For years now, I have taught the men at Crossover Ministries in Opp, Ala., about Biblical masculinity. We live in a world that has convinced generations of men that to be truly masculine, they must be able to train alone in Siberia and win the big fight. Current culture reinforces the notion that real men do not cry, that strength means self-sufficiency, and that dependence on God is somehow a flaw in the design. That is not Biblical masculinity. Ironically, the men I teach have often fully embraced that distorted version. They are fighters, brawlers, scrappers—many of them violent men whom I have prosecuted and sent to prison myself. Some of them hated me long before they ever sat in my classroom. And yet, I walk into that room and stand before them anyway. The simple act of showing up—of standing there despite the history, despite the resentment—demonstrates something they rarely experienced from men in their lives: love. That is why I do it.
Walt Merrell and some of the men he teaches at Crossover Ministries.
Several months ago, one young man who had not spoken a single word in my class for nearly four months raised his hand. I had prosecuted him, and I knew he carried a grudge. He had never made eye contact with me. When I gave him the floor that day, I felt a nervous energy rise in my chest. I did not know what was about to come. His hair hung low over one eye like Opie Taylor, and his expression was steady. “I’ve hated you for a very long time,” he said. He proceeded to unload on me for nearly a minute—how I had put him in jail, how I had taken years from his life, how I had hurt his family. I leaned a little harder against the podium, bracing myself for the blow that might follow. But when he finished, he reached up, brushed his hair out of his eyes, and said, “But now I understand that you did it because you really do love me.” He went on to explain that he needed someone to blame, and I had been his scapegoat. Through his time at Crossover, however, he had begun to understand accountability. He had learned that real manhood is not about dominance or violence but about humility, repentance, and surrender. He realized that I had not done anything to him except hold him responsible for his own choices. That moment—watching the hardness soften in his eyes—was the kind of transformation we pray Christ will inspire in every man who walks through those doors. But transformation must last beyond the walls of our care. What good is reform if it does not follow a man back into the world? When I teach about masculinity, I often take the men to Peter stepping out of the boat. The world would have advised Peter to swim back to safety when he began to sink. Clothed in heavy garments and uncertain whether he even knew how to swim, that advice likely would have drowned him. The world might also have suggested he call out to the others in the boat for help. “Throw me a rope!” But Scripture tells us the knuckleheads in that boat were cowering in fear. They were in no position to rescue anyone. Peter had worldly options, but he chose the only one that could actually save him. He cried out, “Lord, save me!” And Jesus did. That is Biblical masculinity—recognizing your insufficiency and calling upon the only One who is sufficient. The world does not want men to do that. It wants them silent, self-reliant, and quietly drowning.
Near midnight one evening, my phone rang. It was Sheriff Blake Turman. He apologized for waking me but said he wanted me to know that “Bob” had overdosed and that it did not look good. Blake and I had both worked with Bob for years, urging him toward recovery and toward Crossover. Blake’s voice trembled as he explained that Bob had been in a trailer with other addicts. When he overdosed, they left him there. By the time deputies arrived, he was alone. I dressed and drove to the scene. Before I arrived, Bob had already been transported to the hospital. As I pulled into the yard, Blake met me with the news: Bob did not make it. We stood there in the quiet darkness and prayed for Bob and his family. Bob died because the knuckleheads in the boat were too afraid to help him in his most desperate hour. He never went through Crossover. Blake and I tried repeatedly to persuade him. He would speak passionately about change until he could secure a little money from someone else, and then he would run back to the same knuckleheads. The men he surrounded himself with were not stretcher bearers; they were escape artists.
In class, I also teach about the men who carried their paralyzed friend to Jesus. When they could not get through the crowd, they climbed onto the roof, tore it open, and lowered him down before Christ. That is Biblical masculinity—surrounding yourself with men who will overcome obstacles to carry you to Jesus when you cannot walk on your own. What we do not need are companions who disappear at the first sign of trouble. We need men who love us enough to shoulder our weight. It was nearly five in the morning when I left that trailer. I drove to Hardee’s for a biscuit and then to Wal-Mart for coffee and toilet paper. The ordinary errands of life feel strange after death. I sat in the parking lot for a moment longer than usual, reluctant to step out of the truck. There are days when retreat sounds appealing- days when locking the door and withdrawing from the weight of it all feels easier than engaging it. But even in that parking lot, God reminded me that there is work still to be done. There are stretchers yet to carry. There are men fighting for sobriety and winning. There are young men learning that strength is not measured by how much destruction they can cause but by how much love they are willing to give. Biblical masculinity is not forged in isolation; it is formed in surrender. It is not proven by conquering armies; it is revealed in the courage to stand accountable, to cry out to Christ, and to carry a brother when he falls.
I loved Bob whether he was sober or high, but I loved him in his sobriety more. I wish he had allowed himself to be carried. I wish he had chosen differently. His story now fuels the urgency of the mission. We cannot afford to raise men who think independence is strength and vulnerability is weakness. We must teach them that true manhood kneels before God and stands beside broken brothers. Fight the good fight. Keep the faith. Finish the race.
-Walt Merrell is a Christian Outdoorsman who writes of his adventures with his family, with the hope that others might be inspired and encouraged to embrace God’s tapestry, otherwise known as the great outdoors, as a means of finding Common Ground. You can follow him at Shepherding Outdoors on FB, YT and IG and at shepherdingoutdoors.com.
Life is simply better when your biggest fan thinks you hung the moon. Meet Buck. He is a playful love bug conveniently sized at 40 pounds whose heart is hardwired for connection. This four-year-old gentleman believes in a life with purpose, as in thoughtfully transporting toys from basket to couch, offering full-body hug therapy, and shadowing his person in case an extra set of paws is required for a project. He delights in outdoor adventures ending with a pup cup, wrestling with doggie friends, and strolls in the neighborhood where kids come out to greet “hey Dude!”
Buck is a four-year-old love bug ready to be your shadow! Read about this adorable dog here.
As a refined companion, he is house-trained and trustworthy when left to roam the home alone. Buck is the one who won’t just fit into your life, but elevate it, and he’s ready to take that job seriously. Applications are open and can be found at www.twobytworescue.com/adopting. If you’re ready to grow your family by four feet, visit our website to see all our fabulous fur kids up for adoption at www.twobytworescue.com. Two by Two is a faith-based, no kill rescue whose mission is to give life to abandoned, abused, and unwanted companion animals. Saving animal lives for more than 20 years, Two by Two is foster home based and operates out of Birmingham, Ala. †
Growing up on a farm often involves the whole family. Lots of laughter, hard work, good food, and stories that will be told for years to come are the results of this labor. When kids are little, they “help” their family and learn as they go. This may take a little more patience for the farmer, but it is certainly worth it when those same children grow up and become knowledgeable helping hands on the farm. However, sometimes things do go awry. Such is the case when my husband, David, and his big sister, Phyllis, decided to take matters into their own hands to “help” their daddy spread fertilizer.
Jack and Pat Standridge with their children Phyllis and David.
Keeping the fields and pastures in top condition by spreading fertilizer is done yearly. David’s dad, Jack, had a spreader truck that he used on his place and for other farmers as well. One day, he had both children with him to “help” him spread fertilizer. Now David was only six years old, and Phyllis was eight. After loading the fertilizer, they headed to the field. Now, when spreading fertilizer, the ratio is set for how much to spread per acre, then the farmer sets a slow speed on the truck and guides it to ensure good coverage in the field. Dad got everything set, and little David and Phyllis were bouncing along in the truck cab with him. They were going very slowly to ensure good coverage. All was well. Dad needed to check and see how much they had left in the hopper of the spreader truck. So, he told David, who had a little experience steering tractors, “David, hold this steering wheel straight, and Phyllis, press the gas a little bit to keep it running while I go back and check to make sure the hopper is clean.” He said he would only be a minute. So, with the truck still bouncing along slowly in low gear in a straight line through the large field, Dad stepped out onto the sideboard, shut the door, and headed back to check the status.
David and Danna’s three children pose for a photo on the family’s spreader truck.
David climbed into the seat, took the wheel, and held it straight, while Phyllis got on the floorboard to press the gas. Now Phyllis couldn’t see out, but she could see the speedometer. She said, “David, I’m looking at the speedometer, and we are going zero. Daddy said to keep it at a low speed. What do you think we should do?” David responded, “Press harder.” And she did. “It’s still zero. I’ll press it even harder,” Phyllis said. So, she kept pressing harder and harder on the gas, but that speedometer was still at zero. Finally, David said, “Phyllis, Dad said to keep it in a straight line, but we are getting really close to running into that fence and the woods at the edge of the field. Do you think I should turn?” She agreed, “Yes, turn it.” At about that time, several things happened at once. David turned that steering wheel hard, Phyllis pushed the gas even harder, the door jerked open on its hinges and swung wide, and there was Jack hanging on with feet a flying, scrambling to pull himself into the cab, “What are y’all doing? I’ve been holding on for dear life!” Dad took the wheel and brought the truck to a stop. The crisis was averted. He got them all settled down. Then they told him how they tried so hard to get the speed up and how they pushed so hard on that gas pedal. Glad that all was well, Dad had a good laugh and told them that the speedometer was broken! He decided to wait a little bit longer before he let them take the wheel again.
The farming adventure has been told time and again with much laughter as we all have the mental image of David at the wheel, Phyllis on the floor, and Dad hanging on for dear life as that big spreader truck bounced across that field. Enjoy one of Jack’s favorite meals.
In a Dutch oven, layer potatoes and carrots. Place the quartered cabbage on top. Cut sausage into 2-inch pieces and place on top of cabbage. Add 2 cups water and cover. Cook over medium heat for 30 minutes until vegetables are tender when pierced with a fork. Serve with cornbread.
Birmingham Christian Family(BCF) recently welcomed church leaders from in and around the Birmingham area to gather together for a time of fellowship, networking, and prayer. The event, hosted at Carrabba’s Italian Grill on Highway 280, was designed to show appreciation to the church leaders for the work they do each and every week to share the Good News of Jesus Christ in the community.
The Birmingham Christian Family team was honored to welcome church leaders from around Birmingham for a Thank You Lunch at Carrabba’s Italian Grill.
Devoted to promoting fellowship between denominational lines, the event welcomed pastors from five different denominations for an hour of encouragement and delicious food. Each attendee shared information about the latest happenings at their church. Churches represented included: Church on the Bluff, Hope Church Gardendale, Lutheran Church of Vestavia Hills, Meadow Brook Baptist Church, Valley Christian Church, and Urban Hope Community Church. The lunch also connected the pastors with local resources that could benefit their congregants. These resources included: Still Waters Counseling and Education Center, Sav-A-Life Shelby, Linda Harper Music, Abby Schmucker Coaching, and Fortify Christian Counseling.
Special thanks to Carrabba’s owner Will Hussey and his staff for wonderful service and delicious food.
Recap. Alton Hardy of Urban Hope Community Church presented a rundown of the Urban Hope Leadership Initiative, which offers discipleship and training opportunities to African American college graduates. Big news from Hope Church Gardendale’s Amy Sizemore came in the form of a new children’s church space and information on their Kingdom Kids Consignment Sale in support of foster families and other missions. Meadow Brook Baptist Church’s Worship Pastor David Vaughan shared a brief history of the hidden gem of a church. Nestled within the heart of Highway 280, the church’s mission is to serve and expand throughout the community.
Birmingham Christian Family founder Laurie Franklin discussed BCF’s Find A Church program which offers readers a print and online directory of churches in the Birmingham area. For more information about Find A Church, visit www.birminghamchristian.com/findachurch. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this wonderful lunch!
Sozo Children, a ministry to children in Uganda, lives up to the meaning of its name. “Sozo is a Greek word meaning to save and rescue,” said Suzanne Owens, founder and CEO of Sozo Children. “The beautiful thing about that word is it means to save and rescue not only in the physical sense, but also in a spiritual sense.”
Sozo Children is a Birmingham-based ministry that “provides at-risk children with proper nutrition, healthcare, quality education, spiritual development, and life skills guided by a team of Ugandan caregivers to build strong leaders for Christ who will have a positive impact on the next generation of Ugandan society.”
In 2009, Owens served as a youth pastor in a Birmingham church and helped support two college graduates engaging in long-term mission work in Uganda. Their nine-month trip revealed the needs of a poorly maintained children’s home where the children suffered abuse, unsanitary conditions and starvation. As a mother herself, Owens was compelled to stand in the gap and opened the first children’s home in 2010, supported through a collaboration of Ugandan and U.S. missions.
Since that time, the ministry has grown from 17 children and one home to a 38-acre campus with eight homes and 138 children in its care. Its mission to “empower vulnerable children to become thriving leaders for Jesus Christ” is carried out through programs providing daily essentials, health and nutrition, spiritual guidance, quality education including college and more, all led by a dedicated Ugandan staff.
To learn more about Sozo Children and how you can get involved, visit www.sozochildren.org.
Safina, 6, is one child finding health and hope through Sozo Children. Found by police in May 2025 after a call from concerned neighbors, Safina had severe burns on her hands and was extremely malnourished and traumatized. Police brought her to Sozo Children where she receives daily care and love. Today, she is a healthy, outgoing child with a promising future.
Sozo Children is primarily funded through monetary donations along with income from Sozo Trading Co, its upscale thrift store located at 4 41st Street South in Avondale, featuring global goods, vintage finds and boutique fashion. Volunteers help staff the store, which is stocked with donated items from the ministry’s supporters.
Throughout the year, Owens and her team welcome volunteers to visit Uganda as mission teams. Sozo Children also hosts an annual two-day medical camp—in 2025, the event drew around 1,700 Ugandans in need of medical care, and an estimated 100 received Christ as their Savior! Already, multiple churches throughout Alabama support the work of Sozo Children. “We invite churches to join us to help Ugandan children thrive and become leaders for Jesus in their communities,” Owens said. “Please pray for our staff in Uganda and in the States that we receive holy wisdom to lead, guide and grow our children up in Christ.” For more information about Sozo Children, mission opportunities, fundraising and events, visit www.sozochildren.org. To stay updated on its latest developments, visit its social media page @sozochildren.
– Juliana V. Larocco
In the video below, Sozo Children Founder Suzanne Owens shares more details about what inspired her to create the ministry, how she has seen the Ugandan children they serve flourish, and more.
“These days, the abortion clinic is not down the street. It’s actually in the mailbox,” explains Sav-A-Life Shelby Executive Director Bobby Lewis. The accessibility of abortion pills has caused the local ministry to focus on their online presence. “Women experiencing unplanned pregnancies can go online and order the pill. Even though it’s illegal here in Ala., it’s kind of hard to control. So, before they are able to get the pill, we are doing our best to get to them before they make a bad decision,” Lewis adds. Practically, this looks like appearing high in Google search results and when women are looking for answers (studies show that women often research options between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m.) being there to help them. Sav-A-Life Shelby has added the ability for women to go online anytime to schedule appointments with one of the two Women First Pregnancy Resource Centers located in Pelham and Chelsea.
Here is a peek inside the Women First Pregnancy Center located in Chelsea.The clinic is now open on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays to serve women in the area.
Resources Offered at Women First Pregnancy Resource Centers. When a woman arrives for her appointment, they will take a pregnancy test and then connect with a client advocate. “The client advocate listens and assesses where they are at and what’s going on in their life,” Lewis says, adding that they also share the Gospel with the woman. Next, a nurse comes in and shares the results of the pregnancy test, talks about options, and schedules an ultrasound. The Chelsea location has recently seen an increase in activity and demand, so they are now open three days a week: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
Get Involved. Sav-A-Life Shelby always has volunteer opportunities available. “Our volunteers are generally receptionists, client advocates or serve in the Earn While Your Learn Boutique where women take classes, earn points and then are able to purchase needed items for their baby in the boutique,” Lewis says. Volunteers are asked to dedicate four hours one day a week (four times per month) to the ministry. They currently have openings at both locations. To learn more, visit www.savalifeshelby.org/get-involved.
Walk for Her. Gather a group of friends, family or coworkers to walk for Sav-A-Life Shelby from March 30 – April 24, 2026. “Walk for Her is an opportunity for people to walk wherever they are,” Lewis says, adding, “Like always, we ask walkers to generate sponsors for their walk. This will culminate with an Open House on April 25, 2026 at both the Pelham and Chelsea locations.” To learn more about Sav-A-Life Shelby and Women First Pregnancy Centers, visit www.savalifeshelby.org.
-Melissa Armstrong
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The International Mission Board (IMB) and their missionary teams in Italy have been planning for the 2026 Winter Olympics for two years. The world would be coming to Milan and Cortina so how could they not use this opportunity to spread the Good News of Jesus? I never dreamed that I would be joining them! I had the amazing opportunity to travel to Milan, Italy with five close friends to share the Gospel with people from all around the world. The six of us joined about 45 others from around the US and were hosted by the missionary teams in Italy for the first week of the Olympics with a second team arriving for the second week.
The three specially designed pins are attached to a card with a QR code. When someone scans the code itwillopentoapage with a Gospel message in their language. This was especially helpful in overcoming the language barrier.
Our main purpose was to talk to people and make connections which then lead to Gospel conversations. It helps to have a tool so the IMB provided us with a scarf and specially designed pins to hand out. Pin trading is a popular activity at the Olympics. We had three different pins to hand out and each pin is on a card that has a QR code. When you scan the code it takes you to a website with the Gospel message in your language. We were surprised at how many people pulled out their phones and scanned the code immediately! During the week I was there, our team of 50 people gave away about 10,000 pins to people from many, many countries on six continents! Seven people prayed to accept Christ and many more were open to the conversation and took the pin and Gospel message back home with them.
he Duomo Cathedral is the centerpoint of Milan. Construction began in 1386 and was completed in 1965. Catholic mass is still held here every day. Our evangelism team started each day here. It’s a popular tourist spot and talking to people as they were taking photos was a great way to make connections.
Milan is such a beautiful city! We spent a lot of time around the Duomo Cathedral, and the Sforza Castle where people were seeing the sights and taking photos. An easy way to engage conversation was to simply spot a group trying to take a selfie and offer to take their photo. For the most part, we were met with friendly faces and the pins we were handing out were very popular. We met a young man on the first day who was working security at one of the Olympic visitor booths. We chatted with him, and prayed with him and every day after when we saw him he would just light up and give us a big hug. We went to a few Olympic events including the Opening Ceremonies and an Ice Skating event. Wearing the scarves with the pins gave us the opportunity to open up a Gospel conversation everywhere we went!
What a joy to serve the Lord and be a part of this once in a lifetime opportunity in the beautiful city of Milan with my best friends!
— Wendy Satterwhite Art Director, Birmingham Christian Family
Perryn Carroll became the Executive Director of the Jimmie Hale Mission (JHM) in the fall of 2022. This past January, she chose to spend a night out in the cold in Downtown Birmingham, Ala. Why? “Last summer, I began asking myself how to truly understand and help those in need who had experienced the trauma and uncertainty of life on the streets,” Carroll answers, adding, “I realized compassion can’t grow from a distance. It comes from stepping closer to the reality of homelessness and learning from experience, not just as a compassionate onlooker.”
Jimmie Hale Mission Executive Director Perryn Carroll is seen here during her night out in the cold.
Night Out in the Cold. Reflecting on her experience spending the night out in the cold, Carroll says she learned many things. “I saw how quickly dignity feels vulnerable when isolation sets in, and basic needs can’t be met.” She experienced firsthand that homelessness “is a real human experience that calls for deep compassion and responsibility.” The weather during Carroll’s night downtown included misty rain and low temperatures in the low thirties. During her night, she felt sadness but not fear. “I had an overwhelming feeling of sadness. I felt invisible as people passed by… busy with their lives and their purpose. When things grew quiet, I wasn’t afraid. I was aware of the bone-chilling physical cold and the mental coldness brought from the separation from community,” Carroll says.
Reflecting on her experience, she shares, “In this situation, one quickly realizes how we take so many things for granted in our day-to-day lives.”
Because of her night out in the cold, Carroll now has a fresh perspective on homelessness in our community. “I now understand that survival becomes urgent when you have nothing. I saw that homelessness isn’t just about the physical need for warmth and shelter, but about being isolated, continuously uncertain, and without a sense of person,” Carroll says.
JHM has been a place for the homeless population in Birmingham to find hope for more than 80 years. The ministry currently has three facilities- Royal Pines, Shepura Men’s Center, and Jessie’s Place- and is currently raising funds for a new emergency shelter. To learn more about JHM, visit www.jimmiehalemission.com.
Their wedding was beautiful, full of love, happiness, and excitement. Now, the demands of life and lack of consideration have dimmed the memory of their special day. Like a deflated cluster of vibrant balloons, their love has lost its luster. The couple must commit to working hard, not giving up, and making the necessary changes to reinflate their diminished love. Rebuilding requires purposeful actions.
Indicators of Deflation. Marital love does not lose air all at once. The leak is gradual. Deflation continues as couples become less attentive to each other. For example, a spouse says or does something that makes their mate feel small. Or one person makes all the family decisions without discussion.Deflation also happens when a spouse avoids eye contact, pretends not to hear, and does not respond. This behavior does not resolve or address the situation; it prolongs the discord. Matters can escalate when couples hold on to hurt and hide their feelings instead of addressing them.Self-reflection and transparent communication can reveal each person’s contribution to the problems. The key is to arrive at meaningful solutions without blaming each other.Here are three questions couples can ask to start the process.
What do my actions reveal?
Would my spouse say my actions match my words?
Do I have consistent dialogue with my spouse during meals, giving my full attention?
A spouse who continues to put themselves first can invite disharmony and a loss of affection.The Bible instructs in Philippians 2:3-4, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
Three Ways to Inflate.
Commit to reset and move forward together.
Reminisce about the good times.
Avoid using unkind words. Remember, hurtful words are damaging and irretrievable. They are like pouring a bottle of drinking water into the ocean; you can never recover its original contents.
Marital transformation requires affection, attention, and appreciation. Determined husbands and wives prepare themselves for the journey of reviving the love they once enjoyed. They do what it takes to repair the wounds in their relationship. When couples treasure their marital love, pleasant and unforgettable memories abound.
-Vanessa M. Jones
Vice President & Co-founder of Biblical Marriage Institute
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