Jeramy and Meggan Anderson shared nine months of their lives as members of our class. Back in August, they moved to Atlanta, where they hope for Jeramy to establish a speaking ministry as an apologist. We recently received contact from the couple with news of the birth of a precious daughter. Praise the Lord! Enjoy these pictures and a brief update from the couple.

Moriah Lee Anderson was born November 26, 2007 @ 3:19AM. She was 6lbs 10 oz and 20″ long. She is beautiful and is very healthy. Meggan is doing well, and we praise the Lord for how everything has gone thus far. May He continue to grant us grace as we depend upon Him during this momentous time of transition. May He bless us with many more fruits of the womb! Amen!

Grace to you!
Jeramy

When you think of Christmas what food comes to mind? Does your family have a special dish that you look enjoy each year? If so get your recipe(S) together along with a brief description of what makes your recipe special and email it to Rebecca at wadeandrebecca[at]gmail[dot]com, or bring 25 copies of your recipe to class. Recipes will be collected and compiled into a cookbook.

Then on Saturday the 15th we will enjoy our annual Christmas party at the Wellum’s at 7:00pm. Each couple is asked to bring at least one of their families traditional dishes (watch for a sign up sheet in class). We will then get to take home each others recipes, hear the stories behind the traditions and taste some wonderful holiday dishes.

Each couple is also asked to bring one $5 gift for participation in our holiday tradition - Dirty Santa. This gift can be what ever you want. If you would like to bring a gag gift that is fine but not required.

Come prepared to learn about our classes “traditional” family Christmas!

Rebecca

Congratulations to Chris and Stephanie Dilley on the birth of their daughter, Emma. Here’s an update from the family!

Greetings! We just wanted to let everyone know that Emma Lynne Dilley finally decided to make her grand entrance into this world on Friday, November 16, at 11:47 a.m. She weighed 8 lbs, 2 ounces and was 20
inches long. Stephanie and Emma are doing great, and I am a proud husband and daddy. Please continue to pray for Stephanie as she recovers from a difficult labor and as she and Emma adjust to life outside the womb. We have attached some pictures for you to enjoy. If you would like to visit us, please call me first at (502) 407-2747.

In Christ, Chris and Stephanie

For some time now we have hoped to find an excuse to have both Dr. Wellum and his wife, Karen, share with the class of their background as a couple. Wait no longer.

This week is our fifth is a series by the title, “Timely Topics for Young Families.” This weeks title is, “Your Family and The Local Church: The Wellum’s story of ministry at a church in South Dakota.” Dr. and Mrs. Wellum will share personal stories from their life together and specifically from their years in South Dakota where Dr. Wellum served as a pastor. Through this time of exposure to their story, it is their hope for each family represented in our class to love and to treasure the local church, with all of its warts and its wonders.

Here are five questions that will frame their time with us,

1) First, tell us the story of your marriage leading up to your time in South Dakota.

2) What is the story of your call to the church in South Dakota?

3) What are some highlights of your time together with this church?

4) What were the circumstances surrounding your departure from the pastorate?

5) How have your years in South Dakota given shape to the rest of your life?

Looking forward, with you, to our time together,

Trent

In a class of our size, no doubt there is a great diversity of financial situations. Some struggle under a weight of debt while others enjoy the opportunity to save and even invest. This week will be the fourth in our series by the title, “Timely Topics for Young Families.” This week, our very own Eric Ostrander will lead us in a class by the title, “Your Family and Finances: How to Make the Most of Your Money.”

From Eric to our class,

Here are some general financial statistics concerning Americans. Financial trouble is the number one cause of divorce, the average American family owes more than $7,000 in credit card debt, and two in five Americans have more debt than assets.

Now here are some statistics for Christians. Christians have rated personal finance as their number one source of stress and 60% of Christians could only live one month before going into debt if they lost their job.

Do you know that the Bible says more than twice as much about money as it does prayer and faith combined? In fact, love is the only subject that the Bible speaks about more often. Almost two-thirds of Christ’s parables were concerning money and possessions. Why is this, it is because the way we view and handle money is very important.

We will take a look at what the Bible has to say about some basic financial principles and also discuss some practical ways to live by those principles. Then there will be an opportunity to ask any questions you might have concerning finances.

Among the members of our class are people from a diversity of schooling backgrounds. Some of us came to faith in Christ by the Christian witness of teachers, families and friends involved in the public schools. Some of us were educated at home by our own parents, who gave themselves to our discipleship with diligence and great intentionality. Others of us were educated within some kind of Christian school arrangement and enjoyed learning the Bible and other subjects from a Christian perspective in a Christian environment.

There are delights and dangers that come with each of these learning environments and a child’s education is something about which Christian parents must think carefully and Christianly.

This Sunday is the third in our series by the title, “Timely Topics for Young Families.” This week, Dr. Wellum will lead our class in the topic, “Your Family and Educational Choices: Discerning The Best Fit For Your Family.”

Helping us to steer clear of both passivism and legalism, here is an outline from Dr. Wellum of this Sunday’s teaching time,

1. First we will examine the Biblical data on the responsibility of parents to teach and disciple their children — in all areas of life.
2. Next, we will discuss how do parents fulfill this responsibility in the larger discussion of schooling and academic preparation. We will then look at various options that are before us today: 1. public schools; 2. Private schools; 3. Home schools and their varieties — e.g. consortium, etc.
3. How do we decide between these options given the biblical mandate to raise our children? We will look at specific factors and issues that need to be considered, both in terms of strengths and weaknesses.
4. Discussion.

Looking forward to thinking carefully about these matters with you.