River Region Christian March 2024

Feature Articles

page 10

MARCH 2024

Columns

page 8

Faith @ Work: Thomasina Austin

English instructor and pastor’s wife are just two of the roles Thomasina Austin plays as she seeks to bless the community. You’ll be inspired by her commitment to teaching, serving and providing for the needs of those less fortunate as she seeks to live out her authentic faith in Jesus Christ.

First Choice Women’s Medical Center

Bethany Garth shares the purpose behind First Choice and how they are speaking to the hearts of moms and dads who find themselves in unwanted pregnancies. From providing ultrasounds to offering free counseling and more, First Choice comes alongside women and men in a time of uncertainty.

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Who Do You Think That I Am?

Easter is the perfect time to consider Jesus and who you believe Him to be. Find a compelling argument for embracing Christ and making Him Lord of your life.

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River Region Easter Events

Visit a local church to celebrate the Risen Lord this month. Area churches are offering musicals, egg hunts, worship services and more. You are invited!

page 2

Publisher’s Note

Jason Watson

page 4

Pastor's Perspective

Daniel Gillenwater, The Church of Eastern Oaks

page 6

Books to Read

page 8

Faith @ Work

page 14

Women Arising

Pastor Kemi Searcy

page 22

The Intersection

Bob Crittenden

page 24

Counselor’s Corner

Lennie Howard, LPC, LMFT

Dave $ays

Our Mission...

We believe the Good News concerning the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is worth sharing with our friends and neighbors in the River Region. Each month we deliver this life-changing message to the centers of activity across our community in a user-friendly and relevant way to empower and equip all those seeking to grow closer to God. Join us in this mission by sharing a copy with your neighbor or by becoming an advertising partner starting next month.

Editor

DeAnne Watson deanne@readjourneymagazine.com

Publisher

Jason Watson jason@readjourneymagazine.com

Research Editor

Wendy McCollum

Contributing Writers

Tim Challies

Bob Crittenden

Pastor Daniel Gillenwater

Lennie Howard, LPC, LMFT

Kym Klass

Dave Ramsey

Kemi Searcy

Advertising Opportunities

Jason Watson

ads@readjourneymagazine.com (334) 213-7940 ext 702

Content Manager

Anna Watson

Social Media Manager

Scott Davis

Ad Design

Tim Welch, Welch Designs

River Region Christians is published monthly by Keep Sharing, P.O. Box 230367, Montgomery, AL 36123. For information, call 334-213-7940. River Region Christians is copyrighted 2024 by KeepSharing. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.

The opinions expressed in River Region Christians are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the owners, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products or services herein. River Region Christians has the right to refuse any content that is not consistent with its statement of faith.

From the Publisher

Hope Inside A Russian Doll

I want to tell you a story about a Russian Doll, but let me set it up first. As March unfolds, our hearts turn toward the upcoming Easter celebration, a time when we reflect on the profound significance of Jesus Christ’s life, death, and His “victory securing” resurrection.

Easter is not merely a date on our calendar to find colorful eggs. Easter is a testament to the incarnate work of Jesus. Mean ing God dwelt among us through Jesus to reconcile humanity to Himself. “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16).

The journey of Jesus from Bethlehem’s manger to the cross of Calvary exemplifies God’s incarnate love for us and fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah 53:5, “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punish ment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds, we are healed.”

Easter Sunday marks the glorious culmination of Jesus’ earthly ministry—the resurrection. In rising from the grave, Jesus conquered sin and death, offering us eternal life and hope in Him. “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man (the perfect man). For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:20). Through His resurrection, Jesus demonstrated His power over the grave and assured us of our own resurrection if we place our faith in Him.

But there’s even more to the indwelling work of Jesus beyond escaping death. The significance of Easter permeates believers’ daily lives. Just as Jesus walked among His disciples, the Holy Spirit now has taken up residence in believers, serving as a constant companion and guide. “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.” (John 14:16-17). Just as Jesus entered into the brokenness of humanity, He invites us to participate in His redemptive work. Of course, we can’t do this on our own. Therefore, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit empowers us to live lives this very day that reflect the love and grace of Jesus Christ, enabling us to bear fruit that honors His name.

So about that Russian Doll. You know the little wooden dolls with smaller dolls hidden inside the others? They’re an excellent illustration for those who are trusting in Christ for life. The first and biggest doll represents God, the creator and omnipresent all around us. The second doll inside the first is Jesus, who became a man and dwelt among us, just like I shared above. Through His resurrection, He invites us to live “in Him” and to take part in His perfection so that we can have eternal life.

So, any of us who place our hope in Christ is the third doll inside Christ. Finally, there’s one more doll. The last doll that is placed inside us is the Holy Spirit. The book of Ephesians calls this being “sealed with the promised Spirit .”When the Spirit enters the believer, it’s God saying they belong to Him, and we testify to this fact as we experience the work of the Spirit in us.

The believer is engulfed and surrounded by God as they walk in His love and power. Easter accomplished so much. Will you repent of your sins and cling to Christ so that you can walk in the newness of life where the old is gone and the new has come? Now is the time.

Pastor’s Perspective

Four Words for Easter

Around this time of year, there are countless Easter Egg hunts all over town. Almost every church, including mine, will host an Easter Egg hunt. (If you would like to come, The Church at Eastern Oaks will host ours on Saturday, March 30th, at 10:00 a.m.) Easter Egg hunts are always a lot of fun as you watch young children run all over the yard collecting eggs, dropping eggs, and hopefully stuffing a few eggs into their baskets. With my two children, there was always a competition to see who could collect the most eggs. However, as fun as collecting eggs may be, that is not what Easter is about. Instead of collecting eggs this Easter, I encourage you to familiarize yourself with four words. These four words can help us understand why Easter matters. Those four words are: Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration.

Let’s start with Creation. The Bible tells us in the beginning that God created everything... and everything was good! After Creation was completed, we read, “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.” (Gen. 1:31) It bears repeating: God created everything... and everything was GOOD. In the beginning, there was no pain, disease, evil, crime, or death of any kind whatsoever. Everything was perfect. However, just look around, and you will see that is no longer the case. The world we live in is no longer good. So, what happened?

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The second word we want to remember is Fall. Genesis 3 retells the historical account of the first sin. Adam and Eve, created by God and placed in the Garden, were given one simple command. Do not eat the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. However, choosing instead to listen to the lies and temptation of Satan, Adam and Eve rebelled against God and disobeyed Him. This disobedience brought sin and death into the world and separated humanity from our loving Creator. Sin is the answer to the question, “What happened to God’s good creation?” Now, every human is born into a fallen world with a sinful nature, separated from God. As Paul tells us in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Because of our sin, we ALL deserve the wrath and punishment of God. Thankfully, we still have two more words

The third word we want to remember is Redemption. While we deserve God’s wrath, He still loves us even while we are sinners. Therefore, to redeem us, God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to seek and save the lost. Jesus, being fully divine and fully human, lived a sinless life, and perfectly obeyed the law. He then did the unthinkable. Jesus willingly went to the cross as our substitute. On the cross, Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin on our behalf. God the Father poured out His wrath, the wrath we deserved, on Jesus. He was punished for our sins and fully satisfied the wrath of God. He then rose from the dead proving that He is the Divine Son of God and His sacrifice had been accepted by the Father. Forgiveness and redemption are now available to anyone who puts their faith in Jesus and willingly follows Him. (John 3:16, 2 Cor. 5:21, Romans 10:9-10)

The final word is Restoration. For everyone who puts their faith in Jesus, their relationship with God will be completely and eternally restored. This means you can experience the joy and peace of the Lord right now in this life, but more importantly, it means you will spend all eternity with God in a new heaven and new earth. When Creation is restored, there will be no more sin, pain, disease, or death. God’s good Creation will be restored, and we will worship Him for eternity. This is what Easter is all about. Enjoy the Easter Eggs, but remember to pass on these four Easter words to those who need Redemption and Restoration.

Pastor Daniel Gillenwater a Montgomery, Alabama native and is the Senior Pastor of The Church at Eastern Oaks where he has served since December of 2004. He received his Master’s and Doctorate degrees from Beeson Divinity School. Pastor Daniel has been married to Hanna for 19 years and they have two children, Lydia and Ford.

Prayer Days for our Adult Children and Grandchildren

Most Christian parents begin to pray for their children even before they’re born. The frequency of prayer for our children only intensifies as they grow. We pray for their health and safety, good and moral friends, success in school, the development of godly character and love for God’s Word, and emotional maturity.

Some people have the blessing of seeing their children blossom into the kind of young adult they prayed they would become. But, statistically, more and more young adults are walking away from the spiritual practices of their parents, and they are embracing an increasingly dark secular ideology. Not only are they abandoning the church, but many are also pursuing contrary lifestyles that have taken them into patterns of addiction, abuse in relationships, unhealthy marriages, health issues whether mental or physical, or employment and financial issues.

These problems have one thing in common: Our best response is a spiritual response. Satan has used pride, embarrassment, hopelessness, and wishful thinking to keep Christian parents from praying together. Just as Christians should be engaging in spiritual warfare for the nation, we must also be watchful and engaged on behalf of our adult children and grandchildren. We must continue to

fight spiritual battles for their spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, and financial well-being.

Beginning at 2PM on Sunday, April 21 River Region parents are meeting quarterly to pray for their adult children and grandchildren at Christchurch Anglican, 8800 Vaughn Road. Each gathering will open with worship before meeting in small groups to pray. At each day of prayer, there will be five groups praying simultaneously for:

• Salvation/Return to Christ

• Relationships/Marriage/ Other Life Issues

• Addictions

• Mental/Emotional

Physical Health Issues

• Financial/Jobs/Direction

Days of prayer will also be held on July 21, October 20, and January 26, 2025. For additional information, contact Dcn. Dolly McLemore @ 334-301-3490.

The Deconstruction of Christianity

What It Is, Why It’s Destructive and How to Respond

There is nothing new and nothing particularly unusual about apostasy— about people who once professed the Christian faith coming to deny it. From the early church to the present day, we have witnessed a long and sad succession of people walking away from Christianity and often doing so with expressions of anger, animosity, and personal superiority.

Yet while apostasy is not new, the modern nomenclature is: Today it is often referred to as “deconstruction.” And the specific form it takes is new as well—people using social media to chart their rejection of the Christian faith and to join with others through shared apps, subreddits, or hashtags.

As we witness these new forms of an old issue, it stands to reason that we should have a new book to address it. That is exactly what Alisa Childers and Tim Barnett provide in The Deconstruction of Christianity: What It Is, Why It’s Destructive, and How To Respond. This is a book that offers the “prayerful observations, thoughtful analyses, and honest conclusions of two people who have spent a significant amount of time collectively—as a team—living, studying, eating, sleeping, and breathing deconstruction.” In their research, they listened to countless stories of deconstruction, read the books and Twitter threads, watched a host of TikTok videos, and even met with some of its foremost proponents. They made certain that they understood the issue before they addressed it.

Some potential readers may wonder who this book is for. Though it could be a book you hand to someone who is deconstructing their faith and heading down the road of apostasy, that isn’t quite its primary purpose. Rather, it’s mostly meant for those who have heard of the phenomenon and are wondering what it’s all about or for people who have seen friends or family members waver in their Christian profession. In that way, it is a book of theology and discipleship more than it is a book of pure apologetics or evangelism.

The Deconstruction of Christianity is a timely book that has been written to address an urgent contemporary issue. If you have been wondering what deconstruction is or where it came from, if you have been grieved by those who have begun it or if you have been considering it yourself, this is exactly the book you need. It is kind and compassionate in its tone but also unwavering in its commitment to truth. It would be hard to recommend it too highly.

More to the Story

Deep Answers to Real Questions on Attraction, Identity and Relationships

It can’t be easy to be a young person today. I suppose it never has been, but it seems that today’s teens and young adults are forced to grapple with especially difficult questions. If that’s true of many different areas, it’s most notably true when it comes to matters of attraction, identity, and relationships. What was once crystal clear has become woefully muddy.

Jennifer Kvamme has worked with students for many years and is accustomed to helping them work through some of the big questions—questions related to sexuality, identity, intimacy, orientation, and so on. “I’ve watched middle schoolers grow into adults, listened as they shared their deepest struggles and highest joys, and seen Jesus heal pain and transform lives. I’ve heard their questions about God, life, and yes, sex. And I’ve grieved as I’ve watched students walk away from the church because they sensed judgment and exclusion and didn’t see how Jesus could be good news for them.”

And that is exactly what led her to write More to the Story—a book that is aimed squarely at an audience of teens and young adults. The title hints at where she begins the book—by explaining how God is telling a story in this world and how in that story sexuality is a glimpse of something deeper and more consequential. She traces the familiar storyline of the Bible to show that the God who created the world is now redeeming the world. And she explains how even our sexuality is a part of God’s design and his good plan.

With such groundwork in place, she devotes the rest of the book to ten big questions: Why does God care what I do with my body (if I’m not hurting anyone)? What am I supposed to do with such strong feelings of sexual desire? Why does it matter what pronouns I use? Why is sex “good” in marriage but “bad” before it? Along the way, she covers identity, gender, singleness, pornography, dating, abuse, and more.

Written from the perspective of a mentor to a younger person, Kvamme offers a perspective on sexuality that is firmly grounded in the Bible. She writes with compassion and concern but never wavers in her conviction that God’s way is the best way. She shows how the Bible is the only trustworthy guide for sexuality and that the best life is the one that is deeply submitted to the Lord. This is a book that can guide young people through the many fictions of the modern world to ensure they know there is much more to the story than they have been told.

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RRC: How did growing up in the church shape you into the woman you are today?

TA: Growing up in the church, I saw God’s love in action. Today, I am a person who shows the love of God to others. My house has always been open to feed, house, clothe, encourage, and love people. I show that same compassion at New Walk of Life Church and Alabama State University while interacting with students and colleagues. My husband, Pastor Ken Austin, and I founded the Mercy House, which caters to the basic needs of neighbors experiencing poverty and other challenges, and we are so thankful for the employees, community partners, and sponsors.

RRC: You have been an English instructor for 32 years and take pride in spiritually connecting with your students. How do you do that?

TA: I usually offer encouraging words and share personal stories that provide hope. I also pray with them if they want me to do so. Often, I invite them to church to connect with other young people and experience a sense of family away from home.

RRC: How did you know and trust that God was placing you in a line of work and giving you wisdom to fulfill your life?

TA: When I was a little girl, I would pretend to be a teacher, and my cousins were my students. I have been teaching and imparting wisdom at Alabama State University for 32 years and have taught Sunday school for over 20 years. As God gives me wisdom and knowledge, I find an audience and share.

RRC: Being a pastor’s wife and member of New Walk of Life, what roles and responsibilities do you hold within the church walls?

TA: At church, I head the women’s ministry and spearhead other rewarding activities. I teach the women’s Sunday school class, which allows me to encourage my sisters as we study the Bible and apply it to real-life situations. I also implemented a mentoring program that involves older women teaching younger women how to shop for a bargain, budget, cook, dress modestly, study His word, be outstanding students, and chart a career path.

I work with the youth (ages 14-22) to encourage them to hone their writing skills. I formulate writing prompts for essay competitions that allow our youth to use critical-thinking skills to address a topic, follow a specific format, and earn a reward for their efforts.

Whenever a church project needs execution, I pray and share the idea with my NWOLC sisters. We zero in on what needs completion. The project is usually a success, and God receives the glory.

RRC: You believe in maintaining a servant’s heart and a calling to empower women. What are ways you connect with other women?

TA: I am a member of Women of W.I.L.L (Women Impacting and Lifting Lives). The

founder is Sheyann Webb Christburg, who inspires women to participate in various community service activities. As a member of this great organization, I am inspired to celebrate my sisters and work harmoniously with them as we empower each other.

RRC: How did you teach your three children to develop a relationship with Christ?

TA: Growing up, my children attended Sun day School and learned biblical principles: patience, empathy, honesty, forgiveness, and kindness. They also learned the impor tance of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ through praying and reading God’s word daily.

RRC: You serve as a board member for Montgomery Christian School and an advo cate for the Art Splash program. How does Art Splash benefit the students?

TA: Art Splash is a major annual fundraising event that benefits children at Montgomery Christian School, a private non-profit Christian school for underserved children. Every child at MCS receives a scholarship, so our goal is to raise money to complete our scholarship fund for MCS students. This year, Art Splash will be held May 9th (1-3:00 p.m. and 6:30-9:30 p.m.) at the lovely home and gardens of Amy and Tom Methvin,1919 Hull Street. It is always a lively, festive event, and most attendees leave with thought-provoking, colorful, and valuable artwork from talented local artists.

RRC: What Christian literature would you recommend that inspires?

1. The Bible

2. Strong: Devotions to Live a Powerful and Passionate Life by Lisa Bevere

3. Glory: Celebrating the Glory of God in Daily Life by Walter Albritton

Thomasina Austin has been married to Ken Austin since 1983. They have three children: Kaius, Thomas, and Kenneth.

First Choice Women’s Medical Center is not just about being pro-life but also proabundant life.

Those at the center know that each time a mom chooses life for her baby, she needs a lot of support to bring that baby into the world.

“And ultimately, we know the truth is that the greatest need of every woman or man who walks in the front door of our center is not to choose life for her baby but to have a life-transforming relationship with Jesus Christ,” said Bethany Garth, the center’s executive director. “With that truth in mind, the Gospel is the foundation of everything we do.”

First Choice Women’s Medical Center is a pro-life Christian ministry serving the Montgomery community since 1982. Formerly called Sav-A-Life Montgomery, the heart of the ministry has always been to come alongside women and men who face unplanned pregnancies and, with the cen-

ter’s services and support, empower them to choose life for their babies.

They offer free, confidential medical services to serve their clients, including pregnancy tests, ultrasound confirmation, nurse consultations, options education, and STI/STD testing and treatment.

“For support services, we offer both group and individual parenting classes, which allow our moms to earn baby supplies from our on-site baby boutique,” said Garth. “We also offer a fatherhood program to educate and em-

Core Values of First Choice

Life-affirming: Every person is made in the image of God. Because life begins at conception, our ministry works to affirm life in the womb and empower women and men to value that life. Family: God uses family to demonstrate His love, and we support decisions that build God-honoring families.

Education: Knowledge is power, and as we provide women and men with truth about fetal development and human sexuality, they are empowered to choose life and make healthy choices. Compassion: Women and men facing unplanned pregnancies need to know and experience compassion, so we offer our services with no judgment, extending the kindness and love of Christ in each encounter. Obedience: We are obedient to the revealed Word of God through Scripture, and to His continued guidance and direction for our ministry today.

Discipleship: Lives are transformed through the power of the Gospel. We foster authentic Christ-centered relationships so that each client, staff member, and ministry partner will grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ. Excellence: We work as unto the Lord and strive for excellence in every interaction with First Choice through our environment, professionalism, words, and actions.

(Source: www.supportfirstchoice.org)

power our dads to be engaged and effective in their role as a father. And finally, we offer abortion recovery care for women who have had an abortion who need to know and experience the healing and forgiveness that is available in Christ.”

First Choice has two locations in Montgomery – one off Atlanta Highway and another near Baptist South.

“We also just opened a third location, as we merged with another pregnancy center serving Elmore County,” Garth said. “So, now we have an office in downtown Wetumpka as well.”

Clients range in age, background, and life stage, but the largest group the center sees is 18 to 24-year-olds. Most clients are not married, but sometimes they are engaged.

“But truly, there is no ‘normal,’” Garth said. “You can never tell from the boxes they check on their intake form what their story will be, which is why we focus on really listening to each person and truly hearing about their life and what brought them to First Choice.”

Since 1982, thousands of women –and even more lives – have been touched or impacted by First Choice. While it is difficult to have concrete numbers, Garth said after the center’s 40-year anniversary in 2022, research shows the center has served about 40,000 women directly and touched more than 70,000 lives.

Also, since 1982, nearly 4,000 lives have been saved from abortion because of the ministry of First Choice/Sav-A-Life.

“Recently, we had a client come in who was wanting an abortion,” Garth said. “She said the baby’s father was not going to be involved, and she was not ready to be a mom. She met with one of our staff, and they discussed her options and the barriers she saw to choosing life for her baby.

“She agreed to have an ultrasound. She was still early in her pregnancy, but

our client advocate prayed with her, and she agreed to come back a week later for another ultrasound. We could see that God was slowly shifting her heart. During the second ultrasound, she said she was leaning toward parenting, and afterward, our nurse took some time to show her our on-site baby store. She said she hoped her baby was a boy.

“That’s when we knew she had truly changed her mind. Since then, she has been coming for our individual parenting classes and, as an add-on to those, has been working through a discovery Bible study with one of our staff members.”

As believers, Garth said, if “we are going to say that we believe each life is sacred and made in God’s image, it’s important to put action to that belief.”

The ministry does that practically by meeting the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of women and men in the midst of that pregnancy decision process.

“A lot of Christians think that we have ‘won’ this battle in Alabama because after Roe was overturned in June of 2022, abortion became illegal in our state,” Garth said. “We are certainly glad that there are no operational abortion clinics in Alabama, but I can absolutely assure you that wom-

en are still seeking and obtaining abortions.

“Our services have actually become more important than ever.”

For instance, in 2023, First Choice had more women looking for abortions call their center and walk through our door than in any of the five years prior.

“The problem has not gone away, and ultimately, laws will not resolve the abortion issue,” Garth said. “We must acknowledge that this is primarily a heart issue. And our ministry speaks to the hearts of moms and dads, walking alongside them, loving them where they are, and showing them that they ‘can’ choose life for their babies.”

and invest in ministry in the trenches,” she said.

How to Contact:

www.supportfirstchoice.org

Call: (334) 260-8010

Email: bethany@firstchoicewmc.com

Social Media: Instagram @ support_firstchoice Facebook: Support First Choice Montgomery

How to Volunteer:

The need to serve more clients, Garth said, has caused the center to expand and grow its ministry like never before, but that is not possible without the support of individuals, churches, and businesses. “Ultimately, every believer who states they are pro-life must take action on that belief

Contact Laura Williams, client services director, at 334-260-8010. Or email laura@firstchoicewmc.com for more information about the volunteer application process. Volunteer opportunities include receptionists/office assistants, nurses, fatherhood mentors, client advocates, parenting education facilitators, and lawn

Consider what the Bible says about Him:

Jesus is God

While Jesus was on earth there was much confusion about who He was. Some thought He was a wise man or a great prophet. Others thought He was a madman. Still others couldn’t decide or didn’t care. But Jesus said, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). That means He claimed to be nothing less than God in human flesh.

Many people today don’t understand that Jesus claimed to be God. They’re content to think of Him as little more than a great moral teacher. But even His enemies understood His claims to deity. That’s why they tried to stone Him to death (John 5:18; 10:33) and eventually had Him crucified (John 19:7).

C.S. Lewis observed, “You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come up with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to” ( Mere Christianity).

If the biblical claims of Jesus are true, He is God!

Jesus is Holy

God is absolutely and perfectly holy (Isaiah 6:3), therefore He cannot commit or approve of evil (James 1:13).

As God, Jesus embodied every element of God’s character. Colossians 2:9 says, “In Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form.” He was perfectly holy (Hebrews 4:15). Even His enemies couldn’t prove any accusation against Him (John 8:46).

God requires holiness of us as well. First Peter 1:16 says, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

Jesus is the Savior

Our failure to obey God—to be holy—places us in danger of eternal punishment (2 Thessalonians 1:9). The truth is, we cannot obey Him because we have neither the desire nor the ability to do so. We are by nature rebellious toward God (Ephesians 2:1-3). The Bible calls our rebellion “sin.” According to Scripture, everyone is guilty of sin:

“There is no man who does not sin” (1 Kings 8:46). “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). And we are incapable of changing our sinful condition. Jeremiah 13:23 says, “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil.”

That doesn’t mean we’re incapable of performing acts of human kindness. We might even be involved in various religious or humanitarian activities. But we’re utterly incapable of understanding, loving, or pleasing God on our own. The Bible says, “There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one” (Romans 3:10-12).

God’s holiness and justice demand that all sin be punished by death: “The soul who sins will die” (Ezekiel 18:4). That’s hard for us to understand because we tend to evaluate sin on a relative scale, assuming some sins are less serious than others. However, the Bible teaches that all acts of sin are the result of sinful thinking and evil desires. That’s why simply changing our patterns of behavior can’t solve our sin problem or eliminate its consequences. We need to be changed inwardly so our thinking and desires are holy.

Jesus is the only one who can forgive and transform us, thereby delivering us from the power and penalty of sin: “There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Even though God’s justice demands death for sin, His love has provided a Savior, who paid the penalty and died for sinners: “Christ ... died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). Christ’s death satisfied the demands of God’s justice, thereby enabling Him to forgive and save those who place their faith in Him (Romans 3:26). John 3:16 says, “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” He alone is “our great God and Savior” (Titus 2:13).

Jesus: The Only Acceptable Object of Saving Faith

Some people think it doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you’re sincere. But without a valid object your faith is useless. If you take poison—thinking it’s medicine—all the faith in the world won’t restore your life. Similarly, if Jesus is the only source of salvation, and you’re trusting in anyone or anything else for your salvation, your faith is useless.

Many people assume there are many paths to God and that each religion represents an aspect of truth. But Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me” (John 14:6). He didn’t claim to be one of many equally legitimate paths to God, or the way to God for His day only. He claimed to be the only way to God—then and forever.

Jesus is Lord

Contemporary thinking says man is the product of evolution. But the Bible says we were created by a personal God to love, serve, and enjoy endless fellowship with Him.

The New Testament reveals it was Jesus Himself who created everything (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16). Therefore He also owns and rules everything (Psalm 103:19). That means He has authority over our lives and we owe Him absolute allegiance, obedience, and worship.

Romans 10:9 says, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord,Yield and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.” Confessing Jesus as Lord means humbly submitting to His authority (Philippians 2:10-11). Believing that God has raised Him from the dead involves trusting in the historical fact of His resurrection—the pinnacle of Christian faith and the way the Father affirmed the deity and authority of the Son (Romans 1:4; Acts 17:30-31).

True faith is always accompanied by repentance from sin. Repentance is more than simply being sorry for sin. It is agreeing with God that you are sinful, confessing your sins to Him, and making a conscious choice to turn from sin and pursue holiness (Isaiah 55:7). Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15); and “If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine” (John 8:31).

It isn’t enough to believe certain facts about Christ. Even Satan and his demons believe in the true God (James 2:19), but they don’t love and obey Him. Their faith is not genuine. True saving faith always responds in obedience (Ephesians 2:10).

Jesus is the sovereign Lord. When you obey Him you are acknowledging His lordship and submitting to His authority. That doesn’t mean your obedience will always be perfect, but that is your goal. There is no area of your life that you withhold from Him.

Jesus is the Judge

All who reject Jesus as their Lord and Savior will one day face Him as their Judge: “God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:30-31).

Second Thessalonians 1:7-9 says, “The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. And these will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.”

How Will You Respond?

Who does the Bible say Jesus is? The living God, the Holy One, the Savior, the only valid object of saving faith, the sovereign Lord, and the righteous Judge.

Who do you say Jesus is? That is the inescapable question. He alone can redeem you—free you from the power and penalty of sin. He alone can transform you, restore you to fellowship with God, and give your life eternal purpose. Will you repent and believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? Contributed by John MacArthur. Reprinted

Friday, March 29 @ 7:00pm

Easter Celebration Services, Sunday, March 31, 6:30 a.m. Sonrise Service, 8:15 am, Traditional Worship 10:30am, Contemporary Worship

Beacon of Hope Church of God

1045 Coliseum Boulevard, 274.0932

Easter Celebration, Sunday, March 31 at 10:45 a.m. Nursery Available.

Blue Ridge Baptist Church

4471 Jasmine Hill Rd, 567.4325

Palm Sunday, March 24 at 11 a.m. with Children’s Easter Story Musical and lunch at noon followed by Easter Egg Hunt. Easter Services, March 31, Courtyard service at 9 a.m. with breakfast following Regular service time 11 a.m. with music and Easter message.

of the Altar, March 28 at 6 p.m.

Good Friday Liturgy, March 29 at noon Washing of Altar and Holy Saturday Liturgy, March 30 at 10 a.m.

Lighting of Paschal Candle and Festive Holy Eucharist, March 31 at 10 a.m.

Dalraida Global Methodist ad on page 13

3817 Atlanta Highway, 272.2190

Easter Celebration, March 31 at 11 a.m. Visit www.dalraidagmc.tv.

Eastmont Baptist Church

4505 Atlanta Highway, 277.6300

Easter Worship, March 31, 10:15 a.m.

Evangel Church

3975 Vaughn Road, 272.4882

972 McQueen Smith Rd S, Prattville

Easter Egg Hunt, Sunday, March 24 after

Children’s Worship service at 10:30 a.m. on Football field in Montgomery location.

Glow in the Dark Easter Egg Hunt, March 24, after service at Prattville location.

Easter Sunday, March 31, Worship 10:30 a.m.

Easter Sunday (Prattville), March 31, Worship at 10 a.m.

First Baptist, Montgomery ad on Back Cover

305 S. Perry Street, 834.6310

Palm Sunday Service, March 24 at 8:30 and 11 a.m.

Palm Sunday Night of Worship with Easter Communion and Lord’s Supper March 24 at 5 p.m.

Wednesday Easter Passion Service, March 27 at 6:15

Good Friday Service, March 29 at noon Easter Sunday, March 31, 8:30 & and 11 a.m.

First Baptist Church, Prattville

138 S. Washington Street, 365.0606

Easter Services, March 31, 8:15

(Contemporary) 9:30 a.m. (Traditional) and 11 am (Contemporary) Visit us at fbcprattville.org.

First Presbyterian Church

211 S. Chestnut Street, Prattville, 365.6387

Sonrise Service, March 31 at 6:30 a.m. Easter Service, March 31, 10:30 am

Visit firstpresbyterianchurchofprattville.com

First UMC, Wetumpka

306 West Tuskeena St, Wetumpka March 24, Easter Egg Hunt, 5 pm March 28, Tenebrae Service, 6 pm March 29, Wetumpka Cross Walk, 11 am March 31, Easter Morning, 6:15, 8 and 10 am www.wetumpkafirst.com/easter

Frazer Church

6000 Atlanta Highway, 272.8622

Palm Sunday, March 24 at 8:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. with Easter Egg Hunt after. Stations of the Cross, March 27 from noon until 9 p.m., March 28 from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. and March 29 from 9 a.m.- 9 p.m. Services will be paused on March 27 and March 29 at 6 p.m. for our other service but will resume after. Please join us in Wesley Hall for a series of stations depicting Jesus Christ on the day of his crucifixion and accompanying prayers.

Easter Worship services, March 31

Gateway Baptist Church

3300 Bell Road, 272.9494

Sunrise Service in conjunction with Grace Presbyterian, Legacy Anglican and Young

Meadows Presbyterian will be March 31 at 6:30 a.m. outside of Grace Presbyterian Church at The Tomb

Easter Services, March 31, 10:30 a.m.

Grace Presbyterian Church

5 Bell Road at Atlanta Hwy, 272.4930

Palm Sunday Worship, March 24 at 10:30

Easter Sunrise Service and breakfast, March 31, 6:30 a.m.

Free breakfast following Sunrise service.

Worship Service, 10:30 a.m.

GracePointe

1565 Ray Thorington Road, 271.2525

Palm Sunday, March 24 10 a.m.

Easter Worship Services

Children’s Ministry Easter Event March 30 from 3-5 p.m.

Sunday, March 31, 10 a.m.

Heritage Baptist Church ad on page 5

1849 Perry Hill Rd, Montgomery, 279.9976

Easter Worship, March 31, 10:15 a.m.

Please visit hbcm.net for more information.

Lakeview Baptist Church

9225 Atlanta Highway, 213.3080

Easter Worship, March 31 at 10:45 a.m.

Morningview Baptist Church

125 Calhoun Road, 272.2304

Good Friday Service, March 29 at 5:30 p.m.

Easter Service, March 31, 10:30 a.m.

The Ridge Church

Meets at Wetumpka High School, 1251 Coosa River Parkway

Easter Sunday Services, March 31, 9:45 a.m.

For information, please call 424.3104.

Ridgecrest Baptist Church

5260 Vaughn Road, 277.0011

Easter Sunday, March 31 at 10:45 a.m.

Saint James Church

9045 Vaughn Road, 277-3037

Easter Egg Hunt, March 17, 3-5 p.m. Inflatable, games and crafts.

Palm Sunday, March 24 at 9:30 a.m.

(Contemporary & Kids), 11 am (Traditional) with musical offering “Reflections of Holy Week”

Lenten Lunch, March 27 at 11:30 with guest speaker.

Maundy Thursday, March 28, Service at 6:30 p.m. in the Traditional Sanctuary.

Good Friday, March 29, at 6:30 p.m.

Easter Sunday, March 31, Sunrise at the Pines Service, 6;30 a.m.

Contemporary Service, 9:30 a.m. (Worship Center), Traditional, 11 a.m. (Sanctuary)

Taylor Road Baptist Church

1685 Taylor Rd., 271.3363

Annual Spring Fling, March 16 from 10 a.m. until noon. Easter egg hunt and inflatables. Easter Service, March 31 at 8 & 10:30 a.m.

Thorington Road Baptist Church

450 Ray Thorington Road, 396.9376

Good Friday, March 29, at 6:30 pm Easter Service, March 31 at 9 and 10:30 a.m.

Vaughn Forest Church

8660 Vaughn Rd., 279.5433

Easter Sunday, March 31, 9:30 and 11:00 services with great music, awesome teaching and few special surprises. Please call for more information or visit at www.vaughnforest.com.

Woodland Methodist Church

4428 Wallahatchie Rd, Pike Road, 272.7230

Palm Sunday Cantata, March 24, 10 a.m. service. Easter Egg Hunt following the cantata. Three different hunts, according to age. Lunch will be provided, games, Inflatables and cotton candy.

Easter Sunday, March 31

Easter Sonrise Service at 6:30 a.m.

Traditional Service times will be 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Contemporary Service, 9:15 a.m.

A Warm Place

During the recent winter months, amidst freezing temperatures, we were provided an opportunity to remember those who do not have adequate shelter and be thankful for ministries and other organizations who reach out to those without a home.

Chris Avell is the pastor of a church called Dad’s Place in Bryan, Ohio. He has a heart for the homeless in his city, and kept his church building open day and night in order to serve the community.

For that, he was arrested; The Christian Post reported that Avell “...was arraigned in municipal court…after being slapped with 18 zoning law violation charges related to keeping his church open around the clock to house the homeless.” Avell pled not guilty, and his attorney, Jeremy Dys, Senior Counsel at First Liberty, said: “...the city of Bryan, Ohio, arraigned Pastor Chris on criminal charges for having his church open 24/7,” adding, “He pled ‘not guilty,’ as any pastor should who is simply doing what churches throughout history have done: care for those who walk through their doors no matter the time of day.”

The police chief “forwarded a Dec. 13 press release from the police department explaining that the city’s zoning and engineering department ‘received a complaint in regards to people living’ at Dad’s Place on Nov. 3.” The Christian Post related that “A court filing states that because Dad’s Place is zoned as Central Business, the building is prohibited from allowing people to eat, wash clothes, or sleep on the property.” There were allegedly fire code violations at the building, as well.

The story goes on to say:

According to First Liberty Institute, Avell decided last March to keep his church open all the time because the neighboring local homeless shelter was often full, forcing some of the town’s homeless to stay outside. He claimed his church has since been able to help at least 100 people who are struggling with homelessness.

The director of operations at the Sanctuary of Williams County Homeless Shelter supports what Avell’s church is doing, according to First Liberty Institute.

“The city, churches and community in general should work together. We need to work together to help people in need,” the director said. “There is nowhere else for these people in Williams County to go. We have to turn away around 600 people every year.”

In an Fox News interview, Avell said, “I was spiritually homeless, and God provided a home for me in Heaven,” adding, “He’s put a burden on my heart for them. Many of these people have been rejected by their families and cast aside by their com munities. So, if the church isn’t willing to lay down her life for them, who will? This is what we’re called to do.”

Then, a promising development occurred in the case - on February 8, a statement was posted on the First Liberty website, stating, in part:

First Liberty Institute and city officials in Bryan, Ohio announced today that the city has agreed to drop all criminal charges against Dad’s Place Pastor Chris Avell. Dad’s Place has in turn agreed to cease residential operations and to seek proper building certifications, and zoning permits for the operations it plans to pursue together with the installation of any necessary safety measures associated with those permits.

Local churches can demonstrate the love of Christ by being sensitive to needs in their communities, to reach out to people around them, whom God has strategically placed in order that they may encounter His love. All Chris Avell desired to do was to share the love of Jesus, but his compassion has caused him to run afoul of the city and could result in criminal penalties. He made the decision that he would obey God by ministering to the people who were sent his way.

In late January, First Liberty announced it was filing a federal lawsuit against the City of Bryan, Ohio. Its website states that the organization and two other law firms “...filed a federal lawsuit and motion for a temporary restraining order against Bryan, Ohio and city officials seeking to shut down the religious activities of Dad’s Place and Pastor Chris Avell.”

I agree with Jeremy Dys, who has been a guest on The Meeting House on Faith Radio numerous times, who said that Pastor Chris was operating according to the practice of historic Christian faith. The local homeless shelter director stressed the importance of working together. Certainly there are many wonderful service agencies in our communities that do excellent work; and we should always make sure we see the role of the Church in bringing light to people in need - that includes not only physical needs, but spiritual, as well, recognizing that the meeting of physical needs can provide a door through which spiritual needs can be addressed through Christ.

Self-Esteem & Depression

We find ourselves living in challenging times today with many spiritual, psychological, and physiological struggles in almost every part of our lives. A study by the NIMH reports twenty-one million adults (8.4%) in the US have experienced a major depressive episode. While there can be many different causes it might be beneficial to address one which is significant for a number of people. This can be called a negative self-image or poor self-esteem, but it stems from a faulty sense of our selfworth. Sadly, some have misunderstood the words of Scripture which say, “Do not think of yourself more highly than you should” to say we should feel bad about ourselves. Society has taught us to see our value in what we do, how we look, or what we know but each of these standards fail us. The Apostle Paul challenges us to “not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Paul is advising us to “renew our minds” or in other words change our thoughts or self-talk.

Paul does not leave us with an admonition but gives us further guidance. He writes, “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. Keep putting into practice all you

learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.” He is recommending we begin to observe the good that is around us and in us. If you believe the Bible when it says, “There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” then have grace and mercy for your own flaws. Acknowledge your humanity and accept we all have flaws which have led to poor choices at times in our lives. As God has promised to forgive us when we acknowledge and seek forgiveness, we also need to forgive ourselves and not condemn ourselves.

Another exercise which will often help us to overcome depression and gain healthier self-esteem is getting involved with people or things outside ourselves. Volunteer, join a support group, become a mentor or anything which helps to take the focus off yourself and your issues and see the world as a wonderful opportunity to give and love others. This will take making a choice and not waiting to “just feel like it.”

There are many other steps we can take such as becoming physically active, ensuring adequate sleep, journaling, taking a vacation, and stopping our procrastinating about some

of the things you have been wanting to do like cleaning out a closet, writing a letter, or finishing a puzzle. As you discover yourself becoming more active and involved you will find yourself feeling better about YOU! Be patient, have compassion for others and yourself, and remember we are all a work in progress.

Adoption

Location: Vaughn Forest Church, 8660 Vaughn Road, Montgomery APAC, Alabama Pre/ Post Adoption Connection Support Group: This group provides education and social interaction for adoptive families. Meets 3rd Tuesdays, 6-7:30 p.m. For more information call Jill Sexton at 409-9477.

Alcoholic / Addiction

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

Location: Dalraida UMC, 3817 Atlanta Hwy, Montgomery An Alanon meeting is held at 9 am on Saturday mornings. Call 272.2190 for details.

Location: Grace Presbyterian Church, Corner of Bell Road and Atlanta Hwy. Alcoholics Anonymous and Alanon meetings are held Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, at 6 p.m. An Open AA Speaker meeting is held on Saturday at 6 p.m. An Alanon & AA held on Sundays at 2 p.m.

Location: Heritage Baptist Church, 1849 Perry Hill Rd, Montgomery, AL Route1520 is a Christ-centered recovery movement dedicated to showing the way home for men impacted by sex and pornography addiction. Meets: Mondays, 6:30 – 8:00 PM CST. Email montgomery@route1520. com, visit http://www.route1520.com/men/groups-formen/ or call 877.200.1520.

Location: Journey Church, 435 Sheila Blvd, Prattville Celebrate Recovery - Christ-centered 12-step for anyone struggling with addiction or life-challenging issues. Mondays beginning at 6:15 pm. Childcare available. Call John Pearse at 303-243-4308 or visit myjourneychurch.com.

Location: Prattville Church of Christ, 344 E Main St. CASA - 12 step (Christians Against Substance Abuse) spiritual recovery program, for overcoming addictions. Class begins each Wednesday evening @6:30 PM. Please call 334-365-4201 for additional information.

Location: St. James UMC, 9045 Vaughn Road

Celebrate Recovery meets every Thursday night from 6-8 pm in the Youth Room. This is a Christ-centered 12-step group for anyone struggling with an “addiction

or life-challenging issues.” For information, call Chris Henderson at 334-215-0427.

Location: First United Methodist Church, 306 W. Tuskeena Street, Wetumpka ‘Fresh Start’ Recovery meets every Thursday, 6-8pm (meal included). In 2011, Fresh Start Motorcycle Ministry (FSMM) began when God laid it on the heart of a lifetime biker to minister to those with his background. All are welcome, not a requirement to own/ride a motorcycle. For any information contact ministry leader, Paul Henderson, 334-201-5428.

Location: Trinity Presbyterian Church, 1728 S. Hull Street, Montgomery Awaken is a Christ-centered recovery movement dedicated to showing the way home for men impacted by sex and pornography addiction. Meets Thursday from 6-7:30 pm. For more information email riverregion@ route1520.com, visit http:// www.route1520.com/men/ groups-for-men or call 877-2000-1520.

Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA) is open to all struggling with addictive sexual behaviors which may lead to guilt, shame, depression, anxiousness, and loneliness. Examples included use of pornography, adultery, fantasy, reckless sexual behavior, and more. Meetings are Sunday nights. For meeting times and location, please contact – MontgomerySAA@outlook.com or call 334245-1686. For more resources on sex addiction, please visit - https://saa-recovery.org/.

Alzheimer’s / Dementia

Location: First UMC, 2416 W. Cloverdale Park, An Adult Parkinson/Alzheimer’s respite ministry meets from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Lunch is served. Contact Daphne at 834-8990.

Location: Frazer Church, 6000 Atlanta Hwy

An Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregivers’ Support Group meets on the first Thursday of each month at 10:30 a.m. in Room 3103. Call 495-6343. for more information.

Cancer

Location: Aldersgate UMC, 6610 Vaughn Rd

Cancer Survivors Support Group is sponsored by Samaritan Counseling Center. We would love to have anyone (patient or family member ) join us. Thursdays at 1 pm. Please call before attending just to make sure we are meeting that week. Please call Debbie D at 467-4578 or Ben W at 202-1912.

Location: Christchurch, 8800 Vaughn Road Cancer Support Group for general cancer. Tuesday afternoons at 1 pm. For more info, please call Christy Holding at 531-1390 or Debbie at 467-4578.

Location: Frazer Church, 6000 Atlanta Hwy.

Central Alabama Multiple Myeloma Support Group meets from 10 a.m. to noon the second Saturday of every month in Room 3105. Contact Joe Crowley at 334-207-4385 or jpcrowl46@yahoo.com

Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy.

Location: Frazer Church, 6000 Atlanta Hwy.

Women of Hope Breast Cancer Support Group, providing education, awareness, and mentoring for breast cancer patients/survivors, family and friends, meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in Room 8114. Call 220-4599 or e-mail womenofhope@ charter.net

Divorce

Location: First

Baptist Church, 305 S. Perry Street

Divorce Care

Wednesdays, August 16 — November 8 | 6:00 PM | Room B405

Find help and healing in the hurt of separation and divorce. This class is a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences. Don’t go through separation or divorce alone. The seminar will feature videos of top experts on divorce and recovery, followed by support group discussion. Facilitated by Robert Gassman

Location: Centerpoint Fellowship 1200 McQueen Smith Road South, Prattville, AL Divorce Care Sundays @ 9:00 am in the Conference Room. Child care is available. Contact Angie Davis at 730-2566 for information.

Gambling

Location: Cedarwood Community Church, 10286 US HWY 231 in the Wallsboro/Wetumpka community. The church is 1 1/2 miles past Tutweiler prison.

Gamblers Anonymous, Saturdays at 6 pm. and Mondays at 6:30 pm. Call 567-0476.

Location: Mental Health of America, 1116 South Hull Street, Montgomery. Sundays @ 5 pm.

For more information about the GA meetings call 334399-6918. For information about counseling services or to request a guest speaker please call the Alabama Council on Compulsive Gambling at 334-277-5100.

: Cornerstone Christian, 301 Dalraida Road River Region

Survivors of Suicide meets on the second and fourth Thursday of every month (excluding holidays) from 6:30-8:00 PM. Welcomes anyone regardless of their religious beliefs. Contact Cheryl Vinson at riverregionsos@gmail.com.

Location: Eastmont Baptist, 4505 Atlanta Hwy. Compassionate Friends is a national self-help support organization for families grieving the death of a child meeting first Tuesdays at 7 pm. Call (334) 284-2721.

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

Location: First Baptist Church, 305 S. Perry St. A GriefShare support group is a safe, welcoming place where people understand the difficult emotions of grief. Through this 13-week group, you’ll discover what to expect in the days ahead and what’s “normal” in grief. Since there are no neat, orderly stages of grief, you’ll learn helpful ways of coping with grief, in all its unpredictability—and gain solid support each step of the way. Wednesdays, August 16 – November 8 | 6:00 PM Room B415. Facilitated by Ben Kelley & Cathy O’Dell

Location: Frazer Church, 6000 Atlanta Hwy GriefShare, Wednesday mornings 10am -12pm in the East Sanctuary. Spring group meets through April 26. Fall group from Sept. 6 through Nov. 29. For information call the church 272-8622. Dian Sims (facilitator)

Location: Grace Baptist Church, 304 Old Montgomery Highway, Wetumpka, AL

Mourning to Morning is a Christian growth group for mothers who have lost a child, from before birth through adulthood. Meets the last Thursday night of each month. For info, contact Alice Scarborough (334) 462-4775 or Gwen Ellis (334) 567-8754.

Location: Millbrook FUMC, 3350 Edgewood Rd Grief Share meets Sundays from 5-7 p.m. For more information or to sign up, please call the church office at 285-4114 or email churchoffice@mfumc.org.

Parenting

Location: First Baptist Prattville, 138 South Washington

Moms LIFE (Living In Faith Everyday) meets twice monthly from 8:30 - 11:45 am in the chapel at the Church from AugMay. We offer a time of fellowship, Bible study, musical guest, special guest speakers and a lot of fun!! Cost is $5 per meeting. For moms of all stages and ages of life. Childcare provided by reservation. Call April Scott at 828-446-6666 for more information.

Location: Landmark Church, 1800 Halcyon Blvd.

Single Moms Support Group, Wednesday nights at 6:30 p.m. in classroom 118. For information call 277-5800.

Location: Perry Hill UMC, 910 Perry Hill Road

Single Moms’ Care and Support Group meets 2nd and 4th Thursdays from 6:15 - 8:00 PM. December meeting will be on the 11th. Free snack supper provided to moms and children. Child care for infants -16 years. Call 272-3174.

Location: Redland Baptist Church, 1266 Dozier Rd, Wetumpka

A MOPS group will be held 1st and 3rd Tuesday’s of every month during the school year, and has scheduled play dates and moms nights out through the summer and beyond. While moms are in a MOPS meeting, their children are lovingly cared for in the MOPPETS program. Email Denise Braswell at deniseorscott@yahoo.com.

Location: Young Meadows Church, 5780 Vaughn Rd River Region MOPS (Moms of Preschoolers) meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays from 9:30 to 11:30 am (September-May). Interested moms can reach out to riverregionmops334@gmail.com or find us on Facebook. riverregionmops334@gmail.com.

Send support group info to deanne@readjourneymagazine.com.

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A Lesson He’ll Remember For the Rest of His Life

Q . Our 21-year-old son is in college, and we’ve always warned him to stay away from credit cards. Despite our warnings, we recently learned he got a store-branded credit card. The good news is he has stayed under the credit limit. The bad news is he has never made any payments on the purchases he made, and now he owes about $3,800. He’s a good student, and my husband and I want to look at this as a young person’s one-time mistake. Do you think we should pay off the card for him just this once?

A. Believe me, I understand you wanting to help him out. It means you’ve got a good heart, and you love him. No parent likes seeing their child in a bad situation.

There’s a reality here, though, I hope you won’t overlook. It’s his debt, not yours. He knew what he was doing when he signed up for that credit card. He knew what it meant, what was expected, and he’s the one who should make good on the repayment. There’s nothing unfair about that.

Now, you’re right. This is a typi cal young person’s mistake. And like a lot of mistakes our kids make, it’s one that’s bad and wonderful at the same time. It’s bad because if he had just listened to you and his dad, he would’ve avoided the whole mess. It’s wonderful, though, because it gives you

two the opportunity to provide him with a real world, teachable moment.

At this point, my advice is for both of you to give him a great big hug, and lovingly explain where he went wrong and why it was a bad idea. If you want, you can even go a step further, and help him find a part-time job if he doesn’t have one right now, so he can pay off his debt and get out of this mess. It’ll take some planning and discipline on his part, but leave the payments to him. Hopefully, by the time he finishes working his tail off—and scrimping and saving to pay this debt—he will have learned a lesson he’ll remember for the rest of his life.