Largest Christian Newspaper in America • goodnewsfl.org • June 2022 • Volume 24, Issue 3
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On The Cover Outstanding graduates from South Florida’s Christian schools are pictured in the Dr. Kenneth P. Wackes Media Center at Westminster Academy, located at 5601 N. Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale. Pictured from left to right: Shiphrah Currie, Salutatorian, Calvary Christian Academy Hollywood; Annie Torres, Valedictorian, Calvary Christian Academy Hollywood; Carson Bryan Elmer, Salutatorian, Westminster Academy; Matthew Perry Selbach, Valedictorian, Westminster Academy; Josiah Lane, Salutatorian, Calvary Christian Academy Fort Lauderdale; and Aubrey Meeske, Valedictorian, Calvary Christian Academy Fort Lauderdale. Read the graduation special section on pages 21 – 36. Photo by Justus Martin Photo www.justusphoto.com PUBLISHER 6 JUNE 2022 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition This is our fifth annual Graduation Issue, wherewe salute those studentswho distinguished themselves and honor God and their families. I encourage you to read the 16-pageGraduation supplement, which Editor Shelly Pond artfully wove together, starting on page 21. This is the largest and most participated Graduation feature we’ve produced to date. “If you smile when no one else is around, you really mean it,” is anAndy Rooney quote. It’s been five years at the helm of the Good News for me, 2017 is my entry point… and I really mean it. I’m prone to repeat “our similarities are very different.” With my monthly musings in these pages, I’ve been transparent and admit my cultural differences and perspectives. Five years ago, God intervened in my life when a small handful of faith leaders asked me to sit in on a meeting-in-progress, and I soon found out it was a moment of fish or cut bait after previous meetings went unresolved. Was the Good News worth saving? The mission seemed clear, but the how-too was hazy to those whose hearts were heavy. I sat and listened to the conversations, piecing together as much as I could, understanding the convoluted nature driven by ominous time constraints - with one thing clear; it was messy.At the conclusion of themeeting, I was asked to hold-on, wait amoment after this meeting… “Somebody has to step up and buy this thing if it’s worth saving, so what do you think?” “About what?” I responded, but this was a serious matter, so with respect I offered, “It’s a mess. I’mmore interested in the needs, and from the questions, I havemy own questions.” I wanted reliable numbers and fromwhat was presented, my background suggested skepticism. I was just asked to consult, sit in, content in my retirement and daily exercise, walking exquisitely trimmed golf course lawns chasing a little white ball. There’s a whole story here, but the summary is God had his own plan, and his time frame was now. Five years later I reflect it would be nice to give yourself a nice report card, but God is watching. We focus on bringing engagements and features Good News readers will find interesting and look forward to as a critical part of our community outreach: Fifth annual Graduation issue (June), SecondAnnual Women of Distinction (April), FifthAnnual LeadingCharities and Foundations (ThanksgivingNovember), and the FifthAnnual Faith Leaders (Christmas December), something we take great pride in. Our featured writers are a blessing with incredible monthly contributions from Stephan Tchividjian, Franklin Graham, O.S Hawkins, Rob Hoskins, Dr. Bob Barnes & Torrey Roberts (Parenting), LisaMay (Marriage), EdwinCopeland (ChurchUnited), Dr. TommyBoland (Apologetics), OmarAleman (Encouragement), Newton Fairweather (Opinion) and several features, perspectives and help authors with pedigree. Community engagement at the highest level of community activism, monthly featuring over 75 community Leaders with “Good News Wants to Know,” and the beat goes on. We now gratefully count well over 100 continuity advertisers that believe in our mission and our readers. We seek and I ask my GN teammates to improve every day, no days off. I ask that we work smart, not hard. Time and circumstances have been challenging for everyone these past couple of years, but we’ve got a mission, and excuses are not part of the mission. We are God-driven to serve our charitable ministries, and we feel we have the motivation to present those good deeds in interesting formats to please and enlighten our readers and encourage them to engage and invest in some way, attend charity functions, volunteer or simply pray that Gods work will be done. Have a beautiful summer. Les South Florida Edition • Good News • June 2022 • Volume 24, Issue 3 Advertising: We reach over 110,000 readers each month. 80,000 in print and 30,000 via our online digital edition. Placing an ad in our publication is affordable and effective to help grow your business. Call us today! Distribution: Available inmore than 800 locations throughout South Florida. To become a free distribution point for the newspaper, please contact Shelly. The Good News is published by Good News Media Group, LLC, Reproduction in whole or part strictly forbidden without the consent of the publisher. Copyright 2022. All rights reserved. Good News Media Group, LLC. PO Box 670368, Coral Springs, FL 33067 954-564-5378 • www.goodnewsfl.org Publisher: Leslie J. Feldman [email protected] Editor: Shelly Pond [email protected] Art Director: Milton McPherson [email protected] Advertising & Marketing: Robert “Buddy” Helland Jr. V.P. Sr. Marketing Manager [email protected] Al Lehman Sr. Marketing Director [email protected] Vice President: Michael Denker Corporate Engagement [email protected] Social Media Manager: Ariel Feldman [email protected] Editorial Assistant: Eric Solomon [email protected] Cover Photography: Justus Martin [email protected] Report Card Time PERSPECTIVE . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Grunts – by Stephan N. Tchividjian IN THEWORD . . . . . . . . . . 10 Franklin Graham: The Eternal Peril of Progressive Christianity – by Franklin Graham OPINION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Dads: Iron Men – by Newton Fairweather CHURCHUNITED . . . . . . 14 Church United Discusses Digital Transformation in the Church – Edwin Copeland PARENTING . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 How to Create anAtmosphere of Joy – by Dr. Bob Barnes & Torrey Roberts YOU ASKWHY? . . . . . . . . .18 Before WWJD Must Come LLJL – by Dr. Tommy Boland HEART AND SOUL . . . . . . 20 NCAAStudent Leader Sees ‘Way Too Much Pressure’ on YoungAthletes. – by Dr. Debra A. Schwinn GRADUATION SECTION . . . . . . . . . . . 21 – 36 FAITH & VOCATION . . . . 38 Compassionate Education – by Dr. Maria E. Saunders LIVE THE LIFE . . . . . . . . . . 40 The Merciful and The Mighty – by Lisa May THE CODE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Who Do You Say That I Am? – by Dr. O.S. Hawkins VILLAGE HYMNS . . . . . . . 43 How to Create a New Song – by Julie Anne Vargas INSIGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Hope Against Hope – by Rob Hoskins ENCOURAGEMENT . . . . . 45 The Final Exam – by Omar Aleman LEGAL Q&A . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Your “Side Hustle” Is Serious Business – byWilliam“Bill” C. Davell and Tanya L. Bower GOOD NEWSWANTS TO KNOW . . . . . . . . . 48 – 50 If you could know the absolute and total truth to one question, what question would you ask? CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . .52 55 Leslie J. Feldman C O N T E N T S Good News • June • Volume 24 Issue 3
PERSPECTIVE 8 JUNE 2022 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition Once in a while I tend to be petty. For example, I’ve been noticing a lot of grunts around me of late. Grunts are audible noises that one voluntarily makes... usually. Pigs grunt, but that’s not the type of grunt I am talking about. I’m noticing the human grunts. My daughter grunts when I ask her how her day was… I’m not sure how to interpret that; is it good or bad? I have also noticed the loud “come on” or “hmmmm” in a crowd… I think they call that a loud listener. I am not much of a grunter myself; however, in noticing these grunts, it’s caused me to stop, listen and perhaps see (and hear) if there is something I can learn from these unique expressions. Athletes One of the most common grunts I’ve noticed is an athlete on the tennis court or in a gym. The tennis player, Michele Larcher de Brito was given a warning at the 2009 French Open for grunting. Not sure how that was conveyed to her and what the offense was, non the less, it happened. Athletes apparently need to grunt because it’s a way of releasing some of that self-generated “steam” ...like a release valve or human volcano (I guess the earth grunts too). Perhaps that explains why someone will say, “wow, that person choked” when an athlete fails in an attempt; perhaps they should have grunted more. The loud listener Another grunt I’ve noticed is a bit more refined and socially acceptable, the loud listener kind. The grunt is heard in a gathering that is large but not too large to go unnoticed. Churches are prime places to experience this type of grunt, rock concerts not so much. I recently attended a conference with about 350 people in attendance and noticed a grunt community. The presenter would say something that apparently caught the attention of the grunter who then responded with a loud “hmmmmmm” followed by “come on or so so good!” I believe it was an affirmation of some sort, not a bad thing. I must say that if I were the speaker and I heard the grunt when I made a point, I would assume it’s a sign of agreement and be tempted tomakemore of the same points, as I waited for another affirming grunt… like a grunt addict. The grunt could cause me to get off course and begin to randomly look for more points that get a grunt. I do wonder if this so called “exchange” affects the audience, the message or themood in the room? Some of my most memorable church experiences demonstrated a lively interaction between the preacher and the listeners, the loud “Hallelujah” for example. I will never know since I rarely get that when I speak, oh well. Pain I also sense that sometimes grunting occurs in the midst of pain. I’ve grunted if I got a bad stomach ache or stubbed my toe. These grunts are usually a noise that seems to say what the nerves are experiencing… like an interpreter or loudspeaker. Sometimes the grunt is not a sound but a few choice words that may even surprise you. I believe these grunts seem to help alleviate the pain a bit. A woman giving childbirth is a classic example and who can blame her? Sometimes my prayers are grunts; it’s when I don’t know what to say and I just grunt, and God understands. I like that! I would say there is something glorious about a grunt that reflects life, something compassionate about a grunt that comes from pain and something haunting about a grunt that is heard amongst the dying. I find it hard to understand all the reasoning behind the grunter and frankly it’s really none of my business. A grunt is an expression, like clapping, or laughing. We all express ourselves differently. Some of us, in our silence can appear unengaged, pain free, disinterested or apathetic while others in their grunting are fully engaged, in a lot of pain, very interested and enthusiastic. However, perhaps my silence is my way of showing respect and interest… a way to focus while the loud grunt can appear to be an interruption or distraction, “hey notice me.” We never know do we? My sensitivity and attention towards grunts is a bit odd. God uses odd things to get my attention. I guess by noticing grunts as of late I’ve noticed my own extraordinary ability to judge others mercilessly. I’m surprised by how quick I assume the motive, situation and/or character of another, simply from a grunt. It’s sort of ridiculous. I can be so easily bothered by someone else but not nearly as bothered by my own action/in action… and here lies a problem and now I too want to grunt, “argh.” Perhaps that grunt is God’s way of catching my attention. He wants me to see the effort, the pain, the point. The simple observation causes me to reflect on the difference between how I look at the world and the way God looks at the world. I deeply desire to see and hear what he sees and hears. When God speaks to me, do I hear it as an annoying grunt or a welcome interruption? Do I dismiss His voice or the noises of His creation? Remember, God expresses Himself all the time, and I am grateful for that. God “grunts” are always life-giving… allowing me to notice something he wants to show me. Come on…so, so good! Stephan N. Tchividjian is the president and founder of the National Christian Foundation South Florida. Visit southflorida.ncfgiving.com to learn more. - Stephan N. Tchividjian - National Christian Foundation President Grunts Michelle LARCHER DE BRITO of Portugal plays the 2nd round qualification match at French Open, Roland Garros on May 20, 2010 in Paris, France.
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10 JUNE 2022 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition IN THE WORD For decades, a war has been raging against Biblical Christianity that goes under the seemingly innocent name of “progressive Christianity.” It has cropped up in the halls of seminaries, infiltrated the pulpits of thousands of churches and been propagated by a godless liberal media. It is bent on casting doubt and undermining the foundational principles of God’s Word. Many of the Apostle Paul’s letters were written to churches that were experiencing serious doctrinal errors. One of his sternest was penned to the church in Galatia, which is part of modernday Turkey. In it, he launched into a stern rebuke for the teaching that had polluted the Galatian church: “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let thembe under God’s curse!” (Galatians 1:6-9, NIV). In the case of the Galatians, Paul was specifically addressing their attempt to return to the demands of the law rather than continuing to live by grace through faith in the sacrificial, atoning work of the cross of Jesus Christ. Such an attempt wasn’t just a really bad idea; it actually would result in living under God’s curse, not His favor. I would say the exact same warning applies today to the advocates of progressive Christianity. They deceitfully promote and proclaim what I believe is clearly a “different gospel, which is really no Gospel at all.” Let me say that again—progressive Christianity is not a Gospel at all. It has nothing to do with the Gospel of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. It results in nothing but spiritual confusion and chaos. Here’s the problem. Progressive Christianity denies the divinely inspired, authoritative truth of the Bible as it intersects every facet of living. For example, although Scripture clearly says that marriage is between one man and one woman, proponents of progressive Christianity twist and distort the truth of God’s Word on sexuality, focusing on such nonsensical trends as gender identity. They deny God’s distinction of the sexes, and instead invent their own misguided standards, unguided by the Word of God. The degrading cultural influences that embrace such movements as gay marriage have more sway on their beliefs than the Bible does. When the topic of justice is discussed, progressive Christianity is primarily concerned with the issues of social and racial justice (which the Bible does address), but most often neglects the far more fundamental issue of God’s justice—how a holy and just God deals with sinful and wicked men. And when it comes to the matter of personal sin, progressive Christianity most frequently fails to see the ruinous consequences of mankind’s depraved, sinful state. Biblical teaching on the precious blood of Christ, the sacrificial, substitutionary, atoning work of Christ’s death on the cross, is too often neglected or distorted. So the real, ultimate danger is that progressive Christianity can send a person to hell. I know that sounds harsh, but it’s true. To reject the deity of Christ is to deny Christ and doom yourself to an eternity spent in hell. To love darkness more than light will end in an eternity in hell. To hope that good works alone will earn salvation, while rejecting the gift of everlasting life through faith in Christ alone, will lead straight into the eternal abyss. To deny the fullness of the Trinity—God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit—can risk a person spending their eternity separated from the glory and splendor of God Almighty. Do you see how anything other than orthodox, Biblical Christianity can be so dangerous and deadly? That’s why the Apostle Paul called down a curse on those who preach a different gospel than the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Here’s how Paul precisely defined the Gospel: “Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4, NKJV). This is the only saving Gospel. Preachers must faithfully proclaim it from the pulpit if they want their congregants to be convicted of their sin and to trust solely in the blood of Christ for the forgiveness of their sins. Praise and worship have their place in the church, but there is no substitute for pastors preaching the power of the cross and the resurrection. Pastors today must “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:2-5, NKJV). There’s certainly nothing very forward thinking about progressive Christianity. It actually regresses into unbiblical thinking and living, and it will put a person’s very soul in eternal jeopardy. Evangelicals need to guard the truth of genuine Scriptural preaching and living, remaining true and bold about exactly what the Bible clearly teaches. There is no other way to be saved and secured for all eternity. The Scripture quotation marked NIV is taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version. Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from The Holy Bible, New King James Version. ©2021 Samaritan's Purse ©2021 Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. BGEA is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Used by permission decisionmagazine.com - Franklin Graham - President and CEO Samaritan’s Purse and Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Franklin Graham: The Eternal Peril of Progressive Christianity Progressive Christianity denies the divinely inspired, authoritative truth of the Bible as it intersects every facet of living. ” “ Biblical teaching on the precious blood of Christ, the sacrificial, substitutionary, atoning work of Christ’s death on the cross, is too often neglected or distorted. ” “
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OPINION 12 JUNE 2022 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition Dads are not from the Marvel Comic Universe but are expected to perform like they are. It’s not easy to be a dad. There is no orientation for the job. It comes with moments of joy and pain. Often you get blamed for things you know nothing about, or you are expected to be a problem solver with or without experience. There are no manuals. However, the best possible, closest thing to a manual, that will give you some directions is the bible. For example, consider Ephesians 6:4 – “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord” (NLT). If you ask 10 dads what this scripture means, you may get 10 different answers. Yes, being a dad can be a challenge, but thankfully, it’s not impossible. The statements mentioned above are responses from different discussions with a group of men I met about six years ago, and to this day we have maintained a level of friendship with the common bond of being a dad. Let me tell you about this village of dads. They are ordinary guys that meet every Friday for about one hour from 8 – 9 a.m. at Calvary Christian Academy. I initially began attending because my son and daughter were students at the school. When I first heard about the opportunity for dads to come together, like some of the new dads, I did not want to go because I was not interested in another Bible study. However, six months into the school year I showed up, and thus a learning experience began. Although we were from different walks of life, we had much in common, and to every man in that group, the most important thing was, “How can I be a better dad in my reality?” The group was led by Jason Bates, who I believe was the right guy to lead the group in so many ways. He never professed to be a perfect dad, and he made it clearly known, as he would often say that “I’m learning on the fly just like the rest of you.” His biggest attribute was his transparency, and we all respected that. Billy Ingersol was another dad in the group. He was a great balance, as he was thought of to the same degree as the “Gronk” to Tom Brady (Jason). We would look to him when Jason was not around. They both worked well together in leading the group. The group is called CCA-DADS, which was formed for prayer and Bible study to discover what it means to honor God as men and fathers. Discussion topics ranged from “What it meant to be a helicopter dad, lawnmower dad, or snowplow dad” to “How to be better husbands.” Discussions also covered men that were single and their issues, even divorced dads’ issues on how to raise children when living in separate homes. Additionally, we developed a closer fellowship through various gatherings such as cook-outs, football watch parties and eating breakfast together. Seasons come and seasons go. It has been almost ten years since Jason has led the CCA Dads group and now, he and his family are moving on to their next assignment. Nonetheless, his legacy and impact of the CCADads group has created a solid foundation for the guys in many ways. The following are individual comments from some of the dads: Joel Devaux - “The group allowed us to focus on what Christ thinks is important regarding raising my children. Before attending the CCA Dads group, my priorities were different. I did not have God in the correct order of importance or consulted with His word for wisdom as a father. The second impactful area was having other CCA Dads pour into my life with a genuineness. I did not have my dad growing up; therefore, the wisdom shared in each class was important to me. I was able to implement numerous ideas shared by other dads in the group.” Rick Ricardo – “When I was invited to attend the CCA Dads Bible Study, I gladly did. I did not know it was not a traditional “Bible Study.” I had joined a group of like-minded, open and transparent Christian men with the same types of opportunities and challenges I had. The CCA Dads is a fellowship and a band of brothers gathered to share how God’s word impacted and influenced them throughout their life experiences with their kids, spouses, work and careers. Eternally grateful to Jason and Billy for their leadership and for allowing me to be a part of this blessed group of men.” Billy J. Ingersol - “When I enrolled my kids in CCA, one of the first things I did was seek out the men's group. The group has been a blessing to me and my family. My wife even notices a difference in the summer and will ask me when it starts again. Jason says he is not compassionate but has a heart to lead and serve others. I have seen this firsthand out in the community. Guys really appreciate Jason’s transparency. It makes people feel welcomed and like they are not alone.” Brian Haywood – “This has probably been the first men’s group I attended where the leader was the most transparent person in the room as it relates to his life, his struggles and insecurities as a husband, father and businessman. It has been in his humblest of moments that I’ve connected with him because I knew I could relate. Jason is by no means a perfect man’s man, but he’s a Mark 1:17 fisher of men. He has help me understand that while God’s grace is sufficient it’s not enough. We are called as men of Christ to change the world through our marriages, children and the relationships we form outside of church.” Jon Johansson – “What I have appreciated most about how Jason has led the CCA Dads fellowship throughout the years is his authenticity. Authenticity doesn't imply perfection, but honesty with oneself and with those around you. His manner of sharing failures allows for everyone in the room to recognize we are not alone in our own missteps. And while Jason may not draw attention to the triumphs in life, we see them in his steadfast relationships with Maribeth and Taylor. It's a reflection of his character, of not giving up, of a consistent relationship with our Heavenly Father, of digging into God's Word, and listening to the Holy Spirit. One of the greatest weapons the enemy has is to isolate us. Jason has helped us all to remember we are not alone as we walk through the seasons of life.” It's to God’s glory that the CCA Dads group has been great example of Proverbs 27:17 - Iron sharpens iron, which makes us IRON MEN. To which the Marvel Comic Universe, cannot compare. For more information on the CCA Dads, visit ccceagles.org. Newton Fairweather is the pastor of Faith and Joy Church and the CBMC Fort Lauderdale Board Chaplin. - Newton Fairweather - Pastor, Faith and Joy Church and CBMC Fort Lauderdale Board Chaplin The CCA-Dads group Dads: Iron Men
CHURCH UNITED 14 JUNE 2022 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition Last month Church United hosted a special gathering with Mart Green, of Hobby Lobby, and technologist Ben Elmore, of Intevity, to discuss the changing landscape of missional engagement and the unprecedented evangelistic opportunity that stands before the churches of our region. Mart Green reminded the pastors and ministry leaders in attendance that the opportunity in front of the Church requires a united, collective impact and held up Church United as a national model and example of collaborative impact for gospel advancement. Ben Elmore gave practical insight into how technology is impacting our missional front door. and that while churches have many options for the use and embracing of technology, the only thing that isn't an option is to ignore innovation and do nothing at all. The fundamental reality that the event and Church United as a movement sought to underscore was that “the world in front of the Church looks nothing like the world behind it.” In the words of Ben Elmore, “If you’re wondering why everything feels so differently so suddenly, you’re not alone. We’re in a confluence of technological advancement, a historic global event, and monumental shifts in faith seeker's expectations. Things that worked before, suddenly don’t. The uncertainties of the future are with us day-to-day. Everywhere a leader turns, they’re faced with disruption. Welcome to the age of “digital transformation." But what if that was a good thing? Disruption is, after all, the fuel of transformation. If the Church really does stand before one of the greatest missional moments of recent history, a few things are clear: we need a different type of Church, a different type of leader, and a different level of gospel collaboration. A commitment to collaboration We know that change in this next season won’t come through another expert, another conference, or another mission statement or committee meeting. We believe that change happens in the context of trusted relationships among diverse voices with a commitment to collaboration. It’s time to fight for unity, unleash uncommon generosity, and pray our way into a new future – one that gleans from the past and charts a course for the future. “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few,” has taken on fresh meaning in this new season. With the successful launch of Gloo Connect – the platform powering the local church engagement in Church United’s participation in digital evangelistic campaign efforts of He Gets Us and Churches Care in the region, these historic, first-of-their-kind digital evangelism efforts are previewing the new missional frontier and evangelistic opportunities ahead of the Church. What is "He Get’s Us" and "Churches Care" all about? He Gets Us He Gets Us is a campaign designed to create cultural change in the way people think about Jesus and his relevance in their lives. The campaign seeks to create opportunities for people to take a fresh look at the “real” Jesus and consider his radical teachings and claims documented in the Bible. It’s creating opportunities for those exploring faith to be open and approachable, so everyone feels comfortable asking questions, including the difficult ones. The goal is for people to see that Jesus isn’t some irrelevant historical figure who doesn’t relate to them in the modern world. He has experienced every human frailty and vulnerability. He’s for everyone. He has the answers to life’s most pressing problems. He understands us. He “gets us.” Since the beginning of 2022, He Gets Us ads have been viewed over 61 million times nationally via TV and YouTube commercials. Churches Care Churches Care takes a more localized approach and runs social media and google ads that address regional hotspot felt needs like relationship and marital issues, stress, loneliness and mental health. The campaign seeks to facilitate introductions for those responding to ads towards the nearest participating church or ministry in order for them to take a next step to connect with someone local. Since the beginning of the year, over 1,700 people have connected with a local church in responding to ads in South Florida. We believe these campaigns are only the beginning. However, like any new terrain, the need for skilled cartographers to chart a pathway forward is paramount to the terrain's successful navigation and development. Digital evangelism and missional engagement are uncharted territories for the vast majority of local churches in South Florida and across our nation. The world that local pastors were trained and ordained for simply doesn’t exist anymore. However, rather than reverting back to what we were trained for or what has worked in the past, what if we came together to navigate this new frontier together? After all, the way forward requires uncommon unity, collaboration, humility and prayer. Get involved If you’re a local pastor we invite you to take the next step and join us in this collaborative movement to own the lostness of our region and demonstrate faith, hope and love together with other gospel-believing churches. Church United exists to invest in the spiritual health of local pastors, missional health of local churches and social health of our region – a task that’s beyond any single local church, leader or organization. If the way forward requires a new type of church, leader and unity then we need (more than ever before) healthy leaders, leading healthy churches, for the flourishing of our city. Join us. We need you. South Florida needs you. Edwin Copeland serves as the Director of Church United with the National Christian Foundation of South Florida where he works to unify the Church through collaboration and celebration to see faith, hope, and love spread throughout South Florida. To learn more about Church United, visit churchunitedfl.com Church United Discusses Digital Transformation in the Church - Edwin Copeland - Church United Director Mart Green and Rob Hoskins
16 JUNE 2022 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition PARENTING Music is a big thing in our house. We try to have music on while we are doing jobs, we serve in music ministry at our church, and the first thing that our youngest does as soon as the car starts is to ask for the music to be on. There is a song on the radio by Zach Williams that both my kids sing to at the top of their lungs and it is called “Old Church Choir.” As I was listening to it, the lyric “There ain’t nothing gonna steal my joy,” jumped out. Today as a parent there seems to be so much trying to steal our joy. It feels like our hearts go from one heavy thing to the next. From Covid to politics to school shootings, it feels like emotional ping pong. The great thing is joy isn’t dependent on our emotions. Thankfully it is a fruit of the spirit. Love your family As we look to this summer, what are we going to do as parents to create an atmosphere of joy? One of my all-time favorite quotes is by Mother Teresa, “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.” The times we feel most helpless looking at the world around us, we can have a huge impact raising the next generation. They are our calling and purpose; they are who God has entrusted us to raise. One of the best times to pour into our kids is summer. Things seem to slow down, hopefully family vacations had, and memories made. Teach by example Joy is something that we teach by example. Happiness is based on external circumstances, but joy is deeper. Joy can come regardless of external circumstances, even when our hearts are heavy. While joy is a fruit of the spirit and is given by God, how can we choose joy? Some of us have an easier time with this than others. One verse my mom always quoted to me, because I am one of those who has a harder time choosing joy, was 2 Corinthians 10:5. In its entirety it reads, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” We “take captive every thought.” I’m pretty sure she quoted that part to me nearly every day. When we are struggling with the heaviness of the world, we are not to dwell there but take those thoughts captive. Delight in the little things We can choose to find joy in our families and children. We can focus on teaching our children to find joy in everyday life. It is so fun to watch a toddler delight in small things. Their sense of joy and wonder at the world around them is amazing. So maybe they can teach us how to find joy. Maybe it truly is the way to change the world, at least our world, going home and loving our families. How are you going to focus on joy this summer? As for me and my family, “Ain’t nothing gonna steal my joy!” Visit parentingonpurpose.org for more advice from Dr. Bob Barnes and Torrey Roberts. - Dr. Bob Barnes and Torrey Roberts - Sheridan House FamilyMinistries How to Create an Atmosphere of Joy Join us for Sunday Worship Service Times: 11:00 am & 6:30 pm Nursery available by reservation. Sunday School: 9:30 am Men’s Bible Study: Wed 12:00 pm Women’s Bible Study: Fri 9:30 am And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. –Ezekiel 36:26 05_Good News_Ad_9-75x3-71.indd 1 3/13/22 1:14 PM
Messian Chosen Pe ic Worship S ople Ministries invit ervice! es you to a month, there are You are invited t Boynton services meeting in Boynto o learn about the Jewish roo Beach n Beach, Boca Raton, and Lak ts of our Christian faith by att Lake Worth e Worth Beach. For more inf ending a Chosen People Min Beach ormation, please call (561) 7 istries Messianic worship se Boca Raton 37-1431. rvice! This Boynton Beach, FL 33426 1015 Old Boynton Road Light of Israel Fellowship Friday, June 3 • 7:00 PM l h Get our latest updates and resources at Lake Worth Beach, FL 3 1201 S. Federal Highwa (meeting at Common G Common Ground Mess Friday, June 10 3460 y round Church) ianic Fellowship • 7:00 PM Boca Raton, FL 33428 10101 Judge Winikoff Road t CrossBridge Ch (meeting a Light of Israel Fellowship Friday, June 17 • 7 urch) :00 PM Ministries www.c osenpeop e.com | 561-737-1431 | www.chosenpeople.com ChosenPeople
18 JUNE 2022 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition YOU ASK WHY Before WWJD Must Come LLJL You’re probably familiar with the letters WWJD, typically seen on bracelets, as well as a variety of other Christian apparel items. They stand for “What Would Jesus Do?” It’s a great concept, which dates all the way back to a novel written by Charles Sheldon in 1896, titled In His Steps: What Would Jesus Do? The book depicted a congregation that determined not to make any decision without first considering “What would Jesus do?” Now, as important as the lettersWWJD are, I believe there are four other letters that must come before them: LLJL — “Live Like Jesus Lived!” When you think about it, there is no sense asking “What Would Jesus Do?” if we are not willing to Live Like Jesus Lived. This isn’t my idea; it is the revealed Word of God. “Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did” (1 John 2:6). The imitation of Christ One of my first seminary professors, Dr. R. C. Sproul, provided some tremendous insight to living as Jesus lived in his book, The Imitation of Christ: “We need a pattern to follow if our lives are going to be conformed to the character of God. God Himself, especially as He has revealed Himself in the person of Jesus Christ, is our pattern. We must look to Him and His commands to understand the righteous way in which we must live. The righteous acts and traits that we must display will not justify us, but they do demonstrate that we have been truly set apart as God’s holy children, and they are necessary if we are to reflect His image.” In the beginning, God created everything perfect, including mankind, which is made in His image (Genesis 1:26-27). Adam and Eve were created to perfectly reflect the character of God in every way. They reflected God’s qualities of love, kindness, gentleness, creativity and faithfulness, to name just a few. But after their willful rebellion against God’s purpose for their lives, all that changed. The image had been marred by sin. To this day, every person still bears the image of God, but the reflection of God’s character is now damaged and distorted. Nevertheless, there is a universal craving deep within every human being to be more than we are. No one has ever been entirely satisfied with the person they have become. Why? Because we know, whether we will admit it or not, that we have been made by God, for God, and we will never find the meaning, purpose, peace and happiness we all desire until we have been remade in His image, which is God’s ultimate goal for every person who, by grace through faith, trusts in Christ for eternal life. “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers” (Romans 8:29). Transformed by grace How is God bringing us back to our original divine design? It is all by grace, through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. It is God’s grace that saves, and it is God’s grace that sanctifies. What begins in grace continues in grace, and it is completed in grace. But that grace must be appropriated in our lives. Dr. Jerry Bridges put it this way in The Discipline of Grace: “Our part, that is, our response to the Holy Spirit’s work and our cooperation with Him in His work is the pursuit of holiness . . . the pursuit of holiness, though requiring diligent effort on our part, is dependent upon the enabling power of the Holy Spirit. The apostle Paul expressed this principle of dependent discipline quite succinctly in Philippians 4:13, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Paul did the work, in that case, learning to be content. But he did it through the enabling strength of the Holy Spirit. It is difficult to grasp this principle of being responsible yet dependent. But it is absolutely vital that we grasp it and live by it.” Pursuing holiness It is the believer’s responsibility to pursue holiness by imitating Jesus—by living like Jesus did. We are totally dependent upon God’s enabling grace, but we are responsible to be diligent, disciplined, and devoted in our pursuit. My work as a coach and trainer taught me that one of the guiding principles for helping athletes achieve peak performance is to have them study the techniques and skills needed to play their sport at the highest possible level. The athlete then works at reproducing those skills, in hopes of carrying them onto the field of competition. The same principle holds true for our Christian walk, with one primary difference. In coaching athletes, the goal is behavior modification — changing behavior through hard work and disciplined effort. In coaching Christians, the goal is heart transformation, which only happens by grace, through faith, through the renewing of the mind. The best way to increase our reflection of the character of Christ is to study Jesus as we find Him in the Scriptures and then focus on what we find, looking to the Author and Perfecter of our faith to transform us. In looking intently at Jesus, the visible image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15), we see what we lost because of sin and what we have been promised in our salvation. It is my prayer that you will come into the presence of Jesus on the pages of Scripture each day, ready to receive all God has for you to encourage, empower and equip you to Live Like Jesus Lived. One final point: You will always do this imperfectly on this side of the grave, so never forget that when you mess it up, you have a Savior who loves you unconditionally and has forgiven you completely. Fall down seven times, get up eight! This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT… AMEN! Dr. Tommy Boland is senior pastor of Cross Community Church in Deerfield Beach (www.thecrosscc.org). He blogs regularly at tommyboland.com. - Tommy Boland - Cross Community Church Pastor
HEART AND SOUL 20 JUNE 2022 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition With summer sports camps now in full gear across our communities, we need to talk about a painful subject. And on this subject, Palm BeachAtlantic soccer player Michaela Boyd has insight for parents that could prove lifesaving. At least three NCAAathletes died by suicide in less than twomonths this past spring, according to news reports. That breaks Michaela’s heart. And she knows from experience how mental health crises in college athletics can develop fromattitudes found in organized sports for children. Michaela began competing at a young age, and she sees great benefits in team sports. “It teaches you so much discipline,” she said. “And I just love being on a team.” But appropriately encouraging athletics requires a delicate balance on the part of the young people, their coaches and their parents. “Our culture has put way too much pressure on athletes and student-athletes,” Michaela said. Six-year-olds are being nationally ranked, she said, when they should be told simply, “Go have fun. Kick a ball or hit a ball with a bat. It’s a game, right?” By the time Michaela was 12, that societal pressure caused extreme anxiety. She was running track, and she was gifted at it. But she had begun to sense that people treated her differently depending upon howwell she competed. “The principle was instilled in me that my performance on the field equated to my self-worth,” she said. Sometimes she would faint or throw up before her races. “Outside factors had stolen the joy” of her sport, she realizes now. She tried to quit track, but she felt pressure to keep running, to keep pushing. You’ve seen the posters: Winners never quit. Quitters never win. No pain, no gain. I understand that principle, and I work really hard at my gym. But the children! Let’s allow them to enjoy childhood, so they don’t arrive at high school and college already stressed about competition. This big ball of energy Michaela came to Palm Beach Atlantic University in 2019, having decided to concentrate on soccer instead of track. Women’s soccer coach Chris Gnehm described her as “this big ball of energy, super competitive, and so uplifting for our team.” She scored in her first appearance with the team. “Soccer is the best sport in the world,” said Michaela, “and every country in the world except the U.S. knows it. When you reach certain levels, soccer is really beautiful. It’s like people doing art with their feet.” In her sophomore year, COVID-19 effectively wiped out intercollegiate competition. And when Michaela returned last year as a junior, the anxiety she had felt as a 12-year-old resurfaced. Once again, at times she would throw up or faint before competition. “It wasn’t the soccer,” she realizes now. “I love soccer.” The problem was a pattern of thinking ingrained in her fromchildhood, a pattern “that had gotten really, really deep,” and that had begun to affect her physical health. So what was Michaela to do? Just suck it up and push through? I’m happy to report she reached out for help. She had long talks with her coach and others. She began to reframe her thinking about her relationship with soccer. And about her own value as a person Jesus died for – a person worthy of love. She realized, I’m not the only one going through this struggle. Now she has decided, “I'm fortunate enough to be in the process of coming out on the other side and able to share my story with other people.” NCAA provides her a platform Michaela was named to a national post on the NCAA Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. It’s a great honor, and this Sailfish is making the most of it. She has spoken on numerous panels, sharing her experience regarding mental health and also about inclusion and being a student-athlete of color. “I’ve been telling my story to everyone who will listen,” she said, “and I’m grateful that the NCAA gives me a platform to do so.” “Michaela’s vulnerability, shared through her NCAA platform, is helping break the stigma,” said Courtney Lovely Evans, director of athletics at PBA. “We want to compete at the highest levels of Division II, but we want our student-athletes to be whole: spirit, body and mind. We work closely with Student Development and the Counseling Center to ensure that our student-athletes are connected with the resources they may be unaware that exist or may be ashamed to ask for.” Courtney and I are thankful that PBA student-athletes compete within the balanced framework of NCAA Division II. This approach emphasizes a program of academics and athletics to produce college graduates who will become good citizens, leaders and contributors in their communities. Michaela will become one of those graduates next May, but this fall she’ll be back on the soccer field, excited to tackle her senior season. Once again she’ll be making art with her feet, but this time with a new mindset. And this time I don’t think she’ll let anything steal her joy. Dr. Debra A. Schwinn, a physician, researcher and innovator, is president of Palm Beach Atlantic University. (www.pba.edu) If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) any time, day or night. - Dr. Debra A. Schwinn - Palm Beach Atlantic University President Soccer player Michaela Boyd was named to the NCAA Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. NCAA Student Leader Sees ‘Way Too Much Pressure’ on Young Athletes Athletic Director Courtney Lovely Evans
22 JUNE 2022 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition GRADUATES Congratulations to the graduating class of 2022! “As the first class that has gone through the ‘entire’ Covid-19 experience, they endured the shut down as 10th graders, which led to mobile learning, then hybrid learning, then back to the ‘regular experience.’ Their resilience was put to the test and their reliance on their families, one another and the Lord helped them to thrive,” said Brian Alphenaar, high school principal at Calvary Christian Academy’s Fort Lauderdale campus (CCA). Perhaps this experience is why “this class has been exceptional in connecting with each other,” pointed out Chris Mitchell, high school principal at CCA’s Hollywood campus. “The graduates went from being shy, reserved and withdrawn to sharing their faith journey in Christ while being authentic. And they are not afraid to challenge the status quo.” Dr. Ron Farrar, upper school principal at Westminster Academy (WA), applauded the graduates’ willingness to adjust and be flexible. “They did everything without complaining and each student contributed to help make this 50th year anniversary for our school special.” However, he challenged them to “stand firm in their faith, remain steadfast in prayer and use their God-given gifts” after graduation. What is the biggest challenge the graduates face going forward? “Challenges to the truth in its many and varied applications,” saidAlphenaar, “ that they know the truth; however, their deep roots of knowledge and faith will help them to withstand the attacks and lies of the world.” Mitchell said he believes the graduates are “equipped to bring the gospel of Jesus to a world that has never known him or rejected him. Of course, they will be challenged by others because of their purity stance and holding to the biblical definition of a family, but they will influence others for the sake of the gospel.” Inspired to excel We feature top graduates from local Christian schools in the pages that follow and asked a few what inspired them. Shiphrah Currie, Salutatorian at CCA Hollywood, said “Jesus inspired me because back in His day He was tempted by Satan and He was hated on for no reason, but He kept on pushing and pushing. He was strong and that made me be stronger because I realize that if Jesus went through that and pulled through, I can do the same too.” Her advice to students entering high school is “don’t waist time. This comes with practice and failures turn into opportunities and blessings.” As a hands-on learner,Annie Torres, Valedictorian at CCAHollywood, said, “The biggest challenge I faced during high school was COVID and adjusting to online school.” Annie said her mom inspired her to “reach for the stars” and she now plans to study Health Administration at Florida International University.” Caron Elmer, Salutatorian at WestminsterAcademy, said “What inspired me was having older friends than me that pushed me to be even better than I ever imagined in all aspects.” Carson plans to attend the University of Florida to study industrial engineering. His advice is “don’t rush towards the finish line. Enjoy every moment of high school.” “What inspired me during high school was the many blessings in my life,” said Matthew Selbach, Valedictorian at Westminster Academy. “I understood what a privilege it was to go to a private school, and I knew that doing well would open up many incredible opportunities.” Matthew aspires to be a doctor and plans to attend the University of Florida. “My advice to those entering high school is to make good friends. My friends have been greatly involved in my life and have been very supportive.” Advice for the future CCA Fort Lauderdale Salutatorian Josiah Lane said, “One piece of advice that I would give is to not worry so much about little things. God has a plan for each of us, so there’s no point in worrying over small things.” The biggest challenge he faced was balancing academic life with social life, and he said, “My family is my biggest inspiration.” Josiah plans to study computer science at Liberty University and hopes to become a software developer. AubreyMeeske, Valedictorian at CCAFort Lauderdale, said, “The thing that inspired me was knowing that the Lord had a purpose for my life and that he blessed me with certain gifts that could help me excel.” Her advice would be to stay organized so you don’t fall behind. “It can be hard to balance friends, sports and academics.” Aubrey plans to attend the University of Alabama and major in accounting. As the graduates step into the future, Dr. Farrar said his hope is “that they would be known as faithful and committed individuals, and would run the race set before them with excellence.” Class of 2022 Unafraid to Challenge the Status Quo Shelly Pond Good News Editor Pictured L-R: Josiah Lane, Salutatorian, Calvary Christian Academy Fort Lauderdale; Shiphrah Currie, Salutatorian, Calvary Christian Academy Hollywood; Carson Bryan Elmer, Salutatorian, Westminster Academy; Aubrey Meeske, Valedictorian, Calvary Christian Academy Fort Lauderdale; Matthew Perry Selbach, Valedictorian, Westminster Academy; and Annie Torres, Valedictorian, Calvary Christian Academy Hollywood. Photo by Justus Martin www.justusmartinphoto.com Westminster Academy Devoted To Christ Dedicated To Excellence
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