Removing All Barriers to Recovering from Addiction: Will Bright Foundation

July 31, 2018 by Birmingham Christian Family

Will Bright Foundation Restoration Springs wide shot

Mission Makers

Lisa Bright with her son Will. The Will Bright Foundation(WBF) was established in his memory after he died in 2012 of a heroin overdose at the age of 25. Since his death, his parents with the help of volunteers have been working to stop this from happening to someone else.

The mission of the Will Bright Foundation (WBF) is to fill a critical need in the fight to break the barriers of addiction specifically in in Central/West Alabama area. “There is an unfilled need in the Birmingham/West Alabama area for a place for someone fresh out of recovery to live, receive spiritual support, job readiness skills, and find meaning and purpose to live a life free from the bonds of addiction,” explains Lisa Bright who along with her husband Bill decided to lead the charge in meeting this need after their son Will died of a heroin overdose at the age of 25. The Trussville couple established the non-profit foundation in order to offer scholarships to individuals and families struggling to pay for rehabilitation and establish “next step living” for men and women who have successfully completed an initial recovery program. “Sometimes people who have completed a recovery program aren’t ready to be in the real world on their own… We are calling it ‘transitional,’” explains founder Lisa Bright, “because our residents will be transitioning to a life not dominated by addiction!” The Bright’s remember, “Will was a kind, caring friend to all, and a drug addict. He tried so hard to overcome his addiction, but when he left rehab he had nowhere to go to get a fresh start. He got into drugs at such an early age that he really had no formal training of any kind, beyond a high school education. Will did have a part time job, but that wasn’t enough. When you feel like you don’t have a purpose, drugs are an easy fix. You are always one decision away from disaster.” Forty to sixty percent of people who complete a rehab program suffer from a relapse (source: www.drugabuse.gov). This is exactly what happened to Will Bright.

Restoration Springs program director, Mike Emanuel, is a Birmingham native and has extensive experience working in the field of addiction recovery.

This summer, on what would have been Will’s 31^stbirthday, the Foundation hosted the open house of its first transitional center, Restoration Springs, which offers job readiness skills and crucial life skills to lead a successful life free from addiction. After three years of searching for a location, Restoration Springs became a reality thanks to the generosity of Mrs. Lillian Kirkley, who donated her 126-acre farm in Fayette Ala. complete with three cabins, an 18-acre lake stocked fish pond and a picnic pavilion. “It’s just incredible,” exclaims Lisa Bright who adds that the city of Fayette has also been very supportive to assist in meeting the local people and helping with job placement of Restoration Springs residents.

Restoration Swings Golf Tournament will take place at Topgolf Birmingham at the BJCC's Uptown area, 1111 24th St. N, Birmingham, AL 35234. Also mark your calendars for the 5th Annual Restoration Run, March 16, 2019 at Red Mountain Park. The event includes 5K and 15K Trail Runs and a 1-mile Fun Run. Watch for more details and an opportunity to register at www.willbrightfoundation.com. — Restoration Swings Golf Tournament will take place at Topgolf Birmingham at the BJCC’s Uptown area, 1111 24th St. N, Birmingham, AL 35234. Also mark your calendars for the 5th Annual Restoration Run, March 16, 2019 at Red Mountain Park. The event includes 5K and 15K Trail Runs and a 1-mile Fun Run. Watch for more details and an opportunity to register at www.willbrightfoundation.com.

Friday August 24, 2018 WBF will host the first Restoration Swings Golf Tournament at Topgolf Birmingham. Proceeds will benefit the ministry and its first transitional living facility, Restoration Springs. Enjoy a great morning of true tournament style golf with the conveniences of climate-controlled bays plus a Hole in One Contest to win a new Buick Lacrosse, hot breakfast, prizes, a swag bag and a silent auction. 9 a.m. Tee Off followed by Noon Awards. The highest scoring team wins a Topgolf 3-month platinum corporate membership (unlimited golf, discounts on food, reserved parking and more). The second-place team will win a Titleist SM6 Wedge and the third-place team will win a dozen Titleist Pro V1 balls. Learn more about the Will Bright Foundation and sign up for the Topgolf Tournament at www.willbrightfoundation.com or call 205-999-5576. †

June 10, 2018, Will Bright’s birthday, WBF hosted an open house of the new Restoration Springs transitional center spearheaded by his parents, the WBF Board and other volunteers dedicated to helping individuals in our community overcome addiction.

August 9, 2018July 30, 2018 by Birmingham Christian Family

Education Extra

It’s no secret that private schools use athletics as a platform to increase both enrollment and student engagement. In fact, many students would never have the opportunity to participate in a varsity sport if not for the accessibility offered by smaller private schools. What sets Heritage Christian Academy (HCA) apart from many schools is that HCA also views athletics as a tool for ministry. Volleyball coach Peyton Kirk sums it up this way. “I have a voice and a platform and sometimes it goes beyond volleyball. As coaches we are not only teaching students how to be competitive athletes, but also how to handle difficult situations and how to live out the Gospel.” While Kirk’s message of ministry applies to a team, it’s also very personal. She states, “I want to be that person who says, ‘I believe in you’ in case no one else does.”

That message gets through to the student athletes as well. Abby Vigneulle is a 2018 HCA graduate heading off to Troy University this fall. She was a four-year letterman on Kirk’s team. “Coach Kirk constantly reminded us that we were doing more than just playing a game,” Vigneulle says. “During time-outs, even in the most tense of situations, she would remind us that volleyball was a gift that we had been given and that we needed to use it for God’s glory.” Vigneulle goes on to describe how Kirk’s message was passed on through them. “There were several times when I walked back onto the court after a time-out with Coach’s words going through my mind, only to hear an opponent across the net yelling at one of her teammates about how poorly she was playing. A few of us would take it on ourselves to encourage that player. We definitely felt that we were sharing the Gospel with our actions. The looks in the faces of those players was proof that our words of encouragement had hit home.”

“We want to teach competitiveness, hard work, consistency, courage, discipline, communication and teamwork – all lessons our students can carry with them the rest of their lives,” Kirk adds. “Our goal is for students to develop as athletes as well as children of God,” – a goal to which all of HCA’s coaches, teams, and teachers aspire.

-Heritage Christian Academy

2290 Old Tyler Road, Hoover, AL 35226

205-978-6001

www.hcachristian.org

July 26, 2018 by Birmingham Christian Family

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Special Feature

Maxine Adam's decision to pre-plan for her funeral was a much-appreciated gift to her family. — Maxine Adam’s decision to pre-plan for her funeral was a much-appreciated gift to her family.

One of the best gifts that I have ever received was from my mother, Maxine. She gave me many gifts throughout my life but long before her time on this earth was done, she gave me this special gift that I hold dear to my heart even now. Many years before she died, my mother wrote out her funeral in her handwriting. At the time, I was many years away from the ministry of Funeral Directing so pre-planning was not really part of my vocabulary but that’s exactly what she was doing.

When I mourned the loss of mother, I did not have to wonder what she wanted. In my grief and sadness, I knew exactly what songs she wanted sung at her funeral and found that it comforted me much more than I had anticipated when I heard those songs she chose. I knew what casket she wanted, her preference for flowers, and other details that made the arrangement of her funeral so much easier. I did not understand at the time and I am not even sure that she understood what a tremendous gift she was giving me. But perhaps she did. Her goal was always to make my life a bit easier and she left this world doing so.

Now I have the privilege of helping others do the same for their own loved ones. Pre-planning is a matter of taking the time to think about – and record – your end-of-life desires. It’s a thoughtful gesture to those you love, and a way to let go of anxieties about the future. Once done, you can relax, knowing your plans are in the hands of reliable friends or family.

Pre-planning Benefits. Given time to consider it, you’ll quickly realize that pre-planning is all about ensuring that your wishes are known, so they can be acted upon when the time comes. It’s easy. There’s no health questionnaire or physical exam required. Absolutely everyone can make a pre-plan, and there is no waiting for return documents. Complete the plan and put it on file in our office. Your pre-plan lets your family clearly know your wishes and relieves your family members of making very personal decisions on your behalf at the time of need.

Does Pre-planning Require Pre-payment? The simple answer is no. You can record your wishes and leave it for your family to pay for your desired services at the time of your passing. Or, you can protect you and your family from inflation, by pre-funding your plan. This ensures your expenses will be covered when you need them to be. Your money is put in a state-approved trust account or top-rated insurance company until required. After your pre-plan is paid for in full, our price is guaranteed. You will never have to pay more for the items you have already paid for.

Please consider giving this gift to your family as my mother did for me and my family. It will be appreciated more than you can imagine. As I sit across from families whose loved ones pre-planned, I never hear a negative comment about the pre-planning. The conversation always includes a statement about how grateful they are for the plan that was made.

Michelle Beasley, General Manager

The New Gardendale Funeral Home

2214 Decatur Highway Gardendale, AL 35071

205-631-8810

www.gardendalefuneralhome.com

July 26, 2018 by Birmingham Christian Family

Photo Fun

Prince of Peace (POP) Catholic Church Hoover recently presented parishioner and Helena High School senior Adam Jusino with the 2018 Caitlin Sweeney-McDaniel Award for Faith in Action. This award honors a graduating high school senior within the parish who exemplifies their Catholic faith in action, serves their community, and is a well-rounded student. Margaret Knighton and Meleah Montgomery, both graduating high school seniors from Hoover High School, were chosen as runners-up. The award was established 14 years ago in memory of POP student Caitlin Sweeney by her parents, Joe and Cindy Sweeney. Adam received a cross statue and $500. Both Margaret and Meleah received $250 and a globe shaped award and cross, respectively.

July 26, 2018 by Birmingham Christian Family

Photo Fun

Thousands of people seeking food and fun to celebrate our nation’s 242nd birthday attended Birmingham’s oldest Independence Day celebration at Our Lady of Sorrows (OLS) Catholic Church in Homewood.

Samantha Chriesman brings her homemade cake for the cake booth

A patriotic living doll won a doll from the doll booth at the 69th annual Independence Day Festival at OLS.

April Hines and family enjoy the festivities.

July 26, 2018 by Birmingham Christian Family

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Parenting Points

Brought to you by: White Plume Technologies www.whiteplume.com

When one of our kids abuses drugs or alcohol, it’s easy to doubt ourselves. But all parents make mistakes. It comes with the job, and we don’t have to be perfect to raise our kids well. By connecting with others and getting some training, we can learn from the common mistakes parents make. And we can parent with both grace and truth, even if one of our kids abuses alcohol or drugs. To get started, here are a few of the mistakes many parents make:

Mistake: It’s my job to make sure my kids are happy.

Reality: If you give them whatever they want, what you really give them is a sense of entitlement.
Parenting step: Being a parent includes saying “no” when appropriate and teaching kids to appreciate what they have.

Mistake: I can control their lives so they don’t make any wrong choices.

Reality: If you try to manage their lives for them, it will add worry to their life.
Parenting step: Like it or not, you can’t totally control your teenager. Instead, give them opportunities to grow and make mistakes so they mature naturally.

Mistake: It can’t happen to us; there’s no way our son or daughter would take drugs.

Reality: If you believe your family is perfect and demand perfection, you encourage pride.
Parenting step: It is quite possible one of your kids could develop substance abuse issues. Always deal with them with love and grace, even when they go astray for a season.

Mistake: If I ignore their issues, their problems may go away on their own.

Reality: If you don’t talk about what’s going on in their life, it’s harder for your kids to develop self-awareness.
Parenting step: Talk to your kids about the challenges teenagers face and build a supporting environment where they can share their issues with you.

Getting Some Help. STEPS Proactive Parenting provides training, coaching, and materials for parents to become intentional about protecting their kids from addictions. We can learn to raise our kids to be balanced emotionally, spiritually, and personally and, if we do, we can help prevent addiction.

Visit www.StepsProactiveParenting.com to receive the free weekly STEPS Proactive Parenting blog, learn about personal coaching options, and get information on seminars your church or organization can sponsor.

-Steve C. Ward

Executive Director, STEPS Ministries

Author of STEPS: A Daily Journey to a Better Life

[email protected]

July 26, 2018 by Birmingham Christian Family

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Music Notes

“Mom, thanks for letting me quit piano lessons when I was a kid!”… said no one ever! I can’t count the number of times I’ve had someone bemoan the fact that they quit taking piano or voice or [insert instrument here] lessons as a child.

In elementary and junior high school, my love for music wasn’t nearly as strong as my love for sports. I dreamed of being the next Roger Staubach, but I was also in the school band and found a great love for music. I am grateful for parents and educators who encouraged me to try different activities and taught me to not only complete whatever commitment I had made to a sports team or any other group I was involved in, but to also do my very best in them. For me, music won the day and I clearly remember all the wonderful people who helped me along the way. The only regret I have is not taking private lessons earlier in life.

Today it seems as if parents are choosing specific paths for their children at a very young age, but let me encourage you to take a breath and allow your child the advantage of experiencing many different opportunities- including music making. It is a well-known fact that music education has tremendous benefits such as self-discipline, teamwork, organization, critical thinking and many more. However, as Northwestern University research revealed and Melissa Locker reported in her Time magazine article, “This is how Music Can Change Your Brain,” to fully reap the cognitive benefits of a music class, kids can’t just sit there and let the sound of music wash over them. They have to be actively engaged in the music and participate in the class.” I promise you will not regret the time and energy spent in pursuing music education. One way of doing this is through programs like Meadow Brook Baptist Church’s School of Fine Arts, otherwise known as S.O.F.A.

S.O.F.A. is designed to meet the student where they are and help them develop the skills and discipline it requires to reach their fullest potential. Whether for use in performance, ministry or personal enjoyment, S.O.F.A.’s mission is to see each person grow in their talent and passion for the arts. Whether you are a beginner or very experienced musician, take advantage of S.O.F.A. and reap the benefits music has to offer. Registration for fall classes is taking place now, visit www.mbbc-sofa.org.

-David Vaughan

Worship Pastor, Meadow Brook Baptist Church

www.meadowbrookbaptist.org

www.mbbc-sofa.org

4984 Meadow Brook Rd, Birmingham, AL 35242

205-991-8384

July 26, 2018 by Birmingham Christian Family

Money Matters

presented by: Vision Financial

Conventional wisdom says that what goes up, must come down. But even if you view market volatility as a normal occurrence, it can be tough to handle when it’s your money at stake. Though there’s no foolproof way to handle the ups and downs of the stock market, the following common-sense tips can help.

Don’t put your eggs all in one basket. Diversifying your investment portfolio is one of the key ways you can handle market volatility. Because asset classes often perform differently under different market conditions, spreading your assets across a variety of different investments such as stocks, bonds, and cash alternatives, has the potential to help manage your overall risk. Ideally, a decline in one type of asset will be balanced out by a gain in another, though diversification can’t guarantee a profit or eliminate the possibility of market loss.
Focus on the forest, not the trees. As the markets go up and down, it’s easy to become too focused on day-to-day returns. Instead, keep your eyes on your long-term investing goals and your overall portfolio. Although only you can decide how much investment risk you can handle; if you still have years to invest, don’t overestimate the effect of short-term price fluctuations on your portfolio.
Look before you leap. When the market goes down and investment losses pile up, you may be tempted to pull out of the stock market altogether and look for less volatile investments. The small returns that typically accompany low-risk investments may seem downright attractive when more risky investments are posting negative returns. But before you leap into a different investment strategy, make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons. How you choose to invest your money should be consistent with your goals and time horizon.
Look for the silver lining. A down market, like every cloud, has a silver lining. The silver lining of a down market is the opportunity you have to buy shares of stock at lower prices. One of the ways you can do this is by using dollar cost averaging. You don’t try to “time the market”. Instead, you invest the same amount of money at regular intervals over time.
Don’t stick your head in the sand. While focusing too much on short-term gains or losses is unwise, so is ignoring your investments. You should check up on your portfolio at least once a year, more frequently if the market is particularly volatile or when there have been significant changes in your life. Don’t hesitate to get expert help if you need it when deciding which investment options are right for you.

-Bill Dowell

Vision Financial Group, Inc.

4505 Pine Tree Circle, Birmingham, 35243

205-970-4909, www.vision-financialgroup.com

Investment advisory services offered through Investment Advisors, a division of ProEquities, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Securities offered through ProEquities Inc., a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. Vision Financial Group, Inc. and West Alabama Bank are independent of ProEquities, Inc. Securities and insurance products offered are not bank deposits, have no bank guarantee, are not FDIC insured, and may lose value. Copyright 2006-2018 Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.

July 26, 2018 by Birmingham Christian Family

Legal Matters

Presented by: Bradford & Holliman, Estate Planning, www.bradfordholliman.com

Just this week I heard a woman say she did not need to do any estate planning because she does not have an estate. I hear that a lot. She may not have a multi-million-dollar estate, but if she owns anything, she has an estate.

People often think only the rich have “estates” – you know, an estate made up of vast amounts of land, expensive homes, vacation homes, fancy cars, jewelry, boats, stock portfolios, and more. The people who own these assets certainly do have estates, but an estate means more than “assets owned by the rich.” Today, an estate means everything a person owns, and it includes your home, bank accounts, IRAs, car, golf clubs, jewelry, china, quilts, sofa, lawn mower, fishing rods, and even your toothbrush. If you want certain people to have your things when you pass away . . . or perhaps more importantly, certain people to not get your things when you die, you need an estate plan.

An estate planning attorney can help you determine the best type of plan to achieve your goals. For example, if you prefer to keep things simple, and you do not mind that the probate court process is public record, a Last Will and Testament may be the best choice for you. If you prefer more privacy and are adamant that you do not want your estate to go through the probate court process when you die, the attorney may recommend using a trust to transfer your assets at death.

Remember, the amount of possessions does not determine if you should have an estate plan. Everyone should have an estate plan. Talk to an estate planning attorney and ensure your wishes will be carried out at your death and make the transition of assets from one generation to the next as smooth as possible.

-Melanie Bradford Holliman

Partner, Bradford & Holliman, LLC

Practice focuses on estate planning, elder law and special needs trust.

2491 Pelham Parkway, Pelham, Ala. 35124

205-663-0281, www.bradfordholliman.com

This article is for educational purposes and is not intended for specific legal advice.

July 26, 2018 by Birmingham Christian Family

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Legal Matters

presented by: Frank S. Buck P.C., Personal Injury

Many people believe that in order to have a case when they are involved in a car wreck that there must be significant injuries such as broken bones, surgery or scarring from glass or airbags. However, 95% of all car wreck cases involve soft tissue injuries, meaning sprains, strains and contusions (bruising) to the knees, neck, back or any other part of the body. Soft tissue injuries are injuries to the tissues of your body that surround and protect the bones such as the muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves. The most common type of soft tissue injury from a car wreck is whiplash, a sprain or strain to the neck which is caused by the neck being whipped back and forth violently from the force of a trauma such as a motor vehicle crash. Medically speaking, a sprain is the overstretching and tearing of ligaments, which are the tissue that connect bone to bone and function to stabilize and support joints. A strain is damage, overstretching or tearing of a muscle or a tendon which is the fibrous cord that attach muscles to the bone, due to overextension of a joint. Soft tissue injuries can be very painful, often causing swelling, inflammation and stiffness. They are usually treated with medications such as muscle relaxers and anti-inflammatories, ice or heat, rest and physical therapy.

In Alabama, the law allows money compensation called compensatory damages for personal injuries, pain, suffering and mental anguish that you can prove were caused by someone else. If you can prove another person caused a wreck and injured you, causing you to seek medical attention and incur medical bills, then you have a case which we can handle for you. If you have been injured in a car wreck, it is important that you immediately seek medical attention in order to prove that those injuries were caused by the wreck. The longer you wait following a wreck to seek medical treatment, the more likely that the doctor will not relate those injuries back to the motor vehicle crash, which is critical to proving your personal injury case. Soft tissue cases can be more difficult to prove than broken bones because they are not as easy to diagnose and see like broken bones are on an X-rays or MRI. Additionally, there is no set formula or legal ruler or yardstick to evaluate your injuries and put a value on your case. Therefore, it is critical to contact a lawyer to represent you to get the best result for you and make sure you are treated fairly.

Frank S. Buck, P.C., Attorneys at Law have been offering professional legal services and serving Alabama citizens for over 43 years. We have experienced trial attorneys who have over 100 years of combined trial experience. You can reach us 24 hours a day at (205) 933-7533. Please call us for a free consultation.

Removing All Barriers to Recovering from Addiction: Will Bright Foundation

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