My Christmas Wish List has grown into a JUNGLE!
By Sara Greene Mark and I have a tradition at Christmas that started in the gym at First Baptist a few years back. The World Craft Fair sets up in the gym one Wednesday night in November each year. That first year there were some things that I really liked, but I have a hard time […]
J.O.Y. to Your World!
By Dr. Sophia Steibel Joy is a word we hear a lot during the Advent season. Joy is associated with the story and spirit of Christmas. We often anticipate this time of the year with great expectations. For me this word took on a new meaning about six years ago when I joined a group […]
God’s light shown through unexpected friendships
by Tisha Dedmon (A look inside the history of #NYCTreeGirls) It all began four years ago. Both of our sons played bass in the Shelby Middle School orchestra. The opportunity arose that I would introduce myself to Carol Ann Hoard. We had many of the same friends but had never actually met before. We hit […]
Merry Stinkin’ Christmas!
By Tara Beth Warrick In my former life, I was a Type A individual. Always on time. Always prepared. If I was not as talented as my competition, I could certainly out work them. In some ways, this drive was very helpful as it got me into college. In other ways, it led me to […]
In Her Footsteps!
Grandparents are nothing but thrilled to see what their grandchildren are doing as they grow. It is a real blessing of life to have this “grand” experience and Janet and I are really taking it in with absolute joy! We received a texted photo from yesterday at church where our daughter’s family serves. It was […]
Shoebox Prayers
Our church family was thankful on Sunday as our children worked with Ms. Missy and Mr. Perry to receive and present Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes before the Lord in worship. Our members brought their boxes filled with gifts for children around the world and placed them in wagons. During the singing of the hymn, All […]
“What’ya talkin’bout, Pastor Tony?”
Sunday was a great day for our church to receive five couples as they dedicated themselves to the sacred task of parenting their children. We were blessed to pray for, and commit to walking with, Justin and Amanda Ayers and their son Dylan, Justin and Tracy Harper with their daughter Harmony, Trevor and Lucy McDaniel […]
Jewels in the Heart of Shelby
Our church neighborhood is blessed by Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Missionary Cecelia Beck and her work among families all around us. One of her ministry goals has been an entrepreneurial ministry to teach young artists in business principles, creativity, and stewardship. Straight Out of Shelby is the name of this jewelry-making business and these artists just […]
4:45 AM, The Day After Our Election and God is ABLE!
It’s a quarter til five this morning and I have not looked at the news to see the outcome of our national election. Like everyone in the country, including the candidates no doubt, I have grown weary of such a long and distressing campaign season. The neck and neck reporting from the polls last night […]
Your Super Ability!
At our recent Greatest Treat Festival on October 29, I shared that, while this year’s most popular Halloween costume is the “super hero,” God has given to each of us a super power, a special ability, called “faith.” Faith is the ability to trust our lives into the hands of God. And, when we use […]