Handling Your Legal Affairs From a Healthy Distance

April 27, 2020 by Laurie Stroud

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Legal Matters

Presented by: Bradford & Holliman, Estate Planning

Face-to-face meetings are required to sign many legal documents, but the legal community has really stepped up its use of technology to minimize face-to-face meetings. Many clients are already comfortable using Facetime and Skype for face-to-face calls with their families. Now is a good time to put that to use as you handle your legal affairs.

Initial consultations can easily be held via phone calls. Briefing forms can be emailed or even completed online. Documents can be mailed or scanned and emailed directly to your attorney’s office. Best of all, with secure video conferencing, family meetings can still read facial expressions that help communications and used for witnessing signatures. Recently, at Bradford & Holliman, we met with a deaf client and used secure video conferencing to add an interpreter to the call. The client could read our lips pretty well, and the interpreter made sure there were no miscommunications.

Even without COVID-19 on the loose, secure video conferencing is very convenient for clients who are not very mobile and for family members who are located far away but need to be involved in your legal matters. Video conferencing saves time and travel expenses for the family members. Now some older folks are almost proud that they don’t use technology, but that is no excuse for not moving forward with your legal needs. Consider it home schooling and impress your kids and grandkids.

Technology can’t fix the need for filing or recording documents in area courts that are closed, but there’s no reason to delay all the preparations that occur before those two events. All lawyers would much prefer to shake your hand in person, but even more importantly, they want to protect your health, whether you are classified as high risk or not. Stay safe and healthy!

-Melanie B. Holliman, JD

Partner at Bradford & Holliman

Estate Planning, Trusts & Special Needs

www.bradfordholliman.com

No representation is made that the quality of the legal service to be performed is greater than the quality of service performed by other lawyers.

April 22, 2020 by Laurie Stroud

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Special Feature

Coronavirus, COVID-19, and social distancing. Words previously unknown to many of us have become the center of many of our conversations. We stand in unprecedented times with lots of fear. It is as if we live each day in the dark not even wanting to imagine what is around the corner yet longing for life as we once knew it to return.

As I have lived through times of unknown, the Psalms have been a source of comfort and encouragement to me. This prayer book is full of people expressing the full depth of their emotions – the good, the bad, and the ugly – to a God who cares and remains present and sovereign over even the darkest moments. In Psalm 46:10-11, we find great encouragement for moments like the ones we find ourselves in:“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”

Social distancing, the clearing of schedules, and quarantine have forced a moment of stillness upon all of us. In this moment of stillness and looking forward into the dark, we can cling to the following three truths:

1. God Is Sovereign. God is not surprised by anything. Though we may think life is spinning out of control, we have a God who remains sovereignly in control. In Psalm 46, God is presented as the “Lord of hosts,” an image of a commander coming with his armies. God has all power, and we are invited to come inside and rest in the fortress of His protection.

2. Relationships Matter. Being still forces us to realize what really matters. Social distancing causes us to long for the relationships and community we once took for granted. In Psalm 46, God is praised, and His name is known. One of the ways God is exalted through times of darkness is when the church clings to each other and remembers God’s faithfulness. We have been blessed with relationships and community as one of our lifelines. We have the opportunity in the stillness to pick up the phone or turn on the video chat to connect with those who matter most.

3. God Is Our Sufficiency. Our life interruption has separated us from the many things we often use to define us. We are no longer able to depend on our possessions, jobs, power, or status to define who we are. These things do not matter nearly as much as they did a few weeks ago. When all of these things are stripped away, we are reminded where the true source of our sufficiency should lie – our relationship with Jesus Christ. He is there in every moment and when all other things fade away. As we continue to walk into whatever season is next, let us remember the faithfulness and sufficiency of God and the power of relationships so we will be different people when we emerge from the stillness.

–Ben Birdsong

Writer, speaker, and minister

www.benbirdsong.com

August 5, 2020April 17, 2020 by Laurie Stroud

Education Extra

Hope Inspired Ministries (HIM) celebrated their first class of 2020 with a graduation ceremony on March 10. Friends, family, mentors and supporters gathered to celebrate the six women who graduated from HIM’s job-training program and are now employed in the Birmingham area or are pursuing higher education routes. HIM Graduation ceremonies focus on the transformation of broken lives and are an emotional experience for graduates and guests.

Tracy Steverson diploma — Tracy Steverson is one of six recent graduates of Hope Inspired Ministries. She is seen above receiving her diploma.

These graduations demonstrate how great things are happening in our community! John Bowman, Executive Director of HIM, shares, “About six years ago, I attended my first Hope Inspired Ministries graduation. One word describes the addiction that was formed-WOW! At that moment I began to be changed by hearing how the students’ lives transformed through HIM. I fell in love with seeing how offering Hope can change a person’s life. Then, six years later, God brought me to HIM full-time. I am overwhelmed with thankfulness for the opportunity to help these graduates realize their purpose and value, set goals to reach self-sufficiency, and witness how their lives have been changed through HIM!”

HIM’s curriculum is focused on teaching essential life/soft skills, employment skills, character building, financial management, in addition to problem-solving, critical thinking, anger management, and conflict resolution. HIM combines classroom instruction with intensive case management that assists students with other life issues such as obtaining proper documents and navigating through legal issues. In 2017, due to the HIM’s proven formula of success, the ministry expanded their services into the Birmingham communities of Woodlawn, East Lake, and surrounding areas. In 2019, a partnership with The Foundry Ministries allowed HIM to also begin serving the men seeking help in their Birmingham area program.

Opportunity to Serve. Volunteers are vital to HIM. There are several different avenues of volunteering available. Volunteers provide lunches to meet physical needs. They provide support and encouragement to students through mentoring one day a week. Volunteers also help students advance their education through tutoring. Finally, volunteers assist with fundraising/special events and through financial support. For more information on how to be involved in transforming lives, contact Hope Inspired Ministries at [email protected] or by calling 205-202-6305. †

June 3, 2021April 14, 2020 by Laurie Stroud

Interested in writing for Birmingham Christian Family (BCF)?

Send us an email telling us about your story idea and why you think it is a good fit for BCF. Answer questions like: Why would our readers be interested in reading your article? How is it honoring to the Lord? It is also helpful to look at recent issues to be sure we have not recently published an article about the same topic, company, etc.

All articles for BCF must be related to Christianity and be glorifying to Jesus Christ. We have a wide range of article types including: Miracle Moments (share how God has worked in your life or you have witnessed how He has worked in someone else’s life), Faith at Work, Parenting, Education Extra, Healthy Living, Special Features, Church Leaders and more. We suggest reading several articles on our website, www.BirminghamChristian.com to see how the Christian faith is a central part of each article.

Format Guidelines: 400-450 word count, submit as a Microsoft Word Document, Times New Romans font and single spaced. To be considered for inclusion in the following month’s issue, an article must be submitted on or before the 5^th of the current month. Also, please understand that we cannot guarantee that your article will be published immediately, due to space constraints. If we decide your article is a good fit for BCF and reach out to you, you must sign a Contributor License Agreement giving us permission to publish your article. If specific images/pictures are referenced in your article, be sure to email them with your article, at the highest resolution possible, jpeg preferred.

Thank you for being interested in writing for BCF!

April 12, 2020April 10, 2020 by Laurie Stroud

Youth News

For nearly 30 years, First Priority has been known in Greater Birmingham as on-campus Christian clubs that meet at hundreds of elementary, middle and high schools. Over the decades, hundreds of thousands of local students have been involved in First Priority clubs. So, when campuses closed for the remainder of the school year, it seemed as though First Priority’s influence would also end. Our staff looked at each other and asked, “What do we do?” Honestly, I first thought we would get an early start on training student and adult volunteers for next school year. But then something else happened. We began to hear from students and adult leaders and started seeing their posts on social media and hearing from the people who make First Priority happen on their campuses, especially high school seniors. They weren’t ready to let it go and call it a year. They knew they still had the opportunity to reach their classmates with the Good News of Jesus. First Priority staff and volunteers simultaneously began promoting and holding online trainings for middle and high school students so they could continue their weekly club meetings virtually. We have had a great response! Probably one of the neatest things was having the teenagers learn from each other what they were experiencing as they attempted to provide a First Priority virtual forum for their school. We were learning on the go just like they were. We were all learning how to do this differently, but it’s been very effective thus far. We have had students join the virtual trainings from schools that did not currently have First Priority clubs! They knew this was a good and unique time to provide some hope to their classmates and looked to First Priority to help them.

First Priority staff and volunteers also began to put together weekly video lessons to finish the curriculum for this year’s FPKids clubs for elementary and intermediate school participants. We were able to provide lessons before many teachers began to hold online classes. Parents were happy to have a video lesson for their kids to use at home.

First Priority and FPKids virtual clubs are making a difference. Do you want to be a part of this unique movement to reach Every Last Student with the Gospel of Christ? There are multiple ways you can be involved. Contact us today: [email protected] or 205-871-8886.

–Greg Davis

President

First Priority Greater Birmingham

www.firstpriorityal.com

April 20, 2020April 7, 2020 by Laurie Stroud

Mission Makers

The King’s Home, The Foundry, Vapor Ministries, the Lovelady Center and Sozo Children run thrift stores in the Birmingham area to raise funds for their ministries and to serve families with affordable clothes and furniture. Due to the coronavirus, all of them have been forced to cease store operations as non-essential businesses. “This not only deprives low-income communities of bargains, but also eliminates the income the ministries receive from their sales. This income is vital to cover their operating expenses for the other services they provide to our community,” explains Tom Bradford, President of the National Christian Foundation (NCF) Alabama.

Bradford came up with a creative way the community could help. “The idea is to not only get some immediate cash to these ministries, but also do something to generate traffic when they can re-open,” says Bradford who set a goal to raise at least $100,000 in 10 days to purchase gift cards from the thrift stores to be redeemed when they re-open. The thrift store ministries agreed to sell the gift cards for 50% of value so that $100,000 would generate $200,000 in gift cards. The thrift stores will then distribute the gift cards through their current network of churches and ministries that they serve. “If, for example, they give them out in $25 increments, $200,000 will generate 8,000 shoppers once they re-open,” explains Bradford.

A special fund has been set up at NCF called “Alabama Covid-19 Relief Fund” and a link has been established so those who wish to can donate on line. Donations can also be made by check to the National Christian Foundation Alabama, 400 Office Park Drive, Birmingham, AL 35223. Be sure to write “COVID 19” on the memo line of the check. NCF will provide donors with a tax receipt.

Under the leadership of Kevin Moore, Area Director of Mission Increase Central Alabama, an advisory committee will administer the funds and send checks to the thrift store ministries. “None of the money will go to Mission Increase or NCF for fees – 100% will go to the thrift stores,” explains Bradford. As of April 20, 2020 more than $100,000 has been raised and most of that has already been distributed out to the five ministries. Donations are still needed.

April 25, 2023April 2, 2020 by Laurie Stroud

Let us help you answer what is often THE question of the day- “What’s for dinner?” Browse Birmingham Christian Family’s Ready Set Cook food section to help you make the most of mealtime and family time together. Share a favorite Recipe with us and be entered to win some great prizes that will enhance your family dinner time together. We will publish winning recipes each month in BCF and share with you on social media.

Submit a Recipe

Does your business offer ways to enhance mealtime and family time together? Share with our readers how you can help them as a sponsor of “Ready-Set-Cook!” Email [email protected] for details.

To Give You Inspiration here’s a recipe our cover story viral superstar and Southern cook Brenda Gantt shared with us!

Ready- Set- Cook! Now it’s your turn to share a recipe!

June 3, 2020March 31, 2020 by Laurie Stroud

Mission Makers

Join Sav-A-Life Shelby by being a light for the world during this critical time when the need for prayer is paramount. Sav-A-Life Shelby is following CDC guidelines in the light of COVID-19 for the 2020 Glow in the Dark Walk for Life on a future date at First Baptist Church Pelham.

The theme emphasizes that, “Jesus Christ is the Light of the World and He calls His followers to be a light in their world,” explains Bob Foust, Executive Director of Sav-A-Life Shelby. He adds, “In these times many good people are distressed about the spread of deadly viruses, society and the dark news abounds. We want to light Shelby County with the Good News of hope.”

The event will raise funds to reach women with unplanned pregnancies with the love of Christ. Funds provided are to meet the needs of pregnant women by providing for pregnancy tests, baby clothing and furnishings, parenting education for moms and dads, emergency baby supplies, maternity clothing, pregnancy options counseling and more. “The walk provides much needed funds so that Sav-A-Life Shelby can provide pregnancy tests, prenatal vitamins and other support so women with unplanned pregnancies are empowered to choose life for their baby,” Foust adds.

Foust’s prayer is that all churches and Christians in Shelby County participate in the fundraising event and help promote life in Christ for women and life for their babies. There are several ways individuals or groups can participate: They can register to walk, support a walker, or become a sponsor for $300.

The Glow in the Dark Walk for Life is an easy two miles on a smooth surface. The fun at First Baptist Pelham and will include face-painting, Christian music courtesy of Revocation Radio, and much more. Keep up with the latest plans and register to walk by going to www.shelbywalk.org or call Kelley at 205-664-1667. †

March 31, 2020 by Laurie Stroud

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Church Leaders

“Join me,” Pastor Mike Satterfield encouraged, “Easter weekend 2020 to stand firm; as we stand in faith; stand with clear focus; stand fighting for family; and stand in anticipation of a brighter future!” Satterfield is the Founder of Field of Grace Ministries and the Teaching Pastor at Fielder Church in Arlington, Texas. He is the guest speaker for the First Annual Easter Celebration on April 11 at the new Calera Courtyard behind the historic buildings in Old Downtown Calera.

Calera Main Street is an independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to revitalize its once-bustling downtown business district. Executive Director Jackie Baston shares, “We’re excited to kick off the spring season in our new Calera Courtyard with this great event. It’s our vision to see people enjoying downtown Calera and there’s no better reason to celebrate than with an Easter gathering.” She adds, “there will be incredible music spanning traditional, gospel and contemporary styles, plus a special message of hope and love. It’s going to be amazing.”

The event will feature a mass choir made up of vocalists from a dozen churches in the Calera area, with many of the local pastors from these churches contributing to the program. Local pastors will be available afterward for anyone who may wish to talk or be prayed for. The Easter Celebration will be outdoors, featuring bleacher and lawn chair seating. Participants are encouraged to bring a friend, grab their blankets and lawn chairs and enjoy the worship experience. Participant seating will begin at 2 p.m. The service is expected to run from 3-4:30 p.m. Immediately following, guests can enjoy coffee samples, giveaways, and fun activities throughout the downtown district including an opportunity to see the Easter Bunny!

Calera Churches participating in this year’s Easter Celebration are: Calera Baptist Church, Christian Life Fellowship, Collectivus Church, Concord Baptist Church, First Baptist Calera, Gospel Light Free Will Baptist Church, Grants Chapel AME Church, LakeHills Church, New Mt Moriah Baptist Church, Shiloh United Methodist Church and The Gathering Place – Calera. †

March 31, 2020 by Laurie Stroud

Best Books

Celebrate your God-given strength! You may not feel like the so-called perfect Proverbs 31 woman, but rest assured, you are the Proverbs 31 woman. No perfection required.
Strength of a Woman will have you celebrating as you understand the blessing God sings over you as a woman. Look at the familiar Proverbs 31 Scripture passage and begin to understand the Jewish teachings and the true meaning of the passage. Through this study of the passage you will:
– Discover the hidden beauty in the imagery of the Hebrew alphabet through word study;
– Understand the challenges you face now in comparison to those in biblical times;
– Embrace God’s purposes versus societies expectations; and
– Enjoy insights into a strong woman’s day-to-day life.

Lauren Crews earned her Master of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. An experienced leader in women’s ministry, speaking and writing Bible studies, she is also a full-time schoolteacher and a part-time adjunct professor equipped to break down difficult concepts into easy-to-understand truths. Her passion for Bible study and research is the birthplace for Strength of a Woman.

Strength of a Woman is available from NewHopePublishers.com and your favorite book retailers. †

Handling Your Legal Affairs From a Healthy Distance

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