Leadership Opportunity for Area Teens: Anytown Alabama

August 28, 2018 by Birmingham Christian Family

Education Extra

Teens attending this year’s Anytown Alabama Leadership Summit included students from Holy Family Cristo Rey (Jordan Williams, Darren McFarland, Kaiya McCall and Jalen Chamblish), John Carroll (Erin Jenkins) and Indian Springs (Peyton Miller, Jordyn Hudson and Liam Malone.) Applications for Anytown Alabama 2019 are available now at www.ymcabham.org/anytownalabama.

Approximately 80 students from more than 33 public and private high schools in Jefferson and Shelby Counties recently spent a week making new friends, learning leadership skills in discussing difficult and pressing community topics and building their resume for college applications. The camp called “Anytown Alabama” is designed to give students in grades 9 through 11 a greater understanding of each other, and the skills to discuss their differences and similarities with others. The program seeks to help students realize that they are different from one another but can still be united. Anytown Alabama was started by the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) in 1989, and since 2011, the YWCA and NCCJ have partnered to present the annual summit. Teens interested in being a delegate at the 2019 Anytown Alabama Leadership Summit, June 2-8, 2019, can apply now at www.ywcabham.org/anytown-alabama. †

August 27, 2018 by Birmingham Christian Family

Mission Makers

While villagers waited to receive medical care, Valleydale volunteers spent time sharing the Gospel with them.

Valleydale Church recently sent a team of seventeen people to serve in Holercani, Moldova for seven days. “Our mission was to spread The Gospel of Jesus Christ and His love to the people of Moldova by serving their physical needs and spiritual needs,” explains volunteer James Sansom. “We accomplished this by dividing the team into two groups. One as a children’s team to conduct a Vacation Bible School program and the other as a medical team to address health issues and give medication.”

Two physicians and pharmacist from Moldova worked alongside the Valleydale medical team to see and care for about 350 people. “We shared the Gospel with each person prior to them entering the clinic,” says Sansom adding, “Several people of Holercani prayed to accept Christ as their Savior.” The team also distributed reading glasses, Bibles and hand-made scarves provided by the women at Valleydale. Packages containing tooth paste and tooth brushes donated by Birmingham area dentists and orthodontists were also handed out.

The Valleydale children’s team shared the Gospel through Vacation Bible School. The largest number in one day was 109 children. “The children really came out to embrace the team and share in the love of Jesus,” remembers Sansom. “It was a blessing to see the smiles and hear their laughter.”

During the trip, under the leadership of Valleydale Serve Pastor Ross Robinson and David Edge, the team also partnered with the Baptist Union of Moldova to help plant an evangelical church in the village. Both Robinson and Edge have been leading groups from Valleydale on mission trips to Moldova for many years. To learn more visit www.valleydale.org. †

August 27, 2018 by Birmingham Christian Family

Photo Fun

Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration continues at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Homewood as the parish recently celebrated the 26th anniversary of the devotion. The celebration began with an open-air procession of the Blessed Sacrament from the Chapel of Our Savior to the church by OLS Pastor Rev. Msgr. Martin Muller with the Knights of Columbus leading as the Honor Guard.

September 1, 2018August 27, 2018 by Birmingham Christian Family

Photo Fun

Patients at Children’s of Alabama recently had a visit from Alabama and Auburn University cheerleaders along with team mascots. The visit was a part of the annual Wells Fargo Picks for Kids program kickoff. As part of the campaign, Wells Fargo will donate $1,000 to Children’s for each pass interception made by the Crimson Tide and Tigers during the 2018-2019 season. Funds directly benefit the more than 1,800 children treated each month in Children’s Hearing and Speech Center.

September 1, 2018August 27, 2018 by Birmingham Christian Family

Photo Fun

Casa de Adoracion, in partnership with Riverchase United Methodist Church, held a Community Back to School Giveaway and Health Fair. More than 700 backpacks filled with school supplies were given away. Health screenings, voter registrations, and financial services were also provided.

August 27, 2018 by Birmingham Christian Family

Photo Fun

Emmy Beason, 2019 DYW (Distinguished Young Woman) of Jefferson County from Leeds High School and Brooke Tarrant, 2018 DYW of Alabama and Jefferson County from Vestavia Hills High School. Beason will compete for the title of DYW of Alabama 2019 in Montgomery, January 18-19, 2019, www.distinguishedyw.org.

August 27, 2018 by Birmingham Christian Family

Photo Fun

Seaman John Held, from Moody, Ala. participates in security reaction force training aboard the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21).

September 1, 2018August 24, 2018 by Birmingham Christian Family

bigstock Family With Teenage Daughters 206014699

Parenting Points

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

It’s easy for parents to make mistakes when we are angry, scared, or frustrated.

And when one of our kids is going down the path toward addiction, we will feel all of those emotions. Strongly, and likely over and over. During those tough times, parenting can be hard, and we all make mistakes. When we do, we can recover from them. And if we are thoughtful about our parenting approach, we can learn to make less of them. Here are a few of the mistakes many parents make:

Mistake: My kid is a screw-up, so I must be tough to teach him a lesson.

Reality:If you use anger to win every battle, you will lose the war. Your kids will resent you for it, and it will make it harder for you to have a positive impact on them.
Parenting step:Every child is designed by God, and there is hope for each one. Recognize their God-given strengths while calmly dealing with any problems they create.

Mistake: We shouldn’t let other people know about our problems.

Reality:If you cover up their issues, you teach them that isolation is a way to address problems.
Parenting step:Talk to someone and get help. Isolation is the worst thing you can do when there are issues with your kids. And they need to be talking to someone too.

Mistake: If I set boundaries or confront them, it will make them act out even more.

Reality:If you let them do whatever they want without consequences, they learn impulsiveness, and the problems will get worse.
Parenting step:Set boundaries with consequences and calmly, consistently enforce them.

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.

Churches and organizations can visit www.StepsProactiveParenting.com to get information on what types of training and coaching are available for parents and how to start setting up a program that fits their needs, or they can simply contact Steve Ward. Parents can visit www.StepsProactiveParenting.com to receive the free weekly STEPS Ministries 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]

August 24, 2018August 23, 2018 by Birmingham Christian Family

Special Feature

Looking for an opportunity to delve into the truth of God’s Word and grow in your Christian faith? Beeson Divinity School’s Lay Academy of Theology is offering non-credit classes and other study opportunities to the community this fall. Each course will be led by Beeson faculty on the campus of Samford University in Homewood. Here’s a peak at a few of the courses.

The Holy Spirit. Under the leadership of Dr. Piotr Malysz, this class will engage in an exciting study of the third member of The Trinity and examine the biblical foundations of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. Then, beginning with the New Testament and moving on to the period of the early church, participants will look at some of the debates and controversies surrounding the Holy Spirit, such as the Spirit’s divinity and His role in creation, redemption, the believer’s life and the believing community, the Church. Last, but not least, the course will consider the Protestant reformers’ witness to the Spirit and offer some final contemporary theological reflection. “From the Old Testament account of creation to the New Testament announcement of the new creation, the Bible speaks of the Holy Spirit. He brooded over the waters when the world was made. He brought about the human conception of the Son of God for us and for our salvation. He is now being poured out on all flesh,” explains Dr. Malysz adding, “The Church’s ancient creed confesses the Holy Spirit as ‘the Lord and giver of life,’ recognizing his essential importance as a Person of the Godhead. Without the Spirit, there would be no life and no new life.” Learn more from Dr. Malysz on six Wednesday nights, 6-8 p.m., beginning September 26, 2018. Dr. Malysz (B.A., Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland; M.Div., Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN; Th.D., Harvard University) joined the faculty of Beeson Divinity School in 2011 and teaches Church History and Doctrine.

1 Peter: The Character of Heirs Amid Persecution.This course will examine in depth the privilege, as well as the burden, of Christian calling. Dr. Sydney Park will guide participants through the apostle Peter’s first epistle, in which he addresses the real persecution that the early Christian church faced at the beginning of its history and encourages believers with the counter-intuitive and counter-cultural perspective. “Participants will gain a deeper appreciation of the Christian calling to a holy life, particularly, in light of suffering,” explains Dr. Park. Learn from Dr. Park on six Tuesday nights, 6-8 p.m., beginning September 25, 2018. Dr. Park (B.A., University of Chicago; M.Div., Fuller Theological Seminary; Th.M., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; Ph.D., University of Aberdeen, Scotland) joined the Beeson Divinity School faculty in 2006 and teaches Biblical Interpretation, New Testament Theology and Greek.

Learn more about these courses as well as other seminar and lecture opportunities through Beeson Divinity School at www.beesondivinity.com/lay-academyor call 205-726-2338. On-line registration is also available on the website and a discounted rate for courses ($89) is offered for early registration. †

August 28, 2018August 23, 2018 by Birmingham Christian Family

Encouraging Word

“If” can be represented by a “?”. Meaning you have an option; you make the decision.

“Then” is the result, represented by a “!”. “If and then” refers to something conditional. If you meet the conditions, then you will experience and benefit from the result.

Here are some Scriptures where you see this principle:

II Chronicles 7:14 says, “If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

John 15:7 explains, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you.”

I John 1:9 reads, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Romans 10:9 says, “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

II Corinthians 5:17 tells us, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, and the new has come!”

Matthew 10:32 adds, “Everyone therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.”

When God’s promises are conditional, then it is our responsibility to satisfy those conditions. The ball is in our court. In this case we are not waiting on God, but He is waiting on us. Let’s not keep Him waiting. We need to satisfy the conditions (prerequisites) so we can benefit from the result.

-Tony Cooper

Celebrating 28 Years of Service as Exec. Director, Jimmie Hale Mission

Leadership Opportunity for Area Teens: Anytown Alabama

Mistake: My kid is a screw-up, so I must be tough to teach him a lesson.

Mistake: We shouldn’t let other people know about our problems.

Mistake: If I set boundaries or confront them, it will make them act out even more.

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