Largest Christian Newspaper in America • goodnewsfl.org • March 2025 • Volume 26, Issue 12
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PUBLISHER 6 MARCH 2025 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition Stewardship has somewhat of an acceptable, universal understanding within and that understanding also comes with responsibility; Luke 12:48, which states "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required." When you have a voice, don’t allow it to be silenced. If you have eyesight enjoy the view and don’t close your eyes to the darkness. Stewardship is the act of managing or caring for something with responsibility and care. It can refer to managing resources, finances or organizations. I feel like I’ve been here before; that’s an understatement. We are under attack, and we must stay the course and be good stewards. Examples of stewardship • Environmental stewardship: Cleaning up litter, planting trees, restoring habitats and removing invasive plants. • Financial stewardship: Managing money and resources to achieve financial goals. • Organizational stewardship: Managing an organization's funds to protect the interests of stakeholders. • Biblical stewardship: Using spiritual gifts to serve God, including giving God a portion of earnings. • Church stewardship: Using God's resources to achieve God's purposes, including time, talents, people and finances. Examples of stewardship in the Bible include the Parable of the Talents and the story of Joseph. • 1 Peter 4:10 instructs Christians to use their spiritual gifts to serve others, as stewards of God's grace. • Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus teaches that followers should use their gifts and resources wisely. • Genesis 41, Joseph demonstrates responsible management and foresight during times of plenty and need. • Corinthians 4:2 says that those who have been given a trust must be faithful. The 7 pillars of stewardship The wholistic principles of stewardship are shared at every opportunity with the following outcomes: 1) magnify the devotional life, 2) achieve debt-free living, 3) make good wellness lifestyle choices, 4) energize faithful tithing, 5) maximize spiritual gifts potential, 6) stimulate local giving, 7) inspire generous living. The pinnacle of Jesus' stewardship is found in his sacrificial death on the cross. In Mark 10:45, Jesus states, "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” •There are many versions of the truth to those depending on which point of view they embrace; leadership to some means don’t make waves and leadership to others insist that you speak out. What does the Bible say about being outspoken? Peter exhibits the character of an outspoken leader of the disciples, willing to challenge Jesus’ actions and teachings (John 13:6). Although quick to commit to Jesus' challenges (John 13:9), he is unsteady in demonstrating his commitment during Jesus' time of suffering (John 18:15, 25). We learn in Psalms 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” We are not to be outspoken in a rude way, but about the things of God. I often use the example of Franklin Graham, who is outspoken and who willingly shares his opinions even when not asked and faces backlash and a torrent of ridicule. I counter; with his leadership over Samaritan’s Purse a global disaster response organization, who never asks those in need if they are Democrat, Republican or Independent…. he just loads the trucks and airplanes with lifesaving equipment, with virtual hospitals on demand; doctors, nurses, food and medicine in an effort to save all of God‘s children. I’m sure he shares in the verse ‘to whom much is given, much is expected.’ Amen. South Florida Edition • Good News • March 2025 • Volume 26, Issue 12 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 in more 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 2025. 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] Advertising & Marketing: Robert “Buddy” Helland Jr. V.P. Sr. Marketing Manager [email protected] Art Director: Milton McPherson [email protected] Associate Art Director: Joseph Sammaritano [email protected] Social Media Manager: Ariel Feldman [email protected] Editorial Assistant: Eric Solomon [email protected] Cover Photography: Justus Martin [email protected] PERSPECTIVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Embarrassed (Are you talking to me?)– by Stephan N. Tchividjian IN THE WORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Franklin Graham: When Good Is Evil and Evil Is Good – by Franklin Graham PARENTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 What To Do When Your Child Misbehaves – by Dr. Bob and Torrey Roberts MARRIAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Good Wife? – by Lisa May CHURCH UNITED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Strengthening and Amplifying the Voice of Half the Church – by Allie Hix THE CODE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Christ Is Our Plumb Line – by Dr. O.S. Hawkins FOSTER CARE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Process, But Progress! – by Andrew Holmes HEART AND SOUL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Creating Change Makers Through Christ-First Higher Education – by Dr. Debra A. Schwinn GOOD NEWS WANTS TO KNOW . . . . . . . . . .24 – 26 If you were tasked to give a TED Talk on a random topic about a hobby of yours or an area of interest outside of work that you've long desired to delve into, what would it be about? COVER STORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 – 29 One More Suicide Is One Too Many: Heather Palacios’ Mission to Save Lives – by Shelly Pond YOU ASK WHY? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Exchanging the Creator for Created Things – by Dr. Tommy Boland ENCOURAGEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Social Security Administration – by Omar Aleman WE GET LETTERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 COMMUNITY NEWS . . . . . . . . .36 - 40 CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 - 43 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 - 47 Responsibility On The Cover Heather Palacios, Founder of Wondherful, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to saving the lives of those who are struggling thru mental crisis, sits among Life Boxes that will be rushed via priority shipping to encourage and uplift those who are struggling that they are not alone, because one more suicide is one too many. Read the full article on page 28. Photo Credit: Justus Martin www.justusmartinphoto.com - Leslie J. Feldman - Publisher C O N T E N T S Good News • March • Volume 26 Issue 12
PERSPECTIVE 8 MARCH 2025 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition Lately I have been embarrassed by some Christians. That bothers me because it’s like saying, “I am embarrassed by my husband, my wife or my kids,” and that is never a good sign. I must also be cautious of feeling embarrassment in the first place. The concept of embarrassment is a loaded one, and it reeks of an unhealthy self-love and early signs of narcissism. Therefore, it has caused me to ask myself some questions, mostly around a simple, “Why?” Signs of deterioration I look at our culture and I continue to see signs of deterioration. I see culture wars that are no longer civil conversations but venomous attacks, often among friends and family. I see a serious decline in basic morals, a cynicism around leadership, a level of intolerance towards one another, a disregard of integrity, a simplistic rush to judgement, a lot of yelling, a lot of anger and very little listening (I think the Bible says something about that), broken and discarded relationships, a thirst for escapism, a shallow understanding of the Bible, a feel good faith and a growing sense of discontent and entitlement. I can imagine that in no other time in history has there been more access to God’s word, freedom to openly worship and attend a local church, access to Christian education, Christian-based conferences, music, concerts, movies, podcasts, books etc. The amount of content and community is unprecedented, but then why is everything so weird? Is it a media conspiracy to undermine the Christian faith? Perhaps it’s the Democrats? Is it the Republicans? Perhaps its Netflix filling our homes with bad stuff? Is it because of porn, preservatives in our food, an alien conspiracy or all three? Seriously, I am confused. I know we live in a broken world, and I am under no illusion that everything is supposed to be easy. Church history demonstrates this; God says we will suffer. However, I am under the impression that Christians are supposed to have a good influence on culture, and sometimes we are the worst examples of all. Are we failing? If so, how have we failed? Better yet, how have I failed? Reflections I start my day with a light breakfast and some much-needed coffee. My time in the Bible is daily, sometimes profound and refreshing and sometimes, frankly, confusing and distracted… but it still happens. My day is sometimes crazy busy, sometimes boring, sometimes lighthearted, sometimes very discouraging, sometimes filled with emotions, sometimes regretful and from time to time celebratory. As my day begins to come to an end, I will find myself asking questions such as, how did I serve God today? Did I sin too much? Did I listen to all the right stuff? Did I look at anything wrong? Did I gossip, lust, covet, murder, steal? Ok, if I didn’t, I feel good. If did, I feel bad. My day sounds like your day, right? Oh my, what a yoyo Christian life, mostly centered around me judging myself and those around me as to how I/we did living as a Christian today. Wrong perspective and wrong approach. Don’t get me wrong. It’s good and critically important to reflect. It’s how we grow. However, I must be careful to not allow myself to become judge and jury… that’s God’s role. Perhaps my understanding of being a Christian has been tainted. Remember, the term Christian came as a result of people observing the behavior of those around them and saying that it resembled that of Jesus. That’s how we got that name in the first place. We acted like Jesus. I must simply ask myself if perhaps what I am really embarrassed at is me, myself and I. Too many times I have taken my faith, customized it to my opinions, perspectives and wants all the while sacrificing the very essence of what it means to be a Christian. I once heard someone say, “a person is less interested in knowing when you became a Christian and much more interested in knowing why you still are one.” How dynamic and authentic is this relationship with Jesus that I have? My faith is not a one-off moment in time, a program or project, a source of employment, a political strategy or a simple formula for happiness and the like. My faith is a path towards weakness and surrender. My faith is daily and often mundane and non-eventful. My faith is not about me. I think what I am most embarrassed about is how I meddle in God’s story, and I create my own false story, one based on my efforts and belittling His. Peter was guilty of that, the disciples were, the religious leaders were. Frankly, it’s a common theme throughout the history of mankind. I have the ability to twist and pervert God’s story and then have the audacity to get upset at Him when it doesn’t work out the way I had hoped. They call it stinking thinking. God’s story can only be told by Him, and He tells it through us. I am not the author. He is. Therefore, perhaps the failure that I sense of some Christians, including myself, having little or the wrong impact on culture is that the form of Christianity that is on display is not actually Jesus’… and therefore it doesn’t have the power to impact culture. Proximity I need to start by reflecting on my proximity to Jesus as I follow Him, because the closer I am the more I understand His story, the more I surrender to His guidance and the more my life will reflect His. I know I love Jesus. I am a lover of the local church. I don’t believe in an isolated Christian. I believe that a growing Christian needs to be in a healthy community where the elements of conviction, encouragement and service exist. I believe a Christian ought to be contagious. I am not in favor of legalism, but I am also not in favor of throwing caution to the wind. I am a recipient of God’s Grace, but it’s not a license to disobey. I deeply desire humility, but it seems so fleeting. I think a Christian must be quick to laugh but also quick to cry. I fight every day to remove myself from the center of my own universe. I believe in a quick surrender. I believe in the power of steadfastness. I am not overly concerned about my legacy because Jesus will take care of that. I am confident but certainly vulnerable to fear and failure, and I could go on. I believe that God’s grace and power is essential to living an authentic life as a follower of Jesus. Does my life sound like yours? Perhaps. Therefore, I desire to yield to His call, draw close to Jesus and His story will be reflected in my life and that story will impact everything. That is nothing to be embarrassed about. Stephan N. Tchividjian is the CEO and co-founder of the National Christian Foundation South Florida. Visit southflorida.ncfgiving.com to learn more. Embarrassed (Are you talking to me?) - Stephan Tchividjian - CEO and Co-Founder, National Christian Foundation South Florida
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10 MARCH 2025 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition IN THE WORD As President Donald J. Trump begins his second term in the Oval Office, he faces a number of urgent challenges on the international and domestic fronts, and he certainly will need God’s wisdom to deal with them. There is, of course, the longstanding war in Ukraine, where the conflict has now entered its fourth year. There have been tens of thousands of deaths on both sides and many more wounded and injured. President Trump is keen on ending the war and bringing about an acceptable peace, but it won’t be easy. Domestically, a number of issues demand his attention and action, from the border to the economy to energy policy and the judiciary. However, there is one area that no president has control over, one that concerns me as a Christian more than any other political, legal or territorial matter. That’s the ever-growing moral decadence that seems to have gripped so much of our nation, especially among young people. I’m sure you recall a tragic incident from just a few months ago when the CEO of United Healthcare was gunned down on a New York sidewalk as he was leaving his hotel and headed to an early morning meeting. The assailant shot Brian Thompson from behind and then walked up to him as he lay bleeding on the sidewalk and drilled two more shots from his silenced sidearm. Thankfully, law enforcement officials caught up with Luigi Mangione at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, when he was recognized by a patron and an employee as he sat in a corner booth. It was nothing less than cold-blooded murder — by an Ivy League graduate who has expressed no remorse for his cowardly assassination. But what has shocked many Americans is the large number of people who believe that this killer actually did nothing wrong by resorting to murder to express his grievances toward the health care industry. The social media platform TikTok was filled with comedy-type references to the killing. Some posters referred to the assassin as some sort of folk hero. The United Healthcare website was forced to turn off comments after a post about Thompson’s death received more than 36,000 “laugh” reactions. Merchandise celebrating the killer was sold across the internet. If this isn’t unbelievable enough, an Emerson College poll found that 17% of the American public believed the murder was “acceptable” or “somewhat acceptable.” Even more shocking, 40% of young adults (ages 18-29) felt the killer’s actions were either acceptable or somewhat acceptable. They endorsed his murder as a justified killing. This moral sickness and depravity is a problem that no president, legislature or law can solve. It’s a spiritual degeneracy that can only be cured by repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no other remedy or hope. The Prophet Isaiah said it this way 700 years before the birth of the Savior, to an Israel that had long abandoned its loyalty and allegiance to God, and instead replaced it with idolatry, meaningless rituals and sacrifices that incurred God’s wrath, not His blessings. “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20). That is exactly what we are seeing right now in our sin-rotten culture. We have forsaken God. We have ignored God. We have forgotten God. Without a Biblically informed conscience and a commitment to the authority of Scripture, truth is turned on its head, leading to actions that are devoid of absolute right and wrong. Isaiah put it this way: “Truth is fallen in the street” (Isaiah 59:14). If this kind of moral corruption continues to spread, can you imagine the consequences? In another few decades, we’ll have a generation of young adults with no respect or adherence to Biblical truth or principles. As Scripture states, “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12). I don’t believe we have reached the tipping point yet. God’s grace and mercy is still powerful and transformative. But it will take a sovereign move of the Lord Jesus Christ to bring our society to a point of repentance, faith for revival and restoration. We must pray for Almighty God to move and for the power of the Gospel to prevail in hearts through the ministry of His Word and the Holy Spirit. It has happened before in our country, through several mighty spiritual awakenings, and it can happen again. But it will not be brought about by any political maneuvering, only through a mighty outpouring of God’s Spirit. As my father once said, “Man without God is a contradiction, a paradox, a monstrosity. He sees evil as good and good as evil. That is why some people love evil and hate that which is good — they are still in their sins. For them, life’s values are confused. …Before Paul’s conversion, he saw Christ as the greatest evil, ‘breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord’ (Acts 9:1). But after he encountered Christ on the Damascus road, he loved what he had so fervently hated. At last, he could see evil as evil and good as good. His values were straightened out because his nature had been changed by the redeeming grace of God.” This is exactly what our country needs right now. Pray that it may be so. ©2025 BGEA Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New King James Version. Decision magazine, February 2025; ©2025 Billy Graham Evangelistic Association; used by permission, all rights reserved. Franklin Graham: When Good Is Evil and Evil Is Good This moral sickness and depravity is a problem that no president, legislature or law can solve. It’s a spiritual degeneracy that can only be cured by repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.” “ - Franklin Graham - President and CEO Samaritan’s Purse and Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
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12 MARCH 2025 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition PARENTING “I know I need to do something when my child is talking back,” a frustrated mother blurted out, “I just don’t know what to do!” A mom made the news once when she reached such an incredible point of frustration that she put her child in a car wash as a consequence. She knew the child’s behavior needed to be dealt with, but she had no idea what the proper response should be. Be prepared Parents should expect their children to misbehave and rebel. Why? Because they’re children! Understanding that reality, it should also be expected that parents need to get ready for this misbehavior by developing the best possible parental responses. When my daughter Torrey was a year old, she had her first seizure. I had no idea what to do and didn’t respond very well. In fact, my wife had to deal not only with a child having a seizure, but also a husband who was out of control. Sitting in the hospital trying to calm down, I asked Torrey’s doctor two questions: Will this ever happen again and if so, how can I respond in a more helpful manner. The doctor told us it might happen again and then gave me a better way to deal with it. My toddler did in fact have one more seizure. I didn’t like it, but I did know how to respond… rather than react. This time my response was productive rather than destructive. Most of the time the child’s misbehavior is actually repetitive behavior. That means shame on me for not thinking through what to do. It’s not new so it shouldn’t catch me off guard. I’ve seen this behavior before. The first time a child misbehaves, throws a temper tantrum or talks back is the time to prepare for the next time. This is the warning signal that a proper response needs to be thought through. Select a proper consequence There are rules for selecting a proper consequence. The first decision to make is “purpose.” What’s the purpose of a consequence? The purpose of a consequence is to teach the child to think and eventually choose to control their impulses. The selection of a consequence that will be used consistently will eventually teach the child to control himself. Every time one of our children talked back they were required to sit at the kitchen table and write a fifty-word note of apology. If they were too young to write, they were required to get a bucket and fill it with weeds. Every time they did this particular unacceptable behavior they were required to do the very same consequence. Sitting at the table writing the fifty-word apology was a consequence that should have taken the child about five minutes. The first few times our children were not permitted to get up from the table until they finished writing the note. This five-minute assignment took one of our children over an hour. This child just sat there. After thirty minutes the child picked up the pencil and began to write. After several episodes of being required to sit there until it was done, the child realized it was no use stalling. He just wrote the note. Due to the fact that the consequence was going to happen every time, and they weren’t going to be allowed to get up, the child started working on the more significant discipline: that of controlling the tongue. Did it happen immediately? No! But the results would have been prolonged if we caved in and let them get up without completing the assignment. Remain self-controlled There are rules for selecting the best consequence. First and foremost, see that you the parent don’t become part of the consequence. If you are out of control by yelling and screaming, you are using the withdrawal of your love as a consequence. You then lose the child rather than train the child. Enforce consistently Second select a consequence that you are willing to enforce. If, for instance, you aren’t willing to see to it that the child stays at the table until the note is written, the child will get up and all is lost. Respond appropriately Third, select a consequence that is commensurate with the behavior and age. There are times when an upset or frustrated parent can over react and assign a consequence that is far too severe. That’s why it is better to think through and decide on consequences before you are in the heat of the battle of the wills. At that point the emotions are too high to respond appropriately. Remember why Lastly, remember why you are imposing the consequence. It’s to train the child not to scare the child. It’s to establish behavioral expectations so that you can build an atmosphere where the parent child relationship can grow rather than stay in a constant state of war. Be German about the consequence and Italian about the love. Be objective and unemotional about imposing and following through on the consequence. But use a lot of touch and talk about the love. Remember, we’re training the child to eventually choose to make better decisions. We’re not trying to dominate the child into being afraid of us. The goal is to be so consistent that the child actually begins to realize that by misbehaving he or she is actually choosing to have to write that note…every time. Then get on with the relationship. Visit parentingonpurpose.org for more advice from Dr. Bob Barnes and Torrey Roberts. - Dr. Bob Barnes and Torrey Roberts - Sheridan House Family Ministries What to Do When Your Child Misbehaves
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MARRIAGE 14 MARCH 2025 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition I was recently asked to share my thoughts on being a good wife. I had to laugh on the inside because I haven’t been a wife in a long time. My first thought was a mental picture of the television show “Leave it to Beaver.” June and Ward Clever lived a very traditional, 1950’s lifestyle and June vacuumed in a dress, heels, pearls and lipstick. Together they had two sons. She was a stay-at-home Mom and Ward appeared every evening in time for dinner with the family, never seeming to be late, hurried, frustrated and neither seemed haggard. No apparent financial burdens and the boys were well behaved. Wow, their biggest challenges were a baseball going through a window or the younger son sneaking in a dog. Being a good wife in that environment would be almost effortless. As wonderful as the program was, it’s not the reality of most homes. Today our married and family homes are much more modernized but also much more complicated. In many homes both mother and father work full-time jobs outside of the home. Many are blended families, necessitating the consideration of extended family relationships, logistics, schedules, traditions and expectations. Some would ask if the definition of a good wife in the ancient days of Biblical Scriptures would apply to our modern society and living arrangements. My answer is yes. Let’s look at examples of good wives in the Bible. A virtuous woman Proverbs 31:10-31 praises a truly exceptional woman. Although nameless, she’s held in high regard by her husband and her community because of her integrity. She looks after the needs of her family and others. Her words are kind. She contributes financially and makes wise decisions. This reflects many modern-day women who are accomplished, balance many responsibilities with skill, and are ideal examples of a virtuous wife. Her example is a reminder that excellence in caring for a family remains timeless. Ruth What about Ruth? Despite her upbringing and her personal uncertainty as a widow, she remained loyal to her mother-in-law Naomi. She is known for the vow spoken in many modern-day weddings: “Where you go, I will go, and your people will be my people.” She was a hard worker with compassion and integrity. Her lifestyle and choices lead her to new beginnings; a second marriage to Boaz where she becomes an ancestor of King David. Abigail Let’s look at the story of Abigail in 1 Samuel 25. Her husband Nabal created a disastrous situation involving David. Abigail courageously intervened and her humility and wisdom brought peace rather than conflict while earning her respect which led to becoming one of David’s wives. Hannah Lastly, let’s consider Hannah in 1 Samuel 1. Hannah was barren and she cries out to the Lord in prayerful dependence for a child as well as pressures and pain caused by comparisons to her co-wife. She vows to dedicate her child to God if He gives her a son. She kept her commitment, bringing him to live and serve in the temple. Her honest vulnerability and steadfast faith under pressure remind us that prayer, persistence and commitment to one’s promises are central to enduring strength. All four of these women demonstrate the qualities in very different settings that are hallmarks of a good wife: faithfulness, humility, integrity, endurance, trust, prayerfulness, compassion, kindness. Jezebel What about a bad wife? The most famous is Jezebel! She was married to King Ahab and openly promoted idolatry and defiance of the Lord’s commandments, leading to moral decay of the people and nation. The book of Proverbs has several passages that suggest living with a contentious wife erodes peace and encourages believers to promote godlessness in our homes. Questions to consider As women let’s take a personal inventory as it relates to our relationships in the home and our patterns as a wife: • Do I deposit a blessing behind me, or am I a spoiler to others? • Is my life a pleasure in my home or a pain? • Do I leave behind peace or turmoil? • Do I model forgiveness or bitterness? • Do I exhibit joy or frustration? • Do I express love or resentment? • Do I scatter contentment or conflict? • Do I serve joyfully or is it an imposition? • Are my words patient and kind or sharp and stinging? • Do I keep my commitments or am I not dependable? • Do I undermine my husband’s authority and role as a father, or do I support his efforts to be a godly leader? • Do I care well for our home and belongings or am I careless with material blessings? • Am I truthful or do I embrace white lies? • Do I promote mutual respect or am I disrespectful? • Am I others centered or self-centered? • Am I prayerful or prayerless? We are all some of the above some of the time, but if there’s a pattern then we have opportunity for growth in our relationships in our homes and as a wife. Transformation and growth require personal reflection and a call to honest selfassessment. We tend to repeat what we’ve experienced. Our families of birth or lack of will often dictate our behavior as adults. While the context has evolved, the core virtues - faithfulness, humility, integrity and love - remain unchanged. Being a good wife isn’t about fitting into a narrow mold; rather it’s about continuously striving to build a home characterized by wisdom, understanding and above all love. We can’t be transformed without the help of the Holy Spirit and the living power of the Scriptures. Roman 12:2 says “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will.” The good wife goal “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8). “By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge it’s rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures” (Proverbs 24: 3-4). Relate Well Live Well (formerly Live the Life South Florida) exists to strengthen marriages and families through skills-based relationship education beginning in middle school through senior adults. We provide workshops for marriage enrichment and HOPE Weekends for marriages needing a deeper work. RWLW.org - Lisa May - Executive Director, Relate Well Live Well Good Wife?
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16 MARCH 2025 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition CHURCH UNITED Our simple theory of change at Church United is this: Healthy Leaders, Thriving Churches and Flourishing Cities. For the last twenty years, I have served as a woman in ministry leadership and a pastor’s wife. Over those years I have witnessed any women – if not all– who serve in Church leadership hold a tension of a deep love for Jesus and his Church with the often-lonely challenge of being a gifted woman laboring for Christ and his Kingdom. Yet, one thing has become clear to me throughout my journey: to be a healthy Church leader, kingdom women need other kingdom women in their lives. From safe friendship to process the day-to-day grind, to shared learnings and gleaning best-practices from other ministry contexts, we are never going to help women move from a mindset of competition to one of John 17 co-laboring without trust, friendships and community. Healthy Leaders In 2024 Church United launched a Women’s Leadership Team comprised of a diverse group of both pastors’ wives as well as women serving in ministry leadership and pastoral roles throughout South Florida. These women are lending their voice, time, giftedness and diverse perspectives to pioneer a new wave of spiritual care, collaboration and support through the lens of Church United’s goal to unify and inspire leaders to connect, collaborate and celebrate together. Beginning with an intentional focus on “healthy leaders” in launching soul care cohorts, these cohorts are becoming places where friendships are discovered, calling is clarified, and spiritual health and renewal are found. As the demands on pastor’s wives and female leaders in churches continue to grow, the importance of intentional self-care and spiritual nourishment has never been more critical. Over the years, many pastor’s wives and female leaders have expressed the need for a community where they can be vulnerable, find support and be equipped to lead from a place of biblical meekness. Our cohorts are not just a retreat or an occasional gathering — they are intentional, ongoing programs designed to foster deep spiritual renewal and ministry friendships. They also provide training on how to cultivate spiritual health in a leadership context, with the goals of preventing personal burnout and encouraging long-term, sustainable ministry and taking those learnings back to their own ministry teams and environments. Thriving Churches The role of the pastor’s wife has at times been focused on supporting her husband’s ministry, leading women’s groups and managing church-related responsibilities, often at the expense of her own spiritual well-being. As one pastor’s wife who is currently in a cohort, “being a pastor’s wife can be isolating. The Soul Care cohorts have been a lifeline for me, giving me a place where I can be vulnerable, share my struggles, and receive prayer and encouragement from other ministry women who truly understand.” Women are the fastest growing population of leaders entering ministry. Today, 36% of seminary enrollment comprises of women – up from 13% just 10 years ago. In fact, 56% of church staffs across America with over 20% representing pastoral positions (up from 2.3% in 1960) are women. Focusing on both pastors’ wives as well as women serving in ministry leadership roles, Church United’s cohorts are providing a crucial support system for ministry women, offering them a chance to recharge and grow in their personal faith, which in turn strengthens their ability to lead effectively. Listening to the feedback and the needs women in our cohorts are experiencing, we are excited to share that we are launching a formal learning community cohort later this year. Partnering with Knox Seminary and the voices of leading Kingdom women like Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer, Lisa Harper, Wendy Palau, Lisa Fields and others, this cohort will focus on strengthening both the souls and the minds of women serving in our local churches. Flourishing Cities In South Florida, churches are beginning to recognize the importance of investing in the well-being of their female leaders, and Church United Soul Care Cohorts are at the forefront of this movement. When our pastor’s wives and women in leadership are thriving spiritually, it reflects in the entire church community. These cohorts not only help the women involved but also positively impact the people they lead. The Church United Soul Care Cohorts in South Florida are more than just programs — they are a movement that empowers women in ministry to lead from a place of wholeness and to experience the fullness of life that comes with being deeply connected to God. If interested in joining a Church United Soul Care Cohort, go to churchunitedfl.com Allison Hix serves as the Program and Relationship Manager and Director of Women’s Soul Care Programs for Church United. She is also Women Ministry Lead at The Avenue Church, where her husband, Jon Hix, serves as Executive Pastor. Strengthening and Amplifying the Voice of Half the Church - Allie Hix - Program and Relationship Manager and Director of Women’s Soul Care Programs, Church United Pictured above is the Church United Women’s Soul Care Leadership Team 2024-2025. Sara Copeland, Wendy Lane, Allie Hix, Denise Trio, Kiesha Wilkinson, Nik Greenfield, Melissa Elswick, Elizabeth Mitchell.
THE CODE 18 MARCH 2025 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition “Thus He showed me: Behold, the Lord stood on a wall made with a plumb line, with a plumb line in His hand. And the Lord said to me, ‘Amos, what do you see?’ And I said, ‘A plumb line.’ Then the Lord said: ‘Behold, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of My people Israel’” (Amos 7:7–8 NKJV). The prophet Amos used the vivid imagery of a plumb line to warn the people of the northern kingdom of Israel that God has a righteous standard by which He will judge His people. A plumb line is a string with a weight attached to one end. When the string is held in such a way that the weight dangles freely, it eventually comes to a halt so that an exact vertical line can be accomplished. Carpenters still use plumb lines today to keep their work exactly straight and in line. In essence, the plumb line applies God's exact law of gravity to find right angles. A plumb line never changes or moves with the wishes or whims of the carpenter. It remains true always, and all work must line up with it or risk being crooked and out of line. Jesus, God’s true plumb line, came down from heaven into our very midst. He did not just set a standard by meeting all the righteous demands of God's laws; He is the standard! He is our plumb line. He clothed Himself in human flesh and lived a perfect life uncontaminated by the world's sin. He met all the righteous demands of the law. And the truth is, not one of us measures up. We are all "off center." Unlike Him, we have all sinned and come short (Romans 3:23) of God's demands of righteousness. God holds His plumb line up beside our lives and asks, "How do you measure up?" He cannot and will not ignore our sin. His perfect standard The psalmist asked a probing and penetrating question: "Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place?" (Psalm 24:3). And no sooner did he ask the question than he provided the answer: “He who has clean hands and a pure heart" (v. 4). This is God's plumb line: our actions ("clean hands") and our attitudes (“pure hearts”). And not a single one of us meets this standard, not on our own. Our hands are dirty with sin, and our hearts are far from pure. In fact, the Bible reminds us that "the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked" (Jeremiah 17:9). The hill described in Psalm 24 is Mount Calvary. Only one person in all of human history met the righteous demands of the law accompanied by the two qualifications—the plumb line—of clean hands and a pure heart: the Lord Jesus Christ. His hands were clean, uncontaminated by sin. His heart was pure. Knowing I was without hope, He descended from heaven to make a way for me to one day ascend to Him there. His clean hands became dirty with my sin and yours. Why? So our dirty hands could become clean. Jesus' pure heart became filled with our sin. Why? So that our sinful hearts could become pure in God's eyes. So, who now shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? You can. I can. If we open the gates of our hearts and let the King of Glory come in. Like Amos's plumb line, the Lord Jesus came down and by His life set the standard of holiness for us. And since none of us can meet that standard, we must run to Jesus, put our trust in Him, and claim Him as our substitute. Christ alone is our plumb line. It is no wonder the Bible says, "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). Weighted by grace Into our moral failures and short-comings, Christ comes to show us God’s plumb line, not weighted by the law but weighted by grace. He says to us today, “I am the plumb line. I alone measured up to its perfect standard. But by grace, through faith in Me alone, you can stand in My own righteousness so that when God tests you with His plumb line, instead of condemning you, He will receive you faultless before His throne.” God is asking you and me what He asked Amos of old: "What do you see?" Do you see it? The cross of Christ has become God's plumb line by which He will judge the world. We find Jesus here in the middle of Amos's ancient prophecy. He is, and ever will be, our standard of righteousness, our plumb line. Run to Him. Taken from The Bible Code by O.S. Hawkins. Copyright © 2020 by Dr. O.S. Hawkins. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson. O. S. Hawkins is the Legacy Pastor of First Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale and chancellor of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has served pastorates, including the First Baptist Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and the First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, for more than 25 years. A native of Fort Worth, Texas, he has a BBA from Texas Christian University and his MDiv and Ph.D. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. For almost a quarter of a century, he served as president of GuideStone Financial Resources, with assets under management of $20 billion, serving 250,000 pastors, church staff members, missionaries, doctors, university professors, and other workers in various Christian organizations with their investment, retirement and benefit service needs. He is the author of more than 40 books and regularly speaks to business groups and churches nationwide. All of the author’s royalties and proceeds from the Code series support Mission:Dignity. You can learn more about Mission:Dignity by visiting MissionDignity.org. - Dr. O.S. Hawkins - Chancellor, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Christ Is Our Plumb Line
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FOSTER CARE 20 MARCH 2025 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition If you’ve spent any time in organizations large or small, you have likely noticed just how many systems and structures exist to keep things not just running smoothly but optimally. Achieving those systems and structures comes from a whole lot of processing. We process together in meetings. We process in surveys. We process via email as we outline what went well and what went not-so-well on any given project. And we do the same thing with ourselves both in and outside the office. The processing trend As a millennial I have taken my fair share of personality assessments, and I would bet you have too! There’s the DISC, the Enneagram, the Myers-Brigg, the Big Five, and I could keep going! And I have to admit, these tests are fascinating. They yield really insightful results. We have placed an incredible premium on this act of processing and learning who we are, what makes us tick, how we show up at work and at home. Taking the time to really dive into these questions and study our work, our systems and ourselves has the power to unlock so much knowledge, but the real question is, what do we do with all of that? Processing at Its best Something I have noticed in my own life, in my work time leading 4KIDS, in my experience with the local church, and even amongst my friends and family is just how much we praise the ability to process thoroughly. And we’re coming to some great conclusions about ourselves, about situations, about ideas and about values. The highest form we see of this act of processing is in therapy. And at 4KIDS we see day after day the impact that trauma-informed work can have on a child’s healing journey. It is literally life-changing. Processing your life experiences, especially traumatic ones, with a compassionate expert can transform your life. But it’s the step that happens next that is equally transformative but so often skipped. But what happens next? We can so easily place all of our emphasis on the practice of processing something that we forget about the progress that can happen next. When we process a work project together, the next question should be, “Now what do we do next?” When we reflect on a personality assessment and learn more about ourselves, we should be asking, “How do I grow from here?” When we take the courageous step to process trauma and understand its impact, what if we then asked, “How do I make this a part of my story, to see beauty come from ashes?” If the goal of processing is to simply process, then we're really missing the most incredible gift that comes from the processing. The gift of progress is what we have right at our fingertips. Our growth is never more accessible than it is after we’ve taken the time to reflect and learn. We see this forward momentum in so many different places in scripture. Like Philippians 3:13-14, “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Courageous progress I see this pull to get stuck overly processing my parenting all the time, and I know it's what so many young parents are out there doing! It’s funny, but I often think of my own parents when I find myself in this overthinking spiral. I consider what they did when they took my brother or I to the emergency room, which I can tell you happened often! They would take us in for stitches, or whatever it was that day, and they took us home and just kept moving. But it’s those kinds of moments where I am often replaying questions in my mind like, “Am I a bad parent? I don’t know what I am doing! Did I do enough? Was this my fault?” It can make me feel like such a failure and it’s so easy to just get stuck there. The real work, the real process to progress, is being able to fully reflect, question and learn, and from there keep going. Our downfalls, our personality quirks, our pains, our questions, they are all working together for good. They are all a part of getting us to the place God designed for us. These are not obstacles. I love a theme, so I can’t help myself here, but this March, I hope you take the brave next step and process, but progress. Process, But Progress - Andrew Holmes - 4KIDS President
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HEART AND SOUL 22 MARCH 2025 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) has long been a place where tomorrow’s leaders can grow in wisdom, lead with conviction, and serve God boldly. In the last year PBA has been recognized as the third fastest-growing institution in the nation for applications, and for the third consecutive year, we celebrated our largest incoming class. This surge in enrollment reflects a significant trend: today's students are increasingly drawn to a liberal arts education deeply rooted in Judeo-Christian principles. While we carefully measure our successes at PBA, celebrating initiatives and milestones that strengthen the light we shine for His Kingdom, I believe the true measure of our impact is seen through our students — individuals who take what they’ve learned and use it to transform the lives of others. Women of Distinction Our recent celebration of the 33rd annual Women of Distinction luncheon reminded me of that impact. The event, which recognizes women who cherish community and family and want to preserve those ideals for others, honored Penny G. Murphy, a third-generation West Palm Beach native and president of Pioneer Linens since 2007, and Amanda Schumacher, founder of the Tree of Life Foundation and CEO of Schumacher Auto. On behalf of PBA, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to both women for their outstanding service and community impact. Proceeds support scholarships for deserving female students who demonstrate outstanding academics, service and leadership. This year, six students (Elizabeth Akintujoye, Reagan Bozarth, Claire Crossman, Valentina Guzman, Ludnie SaintJuste and Julia Seagle) were recognized as scholarship recipients, embodying a spirit of leadership and purpose, stepping forward to make a difference in their communities and beyond. From using science to bring justice and help others to harnessing the power of live theatre to foster compassion and empathy, each student embodies what it means to be a woman of distinction. Humanitarian award This year we also continued a tradition we began last year, recognizing a Women of Distinction 2025 Humanitarian Awardee. The award was presented to Kaelin Hatfield, who exemplifies what it means to live her God-sized dream. The change-maker graduated from PBA in 2024 with a degree in elementary education and psychology. Her journey as a servant leader began in high school, when she created LifeLoving365. A social good business, this venture was inspired by a close personal experience. When her sister was hospitalized for depression and suicidal thoughts, Kaelin knew she had to do something. So, she designed trendy, uplifting T-shirts with encouraging messages, giving them to her sister and others in the hospital to bring hope to their healing hearts. During her time at PBA, she saw how the war in Ukraine brought devastation to many innocent lives. Her heart was broken, compelling her to travel to Eastern Europe and directly serve those affected by the conflict. Now, she sells jewelry, hats, apparel and other items, bringing light to others through encouragement. Proceeds support local depression and suicide prevention. They also support communities globally through humanitarian aid, including the delivery of groceries and medical supplies to Ukraine, funding mental health clinics, and supporting low-income families in inner cities. Proceeds have also provided educational support in Zambia, hurricane relief in Florida, and aid to those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Kaelin has merged her gifts, passions and learnings with the dream God placed on her heart. In 2023, she expanded her focus on helping others by launching Christ in Crisis with her husband. The nonprofit provides humanitarian aid, medical resources and education to people in severe crises around the world. The nonprofit also commits to sharing the Gospel, offering peace and hope to those experiencing some of life's greatest challenges. As we look ahead, PBA will continue to ensure the next generation of both men and women leaders have even more opportunities to grow, lead and impact our world. Dr. Debra A. Schwinn became Palm Beach Atlantic (PBA) University’s ninth President on May 4, 2020. Previously she was Associate Vice President for Medical Affairs, Dean of the Carver College of Medicine, and Professor of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Biochemistry at the University of Iowa. Prior to those appointments, Dr. Schwinn served in senior leadership roles at the University of Washington and Duke University. - Dr. Debra A. Schwinn - Palm Beach Atlantic University President Creating Change Makers Through Christ-First Higher Education 2025 Women of Distinction Humanitarian awardee and PBA alumna Kaelin Hatfield receives her award from Francis Fisher, WOD Committee Chair, during the annual luncheon at The Breakers Palm Beach on Tuesday, February 18, 2025.
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