Ignore the gossip. They say I’ve walked on the wild side. Wild? Perhaps not. I’d say I’ve mastered the fun side! Life is for living, right? I’m searching for a buddy, or an entire family, to join me in making the most of each and every day. Sure, I’m a rescue, but let’s skip the slow-motion montage, sad eyes and violin music. Think vibrant girl who has an unshakeable obsession with those glorious yellow bouncing orbs humans call tennis balls. Okay fine, all balls.
With a nose for adventure and the focus of a German Shepherd, I considered K-9 academy. They deemed four years old was “too mature.” Their loss is the best thing that will happen to you and your sofa. If you believe the journey of life should include a loyal co-pilot, reach out for me, reach for the Skye! I’m taking applications for my forever family at www.twobytworescue.com/adopting.
Two by Two is a faith based, no kill rescue whose mission is to give life to abandoned, abused, stray, and distressed animals. Saving animal lives for more than 20 years, Two by Two operates out of Birmingham, Ala., and has coordinated the rescue and adoption of cats, dogs, horses, and even a few pot-bellied pigs. Two by Two has placed dogs in almost forty states and even a few abroad! To learn more about Two by Two visit www.twobytworescue.com. †
As we celebrate the season, all of us at Birmingham Christian Family wanted to do something special for readers like you who read and spread Good News with your family and friends each month- either sharing a print issue or reading and sharing one of our articles on-line or through your social media.
The fun started on November 21, 2025 and continues with 3 More Weeks of Great Give-A-Ways valued at $200 or more!
To be entered to receive the $200 Bash Boutique gift card LIKE and COMMENT on the Giveaway Post on Facebook @BirminghamChristianFamily. For extra entries, share the giveaway post on your feed and tag three friends in the comments.
Week 3: $200 Refreshing Hospitality Christmas Gift Pack. Includes an autographed copy of Refreshing Hospitality: The Art of Welcoming by Anna and Tyler Nash, companion Refreshing Recipes book, Refreshing tea towel and two tickets to A Gathering—an evening of stories, seasonal drinks, light bites and conversation around the heart of hospitality.
To be entered to receive the $200 Refreshing Hospitality Christmas Gift Pack LIKE and COMMENT on the Giveaway Post on Facebook @BirminghamChristianFamily. For an extra entry, share the giveaway post on your feed and tag three friends in the comments.
Week 4: $250 Trak Shak Gift Card to use at any area Track Shak- Homewood, Highway 280 or Hoover, www.trakshak.com.
To be entered to receive the Trak Shak $250 Gift Card, LIKE and COMMENT on the Giveaway Post on Instagram @cfpbirmingham. Post to your story on Instagram for an extra entry.
WINNERS for each giveaway will be announced EVERY FRIDAY morning on the Giveaway Post- November 28, December 5, December 12, and December 19, 2025. So be sure to LIKE our Facebook @Birmingham Christian Family and Instagram @cfpbirmingham pages.
A NEW GIVEAWAY begins EVERY FRIDAY afternoon- November 21, 28, December 5 and 12, 2025. So be sure you are Following us on Instagram and Facebook to be the first to know all the great gifts we will be giving away this year- all valued at $200 or more!
A BIG THANK YOU to our advertising partners who make the gift giving possible and most importantly help us share the gift of our Savior Jesus Christ with readers and followers every day of the year!
“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14
I heard the most dreadful sound this morning… the sound of the garbage truck coming up the street, made especially dreadful by the fact that I knew that last week I forgot to put the garbage out and in just a few days there will be wrapping paper galore! With my sincerest apologies to the garbage man and to any neighbors who may have witnessed this unsightly event, here is a festive recount of the morning’s events!
“Twas the day before Christmas,
and all through the house,
cans overflowed,
to the joy of a mouse.
The cans were full with no room to spare,
In hopes that the garbage man would soon be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of Oscar the Grouch danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled on the couch for our morning coffee recap.
Here is a peek at Walt’s view around the Christmas table one year.
When out on the road there arose such a rumble,
I sprang from the couch to see what made the grumble.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The big blue blur on the road, not nearly too slow,
Made my heart skip a beat and my head sink low.
When, what to my wondering ears should I hear,
But my wife saying “you better make it my dear!”
With a young stout driver, so lively and spry,
I knew in a moment it must be BFI.
More rapid than eagles my legs did they go,
And I whistled, and shouted, and called him “Hey Joe!!”
Now I’m dashing! Now, dancing! Now, prancing and sprinting!
I think I might vomit! I’m stupid! I feel faint and I’m dizzy!
To the top of the hill! to the top of the driveway!
I grabbed the can before he could dash away! Dash away all!”
And then, in a twinkling, I realized my spoof
The tingling and chilling of cold on my toosh.
As I drew in my head, wishing for a gown,
There was no saving me… he was waiting to peddle down.
I wasn’t dressed all in fur, from head to foot,
You see, my clothes were inside… there I stood in my undies and boots.
A bundle of trash he had flung, in the back,
And I looked like a peddler, just looking for a snack.
My fingers-how they tingled! My tail wasn’t merry!
My cheeks were like roses, my nose like a cherry!
My arms wrapped around me like a present with a bow,
And I shivered and shook like I was standing in the snow.
The grit of my jaw held tight against my teeth,
And there in my boxers I shook like a thief.
With skin exposed from my face to my belly,
Cold and alone and from the haste of my chore, a little bit smelly!
My sweats and my jeans all sat on the shelf,
And all I could do was simply laugh at myself!
Thank God he gave me no wink of his eye nor a nod with his head,
Soon he drove off leaving me no more to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went on about his work,
And I scurried back to put on a shirt.
And laying my hand on the door to go back inside, I hoped I would avoid the laughter from my bride!
As I went on in, and straight to find clothes,
Hannah sprang to her feet with applause as she enjoyed the shows.
And with coffee in hand I sat l panting and cold, knowing I did it, victory was bold!
Then I heard her exclaim, “ere what a sight!”
“Happy Christmas to all” she said, and “I hope I see that tonight!”
I hope you had a good belly roll of a laugh (like a bowl full of jelly) at my expense. But please do remember friends, Christmas isn’t about toys or wrapping paper, or even reindeer or sleighs… it’s about Jesus. And about the birth of the Son of God by way of a Virgin… in a manger in Bethlehem… so that we might all be free of the garbage in our lives. Be Joyful in Christ, this holiday season.
-Walt Merrell is a Christian Outdoorsman who writes of his adventures with his family, with the hope that others might be inspired and encouraged to embrace God’s tapestry, otherwise known as the great outdoors, as a means of finding Common Ground. You can follow him at Shepherding Outdoors on FB, YT and IG and at shepherdingoutdoors.com.
What can I say about Momma Holt? She was a marvel to me. When I married into David’s family thirty-eight years ago, she took me in as a grandchild even though she had a multitude of grandchildren already, and I had plenty of grandmothers. She had an amazing gift of acceptance and warmly welcomed others into her family circle with joy. Now that’s not to say that things were always perfect in her life. Momma Holt had many trials and tribulations, just like we all do. She birthed eleven children and raised twelve and loved them all dearly. That in itself is a feat with which to contend. Heavenly days, can you imagine raising twelve children? Can you imagine how much food she cooked on a daily basis? And the laundry…yikes!
You will always find Cranberries in the Snow on Danna’s Thanksgiving and Christmas table.
One Thanksgiving back in the 1950s, when she had all the children at home, she told her husband, “Now, Pop, go down to the store and get the biggest turkey you can find.” She had a lot of mouths to feed. Well, Pop Holt bought the absolute largest turkey in the county! That thing weighed in between 35 and 40 pounds, depending on who is telling the story. Well, it just took her breath away to look at it. It was so big that there wasn’t one pan in her kitchen that would hold it. Well, now what was she to do? So, she sent Pop back to the store to buy something large enough to cook the bird in. He came back with a bathtub! You know, those white porcelain baby bathtubs that had the red rim around the edge? Yep, that’s what she cooked her turkey in on that particular Thanksgiving. After solving that dilemma, she soon realized they had another situation. The turkey was so big it wouldn’t fit in their oven! The door wouldn’t close. Momma Holt was gifted with a big supply of good ol’ common sense, which came in handy considering how many kids she was raising. She concocted a set-up where half the turkey was in the oven and the other half was sticking out of the door. Then she closed the oven door as far as it would go and propped the door up with a kitchen chair. But that turkey was never going to get done with the door half open. What to do? Pop Holt had many talents, so he made a covering of some sort to keep the heat in, and it went all the way around the oven opening. To cook the bird, Momma Holt rotated it continuously throughout the cooking time so that the entire ginormous bird was finally roasted and ready for Thanksgiving dinner. She told me that rotating that turkey all day liked to have worked her to death.
Now that was a whole lot of turkey. And the whole family relished it the first day. And the second day, too, for every meal. Momma Holt made turkey hash, turkey salad, and turkey sandwiches, among other turkey dishes. She was gifted with stretching the family budget and keeping the food as tasty as she could for her family. But on the fourth day, Pop Holt said, “Ruby, how much of that turkey do you have left?” She said, “Still got enough for a few more meals.” Keep in mind that her family was not used to having leftovers at all because it just didn’t happen with that many mouths to feed. It was at that point that Pop Holt decided he had taken his last bite of turkey for the year. He said, “Throw it out, give it away, go bury it or something! I don’t want to taste another bite of turkey till next Thanksgiving!” And so, they did. And it is now a treasured family story that’s been told and passed down through the family since the 1950s. Whether you are serving a turkey or a ham this holiday season, enjoy our family’s favorite side dish for Christmas and Thanksgiving- Cranberries in the Snow.
“This recipe is from Mrs. Connie, my friend in Illinois. It’s a constant favorite on social media, is fun to make and eat, and is always found on my Thanksgiving and Christmas table.” Danna Standridge
Ingredients:
1 package fresh cranberries
¾ cups water
6 oz cherry Jello
1 ½ cups sugar
2 cups water
20 oz crushed pineapple, drained
1 can mandarin oranges, cut in half and drained
1 cup chopped pecans
Directions:
In a saucepan, cook the cranberries in the water over medium heat until they pop. Add the Jello and sugar. Stir till all is dissolved. Add 2 cups of water and stir. Cool slightly. Add pineapples, mandarin oranges, and nuts. Stir. Pour into a 9 x 13 glass dish. DO NOT USE COOKING SPRAY! Refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight.
Mark Harvard spent most of his adult life in media and ministry. “Over the years, I bounced back and forth, spending time in Top 40, Oldies, Country, and finally Christian radio, while also serving the Lord in communications, youth and children’s ministry, and as an associate pastor,” Harvard explained. It was not until 2020 and the Covid pandemic that Harvard surrendered to God’s call on his life: ordained ministry. “I actively ran from it for years… I ran and got in my own way over and over until Covid, when every pastor in the world had their job description altered to include things I was comfortable doing [online ministry],” he explains, adding, “At that point, I simply said, ‘Okay God, You win. I’m all in. Let’s do this.’”
Pastor Mark Harvard is seen here with his wife Ginny. They have two sons: Jack (8) and Marshall (7).
During the pandemic, Harvard began classes at Asbury Theological Seminary. He is expected to graduate in the spring of 2026 with a master’s degree in biblical and theological foundations. He is currently an ordained deacon in the Global Methodist Church. “I would never have anticipated any of this as a 20-year-old in college, but we are fortunate to have a God who doesn’t operate within our limited understanding,” Harvard reflects.
Pastor Mark Harvard uses his gift of communication in many ways- from preaching God’s Word to spreading God’s love as the emcee for Birmingham Christian Family’s annual Celebrate the Family Expo.
After serving as an Associate Pastor for several years at Clearbranch Methodist Church in Trussville, Harvard, alongside his wife Ginny and children, answered the call to serve as Pastor at Morningstar Methodist Church in Chelsea. Since accepting this role a few months ago, Harvard has already experienced the sense of family among church members. “My Morningstar Methodist family is an amazing group of believers. They are full of hospitality and have a passion to welcome new faces,” he shares, adding, “There is a strong pull toward not only learning about the Word, but also learning how to apply it to our lives. The concept of ‘community’ is strong here, be it small groups or full church, everyone looks after and prays for each other.”
Morningstar Methodist Church has a 9 a.m. traditional worship service and an 11 a.m. modern worship service each Sunday. “The traditional includes a fantastic choir, liturgy, a children’s moment, and a message. The modern service features a worship band, children’s moment, and a message,” Harvard explains. In between those services at 10 a.m., members can attend Sunday School hour for all ages in small groups. Visit www.mstarchelsea.com to find upcoming events and learn more about the church. †
Ephesians 4:1 says, “…I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” Throughout Scripture, reference is made to God’s call. The word call means a summons or to attract someone’s attention; an attempt to reach someone.
The Biblical meaning refers to God’s initiative to bring people to Christ and to participate in His redemptive work in the world. It is also inviting us to take a certain action or make a specific decision. There are three parts to a call: the one making the call, the call or message sent, and the one receiving the call. To receive the call, one must “hear” the call and then “respond” to the call. I believe God’s call comes in four stages:
1. Call to Repentance
2. Call to Salvation
3. Call to Sanctification
4. Call to Service
Call to Repentance. Repentance is Godly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:10). It is sincere regret or remorse, turning from sinful ways and towards God. Repentance comes when we yield to the Holy Spirit’s conviction (John 16:7-8). In Mark 1:15, Jesus says to repent and believe in the Gospel. You must acknowledge you’re a sinner before you recognize the need for a Savior!
Call to Salvation. Salvation is deliverance from sin and its consequences brought about by saving faith in Jesus Christ. John 3:16 sums it up very well. God’s desire is that mankind be saved. 2 Peter 3:9 says that God is not willing that any should perish but for all to come to repentance. And Romans 10:13 says, “for, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Call to Sanctification. Sanctification is making or declaring something holy. It is the action or process of being freed from sin and refers to being “called out” and “set apart” for Godly service. God needs to do a work “in us” before He can do a work “through us.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23 says, “May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through…” And 1 Thessalonians 4:3 says, “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified…”
Call to Service. Service is to perform duties or services for another and to address the needs of others. We are called to serve, not to be served. Ephesians 4:12 says, “to equip His people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”
For more than 80 years, the Jimmie Hale Mission (JHM) has been a beacon of hope for the homeless population in Birmingham by providing food, shelter, and other services. JHM is now taking steps to expand their reach by adding a year-round emergency-plus shelter and service hub. “It will provide a safe place to sleep, warm meals, showers, laundry facilities, case management, mental health services, basic medical care and emergency dental care to our most vulnerable neighbors, as well as shelter to their pets who, many times, are the only family they have,” JHM Executive Director Perryn Carroll says.
Pictured here is an artist rendition of the new emergency shelter. Ground breaking is expected in 2026.
The shelter will be directly across the street from JHM’s Downtown Men’s Center. Why? “The location gives us the efficiency of using our present commercial kitchen, the accessibility to adjust staffing as needed and the ability to transition men and women to our programs seamlessly,” Carroll explains. Through serving as a warming station during the winter months, JHM realized “that we are able to reach the most broken and vulnerable in our community through emergency care.” The new facility will allow JHM to meet the basic needs of more people in Birmingham all while “building relationships and trust needed to give the broken the confidence to take the next step toward a better life,” Carroll explains.
The new shelter will be built next to the Jimmie Hale Mission Men’s Center (pictured above) in downtown Birmingham.
Construction of the emergency shelter is expected to take nine to ten months. JHM has secured $1 million of the $4.4 million needed for construction. How can you help? Carroll first asks for prayer. “We feel like God is challenging us to care for His children who are most in need and we ask that you pray for our obedience to His calling and for provision to bring this much-needed facility to our community,” she says. You can also donate financially at www.jimmiehalemission.com/capital. To learn more about JHM and the current three facilities- Royal Pines, Shepura Men’s Center, and Jessie’s Place- visit www.jimmiehalemission.com.
Birmingham nonprofit Sozo Children hosted volunteer doctors and nurses from Children’s of Alabama and UAB St. Vincents East. The group traveled to Sozo Village in Uganda to provide consulting, treatment, urgently needed medications and preventive care at no cost. An estimated 1700 people were helped during the two day medical camp.
During the event, individuals consulted with a doctor or nurse, received treatment, heard a Gospel message, and were provided with information about other resources. Nearly 100 people gave their lives to Christ during the event. Many children and parents who came had been dependent on USAID-funded clinics and hospitals. Since those funds were frozen, many centers drastically reduced services or closed altogether. One child, Keira, who has suffered with HIV since birth, lost her resource for regular medical treatment when USAID to Uganda ended. At the September medical camp, she received life-saving medication while Sozo Children continues to seek a long-term solution for her
Children’s of Alabama nurses Kate Montjoy and Andrien Mercado are seen here providing medical care to Ugandans during Sozo Children’s annual medical camp.
Children’s of Alabama nurses Kate Montjoy and Andrien Mercado both traveled to Uganda to be a part of Sozo’s annual medical camp. Montjoy shares,“I think that it’s really obvious to see God’s love here just through everything that we’re doing, but especially through the Sozo kids [local children] that come and help volunteer here. They have really put into action everything. So, as I was teaching them, it’s really encouraging to see that what we’re pouring into them is being spread out to the community.” Mercado adds, “What made me want to come serve at the Sozo medical camp is honestly, the Lord has burdened me for the sick, and this opportunity presented itself and the pieces just fell into place. It is such an honor to feel that burden with the Lord… We’re very blessed with a lot of knowledge in America. And so being able to bring and help equip everybody here as well is something I wanted to do.”
Suzanne Owens, founder and CEO of Sozo Children said, “The cost for our annual medical camp, and the year-round care we provide costs approximately $100,000 each year. Every penny comes from donors in the United States who understand the need for medical care for children and adults in Uganda.” Sozo Children also provides year-round shelter, food, education, medical and other services to an average of 135 children annually. “We serve God by serving others, equipping children mentally, physically and spiritually to become strong leaders for Christ,” Owens said. To learn more about Sozo Children, visit www.sozochildren.org. †
“For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
Each December, the Big Oak Ranch family gathers for their annual Christmas party in the Boys’ Ranch gymnasium. This is a time of laughter, community, and gratitude. Yet it’s the final moments of the evening that everyone looks forward to most – when Mr. John shares the Christmas story and leads the singing of “Silent Night” by candlelight.
Each December at the Big Oak Ranch Christmas party, Mr. John reads the Christmas story and leads everyone in singing “Silent Night” by candlelight.
When the noise settles, Mr. John invites the youngest children to come to the front. He shares about Jesus’ birth, about the night the Savior came into the world, and about how His Light still shines today. He talks about the Hope that began in a manger, the same Hope that still changes hearts at Big Oak Ranch. His words are steady and filled with the same truth that built Big Oak Ranch: that light always overcomes the darkness. Then Mr. John lights the first candle. Its small flame breaks the stillness of the darkened room. He shares that light with the children beside him, and each begins to pass it on. One candle becomes two, then ten, then hundreds. The light moves from the smallest kids to the oldest, spreading through the crowd until every corner of the gym is glowing. It’s a simple moment: quiet, almost ordinary, but it says everything about what Big Oak stands for.
As the candles shine, Mr. John reminds everyone that Hope isn’t something we keep to ourselves. It’s meant to be shared and shown, just like the light in our hands. And when we share it, darkness loses power. As the entire Ranch family stands together, the room fills with the sounds of “Silent Night.” There’s no music, no instruments – just voices. The hymn echoes against the gym walls and rises high, carrying gratitude, peace, and a reminder of the true meaning of Christmas. Every year, Big Oak ends the celebration not with noise, but with light. And as the final notes fade, one truth remains: the light of Christ still shines, in this place and in every heart that carries His Hope into the world. †
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