Chris and Kayla White
Marriage, mental health, and career changes
● Mississippi mental health resources
● Abiding in Jesus in the midst of overwhelm
INSPIRED BY YOU.
contents
In our Cover Story, Chris and Kayla White share how they’ve trusted God while changing plans midstream (page 22).
Teens are always “connected,” but more anxious than ever. See page 14 to learn how families can respond.
cover story
22 Chris and Kayla White
On marriage, mental health, and career changes
feature story
28 Mississippi mental health resources
From addiction to anxiety, motherhood, and more
Depression and anxiety are top mental health concerns for senior adults. But in Christ, there is hope! See page 16.
Modern Motherhood
Abiding in Jesus in the midst of overwhelm 14 Let’s Talk It Over
Always connected, but more anxious than ever
Redefining Retirement
Sound living: Investing in your mental health in retirement 18 Health & Wellness
Staying in the game: Preventing and treating common sports injuries
20 Lagniappe
Anderson’s Audio Alchemy makes podcasts pop
36 Education Connection
Park Place celebrates 25 years of Christ-centered education
38 Faith, Fashion & Fitness
Creating Jesus joy in the kitchen
40 What’s Going On
‘Save a Child, Change the World’ gala to benefit group home
WellsFest at new location October 4
mschristianliving.com
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Marketing, begging, and finding our worth in Christ
Iwant to tell y’all something: I do not enjoy having to “market” events. This might surprise you, as MCL has hosted a Women’s Retreat each fall since 2020 — and I’m the one who started it!
I love the events themselves. I’m always happy the day of. The Women’s Retreat is an awesome way to bring women together and speak truth over them, and we always receive excellent feedback.
But I’ve never been able to figure out “the formula” when it comes to marketing: “Spend money to make money.” Where’s that sweet spot between not spending enough on ads (and nobody shows up) versus spending too much (and going into the red)? What do I say to convince people to give me $40 and part of their weekend? Why should I have to say anything at all?
That’s my issue: Whenever I’m promoting an event, I feel like I’m “begging” people to come; like I’m trying to persuade them that it’ll be worth their time. This makes me feel needy and annoying. In my prideful mind, they should just know that any MCL event will be good! They should automatically want to attend!
But in the immortal words of The Temptations, The Rolling Stones, and a certain football player in “Remember the Titans,” I ain’t too proud to beg.
A few days ago, I attended a promotional video shoot set up by my fabulous marketing assistant/bridesmaid/ friend, Mandy Bufkin, for this year’s MCL Women’s Retreat, happening September 19-20 at Broadmoor.
And y’all, that shoot got me excited.
Years ago, the first time I had to do a selfie video at the Clarion Ledger, I was so nervous that I couldn’t stop giggling. Nowadays, I just have to work on my inflection sometimes. At one point during last week’s shoot, Mandy had to tell me not to be so — “what’s the word I’m looking for?” she wondered. “Monotone,” I replied.
However, I needed no encouragement while discussing our 2025 Women’s Retreat theme, “Finding Our Worth in Christ,” with keynote speaker Cyndi Grace. That conversation came naturally, even while holding tiny mics.
We often bemoan social media’s effect on young people’s sense of worth. But it’s not just 18-year-olds who struggle to know their value. And it’s not just people who scroll Instagram for hours. The devil is an equal opportunity destroyer; social media is only one of his weapons.
The unquenchable truth, though, is that in Christ we can all find our identity and worth — as God’s creation and image bearers, and as His bride.
So yes, ladies, I’m begging: If you’re at all interested in women’s events; if you’re at all interested in growing your faith with sisters in Christ; or if you just want to get out of the house for a Friday night and Saturday morning; then please, join us September 19-20 at Broadmoor. We’ll eat, sing, pray, and learn together, and we’ll leave empowered to serve our worthy God. It’s going to be awesome!
Sign up for the MCL Women’s Retreat at bit.ly/MCLWR2025, via the link at www.MSChristianLiving.com, or via the QR code on page 37 of this magazine. Groups of five or more are discounted!
Must-reads in this month’s issue:
● Abiding in Jesus in the midst of overwhelm (page 10)
● Mississippi mental health resources (page 28)
● Chris and Kayla White on marriage, mental health, and navigating career changes (page 22) Y
Katie Ginn katie@mschristianliving.com
Another benefit of marketing: Decent headshots!
Abiding in Jesus in the midst of overwhelm
Shay doing her best to keep her spirits up — and look cute! — while living in a hotel for three months.
It was December 2023, and I found myself pushing through my day, feeling weary, overwhelmed, discontented, and not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I called The Center for Hope and Healing and hoped I could get a counseling appointment.
Four months earlier, I’d started a new full-time remote sales director job after being a stay-at-home mom and entrepreneur for over 20 years. In the same week, my brother-in-law suddenly passed away from kidney failure. Just a few days later, on the day my four adult children were coming home for his funeral, our house flooded because of a refrigerator leak.
We had to live in a hotel for three months while our house was renovated. The insurance adjuster was gaslighting us. On top of all that, I was perimenopausal, going into menopause — and this was before the new We Do Not Care Club, started earlier this year by influencer Melani Sanders for women in perimenopause / menopause.
I kept telling myself, “You can handle this. You have done it before, you can do it again. You can do hard things.” I am a natural problem solver — I power through with a positive attitude. But I knew I wasn’t operating at my best. I was powering through, but I felt like if I cried or felt my feelings, I might not stop crying.
Finally, I waved the white flag.
I surrendered.
I was done.
The Center for Hope and Healing didn’t have an opening for me until January. I felt God nudging me that He would provide the spiritual healing I needed. I just had to stop trying to figure it all out, and abide in Him.
John 15:4 says, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” This scripture has helped me realize how much I was trying to bear fruit by myself instead of waiting, resting in the One who sees and knows all.
Being a Certified Kingdom Life Coach, I started providing coaching to myself. I listened to the “Therapy & Theology” podcast with Lysa Terkeurst. I then found some Christian neuroscience experts who taught me how to retrain my thinking and stop ruminating on things I can’t control. They helped me put practical skills in place that brought 2 Corinthians 10:5 to life: “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
I’m still practicing how to abide in Christ as I heal. It has been a hard journey. I’m glad I’m on this side of it. Thank You, Lord, for showing me the way to abide in You no matter what. 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.
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Always connected, but more anxious than ever
Today’s teens and young adults are growing up in a world saturated with screens. Smartphones and social media feel impossible to put down. As this digital normal sets in, we’re seeing rising levels of anxiety, depression, and disconnection.
Dr. Jonathan Haidt, author of “The Anxious Generation,” highlights 2010 as a turning point in youth mental health. As smartphones and social media use exploded, so did rates of self-harm, depression, and suicide.
Mobile devices promise connection, but often deliver comparison, distraction, and isolation. Instead of face-to-face conversations and shared experiences, many young people spend hours immersed in curated images and endless scrolling. Over time, this rewires the brain and dulls real-world engagement. Research shows:
● Screen time has replaced outdoor play and unstructured social interaction.
● Sleep quality declines with late-night phone use.
● Face-to-face relationships suffer, weakening emotional resilience.
● Social media amplifies shame and performance anxiety.
Technology overuse isn’t just a behavior problem. It often reflects something deeper. Teens may feel overwhelmed, empty, or dysregulated, using their phones to numb pain, seek validation, or escape difficult emotions. Shame messages like “I’m not enough” or “Everyone else is doing better” can become reinforced in the online world, slowly distorting identity and eroding belonging.
The solution isn’t just about removing phones. It’s about restoring connection.
How you can help your teen:
● Rebuild relational rhythms: Create intentional, screen-free moments, such as around the table, in the car, or before bed.
● Encourage real-world experiences: Prioritize outdoor play, family adventures, and shared activities that promote connection over solely being entertained.
● Start curious conversations: Ask questions like, “What do you notice when you take a break from your phone?” or, “What could we do together that doesn’t involve screens?”
● Model the change: Demonstrate stillness, healthy boundaries, and presence in your own technology use.
Addressing mobile device dependence isn’t about blame. It’s about understanding and healing what’s underneath. At Capstone, we believe true healing happens when trauma-informed care, clinical excellence, and a Christ-centered approach intersect.
For over 24 years, Capstone has helped families move from fear and disconnection toward healing and transformation. Our residential programs and therapy intensives retrace hurt to its root and restore connection in a Christ-centered environment. If you’re concerned about your son or family, we’re here to walk with you.
Learn more:
● Capstone Treatment Center: World-class residential treatment for males ages 14-28
● Vine + Root Counseling: Custom therapy intensives for individuals, couples, and families CapstoneWellness.com
Young Adults 18-28
Teenage Boys 14-17
SOUND LIVING: Investing in your mental health in retirement
Recently, I asked the ladies in my Sunday school class, ages 71 to 93, the following question: Do you know what the number one mental health issue is for older adults? Their response: No idea. I didn’t know either. However, multiple websites list depression and anxiety at the top, then dementia.
Recognize the stressors
Why are older adults more susceptible to depression and anxiety? There are several factors, such as:
● the stress of caregiving
● chronic illness or disability
● loss of a loved one
● social isolation and/or loneliness
● certain medications
● unmet expectations
● finances
● a major move
In my Sunday school class, one lady shared that she spends her days doing various types of puzzles, reading, and if a family member or friend calls with an invitation to go somewhere, she quickly accepts. In my area, events for retirees are almost nil. However, in larger towns, bigger churches offer many ways for seniors to be involved.
If we can recognize the stressors in our lives, hopefully, we can take steps to avoid the slippery slope of depression. I have dealt with life’s disappointments (you probably have also) — unmet expectations that have led to depression. I call it “being in the pits.”
As I’ve aged, I have learned to be in the Word and pray. I ask the Lord to redirect my thoughts and help me fight negative emotions. For me, this means doing something creative, working outside, going for a walk, serving others, reading a great book, and enjoying fellowship with believers.
NOTE: Every person and situation is different. It’s essential to consider professional help if you are suffering from depression or any mental affliction.
Saturate your mind with scripture King David dealt with depression (see Psalm 6:6-7, Psalm 31:9-14). Elijah, Job,
“ If we can recognize the stressors in our lives, hopefully, we can take steps to avoid the slippery slope of depression. I have dealt with life’s disappointments (you probably have also) — unmet expectations that have led to depression. I call it ‘being in the pits.’ ”
Hannah, Naomi, and Jeremiah are other biblical examples. How did they deal it? They turned to and relied upon God. We must do the same. We also have the power of the Holy Spirit.
Fear can also impact our mental health. Paul told Timothy,
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. - 2 Timothy 1:7, KJV
To have a “sound mind” means selfcontrol (ESV) or discipline (NASB). We are to have sensible, rational thinking. People with healthy minds grasp who they are in Christ and rely on God’s wisdom and strength. Additional verses include Romans 12:2, 1 Peter 1:13, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, and Philippians 4:6-8.
None of us knows when or if we will deal with depression, dementia, or Alzheimer’s. But for as long as we are able, we can saturate our minds with scripture, trust and obey it, and ask the Lord to give us a sound mind. 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.
Laura with grandkids, a big source of joy!
Staying in the game: Preventing and treating common sports injuries
As a new school year begins, so does another exciting year of sports! From Friday night football to cross-country meets and volleyball tournaments, local student athletes are lacing up and hitting the field, court, or track. But along with the thrill of competition comes the risk of injury — and as a sports medicine physician, I see the same patterns each fall.
Here are some of the most common injuries I treat in student athletes and what parents, coaches, and players can do to help prevent them.
1. Sprains and strains
These are by far the most frequent sports injuries.
◼ Sprains involve ligaments — the tissue that connects bone to bone — being stretched or torn.
◼ Strains affect muscles or tendons.
PREVENTION TIP: Emphasize proper warm-ups, stretching, and sport-specific conditioning. And don’t skip cool-downs — they’re just as important for muscle recovery.
2. Overuse injuries
These happen when an athlete performs the same motion repeatedly, such as pitching in baseball, serving in volleyball, or running long distances. Examples include shin splints, tendonitis, and stress fractures.
PREVENTION TIP: Encourage rest days and cross-training. A break from repetitive motion can make athletes stronger and reduce their risk of burnout.
3. Concussions
Head injuries can happen in any sport, not just football. A concussion is a brain injury that requires rest, evaluation, and a gradual return to play under medical supervision.
PREVENTION TIP: Make sure helmets fit properly, teach safe techniques, and remind athletes to speak up if they experience symptoms like headache, dizziness, or confusion. Playing through a concussion is never worth the risk.
4. Knee injuries
ACL tears, meniscus injuries, and patellar tendon issues are common in sports that involve jumping, cutting, and sudden changes of direction — think soccer, basketball, and cheerleading.
Prevention tip: Strengthening the muscles around the knee, especially the quadriceps and hamstrings, is key. Neuromuscular training can also improve balance and landing mechanics.
5. Heat-related illness
In Mississippi, late summer sports mean high temperatures and humidity. Dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and even heat stroke can occur.
PREVENTION TIP: Hydrate before, during, and after practice. Take breaks in the shade, wear light clothing, and watch for early warning signs like dizziness or nausea.
The bottom line
Sports teach discipline, teamwork, and resilience — lessons that last far beyond a season. By recognizing injury risks early and encouraging smart training habits, we can help our young athletes stay healthy, strong, and ready to enjoy the game.
Here’s to a safe and successful school year, both in the classroom and on the playing field! Y
Dr. Reese Bulmash is a primary care sports medicine physician at Capital Ortho in Flowood and Clinton, where he treats athletes of all ages for sports injuries, orthopedic concerns, and performance optimization. He lives in Jackson with his family and is passionate about keeping our local athletes healthy and active.
chance to receive a $2,000 scholarship to be used at the four-year college or university
choice! NOW TAKING APPLICATIONS
• Visit bit.ly/CLF2026 • OR visit MSChristianLiving.com, go to the “Christian Leaders”
and click “Christian Leaders of the Future”
Anderson’s Audio Alchemy makes podcasts pop
If you’ve watched the following podcasts, you might’ve noticed some similarities, and not just in terms of Christian faith:
● Y’all Listen Here (co-hosted by Barbie Bassett, Therese Apel, and Traci Lee)
● Christian Women Rising (hosted by Angela Butler)
● Black Sheep Recovery Warfare (focusing on Christ-centered addiction recovery)
● Center for Pregnancy Choices Metro Area
They all look great. They all sound great. And they all have eyecatching multicolored lights that make the background “pop.” As it turns out, they’re all produced at Audio Alchemy Productions, owned and operated by Daniel Anderson in Madison.
Audio Alchemy started in January 2022, Daniel says:
“I was sitting in the parking lot at Steak Escape in Flowood, and I heard a voice that I can only think was God.”
The voice told Daniel to get involved in his best friend Drew’s podcast, Recovery Lab, which seeks to normalize addiction recovery. (Daniel and Drew used to “make scandalous decisions together,” Daniel says, but they had both gotten sober.)
Daniel had never listened to a podcast, but his obedience led to him being a guest on Recovery Lab; then a co-host; then buying equipment. He discovered a passion for producing podcasts and dived in.
After about a year and a half with no paying customers (he charged a nominal fee of $20), Daniel asked God one morning, “Are You sure about this?” Maybe 15 seconds later, he got a call from the woman who would become his first “official” paying client.
Today, he has close to 30 clients and only needs a couple more to be able to do podcasting full-time. He also builds out podcast studios for clients, some of whom retain his services to produce remotely.
The bottom line? Helping podcasters look, sound, and feel good — so they can impact their audience. “I love helping people get their message out to as many people as possible,” Daniel says. “That’s what brings me true joy.” Y
Daniel Anderson can be reached at AudioAlchemyProductions.com, 601-6726591, or daniel@audioalchemy.co.
Daniel Anderson (above and right) in his recording studio at Audio Alchemy Productions in Madison.
CUSTOM THERAPY INTENSIVES
Chris and Kayla White
Marriage, mental health, and career
changes
BY JOE ELLIS
PHOTO
PHOTOGRAPHY
Clockwise from top left: Olivia, Chris, Kayla, Madi Kaye, and Grayson White.
BY
Chris and Kayla White had a plan. Kayla was a counselor, and Chris was a youth pastor aiming for the pulpit.
Then Chris came home one day and told Kayla he felt “unsettled.”
“What do you mean, you feel unsettled?”
“I don’t know if this is where I’m supposed to be.”
Kayla admits she did not handle the moment well. (More on her reaction later.) But God has handled it all and is even now preparing the Whites to be powerful agents of change for Mississippi families — together.
‘You’re going to have to suck it up’
Kayla grew up in metro Jackson and attended Mississippi College. Toward the end of her senior year, a friend named Chase asked if she’d like to intern at his church in Texas, where he served as youth pastor.
“I was starting my master’s (in clinical mental health counseling) in the fall, but I had the summer,” she recalls. So she went to Texas, where she helped with the girls in the youth group. Chase’s best friend, a blue-eyed Texan
named Chris White, helped with the boys.
“I was working at a carpet store, helping Chase at the church, and also at a community college getting hours,” Chris says. A summer friendship with Kayla blossomed into dating — and then she promptly moved 18 hours away to Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, for grad school.
“We were long-distance for a semester,” Kayla says. “He wrote me letters.” In spring 2013, however, the letters stopped. Because Chris had transferred to Liberty.
“I had never planned on leaving Texas. (But) I think I knew what I wanted,” Chris says. “I wanted to marry Kayla (and) I knew I couldn’t date her from Lufkin, Texas. It was not hard at all (to move).”
Kayla finished her master’s at Liberty, and she and Chris got married and moved back to Mississippi. She started counseling while he finished his bachelor’s online, along with his MDiv, and started working at churches: First Baptist in Cleveland, Mississippi. Highland Colony Baptist in Ridgeland. Then they moved to Birmingham, where Chris joined the staff of Dawson Memorial Baptist.
“Somewhere along the way, I really
Chris wrote Kayla letters while they dated long distance for a semester.
PHOTO
started learning about myself that I didn’t necessarily love student ministry,” Chris says. “I think I was using it more as a stepstool to get somewhere — which is a little embarrassing to admit, but that’s just what it was.”
He started at Dawson in September 2019, just a month after beginning a PhD program. Not long after, COVID hit in March 2020. Like many folks, “I quickly found myself underwater,” Chris says.
“I ended up recognizing I wasn’t doing anybody any favors by sticking around longer. It wasn’t fair to the students there, it
wasn’t fair to the church, it wasn’t fair to my family or myself.”
That doesn’t mean it was easy for Kayla to hear he wanted a career change.
“I said, ‘Well, you’re going to have to suck it up. This is the plan,’” she recalls. However, she and Chris talked with her dad and Ron Mumbower, a counselor in the Jackson area, and both men gave the couple great advice: Take a year, and let Chris do something that’s not vocational ministry. Pray and see where God leads.
“We moved back to Madison, I started
“I had never planned on leaving Texas,” Chris says. “(But) I think I knew what I wanted. I wanted to marry Kayla.”
my practice (Kayla White LPC), and Chris started working at a bank, because he had some financial background. And we started praying,” she says.
“And then we were driving home from church in August 2022 … and Chris said, ‘I feel like the Lord is putting it on my heart to go back and do counseling so we can work (together) with families.’ So it took us about a year of praying that, and the Lord started revealing that. And we said, OK, let’s do it.”
Chris ended up getting the same master’s degree as Kayla, from the same institution — Liberty University — online, and is now a provisional licensed professional counselor (PLPC). In November, he’ll test for his LPC, and he and Kayla are planning to open a joint practice.
Meanwhile, as Kayla sees clients who are working through everyday emotional and relational struggles, Chris is clinical coordinator for an adolescent partial hospitalization program at Three Oaks Behavioral Health in Flowood. Translation: He sees some intense stuff.
“My clients are dealing with suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, significant drug use and abuse, and significant family issues and trauma,” he says. “We see a lot of anxiety and depression, but (it) impacts them in ways where they’re not able to function.”
As for partial hospitalization, it stands in a “really interesting gap between outpatient
BY
PHOTOS BY JOE ELLIS
PHOTOGRAPHY
PHOTO
BARRETT PHOTOGRAPHY
therapy and residential, or inpatient,” Chris says. “I always tell people my goal is to keep them from going into inpatient.”
Many clients start in outpatient therapy with a counselor like Kayla, who, if needed, refers them to someone like Chris, whose goal is to give them the help and the tools they need to return to outpatient.
“Most of our adolescents are not there because that’s how they want to spend their summer,” he notes. “It’s four hours a day, four days a week.” Above all, he tries to be authentic with the teens he serves.
“You can tell them whatever you want to, but people are smart. You can be around somebody and know if they’re fake or real,” he says. “Most adolescents, by the time they leave our program, are really glad they were there. And I take a lot of pride in that.”
Similarly, Kayla says she and Chris both make a point to really “see” their clients. “I think (it’s about) just getting to know the person in front of you. Most people just want to feel seen and known,” she says. “If I feel seen by (somebody), I’m going to be more willing to open up to them. Sometimes it takes a little bit of time.”
Boundaries and foundations
Like any mental health professional, the Whites sometimes struggle to leave their work at the office. Technically, “I’m on an emergency line (so) I do take it home as part
of the job,” Chris says. “But I think the biggest way I take it home is just being tired.”
Kayla has a hard time not responding to non-emergency calls and texts after hours. “I have to be intentional because my personality is more so to pick up the phone and help them in the moment. Chris is better with boundaries. He’s helped me with that,” she says.
“Once you do it for a while, you do learn the skill of being able to leave it in the office, because I think ultimately we know that beyond what we do at work, there’s nothing
we can do. We have to be able to come home and take care of our families and take care of ourselves.”
Speaking of family, it includes three beautiful children, ages 4, 5, and 8 — and yes, the Whites are concerned about how to help their kids avoid the pain and danger that have plagued mom and dad’s teen clients.
“The conversation of how do we protect our kids from this or that in the future definitely comes up,” Kayla says.
“Social media, that’s a big one;
The Whites recently traveled to Jamaica for their 10th anniversary.
PHOTOS BY JOE ELLIS
PHOTOGRAPHY
technology, sleepovers, what they watch on TV, who they’re allowed to spend time with, friendships.”
Chris admits he’s apt to “get addicted to mindlessly scrolling” himself. Teens, on the other hand? “(They’re) just drowning in it. Most of the adolescents who come through our program, there is a social media component to it that is driving some of the difficulties. That has made me very skeptical of allowing our kids to have that. I am OK with them having a flip phone. (We) kind of owe it to them to do it.
“With the mental health crisis that you have seen over the last five to 10 years, what’s changed? It’s not the kids. To a degree, it’s the parents, and it’s the technology. This is not to shame parents (because) we do this when necessary, but I think we’ve become too comfortable with using social media and technology to babysit.”
All of that being said, the Whites don’t want to make the cure worse than the disease.
“We always say, our poor kids, they’re never going to be able to do anything. We’re going to have them on lockdown,” Kayla jokes. “But no, we want them to experience life.”
Creating careful boundaries and being present with the kids is key. For instance, the Whites’ oldest, Grayson, is 8. He does not have a “device.” Instead, he and Chris were watching the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy together the week of this interview.
“I think the foundation of what you do in those younger years is really important,” Kayla says, even if it looks like sitting down together for a movie instead of handing your kid an iPad for the evening.
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” Chris says. “There’s a reason that that’s a saying, especially with our kids. Handle it right now. Love them, be there right now.”
But yes, “at some point, you have to trust them. When they’re 15, 16, you can’t lock them in a closet. You have to allow them to make the wrong decision sometimes and trust that they’re going to make the right ones.”
‘Don’t counsel me!’
If you’re married and you work in the mental health field, your spouse has probably had to tell you, “Don’t counsel me!” The Whites are no exception.
“We at times have had to be careful not to lecture or counsel each other,” Kayla says. Instead, they simply try to follow the same advice they’d give to a client. For instance, “if you’re tired, just communicate it,” Chris says.
But being trained in counseling has also helped, Kayla says.
“We can communicate in ways that others don’t think of as easily. Sometimes it pops into our brain, ‘I have 20 percent in my tank today.’ I think before being a therapist, I wouldn’t have thought of those things.”
But marriage is hard no matter who you are, she adds. “We’re both therapists, and it’s hard for us at times.”
Some marriage advice is just common sense: Spend time together! Take the 10-year anniversary trip! But some of it might go against our ingrained notions of what marriage looks like.
For instance, “I don’t believe your partner is supposed to be your accountability partner or carry all the things for you,” Kayla says. “It’s a really easy thing to do, to make our (marriage) partner that person that we put everything on. And I don’t think that’s how the Lord ever intended it to be.”
In other words? Get a therapist. “Maybe not in every single season, but having a safe space (and) a trusted person that is going to give you unbiased advice or wisdom — or
not even wisdom at all, just to go talk through things with.”
Chris agrees: “Feeling anxious is not a bad emotion. (It) has served humans well … that little danger signal, watch out. Where it becomes an issue is when you live in that danger mode.
“And there’s going to be days you feel low. And that’s OK. But if it impacts you being able to get out of bed and go to work, or when it impacts your relationships … therapy isn’t as scary as you think — especially if you get a good therapist. And you don’t have to go every single week. You could go every two weeks, or once a month, depending on your needs.”
Another tip for marital and mental health? Figure out if you’re an overcommunicator, or an undercommunicator (or “stuffer”).
“We’re opposites. I tend to be the overcommunicator,” Kayla says. “I want to work things out right there in the moment, hash it all out — ”
“And I need a time out,” Chris says.
“Both can be problematic,” Kayla says. “But I’ve learned that sometimes he needs time to process an argument, and I need to give that to him, and he’s learned that I need to talk about it at some point.”
White stones and fresh starts
By the time Chris has his LPC and he and Kayla open their joint practice, he’ll have been working toward this goal for four and a half years. The wait has been challenging for both spouses.
“All of my degrees, pretty much, were focused on working in the church, and I think they will be of use and will be applicable, but I had to get a master’s of counseling, which is 60 hours, and then go through the PLPC process,” he says.
“I am somebody who likes to get it done
BY
PHOTOS
JOE ELLIS PHOTOGRAPHY
and have it done quick,” Kayla adds. “So the Lord has really used this to teach both of us that sometimes things take time. We have to trust the Lord’s plan.”
And not just for the timing:
“I stayed home during my internship … and she saw more clients,” Chris recalls. “Because she could see (even) one more client each day, and that would make more than what I was making at the bank. So logically, why don’t I just stay home, finish school quicker? And it worked out, but let me tell you: Staying home with three kids is not for the weak.”
Did his ego take a hit when Kayla became the primary breadwinner?
“There’s definitely (that), but I also don’t think my personality was designed to stay at home,” he says.
In the end, they believe all the waiting and awkward transitional times will be worth it.
“We’re really looking forward to seeing the whole family unit together, being able to see couples together (in a counseling session),” Kayla says. “Sometimes we focus on one area when (really) the whole family collectively could use help.
“Being able to do this together is something we’ve been looking forward to for a long time.”
In fact, they already have a name for their practice, Chris says: Whitestone.
“I’ve always wanted to incorporate our name (White) somehow. I was reading something somewhere (and) came across the word ‘whitestone’ and thought that sounded good. So I Googled it. AI popped up with everything it could possibly mean,” he recalls.
“In ancient civilizations and biblical times, in the judicial system, oftentimes somebody would be given a white stone if they were acquitted or made free. Also in Revelation 2:17, John’s writing to the churches, and he says those who persevere will be given a white stone (with a new name).”
For kids, teens, couples, families — and yes, people who change their whole career midstream — the idea of a white stone is a fresh start, he says.
“Who you are today does not necessarily determine who you are tomorrow.” Y
ETERNAL LIFE?
No other set of books, except the Bible, will prepare the reader for an abundant life NOW and for a glorious ETERNITY better than Hallelujah, Love & War, The Sound of Glorious Marriage Music and Here to Eternity. These books can be reviewed and purchased at amazon.com. Select Books and type in “by Joe Ragland.” Here to Eternity, available on amazon.com.
ATTY JOE RAGLAND, J.D., LL.M., S.J.D., LL.M., LL.D. Major Personal Injuries and Truth Revivals Tel. 601-969-5050 • Info: www.raglandministries.org Click CONTACT to subscribe to the free End-Time Newsletter
Mississippi mental health resources
For our Faith & Mental Health edition, we’re providing a list of people, organizations, and resources that can help with everything from addiction to anxiety, motherhood, and more. Please note, many of these resources can help with more than just the topic (e.g., “Insomnia”) under which they’re listed! Please share this article – and never be afraid to ask for help. If you’re struggling with suicidal thoughts, call or text 988 for immediate help, or visit 988lifeline.org.
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH & ADDICTION TREATMENT
Pine Grove Behavioral Health & Addiction Services
Located in Hattiesburg, Pine Grove Behavioral Health & Addiction Services is one of the nation’s most comprehensive treatment campuses. Established in 1984, Pine Grove’s programs focus on treating children, adolescents, and adults with a variety of mental healthcare and addiction treatment needs. Pine Grove’s programs include different levels of care and varying lengths of stay based on the recommendations of our professional treatment team.
Pine Grove’s specialty treatment programs include:
● Next Step Men’s Program: Gender-specific substance use disorder treatment for men. The program also includes a mental healthcare treatment track.
● Professional Enhancement Program (PEP): Designed for individuals with difficulties engaging both personally and professionally at their highest potential due to interpersonal difficulties, addictions, and co-occurring disorders.
● Women’s Center: A program for women who struggle with chemical dependency and trauma. Additionally, the program provides treatment for co-occurring eating disorders and compulsive sexual behavior.
● Gratitude: Gender-focused treatment for sexual addiction and relationship compulsivity in men.
Additionally, Pine Grove includes evaluation services for professionals, licensing boards, professional health programs, the community, and families. In 2024, Pine Grove’s outpatient services for children, adolescents, and adults expanded to a brand-new, spacious, state-of-the-art treatment facility located on the organization’s main Hattiesburg campus.
Pine Grove’s outpatient services include:
● Medication-assisted treatment program (MAT): Pine Grove provides medication-assisted treatment for patients with opioid addiction and other substance use disorders. The program includes individual evaluations and medication management under the direction of one of Pine Grove’s board-certified psychiatrists, who is fellowship trained in addiction psychiatry. Additionally, the program includes weekly group therapy sessions.
● Intensive outpatient program (IOP): Pine Grove includes a 10-week intensive outpatient program for men and women. This program offers a lower level of care for the primary treatment of substance use disorders. Day and evening programs are offered.
● Adult psychiatric partial hospitalization program (PHP): This program consists of group therapy as the primary treatment intervention for a variety of psychiatric conditions.
● Specialized depression treatment: Pine Grove offers specialized treatment options for adults with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). These interventions are recommended for patients who have not responded effectively to prescribed antidepressant medications. Treatment options include TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation), a non-invasive procedure that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate specific nerve cells in the brain that influence mood. Pine Grove also offers Spravato®, an FDA-approved nasal spray for adults with treatment-resistant depression.
Pine Grove also provides inpatient psychiatric care for adults, adolescents, and children. This program offers a variety of behavioral healthcare services for assessing, coping with, and treating psychosis, depression, bipolar disorder, and other mental health disorders.
Pine Grove’s inpatient services include:
● Adult psychiatric intensive care unit
● Adult psychiatric and dual diagnosis unit with detox capabilities
● Child and Adolescent Unit: Pine Grove’s Child and Adolescent Unit offers inpatient treatment for children and adolescents with psychiatric and substance use disorders. The program also offers classroom support to assist with continuity of studies from the patient’s school.
For more information about Pine Grove, please visit our website, pinegrovetreatment.com, or call 1.888.574.HOPE (4673).
Harbor House Chemical Dependency Services
Substance abuse has a profound, often damaging effect on mental health. Every person faced with substance abuse has a unique, important story. Their journey to get to the point of needing help has been filled with uncertainty and pain. Those around them have been impacted. Their lives are not where they could be, and they have tried to moderate or stop without consistently being able to.
Many people with mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia use substances to self-medicate, which can worsen their symptoms over time. Substance use often intensifies mood swings, paranoia, hallucinations, and other psychiatric symptoms. Addiction preys on the young and old, poor and wealthy, those with a family history and those without. Nobody sets out to become addicted, but it becomes a coping process, and eventually the person cannot stop, despite consequences.
Harbor House cares for hundreds of people every year who need help. Many are without resources and have co-occurring mental health issues, from depression to anxiety and many others. Harbor House was established in 1973 to serve men and women impacted by substance abuse through residential treatment. Our mission remains to offer hope to adults by providing an effective continuum of high quality, valuable, compassionate behavioral health treatment.
Our person-centered treatment planning is grounded in principles that emphasize respect for individual autonomy, dignity, and self-determination. Each person’s treatment plan is created to address their specific needs. Treatment is not imposed; it is collaboratively developed, emphasizing strengths, abilities, and aspiration, all things necessary for the person to achieve sobriety. Recovery takes time, dedication, and support. Harbor House staff are committed to offering compassion and effective tools for change through residential services, MAT (medication-assisted treatment), and peer recovery support services, so those we serve can be set free from the bondage of addiction.
Learn more at HHJackson.org.
COUNSELING: VARIOUS SPECIALTIES
Cornerstone Counseling
Cornerstone offers compassionate care for children, teens, and adults. We address many of life’s challenges, including anxiety, depression, and relationships. Through faith-based guidance and professional expertise, our team helps you find hope and healing. Cornerstone has offices in Jackson, Flowood, Oxford, and Tupelo. Learn more at cornerstone.ms
Count It All Joy Counseling Services
“My childhood was so messed up, I thought I would be in therapy forever.”
“It feels like a weight was lifted and things now seem lighter, my outlook is brighter!”
“Understanding my parts was kinda weird at first, but now I meet them with curiosity and compassion. Wow! I am on my journey to JOY.”
At Count It All Joy Counseling Services, stories like these remind us that healing is possible through trauma-informed care and compassionate support. Our team of diverse clinicians walks alongside individuals navigating anxiety, depression, and the wounds of past hurts.
Leona Bishop, an IFS-Informed EMDR therapist, authored “Journey to Joy: A Therapeutic Guide and Journal for Emotional Wellness,” which is designed to offer hope, guidance, and reflection for anyone seeking peace and wholeness.
Embark on a journey to reignite more JOY in your heart. Visit countjoy.net to schedule or learn more.
Crossroads Christian Counseling
Crossroads Christian Counseling, established in 1989, is a ministry of the Rankin County Baptist Association. Crossroads’ mission is to help individuals, couples, and families find healing in the midst of difficult times.
Crossroads’ counselors are educated, trained, experienced, and equipped to help children, teens, adults, and senior adults.
Crossroads’ offices are located in Pearl, Ridgeland, Kosciusko, Laurel, Hattiesburg, and Biloxi. Also, many of our counselors are certified to counsel via telehealth.
Crossroads’ administrative staff can assist in finding the right counselor for you. You can call 601-939-6634 or find us on the internet at CrossroadsCounselingMS.com.
If you are a Christian counselor searching for a place to counsel either full time or part time, please contact us. Our experienced administrative staff handles nearly all of the time-consuming paperwork, freeing counselors to do what you’ve been called to do: help people who are hurting.
Downtown Counseling Associates
If you’ve been carrying something alone, you don’t have to. You don’t have to have the “right words” or a clear plan — just the willingness to take that first step.
Life moves quickly. Between school drop-offs, work, grocery runs, and keeping up with friends, it’s easy for your struggles to get pushed aside. Sometimes you convince yourself you’re “fine” because life hasn’t fallen apart, but deep down, you know there are things you’ve been carrying too long.
At Downtown Counseling, we understand what you’re going through. We know mental health struggles don’t always look the way movies portray them. They can be quiet, disguised behind a smile.
You don’t have to wait until things get “bad enough” to seek help. Call or text 601.654.5661, and let’s plan your next step together. When you’re ready to talk, we’re here to listen.
Call or text us at 601.654.5661. DowntownCounseling.org
Kayla White LPC, LLC
Do you feel frustrated with life circumstances? Are you having difficulty processing a situation or communicating with those around you? Therapy is a great way to improve your quality of life, and could be what you need during this season. Don’t be afraid to seek help! 601.790.0343 | kaylawhitelpc@gmail.com
Nicole Hiratuka Counseling
I commonly work with clients experiencing low self-esteem, anxiety, OCD, life transitions, guilt, relationship issues, and parenting challenges. I integrate evidence-based practices to provide you with the best care. My hope is that our work together will help create new meaning, hope, and peace in your life. Learn more at NicoleHiratukaLPC.com.
Red River Counseling
Recover, heal, and find empowerment at Red River Counseling in Ridgeland. Dr. Branden Henry and his skilled team offer faithinformed, personalized therapy — addressing anxiety, addiction, trauma, marriage, parenting, and more — for children, teens, couples, families, and adults, both in person and via telehealth. RedRiverCounseling.net | office@redrivercounseling.net | 601.780.7400
Watershed Counseling Associates
Find your counselor at Watershed Counseling Associates. Sometimes we all need help. Our team is committed to being at their best when you need it most. Whether it’s individual, couples, or family support, we’re here with compassionate, Christ-honoring, clinically excellent care. Visit WatershedCounselingMS.com or call 601.362.7020.
COUNSELING: MOTHERHOOD
Krista Woods Counseling
Motherhood can be challenging, and it’s normal to feel overwhelmed sometimes. My mission is to provide a supportive space where you can release stress, embrace selfcompassion, and grow in confidence. I’m here to help you find the support you need to experience more joy in your journey as a mom. Learn more at KristaWoodsCounseling.com.
COUNSELING: SLIDING SCALE FEES
The Counseling Center at Reformed Theological Seminary: Making time for mental health
As another school year is in full swing, it doesn’t take long to feel the effects of a busy schedule, competing deadlines and commitments, and fast-paced routines. We can see the benefit in slowing down, but it is not always easy to find a way to make it happen. Even making time to focus on mental health can feel like another commitment that is hard to fit into the schedule.
If you notice any of this being true for you, try taking a moment right now to pause, close your eyes, and take five slow, deep breaths. Now look to God in this moment. What do you notice?
This brief exercise doesn’t take away the things that still need your attention, but it may demonstrate how slowing down for a moment could lighten the load, if even slightly. Whether more of this time could be beneficial for yourself, for your marriage, or for
your children, it may be worth it to slow down and attend to important parts of your life that can often be neglected.
The Counseling Center at RTS could be an accessible and affordable option for you and your family. Being open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, we have availability to schedule with clients around their already full schedule. Our self-pay rates are set on a sliding scale based on income, ranging from $25 to $65 per session. This is one of the most affordable counseling options in central Mississippi! For our couples who begin counseling between September and December, we are offering a discount of $25 per session for the first six months.
In partnership with the Master of Arts in Counseling program at Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS), our graduate student counselors have been serving the Jackson metro area for over 40 years. With our origins in marriage and family therapy, we have been supporting individuals, couples, and families through a variety of mental health and relational challenges while holding a distinctly Christian perspective. We keep a focus on biblical truth with each client we serve and utilize skills from the professional field of mental health counseling.
If you find yourself in need of support as you navigate the challenges of a new school year, you don’t have to do it alone. We are available and ready to join you in this process.
– Stephanie Wielgosz,
MA, LPC, BC-TMH, director of The Counseling Center at RTS; RTSCounselingCenter.com
Summit Counseling at First Baptist Jackson
Summit Counseling began in 1983 at First Baptist Jackson and has impacted thousands of individuals, couples, and families.
Treating loneliness, anxiety, depression, marital issues, preparation for marriage, parenting, aging issues, trauma, or grief, Summit has been a light in life’s difficulties and a leader in Christian counseling. Our therapists are licensed and trained to meet clients’ presenting problems and offer help through a multitude of counseling modalities.
As director of Summit Counseling, my vision is to continue to meet the needs of those who walk through our doors so they will understand how they are loved and cherished by the One who matters. No matter what they have done or what life has dealt them, hope and healing are available.
Summit is in the process of becoming a Medicaid provider and joining the networks of UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, and Cigna. We also have plans to apply for Medicare. We offer a sliding scale fee structure, along with BCBS of Mississippi, and for those who can’t afford counseling, we offer master’s level interns who will see clients for free.
We also partner with businesses in the metro and state to provide EAP (employment assistance program). In addition to individual counseling, Summit facilitates several groups: a Caregivers’ Support Group for those whose spouses participate in Rock Steady Boxing for Parkinson’s Patients, located in our Christian Life Center; Grief Share; Divorce Care; and Cancer Survivors Group. Summit also hosts the annual Hope Conference –
Lighting the Way to Cancer Survivorship.
Summit Counseling is passionate about helping people find hope in a world full of uncertainty.
FBJ is a downtown church that is for Jackson, and Summit is uniquely positioned to accomplish this with our counseling ministry that feels called to bring hope and healing to a city that desperately needs it.
– Don Waller, director;
Learn more at SummitCounseling1.SnapPages.site
COUNSELING: WOMEN’S ISSUES
Wendy Maxwell, Restoration Counseling Group
You’re facing a major life change you didn’t anticipate that has you at a breaking point. Perhaps it’s debilitating thoughts keeping you stuck in dysfunctional ways of reacting and coping, increasing your stress, anxiety, and depression. You may feel paralyzed. Perhaps it’s getting harder to function day to day, as if you’re in free fall.
I see and help people daily just like you. It’s a challenge to confront faulty ways of coping, thinking, and relating. I work with clients to make sure the process isn’t overwhelming. The techniques learned and the changes established will allow you to have confidence that you can
NOW OPEN
manage whatever comes your way.
I help women with depression and anxiety improve their ability to handle stress and change so they gain strength, confidence, and a new perspective that allows improved relationships, improved ability to handle stress and hardship, and overall peace of mind.
Learn more at RestorationCounselingGroup.com.
INSOMNIA Doxa Renewal Clinic: Therapy for insomnia
We all know what it is like to experience a poor night’s sleep and how awful it feels. People with insomnia describe having difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, and the stressful impact poor sleep has on their life.
CBT-I is a brief and effective sleepfocused treatment based on the science of sleep and utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy to treat the nighttime and daytime symptoms of insomnia, tailored to each individual.
CBT-I is recommended as the firstline treatment for insomnia, proving to be as effective as medication in the short-term, but with longerlasting effects long-term, with minimal side effects. Another added benefit of CBT-I is that it is cost-effective, typically taking only four to 10 sessions.
✷ Anxiety and Depression Therapy
✷ Trama Counseling
✷ Psychiatric Services
✷ Relationship Counseling
✷ Stress Management
✷ ADHD Testing & Assessment
You deserve to feel heard. When you are ready to talk, we are here to listen. Call or text. 601.654.5661
307 East Government Street, Suite A Brandon, MS 39042 info@downtowncounseling.org
and
Partner with our nonprofit to provide private counseling support to active-duty military, veterans, and first responders.
“You never get over losing a child, but with God’s help, it is possible to find purpose, hope, and joy beyond grief.”
At Doxa Renewal Clinic, we utilize CBT-I by the Stanford Sleep Health and Insomnia Program, a certified training by Stanford Medicine. Let us help you sleep better!
Learn more at DoxaRenewalClinic.com.
PARTIAL HOSPITALIZATION
Three Oaks Behavioral Health
GROW
YOUR BUSINESS
Three Oaks is a private, freestanding mental health facility operating partial hospitalization programs treating adults and adolescents, and an intensive outpatient program treating adults. Our mission is to assist patients in their personal growth and wellness and to enhance their quality of life by promoting health, hope, and healing.
Learn more at ThreeOaksHealth.com.
VETERANS & FIRST RESPONDERS
Mission Vigilant: Standing watch for mental wellness
Mission Vigilant was born from both heartbreak and hope. Founder Susan Cleland lost her firstborn son, Michael, a devoted Christian, Air Force veteran, and search-and-rescue crewman, in the summer of 2019 to suicide. Michael loved fiercely but struggled silently with mental health challenges that few around him fully knew.
Advertise with us!
● Communicate to the masses! Reach Madison, Hinds and Rankin counties, plus the newly added areas of Oxford and Hattiesburg.
● Packages to fit any budget
● Print and digital opportunities For more information, contact: Teresa Howell 731.609.8264 teresa@mschristianliving.com MSChristianLiving.com
In the wake of this tragedy, Susan and her family made a promise: If they could help save even one life and spare another family this pain, they would do everything in their power to do so. Mission Vigilant became that promise in action.
Through faith-centered outreach, peer connection, and practical resources, Mission Vigilant seeks to break the silence surrounding mental health struggles, especially for veterans, first responders, and their families. The organization offers encouragement rooted in God’s unwavering grace, reminding each person that they are seen, valued, and loved beyond measure.
Mental health battles can feel overwhelming, but hope is never lost. As Susan shares, “God gives us so much grace, and He NEVER stops loving us. Through His grace, we shall see the light again.”
To learn more or find support, visit MissionVigilant.org. You are not alone. Someone is standing watch for you. Y
• Abuse
• Academic issues
• Addictions
• Anger
• Anxiety
• Career counseling
• Children’s issues
• Crisis
• Depression
• Domestic violence
• Eating disorders
• Family and marital counseling
• Financial management
• Grief
• Individual counseling
• Marriage counseling
• Men’s issues
• Parenting and step-parenting
• Pre-marital counseling
• Self-injury
• Sexual abuse
• Sexual identity
• Spiritual and religious concerns
• Stress
• Suicide
• Terminal illness
• Women’s issues
Mission is based on Matthew 11:28-30.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Life insurance can be the cornerstone of your family’s financial plan. Let us show you the promise life insurance offers, a promise that protects your family’s future.
Park Place celebrates 25 years of Christ-centered education
In 2025, Park Place Christian Academy (PPCA), a ministry of Park Place Baptist Church in Pearl, celebrates a remarkable milestone — 25 years of academic excellence, spiritual growth, and unwavering dedication to a Christ-centered mission. From its humble beginnings in 2000, PPCA has grown into one of the region’s leading private Christian schools, making an indelible mark on the lives of students, families, and the broader community.
The journey began with a simple yet powerful vision: to partner with parents in providing students with a distinctly Christian education grounded in a biblical worldview. This mission has remained at the heart of PPCA since day one and continues to guide every step the school takes.
In 2012, PPCA celebrated a major achievement with its first graduating class — seven students who paved the way for future
generations of Christian leaders. Since then, hundreds more have walked across the graduation stage, prepared academically, spiritually, and socially for whatever God has in store.
Over the past two and a half decades, PPCA has witnessed incredible growth — not only in enrollment but in its campus footprint. Major facility expansions have included the construction of a football field, soccer field, baseball and softball fields, and multiple academic buildings. These additions have served as hubs for academic, athletic, social, and most importantly, spiritual excellence. These facilities have allowed students to thrive not only in the classroom but also on the field, developing Christian character in the areas of discipline, teamwork, and biblical understanding of the world around them.
As the school looks to the future, even more growth is on the horizon. Planned additions include new classroom buildings, a Career and Technical Education (CTE) building, a state-of-the-art gymnatorium, and significant upgrades to the athletic complex, such as fieldhouses, press boxes, and an eightlane track. These exciting developments reflect PPCA’s commitment to providing a comprehensive educational experience that prepares students for success in all areas of life. However, bringing these plans to life will
require more than bricks and mortar — it will require prayer, vision, and strong partnerships. To accomplish what we believe God has called us to do, PPCA is seeking support from families, alumni, local businesses, and community members who share in the mission of Christian education.
Jason Cook, director of development, welcomes those who feel led to learn more or become a part of this mission. He can be reached at 601-939-6229 (ext. 205) or by email at jcook@goppca.com.
As Park Place Christian Academy celebrates 25 years of faithful service, we give all glory to God. Our school motto, Soli Deo Gloria — “To God alone be the glory” — encapsulates the spirit that has guided PPCA from the beginning and will continue to lead us into the future.
Here’s to 25 years of impact — and to all that God has in store for the next 25. Y
Renderings show plans for additional facilities at Park Place Christian Academy in Pearl.
Creating Jesus joy in the kitchen
“W
hat’s for dinner?”
These words sometimes make me cringe as a mom.
So there I was, hunting down ingredients, and I grumbled to God, “I hate how inconvenienced and annoyed I feel that I have to cook this meal. Please help me feel differently.” My spirit knew it was misaligned, but I still could not help feeling this way. Immediately, God flooded my thoughts with, “Don’t mistake your blessings as a burden, because what if gospel conversations happen over the very meal you grumble to make?”
In that moment, I realized I had lost my eternal perspective, and that what God meant for joy and gladness, Satan was determined to steal, kill, and destroy. I shouted, “Alexa, play Christian music,” got out my favorite Poppi drink, and made a meal for my family with genuine excitement.
Philippians 2:14-15 states, “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world, by holding firm to the word of life.”
That day, Satan tried to dim the light that my children need to see from me — the joy that will bring them around the table and allow me to speak truth into them.
If you’re like me and find yourself burdened by the meal prep, the mess, or simply showing up to serve your family,
here are seven tips that helped me bring joy back into my kitchen:
● Acknowledge and confess your feelings to God. God already knows our feelings. Let us run to Him for the correction we need. (Psalm 109:26, 30)
● Repent and ask God to change the desires of your heart. When we take delight in the Lord, our desires will begin to shift. (Psalm 20:4)
● Remember the eternal perspective. God has written eternity on our hearts. Therefore, let us remember daily the reason we are here: to tell others about Jesus as we do life with them. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
● Turn on Jesus’ music as you cook! Your mood will shift, and that eternal perspective will be brought to the forefront.
● Grab sparkling water, a sweet tea, or your favorite drink, and sip as you cook!
● Use a fun or cute serving dish (dishwasher safe, of course)! My kids love an exciting display.
● Challenge yourself to try one new recipe a week! Not the ones that intimidate you, but that you’re excited to try. It can be two ingredients and no-bake. Think dessert or a snack!
Next time you feel burdened over a blessing, ask yourself, “What if gospel conversations happen over this meal?” and see if your heart doesn’t get excited!
For now, I need to go. I have hungry kiddos coming home from school soon, and I cannot wait to connect with them over some blueberry protein muffins! Y
Jade Whitehurst is a wife, mom, and fitness coach. For more encouragement in your faith, fitness, and health goals, follow her on Instagram @jadewhitehurst_.
soccershots.com/jackson 769.233.7445
Email at Derek@soccershots.com
T‘Save a Child, Change the World’ gala to benefit group home
he Brown Place Group Home, Inc., a nonprofit organization, is proud to announce its upcoming fundraising event, the Save a Child, Change the World Gala. The gala will be held on September 28 at 6 p.m. at Fondren Hall, 4330 N. State St., Jackson.
This elegant evening will feature a dinner, entertainment, and a raffle giveaway, offering attendees the opportunity to support the organization’s mission. All raffle participants will automatically be entered into a drawing for exciting prizes donated by local supporters and sponsors.
The primary goal of the gala is to raise $50,000 to support the development and operations of The Brown Place Group Home, ensuring that children in the Jackson community have access to safe housing, mentorship, and educational support. We are committed to creating a nurturing environment where children can grow, heal, and realize their full potential. This gala will help us expand our programs and make a lasting impact on the lives of the children we serve.
Tickets for the gala are available at Eventbrite.com. Sponsors and donors interested in supporting the event through in-kind or financial donations are encouraged to contact Lakeisha McLaurinHardy at 601.937.8763 or Lakeisha@thebrownplacegphm.com.
About The Brown Place Group Home, Inc.
The Brown Place Group Home, Inc. is a 501c3 nonprofit organization serving children ages 5-12. With a focus on behavioral support, spiritual growth, physical health, and education, the organization provides a safe, nurturing environment where children can thrive. For more information, visit TheBrownPlaceGpHm.com. Y
WellsFest at new location October 4
WellsFest
is back for 2025 but is moving to a new location: This year’s festival will be held from 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. October 4 at the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum, at 1150 Lakeland Dr. in Jackson. The Ag Museum is across the parking lot from Jamie Fowler Boyll Park, where the festival has been held in recent years.
As always, WellsFest is a family-friendly, alcohol-free music and children’s festival, from which all proceeds benefit a local nonprofit. What began as a small churchsponsored afternoon of music 41 years ago is now one of Jackson’s major festivals, with top musical talent on two stages, food trucks, children’s activities, arts and crafts vendors, and more!
This year’s WellsFest beneficiary is the Jackson Free Clinic, which provides medical services to the area’s homeless and disadvantaged populations, with medical professional volunteers from The University of Mississippi Medical Center.
Although the festival is put on by Wells United Methodist Church in partnership with community volunteers, all proceeds will go to the Jackson Free Clinic. Since the festival began in 1984, WellsFest has raised more than $1.5 million for local nonprofits.
WellsFest is grateful for the sponsors who allow this festival to continue:
Fountain Family Foundation
Golding Barge Line / Golding Foundation
Junior League of Jackson
Keesler Federal Credit Union
LogoStore USA
Pigott Law Firm
Raymond James and Associates
Trustmark Bank
Several anonymous individual donors
For more information, visit wellsfest.org or call 601.353.0658. Y
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.
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
~ ISAIAH 26:3, KJV
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.”
~ JOHN 15:4, ESV
“We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.”
~ 2 CORINTHIANS 10:3-5, NLT
“Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”
~ PSALM 37:4, KJV
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
~ PHILIPPIANS 4:6-8, NLT
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
~ JOHN 14:27, ESV
“O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.”
~ PSALM 31:23-24, KJV
“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
~ PSALM 119:11, KJV
“So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.”
~ 1 PETER 1:13, NLT
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
~ 2 TIMOTHY 1:7, KJV
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
~ ROMANS 12:2, ESV
Christen Haygood,
