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HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL Mite, n! F gj^Sj Journal Nancy Hawk Terrell Golden and Xavier Johnson studying at St. James CME church, where a home work program is under way three days a week. St. James CME looking toward the future By NANCY HAWK Journal Staff Writer Editor’s note: This is the second in a series on local churches. When the door opens and you look around the room, you might expect some whin ing or maybe even some cry ing; at the very least a: “I can’t do this.” Instead you would find a group of young people with their eyes on their futures. Students from first grade through ninth come to St. James CME Church on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for some extra studying. Mostly they do their homework, but the impressive thing is that they come into the room, sit down and get started. No pushing or scolding just studying, without a lot of fuss. The idea started more than a year ago. Teachers who are members of the church talk ed about the needs of school children and how the test scores for local schools are not good. Michael Hardin, brought the issues up again in July, but it was still a work in progress. The pastor was the next level to take on this proj ect. Seeking more help, both in prayer and membership action, the Pastor spoke of the struggle that happened The right way to start a new year Happy New Year to all. I take this opportu nity to say “Thanks” to each of you for your sup port of “Reflections” over the past. Your encouragement is greatly appreciated. The positive responses to my letters to “Santa” and to God were overwhelming. As we leave the old year and move on to the new, I ask for your prayerful sup port that I will be attentive H THESE SERVICE 1 L „ HAVE SPONSORED THIS ( L, % L/ I f inurcn & ixcii gi onpage Support Your Local Religious Institution And Place Your Ad On This Page By Calling 478-987-1823! <XT I| t & ‘®tß ®tfe Page ®liat ■||our Hornl (Ci(urrl]eo Call 478-987-1023 Arnold’s Auto Servic 1202 Main St. Perry, Ga. 31069 Complete Car Maintenance Pick-up & Delivery "Road Servi Call Thomas or Shelby 987-9439 Shining the ught in the desert from the Bible’s book of Jeremiah during a sermon. This is when the program began to take shape and Ruth McHugh, another church member began to push for the tutoring pro gram to actually take shape. So it was born and exists as a ministry of hope from St. James Church. Delores Lewis,, a resident of Perry who has taught in Perry and also in Boston for a period of time, is an inspiration in motivation and encouragement. Ruth McHugh while not working as a teacher, helps keep the children on track. McHugh sees this as a min istry that needs to expand. The effort here is not a fund ed option of some technical authority but it is the spirit of the heart that communi ties have been founded on for centuries: Those with willing hands simply doing. The students, who are from Tucker, Perry Primary, Perry Middle School and Perry High School, are seri ous about their work. Most when asked what their favor ite subject is say “math”. The study time, which is three days a week, and the program helps the children get their homework and to God’s voice and follow His leading. Lord, prepare me for this day, Direct me as I go my way, Show me the deeds I ought to do, That I Earline Cole Reflections might live this day for You. §o<l yine * Sperry florist 734 Main Street Perry, Georgia 31069 987-1656 800-516-1004 extra reading done. Lewis hopes the program can expand. “We are here. We are willing to spend the time.” She believes the pro gram can reach many stu dents, but there is a need for a van to come their way, and more children could par ticipate. Tyrell Golden, a seventh grader at Perry Middle School, is the assistant. When asked why, Golden says, “I don’t mind helping here, it’s my community and it is how I give back. This is my granddaddy’s church and he believed in his com munity. I like to help every one in my community. ” Xavier Johnson is a fourth grader at Tucker Elementary. Johnson says, “I like math but studying helps me for school tomorrow. I just have it ready. Everyone here is nice.” Another Tucker student Jakira Taylor is a third grad er. Jakira believes it is her teacher’s help that means the most. She confided, “Math is like PE, because there are fun things to do like multiplication, adding or subtracting even round ing.” What does Taylor want to be when she grows up ? A doctor or a teacher or a cheerleading coach. She says. See SHINING, page 6B Guide me where I need to be, Show me someone to lead to Thee, Give me wisdom as I seek The words of love that I should speak. I pray, O Lord, to do my best Grant me courage to face each test, Help me firmly take a stand And walk with Jesus, hand in hand. Serving Houston County Perry • Warner Robins Member FDIC cbst Bank of Middle Georgia HW 1 THE BANK !»/ OF PERRY Please worship at the church of your choice 1006 Main St. • Perry 987-2552 Member FDIC RELIGION First prom with Welch Marion Welch was the prettiest, sweet est and most per sonable fifth grader I have ever known. She was very mature for her tender age of 12. All fifth grade boys were infatuated with her. I particularly remem ber attending a class prom party at Cynthia Muse’s home. After the meal we assembled for the prom. There were a total of ten proms lasting about 10 min utes each. Each consisted of walking out the driveway, down a hill and returning to the house. All the girls were given a card and a pencil. As the boys asked to be escorts, the girls would jot down their names in order. All the boys made a* mad rush toward Marion Welch, many pushing and shov ing to get in line. Some poor guys were left out as Marion had only 10 avail able slots, but I was lucky enough to be number six on her escort list. When it came my turn, I was ner vous. My jitters were short lived, however, as Marion seemed so open and person able. During that remark able 10 minutes she made me feel like I was the only Teens try everyone’s patience Question: I hear so much about communi cating with our children and making sure we stay on the same wavelength. How can I do that dur ing the teen years? Dr. Dobson: You can expect communication to be very difficult for several years. I have said that ado lescence is sometimes like a tornado. Let me give you a better analogy. This time of life reminds me in some ways of the very early space probes that blasted off from Cape Canaveral in Florida. I remember my excitement when John Glenn and the other astronauts embarked on their perilous journeys into space. It was a thrilling time to be an American. People who lived through those years will recall that a period of maximum dan ger occurred as each space craft was re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere. The flier inside was entirely dependent on the heat shield on the bottom of the capsule to protect him from temperatures in excess of 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. If the craft descended at the wrong angle, the astro naut would be burned to cinders. At that precise moment of anxiety, nega tive ions would accumulate around the capsule and prevent all communication with the Earth for approxi mately seven minutes. The world waited breathlessly for news of the astronaut’s safety. Presently, the reas suring voice of a man named Chris Craft would break in and say: “This is Mission Control. We have made LONGHORN BUTCHER SHOP YOUR HOMETOWN 81/TCHETt SINCE 1976 1207 Sunset Ave. • Perry Plaza perry, GA 31069 100040090 Let Lavveter Greer Lasseter Ttecv (ZfocuteM, 736 Main Street Perry, Georgia 31069 Jackie & Terry Mullis 987*1965 - [00040089 other person in the world. We held hands strolling down the hill and back up towards the house. When the walk concluded she was most gracious, expressing her pleasure and apprecia- ■'ff <** -''• | im Billy Powell Columnist kind and considerate to everyone. Marion lived in Perry for only one school year. Her family moved away and I know not where. I have often wondered how she fared in life. Based on my exposure to her, I would bet she enjoyed a success ful career and became a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother. Of all the people I encoun tered during my growing up years in Perry she was the one I felt most likely to suc ceed. I have often wondered how some young people can be so well adjusted early contact with Friendship Seven. Everything is A-OK. Splashdown is imminent.” Cheers and prayers went JgpjT “ Jjjil ■ Dr. James Dobson Focus on the Family Cronkite seemed relieved. The application to the teen years should be appar ent. After the training and preparation of child hood are over, a pubescent youngster marches out to the launching pad. His par ents watch apprehensively as he climbs aboard a cap sule called adolescence and waits for his rockets to fire. His father and mother wish they could go with him, but there is room for just one person in the spacecraft. Besides, nobody invited them. Without warning, the mighty rocket engines begin to roar and the “umbilical cord” falls away. “Liftoff! We have liftoff!” screams the boy’s father. Junior, who was a baby only yesterday, is on his way to the edge of the uni verse. A few weeks later, his parents go through the scariest experience of their lives: They suddenly lose all contact with the capsule. “Negative ions” have inter fered with communication at a time when they most want to be assured of their 1812 B.S. 41N. Perry, GA 987-1112 Qwcpks FloonngAMßaCA 00041040 40094 475-987-5711 Perry Antique Mall 631 Courtney Hodges Bivd. Perry, GA 31069 ecu to Perry Anitnai Hospital 478-987-8775 perryantiques@alltei.net AIA itHia Wftr FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2006 ♦ in life. Is it due to genet ic disposition, parental upbringing, Providential influence, or a combina tion of these factors? I hope that my three grand daughters - Ashtyn, Alyssa, and Jordan - will emulate Marion Welch’s example as they grow up. As we enter the new year, those with young children should make it their number one priority to raise their children in a Christian environment, to ensure they receive a good education and acquire the proper social skills to equip them to survive in a diverse and competitive world, and to make certain they don’t run around with the wrong crowd. Association with the wrong crowd has destroyed more young lives than any other single reason. For those who already have grown children, rest assured they still need us as much as ever. We must listen to them, encourage them, and be there for them when they need us. There is no greater assurance than to know your parents are standing behind you in steadfast love and enduring support. tion. I am sure she treated her other nine escorts the same way. She was that type of a person, friendly, son’s safety. Why won’t he talk to them? This period of silence lasts much longer than a few minutes, as it did with John Glenn and friends. It may continue for years. The same kid who used to talk a mile a minute and ask a million questions has now reduced his vocabulary to nine short phrases. They are: “I dunno,” “Maybe,” “I forget,” “Huh?”, “No!”, “Nope,” “Yeah,” “Who me?” and “He did it.” Otherwise, only “static” comes through the receivers - groans, grunts, growls and gripes. What an apprehensive time it is for those who wait on the ground! Years later, when Mission Control fears the spacecraft has been lost, a few scratchy signals are picked up unexpectedly from a distant transmitter. The parents are jubilant as they hover near their radio. Was that really his voice? It is deeper and more mature than they remem bered. There it is again. This time the intent is unmistakable. Their spacey son has made a deliberate effort to correspond with them! He was 14 years old when he-blasted into space and now he is nearly 20. Could it be that the negative envi ronment has been swept away and communication is again possible? Yes. For most families, that is pre cisely what happens. After years of quiet anxiety, par ents learn to their great relief that everything is A OK onboard the spacecraft. See DOBSON, page 6B up in res taurants, banks, airports and mil lions of homes across the coun try. Even CBS news anchor Walter Sm&itubruf • * s4(Uutf(emA 478-988-2448 740 Main Street Perry GA 31069 Tie Online www.sewingbees.com 00040101 Reitry Drug Company rr*»f iffy<w 0004 1036I036 I 1036 WACO'S RB * PERRY, fcA 988-1144 3B k»L