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contents
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SPRING 2010
CONTRIBUTORS CREDITS SPEAK UP FROM THE EDITOR FORWARD THE SOURCE MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT VOLUNTEER REVIEWS
15 Hope Belongs The simple joys of everyday life can be shattered by divorce. Hear one woman’s story of reassembling the broken pieces into a ministry of comfort and encouragement.
18 Stage Friend When 9-year-old Eleisha Miller auditioned for the hit TV show America’s Got Talent, she had no idea that her dream of winning would change overnight.
24 Where I’m From What do a skinny teenage boy and a decorated
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Army soldier have in common? Follow Ryan Neusch on his journey of discovering a purpose in this wide world.
31 Wisdom of the Ages When you’re faced with the weighty decisions of
life, where do you turn for answers? Matt Rowley takes us straight to the source of unbelievably deep wisdom – the under 10 crowd.
34 COVER: Going The Distance When it comes to life’s ups and downs, how far will
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friends go for each other? Find out the secrets of a friendship that spans more than a decade.
48 Savor If you believe the slow cooker is only for pot roast,
think again. Susie Merrick brings us some tastetempting new recipes that your family is sure to love.
53 Baby Talk Four years ago, an ABC 20/20 special jolted Cindy Gilliland into action. Today she is making dreams come true for couples who long to hold a tiny miracle in their arms.
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contributors
KYLE TRAFTON
When Kyle was eight years old, his dad gave him an old film camera. Little did he know that this camera would spark something in Kyle and change his life forever. He soon discovered that he had a gift and a passion for photography, and since that day, Kyle has been taking pictures. He recently became a full-time photographer and now runs his own business, Trafton L.L.C. He and his wife, Amanda, live in Abilene.
THE PEOPLE WE COULDN’T DO WITHOUT
a make-up artist. Her favorite project was during Fashion Week in 2005. Christa has a passion for all aspects of design: clothing, hair and make-up. Totally submerged in the energy, Christa loved working with a fashion designer and experiencing the ultimate in all aspects of fashion and design. She continues using her talents by doing make-up for Connect magazine photo shoots. Christa and her husband, Raymond, have two sons and a new baby on the way.
PATRICK BURNS
C H R I S TA B O Y D
New York was the ultimate location for Christa’s profession as
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Patrick starred in several musicals in high school, although he says he can’t sing. “They would have a stronger singer cover for me,” he admits. “I love singing, but I’m just not that great at it.” Last month he was singing his wife’s praises because she
CONNECT MAGAZINE / SPRING 2010
bought him a Harley for Christmas. He and Krystal were high school sweethearts, and now are sharing life with sons Kayden and Kyan.
MOLLY LONGCOR
In Molly’s sophomore year at Texas Tech University, the Lord spoke to her to move back home to Amarillo. After fighting it with every fiber of her being, she reluctantly agreed. What followed was an extremely lonely process that resulted in her losing all of her friends and completely starting her life over in a place she had vowed never to return to. During that season, God delivered her, healed her and set her free from bondages. Today she is living out the God-given dream of leading His people in worship, something that would not have been possible if she had not obeyed the Lord. The
lesson and blessing of obedience to the Lord is one she will spend her life sharing.
in his love of sharing Jesus with children as Associate Children’s Pastor here at Trinity.
MATT ROWLEY
ERIN LOVE
While on a mission trip to China, following his sophomore year of college, Matt spent time sharing Jesus with the people and offering medical services to orphans with special needs. As they participated in celebrating the marriage of one of the teachers they’d come to know, policemen began approaching. Because of the strict governmental structure, they would have been arrested had the police connected the students, teachers and missionaries. Matt and his friends ran and hid in a nearby orchard to avoid being caught. That experience, and Matt’s upbringing, have shaped him into who he’s become today. He continues
While growing up, Erin spent many days working on the farm. Digging cactus, poisoning prairie dogs, painting corrals...and the most memorable was a summer spent with her brother hoeing cotton. While battling 100-degree heat and dodging rattlesnakes, they realized that with a little work they could accomplish anything. “This was what my granddad called a ‘character building’ experience,” she said. “We both agreed that it built more character than we cared to have at the time!” Today Erin spends her time corralling her three boys and stealing time for a great date with her husband, Johnny.
MICHELLE AKINS
Michelle learned firsthand the meaning of being “fearfully and wonderfully made” when she suffered a stroke at the age of 26. She had to relearn everyday activities like writing and walking, and she found it fascinating to watch her body come back to life little by little. “One day I couldn’t flip a light switch and the next day I could,” she said. Today Michelle stays busy teaching at Arbor Christian Academy and spending time with her three children.
devastation of Hurricane Katrina, Amy and her husband (then a disaster claims adjuster) packed up their travel trailer, loaded their brand new baby in the car and headed for Cajun country. While on their three-month “campout” she discovered a new place in her heart for the people of that area – and also fell in love with the food! She says that her greatest adventure so far has been her family, husband Jason and their two toddlers, Gracie and Cash.
AMANDA TRAFTON
JILL STENNIS
AMY SCHNIEDERJAN
Following the
enjoyable sides of life in the City of Angels, they still remain filed in her happy memories of California life. On the days when she questions why she’s here in Amarillo, her family (she’s one of five sisters) quickly reminds her of what makes life in Amarillo truly her most magical place on earth. In this issue, Jill shares the magic of adoptive families in our Conversations segment with Cindy Gilliland.
Fashion Island, South Coast Plaza, an apartment with an ocean view and a season pass to Disneyland – all things Jill loved about living in Los Angeles. And while bumper-tobumper traffic and smog are the less
Growing up in a family full of musicians and artists gave Amanda an appreciation for the creative arts. She started singing and playing the piano when she was very young and later became interested in creative writing and communication. She is now finishing a degree
in Communication at Abilene Christian University. Amanda and her husband, Kyle, live in Abilene with their (very spoiled) black lab, Lyric Girl.
SUSIE MERRICK
As a 17-year-old high school graduate who had never been on an airplane, Susie took off on a 5-week trip to be part of a Bob Hope USO tour. The group sang at military hospitals in Japan, Korea, and the Philippines and entertained wounded soldiers from Vietnam. The eye-opening experience was very moving, but also difficult in many respects. She says it was a chance of a lifetime that made a profound difference in her life and helped to shape who she is today.
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credits CONNECT STAFF
PUBLISHING DIRECTOR
Michael Wells
E D I T O R / S E N I O R W R ITER
Kelli Bullard
A R T D I R E C T O R / G R A PHIC DESIGN
Collier Vinson
P R O J E C T M A N A G E M E NT
Joshua McLemore COPY WRITER
Carrie Hicks COPY WRITER
Kathlyn Hall GRAPHIC DESIGN
Jeremy Henderson GRAPHIC DESIGN
Alicia Flake
A D V E RT I S I N G S A L E S
Leroy Clifford & Jason Williams ADVERTISING INFORMATION
For more information about advertising in future issues of Connect magazine, please email your questions to art@tfchurch.org, or call 677-1007.
Connect is a quarterly publication of Trinity Fellowship, 5000 Hollywood Road, Amarillo TX 79118. 806-355-8955. ŠCopyright 2010 Trinity Fellowship. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written consent of the publisher.
WEEKEND SERVICE TIMES W O R S H I P C E N T E R
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S U N D AY @ 1 0 : 4 5 A . M . F O R M O R E I N F O R M A TION VISIT YOURTRINITY.ORG
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CONNECT MAGAZINE / SPRING 2010
speak up
WHAT YOU THOUGHT OF OUR LAST ISSUE
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In a church as large as Trinity, it’s hard to know who is on first base, much less second or third, and we find Connect is a great way to know.
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A WORTHWHILE JOURNEY
I have really enjoyed all the wonderful stories in the last few Connect magazines. I love hearing about what the Lord is doing in the lives of other members of Trinity. I really loved the article about missions and the three stories about their journey on a mission trip.
ABOUT FOLKS WE KNOW
I display Connect magazine in my office lobby. I can see our customers from my office and notice that many of them pick up the magazine and look through it. My favorite article in the last issue was “How I Met My eHusband” by Kate Ritchie. Although I cannot relate to meeting the love of my life through the Internet, God is obviously connecting people through the latest technology!
My wife and I find Connect magazine to be one the very best ways to… well… connect. In a church as large as Trinity, it’s hard to know who is on first base, much less second or third, and we find Connect is a great way to know. In particular, it’s fun to see how the Lord is, on a real-time basis, actively interacting in the lives of church members in general, and specifically, folks we know. It’s encouraging to hear and see all the big stuff and little stuff He’s doing right here among all of us. We all need to hear it as often as possible. So when I get Connect, it’s one of the few magazines I don’t chunk in the trash!
MERRITT R. VAUGHN
GIB AND JEANNETTE BROWN
TERI DEMPSEY
CONNECT AT THE OFFICE
WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. EMAIL US AT CONNECT@TFCHURCH.ORG
CONNECT MAGAZINE / SPRING 2010
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from the editor
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KELLI BULLARD
I no doubt deserved my enemies, but I don’t believe I deserved my friends.
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- WALT WHITMAN
A good friend is a cherished treasure, and as the years go by I have come to realize that more and more. I’ve been blessed with many friendships in my lifetime, but the ones that have stood the test of time are the ones I value the most. This issue’s cover story introduces you to four couples whose friendship spans more than a decade. I spent a Saturday evening with them at a local restaurant and had the time of my life! Together these friends are witty, hilarious, full of energy and sometimes downright silly; but at the same time our conversations revealed them to be serious, contemplative, thoughtful and caring. The one thing that outshone everything else was a deep commitment to their friendship. I can’t wait for you to get to know them (see story on pg. 34).
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You’ll also get to go behind the scenes of reality television to meet Eleisha Miller, a 9-year-old from Amarillo who made it to the Top 40 on “America’s Got Talent.” This little dynamo has a stage presence that’s larger than life, so I was caught off-guard the day I stopped by her house to meet her. A petite girl shyly emerged from the bedroom where she had been playing with her dollhouse, and as I shook her hand I couldn’t help thinking, “Gosh, you’re a lot shorter in real life” (lol). Our food section is always a favorite of our readers, so we made sure that your craving for more of Susie Merrick’s delicious recipes will be satisfied. You’ll need to dig out your slow cooker (it’s there in the back of your kitchen cabinet, right behind those pots and pans) and dust it off before you can get started. We’ve also packed a few laughs into this issue, as Matt Rowley shares astounding advice he got from some deep-thinking philosophers, all under the age of 10. We also want to take the time to recognize those who help to make this magazine possible — our advertisers. Their sponsorship helps to underwrite our printing costs, and they do it for one reason: they believe in the ministry that Connect magazine provides to our readers and they want to help make a difference. So next time you do business with one of our advertisers, please be sure to mention that you appreciate them! Later this month I’ll be spending a girls’ weekend in Dallas, reconnecting with old friends that I haven’t seen in awhile, and I can hardly wait! Maybe you have a relationship that used to be close but now has become distant. I encourage you to make an effort to reignite any friendship that’s grown cold. Make a phone call, send an email, or plan an out-of-town trip if that’s what it takes. Our friendships are truly precious and always worth the effort.
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forward
LIFE’S EXPERIENCES
JIMMY EVANS SENIOR ELDER
I OFTEN WISH THAT I COULD GET INTO A TIME MACHINE WITH ALL THAT I KNOW TODAY AND GO BACK IN TIME FORTY YEARS. THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT I WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY.
Of course, there is no such time machine, so the best any of us can do is to learn from the past and apply what we have learned today. This is my goal. I want to continually improve in every area of my life so I can glorify God and fulfill His will for my life. In order to keep improving and learning from life’s experiences, I believe there are four key attitudes that are essential. They are...
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1.
NEVER BELIEVE YOU HAVE ARRIVED OR KNOW EVERYTHING. In church history there
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In every area of our lives we need to admit that we haven’t arrived; we must have a teachable spirit. .
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have been many movements that began with God’s blessing and continued powerfully for many years, decades or even centuries – only to end up spiritually dead and directionless. In almost all cases, the condition that preceded the death of each movement was what is commonly known as “The Omega Complex.” Omega is the last letter in the Greek alphabet. Therefore, the Omega Complex is the belief that the current movement is the ultimate and final move of God and cannot be improved upon. Those who embrace such an attitude live with the arrogant deception that they have arrived. Therefore, they cannot be taught or corrected. Their ultimate goal in life becomes protecting what they have and recruiting others to assume their beliefs and practices. I refuse to believe I have arrived in any area of my life. As a church, we are journeying toward the goal of being a true New Testament Church. I want for us to portray the life and love of Jesus Christ without spot or blemish to our community and the world. Even though this is our goal, we aren’t there. In fact, we are far from being there. I love Trinity and am so happy to be a part of this wonderful church. Karen and I have been members here for thirty-one years. When I look back on where we have come from during that period of time, it is amazing to see how much we have progressed personally and as a church. However, we are still journeying toward the goal and haven’t arrived. We need to humbly seek God and keep our hearts open to what He would speak to us. In every area of our lives we need to admit that we haven’t arrived; we must have a teachable spirit. We shouldn’t get comfortable or prideful about where we are. We should stay humble and hungry and let God keep leading us to higher ground for His glory.
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2.
FORGIVE AND KEEP YOUR HEART OPEN TO GOD DAILY.
I don’t believe people automatically get wiser with age. I think life’s experiences either make you better or more bitter – depending on how you process them. I know many people who have grown wiser with age and have used their life’s experiences to progress and mature. These people almost always become sweeter, more gracious and more Christ-like as they get older. It is because they forgive others and keep their hearts right before God. I also know of many people, and unfortunately many believers, who grow more stubborn, cynical and bitter with age. Even though they have had the same basic experiences as others and have the same God to turn to – their lack of forgiveness and openness to God causes them to sour spiritually, mentally and emotionally. We must forgive and be forgiven daily. Life offers many hurts and offenses, and we will not make progress in life unless we keep our hearts tender and pure.
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LEARN FROM THOSE WHO ARE OLDER AND HAVE EXPERIENCE.
Every parent of a teenager has had an experience where they were trying to teach their child something while their teenager rolled their eyes at them and said something like, “I know that!” Nothing is more frustrating. If they would just listen we could teach them, and they could avoid so much unnecessary pain and failure. This truth doesn’t end with teenagers. All of us can learn from those around us. All we have to do is be humble enough to admit we don’t know and wise enough to find successful people around us to learn from. It could be in the area of our marriages, finances, parenting, businesses, ministry or anything. To find good mentors and teachers we should begin by honoring older people in
Jim Thompson general. Their life experiences can be a treasure chest of wisdom for those smart enough to seek it out. Also, find someone who is successful in the area you are struggling in. Don’t listen to people who are failing. I knew a young man who took all of his advice on marriage from his buddies at work who were all divorced. Guess what? He failed in marriage too! No surprise. Find couples who are successful and ask them to counsel and mentor you.
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NEVER GIVE UP.
Some of the most successful areas of my life today are areas that I was ready to give up in years ago. Our marriage is an example. Karen and I truly have a wonderful marriage, but there was a time years ago when we seriously considered breaking up. Don’t give up. When times are tough and you’re discouraged, it is tempting to quit. Don’t quit! God is with you, and the dark times you are going through can become a great learning and growing experience. However, when you quit you throw it all away. I have the blessing of helping millions of people all over the world through my teaching. Without exception, what people respond to the most is when I talk about my failures and problems earlier in life and ministry, and how God helped me through. Before we have a testimony – we have a test. Don’t forfeit the opportunity of developing a powerful testimony that will help others by giving up in your moment of trial. Turn to God and other believers around you for strength. You can make it, and once you are through your test, you can spend the rest of your life helping others. It is what you were made for. I want to get better and not bitter as I grow older. I want to learn from my life’s experiences as I fulfill God’s plan for my life and ministry. I want to finish strong and glorify God in all that I do. Therefore, I strive to keep my attitude right so I can stay on the right track for success.
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B Y A MY SCHNIEDERJAN
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‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.’
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JEREMIAH 29:11
During my teenage years, my mom framed this Bible verse all over our house: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope’” (Jeremiah 29:11). I never knew how important this verse would be to me until the fall of 1999, when my parents divorced. I was heartbroken…and all these years later I still am, to some degree. Even though I was 26 and an “adult,” I felt like a child, watching my parents’ marriage collapse. Suddenly, my family was no longer a family in the traditional sense. My parents’ divorce created all sorts of new rules.
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Hope in a God who has power to work good out of heartache.
Hope in a God who knows my future. Hope in a God who redeems what has been lost. Those are His plans for me.
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Holidays were now spent separately with each parent, traveling was no longer a shared family experience, and even in the mundane daily activities one parent was left out most of the time. I had never realized the sweetness of everyday family life! I can’t even begin to describe some of the deeper psychological and emotional effects that would surface in the years that followed their divorce. Feelings of abandonment and betrayal, fears that I was doomed to have marriage problems myself someday, and trying to figure out God’s purpose in all of this threatened to consume me. Some days I wasn’t even sure if God Himself hadn’t abandoned me too. And that’s when Jeremiah 29:11
came back to me. Years ago, when my mom had framed this verse around our house, I was the one who had written it onto the parchment paper that slipped into each frame. Since my mom gave this framed verse to our extended family members and close friends, it seemed like I was ALWAYS copying it down for her… sometimes with creative pleasure, but more often with a mumbled, “Again?” However, now I am so thankful that I had to write it so many times because this verse is the one that has stuck in my head all these years. It’s the one I turned to when my family crumbled around me, and it’s the verse that prompted me to search Scripture more deeply and seek God’s heart to find His perfect plans for my good, my future and my hope. I’ll admit – coping and healing from the divorce of my parents has been a long road. In many ways, I am still dealing with the fallout – even ten years later as a wife and the mother of two toddlers. To this day, when the holidays approach, I begin to hyperventilate. When I see a husband and wife delighting in their grandchildren, as a couple, a yearning wells up inside me, and I still grieve over all the lost years that we could have spent together as a whole family. But slowly, through Scripture searching, prayer and private cry-fests alone with God, He began to rebuild my heart. And I began to let Him. All has not been lost. Jeremiah 29:11 is the perfect outline of what God has done for me. Many good things have been worked out of this heartache. For instance, when I taught high school English, I was given opportunities to use my own family experience to minister to my students who were dealing with all sorts of personal struggles. There were many teenagers who needed someone to listen and say, “I get it. I’ve been there, and you still have a good future ahead of you.” So even though my desperate prayers for my parents’ marriage were not answered in quite the ways I hoped, God answered so many other prayers
regarding my future in mighty ways. He answered my prayer for a godly mate and gave me more in a husband than I had asked. He also heard my cries regarding infertility and answered beautifully with my two little miracles – born fifteen months apart. I have also discovered a new aspect of my future in the middle of my parents’ divorce. I believe God has called me to use this experience as a ministry someday. In some ways, I suppose I’ve already been doing this, but I know that deep down in me there is a desire to comfort and encourage children of divorce. Lastly, I have found hope in a hopeless situation. Even though I desperately did not want my family to fall apart, it did. There was nothing I could do and nothing I could change, and any stability or security I once knew was gone and my hope had gone with it. However, by searching the Word (as a last resort, I might add), I began to understand where my hope should have been in the first place. Obviously, I couldn’t place hope in my family, because that was a mess. The only place my hope belonged was with God and His Word. It’s easier said than done. And yet, it is easier than anything else. God and His Word are where I have found peace. Although I have not arrived at complete healing over the collapse of my family, I am on a journey of hope: Hope in a God who has power to work good out of heartache. Hope in a God who knows my future. Hope in a God who redeems what has been lost. Those are His plans for me.
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Many good things have been worked out of this heartache.
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STAGE FRIEND BY KELLI BULLARD AND KAT H LY N H A L L
BRIGHT RED LIGHTS CARESS THE STAGE AS ELEISHA MILLER RUNS OUT TO HER PIANO, BRINGING SMILES
She has been on stage no more than thirty seconds, and already this little girl with a big personality is taking over. “I’m going to sing and play piano at the same time,” she says, as Sharon Osbourne, one of the judges for “America’s Got Talent,” suppresses a smile. Eleisha bounces left and right, her curls following her every move, as she cranks out the energetic vocals and keyboard tunes of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Proud Mary.” On her final note, the crowd gives her a standing ovation, and the smiles on the judges’ faces show their delight. It was just a few months earlier that Eleisha convinced her parents, Paul and Gretchen, to let her sign up online to be a contestant on the NBC hit show “America’s Got Talent.” In May 2009 her dream became a reality when she landed the audition in Houston, Texas. She made it through the first round, and then had the chance to perform in front of the TV judges. “I just loved Sharon Osbourne,” said Eleisha. “She was my favorite judge of all.” And the other two judges? “David Hasselhoff is my second favorite. And Piers Morgan, he’s more direct but I don’t mind. He’s just doing his job.” Regardless of the pressure of performing in front of the judges and a TV audience numbering in the millions, Eleisha showed no signs of fear on stage. “I’m nervous offstage and quaking, then all of a sudden I go on stage and the stage is my friend,” Eleisha said. Her infectious giggles and enthusiastic personality captivated the audience and judges AND LAUGHTER FROM THE CROWD.
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alike and earned her the chance to go on to the next round. “We’ll see you in Vegas,” said Piers Morgan, as Eleisha jumped for joy and ran off the stage, waving to the crowd. “Las Vegas wasn’t a very ‘child-ish’ place,” said Eleisha, but she happily embraced the chance to become one of the Top 40 contestants. At this level of the competition, the contestants walk onto the stage to face the judges and find out their fate. “I really felt like they were going to say no,” she said. “I was just praying to God and He said, ‘Don’t worry, I’m going to take care of everything.’” When the judges announced that she had made it into the Top 40, Eleisha bounded up the stairs to give them a hug. In a Cinderella-like moment, she lost a shoe on one of the steps. Her parents were waiting offstage with open arms to take in their ecstatic daughter who wore a big, sparkling smile. Being accepted into the Top 40 meant a trip to Hollywood, California, where she would once again perform onstage. Eleisha’s Hollywood performance included a choreographed dance routine and vocals to “I’ve Got the Music in Me.” Her bubbly attitude was apparently not enough for Piers Morgan, who gave her the red X only a minute into her performance. That was Eleisha’s first time to get “buzzed,” and it gave her heart a jolt. “I lost the music,” she said. “All of the sounds faded away, and all I could hear was my heart beating. But then I had to keep on going.” Afterwards, David Hasselhoff offered some encouraging words to offset the disappointment. “I love what you bring to the stage, your charisma and your positive energy,” he said. “You make us all feel terrific, and that’s talent!” The next day, Eleisha once again went before the judges, this time for the elimination round. Of the 12 groups that had performed, only 5 would be chosen, based on votes from the viewing audience. During the reveal phase, three groups stood on stage, awaiting the judges’ announcement – Eleisha Miller, Carol Loo, and the singing group Voices of Glory. “Only one of you will go through to the next round,” said host Nick Cannon. As the suspense grew, Eleisha looked over at her friend, Nadia, who sings with Voices of Glory. Throughout the show, these
two girls had become close, and Eleisha had desperately hoped they wouldn’t have to compete against each other. Carol Loo was the first to be eliminated, and Eleisha began to pray earnestly for her friends. “Please, God, let them go through,” she whispered. When the judges announced that Voices of Glory would be going on to the next round, Eleisha began to jump up and down, hugging all of her new friends. “My heart was happy, but backstage I had a little tears,” she admitted. “But I was ok. I wanted them to go on, because they sang better than me.” Today, an older and wiser Eleisha (she turned 9 last July) reflects on the experience and the knowledge she gained on her journey. “I learned when tough times come, you still stick with it,” she said. “Because more tough times and more heartbreaking times may come, and you just need to keep holding on. Hold on to hope.” What the future holds for this talented young girl has yet to be determined, but she has set some high standards for herself. She says she wants to be “an Air Force pilot, a doctor, a rock star, a musician, and a veterinarian… probably all at once.” Her passion for performing – acting, singing, dancing – will definitely fit into the equation somehow. It’s what she was born to do. As the path before her becomes more defined, Eleisha believes she is ready for whatever comes her way. “I feel like God is there for me and He’s never going to give up on me,” she said. “He’s going to stick with me no matter what.”
I’M NERVOUS OFFSTAGE AND QUAKING, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I GO ON STAGE AND THE STAGE IS MY FRIEND. .
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BACKSTAGE WITH ELEISHA BORN: July 22, 2000, in San Antonio, Texas EDUCATION: Arbor Christian Academy preschool through 1st grade; now a homeschooled 4th grader PARENTS: Paul and Gretchen Miller CHURCH: Trinity Fellowship members since 2004 FAVORITE SUBJECT: History , but my mom is trying to get me to love science and math. FAVORITE FOODS: Hamburgers and pizza DYING TO MEET: The Jonas Brothers! YOU PROBABLY DIDN’T KNOW: I used to be a tomboy. LOVES TO READ: The Magic Tree House series (currently reading The Blizzard of the Blue Moon), Nancy Drew mysteries, Anne of Green Gables FAVORITE MUSICALS: Wicked, The Lion King, Phantom of the Opera – It’s dramatic, it’s terrifying, it’s really a love story. I don’t think it scares me at all. FAVORITE ROLES: Jojo in Seussical the Musical (Amarillo Little Theater Academy 2007) and Molly in Annie (Amarillo Opera’s Summer Youth Musical 2008) STRANGEST THING THAT’S HAPPENED: Getting recognized at a pet store in Thousand Oaks, CA “Hey, you look just like that little girl on America’s Got Talent!” SURPRISES: Sharon and David and Piers are my friends now. I never thought I’d be friends with celebrities, so it’s a big thing for me. SOMEDAY: When I have my own talk show, I’ll invite Piers Morgan to come on my show.
SHE SAYS SHE WANTS TO BE ‘AN AIR FORCE PILOT, A DOCTOR, A ROCK STAR, A MUSICIAN, AND A VETERINARIAN … PROBABLY ALL AT ONCE.’ . 20
CONNECT MAGAZINE / SPRING 2010
SMILES FOR LIFE BELL STREET
COULTER ROAD
N
34TH AVENUE
21 CONNECT MAGAZINE / SPRING 2010 7201 West 34th Avenue • Amarillo, Texas 79109 • (p) 806.353.2113 • amachildrensdentistry.com
the source
INSIGHTS FROM SOMEONE IN THE KNOW
AIRLINE PILOT ERIC GOOD QUALIFICATIONS AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT CERTIFICATE, 1800 HOURS TURBINE EXPERIENCE AS A CAPTAIN (SOUTHWEST AIRLINES REQUIRES A MINIMUM OF 1000 HOURS). TYPE RATED IN BOEING 737. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN AERONAUTICAL STUDIES (WITH A CONCENTRATION IN METEOROLOGY) FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA.
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On my 16th birthday, my dad bought me an introductory sky ride. It was in an open cockpit biplane, and the pilot did a bunch of aerobatics – loops and rolls – and I just ate it up. At the time I was on course to become an engineer, and when that happened everything came off the rails, and I knew I wanted to be a pilot.
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I love flying! Being in the air and doing all the different things we have to do, landings, take-offs, different approaches. I just love it. I even like doing training and going over the emergency procedures.
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Flying for Southwest is like the premier job, and I had my eyes set on them for probably 10 years prior to getting hired. My wife Renee had been a flight attendant for Southwest, and she would tell me stories about how the crews got along so well.
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It’s a myth that pilots have to have 20/20 vision. I wear contact lenses. Military pilots are required to have perfect eyesight, but not commercial pilots. You just have to be correctable to 20/20.
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As a pilot, you are responsible for everything, the safe outcome of the flight, getting people to their destinations on time, and operating efficiently. We also have the obligation to make people as comfortable as possible. Even when we taxi, we have to be careful because the flight attendants are up and around.
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Always have a Plan B. We get a lot of fog here in Amarillo, so you have to think ahead and make plans for an alternate airport and enough gas to get you there. When it comes to maintenance issues, it may not be broken yet but if it’s acting funny, we are not taking off. People may get mad, but it’s for safety reasons.
We depend a lot on our crews. The flight attendants’ job is not really to hand out Cokes and peanuts; their job is to get people safely out of the plane if we have a bad day. The guys that do push-back, we depend on them to guide us correctly and make sure the ground underneath us is clear of debris because we’ll suck it up in the engines, and potentially ruin the engine.
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When a flight is late, there’s usually a good reason. I had a Denver overnight the other day, and they had their first snow. The plane had to be de-iced, and it made us late. As a pilot, you do what you can to get the job done on time, and then you just deal with the curve balls.
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There are perks to being a pilot. I can jump seat on Southwest and other airlines as long as the flight’s not full. The days off are great. I have a lot of seniority and have a lot of control over my schedule. I work out of the Dallas base, so I have to fly down the night before and get a hotel room so I can make the flight the next morning.
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It’s very difficult to make it to where I have gotten; I know the Lord has guided me each step of the way. He put the desire to fly inside of me, and when I took it up He guided my path and took care of everything, including several miracles along the way.
CONNECT MAGAZINE / SPRING 2010
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WHERE I’M FROM B Y M I C H E L L E A K INS
RYAN NEUSCH
WAS SKINNY—TOO SKINNY—and
with hair down to his elbows he could have been mistaken for someone who was on drugs. He must have frustrated his teachers with
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his evident disdain for going to class, but he still managed to sail through his Advanced Placement courses. During lunch (on the days he happened to be there), he would sit outside to smoke cigarettes and play guitar, not the actions of a typical A-student. But at Tascosa High School in the late ’90s, that’s who Ryan Neusch was. He didn’t take drugs simply because he had already been there, done that. During his middle school years, this clean-cut, obedient kid found himself hanging out with the wrong people in the wrong places. Pretty soon he was knee-deep in every sort of mischief, including experimenting with drugs. By the time he got to high school, he had already tried just about everything and gotten bored with it. Ryan graduated from Tascosa in 1999 near the top of his class and decided to attend the local community college. At Amarillo College he kept up a 4.0 GPA, but whatever sense of achievement or satisfaction he was supposed to feel eluded him. The classes seemed too easy, and not one of them ignited any passion inside him. Ryan changed his major four times, each time hoping to find that area of study that would make him feel alive, make him want to go to class, or at least get him excited about the future. In June 2001, still wearing his hair long, Ryan walked into the Army’s recruiting office. He wasn’t driven by a love of guns or fighting or military strategy. He wasn’t even feeling particularly patriotic. In some ways, his decision to join the Army seemed inexplicable. But he was weary of trying to find the right direction for his adult life, and there was one thing he knew: the Army would tell him where to go and what to do. He was right about that, and the long hair was the first thing to go. If the recruiters thought his appearance was an indication that Ryan would be an insubordinate handful, they were wrong. At twenty-one, Ryan was older and somewhat more mature than the typical
recruit right out of high school. He knew what to expect from basic training, and he was ready for it. No one, however, was ready for Tuesday, September 11, 2001. For the recruits in basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia, the day started with a five-mile hike. At mid-morning the battalion commander appeared. The soldiers knew something was up—they almost never had face-to-face contact with the commander. He stood before them, somberly relating the events of the morning: terrorists had hijacked four airplanes; two of the airplanes had purposely crashed into the twin towers at the World Trade Center; a third plane had slammed into the Pentagon; the fourth had crashed in rural Pennsylvania; and the Trade Center towers, weakened by fire, had come down, killing as yet untold thousands of innocent people. The recruits were stunned. For a moment they wondered if the commander was subjecting them to some sort of psychological test. If so, this one was particularly cruel. Some members of the battalion were from New York; some even had family who worked in the towers. But no, they slowly realized, this wasn’t a trick or a test. America had been attacked on her own soil, suddenly and brutally, for the first time since Pearl Harbor. The rest of the day was agonizing for those new soldiers. Basic training permitted no television, no newspaper, no call home. All they knew was the unbelievable summary of events the battalion commander had delivered that morning. But that night the drill sergeant was uncharacteristically merciful. He left the door open to his office, something he never did. The guys huddled around the television in his office, mesmerized like the rest of the country by the footage of jets flying directly into skyscrapers and those 100-story-plus buildings collapsing into a massive pile of cement and steel. They watched, shocked, grieving and praying that the rescuers would find survivors in the rubble.
But unlike the rest of America, Ryan and his fellow soldiers faced a sobering reality. Whatever shape they had thought their Army career might take, serving in combat had seemed unlikely to most of them. In the blink of an eye, that had certainly changed. After basic training, Ryan joined the 82nd Airborne, an elite paratrooper division of the Army. That meant another stint in training, this time in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Finally in October 2002, he was deployed to Afghanistan. The Army sent him home first to Amarillo to say goodbye to family and friends before going overseas. Ryan was also concerned about his finances. He had saved quite a bit of money during his training, and was pretty sure that he wasn’t going to need it in the Afghan wilderness. A friend of Ryan’s worked as a broker, so Ryan went to him to invest his money. When he and his sister walked into his friend’s place of business, a pretty girl at the front desk caught his eye. Even though he was unattached, Ryan wasn’t really disposed to make a move—after all, in a few days he was going to be thousands of miles away. His friend, however, had other ideas. He “forgot” to get a critical signature so that Ryan would have to return to the office. Now that he had been introduced to Allison George, Ryan chatted casually with her on his return visits to the office. On his third and final visit, Ryan said, “If you get bored, I would love for you to write to me.” Why not? Allison thought. He was nice looking, and her interest had been sparked at least a little when she found out that the girl with him the day they met was his sister, not his wife or girlfriend. Their correspondence was awkward at first, and naturally Allison had more opportunity to write than Ryan did. She kept writing, hoping that even though she barely knew him, her letters would help him feel less homesick. At Christmas, she filled a box with treats she had made and shipped it—all thirty pounds—to Afghanistan. continued...
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Ryan remembers getting that Christmas package from Allison and how intrigued he was by her sweetness and blown away by the sacrifice of time and money that the box represented. Ryan isn’t inclined to talk much about the details of his time in Afghanistan, but there is one story he doesn’t mind telling. He hadn’t been there long when he and his unit were briefed about a dangerous mission they would undertake that night. At the time, Ryan believed in God and knew something about Him, but he had never surrendered his life to Him. That day, knowing what could happen in the battle that awaited him, Ryan talked to God and gave his heart to Jesus. The peace that engulfed him was nothing short of supernatural. That night as the unit flew to its destination, while everyone around him was bouncing with nervous energy, Ryan actually dozed off. It wasn’t so much that he was tired; his heart had just found a place of profound rest. In the months that followed, Ryan’s relationship with Allison deepened. She loved his openness and the genuineness of his faith, and in some ways they got to know each other better than they might have if they had been together in Amarillo, Texas doing the typical dinner-and-a-movie thing. By the time he came home from Afghanistan, their friendship had become a romance. They got to go on a few dates for the first time, but after only a month and a half, the Army deployed Ryan again, this time to Iraq. Now Allison was writing a letter practically every day. (He still has them all.) Ryan wrote back when he could and even called occasionally, but the phone calls, with a twenty-second delay, were anything but satisfying. Finally, Ryan’s unit finished their tour of duty in Iraq. Allison received word from the Family Readiness Group that Ryan was coming home, so she headed to North Carolina, meeting up with the wife of one of Ryan’s fellow soldiers. In the meantime, the Iraqi city of Fallujah had become a major battlefield, and the Army put Ryan’s unit on hold. They
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might be reinforcing Fallujah rather than heading to the States. Allison was heartbroken when she arrived in Fayetteville and got Ryan’s message that he might not be coming home, but she and her friend decided to wait there until they heard something for sure. Allison called home, asking everyone she could think of to pray for Ryan and his fellow soldiers. She stayed there for several days before word finally came that the unit was headed home. After so many days of suspense, she and her friend needed a giggle. They decided it would be funny if they were holding signs when the guys got off the plane. Allison wrote, “SINCE YOU WON’T ASK, WILL YOU MARRY ME?” on a piece of poster board and for good measure bought a plastic ring from a gumball machine. Ryan teases her that he almost turned around and got back on the plane. He didn’t, of course, but he didn’t accept her “proposal” either. Not that he didn’t want to marry her, but he wasn’t about to settle for poster board and a plastic ring. Two months later, Ryan did propose—his way— complete with lots of rose petals and a real diamond ring. And the rest, as they say, is history. These days when you see Ryan, perhaps on the front row of a Saturday night worship service where he regularly serves as a sentinel, there is literally no trace of the scrawny kid with the long, stringy hair. In his place is a man who looks every bit the soldier— short haircut, ramrod posture—though he left the Army five years ago. The four rows of ribbons and medals on his uniform attest to his honorable service in Afghanistan and Iraq, for which he justly receives praise and thanks from everyone who knows him. For Ryan, the decision to join the Army was “a God thing” in spite of the fact that he didn’t know the Lord at the time. “Every good thing I have in my life,” he says, “came from being in the Army.” If you look a little closer, you’ll realize that he’s not just talking about the change in his appearance, a newfound sense of self-discipline, or even the experience that helped him land a high-security job at Pantex. You hear it in his voice when he tells how he and Allison met. You see it in his face when he’s holding his nine-month-old son, Zayin. He walked into that recruiting office because nothing really gave him any joy or fulfillment. But the events the Lord set in motion that day brought him to the passion he was seeking—for his country, for his wife and son, and for his Savior.
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CONNECT MAGAZINE / SPRING 2010
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Amarillo · Canyon · Pampa
Wisdom of the Ages BY MATT ROWLEY
G R AY S O N REED
“Ask me a question!” Grayson responded. “A math question.” “A math question? Why a math question?” “Just do it!” both Grayson and Antonio commanded in unison. Evidently they were trying to teach me some hidden symbolism in the world of addition, but surprise had slowed my understanding. Fortunately, my hesitation was looked upon with grace, so I quickly redirected the conversation back toward my preplanned questions. “Uh…one question I know my people need answered is: when someone understands the meaning or purpose of their life, how do they accomplish that purpose?” Grayson, the most vocal of the group, spoke up first. “Working at your goal. And God helping you out because you are believing in Him.” “Yeah, and striving and working as hard as you can, and all that,” Antonio chimed in. “It takes a lot of practice,” said Mitchell. Jessalyn was not about to be left out. “One time, my friend Kenna came over to my house. She said that me and
In our constant quest for ultimate truth here at Connect magazine, we decided it was time our readers should benefit from ancient wisdom for their contemporary problems. So we set off in search of this ultimate truth. Its location, however, was found in the most unlikely of places: in the minds of a few not-soancient sages, Antonio Langen (age 9), Grayson Reed (age 9), Chloe Elza (age 7), Mitchell Carnahan (age 9), and Jessalyn Carnahan (age 7). I approached these wise men and wise women with a humble heart, ready to soak up ANTONIO whatever counsel they might LANGEN have. “I will be writing an article to adults for Connect magazine. May I ask each of you a few questions?”
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J E S S A LY N CARNAHAN
her could design clothes for models and work together. My friend Gentry and my cousin Jude could be our models.” She paused to take a breath, giving Grayson the chance to jump back in: “Just keep your momentum up and go for it,” he continued. “And if you don’t get it right the first time, you can try again. It’s not like it’s the end of the world or something.” I was dumbfounded. They seemed to simplify the very questions that have haunted humanity for eons. Do your best, don’t give up, rely upon friends, and remain disciplined to achieve your goals.
Now on to the deeper issues of life, like L-O-V-E. “If a couple was thinking about getting married but they weren’t sure this person was THE ONE, what advice would you guys give?” “I’d just get nervous,” Mitchell said. “I’d say, the couple should think about it, and talk about it,” Antonio answered. Grayson excitedly interrupted. “I’d say… just calm down. Just calm down. Think MITCHELL about what needs to CARNAHAN be done. If you want to marry him, marry him. If not, then get outta there.”
CHLOE ELZA
A moment for contemplation, then he added, “And the guy will probably chase after her.” “I mostly chase Madison,” Antonio reluctantly confessed. “I chase Madison too,” Grayson added, somewhat embarrassed. Uh-oh. I expected conflict, but both of them looked at each other, smiled, and placed their arms around each other’s shoulders. Not even loving the same woman could cause dissension
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between these two. Chloe stopped her constant movement to add to the conversation. “I have one boyfriend,” she said. “Cole. I met him at school.” “So do you guys go on dates?” “No. He brought me that jacket though. His mom washed it for me. He brought me a rose too. And when we go to recess, we are partners.” “Will he be the one you plan on marrying?” “Yep,” Chloe answered without hesitation. “So tell me: what if a married couple is having problems? What advice would you give them?” “When you mess up, just say sorry. And just pray to God that you don’t fight no more,” Antonio said. “I would say congratulations, and try not to fight. ’Cause you guys are a happy couple that just got married. So just go on your honeymoon and have
fun,” Grayson added. “But what if they’ve already been on their honeymoon?” “I’d tell ’em to go on another and have a second son,” said Grayson, as if this were the only practical answer. With this exchange, it became clear that these scholars of ancient wisdom truly understood the meaning of love. Their counsel was priceless: seek God in times of conflict, and communicate with your significant other. “You guys are brilliant! You must think of yourselves as heroes!” “We’re not as strong as God,” Antonio responded humbly. “Yeah, God’s the strongest and so is Jesus, but we are heroes to Him. Because He’s the one who created us. So he calls us heroes and loves us,” Grayson concluded. That was the kicker. I knew my search for this wisdom had finally concluded. I thanked them for their time, and I bid them farewell. Now I present this to you, dear readers. Always remember that the answers to all of life’s questions can be found in the wisdom of the young. But before they can help you out, they’ll probably have to check with their moms.
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Going the Distance BY KELL I B U L L A R D
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“TABLE FOR 17,” DESTINY TOW SAYS TO THE WIDE-EYED HOSTESS, AS THE GROUP OF FRIENDS – FOUR COUPLES AND THEIR KIDS –
A shower of handshakes and hugs spreads through the group, and it’s obvious that these friends are excited to see each GATHERS IN THE RESTAURANT’S ENTRYWAY.
other. Their animated conversations are punctuated by frequent bursts of laughter. It’s as if the crowded restaurant fades into the background, allowing these friends to take center stage. “Don’t forget, dinner at Red Lobster this Thursday night for Holly’s
birthday,” one of the women reminds the others. It’s a tradition they started three years ago – a special birthday dinner just for the girls. “It’s all about spending time together,” they agree, “and the cheese biscuits are to die for.” Along with birthday dinners, there are plenty of traditions that strengthen the bonds between these families: Disney vacations, Dallas Cowboy football games, camping trips, Christmas parties, and New Year’s Day breakfasts, just to name a few. Once the group is seated, the conversation turns to unforgettable experiences, those “once-in-a-lifetime”
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moments they’ve shared. There are groans and chuckles, as the memories spill out at rapid-fire speed: Getting stuck at the top of a roller coaster. Mud sledding behind a four-wheeler. Jumping into an icy creek that takes your breath away. Cramming 17 people into one Suburban so they’d only have to pay one parking fee at Disneyland. They’ve gone miles out of the way to grab a snack at Dunkin’ Donuts, because it’s Poppy’s favorite place. The guys have been known to go dumpster diving on occasion (their treasures include a gun safe and a freezer in working condition), while the girls can do some serious power shopping.
But it hasn’t all been fun and games. Over the 10+ years they’ve been together, they’ve had their share of difficult times as well – life-threatening illnesses, surgeries, marriage problems – and they’ve stuck by each other through it all. In fact, they say that the tough times have drawn them closer, and they believe that their friendship is a lifetime commitment – a covenant relationship. The fact that four families – seventeen unique individuals – have maintained such a close and enduring friendship is unusual, and it definitely piqued our interest. To understand what makes this relationship so successful, we decided to dig a little deeper into each couple’s story.
STEPHEN AND DESTINY TOW
In the early 90’s, newlyweds Stephen and Destiny had plenty of single friends but not many who were married. Trinity’s small group ministry (now known as lifegroups) became the outlet they needed to meet other couples, and before long they were leading their own group. Stephen flips his chair backwards and straddles it as he tells the story, his boyish enthusiasm finding its balance in a mature wisdom. “The Lord really opened my eyes to couples that didn’t have relationships with other couples and how important that is, especially in a church our size,” he says. “So we just took it upon ourselves to begin to involve and connect people. That’s always been a passion of mine, to bring people together.” As more and more couples came and the Tows’ lifegroup multiplied several times, a core group began to emerge. Chris and Poppy Tardy hosted the group, and Tim and Holly Bowles served as interns. Donnie and Kristi Allen began attending the group at Stephen’s invitation, and soon these four couples were joined together in ministering to others. Today, ministry remains at the forefront for Stephen. Known as “Peepaw” to the group, he’s a spiritual father of sorts. When the group takes a trip, he leads them in Bible studies, whether it’s in the hotel room or around the campfire. He’s also the gatherer of the group,
“
That’s always been a passion of mine, to bring people together. .
”
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the planner of the trips, with a little help from Destiny who happens to be a travel agent. Destiny is the human GPS, always the navigator on their trips. A gifted nurturer, she’s also the one who takes care of the details and everyone around her. “If Destiny is crying, we’re all going down,” they jokingly admit.
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In 2005 the group took their first vacation together – to Disneyland in California. Stephen remembers a defining moment of that trip. “We all just realized, this is something special,” he says. “To be doing this together, hanging out at this level, is really unique.” He ponders that thought for a minute, then grins and adds, “It’s either really cool or it’s really strange.” CHRIS AND POPPY TARDY
On a Sunday evening in 2001, Chris and Poppy were spending time with her family when Chris got a sudden cramp in his left leg. The cramp spread to his right leg, then his whole body until he
felt like he was flipping inside out. His brother-in-law, a doctor, recognized that Chris was having a seizure and quickly called 9-1-1. At the hospital, family and friends gathered to hear the diagnosis: Chris had a brain tumor. The doctors scheduled surgery to remove the tumor, and it happened to be on the same day that their daughter, Gracelyn, was starting kindergarten. Their friends rallied around them, helping Poppy get Gracelyn to her first day of school, visiting Chris in the hospital, bringing meals and praying continuously. The surgery was
a success, and thankfully the tumor was benign. Two weeks later Chris was able to return to work, and he has since had a complete recovery. Po p py, k n o w n fo r b e i n g “unshakeable, solid as a rock,” tells the story with her typical practicality. “What I got out of that experience was how much God loves us,” she says in summary. “He showed me His love through all of the people that supported us.” Chris, the thinker of the group, channels his energy into evaluating what happened. “The whole story is a God deal,” he says. “I could have been driving a car when I had the seizure.” The fact
that his brother-in-law, Gerald Malkuch, was visiting from out of town and got to sit in on the surgery was another God deal. Through that experience, Gerald made a connection with an anesthesia group here in Amarillo that ended up hiring him, which was an answer to prayer. Having the support of close
“
I believe we’ll all still be friends when we’re 90 years old. .
”
friends during times of crisis has meant a lot to Chris and Poppy. “We’ve all been through our struggles, and we’ve been able to help each other and stand with each other,” Chris says. “We’ve all chosen to be real with each other. We all have our own unique insecurities and issues, but through insecurities and weaknesses God makes Himself known and He makes us strong.” TIM AND HOLLY BOWLES
“When we first got invited to lifegroup, we had to think about it,” says Holly, making air quotes with her fingers. “I hate to say it, but I just didn’t want to go.” Holly had called the church to schedule an individual counseling session, and was told that she had to commit to a lifegroup before she could get counseling. “I thank God that the church had the wisdom to know what a person really needs,” she says, “because through that we’ve built these friendships.” The unconditional love of these friends has sustained Tim and Holly through ups and downs in their marriage, as well as a 16-day hospital stay for their
son Ben when he caught a virus as a newborn. “That’s what really cemented the deal for me. When they came around when Ben was sick, that broke the hardness off me to get to the soft, nougatey center,” Tim says, as Holly laughs and rolls her eyes. Anytime someone in the group busts out laughing, there’s a good chance Tim is the instigator of the joke. A comedian by nature, he’s also a visionary at heart. “I believe we’ll all still be friends when we’re 90 years old,” he says. “It’s fun to think our friendship is going to last a very, very long time.” Holly also sees the friendship stretching far into the future. Maybe it has something to do with being the oldest of the group (although she’s quick to point out that “we’re all under 40!”), but Holly says there’s a secret to having such a close-knit, covenant bond. “It’s like a marriage,” Holly says.
“Just because your husband made you mad, that doesn’t mean you’re done with him. You get over it, because the relationship is more important than the issue. The glue that’s held these four couples together is having that kind of commitment to each other.” There are 9 kids between the four families, ranging in age from 8 to 15, and their relationship is similar to that of cousins. The girls plan sleepovers; the boys battle it out in air-soft gun wars. When they’re together, the age difference is almost non-existent. Tim and Holly relish the opportunity that their children, Abi and Ben, are getting. “Our kids are learning that friendship takes work,” says Tim. “Give and take is a big part of it.”
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“You can’t give up on each other,” adds Holly. DONNIE AND KRISTI ALLEN
A happy reunion awaited Donnie and Kristi when they visited a service at Trinity Fellowship in 1999. The first people they saw when they walked through the doors were their old friends Stephen and Destiny. “We hadn’t seen them for nine years, and still there was an instant connection,” says Kristi. “It was like we had never been away from each other.” In lifegroup, Donnie and Kristi slowly warmed up to the other couples and eventually found they could let down their guard. They credit Stephen for helping them learn healthy ways to deal with conflict, and the church’s teachings for saving their marriage.
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“Pastor Jimmy talks about not having any back doors in your relationship with your spouse,” Donnie says. “We went through some tough times, and that was one of the things that came out of it, that we’re not going to have any back doors. When Kristi and I did this in our marriage, it naturally bled over into our other relationships.” Those relationships were put to the test during the summer of 2008 when the Allens’ 15-year-old daughter, Kaitlin, spent 2 weeks in the hospital with internal bleeding brought on by ulcerative colitis. Five of those days, she was in ICU, and once again these friends rallied around a family in need. “They brought us food, they laughed and cried with us; they really are just like family,” Kristi says. “At one
point all the kids came up to ICU to pray for Kaitlin, which was against the rules but we got away with it.” Kaitlin is 15 now and still struggles with the auto-immune condition that caused her hospitalization (her family and friends continue to pray for a total healing). As the oldest of the girls, she knows the others look up to her. That accountability factor has affected some of her choices, because she wants to be a positive influence on the others. “They’re my little sisters,” Kaitlin says affectionately. It’s not always medical emergencies and life-altering crises that bring these families together. Sometimes it’s as simple as a broken washing machine. Gadget guru and handyman Donnie often gets a phone call when someone’s garage door won’t open or their plumbing goes haywire. He’s the fix-it guy for broken things, much in the same way that Stephen is the fix-it guy for broken relationships.
Custom Homes & Remodels ONCE IN A LIFETIME
It’s a running joke that everything they do is a once-in-a-lifetime chance – whether it’s a trip to Disneyland or a plunge in an icy creek.
“
I don’t think in any way that we’re special. I think what we have is attainable for anyone. .
”
But clearly what these couples have is a rare friendship that doesn’t come along every day. One thing they all agree on is the fact that God brought them together. And they don’t believe it’s exclusively for “us four and no more.” Anyone can have these kinds of friends if they’re willing to make a commitment and go the distance. “I think we’re living in times where people are longing for what we have, and I don’t think in any way that we’re special,” says Stephen. “I think what we have is attainable for anyone. You begin by reaching out and focusing on others.” “And you have to be selfless,” Donnie adds. “You can’t be in a relationship to get something.” “It’s a commitment that’s not circumstantial; it’s a covenant that’s based on unconditional love,” says Stephen. “It’s a gift that’s been given to us,” Destiny says. “It really is.”
“Meticulous Craftsmanship in a Relentless Pursuit of Perfection”
41 CONNECT MAGAZINE / SPRING 2010 Lee Roy RenteRia • (806) 358.9359
ministry spotlight
BY MOLLY LONGCOR
“If God really loves us, then why would He allow you and dad to get cancer? Besides that, I’m sick of church. There is nothing that could get me back in church again.” Ryan’s words felt like a punch in the stomach to his mother, Linda. She had no idea that her persistent requests for him to join her at church would bring that kind of response. Ryan had given his heart to the Lord when he was young, and had dedicated his life to learning the Word; he had even led several friends to the Lord. When he was 18, he left for Bible college and spent the next four years studying the life of Christ. During Ryan’s time away at school, doctors informed Linda that she had breast cancer. Two months later her husband, Rick, was diagnosed with lung cancer. Rick and Linda did not give in and were
firm in their faith. Even as they endured treatments, they never stopped worshipping and praying for healing. Watching his parents suffer, Ryan could not understand how the God that he dearly loved and served for so many years could allow this to happen to his parents. His heart became hardened toward God and for many years he refused to even take part in conversations concerning Him. After years of prayer and chemotherapy treatments, both Linda and her husband were completely healed of cancer. Overwhelmed by the grace of God, they developed an even greater desire to worship Him and give thanks daily for the miracle of healing they both experienced. And they never stopped praying for their son’s heart to turn back to the Lord. Last fall, they invited Ryan to fly home to see his little
sister sing in the children’s choir in one of Trinity’s weekend services. Over lunch, Ryan turned to his mother and quietly said, “Mom, I have never experienced worship like that. I feel the presence of God again.” In February 2007 a prophecy was given concerning Tr i n i t y Fe l l o w s h i p . T h e prophecy said that a sound was going to be established in this house, a drawing sound. This church would be a gathering place for worshippers, and the sound would be sent all over the world. It declared that this new sound was not just a new style of worship but a sound from heaven. This word only confirmed what the Lord was already speaking to the leaders of Trinity about worship. Soon other churches began calling and requesting assistance in their ministries, and in an effort to help facilitate their needs as well
CONNECT MAGAZINE / SPRING 2010
43
“
I have never experienced worship like that. I feel the presence of God again. .
”
44
as fulfill the prophecy, Trinity started LIV Media Group. The vision is simple: LIV exists to take the resources of Trinity Fellowship Church, develop them to the next level and see them released to the world. Ryan’s story is just one testament of how God is using worship as a tool to reach the hearts of His people. Whether it is to turn them back to Him, or just to encourage and spur them on, we are so excited to be a part of His plan! It is evident that God has called LIV to take the resources He has given us and use them outside our walls, and it is our heart to greatly share what He has provided. We believe that the songs we are writing here will be sung all over the world, that children’s lives will be forever changed, and that God has a plan for us that is bigger than we could even begin to imagine!
CONNECT MAGAZINE / SPRING 2010
MEDIA GROUP IS MADE UP OF FOUR DIVISIONS:
sending worship leaders and music resources from Trinity to the world
song publishing
CDs and DVDs, training modules, drama skits and music that create a fully loaded children’s ministry
GENERATIONS
curriculum for sermons, videos, dramas, adult discipleship and lifegroups (created for infants to young adults)
RECENT HAPPENINGS
IN 2009, LIV held two songwriters’ retreats
with Trinity’s worship ministry staff. Out of those retreats, we were able to write twelve new and original songs! Out of thousands of entries, Patrick Schlabs’ original song, Worthy is Your Name, was chosen to be a free download for the National Worship Leader Magazine website.
COMING SOON
is currently developing a new resource curriculum that will be made available to other churches. Any children’s ministry, no matter the size, can easily place their own creativity and stamp of ownership on it and put it to use in their church. The curriculum contains lessons that can be used in large group and small group arrangements, discussion questions, drama ideas, memory verses, and activity ideas. Liv Kids is creating a kids TV show called Hi-Fi. It has a sitcom feel with characters that use their talents to worship the Lord. It teaches children how to deal with life situations and how to turn to God for help. LIV KIDS
CONNECT MAGAZINE / SPRING 2010
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volunteer
HOW I FOUND MY PLACE
THE BABY WHISPERER DOUG TAYLOR
“SOUNDS LIKE IT’S GETTING NOISY IN THERE. THAT’S MY CUE,” SAYS DOUG TAYLOR AS HE HEADS DOWN THE HALLWAY TOWARD THE SOUND OF A CRYING BABY.
It’s just another Sunday morning in Heroland, Trinity Fellowship’s ministry for birth through 5-year-olds, and Doug Taylor is doing what he does best: soothing fussy babies. Suzanne Gremillion, Associate Pastor of Early Childhood, calls him “The Baby Whisperer” because he’s got the gift, a knack for calming the criers. Doug disappears inside a room, then reappears carrying a small child in a lavender dress with matching hair bow and white booties. Gently, he places her in the buggy, a red six-seater, snaps the seat belt and away they go. “Usually they get happy as soon as they get on,” he says. Down the hall and halfway around the building, the baby’s crying still hasn’t stopped. “It’s ok, honey,” he says, as he stops the buggy to reposition her. As the buggy resumes its motion, she hiccups twice, and then becomes quiet. It’s been three years since Doug decided to tag along on a Sunday morning with his wife, Annita, just to see if the children’s ministry needed any help. He found his niche with the little babies, and he’s been volunteering ever since. The red buggy is filling up fast, as more little ones are handed into Doug’s
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CONNECT MAGAZINE / SPRING 2010
waiting arms. He buckles each one into a seat and keeps the buggy moving down the long hallways. Soon every seat is filled and a sniffling child is draped over Doug’s shoulder. “It’s a workout sometimes,” he says, smiling. “I have to trade arms after awhile.” Each Sunday morning he makes numerous laps around the long connecting hallways, racking up countless miles on the faithful red buggies. He also spends time in the room, ministering to the babies, praying for them, singing songs and rocking them to sleep. “I just enjoy babies,” he explains. “They’re fun to be with, and they can teach you things too. They’re all sweet, and each one is such a different individual.” On Wednesday evenings, Doug is back on the job, taking care of babies for mid-week lifegroups. He also sings in the choir and serves on the communion team. And in all his spare time, he’s an engineer for Xcel Energy, a career he’s had for the past 35 years. So next time you see a red buggy making its way down a long hallway, be sure to give a wave. Chances are you’ll see some happy babies, riding to their heart’s content. And the Baby Whisperer won’t be far behind.
?
WANT TO KNOW MORE
at Trinity Fellowship is dedicated to providing a stimulating, fun, relational atmosphere where kids of all ages love to come. We partner with parents in the challenge of training up children to become all that God has created them to be. The opportunity to invest in the lives of children is incredibly important, and we take it very seriously. But at the same time, we have LOTS OF FUN as we experience God along with the kids! THE CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
If you have felt God tugging at your heart and you’re ready to find out more, here are some volunteer opportunities to consider:
– hands-on experience with the kids – from teaching to doing crafts •SMALL GROUP LEADER
– lead children in worship and/or play in the worship band •WORSHIP
•DRAMA
– perform skits during children’s services
•HOSPITALITY/GREETERS
children and parents •PLAYGROUND
playground
– check in and welcome
– supervise children on the indoor
– prepare resources and craft materials during the week for use in the rooms during services •RESOURCE/LESSON PREPARATION
If you’re ready to get started, just pick up an application at the Children’s Ministry desk or from any Information Center during the weekend services. For more information, call Karen Sutlief at 355-8955.
savor
FLAVOR BETWEEN FRIENDS
THE SLOW COOKER MAKES A FAST COMEBACK BY
SUSIE MERRICK
IN THIS NEW SEASON AS YOU LOOK FOR WAYS TO PREPARE HEALTHY, ECONOMICAL MEALS FOR YOUR FAMILY, YOU MIGHT THINK
ABOUT
PULLING
OUT
There is a lot more to this little mealtime wonder than you might imagine. The delicious possibilities of this economical little gem are endless, making it a must for busy families. For many women, cooking meals quickly does not bring to mind a slow cooker. But think again, ladies, because it has won THE
48
SLOW
COOKER.
the prize for saving time and money, while bringing nutritious food to your table. What could be easier than putting fresh ingredients into a safe, easy-to-clean appliance and then letting it all turn into a delicious home-cooked meal while you go about your busy day? It only takes a small amount of planning and a simple reminder to start dinner right after breakfast. Now I must confess that the slow cooker has always reminded me of those predictable meals like chicken
CONNECT MAGAZINE / SPRING 2010
with some sort of cream sauce, beans and weenies, nacho cheese dip, or the soup made from all the week’s leftovers. Somehow just seeing it sitting on the buffet table at a family or church potluck dinner made me pass by without a second glance. But those days are long gone! Some of the best cooks around have reinvented slow cooking by creating tasty, healthy recipes – including dessert! And since I’ve tried some of those recipes myself, I must admit that the slow cooker can be the
answer to accomplishing a few important things we all want to do as homemakers. First of all, when good food is co o k i ng, t ha t wonderful aroma is there to greet you as you come through the door. It’s just one more way to nurture your family and friends – and for me, that’s key. Secondly, it’s extremely economical. You can trust it to prepare your meal perfectly every time without heating up your entire oven. And because it’s designed to cook at a lower temperature for up to 10 hours, you can use cheaper cuts of meat and still achieve great results. The moisture stays in while the flavor and tenderness continue to build. Thirdly, the handy ceramic container now holds up to 6-1/2 quarts and is easily removed for cleanup. But the best part is the delicious, healthy food that your family will devour. This is such an easy way to remove a little guilt and stress from your life. You don’t have to be in the kitchen all day to prepare a tasty meal; let the slow cooker do the work for you! I promise you, your friends and family will rave about your cooking and you can feel great about the delicious meal you made and all the time you saved!
MOM’S FRENCH DIP SANDWICH R E C I P E B Y S U S I E M E R RICK
INGREDIENTS
SERVES 8
1 BRISKET, 4-5 LBS. 1 CAN (10.5 OZ.) BEEF BROTH ¼ CUP SOY SAUCE JUICE OF 1 LEMON 1 TBSP. LIQUID SMOKE 1 TSP. GARLIC POWDER ¼ TO ½ CUP RED WINE (YOU CAN USE A RED COOKING WINE OR ALCOHOL-FREE WINE IF YOU CHOOSE) 1 PKG. FRENCH ROLLS
DIRECTIONS Mix the broth, soy sauce, lemon juice, liquid smoke, and garlic powder in the slow cooker. Add brisket; cover and cook all day (6 to 8 hours). Remove the brisket from the slow cooker and slice or shred. Add the wine to the liquid, and place the brisket back into the cooker and heat for 5 more minutes. heat for 5 more minutes. Serve on French rolls, and use the liquid in the pan for dipping these delicious French dip sandwiches into.
CHICKEN CHEESE TORTILLA SOUP R E C I P E B Y S U S I E M E RRICK
INGREDIENTS
SERVES 6-8
1 PKG. CHICKEN BREASTS (SKINNED & BONED) 1 PKG. TACO SEASONING MIX 1 CAN CHICKEN BROTH 1 CAN OF CREAM OF MUSHROOM SOUP 1 CAN OF CREAM OF CHICKEN SOUP 1 CAN MILD ROTEL TOMATOES 1 CAN ROTEL MEXICAN-STYLE TOMATOES WITH CILANTRO AND LIME 1 8 OZ. PKG. OF VELVEETA CHEESE ½ PINT WHIPPING CREAM 1 BAG TORTILLA CHIPS
DIRECTIONS Place a package of chicken breasts (skinned and boned – frozen is fine) in a slow cooker. Sprinkle a package of dry taco seasoning mix over the chicken and let it slow cook all day … NO WATER NEEDED! Around 30-45 minutes before serving add chicken broth, canned soups and tomatoes, velveeta cheese and whipping cream. Heat thoroughly and serve over tortilla chips.
APPLESAUCE CAKE R E C I P E B Y J E S S I C A V INSON
INGREDIENTS
SERVES 8
1-1/2 CUPS FLOUR 2 TSP. PUMPKIN PIE SPICE ½ TSP. CINNAMON 1 TSP. BAKING SODA 1/2 TSP. BAKING POWDER 1/4 TSP. SALT 5 TBSP. UNSALTED BUTTER, SOFTENED 1/2 CUP LIGHT BROWN SUGAR 1 EGG 1/4 CUP BUTTERMILK 1 CUP UNSWEETENED APPLESAUCE
DIRECTIONS Coat slow cooker with nonstick spray. Place one long piece of foil in the bottom with ends hanging over the sides. Whisk together flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside. Beat together butter and brown sugar. Beat in egg. Scrape down sides, then add buttermilk. Beat in applesauce. Add flour mixture and beat until combined. Spread batter into slow cooker. Place clean dish towel over slow cooker, then put top on. Cook on high 2 hours or until toothpick comes out clean. Use foil handles to lift cake out. Top with whipped cream, pecans or caramel if desired.
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52
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CONNECT MAGAZINE / SPRING 2010
conversations
CONNECT MAGAZINE SITS DOWN WITH...
CINDY GILLILAND BABY TALK
CINDY’S JOURNEY BEGAN WITH A STIRRING IN HER HEART THAT SOON TURNED THIS SCHOOLTEACHER INTO A DREAM MAKER FOR FAMILIES IN OUR CITY AND THE SURROUNDING
She is the founder and Executive Director of Special Delivery, a Christian adoption agency in Amarillo that focuses on infant adoptions. Cindy spent some time with us sharing tips for couples considering adoption and telling us about her vision and plans for the future of Special Delivery. AREA.
“
God makes every person with unique talents and gifts. I hadn’t quite put together why God made me the way I was, but now I know.
”
C: TELL US ABOUT THE INITIAL START OF SPECIAL DELIVERY.
It started with a vision in 2004. I had read the book The Dream Giver, and it caused a stirring in my spirit, so I began to pray. My husband Rick and I had completed our discipleship classes at Trinity Fellowship and were in line for a prophetic word. The word spoken to us confirmed that God was “working and doing something new, something ministry-related that was both rewarding and fulfilling.” About a year later, He began showing me a vision for a Christian adoption agency through an ABC 20/20 special about open adoptions, and from that time on, all I could do was think about the possibilities! I had no prior knowledge of adoption, so I began researching how it was done and what the need was in our area. At the end of the 2005 school year, I resigned from teaching to begin working on the dream. Little did I know it would be two years and two months until Special Delivery opened. CINDY:
C: WHAT GAVE YOU THE DESIRE TO START A MINISTRY LIKE THIS?
God makes every person with unique talents and gifts. I hadn’t quite put together why God made me the way I was, but now I know. My heart’s desire was always to help people, and I loved the thought of having something, anything, that someone else could benefit from. That’s why God wired me the way He did, and why this ministry is a perfect fit for me. To be in this ministry requires a certain amount of CINDY:
compassion, an understanding of people and also a love of family and a desire to care for babies.
C: WHAT KIND OF IMPACT DO YOU FEEL SPECIAL
C: FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH FAMILIES,
CINDY:
HOW DO YOU THINK A COUPLE KNOWS WHEN THEY ARE READY TO ADOPT?
Many of our couples come to the decision to adopt after hearing that they are infertile. Some couples almost instantly know that adoption is right for them; for others it takes a little more time. There is a natural grieving process that comes from being infertile, and when a couple has properly grieved the loss of having a biological child and are together in their decision to adopt, they are most likely ready. It is a little different for every couple, but they definitely need to be together in their decision. Often times it takes one spouse a little longer to “get there,” but when it’s right, it’s right. CINDY:
DELIVERY MAKES THROUGH THE ADOPTION PROCESS?
Adoption is life-changing for the adoptive couple, for the baby and for the birthparents. It is interesting to look back after their placement and see the couple that initially came into Special Delivery and what God does throughout the process. I think I can rightly say that it brings them much closer to God and to each other. The baby is what adoption is all about. Sometimes the baby is going from a poverty environment – poverty in spirit, not just financial – to having a mom and a dad and also to having all their physical, spiritual and emotional needs met. C: HOW CAN SOMEONE SUPPORT THE WORK YOU ARE DOING THROUGH SPECIAL DELIVERY?
Prayer support is always our biggest need. I think it would be amazing to see what would happen if some lifegroups committed to praying for us and for God’s provision on a daily basis. We would love to partner with some groups for that! Since Special Delivery is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, financial support is also a need. It helps us to keep our fees among the lowest in the state while still providing quality services to the couples and the birthparents we serve. Also, stable financial support would allow us to provide the equipment for the educational programs we want to provide. We also have occasional volunteer needs. Our annual Jubilee takes place in October, and this is where we celebrate families of adoption. It is our major fundraiser for the year. CINDY:
C: WHAT KIND OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO COUPLES THINKING ABOUT ADOPTION?
I would encourage them to seek God through prayer for guidance and to do their research. First of all, they should determine if adoption is right for them or if it is just something they think will fix another problem they are dealing with (infertility, marriage problems, etc.). I would also recommend they research agencies. I think we do awesome work here at Special Delivery, but God may have a different plan for them. Then, I think going into the process knowing it’s God’s plan for them and that they are using the right agency, they can be assured God is going to provide. CINDY:
C: WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF SPECIAL
ABOUT THE MINISTRY
DELIVERY?
The big vision for Special Delivery is to have a maternity home for girls facing a crisis pregnancy. The idea is that we can minister to them spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally, equipping them to make the best decision for them and their child. They can take the teaching they receive and return home to be a better parent to their child, a better child to their parents, and a better-equipped woman of the Lord. We also desire to serve the entire Panhandle with our adoption services. CINDY:
SPECIAL DELIVERY
was licensed on July 18, 2006,
and since then, a total of nineteen children have been placed into two-parent Christian homes (as of October 2009). For more information on this caring ministry, you can contact Special Delivery at 367-6755 or visit them on the web at .
SPECIALDELIVERYADOPTIONS.ORG
reviews
BOOKS
A MILLION MILES IN A THOUSAND YEARS: WHAT I LEARNED WHILE EDITING MY LIFE BY DONALD MILLER
R E V I E W B Y PAT R I C K B URNS
What I like about Donald Miller’s writing is that when you are finished reading, you really feel like you have taken the journey with him. This is especially true with his latest book, which follows him on a journey of discovery to find the story of his life. His travels take him from Portland to Tennessee to Indiana (a very important stop), from L.A. to Washington D.C. and many other places along the way. It’s very rare that I read a book and feel impressed to live my life differently, but this book has nudged me in that direction. The beauty of it all is while Don is growing in his understanding of his story, we can reflect on our own. What am I doing in my life that is noteworthy? Is my story just about a guy who goes to work to earn a paycheck so my wife and kids can live in a house and have their basic needs met? Or do I want more? Asking the hard questions might involve more risks or more heartache, but it also will bring more joy and more awe-inspiring moments. I want to see every day as an opportunity to be a part of a bigger story that is going on around me and take snapshot moments of life that I’m excited to remember.
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CONNECT MAGAZINE / SPRING 2010
IN THE SHADOW OF THE SUN KING BY GOLDEN KEYES PARSONS REVIEW BY ERIN LOVE
Madeleine has a past with King Louis XIV that keeps her and her family safe when other Huguenots are imprisoned and persecuted if they do not convert to Catholicism. But that time seems to be a time of the past when the king’s soldiers invade the Clavell estate, forcing Madeleine’s sons to flee or be taken from her. Holding a very important secret from the past, Madeleine insists on going to court at Versailles to beg King Louis for her family’s safety while her home falls apart in her absence. This makes Madeleine question her faith as well as learn to stand strong. But at what cost? Golden Keyes Parsons not only tells the story in an emotional and exciting way, but also makes a person think of his own life and wonder, “Would I stand strong in face of persecution? Even if I would, could I allow my family to be torn apart and persecuted in the name of claiming Jesus?” The emotional turmoil claims the heart while the reader enjoys the beauty lavishly described by Parsons in the city of Versailles. In The Shadow of the Sun King leaves me thankful for the freedom I have. I yearn to find out what happens next in Madeleine Clavell’s life.
Shedding Some
Local Light
On Your Tax Needs
Full Service Business
COUNTERFEIT GODS BY TIMOTHY KELLER
R E V I E W B Y PAT R I C K BURNS
Having idols in our lives is nothing new for Christians to hear. Honestly, we hear it so often that we can even become numb to it. I found myself in that dangerous position when I picked up this book. After finishing it, I now believe Counterfeit Gods is a must-read for every believer. Keller reveals that an idol is anything good or bad that is in the place of God in our lives. Whether it’s affirmation from a job, the love of a spouse, the desire for the promotion that is deserved, the hunger to be independent from everyone – the list goes on and on. He takes us through characters in the Bible and shows the idols they were serving and how God desires to be in that place.
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57
reviews
MUSIC
HERE IS LOVE
BY BETHEL CHURCH R E V I E W B Y B O B TA L L EY
If you enjoy any of the worship albums from Jesus Culture, be sure to check out the new release from Bethel Church called Here Is Love. The live CD/DVD set features Jesus Culture artists Kim Walker-Smith, Chris Quilala and Kristene Mueller, as well as Bethel worship leaders Brian and Jenn Johnson. The CD, which is Bethel’s second worship album, is packed with great worship songs including upbeat praise like the second track “I’ve Found A Love” which declares the greatness of God’s love and grace toward us. The CD also features meditative worship such as “Healer” that is a great reminder of God’s sovereign power in times of difficulty and suffering. Also, the live recording format really makes the listener feel as if they are a part of the worship experience. The DVD Bonus Features include interviews with the worship leaders as well as Bethel’s Pastor, Bill Johnson, on what worship is and should be. Here Is Love is a great album filled with authentic worship. Whether you’re looking for upbeat praise to help start your day in a mindset of worship, or if you just need to be reminded at the end of the day that the Creator of the Universe loves you more than you could possibly comprehend, this album fits the bill.
58
CONNECT MAGAZINE / SPRING 2010
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D & S Beverages, Inc. • 488-2109
Beverages with 50% Fruit Juice • Donae Smith
Quality Transcription Services • 324-3356
Transcription Services • Julie Curbo
Wright & Moore,
PLLC, Certified Public Accountants
Serving Small Businesses & Non-Profits • 373-3002