Werkplās opened in 2020, as the definition of “workplace” was transformed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Werkplās is committed to the highest standards of adaptability, sustainability, and professionalism.
Here is a peek inside the office spaces available of Werkplās.
Adaptability. Located on the 15th floor of the Galleria Office Tower, we offer every kind of commercial workspace solution. Our workplace environments range from open-area individual desking, dedicated offices, to traditional multiple-office suites. We have multiple conference room sizes and two training rooms outfitted with full collaborative electronics. We also offer the Horizon Event Space which is a 75-person event space with a kitchen and scenic views of Hoover. Any of our spaces are available to any of our customers. We can provide exactly what our customers need, every time.
Seen here is the Werkplās Horizon Event Space. To learn more about the space and services available, visit www.werkplas.com.
Sustainability. We focus on the sustainability of both our environment and our customers’ businesses. Werkplās is furnished with 100% recycled, modern, high-end commercial office furnishings. We have partnered with multiple local businesses to relocate furnishings, removing thousands of pounds of waste from our local landfills. We’ve also chosen to take this mentality into our business model. We offer highly customizable membership options for any customer, from single-day usage pricing to monthly memberships with NO contracts. We are happy to grow or contract our partnership with each customer.
Scan this QR code to learn more about Werkplās.
Professionalism. At Werkplās, we strive to offer the absolute best to our customers in every facet of our business. We offer direct-service fiber internet in all our spaces, which provides extremely high-speed functionality for activities like remote video conferencing or software/web development. We have concierge staff on-site during all business hours, whose sole purpose is to help our customers with any need they may have, ranging from print services to catering or other professional service needs. Our office tower provides covered parking deck spaces for all customers and provides full 24-hour security staffing.
Quite simply, we strive to ensure there isn’t a better place to work in Birmingham than Werkplās. We would love to show you our space and services, with absolutely no commitment. Don’t forget to ask about our limited time special: receive one month free when you sign up for six months. You can call us at 205-578-8505 or check out www.werkplas.com. †
Watch the video below to see inside the Werkplās space and more.
At the beginning of April, Banks and I planted red potatoes and onions in the garden. I can’t remember the exact kind of red potato, but I do remember the onions—Vidalias. Sweet and mild, they’re the marquee name in onions. We planted those potatoes and onions in the same garden spot our family has always used. Every homestead in the countryside has one. It might not get used every year, but the dirt always waits in the same place because it’s good dirt. Fertile ground.
Walt’s daughter Banks has learned many valuable lessons while spending time outdoors with her dad.
That morning was crisp, maybe 50 degrees. Banks and I both wore long sleeves against the early spring chill. But as the sun climbed and warmed the day, we both started thinking about shedding layers. The garden rows were long and straight- maybe 100 feet- and they would produce more than we could eat on our own. I showed Banks how to plant a potato: stick two fingers down into the soil, drop the potato piece in, and cover it back up. But her fingers weren’t quite big enough. “Daddy, the hole is too small for the potato to fit in,” she said. I grinned and went looking for a stick. “A good stick will fix almost any problem,” I said, handing one to her. She raised an eyebrow and said, “I can’t get this stick to fix your bad jokes.” Her grin was contagious. I playfully shoved her shoulder and sent her rolling into the soft dirt. Laughter broke out, and so did a brief tickle fight, until she yelled, “I’m France!”- our house code for “I surrender.” That dirt was soft and rich. I grabbed a handful, letting it trickle through my fingers. “Isn’t it interesting that God chose dirt to grow things?” I asked. “It’s not pretty or flashy. But it’s where life starts.” Banks pondered it. “I guess He can do whatever He wants.” I responded, “Yes, He can. But why dirt?” She shrugged. I continued, “Maybe it’s because everything has a purpose. Can trees do this? Can concrete? What about sand?” She shook her head each time. Then I asked, “What is it that God wants you to do, that only you can do?” Without missing a beat, she smiled and said, “Plant potatoes.” I laughed out loud.
Walt Merrell is seen here planting produce with his wife Hannah.
After the potatoes, we moved on to onions. She gently pulled the thread-like sprouts apart and dropped each into a finger-deep hole, green end up. Over the next few weeks, we returned a few times to fertilize. One day, Banks asked, “If God made the dirt so good, why do we have to add fertilizer?” Her question made me pause. “The fertilizer isn’t for the dirt. It’s for the plants. The dirt is doing its job. The plants just need a little help. Like us- we have the Bible, our ‘good dirt.’ But we still go to church. Not because the Bible needs help, but because we do.” She thought for a second. “So, prayers are like rain?” I smiled. “Answered prayers are like rain,” I said. This past weekend, we began digging the potatoes. She marveled at how potatoes grow underground, not on the stalk. It reminded me of an old story Hannah’s Uncle Pickens loved to tell about a Yankee farmer who didn’t think his peanut plants had produced. He was ready to sue the seed dealer until Pickens pulled a plant from the ground, revealing peanuts hanging from the roots like ornaments. The man had just never looked beneath the dirt. Banks loved that story. As she pulled up another potato, she said, “I guess that man just didn’t know what was under all that good dirt.” “I guess not,” I replied. As she scooped up another handful and let the soil run between her fingers, she smiled and said, “It’s good dirt, isn’t it?” “Yes, it is, baby girl. Yes, it is.” And the soil- like the lessons buried within it- was rich indeed. “Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.” Mark 4:8
-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.
Looking for that perfect Father’s Day gift? The staff at Mark’s Outdoors is ready to assist you in finding a gift Dad will love and use. Besides being a one stop shop for hunting and fishing needs, Mark’s also carries a wide variety of lifestyle products for the husband or father in your life. Here are just a few ideas for Father’s Day.
Protect in Style. Give Dad the shades he needs for all of his outdoor activities, including Costa, Bajio and Ombraz brands. Lots of great styles to choose from with lenses that offer 100% UVA and UVB protection.
Play it Safe. Shirts with sun protection are a great gift for the dad who spends anytime outdoors. Mark’s has sizes ranging from small to 3x in great colors and styles from the top men’s sportswear brands including Coastal Cotton, Simms, and AFTCO. Along with a sun protection shirt, gift dad with a sun protection hat. Mark’s has a variety of Tilley Hats- perfect for people susceptible to sunburns.
Besides remembering your Dad with a gift this Father’s Day, most importantly, we hope you will have the opportunity to spend some time with your Dad- if at all possible, in God’s great outdoors.
Be one of the first 150 kids to visit Mark’s Outdoors on June 14, 2025, and receive a free rod and reel!
Don’t’ Miss Take a Kid Fishing Day!
On Saturday June 14, 2025, Mark’s Outdoors will be giving the first 150 kids that come into the store a free rod and reel. The doors open at 9 a.m. The only “catch” is that the parent must take their kid fishing asap. “It is our way of giving back to the community and getting parents involved with their kids and interested in the outdoors,” explains Mark Whitlock, Jr. “The objective is to make memories. With the rise of cell phones in the hands of children they miss out on nature and we want people to get involved.” Mark’s will also have sales throughout the store on fishing reels and rods, clothing, fishing accessories and much more!
It’s that time of year- graduation! Those joyous yet bittersweet events that we as parents must navigate with our children as they achieve this goal we have worked toward together for their entire lives. As parents we are so proud to see them succeed but must let them fly the coop and learn to navigate their new reality of college, work, marriage, or the military.
Caleb Standridge graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2007.
Our son Caleb received an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy(USAFA). So, instead of enjoying his summer after graduation, he was to report to boot camp in June. After Caleb’s high school graduation party, David and I quickly had to pivot from celebratory mode to the task of preparing him for boot camp. While we were so proud of his appointment and looked forward to his adventures, we had to let our son go. The day came, and the four of us, David, Caleb, our other son Joshua, and I boarded the plane and flew out to Colorado Springs. We stayed for a few days at a cabin so Caleb could get acclimated to the high-altitude climate. We visited the Garden of the Gods and took it easy while anticipating the day when our son would join the United States Air Force. The day finally arrived. David and I put on a proud, happy face. Caleb never saw me cry, but I sure felt like it. His goals, accomplishments, and future plans were a joy to us and a point of family pride.
Danna is seen here dancing with Caleb at the Air Force Ball.
We arrived for in-processing at USAFA at the appointed place and headed into the building. He got in line and went through several points of access. We stood right beside him supporting him every step of the way, just like we had his entire life. And then, we came to that line. I’ll never forget that line. The line. The line drawn on the floor that meant that when crossed, he would be a cadet at the Academy. We couldn’t cross that line with him. He had to do it by himself. That line hurt my momma heart. But as David had told me before – we have to let him make his own decisions and support him. After Caleb crossed that line, we were no longer able to walk beside him. From that point onward, we were supporting him from a different perspective- prayer and phone conversations when he needed us. At that line, we were escorted outside to a tent. There were bales of hay for us to sit on, and tables with sandwiches and chips for us to enjoy. As I struggled to swallow a bite of the sandwich handed to me while I was sitting on that bale of hay, with my momma-heart still struggling with this situation, I said with tears in my eyes, “I feel like I’ve just traded my son in for a sammich.” (One of our granddads used to say sammich. Sometimes I use comedic relief in stressful situations to lighten the mood and help with coping skills. It’s an old-timers way of saying sandwich in Southern vernacular.)At about that time, buses pulled up and the new cadets filed out of the building and boarded buses. I watched him as long as I could get a glimpse of him… my son whom I had birthed, loved, raised, held, taught to walk, talk, dream, ride a bike, and to love the Good Lord above… stepping into the next chapter of his life.
With tears in my eyes and a sammich in my hand, my heart was both broken in two and yet bursting with pride. I breathed a prayer to the Good Lord, “God Bless and protect my son, God bless the United States Air Force, and God bless the United States of America!” We are proud to say Caleb graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2007 with a systems engineer degree, decorated for his service to his country in the Afghanistan War, and achieved the rank of Captain. As a veteran, he now works in the private sector as an aerospace engineer. So, from this parent’s perspective: Celebrate the graduates on achieving a lifetime goal…and give their parents a big old hug. They just might need one. And enjoy one of Caleb’s favorite meals: Country fried steak and gravy!
Serve up this Standridge Family favorite to the graduate in your life!
Country Fried Steak and Gravy
Ingredients:
1 lb. cube steak
2 cups buttermilk
1 cup flour
Salt and pepper
Cooking oil for frying
Gravy:
4 tablespoons pan drippings
2 to 3 tablespoons flour
Salt and pepper
1 cup of milk
Instructions:
Steak: Pour cooking oil in a large skillet so it is 1 1/2 inches deep and start heating it. Mix flour, salt, and pepper into a shallow dish. Pour buttermilk into a different shallow dish. Coat each piece of steak in flour, buttermilk, then flour again. Place coated steak in hot oil. Cover and cook about 6 to 8 minutes per side or until golden brown. Reduce heat. Continue cooking uncovered until juice runs clear when pierced with a fork.
Gravy: Heat drippings, stir in flour and continue stirring as you slowly add milk. Keep stirring until gravy thickens. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve over steaks or biscuits.
A requirement is something that is necessary or a need for a particular purpose. For the Christian, a few of these requirements are mentioned in Deuteronomy 10:12-13. “And now Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the Lord’s commandments…”
Fear the Lord. Here, fear means to have reverential awe associated with a sacred respect for God’s power, holiness, and justice leading to obedience and humility.
Walk in His ways. This refers to obedience to God which means to live according to God’s law and commands and to follow Christ while submitting to His will and ways.
Love God. This is agape love which is defined as “unconditional positive regard and unselfish concern for the welfare of another.” It is also a love that is unending, unfailing, and unwavering. The Great Commandment is to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. God should always have first place in our lives. He should be our first love (Revelation 2:4).
Serve the Lord. Serve means to perform duties or services for another and to be useful. Romans 12:1 says that we are to present ourselves to God for spiritual service of worship. Joshua was one of those who was described as a “servant of the Lord.” What a compliment it would be if you and I could be referred to as God’s servant!
So let us all strive to fear the Lord, to walk in His ways, and to love and serve Him.
Looking for a summer fling that will last forever? Sabrina doesn’t need the Gulf Coast beach vibe. She’s just asking for a chance to find her place on your family tree. One that includes long strolls, sunsets watched from the porch swing, and naps on the couch. Actually… half the couch. You can have the other half where she’ll plop beside you wearing a grin like she just earned the title of First Lady of Cuddles. Well, didn’t she?!
Three-year-old Sabrina is looking for her forever home where she can shower her family with cuddles. Learn more about Sabrina here.
About that tutu. She wants the truth to be told that it definitely doesn’t make her perfectly petite posterior look big! Sabrina has skills that match her charm and will tap dance at the opportunity to show off her sit, stay, shake, and come moves. In a recent interview, she admits to preferring carrots over Milk Bones, finds photobombing selfies hilarious, and asks for a forever home in her bedtime prayers. This well-mannered three-year-old is poised to unleash her superpower of boundless love with the family who welcomes her with open arms! To learn more about adopting this cutie, visit www.twobytworescue.com/adopt.
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. †
More than eighty-five million singles in America have never married. Most want to marry, but fewer are doing so. Some singles seek enrichment through meaningful relationships and service. Others struggle to break free from loneliness.
Nicole cracks open a pint of her favorite ice cream- Double Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Crunch. “Why not?” she quips to her cat Jasper with forced self-assurance. “After all, it is the one-year anniversary of my breakup.” Nicole stares at the blank TV screen for what seems like an eternity. As she reaches for the remote, a text pops up on her cell. It’s John, her friend from the singles class. He asks if she’s helping with the school cleanup project this weekend. Smiling through her tears, she places the lid onto her melting dessert and replies, “I’ll be there!”
Are You Lonely or Alone? Loneliness is not the same as aloneness. The former is a state of mind. The latter is a state of being. Some singles assume marriage is the remedy for loneliness. The presence of a spouse does not guarantee happiness. Conversely, the absence of a mate does not ensure misery. Joy and heartbreak are felt by the married and the unmarried.
What Is Your Highest Calling? God’s creation of marriage does not imply singleness is undesirable. Adam was alone, not lonesome. In his singleness, he enjoyed perfect fellowship with God and fulfillment in his work. Adam needed mutual companionship, not personal significance. While marriage is honorable (Hebrews 13:4), marrying or waiting to marry is not God’s highest calling for humanity. Delighting in God is the highest calling (Psalm 73:25, ESV).
Live While You Wait. Singles are encouraged in Scripture to live life to the fullest. King Solomon writes, “Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth” (Ecclesiastes 11:9, ESV). Here are three timeless things you can do on your journey to marriage.
1. Work on you. Fill your mind with God’s Word and wholesome literature.
2. Connect with others. Get involved in church and community activities.
3. Lead something. What are you good at? Teach others how to do it.
Singles are free to sulk in seclusion or seek new adventures and friendships. Choose adventure. Understand singleness is not inferior to marriage. You have something most married Christians do not have- unfettered freedom to run full speed in life and service to God.
-Dr. Alonza Jones
Teacher, Writer, Speaker
President and Co-founder, Biblical Marriage Institute
In a world where silence surrounds sexual violence, GRACE Ministries of Alabama stands as a beacon of hope, healing, and restoration. This faith-based nonprofit’s mission is to bring light into the darkest places, offering Biblical guidance and practical support for those held captive by the trauma of sexual abuse and exploitation.
GRACE Ministries of Alabama provides GRACE groups for women seeking healing from sexual abuse.
GRACE Ministries of Alabama was born out of a calling- a stirring in the heart of its founder to address the wounds left behind by sexual violence. What began as a personal healing journey became a movement to help others. Every aspect of GRACE’s outreach is rooted in trauma-informed and Christ-centered care. Whether through education, advocacy, support groups, or spiritual guidance, the ministry recognizes the physical, emotional, and spiritual impacts of trauma and individualizes care accordingly. GRACE Ministries of Alabama provides resources to help ladies move from surviving to thriving. The resources included:
GRACE Groups: Safe and confidential faith-based small groups led by trained facilitators that provide community, accountability, and supportive space to process experiences.
GRACE Curriculum: A 10-week Bible study designed specifically for women seeking healing from sexual abuse that includes topics such as identity, shame, forgiveness, spiritual warfare, healing, boundaries, purity, and fulfillment.
GRACE Abounds on YouVersion: A powerful Bible reading plan designed with the heart of a survivor in mind that offers Scripture-based healing, daily encouragement, and reflection. Stay tuned for GRACE Abounds for the Spouse, a devotional for husbands ready to support their brides along the healing journey.
Grace Abounds: Hope and Healing From Sexual Abuse is a free Bible reading plan available on the YouVersion Bible app. The plan has already been completed over 10,000 times!
GRACE Ministries of Alabama is also deeply committed to prevention and community education. Through speaking engagements at churches, schools, conferences, and community events, the ministry educates the public on the realities of sex trafficking and sexual violence. These presentations not only raise awareness but also encourage communities to take action. The healing work of GRACE Ministries of Alabama would not be possible without the support of passionate volunteers, partners, and donors. Want to get involved?
Volunteer time as a GRACE Group leader, board member, fundraiser, administrative assistant, or event planner.
Invite a speaker to your church or organization.
Donate funds to support survivor resources or provide educational materials.
Pray for the ministry team and the clients served.
GRACE Ministries of Alabama is where survivors find their voice and wounds become testimonies. This ministry is not only healing hearts but also raising an army of warriors in the battle against sexual violence, each one walking in freedom, anchored in Truth, and empowered by the love of Christ. For more information, visit www.graceministries.life. You can also learn more by stopping at their booth at the 6th Annual Celebrate the Family Expo on September 13, 2025 at the Hoover Met Complex’s Finley Center. Learn more at www.birminghamchristian.com/expo. †
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” Jeremiah 29:11
Arianna is seen here with her houseparents, Trevor and Melissa Ellison and some of her Big Oak family.
As I prepare to graduate, I want to take a moment to thank the people who have truly changed my life. Mom and Dad (Mr. and Mrs. Ellison), you have not only given me a home- you have given me a family. You have been my parents in every way that matters, loving me unconditionally, guiding me with wisdom, and showing me what it means to be truly cared for. There are no words to fully express how much I love and appreciate you both. Your support, patience, and belief in me have shaped me into the person I am today, and I will carry your love with me for the rest of my life.
The Big Oak Ranch provided Arianna a space to call home. She plans to attend Big Oak’s ASCEND program after graduation.
I also want to thank Mr. Tony and Mrs. Kylie for always encouraging me and reminding me that I am never alone. Your kindness and wisdom have made such a difference in my life. Mrs. Devon, my counselor, has also been a guiding light, always there to listen, support, and help me grow. Each of you has played a special role in shaping me into the person I am today.
Most of all, I want to thank Big Oak Ranch for truly giving me a chance. This place has not only provided me with a home but also with hope, healing, and the opportunity to build a future. Because of the love, guidance, and faith poured into me here, I am stepping into this next chapter with confidence, knowing I am deeply loved and prepared for whatever comes next. To my parents, my mentors, and everyone at Big Oak Ranch- thank you from the bottom of my heart. I will always be grateful for you and for the Ranch, which has forever changed my life.
Father’s Day is the perfect time to celebrate the men in our lives who guide, lead, and love with quiet strength. This year, give the dads you love a gift that encourages both spiritual reflection and personal growth- The Mulligan Journal. Inspired by the beloved book The Mulligan by Ken Blanchard and Wally Armstrong, this interactive journal helps men slow down, reflect, and find renewed purpose each day.
The Mulligan Journal is based on the movie and best-selling book The Mulligan.
Rooted in the story of Paul McAllister- a successful businessman who comes face-to-face with his own shortcomings- The Mulligan Journal picks up where the book leaves off. Paul’s life is changed when he meets the Old Pro, a wise mentor who teaches him that everyone needs a mulligan, not just in golf but in life. The journal brings those life lessons into daily practice, offering space to connect with God, reflect on your choices, and prepare your heart for each day. What makes this journal so powerful is its simplicity and impact. Each page includes insights and prompts that help men prioritize relationships over routine, and purpose over pressure. With prompts like “solid shots” and “need a mulligan” moments, men are encouraged to take stock of what’s working- and where they need God’s grace. Weekly prayer lists and space to track God’s faithfulness help keep the focus on what matters most.
The Mulligan Journal doesn’t just promote better time management or self-awareness, it invites men into a relationship with God that’s real and personal. Like having the Old Pro beside you, the journal encourages a daily walk with Jesus as Caddy, Brother, and Friend. It’s a tool for anyone who wants to live with more intention, rooted in grace and guided by eternal perspective. Whether Dad is a golfer or simply a man in need of encouragement (and who isn’t?), this journal makes a meaningful gift. Pair it with The Mulligan book for a Father’s Day gift set that offers wisdom, inspiration, and the chance for a real second shot- not just on the course but in life. This Father’s Day, help Dad start each day slowly, reflect deeply, and grow closer to the life- and the Lord- he’s meant to know. The Mulligan Journal is more than a gift. It’s a journey back to what matters most. The Mulligan Journal is available wherever books are sold and at www.IronStreamMedia.com. †
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Quite simply, we strive to ensure there isn’t a better place to work in Birmingham than Werkplās. We would love to show you our space and services, with absolutely no commitment. Don’t forget to ask about our limited time special: receive one month free when you sign up for six months. You can call us at 205-578-8505 or check out www.werkplas.com. †
