and both parties agreeing to pursue the relationship with an intentional mindset.

Does the boy have to be a Christian, too?

I think it’s essential that you and your boyfriend are on the same page regarding your faith - not only based on you both being Christians, but y’all both having standards within that faith. At the end of the day, you’re going to marry someone you date, and I believe it is important that you go in thinking about what your family dynamic would be if you spent your life with that person, and how that would work into God’s Kingdom. In his letter to the Philippians, Paul says this: “Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose” (Philippians 2:2). You can’t be united in purpose if you aren’t serving the same God. Do you even believe in dating in high school?

Yes and no. I think dating should be purposeful and, while I haven’t found anyone in high school, it’s not to say it couldn’t work out 8

that way for other people. I think it’s all about the mindset you have with it; don’t let your relationship become so all-consuming that you miss out on all the incredible opportunities that God sets before you because you’re so engrossed in that relationship. There’s a balance.

Do you think teens today feel pressured to have a girlfriend or boyfriend? Why or why not?

Yes and no. A lot of the time, it’s a pressure we put on ourselves. Everywhere you look on social media - whether it’s Instagram, VSCO, Pinterest, etc.

- you’re bombarded with cute couple pictures, initials/dates in bios, and captions with things like “I love you” or “my favorite,” and, after a while, you can’t help but feel isolated in your own singleness in light of others seemingly perfect relationships.

What advice do you have for teens about dating?

“You can afford to be picky.” Right now, figure out what qualities are important to you in someone you date, write those traits down, and never ever settle for anything less.

You are so incredibly valuable - not because of some guy, but because of whose blood covers your soul. Find someone who loves you like Christ loved the Church - I promise, it’s worth it.

“If you want a project, get a puppy.” My youth minister told us this one - don’t go into a relationship thinking that you can change the other person. Love the person for who they are or move along. It’s not fair to you or the other person to date them, not for who they are, but who you want them to be.

Savannah Nelson’s blog can be found at wordandsunshine. home.blog/ She can also be found on Instagram at word_ and_sunshine

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would raise our children to be Christians.

Raising children taught me to understand that God giving His Son to save others was a huge sacrifice.

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

RRJ: Thank you for taking the time to share your faith story with our readers.

To begin, please tell us how you came to believe in God and His plan of redemption through Christ.

SB: Both of my parents were Christians.

We lived in Searcy, Arkansas, which is the Church of Christ’s Salt Lake City. The largest congregation in the state, the third largest, and two other congregations of over 800 members are located there. I was baptized when I was 11. At age 15, my parents were divorced which caused me to seriously doubt my beliefs.

I really didn’t regain my faith until I was 20. I think my faith or commitment has grown stronger through the years. I remember deciding to only date other Christians about age 25. I married my wife two years later, which has been a huge blessing.

When my wife, Leah, became pregnant with our oldest daughter, we both agreed we River Region’s Journey

May 2020

SB: If there is one person in my family that I owe my Christian heritage, it is my paternal grandmother, Louise Ballinger. When I went to her funeral, I counted approximately 50 people she personally brought to Christ, including my paternal grandfather (her husband), my mother, my paternal aunt, and numerous children who stayed at an orphanage my grandparents ran. You could not talk to her for five minutes without Scripture being quoted; however, she wasn’t stern or preachy. She had a humility combined with a familiarity with God... like she just spoke with Him directly an hour ago.

Leah and I tried to get pregnant for over a year without success. One trip to Grandma’s, a heart to heart to talk with her grandson during a walk, a few faithful prayers from a Christian heavy-hitter, and Leah was pregnant within one week. She had scary powerful faith!

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

SB: In these stressful times, I think how you manage yourself is the key to letting your light shine. I really like the quote that has been attributed to Voltaire, “The most important decision you can make is to be in a good mood.” This goes right along with 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ for you.”

RRJ: We are experiencing “living history” right now due to the COVID-19 virus. What breakthroughs have you seen, as a doctor, that offer hope?

SB: I don’t know if we have had any hopeful breakthroughs yet, but the cooperation 10

and instantaneous exchange of information between scientists, physicians, government officials, and citizens gives me hope that we will, as a nation, overcome this pandemic as quickly as possible.

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

SB: I think you can glorify God in your occupation by asking yourself “Is what I am doing now glorifying God?” If the answer is no, then stop doing it. This was the creed of a 17th century lay brother, Brother Lawrence.

He decided if he couldn’t do something as if he was in the presence of God, then he would not do it. Brother Lawrence spent most of his life as a cook and a sandal maker. It doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you do it as if God is present.

RRJ: In your walk with the Lord, what are some tools and/or resources that are vital in keeping your faith strong?

SB: I think reading the Bible often helps keep your faith strong. There is no substitution for direct communication with God by reading His word. I also think picking encouraging friends is important. We all can get discouraged, and your friends can pull you out of the mire of despair when you need it.

RRJ: Why do you believe it’s important to get connected with a church and use your talents there?

SB: Who you surround yourself with is your greatest form of wealth. Being connected to a church is really a must. You will not only be helped, but you can serve others. Get involved quickly by volunteering for some SCUT (some common unfinished task). The fellow volunteers in these endeavors will be your best choice of friends. When church is something you do, instead of endure/experience/attend, it will become more meaningful.

Scott Ballinger, M.D. has been married to Leah for 27 years, and they have two daughters, Olivia McAlister, age 23, and Julia Ballinger, age 21. The Ballingers are active members of Landmark Church.

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When I was growing up, the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin in Luke 15 were explained to me as parables of evangelism. That is, I was told these parables were Jesus’ way to describe the lengths to which we (the “found”) should go to reach people who aren’t Christians (the “lost”).

In other words, these parables were God’s job description for us.

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This interpretation split the world into two kinds of people: lost people and found people. The lost people were those who did not know God, and the found people were those who did. And while that is one way to divvy up the human race, it also makes a very simplistic and wrongheaded assumption: that Christians don’t get lost or that Christian’s have no need to be found.

I’m convinced that we desperately need to rediscover the reality of Christian lostness. If we don’t, then all we are left with when a Christian wanders off into the far country and gets lost in his/ her self-induced messiness is to doubt whether they were ever found in the first place. Sadly, this assumption is made all the time. Without a robustly real category of “Christian lostness”, what we often hear is that when a professing Christian goes off into the dark it can only mean that they were never in the light to begin with.

The fact is, however, that we all get lost AS CHRISTIANS. And these two parables reassure us that Jesus never stops finding us in all of our lostness—AS CHRISTIANS. Rather than these parables

being about God’s job description for us, they portray God’s unflagging commitment to constantly come after those who once were found but now are lost.

To put it bluntly, these aren’t parables about found people pursuing lost people.

These are parables about God pursuing found people who get lost.

Here’s the proof: in both cases, the lost sheep and the lost coin were at one time not lost. The lost sheep was in the fold and the lost coin was in the pocket.

The lost sheep wandered off and the lost coin was misplaced. But the point is that neither started off lost. So, to interpret these parables the way I was taught is to misinterpret them. Not to mention, it downplays the reality of how quickly and easily we AS CHRISTIANS get lost along the way.

To deny that we all experience lostness is to blind our eyes to the truth about ourselves and others. We often, for example, get lost in our pursuit of meaning or love or purpose or importance. We get lost in our dependence on people and things to “save” us from aloneness, insecurity, and a sense of inadequacy. We get lost when hopes and dreams crash

and burn: when one of our children goes off the deep end, when our parents get divorced, when a marriage fails, when she breaks up with you, when you don’t get the job you want or get into the school you want. We get lost in anger, hurt, bitterness, pleasure-seeking, self-righteousness, unforgiveness, pride, lust, selfishness, the thirst for credit, the need to be right, and so on.

I think, though, that the deepest lostness we experience is when our roles become our identity. For instance, many retired people I’ve talked to over the years have described a profound lostness of meaning now that their career is over. For so long they had located their identity in the work that they did and all that came with it. And now that their role has changed, they experience a late-in-life identity crisis. I also see this with parents when they become empty nesters. For so long their identity was anchored in being a parent and taking care of the kids. But when the kids grow up and move away they lose their sense of purpose and significance—they don’t know who they are or what to do. Their role had become their identity

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When your roles become your identity, you experience new forms of lostness every time your roles change.

Because I was unfaithful to my first wife, I lost everything in 2015: friendships, family, my job, credibility, financial stability, hope, joy, opportunity. It was all gone.

Overnight. Life as I knew it was over. I didn’t realize it at the time, but my value, my security, my deepest sense of who I was—my identity—was tethered to my roles. And because of this, when those roles vanished, I didn’t just suffer grief and pain and guilt and shame and loss—I began to suffer a severe identity crisis.

Without these things and people I had unconsciously depended on to make me feel valuable and important, I no longer knew who I was—I was lost AS A CHRISTIAN. But the good news for me and for all of us in these parables is that Jesus spares no expense to find us IN our lostness. He meets us in all of our meandering—seventy times seven. When we foolishly wander off, the Good Shepherd comes after us, picks us up, puts us over his shoulders, and carries us home— every time! He meets our guilt with his grace, our mess with his mercy, our faults

with his forgiveness—every time! His pursuant love is mugging in nature. And he doesn’t chide us for getting lost—he seeks us, finds us, rejoices and throws a party.

Nothing and no one could bar the way of the God who is in hot and gracious pursuit of his lost children.

Robert Capon sums up these two parables poetically when he writes:

The entire cause of the recovery operation in both stories is the shepherd’s, or the woman’s, determination to find the lost. Neither the lost sheep nor the lost coin does a blessed thing except hang around in its lostness. On the strength of these parables, therefore, it is precisely our sins, and not our goodnesses, that most commend us to the grace of God. These parables of lostness…are emphatically not stories designed to convince us that if we will wind ourselves up to some acceptable level of moral and/or spiritual improvement, God will then forgive us; rather they are parables about God’s determination to move before we do—in short, to make lostness the only ticket we need to the Supper of the Lamb.

Two of the things I have learned very acutely over the last five years are (1) you are capable of failing and getting lost in a way that is unthinkable to you right now, and (2) God’s love and forgiveness are big enough to cover the fact that your greatest failure may be ahead of you.

So, no matter where you go, how far you run, or how stubborn your roaming may be, he will never stop coming for you with infinite amounts of gritty grace and forceful forgiveness. It is, in fact, his JOY to come after you.

Furthermore, your lostness doesn’t annoy God and it doesn’t throw him off. In fact, it gives him an opportunity to do what he loves to do—FIND YOU!.

Tullian Tchividjian is a husband, a father, an author, a speaker, a sinner, and a saint who longs to see broken people encounter God’s boundless love.

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Enjoying Your Time with God Part 2 (Praying Doubles) I have heard countless testimonies of how a light switched on inside of people as they read certain texts in the word of God. I can certainly testify to this truth as I read Mathew 18:19 early in my Christian life: “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.” Something leapt inside of me as I read it and I began to pray then for a partner in prayer. Soon the Lord showed me a woman who, in accurate detail, paralleled what was going on in my life at the time.

For many years we have shared intimate time with the Lord in prayer.

It is very vital that we are consistently praying as God wills it! We therefore must partner with Jesus in prayer. We need a move of God during the pandemic facing our nation. Having another person to pray with is especially necessary at this crucial time of fear and uncertainty. Look at the advantages of praying doubles.

Prayer partners produce power.

“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:19-20 NIV) Agreement can only take place when prayer involves more than one person.

Having a prayer partner has great benefits. You are not limited by what your mind entertains. You are not bound by your view of how God works. Prayer partners develop a spontaneous desire to not only hear God, but hear Him together.

One pastor I know remarks that when his adult children come home to visit their childhood friends, they take over his

basement and have a noisy time. When the pastor goes downstairs to check on the young people, he finds them deep in prayer, jubilant in praise, and enjoying the presence of God. Its like they catch up on latest “gossip” from heaven!

Prayer partners bring accountability to our God-ward relationship. This is like going to the spiritual gym. Each person brings their weaknesses and their strengths to the table. One can fight for the other through prayer to bolster both partners to a new level in God. Prayer partners become better witnesses.

As prayers are answered for each partner, there is more material to boast on the Lord.

(See 1 Corinthians 1:31) The more stories one has on what God is currently doing, the more opportunities are given to use those testimonies for God’s glory.

How can you find a prayer partner?

Look around and ask God to speak a name to your heart. Just like He did for me, it doesn’t necessarily have to be someone you are close to in the natural realm. That way, the agenda is clear and not disrupted by chitchat.

At first, praying with someone can be a little intimidating. But think of what you want to get out of your time together, and go for it! Don’t talk much before praying. You know, how some prayer circles 15

go around and everyone tells their issue before everyone prays about it. Just pray, instead. You can always follow up the prayer time with details, if your partner wants to.

Set a specific time that becomes a weekly (daily, bi weekly) appointment for prayer. Set a specific place for the prayer.

It’s best if you can pray in person, but if not, be sure to find a place where you will not be distracted by computer, chores, or other people. Determine a specific length of time you will commit to being prayer partners. Try a three-month commitment at first and then go from there.

I recommend that you don’t pray a paragraph before your partner chimes in. A few sentences can leave room for your partner’s prayer of agreement or further revelation. The back and forth conversation also needs to allow time for God to speak to both of you on each subject you bring up. As you talk with the Lord, be sure to pray scripture when it applies. Allow the Word of God to penetrate the prayer, it is pure and of divine substance.

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help…A threefold cord is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:9,10,12 NRSV) Find a sister, and let your prayer duet begin!

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Christ in the Crisis During the Coronavirus crises, churches and ministries have adapted new methodologies, while holding to the timeless message of the Gospel. The Church has met in unorthodox ways using technology, and we are reminded that these troubled and uncertain times have provided an unprecedented opportunity to serve others. We can serve by continuing to exhibit faith in the face of fear and pointing people to hope in Christ, which the Bible describes as an “anchor” for our souls.

It has been pointed out that in the area of disaster relief, faith-based and charitable organizations relieve the enormous pressure that is on governmental entities. The COVID-19 situation could certainly be regarded as a disaster.

Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council, in a piece on that organization’s website in response to an article in the New York Times that was highly critical of evangelical Christianity, stated that the writer...

...talks about Christians getting in the way of a “strong centralized response from the federal government,” but she doesn’t seem to understand that the faith community has always been a more efficient partner in serving the public good.

Without the ministry of churches across the country right now, there would literally be hundreds of food banks, homeless shelters, day cares, and testing sites that would either be empty, shut down, or overrun.

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appreciation to the American people. Not surprisingly, it is inspiring to see the way tens of millions of Americans are responding with compassion, with common sense...We’ve seen places of worship implementing policies to keep those most vulnerable safe. And also, we’re seeing communities of faith already stepping forward to support and to encourage those most vulnerable.” He referred to a church in Indiana that was “offering daycare to the children of healthcare workers in Central Indiana.” Pence said, “...churches all across the country are taking the opportunity to reach out and put feet on their faith, and it’s truly inspiring.”

That’s what we do - that’s who we are. We are the Church, endued with resources by Almighty God, full of love and compassion, and directed by the Spirit of God regarding how those resources are to be used for the good of others, so that the name of Jesus might be lifted up.

In these times of uncertainty, the Church can bring stability and encouragement. While we have experienced physically separation for a time, we have found that can still connect in a variety of ways. Technology can bring us together, whether it be Internet and social media, or an old-fashioned phone call to check up on the vulnerable in a congregation.

We can maintain the awareness that we are one body, and the cancellation of church doesn’t mean the cancellation of the Church.

Perkins also notes:

As everyone knows, it’s tragedy that forces people to look outside of themselves. In this time of social distancing, what if more people are finding the space to grow closer to God? The Wall Street 16

Journal touches on that very possibility in a piece of commentary by Robert Nicholson, “A Coronavirus Great Awakening?”

Nicholson makes the point that while this isn’t exactly the disaster World War II was, the pandemic has certainly “remade everyday life and wrecked the global economy in a way that feels apocalyptic.”

During the crisis, there has been plenty of armchair quarterbacking. To the critics of Mike Lindell, a Christian who is founder of MyPillow, who announced his plants will be manufacturing 50,000 masks a day, the question can be rightly asked, as some have implied: how many masks are you making? Perhaps the human, sinful tendency to sit back and criticize people who are actually doing something is a way to assuage guilt. It is not helpful to launch criticism to the shortcomings of those, like Christian churches and ministries, who are attempting to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

Everyone can do something. In our time of shared sacrifice, perhaps people will see the presence of our Savior as Godly people reflect our deeply held convictions. In a hopeless time, we need to continue to keep a sense of hope and encouragement, and there’s no better source than in God’s Word and keeping our eyes on how God is at work. For Christians, we can also pray that God would have His intended work in the midst of it. We have seen His work on display: people coming to Christ through accessing content online, opportunities for churches and ministries to reach out in their communities in the name of Jesus, and spiritual growth that can occur as we humble ourselves before God in our times of isolation and shift in routine.

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It’s Friday night and members of Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Montgomery are turning to Facebook for their weekly...movie review. Not exactly what one may think of when they picture churches and ministering to the needs of others, yet it has become wildly popular with members during this unprecedented time. It is that “outside of the box” thinking that has churches throughout the River Region finding unique and interesting ways to connect with their congregations and the community.

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“It’s really about the need for interaction with others,” explains Miles Barnhart, who came up with the idea to review classic movies that most people have seen, but he has never watched, and post them to the church’s Facebook page.

“Our Senior Pastor (Dr. Brian Miller) and I met shortly after the church decided to suspend in-person worship. At this meeting, we both had the idea that daily interaction was going to be integral to the life of our church. From there, “The Daily” was born. The goal was to have some sort of social media outreach each weekday from different staff members. Brian’s posts have been more informational and teaching based. Our associate pastor, Steve Badskey, and contemporary worship leader, Micah Williams, leaned more on their musical abilities. I wanted to do something different so I decided my posts were going to be lighthearted and fun. My friends always picked at me for not seeing movies they considered “classics” so I decided I was going to use this time in quarantine to see if I was really missing out on anything or not.”

air And fun it is. Barnhart, who serves as the church’s Director of Youth Ministries, gives viewers a quick recap of the week’s movie and then gives an honest review with a rating of 1-5 toilet paper rolls.

“The process is fairly simple. I begin by picking a film based off of suggestions, lists on the internet or films that I’ve always wanted to watch. Every Friday, I sit down and watch the movie while taking notes about what I liked or didn’t like on my phone. From there, I go into my home office (which is my guest bedroom but it works) and film my thoughts about the movie. I end the review by rating it on a scale of 1-5 rolls of toilet paper (be19

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cause it’s a delicacy during these times).

Afterward, I edit the footage and have it ready to go by 7 PM that night. The whole process (watching the film included) takes about 5 hours.”

In times of uncertainty, why the movie reviews? “The easy answer is, ‘Why not movie reviews?’ says Barnhart.

“This is a rare time in our lives where the church has had to work equally as hard to connect to people who don’t go to church as those who do. Outreach has been more important than ever, but we don’t want our efforts to grow stagnant.

We don’t want to do the exact same thing each and every week. I believe the movie reviews offer a different kind of “gathering place” for those to have conversations that you’d have at church anyways.

Of course, we talk about the Bible, but I’ve had conversations about football at church. Of course, we say the Apostle’s Creed, but I’ve heard people talk about reality shows at church. The Church is more than just a building, it’s the people.

People yearn for community and conversation more than ever, so why not be a space for that?”

Community and conversation are topics that pastors find themselves grappling with as they find ways to engage the community during a time of social distancing. Reverend Richard Williams, who serves as the pastor of Metropolitan United Methodist Church in Montgomery, said that some of the biggest challenges come in the form of creating a meaningful experience for members to grow in their faith, as well as serve, with limited resources. “We are attempting to find creative ways to minister to the community while creating pathways for those to encounter God,” he said.

Rev. Williams said that the church members have used their creativity to create worship experiences via Zoom and Facebook Live. They also hold noon and evening Bible studies through Zoom.

Additionally, members have come up with a creative way to ensure that the elderly and marginalized are not forgotten during this time of social distancing by developing a no-contact flower delivery ministry as well as a mobile food pantry that serves over 350 households a month. Programs, that the pastor says, are all good things to have come out of this pandemic.

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new partnerships to be the Church like never before,” he said.

The pandemic has also called for churches to explore creative ways to use resources and online tools normally associated with business settings such as Zoom. That can become especially challenging when it comes to leading worship music. James Keith Posey, who serves as the Executive Pastor of Operations at Century Church in Pike Road, presented a Good Friday concert with the worship team through Facebook.

“Every week since the pandemic started, the Century Church staff team has been meeting on Zoom to discuss how we can share the hope of Jesus in creative ways and meet the needs of our community. In previous years, we have done a Good Friday concert before Easter and it was important to think about how we could continue that tradition. As I scrolled Facebook, I had seen several of my favorite musicians putting on living room concerts. I knew I could pull off something similar, but I wanted to do something that brought our whole team together and shared the unity we have as a church, even in the midst of these tough times.”

The concert, which has garnered almost 5,000 views as of this writing, brought a connection to viewers.

“I felt the connection among everyone in such a profound way that I haven’t seen before,” commented Amy Dennis, who viewed the concert on Facebook.

“What a display of how we can remain together and all because of the Spirit.”

“Yes, I felt it too!” said Posey. “It is all because of the Spirit of God that continues to move us and guide us, even while we are stuck at home. I believe it is imperative that we connect with people using whatever tools we can find. Right now I am so grateful for this technology because it allows me to see the faces of my friends and my family, so they can see in my eyes that I love them and I’m here for them.”

Feeling connected while worshiping through a computer screen is something that Posey considers carefully each week. He said that his background in entertainment has helped foster some of the ways in which the church has moved forward with online worship. “Before I was called into full time ministry, I worked as a professional musician and 20

actor. I have always been passionate about creating the most compelling way to share a story. It is no different with online worship. We should all continue to brainstorm, dream, plan, and pray about how we can most effectively share the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” he said.

“We work hard each week to provide people with a worship experience that is not only engaging, but also authentic.

We want it to feel like you are worshiping in the room with us. We continue to learn new things every week to better connect people to our livestream service. We provide lyrics to our songs; we have a pastor hosting via Chat while the service is going live; we have a volunteer that provides important clickable links as they are needed; and most importantly, we engage people through conversation and community. That is the Century Way.” Once churches return to in-person meetings, will any of these newly adopted methods remain?

“Wow. We talk about this almost every day,” said Posey. “I do think things will change in some ways, but the church has always had to change and shift to reach people in new ways. It has been amazing to see so many churches use creative ways to reach their communities whether through a Zoom meeting, worship online, or even a social distancing palm parade.”

Barnhart agreed. “I think COVID-19 has forced the church to think outside the box and utilize the technology and resources that were widely considered an afterthought by many churches,” he said.

“Churches have leaned on social media, broadcasting and Zoom meetings more than ever before. I hope churches don’t simply abandon those resources once things return to “normal”, because I believe that the online community churches have formed can be an asset for a long time. Many churches were utilizing things like Zoom to connect to their congregants before, so I’m sure some churches will continue to lean on it whenever churches begin to open their doors again.”

Katie Blair is a graduate of Auburn University in Montgomery with a degree in Elementary Education. She currently serves as a Children’s Ministry Partner with Frazer Church. She is a freelance writer and blogger who writes about family life. She resides in Montgomery, Alabama with her husband, two children, and their dog, Rosie.

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Coping with Anxiety During COVID-19 To the say the least, COVID-19 has caused our society to drastically change the way we live our lives. In a short amount of time many of us have stopped working, our children aren’t going to school, we’re not able to be with our friends and extended family whenever we would like, and, worst of all, there is an imminent threat of illness. These are unfortunate realities, and within this new overall reality it can often seem like our lives are out of our control. This is a valid belief because, in many ways, it’s true!

There are things happening in our world today that are out of our hands and realities like this can be very harmful to our emotional, mental, and physical health. The stress and worry that come from not being able to have full power over our lives can be crippling if allowed to go unchecked. I want to take this opportunity to share with you some things that we can focus on in order to try and maintain that sense of control over our lives during this difficult time.

Worry and anxiety often come from the fear of not knowing what is going to happen next. The idea of the unknown can cause patterns of unhelpful thinking, negative emotions, and negative coping behaviors. These patterns can sometimes get the better of us, but they are stoppa-

ble! When the fear of the unknown is real and so much seems out of our control, it can be helpful to focus on what we can control and what we can do to shape our daily lives.

In Chapter 6, verse 34 of Matthew’s gospel, Jesus says, “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” This is an incredibly challenging verse to digest right now, but I believe this is a very powerful message.

It serves as a reminder to focus on living in the present. Taking each day as it is can be a powerful weapon against worry and stress because it allows us to focus on the now and reduces the stress of having to worry about futuristic outcomes.

This is not to say that we can or should just ignore the future. Looking towards the future is very natural, just as worry and stress are natural experiences, so then the trick is to find a healthy balance. Helpful tools to find that balance can start with developing a schedule for yourself. Our schedules have been shifted so much and so frequently that our typical daily patterns may now look very different from just a few weeks ago. Developing and following a schedule for yourself is an easy way to show you that you do have control over your day-to-day activities. To take it even further, you can allot a certain amount of time during your day to focus on that worry or stress you may be experiencing. Again, stress and worry are natural 21

human experiences, and giving yourself the space to feel those feelings is just has healthy as trying to not focus on them in excess—remember the goal is balance!

Beyond schedule making, incorporating activities into your day that directly show you that you have control over yourself can be helpful tools against stress as well! Maintaining a healthy diet, exercising, and keeping in touch with friends and family are all ways to promote positive self-care and show us that we have power over how our day goes!

As far as coping with fear related to COVID itself, focusing on practicing the steps we’ve been taught like proper handwashing and social distancing are practical ways to give us that sense of control over our current situation.

This is a strange time for us all, but there are little things we can do to help make it seem less strange. Remember friends, perception shapes our reality, and you have the power to shape that perception. Just try to focus on doing it one day at a time.

Avery Berry is an Associate Licensed Counselor and a National Certified Counselor under the supervision of Rebecca Morris, Ed. S., NCC, LPC-S. He holds a Bachelor’s of Human Environmental Science in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Alabama and is a recent graduate of Auburn University where he obtained a Master’s of Education degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Avery has a great deal of experience working with individuals who are experiencing issues related to substance abuse, depression, and anxiety.He counsels adults, couples, and adolescents and divides his time between Samaritan Counseling Center and partnering with Valiant Cross Academy as an in-house mental health counselor.

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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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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 495-6350 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

241-5125 for information.

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

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 495-6350 or e-mail jan@frazerumc.org.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Location: Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church 1550 E. Washington Street Grief support group meets every Monday at 6:00 P.M7:00 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 334-279-8331 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 334279-8331 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.

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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 more information.

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 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 6:30- 8 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. Please contact MADSOG at montgomeryareadownsyndrome@gmail.com.

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May 2020

River Region’s Journey

The New Federal Income Tax Deadline is July 15: What You Need to Know It feels like the world has been turned upside down recently. Our plans have been cancelled or delayed for the foreseeable future—even our taxes!

The Federal government is trying to take some pressure off Americans who are running short on cash during the coronavirus crisis, so they’ve pushed back the tax deadline from April 15 to July 15. I want to answer some important questions about the new deadline.

Does this extension apply to everyone?

Yes. The government has delayed income taxes for individuals, small businesses, trusts and estates, and corporations.

Are state income taxes due on July 15?

As of early April, most of the 42 states that collect income taxes have also extended the deadline to July 15—but there are a few

exceptions. Check your state’s guidelines to find out more.

What about quarterly taxes?

If you pay quarterly taxes on self-employment income, this extension applies only to the first quarter (January 1 to March 31). The other deadlines for quarterly taxes remain the same. In fact, second-quarter payments are due June 15—a month before first-quarter payments!

Should I wait to file my taxes?

No. Unless you’re in a full-blown crisis situation, you should go ahead and file your taxes now. If you’re expecting a refund, you can use the extra money to take care of basic needs, or you can sweep it into your emergency fund. If you’re expecting to owe taxes, then it’s best to find out how much as soon as possible so you can budget and save for the payment.

What if I still can’t pay my taxes by July 15?

If you’re still in a tight spot by July 15, the first thing to do is pay as much as you can by the deadline—even if it’s a fraction of what you owe. Then, contact the IRS directly to let them know about your situation. They should work with you to set up a payment plan. But keep in mind that you need to attack that debt with every extra dollar you have until it’s gone.

Bottom line: Whether you face them now or in three months, your taxes aren’t going anywhere. Don’t put them off. Tackle them head on so you remain in control and know where you stand with your money!

Contributed by guest writer Chris Hogan, a #1 national best-selling author, dynamic speaker and host of The Chris Hogan Show. For more than a decade, Hogan has served at Ramsey Solutions, equipping and challenging people to take control of their money and reach their financial goals.

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ADHD / Learning Disorders Anxiety / Stress / P.T.S.D. Concussions / Brain Injuries Depression / Mood Insomnia / Sleep Disorders Dementia / Alzheimer’s Migraines / Much More!