Each month, Birmingham Christian Family highlights a local church leader who is making a difference in our community. Quarry Church’s Lead Pastor Bryan Alderman has been shepherding his congregation since the church was replanted in 2024.
Bryan and Kayli Alderman married in 2019 and have two children, Eli and Louie. The couple met at Liberty Baptist in Chelsea, where Bryan previously served.
1. What did your journey look like to your current position in ministry? The Lord called me to ministry during the fall semester of my senior year of high school. Prior to that, I was on the fast track to attend the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. God called me away from a career in aeronautical engineering and piloting to a lifetime of shepherding His people. I studied for ministry at Bryan College and Beeson Divinity School, gained practical experience serving with Lifeway’s FUGE Camps from 2014-2018, and began working in the church in 2016. Liberty Baptist Church ordained me to the Gospel ministry in 2019 and sent me to replant Quarry Church in 2024.
2.Is there a particular person or life experience that impacted your decision to be a minister? Too many to name! My parents, Lewis and Terri Alderman were the primary disciple makers in my life. My brothers, Robbie and Ben Alderman supported me every step of the way. My “Pa”, Robert Alderman Sr. was a pastor and church planter. My student pastor, Robert Hemphill was incredibly influential in my life and calling. Many teachers and professors should also be listed, but this list would go on forever!
Bryan Alderman accepted the call to replant Quarry Church in 2024. The church is located at 7183 Highway 119, Alabaster, 35007. To learn more about the church, visit qcalabaster.com, call 205-605-9437, or follow the church on Facebook @QuarryChurchAlabaster and Instagram @qcalabaster.
3.How would you describe your church family? Our faith family is vibrant, devoted, optimistic, and excited. We are truly a family that wants anyone and everyone to join us in our pursuit of the Lord Jesus. We love God’s Word, are passionate about reaching our neighbors, and are hungry to see God do more in and through us.
4. What can people expect when they come to worship at your church? They can expect to be welcomed and introduced to at least a few people! We run a pretty simple play on Sunday morning–Sunday School (which we call Rock Groups) for all ages, which is discussion based and aligned to the passage we’ll cover in our worship service. During worship, you can expect to sing praise to the Lord, spend time in prayer, hear a message from God’s Word and be invited to respond to what God is teaching you then and there. Ours is a pretty casual and contemporary environment, so keep it simple!
Brought to you by: Community Partner Still Waters Counseling and Education Center, www.mystillwaters.org
The team at Still Waters Counseling and Education Center is growing! Jerri Dobelstein recently received her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Regent University and is now an Associate Licensed Counselor (ALC). She completed her clinical internship at Still Waters and believes that the Lord led her to this practice in Mountain Brook. “It has always been my desire to be a counselor who practices from a foundation of Christ’s love and compassion while being clinically skilled and competent,” Dobelstein says. “As an intern at Still Waters, I had the opportunity to grow as a skilled counselor while also serving our community. I was able to serve at The Lovelady Center and Hope Inspired Ministries, as well as with several individuals in our community. These experiences allowed me to come alongside others in their suffering and provide space for healing and growth.”
Jerri Dobelstein provides therapy in-person at the Still Waters Mtn. Brook location and by telehealth anywhere in Ala.
Passion for Counseling. Dobelstein and her family served overseas for several years. After returning to the U.S., they attended counseling sessions. “Through hours spent in counseling and time simply sitting with the Lord, I was able to heal from years of trauma, burnout, and suffering that I had been holding. My own healing journey is what led me into wanting to be a small part of that healing for others,” Dobelstein says. Now as an ALC, Dobelstein is excited “to continue to grow as a counselor and learn from my amazing colleagues as well as have the privilege of serving others through mental health care.” She has already seen how clients can find freedom and healing through counseling. “A therapy journey is unique for every person, but I am continually amazed at how my clients discover healing and insight when given the time and space to dig deep… I have been given the privilege of witnessing some of the most redemptive therapy journeys imaginable, and I am continually thankful for the gift of this profession.”
A Foundation of Faith. “My faith is the very foundation of every aspect of my life, most especially within the counseling room. Therapy is one of the most vulnerable journeys a person can take and must be blanketed in great care and compassion,” she says, adding, “I believe that the love of Jesus that overflows in my own life is what allows me to come alongside my clients in their suffering, regardless of whether they share my faith. My goal is always to love others like Jesus, and I believe that such love is characterized by patience, understanding, and unconditional love.”
Still Waters provides quality mental health counseling from a Christian perspective. Areas of service include depression, anxiety, OCD, grief, and more. To learn more, visit www.mystillwaters.org, call 205-825-1423, or email [email protected].
-Melissa Armstrong
Watch the video below to learn more about Jerri’s journey to becoming a counselor and more.
Senior Helpers, located in Pelham, Ala., offers a wide variety of services for senior citizens and their families in Jefferson and Shelby counties. “We can do a little bit of everything is what I tell individuals,” Jessica Miller, owner of Senior Helpers, says. “We can help you with companion care. So, if you just need someone to help take you to appointments, run some errands, light housekeeping, if you need help with mobility, changing, dressing, grooming, respite stays…” Additional services include Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care, Parkinson’s Care, Return Home Transitional Care, Chronic Disease Care, VA Benefit Assistance, and Surgery Assistance and Sitter Services.
Senior Helpers Pelham is located at 2691 Pelham Parkway, Suite B, Pelham, 35124. Owner Jessica Miller encourages anyone interested learning more about the services offered to stop by the office anytime between 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Next Steps. “We try to make the process as easy as possible for families,” Miller says, adding, “When families feel like they need to make that phone call, they literally just call us and tell us what they need assistance with. We talk about the care goals and what they’re looking for, how often they need that, and then we start with getting to their home at a convenient time for them to do the in-home assessment.” The in-home assessment is completely free, and Miller explains that after that is completed, the Senior Helpers team works on a personalized care plan. The in-home assessment is important because it allows the team “to see things, make recommendations including how often we think the services should occur, and then we get them signed up with the appropriate caregiver, and we go from there,” Miller says. “We try to make it as seamless as possible.” The team at Senior Helpers in Pelham also offers a LIFE Profile assessment “which is an evidence-based tool that helps predict the risk of hospitalization in the next six months and provides recommendations to age safely at home.” During the assessment, the team identifies “key areas of concern to focus care, simple action items to address immediately, and wellness benchmarks to continually review progress.” This free assessment can be done during the in-home assessment or after.
Jessica Miller is seen in a training settings at Senior Helpers Pelham where not only staff train but also family members receive safety instruction to become comfortable with helping their loved ones.
Passion for Providing Care. Miller graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in health care management. She shares that she has always worked with the elderly population, including serving as a licensed nursing home administrator. “I love it, and I am passionate about making sure individuals get the care they need and deserve. I just want to be a part of the community, and it’s really a blessing to be able to assist individuals. So, I don’t look at it as work. It’s a calling.”
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1. 4 Tickets to watch the Birmingham Barons play at Regions Field.
Hannah and I were married at The Cottle House in Andalusia, Ala. in 1998, the first “event” ever held at the now well-loved venue. The old house, restored by her parents, George and Brenda Gantt, stood proud on Gantt land, full of vintage charm and Southern grit. George had poured himself into that house- overhauling it, renovating it, shaping it into something beautiful again. A handmade wooden cross he crafted from old fence posts hung above the front porch, marking the very place where Hannah and I would exchange vows. It hangs now on our porch at the lake house- a weathered testament to love, hard work, and sacred promises.
Walt and Hannah Merrell were married at The Cottle House in 1998.
On that hot and muggy day, South Alabama’s weather was living up to its unpredictable reputation. Damp heat clung to the air like a wet sauna towel. I sweat through my shirt before lunchtime. My nerves didn’t help matters, and neither did George. He was a towering figure, physically and otherwise. Dressed in a vintage tuxedo and top hat, he looked like a barrel-chested Doc Holliday who stepped off the set of a Western. When I walked into the hall, there he stood. His hand resting on the grip of a vintage Colt .45 revolver tucked in his waistband. “You ain’t thinking about running, are you boy?” he asked, deadpan. I choked out a laugh, hoping he was kidding. I wasn’t sure. He tapped the revolver, raised an eyebrow, then let his coat fall back into place. “That’s good,” he said and walked away. That pretty much set the tone for the rest of the afternoon.
Moments later, I tried to sip water without drenching myself. In doing so, I accidentally knocked the glass over, and in slow motion, it tumbled down the drawers of Brenda’s antique dresser. With each bounce, water spilled into priceless collections of artwork, postcards, handkerchiefs… irreplaceable Americana, ruined. The glass finally hit the floor and exploded. I panicked. I knew I’d made a mess not just physically, but emotionally- especially if George found out. I called for help, handed out orders, tried to patch things up, and grabbed a couple of dry handkerchiefs from the drawer’s edge. Then I stepped outside, nerves frayed, heart racing. Rick, my college buddy and the minister officiating, followed me out. “You nervous?” he asked with a grin. I nodded. “Me too,” he said, chuckling. “Knock-knock.” Only Rick could tell a joke at a time like that. I laughed, tension broken for a breath or two. Just then, George walked out the back door, flanked by a few men who looked like they’d seen a few bar fights. I braced myself. He looked me over from my sweat-soaked shirt to my panicked eyes. “You nervous, son?” he asked. “No sir,” I croaked. He put a big hand on my shoulder and pulled me close. I could see the steel in his eyes again. I was ready for the lecture- or worse, for him to learn about the waterlogged dresser. Instead, George looked over his glasses, and in a low, steady voice said, “It’s going to be just fine, son. Just relax.” Then he hugged me and added, “I love you, boy.” And just like that, the hurricane inside me stilled.
Their wedding was the first official event at this loved venue in South Alabama.
It wasn’t the heat or the glass or the crowd or the nerves that nearly undid me. It was the weight of expectation, the pressure to be perfect for the woman I loved, and the fear of not being enough. But in George’s embrace- in that moment of grace- I realized something deeply spiritual: I wasn’t doing any of this alone. I never had been. I often think of Jesus’ baptism, when God spoke from heaven: “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Long before Jesus preached a sermon or performed a miracle, the Father assured Him of His love. Not because of what He had done- but because of who He was. That’s the message George gave me that day. Not “earn it.” Not “prove yourself.” Just “I love you, son.” And it’s the same message God whispers to us every time we feel overwhelmed, unworthy, or unsure: “It’s going to be just fine, child. I love you.” So no, I didn’t run. I married the love of my life under a wooden cross, on a porch full of cotton, surrounded by antique postcards and the sweet scent of gardenias. And I learned that sometimes, the most powerful sermons aren’t preached. They’re lived out in hugs, in grace, in the stillness after the storm. And yes… the very powerful Hurricane George made landfall on the Florida panhandle and swept through our wedding reception like a stampede of wild ponies. Winds rattled tents and dances were cut short. Roads flooded and traffic was chaos… but God does things in His timing. And we had just enough time to say, “I do.” You do too. To Him that is. He loves you and wants to know if you love Him too.
-Walt Merrell
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. His most recent book is available at shepherdingbook.com. Read his faith story at www.BirminghamChristian.com.
Everyone needs the good Lord and a dose of Oak Grove in their life…What do I mean by that? Well, Oak Grove Baptist Church is where I grew up, sitting on a wooden pew wedged between my two sisters, trying not to wiggle or giggle as we sang hymns and listened as the word of the Lord was brought to us every Sunday. It’s where I learned of the Good Lord and came to know Him as my own. I do wish and fervently hope all of you have a place to think back on that is a firm foundation in your life, where you learned of the love and forgiveness and acceptance of God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If you don’t have that, you can think back with me on mine.
Danna with her sisters in front of Oak Grove Baptist Church. Left to right: Suzanne, Dinah and Danna.
Hymns and staunch Christians made an impact on me as I sat on the old wooden church pew every Sunday. Songs sung often by saints of old still dance across my mind, and I can vividly see the joy radiating from the face of those old saints as they lifted their voices to the Lord. And I wondered, what makes them filled with such joy as they sing these hymns? As a little girl trying to figure out life, I watched and learned things about my church family. I would always wonder why Brother Rural chose to lead the congregation in “Heavenly Sunlight” every time. If Brother Rural got up there, we knew to turn to page two in the church hymnal. Every time! “Shadows around me, shadows above me…I’m walking in Sunlight- Jesus is Mine.”
I can still see him through my child’s eye as he led the song. I can still hear my Popa Swann singing out with joy, with my Nanny Swann’s voice blending in; and I can still see Aunt Lett -who wasn’t really my aunt, but we all called her that- with that soft smile on her face, her eyes closed, and her right hand resting lightly on her cheek while nodding her head in time to the music.
This was Danna’s view while writing this story. Want to have a relationship with the Good Lord? Danna and her brother Tommy, who is a pastor, released a video during Covid called What a Friend. Click here to watch the video.
During my time at Oak Grove, the Good Lord became my anchor, and Oak Grove became a place to hold fast to when the storms of life prevailed. Oak Grove became a home away from home and a place to learn about the world, a place to grow and be nurtured, and a place to learn about God’s love. As I write this, I’m sitting in the middle of 6,000 acres, watching the sunlight trickle down through the heavily shadowed forests, and “Heavenly Sunlight” drifts softly through my mind, and happiness floods my soul. As I have progressed through my life, I now know what Brother Rural knows. I can look back across the years and see the unfolding of the song through my life. I have traversed through the shadows, but have been walking in sunlight my whole journey because Jesus is mine.
“This recipe is from my best friend, Beth. She’s been making this for her family for a long time. It’s a proven winner and easy on the cook, too. Enjoy!”
Ingredients:
2 cups large elbow macaroni
1/2 stick butter
3 cups milk
2 cups heavy whipping cream
8 oz. cheddar cheese, shredded
8 oz. cubed colby-Monterey jack cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Place DRY macaroni into a 9″×13″ casserole dish. Melt butter and pour over the noodles. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir. Bake uncovered for 1 1/2 to 2 hours till noodles are done. Find more recipes from Danna in her cookbook, What’s Cooking with Danna, Y’all?
Hi, my name is Dopey. I bet you read my name and thought, “Oh… bless his heart.” Let’s stop right there. It might be hapless branding, but I am a pretty cool dog. My moniker is hilariously misleading! It’s just that Snow White is my mother’s name.
Dopey is a proud graduate of Dog U Birmingham.
Having attended classes at Dog U Birmingham, I can confidently say I’m a certified Good Boy. Feel free to applaud! So, what’s the real story? I’m a one-year-old goofball with elite cuddle credentials. I bring the fun, the love, the toy… then I bring you another toy… because sharing is caring, right?
Other dogs = Count me in!
Fenced yard = essential for zoomies, sniffing investigations, and dramatic sprints for no reason.
Humans = Ideal for road trips, blanket sharing, and confirming I’m handsome. Because facts matter.
Let’s talk about the perks of adopting me. I am an Ideal side-kick on car rides with ears flapping in the wind. I am also a 24/7 feel-good consultant who requires no appointment. I provide built-in entertainment since I am always ready to make you laugh. Not to brag, but I am also smart beyond the basic command stuff. Here’s a bonus- You can change my name to whatever you’d like. Add your last name while you’re at it. I’ll respond to anything said with snacks. Here’s the deal: Add me to the family, and I’ll bring the loyalty, laughs, and an unreasonable number of toys. Sound fair?
Apply to adopt Dopey through Two by Two Rescue’s website twobytworescue.com. Two by Two Rescue is a faith based, no kill rescue whose mission is to give life to abandoned, abused, and unwanted companion animals. Saving animal lives for more than 20 years, the rescue is foster home based and operates out of Birmingham, Ala. †
What gets on your nerves? Is it the relentless gnat that invades your personal space? Perhaps it’s the chirp… chirp…chirp of a smoke detector. Maybe the clanking of forks at dinner sends chills down your spine. Often, it’s the small annoyances that cause your eye to twitch. Couples bring quirks into marriage. These idiosyncrasies may seem harmless, even funny at first. Yet, over time, the “cute little thing you do” can morph into, “If you do that one… more… time!” Here are three strategies husbands and wives can use to address their pet peeves.
Speak Up Early. If your mate’s conduct irritates you, say something. Many couples shrug off irksome tendencies in the early years. She burps like a foghorn and sparks laughter. He starts important conversations with a mouthful of toothpaste and earns a lighthearted eye roll. The pair’s passive reactions to offbeat habits could send an unintended message of approval. Scripture warns it is “the little foxes that ruin the vineyards” (Song of Solomon 2:15). In context, “little foxes” symbolize small threats to the lovers’ blossoming relationship. The takeaway is this: address minor irritants before they become major disruptors.
Be Honest. Some spouses are aware of their peculiarity and may insist their husband or wife accept it and move on. A response to a complaint might be, “You knew I was this way when you married me.” Others are unaware of their bothersome behavior. Ideally, the offending party would be grateful and apologetic when informed of their obnoxious habit. In either case, honest feedback from the offended spouse is crucial. A specific reference to the annoyance is better than a nuanced one. This conversation is not an opportunity to unload a thousand grievances. Constructive comments seasoned with love and grace are easier to digest than rants. Proverbs 27:6 assures, “Wounds from a friend can be trusted…”
Show Empathy. Everyone possesses a blend of endearing and intolerable behaviors. When husbands and wives admit their respective oddities and empathize with their spouses’ frustrations, the marriage matures. The key is to recognize that what makes you giggle might make your spouse cringe. In time, once unbearable moments become occasions for comic relief.
Matrimony is one of God’s finest miracles. A man and a woman, different in every way, are melded into one love. This reality makes the handling of everyday quirks a dance of grace-filled acceptance and restraint. The challenge is to embrace what may not change and to change what may not be embraced.
-Dr. Alonza Jones
Teacher, Writer, Speaker
President and Co-founder, Biblical Marriage Institute
Grace Klein Community (GKC) is expanding its mission to lessen systemic poverty and strengthen community relationships through the opening of a new hub location in Pinson, Ala. The partnership with Transformation Community establishes a unified, Kingdom-focused collaboration designed to increase food recovery, deepen community engagement, and support holistic transformation across the state. The new site, referred to as FeedBHM Clay, will utilize 19,767 square feet of lower-level spaceto facilitate daily food intake and outflow, volunteer engagement, and a variety of community serving programs. The space will serve as an additional FeedBHM hub location of GKC for programs that serve the local community.
The new FeedBHM Clay hub location is located at 5271 Old Springville Road in Pinson.
A Partnership Built on Shared Mission. GKC and Transformation Community are aligning their ministries to expand Kingdom impact through prayer, service, and resource sharing. The partnership emphasizes unity, compassion, and long-term community investment. Both organizations will exist as a Kingdom building collaboration where Jesus receives all the glory and commit to work together to share the love of Christ with Birmingham and the outlying areas.
Expanded Community Services. The new location will strengthen and broaden GKC’s existing programs, including food rescue and distribution, diaper program, give and take room, preservation kitchen, and more. Renovations have been a shared effort. Transformation Community has painted the rooms, while volunteers have removed the carpet and will help set up the spaces. Volunteers from both organizations have cleaned, prepped and stained the concrete floors with the help of Sunbelt Rentals. Doorways have been extended for pallet access, and GKC will install additional surveillance cameras for added safety.
If you’d like to support the updates required for the new space, you can book a serve team at www.volunteer.feedbhm.org. On June 5, 2026 at 10 a.m., you can join GKC and Transformation Community for a Grand Opening celebration and ribbon cutting at 5271 Old Springville Rd, Pinson, 35126. †
“Christ is all! Christ is in all!” While this call to action from Colossians 3:11 has only concluded All Christ Church’s (ACC) sermons since 2026, the sentiment has been present in the church’s intentions since its inception in 2014.
Miles Fidell, founder of All Christ Church, formerly Auburn Community Church, is seen here with his wife Courtney and their four daughters.
A newlywed navigating his 20’s with his wife, Courtney, Miles Fidell felt called by the Lord to uproot his life in Metro Atlanta and plant a church in the city of Auburn. Focused on normalizing radical discipleship to Jesus in the American church, ACC’s approach to sharing the Word comes in the form of sermons from Fidell and Lead Pastor Gage Henry throughout the week, missionary outreach endeavors within and outside of the community, Bible drills and Communion almost every Sunday, a young adult Christian leadership development program, and so much more. “I had a picture of it in my head,” Fidell said. “A church that’s multi-generational in the South, passionate about worshipping Jesus, serious about prayer and holding on to Scriptures: all of the things that we know to be normal about ACC were in my heart and mind.” Initially taking residence in the Auburn University Hotel and various spaces on campus as Auburn Community Church, it wasn’t until 2019 that the congregation opened its first permanent residence in a strip mall on Airport Road. Eventually discovering 17 acres of available land on Hamilton Road, Fidell and his team worked for nearly four years to develop plans, raise money, and build on the property before opening ACC’s second Auburn location in March of 2023.
All Christ Church meets in various locations across the state including in Homewood at Rosewood Hall, 2850 19th Street South. Learn more about the church at allchrist.church or follow the church on social media @allchristchurch.
Now the Senior Pastor and a father of four girls, Fidell’s weekly routine is spent ensuring the church’s staff has the resources they need to complete their daily duties, preparing his sermons, and engaging in Sabbath on Saturday before preaching the Word to multiple audiences on Sunday. “We’re able to do two church services in the morning [on Hamilton Road] with one over there on Airport Road,” Fidell said. “I’m still somehow able to preach all three because they’re so close.” Although expansion within the Auburn community has been prevalent within the church’s story, its growth in other areas internally and externally has led to numerous exciting developments. The church has opened locations in Lake Martin, Huntsville, Nashville, and Birmingham. The Birmingham location currently meets in Homewood [2850 19th Street S] but is tentatively making its permanent home on Green Springs by the end of the year. Additionally, the church’s widespread growth throughout the South led to a name change at the beginning of the year: All Christ Church. “The word ‘all’ emerged from Matthew 28: ‘Make disciples of all nations,’” Fidell said. “The vision behind All Christ Church’s name change was to keep Jesus in the center but make missions the focus. Our goal is to send over 100 missionaries to unreached people groups.”
For more information on All Christ Church, its various locations, and upcoming events, visit allchrist.church.
-Nicholas Wetzel
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