Happy Mother’s Day!
To Haiti and back Mickie West’s ‘one big adventure’
● Metro Jackson travel recs and resources
● Where’s your mission field?
INSPIRED BY YOUR SUMMER VACATION CRUNCHTIME
You’ve been there. Ready to hit the beach, get fresh air, catch some sun — until your summer plans hit a snag.
Thankfully, with C Spire, you’ve got all the connectivity you need to keep your trip on track.
5G wireless on the go. Fiber-fast internet at home. And best-in-class business solutions back at the office.
C Spire. Inspired by you.
Katie Ginn
MS Christian Living, Inc.
EDITOR
Katie Ginn
katie@mschristianliving.com
ART/GRAPHIC DESIGN
Sandra Goff SALES
Teresa Howell
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Shay Greenwood, Courtney Ingle, Laura Lee Leathers, D.J. Speckner, Jade Whitehurst
COVER PHOTOGRAPHY
Joe Ellis Photography
DISTRIBUTION ASSISTANTS
Nettie Williams, Jerri and Sammy Strickland, Rachel and Bob Whatley
Mississippi Christian Living P.O. Box 1819 Madison, MS 39130
601.345.1091
mschristianliving.com
Mississippi Christian Living is committed to encouraging individuals in their daily lives by presenting the faith stories of others and by providing information that will point every person, at every stage of life, to a deeper, authentic, personal, and life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ. Views expressed in Mississippi Christian Living do not necessarily represent those of the publisher. Every effort has been made by the Mississippi Christian Living staff to ensure accuracy of the publication contents. However, we do not guarantee the accuracy of all information nor the absence of errors and omissions; hence, no responsibility can be or is assumed. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2025 by MS Christian Living, Inc.
Mississippi Christian Living is published monthly and is available for free at hightraffic locations throughout the tri-county area. Subscriptions are $29 a year.
POSTMASTER: Send change of address to Mississippi Christian Living, P.O. Box 1819, Madison, MS 39130.
At home, at work, at play: Let’s make disciples
Last year, by God’s grace, I met a lofty goal for MCL business revenue. My reward was a long weekend with Stephen in Hot Springs, Arkansas!
We made the five-hour drive in March, during our busiest time of year. From January through April, we have five immediate family birthdays, Easter, and our anniversary, plus Stephen and I each have a work-related event.
This year, in addition to all of that, my brother and I each caught the flu, and his turned into pneumonia. Imagine playing “52 card pickup” with a calendar while still trying to manage a Valentine’s date and bathroom tile repairs. Oh, and Stephen was sneezing, coughing, and hacking his way through the worst allergies ever. By March 20, we were ready for a break.
Dear readers, we got one. Hot Springs exceeded our expectations.
Our AirBnB offered a gorgeous view of Lake Hamilton, just 20 minutes from downtown. We ate so much tasty food: pizza at Grateful Head Pizza, filets at 501 Prime (make a reservation), cheeseburgers at Superior Bathhouse Brewery, and sushi at Osaka. Oh, and I almost forgot Scoops Homemade Ice Cream. Y’all, we went twice. No regrets.
Downtown Hot Springs is adorable, walkable, and includes access to the actual hot springs for which the city is known. Also downtown, we shopped at a boutique called Podunk Annie’s, where I bought my brother a T-shirt featuring a skunk playing bass guitar, with the words “Put some stank on it!” (If you don’t get that, I can’t help you.)
We visited Quapaw Baths & Spa, where you can soak in the famous hot springs in a public bath. We had to wait for two spots to open up (get there early), but the bubbling hot water soaked away all stress, and I walked out relaxed and happy. Next time we’re going to book a spa package!
We also explored Garvan Woodland Gardens, where thousands of tulips happened to be in “peak bloom.” The flowers were unreal, and the park was a nice place for a walk. At dinner at Osaka,
we met a friendly local couple who were regulars and gave us tips for our next Hot Springs visit. We intend to go back, hike, rent a kayak — and eat more Scoops ice cream.
This edition of MCL is our Travel & Missions Issue, and you can probably tell which of those I tend to favor. But here’s the thing: You do not have to go on a mission trip in order to “do missions.”
When Jesus says, “Go and make disciples” in our English Bibles, that phrase could be translated, “As you go, make disciples.” That doesn’t excuse us from supporting global missions or from making disciples wherever we live. We can and should do both.
As you go to the grocery store.
As you go on a mission trip.
As you go on vacation.
As you go visit family.
As you go home and see your neighbors. According to the Pew Research Center, 77 percent of adult Mississippians identify as Christians. Even if all those “identifiers” actually know Jesus, that means 23 percent, or more than 1 in 5, do not.
In some ways it can be harder to share your faith in the Bible Belt, where such a large portion of people claim to love the Lord. But imagine if you thought you were saved, and you weren’t, and nobody ever got to know you well enough to question you on it. Where would you be?
As for missions, God might call you to sell your stuff and move to a foreign country like our cover lady, Mickie West. He might call you to a short-term mission trip overseas. He might call you to an even shorter trip to the Delta.
Or He might simply call you, as He’s calling me, to keep texting that friend and don’t give up; keep praying for people you know who don’t know Jesus; keep asking Him for opportunities, for relationships, for the words to say; and make disciples as He leads. Y
Katie Ginn katie@mschristianliving.com
Stephen at our happy place, Scoops Homemade Ice Cream in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
At Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi, we ‘re not just about providing health insurance. We’re creating a strong, supportive community that empowers every Mississippian to live their healthiest life. We make managing your health easier by empowering you with the tools and support you need to take proactive steps toward maintaining and improving your health. Working together, we’re ensuring quality healthcare and wellness opportunities are within reach for all. Because when you are at your best, Mississippi is too.
A healthy community begins with the health of its people — and when you thrive, we all do.
It’s good to be blue.
How God turned a pastor’s ‘no’ into a ‘yes’ for adoption
“They got in our vehicle with the clothes they had on. That’s it.”
That was how Bobby McGuffie, pastor of Flowood Baptist Church, began his life as a foster dad to Leigha and Oakleigh, two young sisters who would later become his daughters.
McGuffie’s wife, Lindsay, had mentioned adoption early on. “We had trouble getting pregnant with our first daughter, and I was just not into adoption,” Bobby admitted. “I didn’t think I could love a kid that wasn’t mine.”
But God had other plans. A simple invitation from a friend to a steak dinner — hosted by Southern Christian Services for Children and Youth — became a turning point. “I’ll go listen to anybody for a good steak,” Bobby laughed. But that night, something shifted. “He’s like, ‘Man, you need to think about this. You need to consider adopting and fostering.’”
A sermon Bobby himself preached on Sanctity of Human Life Sunday sealed it. “The Lord said, ‘OK, you need to do it.’” His wife’s response? “It’s about time.”
Through Southern Christian Services, the McGuffies became certified foster parents. Their early experiences were difficult, caring for a medically fragile boy and a placement that didn’t work out. Bobby recalled telling Lindsay, “If we’re gonna do this, it’s gonna be a boy.” Then came the call about two little girls in the Hattiesburg area — Leigha and Oakleigh.
“ There’s no doubt in my mind I’d fight for the smallest one just like I’d fight for my oldest one.”
Bobby (back left) with his wife, Lindsay, and their daughters (front, from left) Leigha, 5; Oakleigh, 4; and Marleigh Grace, 8. The McGuffies fostered and adopted Leigha and Oakleigh via Southern Christian Services.
– Bobby McGuffie
“One was special needs and had a vision impairment … The other one was developmentally delayed,” he said. “I was like, ‘No, I’m not doing this two girl thing.’” But a visit to meet the girls in Taylorsville changed everything. “We drove back home with our biological daughter, and we’re like, ‘Hey, we can do this.’”
They picked the girls up on a Friday. “Brought them to Sal & Mookie’s ... It was a disaster,” he laughed. “Just because they hadn’t been around folks.” Leigha, the older of the two, is autistic and legally blind. “We think she can see about 18 inches in front of her.”
Despite the challenges, Flowood Baptist got behind them in a big way. “They were super supportive, seriously. They were welcoming to the girls and supported us every step of the way.” About 80 church members were present in December 2023 when the adoption became official.
Bobby credits his wife, his friend Carrie Wiggins, and the Lord for helping him overcome his doubts. “Now it’s like, man, they’re all ours. All three of ’em are ours. There’s no doubt in my mind I’d fight for the smallest one just like I’d fight for my oldest one.”
And his oldest, Marleigh Grace? “She’s been awesome,” he said.
“They wouldn’t be where they are without her … I (attribute) 80 percent of their growth to their big sister.”
Today, Leigha and Oakleigh are thriving. Leigha attends a special needs pre-K program and will transition to Flowood Elementary this fall, where all three McGuffie girls will be students.
The McGuffies are deeply involved at church, especially with the growing special needs ministry. “We’ve got four or five kids in there. It’s growing,” Bobby shared. The church is also launching a respite care night this fall: “One Friday a month, we’ll have it where they can bring special needs kids and adults here to our church,” Bobby said. “It just gives parents a break.”
Bobby’s words now are far from the doubt he once carried. “I was the guy who said, ‘I don’t think I can love a kid (that isn’t mine).’ And now? They’re ours. Through and through.” Y
Courtney and her husband, Jeremy, live in Brandon and are members at Park Place Baptist Church in Pearl. They have a daughter, Taylor, and a son, Jacob. Courtney is a full-time homemaker and can be reached at courtneyingle89@gmail.com.
This Mother’s Day, help us empower Mississippi mamas
Your Tag Purchase = A donation to local pregnancy centers! There are many specialized plates to choose from — we encourage you to Choose Life!
Many moms feel overwhelmed when facing an unplanned pregnancy. Your Choose Life tag purchase supports safe, life-affirming pregnancy resource centers in Mississippi that provide moms with free ultrasounds, baby and parenting preparation classes, maternity/infant supplies, STI/STD testing and treatment, and counseling.
When my travel dream became reality
After becoming a Christ follower and studying the Scriptures, I desired to visit the Holy Land — to walk where Jesus walked. A dream that I never thought would be possible.
In God’s timing, on Christmas Eve 2007, my parents gave me a letter with instructions on how to spend the enclosed check. My dad wrote, “Whereas Laura Lee has had a powerful hankering for years to visit the Holy Land … “
I learned about a mission partnership that Morrison Heights Baptist Church had with missionaries in Israel. I attended the meeting and brought my daughter and a friend, who made the trip with me.
Traveling to Israel was my first overseas mission trip. The following are recommendations as you serve with mission endeavors in Mississippi and abroad.
Plan a church commissioning service
I spoke with my pastor about doing a
commissioning service before our trip. He asked me to come up with an outline, which I did:
● He Calls through Preparing Our Hearts (testimonies from individuals)
● We Offer Our Praise and Worship (two hymns)
● Proclaiming the Word (the pastor’s sermon was on how God shapes our lives for ministry)
● Prayer and Commissioning (using the word “Israel”):
Instruction and insight as we minister (Psalm 32:8)
Security and safety as we travel (Psalm 122:6-7)
Remember the people of Israel (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)
Ambassadors and missionaries (2 Corinthians 5:20)
Endurance and strength (Philippians 3:7-11)
Lasting relationships (1 Thessalonians 3:11-13)
Larger churches might have a missions or outreach pastor and will plan a time of recognition and prayer for the mission team. Also, be sure to attend all planning meetings. It’s a time of worship, preparation, and fellowship with team members.
Keep a journal
For this trip, I asked family and friends to write a note to me anywhere in the book. At the end of the day, when I wrote about my experiences, it was a joy to turn the page and find words of encouragement or prayers from home.
My journal documents places, people, Scriptures, personal insights, and a pita bread recipe. One of the missionaries wrote the name of Jesus in Arabic. At the end of the book, my mother wrote, “ … may God always lead you in the right direction.”
Beyond my expectations
In Israel, my group spent time at a Muslim school for women and did a prayer walk. We attended churches, met pastors, and participated in street evangelism. In every town we visited, we encouraged the local church or assisted with a ministry project.
On other mission trips, I’ve shared the gospel through an interpreter on top of a mountain in the Dominican Republic, engaged in block parties, worked in disaster relief, entertained children in a makeshift childcare center, distributed supplies, prayed with others, and more. God certainly moved this farm gal out of her comfort zone. I’ve learned to drop my expectations, be open to the Holy Spirit’s leading, and rely upon the Lord.
I’ve traveled alone, with tour groups, with family, and with friends. I’ve learned that God’s timing is always perfect and He provides everything needed. I’ve had the privilege of working with and under the leadership of regional missionaries and have learned about their daily work and how they build relationships.
Retirement is an excellent time to travel to places on your bucket list. Many organizations need volunteers. Regardless of where you go, remember that we are always on a mission with God. Happy travels!
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. – Acts 1:8 Y
Laura Lee Leathers is a writer and speaker. Imagine Lois Lane, over 65, living on a farm. Her metropolis is the area of freelance writing. Her primary love interest is the Word of God. She digs for information, interviews fascinating people, offers a cup of biblical hospitali-tea, and encourages, and helps others with the how-to’s of life. Visit LauraLeeLeathers.com.
Memorabilia from Laura’s trip to Israel.
Do you have Holy Spirit conviction in your fitness goals?
As someone who has struggled with starvation diets, body dysmorphia, and a bad relationship with food, I have had to learn that my identity was never meant to lie within the number on the scale, my dress size, or even my appearance. Though a part of me, these things do not define me. Running after “perfection” only left me feeding a neverending cycle ending in more shame and disgust. God didn’t have my goals; the world did.
“ So what makes the difference? Holy Spirit discernment and conviction. Two people can be eating cake and only one of them is sinning.”
However, I am not saying a healthy lifestyle doesn’t matter. Our choices either honor or dishonor God. So what makes the difference? Holy Spirit discernment and conviction. Two people can be eating cake and only one of them is sinning. One person is using the cake to fill them with the comfort, pleasure, and joy they should seek in God, while
the other person is simply eating cake.
Our fitness goals should not be the source of our joy and gratitude but the result of gratitude for the body God gave us. I make healthy choices because I have God’s love, not in order to earn it.
Praying for conviction is a powerful way to invite the Holy Spirit to illuminate areas in our life that need to be realigned with God’s will. Here are some tips for doing this on your health and fitness journey, along with scripture to meditate on.
● Approach with humility and a willing heart. Start by acknowledging that you need God’s guidance and correction. Be open to hearing His truth. Scripture: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
– Psalm 139:23-24.
● Ask for the Holy Spirit’s help.
Ask the Holy Spirit to do what only He can: Bring clarity, conviction, correction, and change of heart. Scripture: “When he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgement.”
– John 16:8.
● Pray with the Word open.
As you read scripture, ask God to speak through it and convict your heart wherever needed, and that you would be eager and receptive to it. Scripture: “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double edged sword … It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
– Hebrews 4:12.
● Confess and repent honestly.
When conviction comes, respond with honest confession and repentance; God is always ready to forgive and restore. Scripture: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9.
● Ask for strength to obey.
Ask God to help you live out the transformation He’s calling you to! Scripture: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit in me.” – Psalm 51:10.
My prayer is that you learn to find joy in loving your body well, not because of who you are not, but because of Whose you are. It is from God’s love that we love even our own reflection. Y
Jade Whitehurst is a wife, mom, and fitness coach. You can follow her on Instagram @jadewhitehurst_thefaithfitmom.
If you aren’t sure whether you have a relationship with God or where you’ll go when you die, please don’t put this magazine down until you’ve read the following:
✝ THE PROBLEM
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. – Romans 3:23
For the wages of sin is death … – Romans 6:23a
The natural result and consequence of our sin is eternal death, or hell (Revelation 20:15), separated from God. This is because God is completely perfect and holy (Matthew 5:48), and His justice demands that sin be punished (Proverbs 11:21).
✝ THE SOLUTION
… but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. – Romans 6:23b
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. – Romans 5:8
Jesus Christ died in our place on the cross and took on the punishment for all our sins (Isaiah 53:4-6). Then God raised Him from the dead (John 20)!
✝ HOW TO RECEIVE SALVATION
If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. – Romans 10:9
Trust in what Jesus has done for you — His death for your sins and His resurrection — and trust Him as Lord.
✝ IS IT FOR ANYONE?
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. – Romans 10:13
✝ THE RESULTS
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. – Romans 5:1
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:38-39
✝ WHAT TO DO NEXT
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. – Romans 10:17
If you decided to trust in Jesus, grow in your faith by reading more of God’s Word in the Bible. We recommend the gospel of John (it comes just after Luke) as a good starting point — or Romans!
Finding a church close to you that teaches faith in Christ is another important step. It’s crucial to spend time with other believers so we can encourage each other in our faith.
If you have questions about anything on this page, please contact us at 601.896.1432, or send us a message on Facebook @MSChristianLiving, Instagram @mschristianmag or Twitter @MSChristLiving.
Metro Jackson travel recs and resources
Are you behind on planning your summer vacation? Sometimes inspiration is right around the corner: Below are just a few of metro Jackson’s visit-worthy attractions, whether you live in the tri-county or within driving distance — plus, the perfect place to rent a car for day trips or longer excursions.
Cypress Point Resort, Brandon
Memories are made at Cypress Point, so be sure and bring a camera! Ever wondered what a buffalo looks like up close? Ever wish you were surrounded by exotic animals that you could never see in Mississippi? Cypress Point Resort Safari Tours is the answer for you.
With hundreds of animals representing more than 30 different exotic species, Cypress Point offers an experience like no other. This safari tour is located close to “home” in metro Jackson, yet it feels like miles away. Observe exotic animals as they roam throughout the property, looking every bit as natural here as on the Serengeti.
Guests can drive their own vehicles through the Safari Park when doing the Drive-Thru Safari Tour. For guests not wanting to drive their own vehicles through, Cypress Point offers Jeeps that can be rented for up to five passengers at a time.
Field trip and bus tours are available on request. Cypress Point offers educational field trips for groups of all ages! Each field trip includes a 45-minute safari tour in which knowledgeable staff will provide educational information about the various species that you will encounter. Guests will be able to get within touching distance of some of the safari animals while getting to feed others! Each tour concludes with a visit to the Petting Zoo, which includes barnyard animals as well as exotics.
Whether it is a couple on a unique date, a family making memories, or a school group learning about animals, Cypress Point is a must visit. Plan your visit now, and capture memories in the wild!
Mississippi Petrified Forest, Flora
Just 20 minutes from Jackson lies the Mississippi Petrified Forest, a 36-million-year-old landmark of our state’s geological history. Long ago, a massive flood brought large trees to the area and buried them in mineralrich sediment. Slowly, minerals replaced the wood’s organic material, preserving every detail in stone.
As you walk along the shaded nature trail, a printed trail guide (included
with admission) highlights points of interest. Your walk ends at the Earth Science Museum, a showcase of petrified wood, fossils, gems, and minerals from around the world alongside discoveries from here in Mississippi.
Next, browse the gift shop for a unique souvenir, like a piece of Mississippi petrified wood — our official state stone. Aspiring rock collectors can try the Gem Fluming activity, sifting through sand and water to uncover colorful gems to keep. Then, enjoy the park and covered picnic areas included with your admission ticket.
Visitors often spend multiple hours at the Petrified Forest, but you can even stay overnight. The wooded campground offers full hook-up RV sites, tent sites with power and water, restrooms, showers, and plenty of peace and quiet.
Sound like fun? Pack a picnic, grab the dog, and head to Flora for an educational, nature-focused outing for all ages.
Two Mississippi Museums, Jackson
The Two Mississippi Museums are now booking summer group tours, and church groups can get FREE admission! Sunday school classes, church youth groups, Bible studies, senior citizen religious groups, or any other faithaffiliated community may now visit the Two Mississippi Museums for free with groups of 10 or more people. These visits are made possible by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.
At the Museum of Mississippi History, experience 15,000 years of culture and learn how our shared past influences our future together. Lift a mound builder’s basket, sit in a historic church pew, step into a juke joint, and more!
Explore the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and see the Article continues on
One of Cypress Point’s littlest attractions gets some nourishment.
movement that changed the nation. Discover stories of Mississippians like Medgar Evers, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Vernon Dahmer, as well as those who traveled many miles to stand beside them, come what may, in the name of equal rights for all.
For more information on how your church group can book a free tour of the Two Mississippi Museums, call 601-576-6902 or email twommgrouptours@mdah.ms.gov.
U-Save Car & Truck Rental, Jackson
Renting a car for a vacation is often better than driving your own or relying on other transport. It saves wear and tear on your car, gives you access to the perfect type of vehicle for your trip (think SUVs for mountains, convertibles for beaches), and allows you to test out a new car model you might be curious about. Also, rental companies regularly service their vehicles, so you’re less likely to run into mechanical issues. Finally, depending on gas prices and the efficiency of the rental, it can actually be cheaper than using your own vehicle — especially if yours isn’t fuel-efficient or you’d otherwise need to pay for maintenance after a long trip.
If you’d like help figuring out what kind of rental would suit your trip, or tips on finding deals, call 601-957-8728, email jacksonmsmanager@rentusave.com, or visit usavejackson.com for more information. Y
CHURCH GROUPS
A stroke at 18: How quick action saved Katie’s life
At 18 years old, Katie Arrington was like any other freshman at Mississippi State University excited for the future, balancing classes and new experiences, and spending as much time as possible outdoors doing what she loved.
A passionate bowhunter and artist from Inverness, Mississippi, Katie never expected that she would face a lifethreatening medical emergency that would change her perspective forever.
It started as an ordinary morning. Katie had come home to rest after sorority recruitment and was out running errands when she began experiencing what she thought was just another migraine — something she had dealt with for years. But this time, it was different. The pain was unbearable.
“I just felt very weird. It was the worst pain of my life,” Katie says. “We thought it was just a migraine. No symptoms that screamed ‘stroke.’”
But it wasn’t just a migraine.
A blood clot had formed in Katie’s basilar artery, cutting off critical blood flow to her brain. As her symptoms worsened — disorientation, confusion, slurred speech — her parents rushed her to St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson.
“ I woke up in the hospital alone, unable to see, and it was terrifying. But the doctors and nurses (helped) me understand everything, step by step.”
The decision to go to St. Dominic’s proved to be lifesaving. Within 40 minutes of entering the hospital, Katie was undergoing an emergency procedure to remove the clot. Thanks to the swift actions of the St. Dominic Comprehensive Stroke Center team, she survived what could have been a devastating stroke.
– Katie Arrington
Later, doctors discovered the likely cause of her stroke: a previously undetected patent foramen ovale (PFO), a hole in the heart that is supposed to close at birth but remains open in about 1 in 4 people. Most never know they have it, but for Katie, it allowed a blood clot to reach her brain.
Her recovery has come with challenges — adjusting to blood thinners, missing out on some of her favorite hunting trips due to
the cold, and facing the emotional weight of what she’s been through. But Katie is resilient.
“I woke up in the hospital alone, unable to see, and it was terrifying. But the doctors and nurses were incredible. They helped me understand everything, step by step,” she says.
In January, she returned to school at Mississippi State for her first in-person classes since the stroke. It’s a new chapter, one filled with gratitude and a determination to live life to the fullest.
Katie’s story is a powerful reminder that strokes don’t just happen to older adults. They can happen to anyone. Knowing the signs and seeking care immediately can make all the difference.
Learn your risk of stroke by taking our quiz at stdom.com/stroke. Y
Katie Arrington
To Haiti and back
Mickie West’s ‘one big adventure’
BY
PHOTO
JOE ELLIS PHOTOGRAPHY
On January 12, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake devastated the country of Haiti. At home in Mississippi, Mickie and Tony West watched the news in horror.
“We were unusually moved,” Mickie says. “I didn’t even know where Haiti was at the time. I had to Google it. But the Lord immediately put a burden on our hearts.”
Tony, a nurse practitioner, started going on mission trips to Haiti with his and Mickie’s church and with Samaritan’s Purse. Then, in April 2011, God woke Tony up with a vision for a mission compound in Haiti. Tony told Mickie, their pastor, and someone at First Baptist Jackson — who immediately pulled out architectural renderings of that same vision.
“That’s where it started,” says Mickie, who was a senior English teacher and yearbook advisor at Pearl High School at the time, while Tony was clinical director of Hospice Ministries.
Over the next 16 months, the Wests sought the Lord; sold their house, cars, and just about everything else; quit their jobs; and became the first full-time missionaries for But God Ministries (BGM), established by Mississippian Stan Buckley. Tony would serve as BGM’s medical director.
In August 2012, the Wests moved to the village of Galette Chambon, Haiti, where BGM was building a sustainable community on 17 acres.
“When we first moved there, we built dorms (for short-term mission teams), our house, a medical clinic, and a dental clinic, all within one wall (this was known as the Hope Center), and then we built a church and (eventually) about 58 houses,” Mickie says.
Numerous Haitians were living in tent cities after the earthquake. BGM aimed to address this need and others with its SPHERES model: spiritual, physical, H2O, education, roofs, economic development, and soil (food).
Tony’s primary job was at the medical clinic, and Mickie often helped him deliver babies at night when other staff were unavailable. Her main responsibility was education, coordinating and hosting mission teams, patient advocacy, and managing other projects like water wells and economic development.
“There would be 20 or 30 people waiting outside the gate to see Tony (at the medical clinic) in the mornings,” Mickie says. “So between the clinic and (mission) teams coming … by the afternoon, Tony and I would just be absolutely spent.”
While the Wests’ older son, Jonathan, attended Belhaven University back home, their younger son, Jacob, lived with them in Haiti at first. But within four months, Mickie and Tony knew Jacob needed to finish high school in the States. Mickie moved back with him for two years until he graduated, and she and Tony visited each other often.
During one of Mickie’s visits to Haiti in September 2013, she and Tony took their translator, two interns, and a couple of Haitian boys they’d befriended on a long hike. That night, Mickie made brownies. “We had just gotten all the backpacks in (to distribute) to the kids the next day,” Mickie says. She and Tony went to bed happy.
Before the night was over, someone was shooting a gun at her husband.
‘Nothing is stopping us’
Around 2 a.m., Tony sat up in bed and said, “What’s that sound? It sounds like fireworks.” He ran to translator Vladimir’s room (he lived with them), only to find him huddled in his closet because he recognized the “fireworks” as gunfire.
Six gang members had breached the Hope Center, and one of them had used a crowbar to break into the Wests’ home. The two interns, Crockett Ford and Drew Dennis, were tied up on the couch, along with a night watchman.
Mickie (left) and Tony West on their wedding day.
PHOTO BY JOE ELLIS PHOTOGRAPHY
While Tony was in Vladimir’s room, the gang member entered the Wests’ bedroom.
“He put the gun in my face, and he started saying, ‘Lajan, lajan, lajan,’” Mickie recalls. “And miraculously, I understood (that) word to be ‘money.’”
Then, despite not knowing Creole, “it just came out of my mouth, ‘Talè, talè, nou bezwen pale ak Tony,’ which means, ‘Wait a minute, wait a minute, we need to talk to Tony.’ I didn’t know (how to say) that,” she says.
At Mickie’s reply, the gang member lowered his gun and left the room. When he left, Tony came back into the bedroom by another door and told Mickie to grab the gun they’d been loaned. She put in the clip and handed him the firearm.
“I said, ‘Now if you are going to open that door with that gun, you’d better be ready to use it,’” Mickie recalls. “And he said, ‘You go in the closet and pray.’”
As soon as Tony opened the door, the robber shot at him, from a distance of maybe 20 yards if not less, Mickie says.
“And not a bullet grazed him. There were bullet holes all around the door facing of our bedroom, but none of them hit him.”
When Tony stepped toward the robber and started shooting into the ceiling to scare him, the intruder turned to run out of the house, and the night watchman (who had come untied) “stuck his foot out” and tripped the man, who dropped his gun, Mickie says. The night
Ministries
Mickie (left) and Tony after a long night of delivering babies.
Tony comforted this Haitian mother for hours after she lost her child to malnutrition.
Mickie with Yvelta, a 5-year-old Haitian girl who had a cyst removed from her chest thanks to BGM. It now appears the cyst is returning, and Mickie has arranged for a doctor at a local Haitian hospital to help.
watchman grabbed the gun and shot him dead.
The whole encounter lasted maybe 15 minutes. Local police agreed to visit the scene only after the group promised to fill their tanks with gas. The next morning, a friend and an off-duty palace guard picked up the Wests in a black SUV and sped them to the airport, where they caught the first flight home.
“Everybody wondered if we would ever come back,” Mickie says.
Two weeks later, Tony and BGM Founder and Executive Director Stan Buckley did come back, interviewed security companies, and installed additional security features at the BGM compound. Several months after that, after Jacob West graduated high school in 2014, Mickie rejoined Tony in Haiti.
No, the break-in did not scare her off, she says:
“To experience God putting a language in my mouth and God putting angels around Tony to not be struck by a bullet … (From) that point on, I knew, nothing is stopping us.”
From August 2012 to September 2019, the Wests delivered upwards of 700 babies, “stitched torn-up feet,” Mickie says, and formed friendships with the people of Galette Chambon while completing the work of the BGM mission. Mickie especially loved on the children. The village called the Wests “Papa Tony” and “Mama Mickie.”
“Tony used to always say that Mickie could remember your name as long as you were under 18,” Mickie says. “I knew just about every child in the village by name.”
The Wests ate plenty of spaghetti with sauteed hot dog and red sauce, a local specialty.
One of their favorite dishes was a “gumbo” Mickie made with Rotel and okra, which grew hearty in Haiti. “Sometimes I would put chicken in it,” she says. Her own favorite Haitian dish was soup joumou, Haitian independence soup, made with Calabaza squash, beef, and vegetables.
Meanwhile, with the help of Haitian staff, BGM continued to expand its impact with a child sponsorship program, a second Hope Center an hour from Galette Chambon, gardens, water wells and other water projects, schools, a business center, and more.
Coming home, finding healing
After the 2010 earthquake, the United Nations sent peacekeeping troops to Haiti. In 2017, their contract ended.
Almost immediately when the troops started leaving, “the gangs started popping up (more),” Mickie says. “By 2018, we were not able to host (mission) teams anymore.”
The following year, the Wests bought two round-trip plane tickets
for a normal two-week visit to the States. “But on the day that we left Haiti, September 13, 2019 … before we had gone through security … a gang war had started right outside the airport, and they had lit all these tires on fire.”
The airport was immediately locked down. If the Wests hadn’t arrived more than four hours before their flight, they wouldn’t have been able to leave.
At the end of their visit home, they were told it wasn’t safe to return to Haiti. The Wests kept trying to reschedule, but five tries and 10 weeks later, it was still too dangerous. That’s when they realized they might not make it back to Haiti anytime soon.
Even as they grieved being away from the people and mission they loved, the Wests soon discovered a new challenge:
“In November 2019, Tony started noticing some symptoms that concerned him,” Mickie says. “His doctor hoped that it might be prostatitis, so he went through two rounds of antibiotics hoping it would resolve itself.”
“(From) that point on, I knew, nothing is stopping us,” Mickie said of a dangerous encounter she and Tony experienced in Haiti that was thwarted by God’s miraculous protection.
PHOTO BY JOE ELLIS PHOTOGRAPHY
By January, Tony was not any better. Biopsy results soon revealed stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer.
“We went to MD Anderson, and the doctors there said that our doctors here could do everything they could do there ... We immediately began chemo and radiation at UMMC,” Mickie says.
“Whatever people suggested (for treatment), we did it,” she recalls. “Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, targeted radiation, many non-medical, homeopathic treatments … unfortunately his cancer was exceptionally aggressive and resistant to all forms of treatment.”
Meanwhile, the Wests created a bucket list and began checking off as many items as Tony could physically handle: hiking Glacier Point at Yosemite National Park, riding in a hot air balloon in Napa
Valley, camping in Gatlinburg, seeing the Aurora Borealis in Alaska, spending two weeks in Italy and Greece, and visiting Haitian BGM staff on a 2022 retreat in the Dominican Republic. (Since leaving Haiti, Mickie has remained on BGM staff in charge of Haiti operations.)
Two weeks before Tony died, he and Mickie attended a “healing school” in Tampa, Florida. “We worshipped and praised in ways we had never experienced before,” Mickie says, and they learned what God’s Word says about healing.
“That ended up being two of the greatest weeks of our marriage,” Mickie says. “During that (time) we actually understood what it means to be healed, and so when we asked God for healing, we knew His answer was yes, whether (Tony) was going to be healed physically and stay here or be healed for eternity and receive his reward in heaven. (We) became very good with that, (which) was very healing in and of itself.”
Another healing moment happened last month, one year after Tony’s passing, when the West family spread his ashes over Horsepound Falls in Savage Gulf State Park, Tennessee. They had camped there in 2008, and Tony had always said he wanted his ashes spread there.
“Using his old metal Coleman coffee cup that he always used camping, we took turns spreading his ashes over the falls,” Mickie says.
‘One big adventure’
Stan Buckley refers to Tony and Mickie as “some of the most selfless Christians I have ever known. In order to share the love of Jesus with some of the poorest people in the world, they left their extended families, well-paying jobs, the dream home they had built, their vehicles, their church, their state, their country, and the comforts of a developed country,” he says.
Tony with a Haitian mother who worked at one of BGM’s schools and whose children were sponsored by BGM.
Mickie and Tony worshipping at a healing school they attended in Tampa, Florida, late in Tony’s illness.
Tony and Mickie with Jores Merilus, a BGM translator who fulfilled his dream of attending medical school thanks to BGM mission team members and donors.
“Even after the passing of Tony, Mickie continues to pour her life into the lives of those in Haiti who are living in unimaginable despair and hopelessness.”
In addition to remotely overseeing BGM operations in Haiti, Mickie stays busy painting and teaching art classes, especially at The Stompin’ Grounds in Flowood. She is at peace not living in Haiti for now.
“We didn’t realize we were doing this (over the years), but we were preparing (our Haitian staff) to run (the mission) on their own,” Mickie says. Turns out, BGM did build a sustainable community.
She recalls a moment when she was crying on the phone with Vladimir after being unable to return to Haiti. In a loving response, the translator told her, “You know, Mickie, God didn’t intend for you to be here forever.”
He could’ve said something similar of Tony’s time on this earth; his sixty-two years were relatively short. But boy were they memorable.
“Nothing in the world could ever replace the memories we made,” Mickie says. “Our entire lives together were one big adventure.”
To be continued…
One crucial chapter of Mickie story involves a young Haitian man who worked for BGM and became like a third son to her and Tony. This young man prefers not to share his part of the story just yet — but he has already impacted many lives for the kingdom, and we are excited to see how God will use him next!
No treatment could heal Tony’s cancer, but the Wests knew he would be healed in heaven. “(We) became very good with that,” Mickie says.
The latest on But God Ministries
Since 2011, BGM has built more than 300 houses in Galette Chambon and Thoman, Haiti. More than 2,500 students are fed and educated each day at BGM’s seven schools. Thousands of Americans have served on BGM mission trips to Haiti, and tens of thousands of
Tony donated his body to science in the hopes that a cure could be found for his cancer. The company that received his body, Memphis-based Genesis, invited the West family to a memorial service. They all wore yellow, Tony’s favorite color.
Haitian patients have received care at BGM medical-dental clinics. Two churches have been planted and hundreds of Haitian kids have attended Vacation Bible Schools. Hundreds of jobs have been created.
In 2016, BGM started work on a sustainable community in Jonestown, located near Clarksdale in the Mississippi Delta. Most recently in Jonestown, BGM held a grand opening for a baseball/softball complex in partnership with Major League Baseball and the Players Association.
“Our partnership with Major League Baseball and other donors has been a smashing success!” Stan Buckley said. “God has blessed more than we could have asked or imagined. Over the first few weeks since completing the facilities, we’ve had multiple high schools playing on our fields, and we recently started our recreation leagues games. It’s a dream come true!”
BGM’s other efforts in Jonestown include medical, dental, and legal clinics, a 6,000-square-foot Hope Center that hosts more than 300 people on mission trips each year, an after-school program for K8th grades, a 4,000-square-foot Center for Economic Development, a housing program with the first house already built, summer camps, an agriculture incubator program, a full-time Spiritual Development Director, and more.
To donate to BGM or volunteer as an individual or team in Jonestown, visit ButGodMinistries.com.
Where’s your mission field?
“One thing I want to say about missions,” Mickie West added during our interview: “You just have to give God your unconditional yes.” Chances are, your church has a missions opportunity that you can participate in. Whether you cross the ocean with members of your congregation or take a meal to your neighbor, spend some time asking God, “Where do You want my ‘yes’ today?” Below are some possibilities.
Tony and Mickie at Rome’s Trevi Fountain during a two-week backpacking trip from Venice, Italy, to Santorini, Greece — their biggest bucket-list trip during Tony’s illness.
Devoted Dreamers Foundation: Empowering girls to shine!
PEARLS for Girls is a transformative mentorship program powered by the Devoted Dreamers Foundation. Our mission is to guide preteens and teens through Purpose, Esteem, Accountability, Resilience, Leadership, and Service. Rooted in biblical truth and SoulCare principles, we help girls discover their God-given identity, develop life skills, and grow into confident leaders. Through monthly sessions, community service, and character-building activities, we nurture the whole girl — mind, body, and soul.
We invite you to stand with us. Your support — whether through giving, volunteering, or simply sharing our mission — helps us continue this life-changing work. Together, let’s help every girl know her worth and walk in it.
Gateway Rescue Mission
Gateway Rescue Mission, a 501©(3) nonprofit located in the heart of Jackson, is dedicated to caring for men who are battling addiction and homelessness, while also feeding anyone who is hungry. In this season of our ministry, we need deodorant, dental hygiene products, sunglasses, socks, and body wipes. Donations may be dropped off at 328 S. Gallatin St., Jackson.
Jackson Leadership Foundation
Jackson Leadership Foundation equips local leaders to bring lasting change to our city’s most underserved communities. Through collaboration, capacity building, and deep relationships, we empower ministries to thrive. Our biggest need is monthly supporters who believe that changing one life, one neighborhood at a time, is the mission.
Know Ministries
For over eight years, we have provided Bibles to children in the inner cities.
We have a unique opportunity to publish a Bible that has never been done before: a Bible that is specific to children in the inner cities and issues they struggle with. These topics will include subjects such as fighting, family structure, purpose, and identity. By supporting this project, you will have a role in accomplishing something that has never been done. We are not changing the Bible but are using it as a tool to direct children to the love of Jesus.
One by One Ministries
More than 50 percent of births in Mississippi are to single moms — moms who may be alone, scared, and unsure how to parent. At One by One, we want moms to know they don’t have to parent alone; we will be with them through their pregnancies and their babies’ early years.
One by One trains Christian women to mentor pregnant and new moms, providing friendship and support, parenting education, baby development information and activities, resource connections, and most importantly, the love and hope found only in Jesus. Each mentor talks / texts with her mom weekly and meets her monthly to support her in her motherhood journey.
If you have a heart for new moms and are willing to serve a mom in person or virtually in English or Spanish, please contact us at admin@onebyoneusa.org or 833.777.1153 to learn more. Visit onebyoneusa.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @onebyoneministries.
The Salvation Army: ‘Doing the Most Good… Everywhere!’
Since 1865, The Salvation Army has been on the move — marching to the beat of love in action.
Founded in the streets of London, its mission has always been simple yet profound: “to meet human needs in Christ’s name without discrimination.”
Fast forward to today: The Salvation Army is still marching — now in 134 countries! From bustling cities to remote villages, you’ll find us running hospitals, schools, orphanages, senior homes, and so much more. In some places, we’re the only help people have.
Right here in the Jackson metro area, we’re serving too — with hot meals, financial assistance, afterschool programs, and spiritual care. We’re known for Red Kettles, Angel Trees, and helping folks get back on their feet — but whether it’s a coat, a casserole, or a conversation, it’s all about sharing the love of Jesus.
As founder William Booth once said, “You cannot warm the hearts of people with God’s love if they have an empty stomach and cold feet.”
Major Timothy Delaney puts it this way: “The gospel travels faster on two feet and a casserole dish.”
Whether across the world or just across the street in Jackson, The Salvation Army is still on mission.
TAG Kids’ Club
At TAG Kids’ Club, our vision is to offer training to equip children in every school in America and around the world to boldly and confidently share their Christian faith. Our mission is to REACH, GROUND, and EQUIP
third- through sixth-graders in the gospel of Jesus Christ in public and private schools across America and around the world, and to equip them to share their faith as a way of life.
Be a part of our team! We’re in search of someone with excellent management skills who has a heart for reaching children with the gospel.
● Communication skills
● Financial management
● Travel
● Love for our Savior Jesus Christ
For more information, contact Paul at 601.517.0497 or visit TAGKidsClub.com. Y
Empowering Girls to Shine!
PEARLS for Girls is a transformative mentorship program powered by the Devoted Dreamers Foundation. Our mission is to guide preteens and teens through Purpose, Esteem, Accountability, Resilience, Leadership, and Service. Rooted in biblical truth and SoulCare principles, we help girls discover their God-given identity, develop life skills, and grow into confident leaders. Through monthly sessions, community service, and character-building activities, we nurture the whole girl—mind, body, and soul.
We invite you to stand with us. Sue Magee 601.668.2633 info@devoteddreamers.org
Help us publish a Bible specifically for children in the inner cities! See write-up on facing page.
Learn More and Support knowministries.org/thenewknowbible
Congratulations, Congratulations, Congratulations,
Foster care orgs on mission in MISSISSIPPI
In honor of National Foster Care Month and our missions focus for May, we wanted to highlight some of the organizations that are providing help for kids and families throughout our state. Check out these ministries to see how you can get involved!
The Baptist Children’s Village
Who are we missing and how do we reach them? That is the question The Baptist Children’s Village Leadership Team asked three years ago. The BCV exists, as part of the Mississippi Southern Baptist Church, to take the good news of Jesus Christ to at-risk children and families. In the past 36 months, the agency launched new programs to reach more children from birth to adulthood with the gospel.
Today The Baptist Children’s Village ministry includes six programs that provide
at-risk children and families with hope and a strong foundation for their future. Current residential and non-residential programs included on the Continuum of Care are a Residential Child Caring Program, Residential Family Program, Independent Living Program, Youth Detention Intervention Program, In-Home Family Support Program (now available in all 82 counties), and a Family Resource Referral Program.
These services continue to be available with 100 percent private funding through the generosity of churches, businesses, individuals, and the Mississippi Baptist Cooperative Program. To learn more about these programs or about available tax credits that allow donors to be part of changing children’s lives without impacting their budget, visit baptistchildrensvillage.com or
contact Director of Partner Ministries Tim McWilliams at tmcwilliams@bcvms.com or 601.952.2422.
Methodist Children’s Homes of Mississippi
With more than 3,500 children in our state’s foster care system, the need is great. One way Methodist Children’s Homes of Mississippi provides hope and healing is by certifying loving foster families who are trained to serve their needs. We are excited to see more families not only answer the call
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but realize that teenagers are children too. Every child in foster care needs love, stability, and support, and the need for foster parents has never been greater. Will you consider helping more children find their way home?
PineBelt Foster Resources
PineBelt Foster Resources is a nonprofit based in Hattiesburg and serves all surrounding counties in the Pine Belt. We provide necessities to children in foster care and at-risk families. We provide clothing, shoes, beds, car seats, formula, and diapers. If you want to help, visit facebook.com/PFRHattiesburg or https://pfrhattiesburg.org/, where you can submit a referral for disbursement or donate!
A garden of hope at Sunnybrook: Healing and growth for foster youth
Sunnybrook Children’s Home in
Ridgeland is planting more than flowers this spring — it’s planting seeds of healing, purpose, and hope. As a Christ-centered ministry serving transitional-age foster youth (ages 14–21), Sunnybrook provides a safe home and the support young adults need to build independent, fulfilling lives.
This May, in honor of Foster Care Awareness Month, Sunnybrook celebrates the creation of its new “Garden of Hope” (see photo on page 28) — a peaceful sanctuary where residents can pause, reflect, and be reminded of their God-given worth. The garden was designed and built by Eagle Scout candidate Linda Watson and her Troop, inspired by Linda’s own experience growing up in a family that has fostered more than a dozen children with love and compassion. Featuring wildflowers, benches, wind chimes, and butterfly-inspired elements, the Garden of Hope mirrors the transformation Sunnybrook residents are working toward, rooted in faith and flourishing in grace.
To learn more about Sunnybrook’s mission or support the Garden of Hope, visit sunnybrookms.org or follow @SunnybrookChildrensHomeInc on Facebook.
Help grow the vision: GoFundMe.com/f/yrnxxw-help-build-thegarden-of-hope-at-sunnybrook
Youth Villages
At 14, Dedrick was removed from his parents’ custody. He temporarily stayed in a group home and then was placed in foster care before aging out of state custody. During his senior year of high school, Dedrick was referred to Youth Villages’ LifeSet program, an intensive, communitybased program that pairs former foster youth ages 17-21 with trained specialists who help them identify and achieve goals while navigating the adult world. With assistance from LifeSet and his foster mom, Dedrick is at Hinds Community College and leans on Bible verse John 3:16 for support. Learn more at youthvillages.org/lifeset. Y
‘God, You’re making a mistake’
Iam one of those people who did not grow up in church. As my life unfolded, I only went to church for a short time while in junior high. It was during that time when I made a decision to accept Jesus Christ. But my family soon moved away to another city, and I was out of church once again.
It wasn’t until I was in my early 20s that I started taking my relationship with Jesus more seriously. I started to understand that Christ wanted to be a part of my life on a day-by-day basis. I also began to see “church” as something more than just a place to go. Church became to me a people who loved me, and whom I could love in return.
It was during those days that God started to work on me; or maybe better yet, He started to work with me. God began telling me there was more to life than what I’d been doing. I believed the Lord was calling me into His ministry.
I struggled with this, mostly because I saw all of my shortcomings, fears, and my lack of Christian maturity as hindrances to doing anything for Jesus. I would grasp at any excuse not to commit myself to what I knew God wanted me to do. Of course, He had an answer for all of my excuses.
D.J. Speckner
I began arguing with God. I actually told Him, “Lord, I believe You created heaven and earth. But as far as calling me into Your ministry, this time I think You’re making a mistake.” Imagine, arguing with the all knowing, all powerful God and telling Him, “I think You’re making a mistake,” but when you are desperate, you say desperate things.
It came to the point that I finally cried to God, “I can’t do it!” A still, small voice within my soul answered, “Of course you can’t. But if you let Me, I can do all things through you.” By the way, this answer came to me before I knew Philippians 4:13 was even in the Bible.
It was also then that I began to learn the real meaning behind the words of the hymn “I Surrender All.” The truth is, God wants total surrender from any one of us who will follow His Son. And now I can truthfully call Jesus “my Lord.” Since I finally surrendered my life to Jesus Christ, I have been amazed where He has taken me. I helped start two churches. I would pastor a couple of churches for a combined 30 years’ experience. Since then, God has called me into a full-time Christian writing ministry. This career change has been challenging, but Jesus has always been there with me, helping me become the writer I am today. Through His help, I have been able to recently publish a book entitled “Our Need for Revival.” This book is a unique look at God’s spiritual renewal for us today. Y
D.J. Speckner is a freelance writer who enjoys a novel perspective on life and the world around him. With over 30 years of experience in writing, public speaking, and pastoral ministry, he graduated from Wayland Baptist University and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He lives in Brandon.
Encouraging words as your child prepares for college
Iread the other day online, “You will spend the majority of your life knowing your children as adults, but for a brief moment you will get the chance to know them as kids.”
As we raise our children, the days feel so long, but the years are short. Watching our child go off to college can be a bittersweet experience filled with both excitement and anxiety. It’s the beginning of knowing them as adults and establishing a friendship with them.
If your child is starting college in the fall, here are a few ways to make the transition easier:
1. Pray for them
Make prayer a central part of this new season. Pray for your child’s safety, growth, and spiritual well-being. It’s never too late to encourage them on the importance of prayer. Take the lead and ask, “Can I pray for you?” And then, do it right then. Allow God to lead and guide you. Trust that God hears your prayers and will provide peace for both you and your child.
Allow Philippians 4:6-7 to encourage you: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
2. Encourage independence
Encourage your child to embrace their new independence. Let them make the phone calls and set the appointments for activities so they can learn how to navigate life without you before they leave. Instead of dictating to them, let them take the lead, and you be there only for support. Remember that the foundation you have built in your child’s life will guide them as they make decisions on their own.
3. Trust in God’s plan for their future
Remind yourself and your child that God has a purpose and plan for their life. Encourage them to seek God’s guidance in their studies, friendships, and decisions. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Trust that God is at work in your child’s life, even when you may not see it. Encourage them to lean on their faith as they face new challenges and opportunities.
It’s so important as your child transitions to college to embrace this new season with joy. The joy of the Lord is your strength. Keep praying; God is all powerful and holds every detail in His hands, including your child’s future. You can trust Him. He’s faithful to provide. Let go and enjoy getting to know your children as adults. Y
Shay Greenwood is a Certified Kingdom Life Coach who loves helping women live with more love, joy, and peace in their lives. She’s a wife to Roosevelt and mom to Bria (Cameron), 28; Chandler (Bo), 26; Noah, 24; Jacob, 23; and Adam, 13. You can find her @shaygreenwood on Facebook and Instagram and @MommaJaywood on Tiktok.
Faith in Action
BRING HOPE ABROAD THROUGH HANDS-ON MINISTRY @MILLSAPS!
Answer the call to serve with the McNair Mission Scholars Program. Through international mission trips, students support local churches with music, ministry, children’s programs and community outreach. Find your place to grow at Millsaps! Become Something Major.
millsaps.edu/religiouslife
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere — in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
~ ACTS 1:8, NLT
“For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
~ ACTS 13:47
“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’”
~ MATTHEW 28:18-20, ESV
“For ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?”
~ ROMANS 10:13-14, NLT
“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”
~ MATTHEW 24:14, KJV
“Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples.”
~ 1 CHRONICLES 16:24, NKJV
“Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ ”
~ GENESIS 12:1-3, ESV
“O
Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.”
“All the ends of the world Shall remember and turn to the Lord, And all the families of the nations Shall worship before You.”
~ PSALM 22:27, NKJV
“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one — as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.”
~ JOHN 17:20-21, NLT
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”
~ 2 PETER 3:9, ESV
~ ISAIAH 25:1, KJV
More Than A Symbol. It’s Our Commitment.
For generations, St. Dominic’s has served Central Mississippi with compassionate care rooted in faith. Now as St. Dominic Health, we honor our legacy while evolving our logo and name fully within the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System.
Our new logo features the Tau, a cross symbol which represents values that have guided us all along: reverence and love for all of life, joyfulness of spirit, humility, justice and service. The Tau, along with our new name — St. Dominic Health — re昀ects who we are: a ministry inspired by healing and strengthened by the pursuit of excellence in healthcare. Our healing ministry continues.
stdom.com/health We Are Now St. Dominic Health
