National Christian Foundation Alabama Welcomes New President

March 14, 2023October 26, 2021 by Laurie Stroud

Business Today

On January 1, 2022, Ricky Brooks became the new President of The National Christian Foundation/Alabama (NCF) replacing outgoing President Tom Bradford, who retired for health reasons. “I’ve been privileged to lead NCF/Alabama all these years and am blessed by the growth we have seen and the impact generated through the giving of these funds. I could not think of a better leader than Ricky Brooks to guide our office. His experience, servant’s heart and passion for NCF/Alabama will continue these incredible results.”

NCF/Alabama is an affiliate office of the National Christian Foundation, the 6th largest foundation in the US, headquartered in Atlanta. Bradford opened the Alabama affiliate in January of 2008 with 12 families who had donor-advised funds. Through Bradford’s leadership, from these small beginnings the foundation has grown to over 940 invested families and is ranked by the Birmingham Business Journal as the largest Charitable Trust in Birmingham. Over the years these families have granted out over $280 million to their favorite charities.

Brooks has been affiliated with NCF/Alabama from the start, as he was instrumental in bringing NCF/Alabama to Birmingham as a founding family and has served on the Board of Directors. He is the former CEO and Executive Chairman of Express Oil Change and Tire Engineers. Under his leadership the business grew from 48 stores with $30 million in revenue to over 800 stores with $1.4 billion in annual revenue. He is currently serving as President of the Vestry at St. Peter’s Anglican Church and is also Chairman of the Board of Campus Outreach Serve, an international ministry which resources Campus Outreach ministries serving 125 campuses on six continents. “I’m humbled and excited by this opportunity,” shares Brooks, “and am looking forward to starting this new role. I’m grateful for Tom’s leadership and will be building on this foundation as we take NCF/Alabama into the future.” To learn more about NCF/Alabama, visit www.ncfgiving.com/alabama. †

October 26, 2021 by Laurie Stroud

Miracle Moments

Brought to you by: Molly Maid of Birmingham, www.mollymaid.com/birmingham

“The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace,” Exodus 14:14 NKJV

Johnson in Firefighter Uniform — Andrew Johnson served as a firefighter in the Birmingham area for more than 13 years. BCF honors him and all of the first responders who protect our community daily!

July 29, 2016, started as a normal day for Birmingham Firefighter Andrew Johnson. At 1:45 a.m., Johnson and his team at Station 19 in East Lake, responded to a house fire call. As he was going deeper into the burning house, he went to take a deeper breath. “When I took that deep breath, my regulator fell off. I was in panic mode,” Johnson says, explaining that he became confused because of the darkness and carbon monoxide which led him to collapse. He was found unconscious under a table in the home. “Next thing I know, I woke up 12 days later in the ICU.”

“The burns were so severe, and the infection was so bad, my lungs were wanting to collapse,” Johnson says. Treatment was difficult because of the severe damage to Johnson’s lungs. For days, while Johnson was heavily sedated, the prognosis was uncertain. Johnson’s wife, Crystal, remembers praying for God’s will to be done- whatever that may be. During those tumultuous days, Crystal clung to the promise found in Exodus 14:14, “The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”

Johnson says that his hospital room had glass walls and his wife wrote Scripture verses on those walls. “People walked into my room and felt life,” Johnson explains, adding, “It wasn’t my wife, it wasn’t anybody. It was Christ who we had our faith in.” The body of Christ surrounded Johnson and his family during his long recovery. They received cards from churches, fire departments from all over the country. Hundreds of people visited the hospital and prayer vigils were held.

Johnson believes there was a spiritual battle happening during his 12 days in the ICU. God heard the prayers of His people and restored Johnson’s life and health. Due to his injuries from July 29, his 13.5 years as a firefighter ended. He now actively shares his faith story with the community. He also serves as the Children’s Minister at North Highland Baptist Church in Warrior, Ala. †

We need you to share your Miracle Moment! Email [email protected] Subject Line: Miracle Moments or call 205-408-7150.

October 26, 2021 by Laurie Stroud

bigstock Nurse Attending Senior Woman I 403387559

Legal Matters

Brought to you by: Community Partner Bradford & Holliman

Home care or hospice is stressful for families, but some legal tools can relieve at least some of the stress. With home care, families are faced with hiring an agency or becoming a direct employer of caregivers; both involve writing a lot of checks.

A specific Power of Attorney naming an adult child is better than adding a child to the parent’s checking account in most cases. When the parent passes away, the assets in the Power of Attorney-managed bank account remain part of the estate to be divided as the will specifies. However, if one child is on the parent’s checking account, at the parent’s death, that entire checking account becomes the property of that child and is not divided according to a will’s terms.

Be sure a Durable Power of Attorney covers both financial and healthcare decisions. It is okay to have the sibling who just happens to be a CPA oversee the financial matters and the sibling who is in healthcare oversee the healthcare decisions. Healthcare directives are still needed. And the will could specify yet another sibling as the executor since, after the parent’s demise, the power of attorney has no power.

A critical factor is to set up these legal tools in advance since many patients requiring home care or hospice may no longer be legally competent, especially in cases of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. A family should have their parent’s net worth summary or at least a listing of all financial accounts, contacts, and beneficiary designations because these factors impact filing for Medicaid, if needed, and eventually, the settling of an estate.

Since powers of attorney aren’t valid after death, families need to plan funeral and burial plans. If using a will, pre-need plans for the funeral and burial may be useful in reducing families’ stress. A trust can continue after death and handle these plans. When in her upper 90s, one lady (who lived to be over 100) had a trust in place, a power of attorney, healthcare directives, and set up her pre-need plan with her local funeral home. Her heirs were ever so grateful.

If you have an elderly family member facing home care or hospice, check with a qualified estate attorney to make sure that you have the right legal tools in place during this stressful time.

-Melanie B. Holliman, JD

Partner at Bradford & Holliman

Estate Planning, Trusts & Special Needs

205-663-0281

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.

October 26, 2021 by Laurie Stroud

bigstock Bird Eye View Clean And Peacef 382045355

Our House

Coming out of a hot summer market and into the fall of 2021, it seems the real estate market has followed the trends of the weather. Although we are without a doubt still in a seller’s market, real estate activity has certainly cooled off some. We are not seeing as many hair pulling moments amongst buyers that we were witnessing when it was 90+ degrees outside.

This should come as exciting news to those who have been thinking about purchasing! While we cannot do anything to combat the low inventory due to healthy demand, we can rest in the fact that finally, something this year is trending similarly to years past. If you recall, January and February were slower months with March being the turning point when things began to pick back up. This is how the market has traditionally acted- slow until after the Super Bowl and continuing to pick up pace as we enter summer. It begins cooling off a little before Labor Day as we enter the fall market and slowing more in the winter months. Just remember… houses sell every month because there are always people experiencing life events.

In three years of inventory history, the combined sales of November and December have far exceeded the best performing single month of any one in the spring. Julie and I worked with clients last year who purchased a great home for their family in December after getting it under contract in November. If they had waited until March to buy the same home, they undoubtedly would’ve spent more money due to higher levels of competition. Just last month, another client was able to win a contract in a multiple offer situation on a beautiful home with numerous upgrades while not exceeding the comps of the neighborhood. This same house in the summer months would have been the trendsetter for the neighborhood. In fact, the activity of October 2021 resembles the activity of November 2020. The biggest difference is that this year we are managing COVID and last year we were reacting to it. Both clients benefitted by having patience and persistence, and in the end, obtained their respective homes for a fair price based upon surrounding sales.

With a home being one of our largest investments and the place we spend most of our time, the home buying process can be a little tense. With nine years in the real estate industry, I continue to tell our clients, “Things always have a way of working out; just have faith.” Therefore, this month’s tip is to be the buyer in a market with less competition. Yes, it’s less convenient to move in the last part of the year and the beginning part of next, but in our experience, the tradeoff is a contract with a better price and more favorable terms.

-Tom and Julie Douglass

[email protected], [email protected]

205-999-2780, 205-999-4153

October 26, 2021 by Laurie Stroud

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Money Matters

Brought to you by: Community Partner Vision Financial Group, Inc.

What has changed for you in 2021? For some, this year has been as complicated as learning a new dance. Did you start a new job or leave a job behind? That’s one step. Did you retire? There’s another step. If notable changes occurred in your personal or professional life, then you may want to review your finances before this year ends and 2022 begins. Proving that you have all the right moves in 2021 might put you in a better position to tango with 2022. Keep in mind this article is for informational purposes only and is not a replacement for real-life advice. Please consult your tax, legal, and accounting professionals before modifying your tax strategy.

Do you engage in tax-loss harvesting? That’s the practice of taking capital losses (selling securities worth less than what you first paid for them) to manage capital gains. You might want to consider this move, but it should be made with the guidance of a financial professional you trust. (1) In fact, you could even take it a step further. Consider that up to $3,000 of capital losses in excess of capital gains can be deducted from ordinary income, and any remaining capital losses above that amount can be carried forward to offset capital gains in upcoming years. (1)

Do you want to itemize deductions? You may just want to take the standard deduction for the 2021 tax year, which has risen to $12,550 for single filers and $25,100 for joint. If you do think it might be better for you to itemize, now would be a good time to get the receipts and assorted paperwork together. (2,3)

Are you thinking of gifting? How about donating to a qualified charity or non-profit organization before 2021 ends? Your gift may qualify as a tax deduction. For some gifts, you may be required to itemize deductions using Schedule A. (4) While we’re on the topic of year-end moves, why not take a moment to review a portion of your estate strategy. Specifically, take a look at your beneficiary designations. If you haven’t reviewed them for some time, double-check to see that these assets are structured to go where you want them to go, should you pass away. Lastly, look at your will to see that it remains valid and up-to-date.

Check on the amount you have withheld. If you discover that you have withheld too little on your W-4 form so far, you may need to adjust your withholding before the year ends.

What can you do before ringing in the New Year? New Year’s Eve may put you in a dancing move, eager to say goodbye to the old year and welcome 2022. Before you put on your dancing shoes, consider speaking with a financial or tax professional. Do it now, rather than in February or March. Little year-end moves might help you improve your short-term and long-term financial situation.

-Vision Financial Group

4505 Pine Tree Circle, Birmingham, AL 35243

www.vision-financialgroup.com

205-970-4909

Securities offered through Concourse Financial Group Securities, Inc. (CFGS), Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Concourse Financial Group Advisors, a DBA for CFGS, a Registered Investment Advisor. Vision Financial Group, Inc. is independent of Concourse Financial Group Securities, Inc. This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates.

Citations

Investopedia.com, January 8, 2021
NerdWallet.com, April 12, 2021
Investopedia.com, August 23, 2021
Investopedia.com, December 28, 2020

October 26, 2021 by Laurie Stroud

Senior Scene

Fall Festival Cotton Candy — Events like this Fall Festival are a regular part of Brookdale University Park’s resident and staff activities.

Celebrating Fall with Lots of Fun! Brookdale University Park recently hosted a fall festival for residents and their families with all things “autumn” that one could imagine; apple cider, cornhole, boiled peanuts, cotton candy and even a photo booth using a pick up truck belonging to one of our residents. This was another opportunity for residents to enjoy a festive and fun event while ushering in the beautiful fall weather.

Experience the Joy of the Season at our Holiday Open House

Brookdale exterior at night — Events like this Fall Festival are a regular part of Brookdale University Park’s resident and staff activities.

Celebrate the season with Brookdale University Park as we rekindle the magic that makes this time of year so special. It’s a perfect opportunity to create new memories with those you hold dear. Make plans now to attend.

Thursday, December 9, 2021, 5:00-7:00 p.m.

Santa, Carriage Rides, Refreshments, Entertainment, Community Tours

400 University Park Drive, Homewood, AL 35209, 205-870-0786

An Invitation to Experience Brookdale

We are excited and proud to say that Brookdale University Park is open to new residents! Brookdale residents enjoy an engaging lifestyle with a selection of care options to meet changing needs. The community conveniently located off Lakeshore Drive offers a full continuum of care, including independent living, assisted living, Alzheimer’s and dementia care and skilled nursing and rehabilitation. Call 205-870-0786 to connect with one of our team members who would be delighted to help you plan your personal visit, www.brookdale.com.

Who Should or May Get COVID-19 Booster?

You’ve probably heard a lot of discussion in the news about a booster for the COVID-19 vaccine. The information is changing rapidly, but for now, here are some things you should know about the booster and its role in helping to prevent serious illness from COVID-19.The CDC has made the Pfizer/BioTech booster available for people who received the Pfizer vaccine series more than six months ago and who meet the following criteria:

Brookdale resident after booster vaccine — Brookdale resident shows gratitude after receiving the COVID-19 booster shot on site at Brookdale University Park.

CDC says these individuals should get the booster:

Adults over the age of 65
Adults over the age of 18 who live in long-term care settings
Adults age 50-64 with underlying medical conditions

CDC says these individuals may get the booster:

Adults age 18-49 with underlying medical conditions
Adults over the age of 18 who work in high-risk settings (i.e. first responders, teachers, front-line essential workers and healthcare providers)
Adults over the age of 18 who live in high-risk settings (i.e. correctional facilities, homeless shelters)

Why is a booster shot needed? While the COVID-19 vaccines are effective at preventing severe illness and hospitalization, protection seems to be waning against mild and moderate cases of the disease. For more vulnerable populations, a booster shot is thought to enhance protection and further prevent complications from COVID.

Is Brookdale making booster shots available to its residents? Yes! Brookdale residents who received the Pfizer vaccine series at least six months ago are being offered the booster shot via on-site clinics beginning on Sept. 27. Brookdale University Park hosted a booster clinic on October 6th for residents and associates. Much more news on boosters is expected in the coming weeks, so to stay up-to-date make sure to visit the CDC’s COVID-19 site regularly.

-Leanne Messer, Brookdale University Park

Contact Leanne to participate in upcoming Brookdale educational offerings and to schedule a tour, [email protected], 205-613-0688

October 26, 2021 by Laurie Stroud

bigstock Happy Thanksgiving Day Autumn 387236134

Parenting Points

As we gather around the turkey, dressing, green beans, mashed potatoes with brown gravy, and the warm rolls, our immediate temptation is to rush into eating. Thanksgiving stands as one of the greatest meals of the calendar year, yet it is easy for us to rapidly move into activity and miss the spiritual significance of the day – the blessing of family, the remembrance of a faithful God, and the worshipful response of thanks and praise to Him.

In Psalms 100, King David writes a psalm for giving thanks, which is worth reading before you dive into the desserts. In Psalm 100:4-5, David writes: “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” From these verses we see three truths for a Thanksgiving season:

1. The Blessing of Family. David writes of “all generations.” Throughout the Old Testament, we read stories of generations of people who have sought to follow God. We see the highs and lows, successes and failures, and good times and bad times. These stories remind us of the stories from older generations as they share their own stories around our Thanksgiving table. As stories are shared around the dinner table, let us remember we are a part of a story bigger than us and our family.

2. The Remembrance of a Faithful God. David calls his readers to praise because God is “good” and “his steadfast love endures forever.” The Old Testament stories speak of a God who is with and for His people. Throughout this year, we have seen His same faithful hand at work in our lives and our families. As our stories are shared, do we recount of how God has been faithful to us and to our family?

3. The Worshipful Response of Thanks and Praise. We have many reasons to give thanks and praise, as David writes. God is faithful to us. God has provided for us. God has rescued us in Jesus. God has brought our families safely together to respond to Him in praise.

This Thanksgiving, will your day be simply marked by a turkey coma, or will your family join with David and the saints through the ages to praise and thank the God who is worthy?

-Dr. Ben Birdsong

Missions Minister at Christ Church Birmingham

Writer and Speaker

www.benbirdsong.com

October 26, 2021 by Laurie Stroud

Best Books

Authors Katy Shelton and Anna Nash go way back. Soon after they were born in Birmingham, their mothers connected and Anna’s mother led Katy’s mother to Jesus. Katy and Anna became childhood friends, high school friends, and college roommates. Many years later, they found themselves at that empty-nest, middle stage in life and they both wanted more. They didn’t want to settle down or retire, they wanted to start over, to begin anew. They wanted to make a difference.

Anna founded a ministry called Beacon People and Katy discovered a new passion for writing and editing. That’s when their lives once again merged. Anna needed an editor for Beacon People, Katy needed to hone her new skills, and so the collaboration began. In 2016, a beautiful and meaningful working partnership was born.

Fast forward a few years to a new idea for a project: a book intended to help place focus on Jesus—His birth, His life, His death, and His resurrection—at Christmastime. Anna accepted Katy’s challenge, they began writing, and that’s how their devotional Christmas Matters – How the Birth of Jesus Makes a Difference Every Day was born. The book parallels the 24 chapters in the gospel of Luke with the 24 days in December leading to Christmas. Their greatest desire was simply to help others focus on the Savior, the Messiah, during Christmas and beyond.

Katy and Anna welcome you to join them on an exciting and inspiring journey this December as they celebrate Jesus’ birth and rejoice in His resurrection, and also this Spring as their series continues with Easter Matters – How the Resurrection of Jesus Changes You. Come discover how Jesus can make a difference in your life today and every day. †

October 26, 2021 by Laurie Stroud

Best Books

Long ago, the capital of world power was based in a city most people have never heard of. From the city of Susa, Xerxes ruled over an empire which covered almost half the world’s population and covered more territory than America. Living in the midst of the Persian empire were thousands of the descendants of God’s people who had been exiled from Judah. One of them was a beautiful Jewish girl who lived with her uncle. Her name was Esther, and her story changed the course of human history.

In his new book, You Were Made for This Moment (Thomas Nelson), Max Lucado tells the story of Esther, Mordecai, Haman and Xerxes. Although God is never mentioned in the Book of Esther, He is everywhere implied. Her story is one of innocence lost, of powerful men who are weak and foolish, of treachery and injustice and greed. But it is also a story which reflects the silent hand of God, moving behind the scenes and using ordinary people to rescue the oppressed and bring justice to evil. Living as a godly person in the Persian empire was a dangerous enterprise. The story of Esther and Mordecai reflects the tension between prudence and bravery. Knowing when to speak prophetically to power and when to stay silent is not always self-evident. It is a tension God’s people live with today.

Our Jewish brothers and sisters hold the story of Esther in very high regard. Perhaps it is because they feel the tension of living as a religious minority in a world dominated by other expressions of faith. I propose that they have something to teach us. A few hundred years after Esther risked her life to save a people living as strangers and aliens in an ungodly land, the Apostle Peter wrote that disciples of Jesus were a “chosen people, a royal priesthood” who were living as “strangers and aliens.” Whether we like it or not, Jesus has called his followers to be aliens and strangers in this world, a people who are set apart – forever standing on the edge of society and speaking prophetically to the powers of this world. Sometimes that means living quietly and in peace. Sometimes that means we must lift every voice and shout from the rooftops. May God give us wisdom to know the difference.

-Darrel Holcombe, Owner

Sanctuary Christian Books and Gifts

Colonial Promenade, Alabaster

www.sanctuarychristianbooksandgifts.com

205-663-2370

October 27, 2021October 26, 2021 by Laurie Stroud

Healthy Living

Navigating the mental health care system can be challenging for patients, families and providers. Add to that, a COVID-19 pandemic that upended nearly all aspects of ‘normal’ life almost overnight. However, the team of clinicians who make up the Psychiatric Intake Response Center (PIRC) at Children’s of Alabama continued to connect adult callers to mental health resources when they needed it the most. “The pandemic forced everyone to recognize children were in crisis before and even more so now,” said PIRC Director Cindy Jones.

PIRC is a collaboration between Children’s of Alabama and the Anne B. LaRussa Foundation for Hope. It opened in 2018 to connect adult callers to mental health resources for children and teens. Calls are answered by licensed mental health clinicians trained to assess a child or teen’s emotional and behavioral needs. PIRC is open seven days a week, 8 a.m.-11 p.m. Any adult with a mental health question or concern regarding their child is encouraged to call 205-638-7472. The PIRC is only one of three of its kind in the country. The team at Children’s of Alabama has established itself as a strong group of expert clinicians. Each member of the team brings his or her own skill set, with specialties including ADHD, autism, developmental delays, sexually reactive behaviors, mood and psychotic disorders and behavioral concerns such as conduct disorders.

In its first 12 months of service, PIRC took more than 1,100 calls and had a database of more than 1,000 mental health providers representing every county in Alabama. In 2020, PIRC received more than 1,900 calls, and its database has grown to more than 1,600 providers. “When someone calls the PIRC, we are able to briefly assess the situation and point them in the right direction,” Jones said. “We’ve done a lot of research and know the mental health providers in your community. Calling us helps you save time and energy so that you may focus on providing the support your child needs.”

Warning Signs. Jones said parents should watch for these signs of mental distress occurring more than two weeks in their children: Isolating themselves, changes in eating habits, unexplained weight changes, changes in sleeping habits, mood swings, increased irritability and frustration, frequent crying spells and violent, aggressive outbursts. Once these signs are identified, call the PIRC to find the appropriate mental health treatment for your child.

As the pandemic wore on, caregivers and children alike struggled to adapt to the ‘new normal.’ The strain of uncertainty, fear, isolation, depression, anxiety and frustration associated with the pandemic took its toll and has not let up. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted for 2020 that “emergency rooms have seen a 24 percent increase in mental health-related visits from children ages 5 to 11 compared to last year (2019). The increase among older kids is even higher — 31 percent.” Rates of suicidal thinking and behavior were up by 25 percent or more from similar periods in 2019, according to researchers with the American Academy of Pediatrics. At Children’s in 2020, the PIRC team was called in for more than 2,900 psychiatric consults in the emergency department, and 51 percent of those required inpatient stabilization. Clinicians emphasize the PIRC is not a suicide or crisis hotline, but instead a valuable resource for parents, physicians, school nurses, teachers, counselors, grandparents, foster parents or anyone who is seeking mental health services on a child’s behalf. PIRC does not provide over the phone diagnoses.

Anyone experiencing a crisis should call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts should call the 24-hour, seven-day-a-week National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). For more information, visit ChildrensAL.com/PIRC. †

National Christian Foundation Alabama Welcomes New President

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