River Region Christians - May 2022

1

www.facebook.com/auburnopelika.parents

You Hold The Key To Protect With 3!

Tdap

HPV

MCV4

As parents, it is up to you to ensure your children remain up to date with their vaccines.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) recommend the following vaccines for adolescents: • Tetanus, Diptheria, Pertussis • Human papillomavirus • Meningococcal disease • Influenza

Protect your children against vaccine preventable diseases.

Vaccine:

7-10 Years

11-12 Years

13-18 Years

Tdap

Childhood Catch-up

Recommended

Catch-up

HPV

>9 Years

Recommended

Catch-up

MCV4

High Risk

Recommended

Recommended

Flu

Recommended

For more information, please visit alabamapublichealth.gov/imm

1

www.facebook.com/auburnopelika.parents 04.2022

Volume 24, Issue 1

Feature Articles

MAY 20 2 2 Columns

page 8 page 2

Faith @ Work: Soo Seok Yang

Publisher’s Note Jason Watson

We sat down with Beasley Allen attorney Soo Seok Yang to hear about his journey to faith in Christ, how he and his family depend on God in the good times and through the challenges life brings, plus, you’ll get the scoop on a Yang family talent to start following on YouTube.

page 4

Pastor's Perspective Dr. Chris Montgomery, Frazer Memorial UMC

page 15

Moments with Kym

page 12

Kym Klass

Damaged Humans and the Kindness of Christ

page 16

by Scott Sauls How will the broken be wooed to Christ? When we realize we are also broken and let love lead the way.

Sauls states, “Grace must come before ethics. Love must come before the morality discussion. Love—the broad embrace of the narrow path—will trigger some of the most life-giving experiences you’ll ever be part of.”

The Intersection Bob Crittenden

page 21

Women Arising Pastor Kemi Searcy

page 25

Counselor’s Corner

page 18

George Ishman, M.S., ALC

Vacation Bible School Guide

page 28

Dave $ays

Local churches are taking registration now for summer VBS programs. Sign your kids up for a week of fun and spiritual growth.

Dave Ramsey

In Every Issue page 22

Children’s Hope:

page 6

Helping Orphans and Vulnerable Children

Books to Read

by Kym Klass A ministry of First Baptist Montgomery, Children’s Hope and their partners care for children, strengthen families, and serve communities in Haiti through multiple programs. Your donations and prayers support will go a long way to further their progress in helping “the least of these”.

Faith @ Work

1

page 8

page 26

Support Groups May 2022

River Region Christians

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.

From the Publisher We’re All Cracked Up!

Editor DeAnne Watson deanne@readjourneymagazine.com

Publisher

Jason Watson jason@readjourneymagazine.com

Research Editor Wendy McCollum

Contributing Writers Tim Challies Bob Crittenden George Ishman, M.S., ALC Kym Klass Dr. Chris Montgomery Dave Ramsey Scott Sauls Kemi Searcy

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

Digital Manager Scott Davis

Ad Design

Tim Welch, Welch Designs

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

For information, call 334-213-7940. River Region Christians is copyrighted 2022 by KeepSharing. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.

The opinions expressed in River Region Christians 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 Christians has the right to refuse any content that is not consistent with its statement of faith.

River Region Christians

May 2022

2

3

May 2022

River Region Christians

Pastor’s Perspective

by Dr. Chris Montgomery, Frazer Memorial UMC

Unanswered Prayer? to our prayers. Sometimes God says “no”.

However, we must remember that God says “yes!” all the time. Even right now, as you are reading this article, God’s divine yes is reverberating throughout the cosmos. He is right now answering the prayer of a young man deep in the jungle of South America. He is listening to the plea and will answer the late-night cry of a grandmother in northern Scotland.

Right now, God is saying yes to so many prayers all around the world.

Some are big. Some are small. But God is saying yes.

At the same time, God also says no. It is in these moments that we struggle deeply as we wonder why God has said no to Schedule your retirement review today. one of our prayers.

It’s been said that we spend more time planning vacations than planning for retirement. Let’s set aside some time to create positive Sometimes God change for you and the people you care about and understand: says no because of our continual rebel• How much you’ll need to retire lion, or perhaps • If you are on track for your retirement goals we have the wrong • Which IRA is right for your retirement needs – Roth or traditional priorities or focus in • The importance of asset allocation and how it can help as you life. Sometimes God work toward your long-term goals says no because we are more interested It’s more than just money. Investing is about realizing in our gain over His the possibilities of your future. glory.

Yet sometimes Sang Y Chung, AAMS®, CRPC® edwardjones.com Financial Advisor God says no and Member SIPC 1951 Berry Chase Place his “no” is no fault Montgomery, AL 36117 334-271-9573 of our own, but maybe the thing that

When it comes to the topic of unanswered prayer, the first thing we have to ask ourselves is, is there such a thing as unanswered prayer?

While there may be a gap between the moment we pray a prayer and the moment we see, receive, or understand the answer, I do not believe that there is such a thing as unanswered prayer. When we say the phrase “unanswered prayer”, what we mean is that God has given us an answer that is something other than, yes.

Sometimes God says “maybe later” to our prayers. Sometimes God says “not now”

IRT-2735F-A EXP 31 JUL 2023 © 2021 EDWARD D. JONES & CO., L.P. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

River Region Christians

May 2022

4

we are asking for is actually not good for us. Or maybe God has plans to give us the good thing we are asking for, but it is not the right time. Or sometimes there are multiple Christians praying about the same situation and they each are desiring different outcomes. Regardless of the reason, when God says no, many times, we struggle to wrap our head around why.

The most important truth that I have learned about God when he says no to me, is that He is more interested in who I become in Christ than me getting what I want in prayer. What I trust in through the process of prayer is that God will give me what I ask for and even exceed my expectations, while he blows my mind in answering prayers in radical and extraordinary ways. However, through that process God wants me to become someone and not just get some things.

Romans 8:29 tells us, “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son...”

I believe that this is God’s goal for us.

For us to be conformed to the image of Christ. This means that as we pray about many things, we are asking that God would only give us things that would help us become like his Son. And when things do not make sense and our prayers seem like they are not making it out of the room we’re sitting in while we pray them, that is when we trust that even in the waiting on the call to persistent prayer, even that is making us more like Christ.

Chris Montgomery is senior pastor of Frazer United Methodist Church, 6000 Atlanta Hwy, Montgomery, AL. Visit www.frazer.church.

Two Seminars Featuring Dr. Josh Mulvihill Presented by Frazer Church June 3-4

r

e e ng

, hy. e

ve

n re

to ”

ut

p gs em m is n

HOW TO RAISE YOUR KIDS ON PURPOSE. Learn More and REgister Now at www.frazer.church 5

May 2022

River Region Christians

Health, Wealth and the (Real) Gospel

The Men We Need

by Sean DeMars and Mike McKinley

by Brant Hansen

Wherever the true gospel makes inroads, we can be sure that false gospels will follow close behind. Wherever the true gospel begins to win the hearts of men, we can be sure that false gospels will begin to compete with it. And sure enough, one of the most attractive, most deceptive, and most pernicious of today’s false gospels is the one known as the “prosperity gospel.”

The prosperity gospel promises that those who love God will inherit not only the eternal riches of heaven, but also the temporal riches of this world—health, wealth, and every kind of earthly prosperity. It originated in the United States, made vast inroads in North America, and then traveled far beyond so that no continent and no country is untouched by it.

This gospel of health and wealth is the subject of a new book

by Sean DeMars and Mike McKinley: Health, Wealth, and the (Real) Gospel: The Prosperity Gospel Meets the Truths of Scripture. The authors approach the subject from different angles, DeMars as one who was once drawn in by it and who attempted to claim its every promise, and McKinley as one who has merely been wooed by it and counseled others through it. Together they write for two audiences: those who belong to churches that faithfully embrace the true gospel of Christ Jesus but who may have friends or family members who have been drawn into the false gospel of prosperity, and those who know or suspect they belong to a church that advocates it. For both audiences they want to ensure they know how to identify this false gospel and, at the same time, how to identify the true message of the Bible and the true promise of the Christian faith.

DeMars and McKinley first expose the heart of the prosperity gospel by describing its four common teachings: that God wants to bless us materially, that God wants us to speak with power, that God does not want for us to suffer, and that God wants us to live the victorious, prosperous life.

With the prosperity gospel now extremely popular and still possibly ascendent, it is crucial that we know how and why it differs from the true gospel and that we equip ourselves to help those given over to it. Health, Wealth, and the (Real) Gospel serves this purpose well. It is a book you’ll benefit from if you read it yourself and a book you should be prepared to distribute to others. May the Lord use it to rescue his people and purify his church!

Masculinity has become complicated. At least, it has become difficult to be confident about what it means to be a man—to be a man as God has designed men to be.

The culture has plenty to say about masculinity that is toxic, but far less to say about masculinity that is good and honoring. We hear more about women becoming men than men simply being men. And many wonder: What are men meant to be and what are men supposed to do?

Into the fray steps Brant Hansen with a wonderful new book titled The Men We Need: God’s Purpose for the Manly Man, the Avid Indoorsman, or Any Man Willing to Show Up. “This book is about a big vision for manhood,” he says. “We’ve lacked that vision, and all of us—men, women, and children—are hurting because of it. The vision is this: We men are at our best when we are ‘keepers of the garden.’ This means we are protectors and defenders and cultivators. We are at our best when we champion the weak and vulnerable. We are at our best when we use whatever strength we have to safeguard the innocent and provide a place for people to thrive. This is the job Adam was given: keeper of the garden.”

I need to say right away that this is not one of those books on a clichéd version of masculinity bound to a particular culture and a bygone century. Hansen isn’t advocating a form of masculinity that depends on swinging hammers, wrestling bears, or distributing swords. In fact, he says he’s not even capable of writing that book because... “I don’t even hunt. I play the accordion. I’m an avid indoorsman. I own puppets.”

The heart of masculinity, he says, is taking responsibility—responsibility for those things God has made men particularly responsible for. Hence, true masculinity is not displayed in flexing muscles or fixing stuff or achieving sexual conquests. Rather, true masculinity is displayed in being humble, responsible, dedicated keepers of the gardens God has given us.

At a time when masculinity is viewed as a liability more than an asset, as something that is more likely to harm the world than help it, Brant Hansen describes and celebrates a form of masculinity that is good, pure, and true—a form of masculinity that will serve families, serve the church, and serve the world. He calls men to embrace it and display it in their lives. It turns out that in this time of confusion, The Men We Need is exactly the book we need.

River Region Christians

May 2022

6

me

n

ut s od ut

nd

k

vid a ll

to his

d

ns nity e

an p it, is ,

,

7

May 2022

River Region Christians

ch pro

area of Korea where there were none.

Since she had to make a living, she did all kinds of things, including owning a flower shop and piano school. Later, she became a chef after passing a national exam and started opening cooking sessions with moms. She always called the cooking session a “mission cooking session” and asked me and my brother to pray that she could boldly share the Gospel, which she did. She not only taught moms how to cook, but also counseled them after the sessions for various problems that the moms faced and became an encouragement to them, leading many to Christ. God later blessed her to have her own TV cooking show in Korea. Then, after I met Doh Ah, she served the Lord in Taiwan as a missionary for about seven years along with my parents-in-law, who have been missionaries in Taiwan for the past 35 years.

RRC: Being a member of First Baptist Church in Montgomery, you’re actively involved. You serve as a deacon (and also, formerly as Secretary/Treasurer for the deacon body), and praise and worship leader. What led you to take on these roles?

RRC: You and your wife’s parents served as missionaries in Taiwan. How was Christianity rooted in your upbringing?

SSY: It started from my mother, who lost her husband (my dad) in her early 30’s.

When my dad passed away, I was six and my brother was four. Mom did not know Jesus before getting married because she grew up in a non-Christian family and her parents did not allow her to go to church even on Christmas day. At the time my dad passed away, she had just begun going to church and was a baby Christian. Going through this, she became a stronger Christian. She went to seminary to be a pastor.

She sold her house and used the money in establishing five new churches in the rural River Region Christians

May 2022

SSY: When Doh Ah and I first came to Montgomery in 2008 for our internship at the Alabama Supreme Court, then Justice Parker (now Chief Justice) let us know about First Baptist Church Montgomery.

By God’s grace, FBC’s mission conference called Global Impact Celebration, which occurs once every three years, was ongoing at that time with Pastor Billy Kim from Korea as the main speaker. That’s how we came to visit FBC for the first time and met our former senior pastor, Jay Wolf. I will never forget his warm hug and encouragement when we first met him.

Later, when we came back to Montgomery, FBC became our spiritual home in Alabama. Whether it is serving in the deacon body, or as a praise and worship leader for the international department, it is my joy to be a small part of this healthy and beautiful body of Christ that loves the Lord 8

and encourages each other to follow Him together.

RRC: You believe life is a gift from God, and it is most important to follow the purpose He has given, which requires faith.

When a test of faith arises, how do you persevere?

SSY: On January 19, 2016, my family was expecting to receive approval on our green card application from the Immigrations Office, but instead we received a letter requiring additional evidence. Obtaining that evidence was something nearly impossible according to the immigration attorneys.

However, without it, my family had to leave the country within the following three months.

The problem originated from when I came to visit the U.S. for the first time in 2006 as part of the U.S. Congress-Korea National Assembly Exchange Program.

Since the program was funded by the U.S. State Department, I was issued with the Government Visitor J visa. That visa came with the condition that I would have to go back to Korea and stay there for at least two years before being able to come back to the U.S. In my case, the exchange program was during the summer of my 2nd year in law school and it was about a year and half I ended up spending in Korea before coming back to the U.S. for the internship at the Alabama Supreme Court.

I was unaware of that and my immigration attorney who had prepared and submitted our green card application missed that too.

We needed to provide the Immigrations Office either proof that we met the requirement or a waiver issued from the State Department. To obtain a waiver document, we had to go through Korean National Assembly, Korean Consul General’s office in Atlanta, Korean embassy in D.C., U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Labor, and finally U.S. Immigrations Office, seeking no objection statement/letters from each of those organization and applying for the State Department’s waiver. At every turn, a new

Ja wh we ing ou on tha us ne

Su me Le att rethe ce Go sta ern Aff of us jus we

RR yo Th ex fam mo

SS ate Ch pe 41 wh mo tha an sp pra tho al

ing ex ste wh un the int rat ha co se

m

as en

eat ble

ee

a

h

e

e ge

a

he rt. n d oo.

w

challenge arose. But every time, God provided us a way out so faithfully.

I started fasting each morning from January, and it continued throughout the whole year until December. Along the way, we took one day at a time and each morning Doh Ah and I knelt before the Lord at our family worship service and meditated on God’s Word. God gave us His Words that were so on point each day which gave us courage, hope and the strength that we needed that day to go through it.

At the end of October, I asked my Sunday School teacher to write a recommendation for the Alabama State Bar’s Leadership Forum program where 30 attorneys are selected to participate. Our re-filed green card was still pending with the Immigration Office that time. I got accepted to the program, and not only that, God also gave Doh Ah an opportunity to start working in the Alabama State Government (Governor’s Office for Minority Affairs) that was to begin at the beginning of February 2017. Then, finally, God gave us the approval on our re-filed green card just in time the Monday after Thanksgiving week in November 2016.

RRC: In honor of a departed co-worker, you received The Chad Stewart Award.

This is in recognition of an attorney who exemplified his spirit of service to God, family, and helping those who need it most. What does that mean to you?

SSY: The Chad Stewart Award was created in memory of Beasley Allen lawyer Chad Stewart, who passed away unexpectedly in 2014 at the very young age of 41. In addition to being a dedicated lawyer who worked hard for his clients, Chad truly modeled Christ in his daily walk. Given that the award was created to recognize an attorney who best exemplified Chad’s spirit of service to God, his family and the practice of law in the service of “helping those who need it most,” this award means a lot to me.

I still feel utterly inadequate, knowing the life that Chad lived and the stellar example that he set, and the giant footsteps of the other Beasley Allen attorneys who have received this award and their unmatchable love and excellence for the Lord, family and work. So I always interpret this award as a chastisement rather than a compliment on anything that I have done — a loving encouragement and constant reminder for me to do better in serving the Lord, family and work.

RRC: You have five children. What is one Christian value that you vow to instill in your children, and why?

make it the first thing each day to read the Bible passage and meditate on it, and we encourage our children to do the same.

SSY: We chose Colossians 3:12 as our family Bible verse of the year this year:

RRC: You enjoy singing. What professional Christian songs have you participated in recording?

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

I call this passage our spiritual “Dress Code,” which applies to every Christian, every day. During one of our family worship services this year, I shared with my children that as we wake up and pick up our clothing and wear them each morning, we should not forget to pick up and wear these five important pieces of clothing as well – compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience – so that we can live as good witness and servant for the Lord.

RRC: For many Christians, it’s challenging to continue praying and devoting time to the Word. What advice would you give to navigate through that?

SSY: When I first experienced Jesus personally as a 7th grader, some positive changes followed in my life. The first change was that I read the Bible first thing every morning so that I could start each day with God’s Word, honoring Him with the first and best hour of the day. I chose the easiest translation and read three chapters during weekdays and five chapters each Sunday to be able to read through it in a year. It felt as if Jesus gave me an invitation to get to know Him better.

However, at the same time, I felt so inadequate before God’s Word and so thankful for His saving grace. I couldn’t help but stand up and read out loud every word, and if I made a mistake while reading, I went back to the beginning of that chapter and read that chapter again. The next year when reading through the Bible for the second time, I wrote down in my notebook one key verse from each chapter and one key word from that verse I chose, which grew to several notebooks, and I still keep them as a treasure.

I should confess that I need to restore that passion and spend more time in His Word like when I first met Jesus. These days, Doh Ah and I, and our children, have been using the same devotional book that is designed to go through each book of the Bible one at a time. Doh Ah and I 9

SSY: I have participated in recordings of several Christian music albums in Korea, including Korean praise and worship albums such as “Jesus, Shine!” (1998), “Inspiration” (1999), and Park Jong Ho’s 11th official album “Love Written on the Ground” (2005), etc.

We also enjoy singing as a family. Pastor Jay Wolf one said we were “a Korean version of the von Trapp family” from the Sound of Music. Just recently, we started preparing our family’s praise and worship YouTube channel, called “The Yang Family TV_YangTube,” and started uploading our family’s singing videos over the years. We will keep adding new ones in the future: https://www.youtube.com/ channel/UCB1H176hDVSLYYVrleasvVg. RRC: Being an attorney and demonstrating having a servant’s heart, how has your career impacted your life while grounding you as a person?

SSY: I work in our firm’s Mass Torts section. We represent literally hundreds of thousands of people who were injured by defective pharmaceutical drugs and medical devices. These cases are very complex and require a high level of expertise. It is my privilege to be part of our Beasley Allen team to serve our clients and it has impacted my life by shaping me as a lawyer and grounding me as a person who serves not only the clients, but also the Lord through my career.

Beasley Allen is a great place to work.

Not only do I get to work with some great lawyers and staff, but also, I’ve met a lot of good friends and mentors here who truly care about their clients and have a genuine heart for people. If you have someone as your boss or as your colleagues – someone whom you deeply admire because of the way they live their life and how they serve others – it will be a blessing to be working in that place.

Beasley Allen is like that.

Soo Seok Yang is married to Doh Ah Kim for almost 15 years. They have five children: Abraham (12), Johanna (10), Elijah (8), Hannah Grace (5), and Nehemiah (2). The family is an active part of First Baptist Church, Montgomery.

May 2022

River Region Christians

Faith Meets Mental Health Summit

Frazer Church invites you to a community-wide mental health summit that we are prayerful will help break down stigmas associated with mental health. The May 14 summit, Faith Meets Mental Health, is free, and aims to encourage conversation that would be taken outside of our church and into the community. The summit will be held at the church from 10 AM to 4 PM. Featured speakers include Nate Stewart of Mental Health Pulpit, Alabama’s mental health commissioner Kim Boswell, a special video message from Kay Warren of Saddleback Church, and Richard and Alisa Jones of Hope City Counseling. The summit will offer breakout sessions focusing on women and mental health, men and mental health, substance abuse and recovery, teens and parents, and a session focused on pastors and church leaders. Please register at www.frazer.church/mentalhealth.

River Region Christians

May 2022

Agape’s 12th Annual Run For a Mom

May 7 * Vaughn Park Church of Christ Put on your running shoes and come join us for the 12th annual Agape For A Mom 5K, 10K, and Fun Run. The in-person race will have a staggered start beginning at 7:30am. You can start your 5K or 10K race anytime between 7:30am and 8:00am. Agape is a Christian foster care and adoption agency. To learn more and register, visit agapeforchildren.org.

Adoption Support Group APAC, Alabama Pre/Post Adoption Connection This group provides education and social interaction for adoptive families.

Meets 3rd Tuesdays, 6-7:30 p.m. at Frazer Memorial UMC, Montgomery. For more information call Jill Sexton at 409-9477.

10

br

At al,

Th wa ti o

Re sh reg ma C wa bu

st e r

d art a r,

Communities of Transformation Awareness Walk

Saturday, May 14, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. at Lagoon Park, Pavilion One near the Pete Peterson Lodge, Montgomery 36109.

The COT Awareness Walk: Addressing Poverty Through Community is a fundraiser to help spread awareness around poverty and holistic poverty alleviation. Many families are challenged by the broken systems in our communities such as transportation, food security, affordable housing, and access to resources. We hope to bring awareness to the daily struggles of many families in our communities and our holistic approach to alleviation.

At COT, we believe that poverty is more than a lack of financial resources. We believe that spiritual, relational, physical, and intellectual resources are just as important for a balanced and thriving lifestyle. We use the power of a supportive community to strengthen all of these dimensions.

The Awareness Walk will be a 2-mile walk at your pace. Your $25 registration fee will support Communities of Transformation in our efforts to alleviate all forms of poverty.

Register by April 22nd to ensure tshirt delivery prior to the event. All registrations after the 22nd will be mailed as soon as possible. Local COT sites will offer a location to walk with a community of people, but participants can complete the walk in their own location.

More information can be found at https://www.communitiesoftransformation.org/.

11

A Night At The Piano with Michael W. Smith Sunday, May 15, 2022, 7 pm First Assembly Montgomery. Tickets may be purchased at montgomeryfirst.org.

Church Yard Sale Monthly

Capital City Church of the Nazarene will hold yard sales on the first Saturday of every month from 7:00 til noon. There is something for everyone! 4450 Vaughn Road, Montgomery. For more information call 334-272-8176.

May 2022

River Region Christians

pe lac ve en tax es on

pe ad oth

the “I d life ten of Ch los

wil ate co tal ics es co lea ne

I love how Jesus related to damaged, condemned people. Don’t you?

A woman sins against God and is caught in the act of adultery.

She wrecks a home. She brings shame upon herself and her community. Pious men take her shame public. “Lawbreakers must not be tolerated,” they think. “She must be condemned for her behavior, cast out for her infidelities, shamed for her shameful act. She must be made into an example.”

River Region Christians

May 2022

12

This is what happens in a group of people who have sound theology but are lacking in love. A Colosseum culture develops. Everyone rallies around a common enemy—the sinner. Robbers, evildoers, tax collectors, adulterers and adulteresses. And then the pouncing and the piling on. The shaming.

What’s wrong with the world? “Other people,” says the mob surrounding the adulteress. “What’s wrong with the world is other people … those who aren’t one of us.”

But not Jesus. Jesus, left alone with the woman, simply says to her two things: “I do not condemn you. Now leave your life of sin.” The order of these two sentences is everything. Reverse the order of these two sentences and you’ll lose Christianity. Reverse the order and you’ll lose Jesus.

As was the case with Jesus, so it will be with his people when we create environments that communicate “no condemnation” first, before we ever start talking about law, obedience and ethics. Because with Jesus, grace and love establish the environment for the morality conversation. It is not our repentance that leads to God’s kindness, but God’s kindness that leads to our repentance.

After more than 25 years of pastoral ministry, I have yet to meet a person who surrendered to Jesus because a Christian scolded them about their ethics or lifestyle. Have you?

Expanding Our “Us” Once we were having a small prayer gathering with some friends. Just before we began praying together, in came a couple we had never met and who had been invited by someone else in the group. The man, who I will call Matthew, was very drunk, and his wife had this been-through-war, can-somebody-pleasehelp-me, I’m-dying-inside look on her face.

As we prayed together, Matthew decided to chime in. His was a drunk prayer that went on for over 10 minutes.

He prayed some of the strangest things.

“God, protect us from the Klingons. God, I really want a Jolly Rancher right now, will you bring us some Jolly Ranchers?

God, please move my bananas to the dog house.”

After the “Amen,” everyone looked at me. What will the pastor do? Thankfully, I didn’t need to do anything because a woman from the group, full of love and

situational intelligence, offered Matthew a cookie. As the woman was giving him a cookie and entertaining conversation about Klingons and such, several others went over to his wife and begged for insight on how they could help the situation.

This little interaction, this way of responding with love and “no condemnation first,” became one of the most transformative experiences I have ever witnessed.

To make a long and wonderful story short, the kindhearted offer of a cookie led to a tribe of people coming around the couple and their two young children, which led to a month of rehab in Arizona—including prayers and support as well as flights and personal visits to the rehab center by church members, which led to sobriety, which led to a restored home and marriage, which led to Matthew becoming a follower of Jesus, which led to him also becoming an elder in the church.

To this day, after 25 years of pastoral ministry, Matthew may be the best and most impactful church elder I have ever worked alongside.

Grace must come before ethics. Love must come before the morality discussion.

Love—the broad embrace of the narrow path—will trigger some of the most lifegiving experiences you’ll ever be part of.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

JUNE 20-24

Register NOW! FBCPRATTVILLE.ORG/VBS 13

May 2022

River Region Christians

Loving Like Jesus — Is It Possible?

We work tirelessly to help kids get well because Hugh has a long list of stuff he wants to do.

W E D O W H AT W E D O B E C A U S E C H I L D R E N H AV E D R E A M S .

1 6 0 0 7 TH AVENU E S OUT H B I R MI N G H AM , AL 35233 ( 2 0 5 ) 6 3 8 - 9100 C h i l d re n s AL . org

How can we begin to live from agape so that stories like Matthew’s become the norm versus the exception? How can we create environments in which this kind of love flourishes?

Here’s how. We must first realize that love is the environment where we are already living. Love has to be a person to us before it can become a verb. And the One who is Love Incarnate—Jesus— doesn’t just love us when we’re at our best. He also loves us when we are at our worst. When we are caught in the act.

When we fall asleep on Him instead of watching and praying with Him. When we deny Him three times. When we become His persecutors. When we come into His prayer meetings drunk—drunk on our ambition, our greed, our resentful grudges, our pornographic imaginations, our selfrighteousness.

From these places Jesus asks, “Do you like cookies? May I get you one? Will you sit with me? How about rehab? May I accompany you there? May I pay the fee? May I come alongside you toward sobriety, then a new life, then a seat at my table, then a job in my Kingdom? I went to the battlefield, I loved from the battlefield, to launch this love trajectory for your life.

Protection from the Klingons. Sweeter than Jolly Ranchers. All you need is nothing. All you need is need.”

These words from one of my favorite hymns, “Come, ye sinners” says it all: Come ye sinners, poor and needy Weak and wounded, sick and sore.

Jesus, ready, stands to save you, Full of pity, joined with power…

Let not conscience make you linger, Nor of fitness fondly dream.

All the fitness he requires Is to feel your need of him.

How do we love like Jesus?

It starts with resting and receiving. It starts by stopping.

Perhaps we should stop trying to love like Jesus and instead, first learn what it means to be with him, yes?

Because the more we are with Jesus, the more we will become like him. Love is caught more than it is achieved. Get close to love, and love tends to rub off.

Let’s pursue this path, the love path, the no-condemnation path, shall we?

Scott Sauls is an author, blogger and pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville.

River Region Christians

May 2022

14

ing

mo you nu at min

chu

We de frie mig Ou

be ass tal

hu jus ho bo com ho

shr ma de ne rea

ing res frie af the

the

pe e e f

at

—

t.

e e s m-

ll

my to d, . an All

t

ve

s, s se

,

of

Compassion, Outreach Needed for Those with Mental Health Struggles

If you’re reading this, and you’re hurting, you need to know you’re not alone.

That there is a God who loves you more than any pain you feel. Even when you feel that empty, that isolated. That numb. When all you can do is stare blindly at a wall. At a muted television. Or swiping mindlessly through social media.

Another video. Another. You don’t even chuckle at the funny ones.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month.

We need to be mindful of those living with depression and other mental illnesses. Our friends – even family – live with battles we might not know anything about. Our children.

Our neighbors. Our co-workers.

Those hurting can be loud, or they can be silent – so silent because of the stigmas associated with mental illnesses, and mental health in general.

So silent, that smiles cover most every hurt. Every tear. Every desperate step to just get through a day. You hear all the time how different it is from living with a broken bone, and the attention drawn to that. The compassion for the pain, the questions on how it happened.

The offers of help when needed.

Mental health and mental illness are so shrouded in secrecy that it can oftentimes make conditions worse. The depression, deepened. The anxiety, heightened. We need to be the type of faith community that reaches those hurting.

That asks simple, “How are you doing?” questions when someone becomes reserved. When they miss a gathering with friends, when they’re absent from work for a few days and you know it’s not the flu and they’re not on vacation.

We need to be mindful of the spirit. Of the hurting. And not be afraid to approach it.

We don’t have answers – not often. But we can offer our compassion. We can be that community that sits in silence with someone hurting, lending them our arm, our ear, our heart.

We can pray with them and for them.

We can let them know they’re not alone. If you’re reading this, and you’re hurting, you need to know you’re not alone.

There are people here for you. And Jesus – He has never left your side. I need you to believe that with your whole heart.

I’ve seen the darkness. I’ve walked through it. And somewhere, through the vast emptiness that I thought was my life forever – because there seemed no hope or way out – I had to believe God had a plan. Somehow. Even when I couldn’t see tomorrow. Even when I could barely muster a two-word whispered prayer of, “Help me.”

Somewhere, there was a faith so deep, that I knew there would be light at the end of this darkness. And my earnest prayer is that you do, too. That you find your way through the hollowest of times, knowing on the other end is hope. Is... Him. And the reminder that God never promised we’d be free of difficult paths in our life, but that He would walk alongside us through them. His name, above it all.

Let’s be the community of faith that holds hands.

That sits, and doesn’t judge. That listens, and stays silent if needed. That speaks up, if needed. That offers kindness.

15

Darkness is one of the bravest and more courageous paths to walk through, and when you see someone clawing their way to find hope, stand beside them.

Be on the other side as well, when they come through. When they see and feel life again. Because that took work. And that took a lot of faith. And trust, and belief.

If you’re reading this, and you’re hurting, you need to know you’re not alone.

If you need help, text NAMI to the crisis textline 741741.

Frazer Church is hosting a free community-wide mental health summit, Faith Meets Mental Health, on May 14.

Information can be found online at www. frazer.church/mentalhealth.

May 2022

River Region Christians

The Right Ideology?

The Freedom Convoy in Canada came to an unceremonious end a few months ago, as the Canadian government cracked down on protesters physically in the capital city of Ottawa. The new police chief there had promised that participants in the protest against government overreach, including COVID vaccine mandates, would continue to face retaliation.

So would those who supported them.

The Post Millennial reported: According to CTV reporter Mackenzie Gray, senior police sources told CTV chief news anchor Graham Richardson that they were looking to “break the back” of the protest Saturday, and that family members of some convoy participants have reported difficulties in banking due to familial ties to the protest.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said: “Financial institutions will also be authorized or directed to render essential services to help address the situation, including by regulating and prohibiting the use or property to fund or support illegal blockades.” And, as the article notes, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said that Canadian financial institutions will review their relationships with “Anyone involved in the illegal blockades...”

This is an example of action taken against someone based on ideology.

PayPal co-founder David Sacks wrote in mid-February that: Banks, according to this new order, have a “duty to determine” if one of their customers is a “designated person.” A “designated person” can refer to anyone who “directly or indirectly” participates in the protest, including donors who “provide property to facilitate” the protests through crowdfunding sites. In other words, a designated person can just as easily be a grandmother River Region Christians

May 2022

who donated $25 to support the truckers as one of the organizers of the convoy.

Because the donor data to the crowdfunding site GiveSendGo was hacked— and the leaked data shows that Canadians donated most of the $8 million raised— many thousands of law-abiding Canadians now face the prospect of financial retaliation and ruin merely for supporting an anti-government protest.

The Family Research Council website stated: “No one in a civilized society -- least of all Canada or America -- should want to violate the rights of conscience, FRC’s Owen Strachan argued. “I wouldn’t want to do that as an American citizen, even if I’m not a Christian -- because the rights of conscience are not like 37th on the list of important factors in a free society, the rights of conscience are basically first. If you take those away, you no longer have a free society.”

In the future, holding to the right ideology could determine whether or not a person engages in commerce, similar to what we find in the book of Revelation, which predicts a day in which people cannot buy or sell without swearing allegiance to the worldwide leader, the Antichrist.

The globalist scheme known as the “Great Reset” encompasses a component known as an ESG score. Justin Haskins of the Heartland Institute, writing for The Federalist, related one of the components: “requirements from national governments that companies adopt environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards...”

It appears that a company’s ESG score could be used to accept or reject a company from participation in the marketplace. Or, if our investment portfolio or financial transactions don’t reflect the 16

prevailing ideology, an individual could be penalized financially.

Haskins wrote that a high-ranking U.S. official has advocated for a “government credit bureau which could manipulate credit scores based on ideological criteria.” He says, “It’s not hard to imagine how such a system could be abused and eventually transformed into a governmentcontrolled personal ESG scoring system, one that would provide some groups with financial advantages over others...”

You draw a straight line from officials desiring power and control, seeing Christianity as a threat, to their using the financial system to essentially exclude believers from commerce. The scenario about which we read in Revelation, where people cannot buy or sell without having a mark of submission to a one-world leader, is inevitable. As it approaches, our responsibility is to continue to be faithful. Not all will embrace our Christian worldview perspective, but we can continue to see Christ as our source of strength, and when appropriate, we can use our God-given freedoms to speak out and push back.

We have seen personal freedom trampled upon in the face of the COVID pandemic, from churches being told when, where, and how to worship to punishment for people making health decisions based on personal conscience. It’s been pointed out that people have traded personal freedom for security. The “trial run” of the Great Reset continues as the ways of the future global governmental system continue to be ramped up. But God does not call us to be fearful; as Jesus said, we can be of “good cheer,” knowing that our ultimate victory is in Him - we can continue to trust the Lord in the important, eternal matters and base our hope in Him.

e

-

ne d nt, h

s tiial

ch n-

ity

cs pris

n, nt d d

m

e

ue

17

May 2022

River Region Christians

Age: Kindergarten through 6th grade Registration online or call 272.2412.

Eastern Hills Baptist Church 3604 Pleasant Ridge Road, Montgomery Theme: Destination Dig June 6-10, Times TBD Ages: 4 (by August 1st) through 6th grade Call 272.0604 or register online@ www.ehbconline.com.

East Memorial Baptist Church 1320 Old Ridge Road, Prattville Answers In Genesis: Zoomerang!

June 20-24, 9 a.m. to Noon Ages: K5 through 8th Grade Call 365.7500.

2022

Eastmont Baptist Church 4505 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery Theme: Spark Studios June 5-9; 6 p.m. – 8:15 pm Ages: K - grade 6 Register online @ www.eastmont.org or call 277.6300.

Vacation

Bible Schools

First Baptist Church ad on Back Cover

Blue Ridge Baptist Church 4471 Jasmine Hill Road, Wetumpka Theme: Spark Studios June 12-16, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

A family night musical performance will be held June 19 at 6:30 p.m. Call 567.4325.

Century Church at The Well 1001 Marler Road, Pike Road Theme: Making Waves July 18-21, 6-8 p.m.

Ages: Rising Pre K4 – Rising 5th grade Please call (334) 801.9080 for information.

Calvary Baptist Church 431 W. Fourth Street, Prattville Theme: Joseph’s Journey to Egypt from Beginning to End June 4, 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Ages: Preschool – K; Grades 1-6 Pre-registration at calvarybaptistprattville. org/what’shappening Registration Information: 334-365-5213.

Christchurch Anglican

Camellia Baptist Church 201 Woodvale Road, Prattville Theme: Spark Studios June 5-9 from 6-9 p.m.

Ages: Pre-K through 6th grade, plus adult classes. Register at www.camelliabaptist. com. Call 365.0231.

Capital City Church of the Nazarene 4450 Vaughn Road, Montgomery Theme: Deep Sea Adventures: Exploring the Depths of Jesus’ Love” June 6-10, 6pm-8pm Ages 3-12. Register online at capcitynaz. org or onsite. For more information call 334-272-8176.

River Region Christians

May 2022

ad on page 3

8800 Vaughn Road, Montgomery Theme: Jerusalem Marketplace June 13-17, 9 a.m. to Noon Ages 4 through rising 5th grade.

Please visit christchurchanglican.net to register.

Church of the Highlands 4255 Taylor Road, Montgomery Theme: Summer Blast June 27-29, 8:15 a.m. to Noon Children entering K in the fall through 6th grade. Please visit www.churchofthehighlands.com to register.

Cornerstone Christian Church 301 Dalraida Road, Montgomery Theme to be announced June 20-22, 6-8 p.m.

For more information, call 273-8595.

Dalraida Baptist Church 3838 Wares Ferry Rd., Montgomery Theme: Destination Dig June 6-10, 9 until Noon 18

305 South Perry Street, Montgomery Theme: Spark Studios June 20-24, 9 a.m. to Noon You can register on our website at www.

MontgomeryFBC.org. Call 834.6310.

First Baptist, Prattville ad on page 13

138 South Washington Street, Prattville Theme: Spark Studios June 20-24, 8:30 to noon Ages 3 years - 6th Grade. Children must be 3 years old by September 2 to attend.

For information and/or to register, visit fbcprattville.org/vbs or call 365-0606.

First Baptist Church, Wetumpka 205 W. Bridge Street, Wetumpka Theme: Monument Valley June 20-24, 6– 8 p.m.

Ages: K-6th grade. Call 567.5191.

First Christian Church 1705 Taylor Road, Montgomery Dates and theme: TBD Ages 4 years old – 6 grade Please call for more information, 270.1320 or visit www.fccmontgomery.org

First Presbyterian Church ad on page 15

211 S. Chestnut Street, Prattville Theme: Zoomerang June 6-9, Time to be decided Ages: 4 years old through entering 6th grade. Call 365.6387.

2

A

J

ry

de

w.

First UMC, Montgomery 2416 W. Cloverdale Park, Montgomery Theme: On a Roll with God June 6-8; 9 - Noon Ages 3 through 5th grade. Call 834.8990.

First UMC, Wetumpka ad on page 11

306 W. Tuskeena St., Wetumpka Theme: Focus June 5-7; 5:30 to 8 pm (dinner included) Call 567.7865 or visit www.wetumpkafirst.com/VBS. First UMC, Prattville 100 E. Fourth Street, Prattville Theme to be announced June 27-30, 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Completed Kindergarten through 5th grade. Call 365.5977.

Fountain City Baptist 492 East Main Street, Prattville Theme: Zoomerang!

June 26-30; 6 - 8 p.m.

Ages 5-12 years old. Call 365.2034.

Gateway Baptist Church ad on page 24

3300 Bell Road, Montgomery Theme: Spark Studios

June 13-17, 9 am- Noon Ages: Completed 1st through completed 5th. Call 272.9494 to register.

Ages: K4 - 6th Grade (grade completed) Email: hbc@connecthbc.com or call (334) 548.2620.

Glynwood Baptist Church 376 N. McQueen Smith Road, Prattville Theme: Spark Studio June 5-9, 6-8pm Ages: 4 through grade 6 For more info and to preregister, go to www.glynwoodbc.com or call 361.9180.

Heritage Baptist, Montgomery

Grace Presbyterian Church 5 Bell Road, Montgomery Theme: “The Great Rescue” Creative Arts Camp June 6-10, 8:45 a.m. until 1 pm.

Drama, Singing, Creative Movement & Art Ages: 6 years to entering 6th graders.

Registration deadline is May 23rd.

Please call 272.4930 or visit www.discovergrace.org GracePointe VBS 1565 Ray Thorington Road, Montgomery Sundays only, May 29-June 26, 9a.m.

Ages: 5-11 years. Call 271.2525.

Hayneville Baptist Church 1180 State Hwy 21 N, Hayneville, AL Theme: Spark Studio July 17-21, 5:45 until 8:30 p.m.

ad on page 10

1849 Perry Hill Road, Montgomery Theme: Connect Camp July 18-22 Ages: K through 8th grade Call 279.9976.

Heritage Baptist, Prattville 1357 S. Memorial Drive, Prattville Theme: Zoomerang!

June 5-9, 6-8 p.m.

Ages: Pre-School through completion of 6th grade. Call 365-2372.

Holy Spirit Catholic Church 8570 Vaughn Road, Montgomery Theme: Monumental July 18-22, 9 a.m. to Noon Age: Entering Preschool – rising 5th grade Call 277.1989 or register online at www.holyspiritmgm.org Millbrook Presbyterian (PCA) 3480 Main Street, Millbrook Theme: To be announced

e

st d.

20

h

19

May 2022

River Region Christians

June 27-30; 5:30-8 p.m.

Ages: Entering K5 thru 5th grade.

For registration, call 285-4031.

Montgomery Area Episcopal Churches Saint John’s Episcopal Church, 113 Madison Ave., Montgomery Dates and Times to be announced Ages: Rising K4 through rising 6th grade For registration, call 263.5529.

Morningview Baptist Church 125 Calhoun Road, Montgomery Theme: Monumental June 6-9, 9 a.m. to Noon Ages: Completed Kindergarten-5th grade Call 272.2304.

Mulder UMC 3454 Firetower Road, Wetumpka Theme: Make Waves June 5-8; 6 – 8 p.m.

Registration required and ends May 19.

For more info please call 567.4225.

Ridgecrest Baptist Church 5260 Vaughn Road, Montgomery Theme: Spark Studio June 6-10; 6-8 p.m.

Ages: 1st-6th grade. Please visit rbcmontgomery.com or call 277.0011.

Saint James Methodist Church 9045 Vaughn Road, Montgomery Theme: Monumental June 13-15, 9 to Noon Ages: K5-5th grade.Call 277.3037.

Taylor Road Baptist Church 1685 Taylor Road, Montgomery Theme: Spark Studio June 20-24, 8:30 a.m. to Noon For children who have completed K5 through 5th grade. Call 271.3363.

Thelma Baptist VBS 810 Weoka Road, Wetumpka Theme: Make Waves June 6-10; 9 a.m. to Noon For children who have completed PreK through 6th. Register online @ www.tlifeonline.com or call 567-3665.

Thorington Road Baptist 450 Ray Thorington Road, Montgomery Theme: Zoomerang July 17-21; 6-8:30 p.m.

Ages: K5 yrs. to 5th grade. Call 396.9376.

Trinity Presbyterian Church 1728 S. Hull Street, Montgomery Theme: One Way Cafe June 6-10, 9 a.m. to Noon.

Ages: Pre-K 4 through completed 6th grade. Call 262.3892 to pre-register.

Trinity UMC, Prattville 610 Fairview Avenue, Prattville Theme: Food Truck Party June 14-16, 5-8 p.m. Dinner provided for children every night. Call 365.7339.

University Church of Christ 5315 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery Theme: The Great Outdoors June 19-22; Sunday, supper at 5:30 with reservations made at ucoc.org/vbs and Monday-Wednesday at 6:30-8 p.m.

Ages: newborn thru 6th grade Adult classes will be available. Please call 386.7320 or visit www.ucoc.org.

Vaughn Forest Church 8660 Vaughn Road, Montgomery Theme: Kids Camp and Parent Experience July 24-26; Times to be announced Ages: Birth though middle school Registration at www.vaughnforest.com.

Call 279.5433.

Vaughn Park Church of Christ 3800 Vaughn Road, Montgomery June 17, from 9 until noon For more info, contact Carrie Stark at 272.2665.

“m wo qu us of sp int ma ed sp ha ne

life of to se an slo ou gra tai we wa gra

pe rel the wit for bo ha ac wh vo are ha we ca cu River Region Christians

May 2022

20

or

h d

all

ce

.

3

Two Steps Forward... One Step Back Are You Making Any Progress at All? The world is a competitive place. To “make the grade” whether in school or the workplace, we find we have to do it better, quicker, and wiser than the next person. It used to be called “ambition,” and was one of the most important issues when a prospective bride’s parents interviewed any young man who was interested in their daughter. In spite of COVID, people have not dropped the need to succeed.

We need to look at life not in a linear sense of going from point A to point B. We need to see it as a river, deep and wide with swirling rapids as well as slow, eddying pools. Each has its uses for our lives. Sometimes we can, with God’s grace, move the unsurmountable mountains faster than time itself. Other times, we seem like we are paddling the wrong way up stream and losing groun, but God’s grace is still staying with us.

Going forward and backward can happen in our careers, our ministry, and our relationships, We may not understand why the boss acknowledges our successes with a quick head nod, but lambasts us for a tiny error. Yet, we can hold onto the boss’ words for months, while the boss has long forgotten the error. Our ministry activities may be producing much fruit when suddenly resources dry up and our volunteers move away. We may feel we are making inroads into the soul of our hard-headed teenager when suddenly we receive verbal abuse that somehow came out of that person you breastfed and cuddled.

As we pray for the river of our lives to flow freely before us, we need to gain insight into why God has designed our humanity to move forward and backward.

I want you to remember that if you were to constantly move forward, it usually would

lead you to greater challenges mentally, emotionally, and physically. We need to have periods of taking in deep breaths and giving God our focused attention so He can speak to our hearts.

As you journey, remember that the river is going somewhere, On the Eastern Shore of Maryland, there are rivers that wander in loops, cutting back on themselves to the starting point of the previous loop. Eventually these streams succeed to empty into the Chesapeake Bay. During the journey, the wandering rivers provide marshes that are nesting grounds to many waterfowl who would never hatch their young near a raging river. While your forward progress seems to wander, use the time to rework your dream. God can bring about some new beginnings, like in your relationship with your husband, when you begin to gain perspective from God’s point of view.

When you start to step backward, try not to be so proud that you cannot admit 21

you need God (and perhaps other people) to help you move forward again. Like me, I am sure you love helping others, but don’t want to be the one that is being helped.

Yet, if you and I don’t allow somebody to give to us, we disavow the blessing they can receive helping us move forward.

God has not asked you to be perfect.

You need to give yourself the opportunity to fail without gathering an accompanying depressing spirit. Instead, gather within yourself a teachable spirit, one where God can directly, or through others, give you new information, a new paradigm, or a rejuvenated excitement for what is ahead.

Then, draw from your creativity and your ability to envision something better than even what you had before.

Remember, the best of the best have failed. Edison said he took 1000 steps before the light bulb worked. Some may have looked at these 1000 steps as failures, but he saw them as vital, so he would know what not to do and then what to do. No one talks about Edison as a failure. He was a man who used his river to the greatest advantage.

Medical researchers continuously bounce back from multiple failures or they wouldn’t have developed the cures and vaccines that define our progress in medicine.

Nothing is wasted when God is involved. Oswald Chambers said, “If you are going through a time of discouragement, there is a time of great personal growth ahead.” Actually, you really aren’t losing with the step backward, unless you become overwhelmed with it. I don’t want you to create a porch out of just one little step backward. Two steps forward minus one step back is still forward progress!

Take snapshots of your journey by writing in your journal so you can bless God through each experience, forward or backward. Enjoy your river, woman of God! May 2022

River Region Christians

kn be bro fro an wa sa sh do orp en tio

ad the an ch

wo co wa we

Th

for Ch for the aft fam

When Hope was adopted by Andy and Tanya Birchfield, she was almost two years old, and 16 pounds.

Weighing only three pounds at birth, the fact she survived is amazing.

River Region Christians

By Kym Klass May 2022

Adoption had always been on Tanya’s heart first. She felt the Lord calling on her and her husband to adopt, so together, they prayed over it. For almost a year.

22

Soon after they knew adoption would be their calling, they brought Hope home from the Eastern European country of Moldova. It was a process that Andy said allowed the Lord to show them that not only do they have a heart for orphans, but also for the enormous need of adoption overall.

The Birchfields have adopted three children from Molvoda – they are now aged 14 (Hope); 14 (Will); and 11 (Lena). They also have two adult children, Beth and Dow. There are up to 200 million orphans worldwide, and Andy said, “we knew we could make a small difference. As we walked through that process of adoption, we saw the need.”

The Birth of Children’s Hope

In 2010, the Lord placed the need for a new church ministry at First Baptist Church, Montgomery, focused on caring for orphans and vulnerable children, on the hearts of Andy and Tanya. This was after they brought Cristina Hope into their family.

They formed a prayer group among members of First Baptist Church to seek God’s plan. After a few months, a plan began to formulate, and on September 26, 2010, Children’s Hope was officially launched.

Children’s Hope and their partners care for children, strengthen families, and serve communities in Haiti through multiple programs - a children’s home, education initiative, medical/dental clinic, community outreach, and a vibrant mission team ministry that serves Haitian communities in partnership with local churches and community leaders.

“I think that the key for me is that we can make a real difference in the lives of people who need it most,” said Andy, who practices law at Beasley Allen. His motto is “helping those who need it most.”

“That echoes the word of Jesus in Matthew 25 … ‘whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Being able to help the vulnerable children in Haiti, we’re

23

able to make a significant impact. Truly, with the medical clinic, it’s a life or death difference.”

The first children’s home was established in Jacmel, Haiti, on a rented property shortly after the devastating earthquake of 2010. This is when the Birchfields saw a tremendous need and began providing and caring for 16 children – that today has grown to 50 children with an ideal property and staff.

“We had adopted a child before we started Children’s Hope,” Tanya said. “My motivation was to bring light to orphans to our church. If they knew, and had access, and could see these children, they would be motivated to go.

“And they did. We’ve had lots of people go on mission trips. We’re so sad the country has become more of a war zone in the past years. I just wanted people to know. They loved our little Hope, and I thought if they could see more …”

The Birchfields thought they would enter Haiti and help an already-established orphanage. But before they officially adopted Hope, and during a “family hug” moment, Tanya remembers looking in the mirror and recalls it was one of the times God spoke to her.

Guided her. And it was just the beginning.

May 2022

River Region Christians

The Expansion

Over the years, the expansion of care at Children’s Hope has gone beyond orphans. With the great needs in Haiti – after recent hurricanes and tornadoes – the ministry has provided rice to widows, helped find affordable housing for those displaced by storms, and has provided outreach to the prison system.

The social services department in Jacmel, the city where Children’s Hope is located, reached out to the ministry to ask whether they could help with the youth in the prison system.

Initially, the Birchfields saw this as an opportunity for the orphans to create River Region Christians

May 2022

hygiene kits as a way to show the youth in prison the love of Christ and the importance of helping others.

Beyond that, the ministry was able to help improve conditions at the prison, including building a medical shelter so prison officials could segregate those who were sick.

“We have our staff go on a weekly basis and minister to those in the prison,” Andy described some of the conditions as “so crowded, all the prisoners could not lay down on the floor at the same time.”

“They would eat off the floor. There was no latrine. You had human waste in the cell.

24

Children’s Hope also oversees transition homes that house orphans who are 16 and older, where they can start preparation for life on their own. There are separate homes for boys and girls, and they are exposed to different trades including electrical and mechanical work.

One boy, Eddie, is going into seminary.

He was a young boy who came to Children’s Hope after his father was unable to care for him. His diaper was dirty, his face, expressionless. He never smiled, never spoke.

Years passed by, and he started to lead the choir at Children’s Hope by the time he was in his early teens. He danced.

He earned a certification for tile work.

“For kids, like Eddie, to go from the condition he was in, to evolving into this incredibly outgoing, full of life young man, it’s just a reminder that the Lord is giving us the opportunity,” Andy said. “It’s rewarding and humbling.”

There have been hurdles to overcome in creating and expanding Children’s Hope. There’s the paperwork, certificates, and times when Haiti was shut down – because of protests, fuel shortages.

Asked how people can help Children’s Hope, Tanya said, “The main thing right now is to pray for stability. At one point, we were having trouble scheduling everybody who wanted to go.

“We are depending on a Haitian staff right now, and they are doing really well.

Financially, it costs a lot, because things in Haiti cost a lot. They don’t have electricity, so they have to have fuel to run things. You’re lucky if you can go somewhere and get on a computer. Pray for peace and stability. And that the children come to know Christ.”

To Give: Your donation will change

lives in Haiti as we care for children, strengthen families, and serve communities in Jesus’ name. Visit online at childrenshope.givingfuel.com/give.

To Contact: Use the contact form on the childrenshope.com website, or call 334-834-6310.

Kym Klass is a contributing writer and Communications Director of the Media Ministry at Frazer Memorial UMC in Montgomery.

am im 14 he 31 the rig tel yo

gre su Th on is a do Su to su is n ex se

to of ph inv to ind

si16

g

y.

y, d,

ed.

The Positive Effects of Serving Others

’s

me

s,

g

g

so

a

-

n

rial

The Bible provides countless examples that can help us recognize the importance of serving others. Proverbs 14:21 helps us understand that “blessed is he who is generous to the poor.” Proverbs 31:8 teaches us to, “open our mouth for the mute and destitute” and “defend the rights of the poor and needy.” John 15:12 tells us to “love each other as God loved you.” The examples are endless.

Jesus himself provides us with the greatest example of service to others. Jesus served humanity through his sacrifice.

The way Jesus lived and died was done on our behalf. Providing service to others is a noble gesture that honors God. To lay down your life can seem like a tall order.

Such a sacrifice can lead an individual to wonder, how could my service measure up to the sacrifice of Jesus? There is no single action, that can be humanly executed, that would be equal to the act of service displayed by Jesus.

Well, what can we do, as patrons, to serve others? To reflect the actions of Jesus, an individual can serve others physically and spiritually. Physical support involves the use of one’s hands or body to perform an action. In society, many individuals require physical support. For

some, it is very comforting to know that another kind person is available to provide relief. Running errands, cutting neighbor’s and elder’s lawns, and babysitting are effective and inexpensive ways to physically serve others.

To serve and support an individual spiritually can be exuded through prayer, simple conversations, and meaningful gestures. It is soothing and mentally beneficial to know that someone is consulting God to positively affect another person’s wellbeing.

When serving others, it is good to remember that a little bit can go a long way.

We, as a community, have been forced to share trauma during the Covid pandemic.

The need for support has been at an all-time high.

As a community, we have experienced fear and uncertainty in massive proportions. During such a time, it could be difficult to be indepthly concerned about the well-being of others.

The pandemic has left society in a doubtful fog that creates a feeling of powerlessness. Though in a helpless position there are still many ways to serve others.

Support can be shown through monetary donation, donation of supplies, and checking in on others. Through research we can infer that helping others can add the feeling of confidence and a sense of personal achievement. Serving others, while in a vulnerable position, can 25

positively affect mental health. Service to others lowers anxiety, reduces stress, and promotes an overall positive mood.

Providing service to others starts with you and the desire to mirror the example of Jesus. Ethnicity, socio-economic status, or gender do not matter. The easiest and most accessible area, to begin serving others, is in your own community. Our neighbors, friends, and family can use some assistance. Do not underestimate the positive impact that a small gesture can create.

May I sum it up for you? The Bible provides us with countless examples of God’s desire for us to serve each other.

We are shown that through sacrifice we can serve others physically and spiritually. To achieve maximum effectiveness, we must all find a way to contribute.

No amount of service is too big or small. When we begin our journey to provide service with the people that are closest to us, we can positively affect the mental stability of the society we live in. Continue to be blessed with no fear... and take care.

George Ishman was raised in Eutaw, Alabama, where he graduated from Greene County High School. At an early age he knew he wanted to be an advocate for change and an inspiration for individuals that live in communities facing economic challenges.

Ishman received his undergraduate degree in English from ASU in 2017, where he graduated Cum Laude. He obtained his Master of Science Degree in Counseling and Psychology from Troy University in 2021. As a new counselor, George is looking forward to helping clients find solutions and resources that will support their efforts to achieve their optimal level of functioning. George provides Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Behavioral Modification Therapy, and Supportive Therapy for adults and adolescents.

May 2022

River Region Christians

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 Christ-centered 12-step program. Call 264-4949.

Location: Christchurch Anglican Church, 8800 Vaughn Road Celebrate Recovery meets every Friday night. Dinner at 6:00, nursery available for children 4 and under. Large Meeting starts at 6:30. For more information, contact Dolly McLemore 334-301-3490.

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

Divorce

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 at 303-243-4308 or visit myjourneychurch.com.

Location: Landmark Church, 1800 Halcyon Blvd.

RSVP- This is a 12 step spiritual recovery program for overcoming addictions. 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.

River Region Christians

May 2022

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.

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.

Grief

Location: Cornerstone Christian Church, 301 Dalraida Road, Montgomery River Region Survivors of Suicide meets on the second and fourth Thursday of every month (excluding holidays) from 6:30-8:00 PM. Welcomes anyone regardless of their religious beliefs. Contact Cheryl Vinson at riverregionsos@gmail.com.

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.

Location: Church of the Highlands, 4255 Taylor Rd. Eryn’s Embrace offers hope and healing to children and teens grieving the loss of a loved one through peer support groups. Meets the 2nd Tuesday of every month from 4-5:15. More info: www.erynsembrace.org; erynsebrace@gmail.com; Erin Camp 334-657-1871.

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 GriefShare, Wednesday mornings 10am -12pm in the East Sanctuary. For more information call the church 272-8622. Dian Sims (facilitator)

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.

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.M- 7:00 P.M. For additional information, please contact Alice Glover at (334)281-2754.

Parenting

Location: First Baptist Prattville, 138 South 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. 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. 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: Landmark Church, 1800 Halcyon Blvd.

Single Moms Support Group, Wednesday nights at 6:30 p.m. in classroom 118. For info 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 Church, 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.

26

Faith Rad

)

e ffice

e m

WE ARE HERE FOR YO U TO H E A R

Jesus died for you!

TUNE TO 89.1 FM | DOWNLOAD OUR FREE APP LISTEN LIVE ON FAITH RADIO.ORG | TELL YOUR SMART HOME DEVICE “PLAY WLBF”

1 - 8 0 0 - 2 3 9 - 8 9 0 0 • w w w. FA I T H R A D I O. o r g

g are 5.

at 0.

4th

.

d and hil.

s

o m-

27 Faith Radio April 2022 Ad.indd 1

May 2022

River Region Christians

2/18/22 10:13 AM

I Wouldn’t Go That Far

Q. Our son is in high school, and he has

a part-time job. He makes good grades, and we have always tried to teach him how to save and handle money according to your advice. He has even managed to set aside a few thousand dollars for college.

My wife and I were talking the other night, and I brought up the idea of charging him a small amount for rent, maybe just $20 or $25 a month, to help him be even better prepared for the real world. What do you think about this?

A. I appreciate the fact that you’re looking for teachable moments. But making a high school kid pay rent? No, that’s a little over the top.

Listen, you and your wife are already way ahead of a lot of parents.

Teaching him financial responsibility and the importance of education are great things. It sounds like your son is

a bright, motivated young man, too.

I talk to adults all the time who are decades older, but still don’t grasp the concepts of maturity and responsibility like this kid does already. With the kind of start you’re giving him, I think he’s going to grow up to be a very successful adult. Keep up the good work, and let that young man know how proud you both are of him!

How Much in Business Emergency Fund?

Q. I own a small business. How much should I have in a business emergency

10 OFF

$

A. Generally, I like the idea of

small businesses having about six months of expenses on hand. That kind of cushion usually eliminates the need for borrowing money. It also provides peace of mind. And if you’ve been an entrepreneur very long, you know that’s an invaluable thing.

Having a personal emergency fund set aside is a little different than having one in place for your business. When it comes to personal finance, I recommend having three to six months of expenses set aside. The basic idea is the same, though. A fully-funded emergency fund gives you an option—besides debt—when unexpected things happen!

Learn more about

50 PURCHASE

$

fund when my annual sales are around $100,000? Currently, I have two months of expenses set aside.

Neurofeedback.

Schedule your FREE initial consultation today!

Help for :

www.herbshopwellness.com River Region Christians

May 2022

28

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

for big smiles and even bigger innovations.

Treating patients and families with genuine compassion, kindness and respect is the rule here, not the exception. But while a smile can make you feel welcome, it can’t make you feel better. That’s why, at Jackson Hospital, we never stop working to bring advanced treatments and technologies to the community – including state-of-the-art Robotic Surgery, which can lead to less pain, reduced scarring and shorter recovery times. YOUR HOME FOR HEALTH

1

www.facebook.com/auburnopelika.parents

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

JUNE 20-24 | 9 AM TO NOON Ages 4* through 6th grade // Free

LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE REGISTRATION REQUIRED BY JUNE 12

montgomeryfbc.org/vbs *Child must have turned 4 by September 1, 2021 to attend VBS. 1

www.facebook.com/auburnopelika.parents