Largest Christian Newspaper in America • goodnewsfl.org • March 2026 • Volume 27, Issue 12
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PUBLISHER 6 MARCH 2026 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition From time to time, I just prefer to keep it lighthearted. Being reminded of some wonderfully entertaining stories about some of the great leaders in the kingdom, I submit a great story from the late Reverend Billy Graham. Before he died, Billy Graham was returning to Charlotte after a speaking engagement. When his plane arrived, there was a limousine waiting to transport him to his home. As he prepared to get into the limo, he stopped and spoke to the driver. "You know," he said, "I am 87 years old, and I have never driven a limousine. Would you mind if I drove it for a while?" The driver said, "No problem. Be my guest!" Billy gets into the driver's seat, and they head off down the highway. A short distance away sat a rookie State Trooper operating his first speed trap. The long black limo went by him doing 70 in a 55 mph zone. The trooper pulled out and easily caught the limo, and he got out of his patrol car to begin the procedure. The young trooper walked up to the driver's door, and when the glass was rolled down, he was surprised to see who was driving. He immediately excused himself and went back to his car and called his supervisor. He told the supervisor, "I know we are supposed to enforce the law, but I also know that important people are given certain courtesies. I need to know what I should do because I have stopped a very important person." The supervisor asked, "Is it the governor?" The young trooper said, "No, he's more important than that." The supervisor said, "Oh, so it's the president." The young trooper said, "No, he's even more important than that." The supervisor finally asked, "Well then, who is it?" The young trooper said... "I think it's Jesus, because he's got Billy Graham for a chauffeur!" - Leslie J. Feldman - Publisher On The Cover Actor Jonathan Roumie, performing as Jesus in a scene from The Chosen, Season 4. A historical drama based on the life of Jesus as seen through the eyes of those who knew him, The Chosen has become a global phenomenon with more than 250 million people viewing at least one episode worldwide since the pilot premiered in 2017. Read the cover article on page 32. Photo courtesy of 5 and 2 Studios. The Chauffeur 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 2026. All rights reserved. Good News Media Group, LLC. 600 S.W. 3rd St., Suite 4000, Pompano Beach, FL 33060 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] Cover Photography: Luis Feliz [email protected] Associate Art Director: Joseph Sammaritano [email protected] Social Media Manager: Ariel Feldman [email protected] Editorial Assistant: Eric Solomon [email protected] Billy Graham Good News •March • Volume 27 Issue 12
LETTERS 8 MARCH 2026 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition Why Apology Is a Powerful Act of Love by Dr. Bob Barnes and Torrey Roberts, Sheridan House Family Ministries As a writer my advice is “show, don’t tell.” Don’t tell me you’re sorry. Don’t do it again. Fix what you can. Don’t say you love me. Let me trust you. Tell me the truth. Care for me and you will get that in return. We are human. We all make mistakes. Laugh at the small ones. Deal with the larger ones. Either way, don’t just give lip service. Maammy Telly If you are wrong, but what I see too much of is kids more or less running loose and the parents preoccupied. Helen Lincoln A Pat on the Back Who encouraged you when it mattered most? by Dr. O.S. Hawkins, Chancellor, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary My piano teacher, Mrs. Dunn… at Bethany Nazarene College. The wife of Professor Dunn, the head of the music department and the Acapella Choir. She gave me the confidence to continue even when I felt so alone. My mother was dying from cancer, and she gave me the courage to continue. I will always remember her not letting me give up on a piece I was having trouble memorizing. She wanted me to achieve college standing. - Rebecca Neuschwanger Christianity and American Freedom by Dr. Rob Pacienza, Senior Pastor, Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church I am concerned about Trump’s efforts to merge Church and State. Where do you stand on this? To me, they need to remain separate. The First Amendment demands it! I’m not here now to urge one church over another, they all have the right to do their thing, as long as they don’t break any laws. - John McGowan Jesus is the Messiah of the world. If you do not accept Him, you won’t go to Heaven. If you are ok with that, then there’s not much else we can say. - Sherry Fotta The Salvation Army Marks 100 Years Doing the Most Good by Shelly Pond, Good News Editor Outstanding new stand for ringers. High winds were always a daily problem with the tall stands and sign that 7 feet by 3 feet. - Harold Frederick Love this ministry. They helped me when I was a single mom with three kids at Christmas many years ago. I donate to them every year. - Lawana Waring Truly the best charity to support, IMO. - Anita Fister Always love my charity. You helped me a lot growing up. - Tammy Witherspoon My husband and I support the Salvation Army because they do help families that are down and out. - Diane Huffman Sleepy Storms What does it mean when Jesus sleeps in the middle of a storm? by Stephan Tchividjian, CEO and Co-Founder, National Christian Foundations South Florida It means everything is alright. - Donald Holmes To show us tha He is ever ready to answer our call. - Vic Toria No fear. He is in control. - Merle Anderson Jesus never sleeps. However, how about testing the Apostles’ trust and faith? - Terry Dunn Very imaginative stuff. - Mike Mac He can calm the storms! Have faith, He will give us that peace that passes all understanding! - Lana Mourning PUBLISHER . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 The Chauffeur – by Leslie J. Feldman WE GET LETTERS . . . . . . . . .8 FAITH & CULTURE . . . . . . .10 Principals, Partners or Pawns? Parents’ Role in Their Child’s Education – by Dr. Rob Pacienza FOSTER CARE . . . . . . . . . . 12 The Father’s House – by Andrew Holmes IN THE WORD . . . . . . . . . .14 God’s Word — A Firm Foundation – by Franklin Graham PARENTING . . . . . . . . . . .16 Raising Wise Kids in an AI World – by Dr. Bob and Torrey Roberts THE CODE . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Rebuilders Take Personal Responsibility – by Dr. O.S. Hawkins STEWARDSHIP . . . . . . . . .20 Treasure Hunt – by Patrick J. Kelly HOPE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Choosing Love Over Luck – by Joseph Kenner HEART AND SOUL . . . . . .24 Forty Days in the Dust – by Dr. Debra A. Schwinn and Dr. Austin Stevenson GOD STORIES . . . . . . . . . .26 My God Story – by Antony Tchividjian GOOD NEWS WANTS TO KNOW . . . . . . . . . .28 – 30 What features do you like in the GOOD NEWS? What content would you like to see more of? What content would you like to see less of? COVER ARTICLE… 32 The Chosen: Millions Are Watching Jesus’ Story in a New Way – by Shelly Pond ENCOURAGEMENT . . . . . .34 God Doesn’t Move Parked Cars – by Omar Aleman LEGAL Q&A . . . . . . . . . . .36 Taxing Matters: “Escape from New York” May Be Harder than You Think – by William “Bill” C. Davell and Zachary King ON THE NET . . . . . . . . . . .38 COMMUNITY NEWS .40 - 48 CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . .42 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . .44 - 47 We Get Letters South Florida Edition • Good News March 2026 • Volume 27, Issue 12 CONTENTS
FAITH & CULTURE 10 MARCH 2026 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition Over the course of the past three-quarters of a century, the United States has undergone a process of intense secularization. This is not to say that most Americans have become atheists or that most Americans do not have religious views. Instead, it is to say that Christianity has been displaced from the default position and is now viewed as merely one option amid myriad worldviews, philosophies and “takes” on life. This secularization process has had serious repercussions in every sphere of culture, and nowhere more so than primary and secondary education. It has made clear that a child’s education is never merely the inculcation of facts into the minds of young people. It is always and necessarily also an interpretation of the facts, and the predominant trend these days is toward interpretations that run averse to the Christian worldview. In a situation such as this, the Christian community must once again focus clearly on God’s design for the cultivation of young hearts and minds: his calling is for parents to play the primary role in the education of their children. One will search in vain to find biblical teaching that parents should be pawns of the state in their child’s education. One will find, instead, that God calls parents to be the principals of their child’s education, partnering with the church and, if they so choose or are coerced, with outside agents such as state-sponsored schools. God’s calling for parents But what does it mean for the parent to be the principal, or primary agent, of their child’s education? First and foremost, it means that God calls parents to instruct their children in the faith. Consider the Lord’s words to Israel: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates” (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). From this passage, and the many others in both Old Testament and New Testament, it is crystal clear that God calls parents to teach their children the ways of the Lord. The role of the Church Second, parents’ primary role means that they must partner with the church, so that pastoral leaders and the church community as a whole can reinforce the faithbased education children receive at home. The Bible’s teaching about the local church’s centrality applies to children as much as it does to adults. For that reason, we must not only take our children to corporate worship but get them involved with the church community in broader manners. Outside influences Third, parental primacy means that parents have the option of outsourcing aspects of their child’s education but are ultimately responsible to evaluate the outsourcing in light of Christian teaching. For instance, many parents find it necessary or wise to send their children to schools but must be involved with the process, especially being aware of educational influences adverse to the Christian faith. When and where their child is being instructed wrongly, the parent is responsible to provide correctives. The upshot is this: no parent should allow governments or professional educators to take the reins in their child’s education. To do so is to surrender their divine calling and squander the invaluable opportunity to cultivate their child’s heart and mind. Conversely, to take seriously one’s divine calling is to invest in an irreplaceable opportunity to bring out the hidden potentials — spiritual, moral, intellectual, emotional and physical — of their children. Christians must champion the culture-shaping vocation of parenting. Rob Pacienza is the Senior Pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church (Fort Lauderdale, FL), the CEO and President of Coral Ridge Ministries and the Founder of the Institute for Faith and Culture. - Dr. Rob Pacienza - Senior Pastor, Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church Principals, Partners or Pawns? Parents’ Role in Their Child’s Education
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FOSTER CARE 12 MARCH 2026 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition A place prepared There has been a song on repeat in my life lately. Not in a casual way, but in the kind of way that stops you mid-thought and settles somewhere deeper. It’s centered around the Father’s house. And if I’m honest, that phrase can feel overly familiar. We’ve sung about it. We’ve said it. We’ve framed it in ways that sometimes felt sentimental. But recently, it has felt anything but sentimental to me. It has felt steady, solid and deeply necessary. In John 14:2–3, Jesus says, “In My Father’s house are many mansions… I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” Those words have been stirring something in me: God is preparing a place, a home. Not a temporary shelter, not a borrowed space, not something accidental or improvised. He is preparing a place with intention. And if the Creator of all things gives His attention to preparing a home for us, that tells us something profound about what home truly is. What makes a house a home A house is built with materials. A home is built with preparation. You can walk into two structures made of the same concrete and wood. One feels sterile. The other feels alive. What makes the difference? Attention, intention and most of all, heart. It’s the table that has been set. The room that has been arranged. The details that say, “You were expected here.” Preparation changes everything. And that’s what moves me about John 14. Jesus didn’t say, “I’ll figure something out when you get here.” He said, “I go to prepare a place for you.” Home is prepared in advance. At 4KIDS, we see this every day. Foster families preparing bedrooms before a child arrives. Therapists preparing safe spaces for hard conversations. Mentors preparing their schedules, their patience, their hearts. The preparation itself communicates worth. You mattered enough for someone to get ready for you. The safety of home There is another element that keeps surfacing as I think about the Father’s house. Safety. If you spend even a few minutes watching the news or scrolling through headlines, the world can feel loud and uncertain. Sirens in the distance. Stories of conflict. Tension in relationships. Instability in places we once assumed were steady. It can leave you wondering where safety truly exists. But home, in its truest sense, is meant to be a place of safety. Its physical safety, emotional safety and spiritual safety. It’s a place where you can exhale. Safety is what allows a person to rest. And often, rest must come before healing. Safety is what allows a child to begin dreaming again. To rediscover creativity, to risk trusting, and to imagine and even dream of a future. Without safety, the heart stays guarded. But within safety, the heart can begin to open. The Father’s house is not chaotic, it is not fragile, it is not uncertain, it is prepared, intentional and secure. And that kind of safety transforms people. At 4KIDS, when we talk about a home for every child, we are not simply talking about placement. We are talking about creating environments where children can finally exhale. Where they can rest long enough for healing to begin. That is sacred work. The gift of permanence There is one more piece that feels important to name. Permanence. Psalm 23:6 says, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Forever. There is something profoundly stabilizing about knowing a place is not temporary. Children in foster care often experience transition after transition. Moves that were not their choice. Goodbyes they did not initiate. Instability that reshapes how they see the world. That is why permanency matters so deeply. Not just a roof. Not just a bed. But a sense of forever. Psychologically, emotionally, spiritually, permanence creates belonging. It gives the heart something steady to stand on. The Father’s house is not a seasonal invitation. It is a forever promise. When we anchor ourselves in that truth, it reshapes how we approach the homes we build here and now. We begin to understand why preparation matters. Why safety matters. Why stability matters. Because they reflect something eternal. An invitation that sounds like home As we continue exploring this idea of home together, I am becoming more convinced that there is no better picture of what home should be than the Father’s house. A place prepared with intention. A place where safety allows rest and healing. A place marked by permanence and belonging. And when you know a place like that exists, when you know a place has been prepared for you, something inside of you begins to respond. There is something about the language of Scripture that feels less like information and more like invitation. “I go to prepare a place for you.” “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” These are not just statements; they are relational promises. And maybe that is what has been stirring in me lately. That home, in its truest form, always carries an invitation. For children who need safety. For families who are preparing space. For hearts that long for something steady and secure. For all of us walking toward the forever home that has already been prepared. At 4KIDS, we are committed to reflecting that heart, preparing spaces where children can rest, heal and belong. Because when a home is prepared with intention, shaped by safety and grounded in permanence, it does more than shelter a person. It welcomes them. And deep down, I think every heart recognizes the sound of that welcome. The Father’s House - Andrew Holmes - 4KIDS President
14 MARCH 2026 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition IN THE WORD The arrest and indictment of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on narco-terrorism and cocaine importation conspiracy charges continues to be celebrated around the world by millions who have been victimized by the country’s evil dictatorship. President Donald Trump is trying to fix this tragedy and keep America from becoming like these countries that have been ruined by socialism, communism, corruption, crime and drugs. What’s probably unknown to many is that the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) and Samaritan’s Purse have worked for years with many churches in Venezuela. Since 2018, BGEA has led nearly 20 evangelistic outreach events in Venezuela that have been attended by more than 500,000 people. We praise God for the 145,000-plus who have experienced spiritual freedom by professing Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. In recent years, local pastors have been equipped at more than a dozen training conferences. And more than 65,000 Venezuelans have been trained in evangelism through our Christian Life and Witness Course. Please pray for these congregations and ministers of the Gospel as they continue to share the hope of Jesus Christ. The political, economic and societal demise of what was once the wealthiest country in South America should serve as a stark warning for those in our country who champion the so-called virtues of socialism — an atheistic worldview that says government, not God, has the answers for all our problems. Two days before Maduro and his wife were captured by U.S. military commandos during a Jan. 3 night operation, New York City Democratic Socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani was officially sworn into office by New York Attorney General Letitia James at a midnight ceremony. Accompanied by family members, Mamdani solemnly placed his hand on a Quran — not the Holy Bible — during the swearing-in ceremony. The 34-year-old becomes the first Muslim mayor of The Big Apple, and as such, the first NYC mayor to be sworn in using the Quran. This unprecedented occasion for our nation’s cultural and economic hub marks a crossroads for a country whose pledge is “one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” For example, Mamdani’s religion, Islam, teaches that martyrdom for Allah can guarantee a special place in Paradise. The God of the Bible, however, came to Earth Himself to die for sinners like you and me — so that through faith alone in His sacrificial death and victorious resurrection, we could know our eternity is sealed with Him. Islam and Christianity could not be more at odds with each other. Islam demands a pride-filled and self-serving quest to earn or prove one’s worthiness to Allah. Christianity is marked by a call to humility, repentance and surrender to the One who shed His blood and sacrificed His life to give new life for us who were already condemned by our sins against the one true, holy and righteous God. “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)” (Ephesians 2:4-5). With all the man-centered religions and philosophies of the world, thank God we have the Holy Bible — universal truth for all people, for all time, regardless of culture, ethnicity, politics or socio-economic status. Because God’s Word is inerrant and infallible, Scripture is completely authoritative for all of humanity. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). We live in a day where right is wrong, and wrong is right; feelings overrule facts; delusion distorts reality; debauchery is celebrated; and truth is relative. As political and spiritual fault lines widen across our nation, we must continue standing on the unshakeable truths of God’s Word. Jesus said in Matthew 7:24-25: “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.” Nineteenth-century evangelist Dwight L. Moody aptly said: “The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible.” Don’t be deceived. The only truth is God’s truth. And the psalmist rightly declares that those who believe, trust and obey the “law of the Lord” will be “like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper” (Psalm 1:2-3). As I write this article, I’m looking forward to preaching the eternal truth of God’s Word in Cambodia at the Love Siem Reap Festival. Also, I covet your prayers as I prepare to preach the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Feb. 14-15 at the southernmost tip of South America—also known as the “End of the World”—at our Esperanza Ushuaia Festival in Argentina. ©2026 BGEA Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New King James Version. Decision magazine, February 2026; ©2026 Billy Graham Evangelistic Association; used by permission, all rights reserved. Photo Credit: BGEA Franklin Graham: God’s Word — A Firm Foundation - Franklin Graham - President and CEO Samaritan’s Purse and Billy Graham Evangelistic Association With all the man-centered religions and philosophies of the world, thank God we have the Holy Bible — universal truth for all people, for all time, regardless of culture, ethnicity, politics or socio-economic status. “ ”
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16 MARCH 2026 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition PARENTING Technology seems to be moving so fast that it is hard for us to keep up. It can make your head spin, chasing how to appropriately parent through it. We can’t ignore it, even though it does feel good to try to keep your household in a bubble. Babies born in 2026 will be known as generation Beta. Where Gen Z and beyond are known as tech and internet natives, Betas will be known as AI natives. This means that they will not have known a time without AI. Parenting Generation Beta This presents parents with another opportunity to prepare our children for the future. We can begin to teach and train our children on how to appropriately utilize this tool. That is how we should look at it, a tool in our tool box. Artificial Intelligence can be already found in many areas of our children’s world. It’s in their homework help, their social media feeds, their video games, their music playlists, and increasingly, their classrooms. For many parents, AI feels overwhelming, confusing or even threatening. You might be wondering: • Is this safe for my child? • Is this making them lazy? • How do I protect them without them falling behind? Here’s the good news: you don’t need to understand how AI works at a technical level to guide your kids wisely. You do need to have a healthy perspective and help your children create boundaries around it. Teaching discernment At its core, AI is software that recognizes patterns and generates responses based on massive amounts of data. Obviously, AI doesn’t process truth, context or morality the way God made our brains to. AI predicts likely answers, mimics human language and learns from data… not wisdom. It cannot replace human judgement, understanding right and wrong or care about consequences. This distinction matters. When kids treat AI as an authority instead of a tool, problems arise. Establishing guidelines Here are some boundaries we can help our children place around the use of AI. First, we must make sure that our kids aren’t being over reliant or using AI as a short cut for learning. AI can be a useful brainstorming tool but not a brain replacement. Second, we need to help our children understand that AI can be incorrect, all while sounding very confident. Just like a child learns to research from appropriate sources, they need to double check AI information and ask, “How do we know this is true?” Avoiding artificial companionship Some kids have started turning to AI for companionship or validation. Parents need to watch for private AI conversations and monitor how often AI is being used. We need to help our kids with the understanding that just like social media can be a crutch for relationships, we need to make sure to be focusing on real human connection. We can do this by modeling putting our phones down and having phone free time in our homes. Here are some examples of healthy AI boundaries; AI can help brainstorm, but your words are your own. Meaning, you don’t submit AI written work. No sharing personal or family information on AI platforms. Remember that homework requires learning and understanding, not just correct answers. AI, like computers and other devices, doesn’t happen in bedrooms. As parents we have the amazing privilege of stewarding these gifts that God has given us, our children. As the world around us changes we are given more tools at our disposal but also a great responsibility to train our children to honor God in using these tools. Visit parentingonpurpose.org for more advice from Dr. Bob Barnes and Torrey Roberts. - Dr. Bob Barnes and Torrey Roberts - Sheridan House Family Ministries Raising Wise Kids in an AI World
THE CODE 18 MARCH 2026 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition “And I said: ‘I pray, Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments, please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both my father's house and I have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against You, and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded your servant Moses. Remember, I pray, the word that you commanded Your servant Moses, saying, If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations; but if you return to Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for My name.' Now these are Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power, and by Your strong hand. O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name; and let Your servant prosper this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer” (Nehemiah 1:5–11). Nehemiah could have approached the process of rebuilding Jerusalem by pointing the finger of accusation at those who bore responsibility for the current dilemma. If Nebuchadnezzar had not besieged Jerusalem, burned it, and taken the captives into Babylon, the Jews would not have had this huge task of rebuilding before them. Perhaps if Zerubbabel had been a bit more zealous about the task of rebuilding years earlier, when the remnant began to return from exile, things would have been different. Nehemiah had a lot of people - with their past mistakes and difficulties - he could have blamed for all the current problems. He could have rightly placed blame on Jehoiachin, Zedekiah and the other kings of Judah. They had betrayed their people and their heritage by turning away from their God, resulting in the devastation of their people, their temple and their city. But Nehemiah was wise enough to know that those who play the blame game never get the task of rebuilding completed. He refused to direct the blame to others and, instead, stepped up to take personal responsibility himself. Team building Too many people fall into the trap of blaming their present problems on the wrong decisions made by other people in the past. But falling into this trap never leads to moving forward with actually accomplishing our own tasks. Nehemiah ultimately had one goal: getting the wall rebuilt. And he was laser-focused on getting this task started right. Listen to Nehemiah's plea as he confessed to God the sins of the people of Israel: "We have sinned against You. Both my father's house and I have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against You" (Nehemiah 1:6-7). Note the plural pronoun "we." For Nehemiah, it was “we," not "they." True rebuilders identify with the fears and failures of those around them. They take personal responsibility for the situation — even if the problems didn't begin with them. Do you see how Nehemiah was team building early on in this process? He confessed other people’s sins as if they were his own. There was no “You made a mistake.” There was no “You have sinned…” Instead, Nehemiah cried out to God with two key and personal words: “we” and “I.” Taking responsibility Taking personal responsibility is the very point that keeps some from getting started on the process of rebuilding. They prefer for someone else to be blamed for the condition of their own broken walls and burned gates. It always has to be someone else's fault. This is why so many homes stay broken and so many relationships are burned. It never dawns on some of us that we should take personal responsibility. We are too busy with the task of making excuses and justifying ourselves. But the fact is that the task of rebuilding will never be accomplished until and unless we take personal responsibility. It only takes one person to get the entire process of rebuilding started, whether it is in a relationship, in the home or at the office. Nehemiah decided to become that person. And he left a lasting legacy testifying to the fact that one person, who is willing to take the initiative, can make a huge difference and be living proof that... it's never too late for a new beginning! Taken from The Nehemiah Code by O.S. Hawkins. Copyright © 2018 by Dr. O.S. Hawkins. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson. O. S. Hawkins, a native of Fort Worth, Texas, is a graduate of TCU (BBA) and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MDiv, PhD). He presently serves as Chancellor at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the former pastor of the historic First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, and is President Emeritus of GuideStone Financial Resources, the world’s largest Christian-screened mutual fund serving 250,000 church workers and Christian university personnel with an asset base exceeding twenty-five billion dollars, where he served as President/CEO from 1997-2022. Hawkins is the author of more than fifty books, including the best-selling Joshua Code and the entire Code series of devotionals published by HarperCollins/Thomas Nelson with sales of more than three million copies. Criswell: His Life and Times is the sequel to his previous book, In the Name of God: The Colliding Lives, Legends, and Legacies of J. Frank Norris and George W. Truett. He was recently inducted into the White Rose Society by Israeli President Isaac Herzog for his long-standing support of the State of Israel and the Jewish people. He is married to his wife, Susie, and has two daughters, two sons-in-law, and six grandchildren. Visit him at OSHawkins.com and follow him on X (Twitter) @OSHawkins. - Dr. O.S. Hawkins - Chancellor, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Rebuilders Take Personal Responsibility Jerusalem old city wall
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STEWARDSHIP 20 MARCH 2026 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition If you were the devil, what would you do to keep people from God? Our AI model gave us this answer: If I were to embody the devil, I would seek to distract people; employing a variety of strategies that play on human weaknesses and desires such as: Manipulating desires and fears. This could involve promoting materialism; encouraging a relentless pursuit of wealth and possessions leading individuals to focus on superficial goals, neglecting deeper relationships and growth; Instilling fear; creating a sense of fear or anxiety about the future at the expense of enjoying the present. This might involve spreading misinformation or exaggerating threats; Creating division; fostering division within people groups; especially faith-based assemblies. I would encourage conflict, promoting arguments and conflicts concerning trivial matters. It might involve stoking political or social tensions; Exploiting differences; highlighting differences in belief, lifestyle or opinions that can create rifts, making it harder for people to unite and focus on common goals; Emphasizing instant gratification, in a world where patience is often lacking; Encouraging excessive consumption of entertainment, such as binge-watching shows or scrolling through social media; leading to a lack of meaningful engagement in real life; Promoting the use of substances that may provide temporary pleasure but long-term consequences; Undermining critical thinking, distracting people from seeking truth and understanding; Disseminating false information to confuse people, making it difficult for people to discern reality and truth from fiction; Reducing complex societal issues to simplistic narratives, to prevent deeper understanding and meaningful discussions. All of these would ultimately lead people away from self-reflection, their connection to God, family, friends and personal growth. Importantly, I would never mention myself; keeping people convinced I don’t exist. Whoa! God’s Word on financial stewardship This month, we’re focusing on God’s fuller picture when it comes to investing. Sure, it’s about being profitable and wise stewards of what He temporarily entrusts to us. But God’s Word offers much more insight into what actual financial stewardship really means. We are responsible for how and where we invest, and as Matthew’s book reminds us, we are to lay up treasures in heaven by investing in eternal rewards through generosity, kindness and living in line with God’s will. “…but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”(Matthew 6:19-21). In other words, it’s about focusing on spiritual treasures instead of earthly ones. Plainly, the best investments are those that are heaven-focused, unfolding in a way that ripples outward in concentric circles. These are multiple circles sharing a single center point, each with different radii that don’t necessarily intersect. Picture a stone dropped into still water, creating concentric ripples, with the strongest effect closest to the spot where the stone hits. Understanding concentric circles plays an important role in geometry, physics and art — as well as in generosity, kindness and daily living. Practically, we are to first invest in our immediate community — our church — where we can see the greatest impact (i.e., the stone hitting the water) firsthand. This is where our generosity matters most, shown through giving, acts of kindness and sharing life together. From there, as we grow spiritually and God blesses us with resources, we can expand outward. After our church, we might support one or more of the Bible-based community ministries seen here in the GOOD NEWS, such as Sheridan House, Hope-South Florida, The National Christian Foundation South Florida, Hope Women’s Centers, or 4KIDS — ministries that are Christ-centered and making visible progress in their Biblical missions. Beyond that, we can reach the next ripple, supporting ministries or individuals outside of our communities, like Samaritan’s Purse, OneHope, a missionary organization, or a missionary family. In this way, we create a concentric pattern of generosity, kindness and living, all while storing up treasures in heaven. Measuring wealth Adam Smith, the father of modern economics, declared that the wealth of a nation is not measured by the crown jewels and precious metals filling the crown’s purse, but by the standard of living of its people. One of the best statistical indicators of that is the real wages (after adjusting for inflation) made and kept by workers. The math is straightforward and simple. God, our Father, reminds us that true wealth is not measured by our bank balances, investment portfolios or income statements. Rather, it’s found in surrendering ourselves to Him and in how many souls go along with us on a heavenly journey. The devil and his tactics (above) are real. But our God has already conquered evil. And we would be wise to put our hearts and the resources we momentarily possess on God’s singular point of impact. The math is straightforward and simple here too. Patrick J. Kelly has spent more than four decades at the most senior levels in the financial services industry. He has held executive leadership positions in banking and securities firms, served numerous profit and nonprofit boards, possesses advanced education in economics, accounting and finance, and has been a featured guest in numerous financial media forums. At present, he endeavors to impart his experience and knowledge to younger generations whenever possible while also offering consultation on securities and banking industry practices for litigation-related expert witness testimony. - Patrick J. Kelly - President, Kelly Advisory Group Treasure Hunt
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HOPE 22 MARCH 2026 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition As we step into March, we are reminded of four-leaf clovers and celebrations of “the luck of the Irish” surrounding Saint Patrick and St. Patrick’s Day. Store windows fill with shamrocks and leprechauns, and conversations are sprinkled with good fortune and playful wishes. It is a lighthearted time of year. Yet as followers of Christ, we know that the transformation of lives does not depend on luck. It is grounded in love. Last month, we reflected on 1 John 3 and the powerful reminder that we are called to love not merely with words, but with actions and in truth. As I read the following chapter, 1 John 4:16-21, to be exact, the message went deeper. Verse 16 declares, “God is love. Whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” More than a passage to inform our faith, this Scripture must govern how we carry out our calling. Looking at the latter part of verse 17, we find our true north: “As He is, so are we in this world.” For the families we serve at HOPE South Florida, their path forward does not depend on chance encounters or fortunate breaks. It does not rest on luck. It rests on intentional love, the kind of love we demonstrate because Christ intentionally pursued us and first loved us. Driving out fear John makes it clear that perfect love drives out fear. Families facing homelessness often live under a cloud of uncertainty and anxiety about where they will sleep, how their children will be protected and whether anyone truly sees them. When our volunteers, donors, staff and partner churches respond in love, fear begins to lose its authority. Stability takes root. Generational cycles can be broken. Hope becomes visible and real. Recently, I read a devotion reflecting on 1 John 4. It reminded me that loving others, especially the vulnerable, is not primarily about feelings. It is a decision. A choice to reflect the heart of Jesus. A conscious commitment to see Christ in our fellow human beings. Demonstrating love, particularly to those who are struggling, is one of the clearest ways we become more like Him. Verse 21 reinforces this call: “And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.” We cannot separate our love for Christ from our love for people. Because we love Jesus, we love those made in His image. That includes the single mother with two special needs children living in her car, the father desperately seeking employment to support his family and the children doing homework under a streetlight. Motivated by love Our volunteers do not show up because they believe in luck. They show up because they believe in love. They prepare meals, assist with job searches, and mock interviews, and help families navigate life’s challenges because they are motivated by Christ’s love for them. Many testify that they serve not out of obligation, but out of gratitude for the grace they themselves have received. And here is the remarkable truth: when we choose love, we participate in something eternal. We bear witness to a God who is love. The success stories we celebrate at HOPE, families moving into permanent housing, parents securing stable employment and children thriving in school, are not random outcomes. They are the fruit of faith and love expressed in action. March may remind us of shamrocks and sayings about good fortune. But as believers, we know that the true source of transformation is far greater than luck. It is the unwavering, sacrificial love of Christ poured into our hearts and then extended to others. Re-read 1 John 4 and let it speak to you. Are we loving in ways that reflect the One who first loved us? Are we allowing perfect love to drive out fear in our own lives and in the lives of those we serve? Our mission is fueled not by superstition or circumstance, but by conviction. Because we love Christ, we love our brothers and sisters. And in choosing love repeatedly, we become living testimonies that God’s love is real, active and transformative. This March, may we be known not for chasing luck, but for choosing love. Celebrating 30 years of impact, HOPE South Florida exists to be a HOPE-filled community—keeping families together, offering compassionate care, and guiding them toward holistic life change. Under the leadership of President Joseph D. Kenner, we remain committed to ending family homelessness in Broward County by building communities that empower families to become resilient and independent. For more information visit HOPESouthFlorida.org - Joseph D. Kenner - President, HOPE South Florida Choosing Love Over Luck
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HEART AND SOUL 24 MARCH 2026 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition During this Lenten season, we remember the deep love Jesus Christ showed to the world: dying on the cross to defeat death so that we may have eternal life with our Creator. In this article, PBA Assistant Professor of Theology Dr. Austin Stevenson reflects on how Lent helps us respond to such love. For 40 days, we can turn away from our earthly desires with intention and focus our hearts on the One who provides and loves us beyond our wildest longings, worries and dreams. “For you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19). What strength there is in my hands was born of struggle against the impenetrable clay of the Great Plains. I came to know the size of an acre by coaxing draggled gulleys with a pickaxe across the rigid earth. With each swing, I wondered at the forces that compressed the ground with such power, dwarfing even the bison that once roamed those lands 50 million strong. That plot would yield no crops but scrub brush and tumbleweed. It will not do to understand a place until you know its soil. I decided to plant a tree in my yard. These days I live in South Florida, and it was my first time breaking out a shovel in this climate. I set aside the whole morning, remembering well the long struggle to chip away the ground back home. Ten minutes later, I was finished and astonished. The ground was sand all the way down. From where would this tree draw nutrients? Where would it anchor its roots? Two years later, it is as tall as my house, though it leans toward the setting sun. I am beginning to understand this place. Following Jesus’ steps By mid-February the weather has cooled, and all that has breath sighs with relief. As the days begin to lengthen, Christians follow the footsteps of Christ into the wilderness, fasting in the dust-blown desert for 40 days like Noah, Moses and Elijah before Him (Matthew 4:1-11). One tenth of the year: a tithe of our days to God. In English, we call this season ‘Lent,’which means springtime: a season of renewal. It is a period of fasting, prayer, and charity to prepare for the celebration of the Resurrection. It will not do to understand a person until you know they are soil. We are dust quickened by the breath of God. In Lent, we return to the dust to be enlivened anew. We pray to know God so that we might see ourselves as beloved dirt. We fast so that we might feel in our gut the restlessness of our hearts and ground them in “the love that moves the sun and other stars,” as Dante put it. We give alms out of a recognition that our very being is a gift — an undeserved share in the divine life. Longings in the wilderness Lent teaches us that we do not possess things, they possess us. The things we desire are not like items on a shelf; they are like rivers with a force and direction all their own. And they are dust. Prayer, fasting, and charity draw attention to our wanting, providing perspective on the force and flow of these rivers. To sit with our hunger instead of feeding it makes us reflective about who we are, for our character is but the sum of our longings. In Lent, we offer up our longings to God so that hope may be rekindled within us: hope crucified, buried in the earth, and risen to new life on the far horizon of this Lenten wilderness. Dr. Austin Stevenson is an assistant professor of theology. Before joining PBA, he was a junior research fellow at the University of Oxford, where he studied Christian vaccine hesitancy in collaboration with the Oxford Vaccine Group and the Vaccine Knowledge Project. He is passionate about theological education, bridging the gap between systematic theology and biblical scholarship. He earned his Ph.D. in Theology from the University of Cambridge and a Master of Arts in Doctrinal Theology and a Master of Theology from Regent College. - Dr. Debra A. Schwinn - President, Palm Beach Atlantic University Dr. Austin Stevenson Assistant Professor of Theology, PBA Forty Days in the Dust Jesus walking alone through the desert. Biblical concept.
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