High School Seniors in the five county Birmingham area have until Thursday March 17, 2023 to apply for the 5th Annual Birmingham Christian Family Scholarship Awards. This year we will have three scholarship recipients who will be able to use their award at the college or university of their choice- $2000 to winner, and $500 to the top 2 runner ups.
To enter, students simply submit online a short essay on the following prompt: “How has your Christian faith impacted your decision making in your high school career.”
Save the date for the 22nd Annual Gardendale Magnolia Festival on April 21-22, 2023 at the Gardendale Civic Center. Each year the community enjoys a wide variety of entertainment including free fun activities hosted by area churches.
The free art classes hosted by Decatur Highway Church of Christ will take place inside the Gardendale Civic Center on the stage area on Saturday April 22.
Art Extravaganza. Every year Decatur Highway Church of Christ teaches free art classes in the Civic Center and provides all the materials. Church secretary Karen Hogeland coordinates the art classes. “We look at this as a way to give back to our community,” Hogeland explains, adding, “It’s a great way to reach out and meet people.” This year, children can participate in four sessions on Saturday including watercolor pens, string art, and sand art. Children of all ages are welcome to stay for one session or all four!
Enjoy free fun and games at the Gardendale First Baptist Church Kid Zone including inflatables and more at the Gardendale Magnolia Festival.
Kid Zone.Gardendale First Baptist Church creates a free Kid Zone each year full of inflatables and fun games. “It’s a great opportunity for us to serve the city and community,” explains New Member and Outreach Pastor, Phil Cronin. Children are invited to come to the Kid Zone and enjoy a variety of inflatables, putt putt games, sand art, and more. Cronin believes being a part of the Magnolia Festival gives the church a way to engage the community and “let them know that church is more about loving others and helping the community.” Each child that visits the Kid Zone will receive a Gospel of John booklet.
The Magnolia Festival will also host 160+ vendors, a car show, pooch parade, petting zoo, artisan demonstrations, pony rides, live music and more! Be sure to come hungry because there will be a wide variety of food vendors with items like cheesecake funnel cakes, shrimp and oyster po’boys, tamales, polish sausages, roasted corn and sweet potatoes, bbq ribs, kettle corn, gelato, and more! For more details about the Magnolia Festival, visit www.magnoliafestival.org.
“But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” Genesis 50:20
Certain things stand out to me when I think about my childhood. I remember drugs being in my parents’ home. I remember missing a lot of school. My family seemed to be in court a lot. I didn’t really see my dad much. I remember a phone call my mom had one day. At the time, I wasn’t sure who she was talking to or who she was talking about, but I remember her saying, “I can’t deal with them anymore.” It wasn’t long before my brother and I were taken to an extended family member, and we never lived with our parents again. This path eventually brought me to Big Oak Ranch.
Seen here is Hallie in 7th grade during her time at Big Oak Ranch.
During my first week at the Ranch, I met with Mr. John and Mrs. Mary. At first, I thought Mr. John was scary, but I soon realized he was just really tall and had a deep voice. He told me the Four Promises [We love you. We will never lie to you. We will stick with you. There are boundaries.], and I still remember them to this day. I also remember thinking, “That is what everybody says.” But the longer I was there, I realized these people really stick with and keep those Four Promises. I saw something different in my houseparents. They didn’t fight like the other adults in my life. Mom would get us all together in a circle and pray with us. We had fun family outings. But I had a bad attitude. At the time, at that younger age, I couldn’t see the good. This affected my time at the Ranch and looking back I regret that so much. When I lived at the Ranch, I thought they were just there to do whatever children needed for that particular day and time. After I left, I didn’t think anyone at Big Oak still cared about me.
Hallie and her family celebrating the Christmas season with Mom and Dad Thomas.
In 2019, I married my best friend, Casey. We have two wonderful boys – Cooper and Bryce. Five years ago, I was able to reconnect with my houseparents, and their actions showed that they did still love and care about me. Now my husband and I love to visit our family at the Ranch. Everybody who serves at Big Oak is making a difference and helping change children’s lives, even when they are hard to deal with like I was. I see younger girls, living with my houseparents, and it makes me happy. They are my house sisters, and I know they are safe, they are getting what they need, and they are loved – just like me!
-Hallie McCrory
If you have a Miracle that you would be willing to share, please email [email protected]. Subject Line: Miracle Moments or call 205-408-7150.
Please. Thank you. I’m sorry. Being on your best behavior with strangers is expected in civil society. But what about in marriage? Can practicing basic manners enhance marital love?
Polite people are easy to spot. They apologize when you bump into them by accident. They say, “Yes, ma’am” and “Yes, sir,” though they may be older than you. Words used to describe them include nice, sweet, kind, gentleman, lady, etc. Genuine niceness carries over to marriage.
Best Foot Forward. In classic romantic comedies, a handsome guy and a beautiful woman collide as they try to get on an elevator. The contents of her briefcase fly across the floor except for an important letter now soaking in his spilled coffee. “Ugh! How can you be so clumsy!” “Well, this wouldn’t have happened if you weren’t staring at your cell phone!” Their eyes meet, the music plays, and a more polite argument begins. “It was my fault, actually.” “No, I should have been more careful.” Predictably, they marry and soon start taking each other for granted. Common courtesies become a thing of the past, and marital bliss fades. Courting couples often give each other the benefit of the doubt. For many, the goal is to win over the man or woman of their dreams. Unfortunately, some couples do not continue after marriage what they began before marriage.
Consistency Matters. Good manners are signs of respect and decency. Scripture encourages us in Titus 3:2 “to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.” “All people” includes our spouses. A study by The National Marriage Project found that “for both husbands and wives, generosity — defined here as small acts of kindness, regular displays of affection and respect, and a willingness to forgive one’s spouse their faults and failings — was positively associated with marital satisfaction….”
Ask yourself:
Is my temperament the same at home as it is at work?
Do I speak kindly to strangers and harshly to my spouse?
Do I help my neighbor but ignore my spouse’s needs?
1 Corinthians 13:4-5 reminds us, “Love is patient and kind… it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful.” Godly behavior equals good manners. Try it. Your marriage will thank you.
-Alonza Jones
President & Co-founder of Biblical Marriage Institute
1. I’m too young to need an estate plan. Accidents happen at all ages. Even if you are single with no children, you must decide who will get your assets. You may not want your assets to go to parents or to siblings or only to one parent or to one sibling. Regardless of your age, you need an estate plan. You may want to bequeath assets to friends or to charity. You have the right to decide how your assets are distributed, but it takes an estate plan to make it happen. If you have minor children, you absolutely need an estate plan to name who will take care of your children. Family fights over custody are common.
2. I don’t have enough assets to need an estate plan. the key question is, “Do you have assets that are important enough to you that you want to control who gets the assets?” If so, you need an estate plan.
3. My spouse gets everything anyway. Not necessarily. Without a will or trust, your spouse may not receive everything due to Alabama intestate law. It is entirely possible that your parents or your children could receive some assets rather than your spouse.
4. I can’t decide how to divide things up. Would you really want Alabama intestate law to decide who gets your assets? Hint: The answer is NO. Wouldn’t you prefer to make a decision that you can change later if needed instead of leaving it to chance and the State of Alabama?
5. I can’t decide who to put in charge. If you do not make this decision, the State will assign a lawyer to the task. You could name an unrelated third party rather than a family member. You can always change your nomination in the future if you later feel the person is no longer a good choice.
6. It costs too much. An intestate estate generally will cost more than an estate plan. An administration following intestate law is more complicated and can allow more opportunities for family to fight in court– all of which increases the costs.
Don’t let excuses determine your family’s future. Work through your concerns with an experienced estate planning attorney who can help you make the right decisions for you.
You can find many ways to support charitable organizations. One method that’s gained popularity over the past few years is called a donor-advised fund. Donor-advised funds are not appropriate for everyone, but if you’re able to make larger charitable gifts, you might want to consider this strategy.
Here’s how it works:
Contribute to the fund. You can contributeto your donor-advised fund with cash or marketable securities, which are assets that can be converted to cash quickly. If your contribution is tax deductible, you’ll get the deduction in the year you make the contribution to the fund. If you contribute marketable securities, like stocks and bonds, into the fund, a subsequent sale of the securities avoids capital gains taxes, maximizing the impact of your contribution.
Choose an investment. Typically, donor-advised funds offer several professionally managed diversified portfolios where you can place your contributions. You’ll want to consider the level of investment risk to which your fund may be exposed. And assuming all requirements are met, any investment growth is not taxable to you, the donor-advised fund, or the charity that ultimately receives the grant, making your charitable gift go even further.
Choose the charities. You can choose grants for the IRS-approved charities that you want to support. You decide when you want the money donated and how it should be granted. You’re generally free to choose as many IRS-approved charitable organizations as you like. And the tax reporting is relatively easy — you don’t have to keep track of receipts from every charity you support. Instead, you can just keep the receipts from your contributions to the fund.
Although donor-advised funds can be advantageous, there are important trade-offs to consider. For one thing, your contributions are irrevocable, which means once you put the money in the fund, you cannot access it for any reason other than charitable giving. And the investments you choose within your fund will carry some risk, as is true of all investments. Also, donor-advised funds do have investment management fees and other costs. So, consider the impacts of these fees when deciding how you want to give.
Of course, you should consult with your tax and financial professionals before opening a donor-advised fund, and if the fund becomes part of your estate plans, you’ll also want to work with your legal advisor. But give this philanthropic tool some thought —it could benefit both you and the causes you love.
As Christian business leaders, we have three roles: steward, shepherd and servant.
1. Steward. A steward manages the owner’s resources for the benefit of the estate and the advancement of the owner’s agenda. A shepherd cares for the sheep and leads them to the place of safety and benefit. A wise servant attends to the needs and desires of the people he serves. Jesus demonstrated and talked about these qualities extensively, and He’s the greatest leader ever. As a steward, you’re responsible to God, government, shareholders and team members. The parable of the talents is clear: God expects you to get a fair return on the assets entrusted to you. Casting a compelling vision, creating and maintaining healthy profitability, using biblical principles to operate the business, and investing in God’s work fall under your stewardship. Proverbs 28:19-20 reminds us, “He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty. A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.”
2. Shepherd. In your role as shepherd, you’re responsible to care for your people. Do you view them as precious in God’s sight or simply as means to accomplish your goals? In addition to providing fair or generous wages and benefits, are you providing an excellent work environment and pointing them toward the Good Shepherd? Your faithfulness toward God will be shown by your faithfulness toward people. 1 Peter 5:2-4 says, “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.”
3. Servant. As a servant leader, you’re responsible to “do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4). Of the steward, shepherd, and servant roles, which is easiest for you?
Rumors, gossip, misinformation and disinformation are constantly clogging our ever-following stream of news. Heard A Rumor is here to help.
No, we are not a gossip site. Quite the opposite. Heard A Rumor is an educational initiative created by Samford University public relations students Anna Baldwin, Bailey Baldwin, Claire Owens and myself for the Public Relations Student Society of America’s Bateman National Case Study Campaign. Since 1973, the Public Relations Student Society of America has challenged college students from across the country to research, plan, implement and evaluate strategic promotional and educational goals for real clients. The national competition allows students to build a functional public relations campaign from the ground-up.
“The Bateman campaign has been the most real-world experience I’ve had during my time at Samford in a class,” said Claire Owens, Samford University senior and director of public relations for Heard A Rumor. “I’ve gotten to pitch to the media, conduct research, help create branding and so many other things that I know will serve me well in my future career.”
The winning campaign is chosen by the client and implemented into their practice. This year’s client is nonpartisan news education platform, The News Literacy Project. Heard A Rumor promotes The News Literacy Project’s mission to foster a more news literate America and to fight for facts. Through our four-week educational course, we provide tools that help you distinguish “rumor” from fact. Participants who complete the course become certified “Fact Junkies” and learn to spot misinformation, disinformation, opinion pieces and advertisements in news sources. From busting bots to actively seeking quality journalists and cultivating conversations with friends and family about the importance of understanding misinformation, “Fact Junkies” are vital to the news literacy movement.
Heard A Rumor is an educational initiative created by Samford University public relations students Claire Owens, Avery Ketcherside, Anna Baldwin and Bailey Baldwin for the Public Relations Student Society of America’s Bateman National Case Study Campaign.
We are proud to represent Alabama and Samford University in this national competition, and hope you discover the power you have to stop misinformation and be a light for truth. “Instead of becoming frustrated, which is easy to do, we all have a responsibility to educate ourselves about news literacy as well as forces that can manipulate us. AI and bots are not going away, so we combat that with knowledge.” Said Dr. Betsy Emmons, an associate professor at Samford University and immediate past president of the Alabama chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.
–Avery Ketcherside
Samford University Senior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in journalism mass communications. Heard A Rumor is competing as a finalist in the Public Relations Student Society of America’s annual Bateman National Case Study Campaign. Learn more about Heard A Rumor’s campaign here.
What to Do to Protect Yourself. Due to the hectic demands of life, we often find ourselves on the road. Daily interstate travel brings many drivers in frequent contact with larger vehicles like 18-wheelers or semi-trailer trucks. Many truckers work lengthy hours, driving long distances hauling cargo, which can result in fatigue and distracted driving, both of which can lead to catastrophic crashes. In addition, truckers often face strict delivery deadlines, causing some to disregard speed limits. Many drivers do not realize how different a car wreck involving an 18-wheeler is from one involving two average vehicles. 18-wheeler trucks can weigh up to 80,000 lbs. which often causes serious and substantial damage to the cars involved in this crashes and sometimes fatal consequences. One in every eight automobile wreck fatalities involves a large truck like an 18-wheeler. If the past is any indication, more people will be killed in traffic accidents involving large trucks this year than have died in all the domestic commercial airline crashes over the past 45 years. Because of statistics like these, there are strict laws and regulations that apply to trucking companies and their drivers, which do not apply to non-commercial drivers. Examples of such regulations include limitations on the amount of time that truck drivers can spend driving before they take a break and what they can haul.
If you are in a wreck with an 18-wheeler, it is important to call an attorney who handles trucking collisions immediately. The trucking company will begin investigating the wreck right away with a team of experts and lawyers on the case to protect itself, so time is of the essence for you to hire an attorney to begin investigation to protect yourself. There is valuable evidence such as black box data or other GPS recording devices from the truck that need to be preserved promptly by an experienced attorney working on your behalf. A “black box” is a recording device that is triggered by certain events to start recording important data about the truck and its movement and speed. Black box data can provide critical evidence later for an expert such as an accident reconstructionist to determine what happened in the wreck. If this data is not requested early, there is nothing preventing the trucking companies from destroying it. It is also important to document the wreck with photographs of the vehicles at the scene of the collision to show exactly what occurred. An attorney can also investigate the background of the trucking company as well as the driver. It is important to have someone who will fight for you after an 18-wheeler collision.
Frank S. Buck, P.C., Attorneys at Law have been offering professional legal services and serving Alabama citizens for over 44 years. We have experienced trial attorneys who have over 100 years of combined trial experience. You can reach us 24 hours a day at 205-933-7533 or visit us at www.franksbuckpc.com. Please call us for a free consultation.
Click Here To Learn How To Reach A Christian Audience in Alabama.
Pam Huff was getting ready to go on air at ABC 33/40 this past July when she got the news from her doctor that would change her life. With just 45 minutes before airtime, the longtime Birmingham television news anchor received the message: “It’s not good. You’ve got triple negative breast cancer, and we’re going to move fast.” Her life changed drastically immediately following that moment, as she began treatments and had a lumpectomy on January 31. Huff said she relies on prayer, faith, and the support of her family, friends, and viewers as she battles cancer and vows to “come out on the other side stronger than ever.”
Treatment for Huff’s aggressive breast cancer began as soon as she received her diagnosis. She’s received treatments of the chemotherapy drug commonly called “The Red Devil” (doxorubicin) while also having a lumpectomy and radiation treatments.
Cancer News. Huff’s cancer diagnosis came as a shock, as she’d always been a strong advocate of regular mammograms; she’s had them annually for decades, and her latest one just twelve months before had been clear. “I never expected to go through this in my 69th year,” she said. “I’ve never missed a mammogram since I was 35. Every time it’s been fine, but this time was different,” adding, “With that news, my world absolutely changed.” Huff’s type of cancer is the most aggressive of all breast cancers and has required equally aggressive treatment from the very beginning of her diagnoses. Following her most recent surgery, she’s been on 33 straight days of radiation treatment. Through it all, she’s stayed dedicated to her work–and, in many ways, it’s been a lifeline for her. “I’ve worked as much as I could through it, even though those first four weeks were difficult. I had to adjust my work schedule some, based on when I was taking Taxol (a chemotherapy drug),” she said. “Other than that, I’ve been here. I may have had to pump myself up to work for an hour, and there were days when I went to work, came home, and slept. But being here has been important.” While she worked, her dedicated viewers and fans saw a new side and a new passion to their favorite local broadcaster.
Huff gives huge credit to the staff at J. Wigs in Helena for providing her with excellent service and support as she got to the point where she needed wigs following chemotherapy.
Huff has used her experience to encourage women to get annual checkups, including mammograms, and has been buoyed by stories from women who’ve changed their ways because of her story. It’s something she’s been vocal about on air, through social media posts, and through personal interactions throughout her cancer journey. She said she’s had women ask how to help a friend who’s just been diagnosed with cancer, while others ask honest questions about the disease. “People have told me they never had a mammogram, but that I convinced them to go,” she said. “I hope and pray and believe that I may have saved a life because of my story.” According to Huff, the last months have reiterated what she already knew–that Birminghamians are some of the most loyal and caring people anywhere. “People are very loyal to broadcasters in Birmingham,” she said. “They become part of your family. I try to share as much with them, and they’ve in turn told me they’re praying for me. It’s been so special.” Love and support have also come from her co-workers. One of her first calls when receiving her cancer diagnosis was to friend and fellow broadcaster Brenda Ladun, who is a breast cancer survivor herself, and her co-workers at ABC 33/40 have been with her every step of the way.
Huff said that Birmingham broadcasters are unique in the business; many of them have stayed in the city for years, even decades, because they love the area, their viewers, and their fellow media members. Huff’s partners at her station, and at other media outlets in Birmingham, have put their full support behind her. They’ve even gone with Huff on trips to her favorite wig store- J. Wigs in Helena. They’ve shared their love in public statements of support. And they’ve prayed for her. “We’ve created a huge prayer chain during this time,’ she said. “It’s incredible.”
Pam Huff appeared with her then teenage daughters on the cover of Birmingham Christian Family in 2002. Today, Lauren and Jennifer work as professionals in Montgomery and Birmingham. Giving their daughters a stable childhood is one reason Pam never moved to a bigger city and broadcasting market. Photo credit: Holland Photo Arts
Love for Birmingham. Huff has called Birmingham home for more than four decades and became Alabama’s first female ever assigned to a prime-time nightly news anchor position in 1977. She won an Emmy for her work in 2007 and currently anchors “The News at 4” and “The News at 5” on ABC 33/40 while also providing special reports on state politics, local government, and public education in the state. Huff grew up in West Virginia, graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism from the University of West Virginia, and then lived in Fla. with her husband Bill (who was a native of Scranton, Pennsylvania). When Bill decided that he wanted to attend Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, she considered working in Birmingham and took a visit to check out the city. That visit–and two particular experiences from it–convinced her that they were meant to be in Birmingham.
Huff’s co-workers at ABC 33/40 visited with her at J. Wigs and supported her through the process. “All of us went together to try on wigs,” she said. “They’ve just been amazing in so many ways.”
“We were in town, and someone handed me a Coca Cola. I remember thinking that this was the best Coke I’d ever had,” she recalled, laughing. “And then we were trying to find Vulcan, and we met a nice man who told us to just follow him, and he’d get us there. He was a stranger, but so willing to help us. I told my husband, ‘This is where we need to be.’ We’ve been here ever since.” They settled into life in Birmingham, welcomed two daughters into their family, and never considered going anywhere else. “Bill has always been so supportive of my career and was willing to leave if I wanted to go somewhere else,” she said. “But we love it here and never really wanted to leave.” Today Bill works as a federal prosecutor in Birmingham, and their daughters are grown with their own careers and families. Lauren, 37, works at the attorney general’s office in Montgomery and Jennifer, 36, is a clinical psychologist in Birmingham. Grandchildren Tate, 8, and Lulu, 5, have added extra meaning to their family. Huff said that telling her grandchildren about her disease has been one of the toughest parts of the last months, but that they’ve handled it with love and the sweet support that only young kids can give.
“Telling my granddaughters about my cancer was hard. It’s something you never want to tell them,” she said. “My whole family went to my wig shop in Helena with me. Lulu had her pom poms to cheer me on and said, ‘Go, Mumzy, go.’ And they told me that I was still beautiful.” That support from her family has been integral, Huff said. “My husband and children have been wonderful,” she said. “I’m a type A personality and I can be big and brash and bold. My belief is that as long as I can do something, I’m going to do it. But I need others to be there for me.”
Huff and her husband, Bill have made the Magic City home for more than 40 years. According to Huff, the love and support of her husband has been integral during her cancer journey.
Family and Faith. Huff was raised in a Christian home and attended a Southern Baptist church as a youngster in West Virginia. She became a Christian when she was 8 years old and says she has felt God with her throughout her life. “It was a childlike faith and of course it has to grow,” she said. “I’ve always been a Christian; I grew up knowing about the Bible. It’s all I’ve ever known.” Huff and her husband have always made faith in their family life, and today attend Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham. Her faith, Huff said, has been integral in how she’s approached her cancer diagnosis, and admits that she’s both struggled and grown in her relationship with God during this time. “I’m an extremely strong and independent person, but I just fell on my knees. I told God that I didn’t know how to do this,” she said. “Prayer became very real, very fast.” In her first on-air announcement about her cancer diagnosis, Huff told her viewers: “I want you to know I am a woman of great faith. And I know that God has me every single step of the way. I’ve already seen that. He’s not finished with me yet. So, I’m going to work through this. I’m going to come out on the other side stronger than ever. But right now, I ask for your prayers.” The outpouring was overwhelming and reiterated her belief in the people of Birmingham and in her faith system. “I don’t know the outcome. Only God knows the outcome,” she said. “But I’m confident in Him, and I know that the support I’ve received during this time as been amazing. I can’t give enough thanks for that.”
-Cheryl Wray
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-Laurie Franklin
1. I’m too young to need an estate plan.
-Laci P Graul, CRPS™
“The Bateman campaign has been the most real-world experience I’ve had during my time at Samford in a class,” said Claire Owens, Samford University senior and director of public relations for Heard A Rumor. “I’ve gotten to pitch to the media, conduct research, help create branding and so many other things that I know will serve me well in my future career.”
Frank S. Buck, P.C., Attorneys at Law have been offering professional legal services and serving Alabama citizens for over 44 years. We have experienced trial attorneys who have over 100 years of combined trial experience. You can reach us 24 hours a day at 205-933-7533 or visit us at 
