It is striking how our affections toward masks have changed in recent months. As a child, I remember idolizing those who wore masks â The Lone Ranger, Batman and Spiderman. Although I am for any recommendation and health request to make myself and those around me safer, I must admit that Iâm not a big fan of masks but maybe not for the reason you might think. Yes, they irritate my face and get annoying, but for me, there is something deeper happening.
At the Foundry, we make every effort to make those in our care feel loved and cared for. We express those feelings in some of the same ways that we all do in everyday life. Whether we are at church, at the grocery store, or just walking down the street. We shake hands, we hug, we high-five one another. However, for the past several months, these common practices have been disrupted. Even more so, the smiles that we in the South are so accustomed to sharing have been muted by something as simple as wearing a mask.
So, what is happening behind the mask? Wearing masks have created an emotionless exchange between friends, co-workers and even family. You canât tell if they are smiling at you or even if they are upset with you, so it becomes more difficult to share the emotions of love, care and appreciation. John 13:35 says, âLove one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are My disciples when they see the love you have for each other.â
I believe another challenge we face is how to show love while being distanced and masked. Our response to all is to share and show love even in the midst of a pandemic. What weâre unable to show on our faces, we must show in our actions and by our words. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 reminds us, âSpeak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so youâll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind.â
We have a responsibility. Be an influencer by showing love in ways that reach beyond the mask.
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My sons are almost all grown up now- finishing college in these crazy pandemic days. The house is quiet, for nowâŠbut back when I had a four-year-old and two three-year-olds in the house, the birth of independence could be heard and felt! I cannot tell you how many times I looked at 3-year-old Jonathan at the end of the day and realized his shoes were on the wrong feet. Every morning he exclaimed, âI can do it myself!â When the shoes wound up on the wrong feet, he was very determined and convincing that the shoes fit just as well!
How many times is that our reaction when it comes to the tough challenges of life? How much easier, how much more comfortable would the âwalkâ be if we were willing to accept a little help and get our shoes on the right feet? Sometimes it takes a few blisters before I am hit with the realization that I will not travel far under my own power. I must rely on God to make a real difference in this world.
âLook to the Lord and HIS STRENGTH; Seek HIS FACE always.â Psalm 105:4
Birmingham’s OneAscent recently announced the launch of OneAscent Wealth Management, a financial planning firm serving clients who want to ensure that their investments align with their values. OneAscent Wealth works with clients to identify industries from which they do not wish to profit. They then use proprietary tools to check 401Ks, mutual funds, and stocks to analyze the client’s current investment strategy. OneAscent Wealth Management provides a unique opportunity for clients who desire a disciplined investment process while remaining aligned with their values.
About OneAscent. OneAscent’s mission was established by its Founder and CEO, Harry Pearson, a financial planner and wealth manager with more than 24 years of experience. Pearson is a native of Baton Rouge, LA, and an active Oak Mountain Presbyterian Church member. He saw a need for a company that could deliver the values-aligned investing strategy only available from a handful of boutique firms as well as the tools, resources, and operational excellence provided by large corporate firms. “We are committed to helping our clients live well and finish well,” said Pearson. “We see investment strategies in the light of stewardship, so we help our clients begin with the end in mind.”
OneAscent Wealth also announced two key positions in the Birmingham office. Hays Latimer will serve as Senior Lead Advisor. Latimer specializes in designing custom solutions based on each client’s values and goals. Lisa Matthews, a CPA, will serve as a Client Service Specialist. Latimer and Matthews have more than two decades of combined experience working with Pearson on investment strategy and client services. “We take time to build a relationship with the whole family,” said Mathews. “When we involve both the financially oriented spouse and the one that is not as interested in finances, we see families unifying around finances. Something that used to be a source of strife becomes a source of harmony.”
Mutual Funds: A Black Box. Mutual funds have been a black box for years, providing limited insight into the industries and companies they are invested in. OneAscent Wealth identifies mutual funds invested in companies that profit from activities that don’t align with many investor’s values, such as abortion, pornography, tobacco, and gambling. This empowers investors to adjust their strategies to align with their values.
The OneAscent Process. OneAscent utilizes a proprietary tool found at oneascentwealth.com/onboarding. This tool is available to anyone who would like to analyze their current investment strategy. They also work with each client to identify their “money style” to understand money and stewardship perspectives. This informs conversations with advisors exploring the client’s current financial situation and the most important issues. OneAscent hosts seminars and workshops for groups and churches to share sound financial principles and teach about values-based investing.
Do Your Values Align? OneAscent Wealth is committed to helping its clients “live well and finish well” by aligning their planning, investment, and stewardship decisions with what they value most. To find out more about financial planning and values-based investing, visit oneascentwealth.com or use the free evaluation tool to see if your investments align with what you value most! â
Click Here To Learn How To Reach A Christian Audience in Alabama.
Lecrae encouraged the men at the St. Clair Prison in Springville, Ala. with worship music and a word about Godâs power to forgive and restore.
Christian singer and songwriter Lecrae partnered with Prison Fellowship and performed for the men at St. Clair Prison in Springville, Ala. on September 11. âWhen Anomaly dropped and was the #1 album in the country, our first stop on the tour was Rikerâs Island and LA County Jail because I wanted the people in prison to understand that they were not forgotten,â Lecrae says about performing his music for those who are incarcerated. âI remember the impact of those visits not just on them, but on me! Prison Fellowship and I have the same mission, to restore a sense of value, worth, meaning, and purpose to the lives of those who feel hopeless. I want everyone to know that restoration is possible. You are never too far gone, with God, change is always possible!â
The Birdsongs opened the special night for the men at St. Clair Prison with a performance.
In addition to Lecrae performing and having a Q&A session, the men enjoyed a performance by The Birdsongs, a Christian rock band based out of Knoxville, Tenn., opening the program. Prison Fellowship is the nationâs largest Christian nonprofit serving prisoners, former prisoners, and their families. James Ackerman, President and CEO of Prison Fellowship says, âWe were thrilled to have Lecrae and The Birdsongs join us and perform for our first Hope event since this coronavirus pandemic began.â He adds, âTheir God-given talents come at a perfect time for these men after losing many critical in-prison services, due to the COVID-19 outbreak.â
Honoring the biblical verse Matthew 20:16, “the last will be first, and the first will be last,” this is not the first time Lecrae has partnered with Prison Fellowship. He has a history of connecting his music and message with prisons. Lecrae released his new album, Restoration, to prisons nationwide through J-Pay a week before it was available to the general public. He will also be distributing 5,000 free copies of his forthcoming book, I Am Restored: How I Lost My Religion, But Gained My Faith, to people in the system. As part of his “Masks for The People” partnership with Live Free USA, Lecrae raised funds for over 70,000 masks to be distributed throughout the prison system, to essential workers, and correction officers. A quantity of the PPE has been set aside for families when visitation restrictions are lifted. â
Kingâs Home recently dedicated their Girl’s Transitional Living Program Home as “Jane’s House” in honor of donor, Mrs. Jane Franks.
The girls enrolled in King’s Home Youth: Transitional Living Program have a new house to call home. The Transitional Living Program (TLP) provides an alternative living arrangement for foster youth (ages 16-19) in the custody of Alabama DHR with opportunities to practice independent living skills in a variety of congregate settings with decreasing degrees of care and supervision. Most of all, it is a safe, loving place where young ladies find hope and opportunity in a caring Christian home. âI am excited about supporting these precious young ladies in honor of my parents Byron and Ruby Johnston,â said donor Jane Franks. âMy prayer is that this home will be a haven where they can find strength and comfort in a beautiful environment as they grow in their independence.â Seven young ladies moved into the home in September. âMrs. Jane Franks has been a generous advocate and driving force ensuring these girls get a beautiful and nurturing place to call home while they transition into independence,â said Lew Burdette, President, Kingâs Home.
A look inside King’s Home’s new home.
Youth eligible for this level program may be abused, neglected, or exploited and may exhibit mild and/or occasional behavioral and/or emotional problems. The program is designed to allow youth to experience the natural consequences of daily actions and decisions with the safety net of Kingâs Home program staff (not to rescue but to give support and guidance). Youth can gradually move from needing daily support to being able to cope with being alone, seeking non-agency support systems including friends, mentors, and individuals from church.
Youth in this level of care are basically in good health, and typically meet the criteria below:
Behavior that is under control and does not require constant adult supervision
Peer relations that are generally positive
Generally compliant with staff and have shown the ability to function at this level of care
Do not pose a safety risk to the community or other youth in the facility
Able and willing to participate in one or more of the following: High School, a vocational training program, college, GED preparation, and/or part-time or full-time employment.
Learn more about this program and other services provided by Kingâs Home at www.kingshome.com. â
Third grade students Rayne Rossell, Mattie Hill, and Victoria Bugge practice social distancing at recess as Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School kicks off the new school year.
Excitement filled the halls at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School (OLS) as students kicked off the 2020-2021 school year eager to learn and prepared for the new health protocols the school established based on the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the American Association of Pediatrics, and state and local recommendations.
âThis year, more than ever, the sense of enthusiasm and joy can be felt throughout the building, as it came back to life with our students,â said OLS Principal Mary Jane Dorn. âWe prepared all summer to put our new safety protocols and guidelines in place and have diligently educated our staff and student families to keep everyone as safe as possible,â she said.
In light of the pandemic, over the summer months, a parent portal was established to inform families about important information related to the upcoming school year. The site will continue to be used to post updates and important information in the coming weeks and months. âOLS School is focusing on the three pillars set forth by the Diocese of Birmingham Catholic Schools Office: prevention, protection, and preparedness,â said Mrs. Dorn. âThe health and safety of our students and staff members remain our top priority.â
Erin Sims, a third grader at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School, enjoys presenting her fun creation while following the schoolâs health guidelines.
Currently, the parent portal includes useful links, a variety of resources, a detailed handbook, and a video created by the schoolâs faculty and staff that demonstrates safety reminders for the students. Some of the new protocols established this school year to minimize the possible exposure of COVID 19 include: morning carpool health screenings, assigned entrances for teachers and each grade, safe hygiene classroom procedures, directional signage in the hallways, social distancing classroom furniture, no mixing of classes and other grade levels, lunch eaten in the classroom with privacy folders as partitions while facial coverings are removed, and sanitizing classrooms during the day. In addition, classes take frequent âmask breaksâ outside and enjoy social distancing recess as well. Volunteers are also not permitted inside the building at this time.
As needed, the OLS CASE (Continuation of Academic and Spiritual Education) Learning document for virtual learning is in place. If a student or a class requires quarantine, or if the school has to resort to virtual instruction at any given time, this style of learning will go into effect. âWe believe readiness for sudden shifts in learning formats will be a hallmark of this school year.â
The school is also holding their weekly school liturgies. Two classes each week are assigned to participate in Mass held in the church while social distancing. In addition, another designated class attends a separate Mass in the church parish hall. The remainder of the student body participates in the Liturgy by watching the live-streamed Mass in their classrooms. Parents are also invited to virtually join in the weekly celebration at home.
âOverall, we will be updating our procedures as we determine more efficient and safer ways to operate,â says Mrs. Dorn. Â âTogether we can help to keep each other healthy and happy!â Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School fosters the religious, academic, and social development of every child, recognizing that knowledge enlightened by faith and realized through service is at the heart of Catholic education. To learn more about Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School, click here. â
But the fun doesn’t stop here! Vintage Market Days of North Alabama is set for October 30-November 1 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tickets are $10 and good for all three days. For tickets and more details, click here. â
The Food For Our Journey (FFOJ) non-profit food van is packed with water and hot meals for 200 people in need thanks to parishioners at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church and Prince of Peace Catholic Church.
The team behind the non-profit food van, Food For Our Journey (FFOJ), was helped this weekend by two parishes of the Catholic Diocese of Birmingham. Teamwork between some parishioners of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church (OLS) in Homewood and Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Hoover made sure that 200 people who are food insecure ate a hot Sunday meal on September 6. The Knights of Columbus at Prince of Peace donated and cooked 80 pounds of barbecue pork. Members of OLS added hot dogs with the trimmings along with homemade macaroni and cheese, baked beans, and watermelon. The OLS crew plated the meals that were loaded onto the van that goes to nearly a dozen locations in Birmingham to feed people who cannot travel to food pantries. The van serves 700 meals a day, plus water, seven days a week. The food van is available every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in the OLS parking lot to accept donations including bottled water, soft fruit, masks, and clean, gently used or new socks. â
The Food For Our Journey (FFOJ) van serves nearly 700 meals a day seven days a week. The food van is available every Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., in the parking lot of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church to accept donations of water, soft fruit, masks, and clean socks.
Multi-platinum recording artist, author, wife and mother- these are just a few of the roles of Birminghamâs own Sara Evans, who took time out while on tour with her studio project Stronger to share with Christian Family how her faith in Christ keeps her strong. Evans took time out to share with Christian Family how her faith in Christ keeps her strong. Referencing the albumâs lead single âA Little Bit Stronger,â Evans explained, âPeople ask me all the time, âHow do you encourage people when they are going through something hard?â The main thing I always say is, âTrust that the Lord is in control.â I love the verse, âBe still and know that I am God,â because He truly is in control. He truly does love us.â Evans says she can attest to Godâs presence and comfort in her own life even in the most difficult circumstances. A highly celebrated country star with accolades like female vocalist of the year and one of PEOPLE magazines most beautiful people, Evans life has not always been easy. At the age of eight she was hit by a car and severely injured. Later in life, she faced a very public divorce. Evans seeks to encourage all those she meets to stand strong in Godâs grace. âTry not to be self destructive. Try to stay the course, persevere, continue to pray through it. Keep yourself in the Word.â
Sara Evans singing a song from her project Stronger, on Good Morning America. The album includes âTicket to Rideâ written by Evans and friend Leslie Satcher and references Evansâ new hometown of Birmingham. Credit: ABC/Ida Mae Astute
Evans, the third of seven children, grew up in Missouri and attended a small country church. âWe always went to church. We were always involved, but never to the degree where I felt I really had a personal relationship with God.â By the time Evans moved to Nashville to become a country music artist in the early 90âs, she had developed a deep seeded fear. âI was terrified of dying. I remember being in a hotel room one night and I just got the Bible out in my hotel room and started reading,â says Evans. âI remember being very, very afraid. If I start reading the Bible, what am I going to find out? What am I going to have to commit to?â  But Evanâs kept reading and found peace. âI started with Matthew and I just couldnât put it down. I read in my hotel room that whole night and then I went out and got my own Bible. I really couldnât put it down for six months. â Evans began attending Belmont Church on Music Row and at age 21 accepted Christ as her Savior. âFor the next few years, I was so hungry. I could not get enough of the Word,â remembers Evans. âThat was a very precious time in my life. I really grew and was becoming very close to the Lord and great friends with the Lord. And thatâs sort of where Iâve been since then.â Evans admits staying in the Word requires discipline.  âLike in any relationship, I have not always been the best as far as my walk with the Lord. Sometimes I have been overwhelmed with my career, overwhelmed with busyness, stress, disappointment, stuff like thatâŠ.but every time I go back to the Word itâs amazing. Thatâs what keeps me grounded.â Evans seeks to spend time with God daily. âSome days are shorter than others but I try to spend a long time, especially praying- praying over our children, my career, praying for my family, for my friends.â
The importance of prayer is particularly evident in Evansâ book projects with publisher Thomas Nelson. Evans, with co-author Rachel Hauck, has released two novels so far with a third due out early next year. Through tough challenges, the booksâ main character Jade grows in her faith and in her communication with God. âJade is a lot like me. She gets flustered. She gets mad at God. She feels bad and then she prays. Sheâs constantly in prayer and asking for forgiveness, and asking for help. Iâm constantly praying, âThank you Lord. Thank you that we made it through this. Thank you that this show went well. I donât deserve all this. Please watch over my kids.â Iâm constantly in this dialogue with the Lord.â
Evansâ project Stronger was dedicated to her grandmother, Mildred Pauline Floyd. âShe was a huge influence on me as far as how to be a true servant and to be a true godly woman, a Proverbs wife,â says Evans. âShe served and served and served until the day she died.â Photo Credit: Russ Harrington
The importance of prayer is also evident in Evansâ song writing. âPray for You,â a song she co-wrote and included on her Greatest Hits album, focuses on the prayers of a mother. âIâm always asking my mom to pray for me,â explains Evans, âand that gives me such comfort to know that my mother is at home, asking the Lord to watch out for her daughter, and I know the Lord hears those prayers.â Evans and husband Jay Barker also emphasize prayer as a family. The coupleâs blended family includes 7 children, ages 5 to 13. âJay and I both believe that it is extremely important for the kids to hear us praying and for them to pray.â A Christ centered marriage is paramount to Evans. âI would never have dated a non-believer. Jay and I are totally like minded in our spiritual beliefs and our relationship with the Lord and in our walk,â says Evans of Barker, best known for his National Championship win as quarterback for the University of Alabama. The couple met through minister Joe Beam, who had counseled each of them individually when they were going through divorce. âJay came up to Nashville and took me out on a softball throwing date,â remembers Sara. âWe went and got cheeseburgers, and I fell in love with him probably that night.â Barker, who has been a radio sportscaster primarily on Birminghamâs WJOX since 2003, brought his bride home to the Magic City in 2009. Itâs a place she canât say enough good things about. âItâs incredible. Iâm home for good- forever⊠The people have been so welcoming. I have a group of friends I feel like I have known my entire life, and I totally believe that is straight from God.â Evans says the only part of her career that she doesnât like is not being home with her family. Fortunately, they will be able to travel with her for much of her current tour and she knows without a doubt, God will keep her strong.
-Laurie Stroud Franklin
This article first appeared in Birmingham Christian Family, April 2011
â Micah Andrews 
-Laurie Stroud Franklin
The OneAscent Process. OneAscent utilizes a proprietary tool found at oneascentwealth.com/onboarding. This tool is available to anyone who would like to analyze their current investment strategy. They also work with each client to identify their “money style” to understand money and stewardship perspectives. This informs conversations with advisors exploring the client’s current financial situation and the most important issues. OneAscent hosts seminars and workshops for groups and churches to share sound financial principles and teach about values-based investing.
Are you ready to shop? Visit The Hoover Finley Center for Vintage Market Days of Birmingham’s “Road Trip” on 
