Walk For Life 2019

March 23, 2019 by Birmingham Christian Family

Mission Makers

Brought to you by: Sawyer Solutions, www.sawyersolutionsllc.com

“We Walk For Life because we want our community to know that our team at the Pregnancy Resource Center introduces women and families to the One whose grace is enough and to help them through their unplanned pregnancy one person at a time to make Life affirming choices,” explains Kelley Frederick, Center Director Sav-A-Life Shelby about the Center’s April 27, Walk for Life event at First Baptist Church Pelham.

You can be a part of this great event and help raise funds for the Pregnancy Resource Center by serving as a team captain, participating in the walk or serving as a sponsor. Your donations will help the Center in Pelham provide needed items and services to women and families in need, in Shelby County. “100% of your donations are used in your local Pregnancy Resource Center,” says Frederick, adding, “All of our services are provided free of charge to our clients.” Services include pregnancy tests, pregnancy options counseling, ultrasounds, baby clothing and furnishings, parenting education, childbirth and infant care classes, emergency baby supplies, maternity clothing, post-abortion recovery groups as well as education on sexual integrity and risk-avoidance. The Center also provides clients with guidance to receive assistance through outside resources such as adoption, miscarriage support groups, abortion recovery classes, information on STI testing, medical doctor information, material resources and more.

“It is estimated that we have directly and indirectly affected over 49,500 lives in Shelby County with help and hope to women, babies and their families,” explains Frederick. “We believe the reason for our success at the Pregnancy Resource Center can be summed up in one phrase: non-judgemental. In the words of TIME Magazine, Pregnancy Centers are the ‘kind, calm, nonjudgmental’ face of the pro-life movement.”

To learn more about Walk For Life 2019 and other ways you can help Sav-A-Life Shelby and the Pregnancy Resource Center call Kelley Frederick at 205-776-1247. Register for the walk at www.shelbywalk.org.

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March 23, 2019 by Birmingham Christian Family

Mission Makers

Audrey McElveen, played an integral role in helping her husband Micah launch Vapor Ministries. The couple lives in Sylacauga with their children Arrow and Given, near the ministries’ headquarters.

A surfing accident nearly took Micah McElveen’s life. He suffered a broken neck and underwent years of rehabilitation after waking up as a quadriplegic. McElveen admits that before this tragedy his life was very self-centered. “My dreams, at a young age, were all about me, accolades and assets. I wanted to be rich and famous.” McElveen believes God used this experience to personally teach him about the brevity of life which caused him to completely reevaluate his life goals.

McElveen decided to use his life to help others and share the love of Christ. After spending time in an African slum, he began to feel a burden for those living in poverty. He dropped out of his college graduate program and decided to go back to Africa and invest his time furthering the Gospel. He founded Vapor Ministries in Sylacauga, Ala., which was birthed from what the Scriptures tell us about God’s heart for the poor and lost. “While we can’t change the fact that life is short, we can choose to invest it versus waste it,” McElveen shares. On April 23, 2019, McElveen will speak at the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce Prayer Breakfast. The focus of his talk will be on how we can all use our brief time on earth wisely and intentionally for the glory of God.

Vapor Ministries founder Micah McElveen will share his story of how God used a tragic accident in his life to His glory. Hear him speak April 23 at the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce Prayer breakfast, 400 Beaumont Dr, Birmingham, 35216.

McElveen will also share how Vapor Ministries’ staff of 500 is working to, “meet needs, feed souls, and elevate God.” The ministry has five operating centers in Africa that work to meet the needs of the community while helping to alleviate poverty and share the love of Christ. At the centers, people have access to medical support, feeding assistance, disease-awareness and disease-prevention education, job assistance, hygiene training and weekly sports leagues. “We establish sustainable centers for alleviating poverty and multiplying disciples in third-world environments,” explains McElveen. A practical way you can help the ministry is to shop at or donate your gently used goods to one of the two Vapor Thrift Stores in the Birmingham area. These thrift stores directly generate resources for the five centers in Africa while also providing affordable goods to shoppers, vaporministries.org.

The Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce Prayer Breakfast will begin with a buffet at 7 a.m. followed by the program. A limited number of tickets are available for purchase for $20 each. To purchase tickets, visit www.vestaviahills.org and click on the calendar feature for April 23 or call 205-823-5011.

Melissa Armstrong

March 23, 2019 by Birmingham Christian Family

Special Feature

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

Google Wellness Program Manager Laruen Whitt will speak April 4 at the WBL Spring Luncheon, learn more at www.wblspringluncheon2019.eveentbrite.com.

Google’s Lauren Whit: WBL Spring Luncheon. Hear Google Wellness Program Manager Lauren Whit, PhD speak at the Women Business Leaders (WBL) Spring Luncheon April 4, 2019 11:30 a.m. -1 p.m. Whitt leads the prevention and wellbeing efforts at Google and is based at the Googleplex in Boulder, CO. Her team is responsible for launching initiatives designed to create the happiest and healthiest employees in the world. Dr. Whitt is also recognized as an innovator for her results-oriented wellness programs and previous work at University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, and Alabama Power Company. She was also an adjunct professor at UAB and assistant professor at UA. Lauren is the founding principal and lead consultant for Legacy Wellness Consulting where she focuses on the development and expansion of corporate wellness programs. She is also the founder of Health Reboot, a start-up focused on developing consumer products to make healthy living convenient and attainable.

As an NCAA soccer athlete, Whitt completed her doctoral degree at Clemson University with an emphasis on life skill development. She received her undergraduate and master’s degrees in Human and Organizational Development and Human Development Counseling from Vanderbilt University. As an intercollegiate athlete at Vanderbilt and Clemson, Whitt was an all-conference competitor who won a Pan American gold medal competing with the United States U-21 National Soccer Team. She remains involved in the world of soccer by training goalkeepers and coaching, as well as co-owning and managing a USL Amateur Women’s League team in South Carolina. Individual tickets to the luncheon are $25 or a table of 8 is $200. Sign up at wblspringluncheon2019.eveentbrite.com

Rick Burgess of the nationally syndicated Rick & Bubba Radio Show will speak at the YLB Spring Lunch May 14. Learn more at www.rickburgessybl.eventbrite.com.

Rick & Bubba Show’s Rick Burgess: YBL Spring Lunch. Hear Rick & Bubba Show’s Rick Burgess speak at the Young Business Leaders (YBL) Spring Lunch at The Club, Tuesday May 14, 2019. Rick is the Co-Host of the nationally syndicated Rick & Bubba Show (www.rickandbubba.com), which reaches 1.2 million listeners weekly. He has co-authored multiple New York TimesBestselling Books covering politics, marriage, business, comedy and what it looks like to be a follower of Christ in secular entertainment. He has appeared on the Fox News programs Hannity’s America, Your World with Neil Cavuto and Fox and Friends. Rick has spoken at youth events, men’s events and marriage conferences across the country, and teaches youth and men’s Bible studies on a weekly basis. Rick is married to the former Sherri Bodine. They have 5 children: Brandi, Blake, Brooks, Brody and Bronner. Rick’s wife Sherri has also authored the book, Bronner: A Journey to Understand about what she and Rick learned about God through the earthly death of their youngest son. Rick’s eulogy for his youngest son became the number 1 most viewed video in the world on YouTube the week of the service. The YBL Spring lunch at The Club will run from 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Tickets are $25 each or $200 for a table of 8. Make reservations on Eventbrite at the following link: https://rickburgessybl.eventbrite.com.

The mission of Young Business Leaders (YBL) and Women Business Leaders (WBL) is to transform the marketplace by winning men and women to Christ, building them in their faith and sending them out locally, nationally and internationally for God’s glory. For more information about either organization call 205-776-5450 or visit www.ybl.org and www.ybl.org/wbl †

April 2, 2019March 23, 2019 by Laurie Stroud

Legal Matters

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

If you are injured when a car veers into your lane and does not actually hit your car, but still runs you off the road and causes you to crash, do you have an auto insurance claim? If you have full coverage under your automobile insurance policy, including uninsured motorist coverage, the answer is, “Yes.”

In Alabama, a phantom vehicle means the identity of the driver cannot be determined but that driver causes injury, death, or damage to another person. As in the example above, physical contact is not required between the vehicles to have a phantom vehicle claim. Alabama law allows pedestrians to also have a phantom vehicle claim if they are injured by an unknown driver. Other examples of phantom vehicle claims are a hit and run where a vehicle hits another vehicle or pedestrian, but leaves the scene of the accident, or if a driver hits something in the road that has fallen off a truck or car such as a mattress, boxes, trashcan lid, large pieces of trash, tire, air conditioning unit or any other foreign object in the road that came off a vehicle.

It is important to check with your auto insurance agent and review your policy to ensure that you have full coverage, including uninsured motorist coverage to protect yourself in case a phantom vehicle injures you. Many people in Alabama have liability automobile insurance only, but do not realize the importance of uninsured motorist coverage in case of an injury. Alabama law requires automobile insurance companies to automatically add uninsured motorist coverage to policies, unless the insured specifically rejects the uninsured motorist coverage in writing on the internet when applying for a policy. Please do not reject uninsured motorist coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage does not cost much and can go a long way if you are injured by a phantom vehicle.

Frank S. Buck, P.C., Attorneys at Law have been offering professional legal services and serving Alabama citizens for over 44 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 or visit us at www.franksbuck.com. Please call us for a free consultation.

March 22, 2019 by Birmingham Christian Family

bigstock Christian Worship And Praise 262445650

Publisher’s Note

As I am writing this, our panel of five judges is reading through more than 60 essays submitted by high school seniors in our community. Each student took the time to share with us about a time their faith impacted them during their high school career. What great stories they have to tell!

Five students will be chosen as finalists in the second annual Birmingham Christian Family (BCF) Scholarship program sponsored by Tactical Faith, www.tacticalfaith.com, and one student will receive a $500 scholarship to the university of his or her choice.

We need your help in sharing these great stories of faith and helping us select an essay winner.

Follow us on Facebook and on Instagram to find out who our Top Five Finalists are, read their essays and vote on which on you think is best. Look for the finalists to be announced March 26, 2019 on Facebook and Instagram. Voting will continue through Sunday, April 7, 2019. All finalist essays will be posted on www.birminghamchristian.com/scholarship for easy viewing and sharing and will also appear in the May issue of Birmingham Christian Family.

Join BCF and Tactical Faith in encouraging our youth to live out their faith wherever they are, and may we set an example for them to follow.

-Laurie Stroud

Founder, The Christian Family Publication, Inc.

www.BirminghamChristian.com

Facebook: Birmingham Christian Family

Twitter @cfpBirmingham

Instagram @cfpbirmingham

LinkedIn: Birmingham Christian Family

Celebrating 18 Years of Good News!

“Look to the Lord & His Strength, Seek His face always.” 1 Chronicles 16:11

APRIL GIVEAWAY!

TO SAY THANK YOU for reading and supporting the businesses and organizations that advertise with us and make spreading Good News possible, we have a Great Giveaway this month!

TWO TICKETS to C.S. Lewis Onstage at the BJCC Concert Hall April 14, 2019. Learn more about this award winning performance here!

Like & Follow Us on Facebook AND Like & Share the C.S. Lewis Post!

Winner Announced 4/10/19 on Facebook so be sure to LIKE our page! Offer Ends 4/9/19

March 16, 2019 by Birmingham Christian Family

City Scene

Award winning actor Max McLean portrays C.S. Lewis Sunday, April 14, 2019 at the BJCC Concert Hall. To learn more about the show and to purchase tickets visit www.CSLewisonStage.com.

Enjoy a one night only performance of C.S. Lewis Onstage: The Most Reluctant Convert. Award-winning actor Max McLean presents this highly-acclaimed theatrical portrayal of Lewis’ journey from atheism to faith Sunday April 14, 2019 at 4 p.m. at the BJCC Concert Hall. Theater Maniasays McLean delivers an “uncannily spot-on performance!” The Chicago SunTimes calls it “Bristling, Provocative, Highly Entertaining and Highly Recommended!” And The Weekly Standard writes “C.S. Lewis Onstage delivers something truly novel in modern theater: a story about an immensely creative mind arriving at the threshold of faith… a truthful, richly textured and witty account of religious conversion.”

In The Most Reluctant Convert, adapted exclusively from Lewis’ writings, McLean inhabits Lewis from the death of his mother and his estranged relationship with his father to the experiences that led him from vigorous debunker to one of the most vibrant and influential Christian intellectuals of the 20th century. “We’re thrilled to bring our latest production to Birmingham,” said McLean, who adapted and co-directed Convert. “C.S. Lewis wrote more than 30 books that have sold more than 200 million copies, making him arguably the most influential religious writer of the past century. In The Most Reluctant Convert, we visit the events that led to his conversion.” McLean is founder and artistic director of New York City-based Fellowship for Performing Arts, which produces theatre from a Christian worldview presented in leading performance venues nationwide and created to engage diverse audiences.

Following its hit, 2018 national tour, Fellowship for Performing Arts—the producers of The Screwtape Lettersand The Great Divorce—returns to Birmingham April 14, 2019 with C.S. Lewis Onstage: The Most Reluctant Convert.

Tickets for the Birmingham show are available at www.CSLewisonStage.com, by calling 800-745-3000 or by visiting the BJCC Box Office at 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N., Birmingham, 35203.

See C.S. Lewis Onstage: The Most Reluctant Convert Sunday April 14^that 4 p.m. at the BJCC Concert Hall. Tickets are only $30 for patrons 30 years or younger at the box office (ID required). Group tickets available for 10 or more, call 888-294-1733 or email [email protected]. †

April 4, 2019March 3, 2019 by Birmingham Christian Family

In its 10th year, the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama presented by America’s First Federal Credit Union is a signature event on the NTT IndyCar Series. Elite drivers duel on the one-of-a-kind road course to cap the biggest three-day party at the world-famous Barber Motorsports Park. This is fast family fun at its finest.

Visit the Surgere Fan Zone where you can enjoy the Coca-Cola Family Fun Area, ride the Bud’s Best Cookies Ferris Wheel and more! Upgrade your ticket to the Magna Kamtek Garage, the working area for the race teams, and enjoy a behind-the-scenes opportunity to get up close to the race cars and drivers. Also, be sure to check out the new Grand Art Festival alongside the wine and craft beer tastings in the Haggerty Car Corral.

Over the 3-day weekend, there will be 9 races from 5 different series:
NTT IndyCar Series
Mazda MX-5 Cup
Lamborghini Squadra Corse *NEW for 2019
F3 Americas *NEW for 2019
Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama brought to you by IMSA

Stay current with news about this event at https://barberracingevents.com/honda-indy-grand-prix-of-alabama/

February 9, 2021February 26, 2019 by Birmingham Christian Family

Convene Article on line only Featured Image Harris Wheeler Key Leader March 19.docx

Designed for the C-Suite and Key Decision Makers

Are you a Key Leader?

If you’re part of the C-Suite of your organization, have P&L responsibility, or make significant decisions for your organization, you are a Key Leader. With the task of executing on the owner, president or CEO’s behalf, your role requires a high understanding of the vision for your organization, as well as the strategy and execution it will require to make that vision come to fruition. Convene’s Key Leader groups exist to help you build the bridge between your CEO’s vision and the execution of strategy with the goal of achieving outstanding results. Claim your seat at the table with fellow key leaders in a peer-to-peer advisory group led by your local Convene Chair, Harris Wheeler.

Are you a business owner or CEO?

If you own or manage an organization, you know how important it is to have the key leaders of your team striving to achieve your vision with effective and efficient strategy and execution. Convene’s Key Leader groups create a space for the key leaders on your team to gather with their peers and develop their leadership skills, create strategies to achieve results, and refine

their execution tactics in order to maximize outcomes. If you’re a current Convene member, you understand the vital importance of creating space for learning, ideating and strategizing in order to be successful. Now, your key leaders can benefit from those same things with the purpose of strengthening your organization.

To learn more about this new Key Leader Group starting in Birmingham, Ala. contact local Convene Chair Harris Wheeler, 205- 936-7038, [email protected] †

Click Here To Learn How To Reach A Christian Audience in Alabama.

February 25, 2019 by Birmingham Christian Family

Best Books

Find If You Can Keep It and other books by New York Times bestselling author Eric Metaxas at the Briarwood Christian Bookstore, 2200 Briarwood Way, 35243, www.briarwood.org/bookstore as well as Sanctuary Christian Books and Gifts, Colonial Promenade in Alabaster.

America was founded on key principles, values, and laws that stood in marked contrast to other nations. The founders had previously faced adversity, religious persecution, overreaching governments, and economic instability. Their great wisdom as they inaugurated America was deep-rooted and multi-faceted. As we navigate the often murky waters of today’s American politics, we can easily become discouraged and even feel hopeless. In his book, If You Can Keep It, Eric Metaxas reminds us of the real reasons why America is a great country and how we as citizens should view our liberties and freedoms. The title of the book comes from Benjamin Franklin’s famous quote, when asked what kind of government had been decided upon, “A republic, if you can keep it.” The United States of America had been formed as a self-governing body of people. Metaxas notes that the early Americans had come from monarchial governments, and their desire for true freedom led them to form a government that would allow their voices to not only be heard but be the impetus for progress, change, and stability. At the very heart of this was their faith. They were governed by a higher power that drove them to pursue virtue and character. But Metaxas says, “Religion itself could not properly function unless religion was detached from the government.” Certainly not absent from the government, but detached.

Eric Metaxas will be speaking about his body of work as an author March 19, 2019 at 7 p.m. at Samford University’s Wright Center, www.tickets.samford.edu.

Existing as a country, not simply for our own country’s good, but for the good of other countries, Metaxas says is “certainly something extraordinary, but because of this we have been given the tremendous burden of stewarding and sharing what we have with the rest of the world.” America sets a standard, gives hope, provides aid, and offers an alternative to the vast majority of other governments. Metaxas goes on to say, “Our keeping it is not merely for our own sake.”

If You Can Keep It discusses how remembering the heroes of the past boosts us as we stand for the future. Their true heroics as they willingly gave their lives to preserve what America is inspires us today to continue to fight for the foundations of America. Metaxas encourages all Americans to “go forth and love America, knowing that if your love is true it will be transmuted one way or another into a love of everything that is good beyond America, which is her golden promise to the world, and a promise that we, you and I, must keep.”

-Summer Schor

February 25, 2019 by Birmingham Christian Family

The inaugural Birmingham Hammerfest fueled by Gatorade Zero is the place to be on March 16th. Eighteen USA CRITS D1 professional cycling teams will be racing through the streets of the Lakeview District. This exciting, fast-paced criterium racing is not just for the pros. Amateurs and juniors will be tackling the same course and putting their skills to the test. This family-friendly weekend includes something for all ages with the Thomas Waters State Farm Kids’ Zone featuring inflatables, arts and crafts, bike obstacle courses and more. Kids of all ages can deck out their bikes/trikes St. Patty’s style and show off their wheels in the Lil’ Shamrock fun ride during the Regions Bank Community Hour. Ride your bike to Lakeview and park at the Lewis & Feldman bike valet and visit their cycle pits for bicycle maintenance courses. Enjoy local food trucks or head up to the excitement and festivities at the restaurants and bars along 7th Avenue and 29th St.

Walk For Life 2019

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