The Associational Advisor

  (Tom Kennedy) If you've had any conversation about public schools and Christianity, you've probably heard the concerns. "They're trying to take God out of schools." Or "You can't talk about your faith." While there are challenges facing Christians in our culture, sometimes the stories we hear can make it sound as though every opportunity for Gospel influence has disappeared. The reality is much different. God has placed Christian teachers and students who are not ashamed of Christ and live out their faith as witnesses for Him among their peers. Here in Brantley County, God has blessed us. We have teachers and students who are boldly pointing others to Jesus Christ. That's something worth celebrating and supporting. On April 2, every eighth-grade student in Brantley County was given the opportunity to receive a Bible during their lunch period through the ministry of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Members of the FCA Student Leadership Tea...

   The Cost of Conviction: A Pastoral Reflection on Charlie Kirk (By: Tom Kennedy, POBA Moral & Civic Concerns Leader) “The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him” – Nahum 1:7. “Day of trouble.” Not a poetic phrase, but a piercing reality. On September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk, just 31 years old, was shot and killed while speaking at Utah Valley University. For some, he was a hero, for others a lightning rod. He stirred culture, moved minds, and provoked thought and reaction. Love him or hate him, we can be certain that his life left a mark, and his death has jolted a nation. And now, as Pastors, as Christians, as the Church, we must ask some questions. How do we respond? What should God’s people say? What does this moment demand of us?  There is one word that rises above the rest: clarity. The world does not need more noise. It needs the clear, convictional sound of Truth. The Weight of a Life Charlie Kirk co-fo...

  How to Look at the Upcoming Elections (By Tom Kennedy, POBA Moral & Civic Concerns Leader) In the heart of our democratic process lies a powerful tool: the vote. For Christians, voting is not just a civic responsibility; it’s an extension of our faith and values. As we face a political landscape marked by social and moral complexity and decay, it’s crucial that we approach voting with both conviction and wisdom. Elections have consequences, and the choices we make (or don’t make) at the ballot box will have profound consequences. Looking Back: A Reminder From History History provides us with a sobering reminder of the consequences of voting without a clear moral compass. Consider the example of the 1930s in Germany. The rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party was facilitated by a combination of economic turmoil, political instability, and widespread propaganda. Many voters, driven by desperation and manipulated by charismatic rhetoric, overlooked the dangers posed by the ...

  Oh, be careful, little eyes, what you see, Oh, be careful, little eyes, what you see. There’s a Father up above looking down in tender love, Oh, be careful, little eyes, what you see. This song has echoed through my mind for most of my life, and played on repeat while I watched the January 31 st  US Senate hearing on Social Media. The hearing was interesting, informative, and at times intense. The witness panel was a who’s who of Social Media - which included Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg,  X CEO Linda Yaccarino, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, and Discord CEO Jason Citron. Lawmakers have recently condemned the tech industry for failing to protect kids from a "plague of online child sexual exploitation" as the social media apps have gone viral among America's youth. Seated behind the witnesses were parents who were holding pictures of children who had been victims of mental health issues, cyber bullying, suicide, and pornographic exposure. In ...

  (Tom Kennedy) We live in a world that grapples with complex moral and ethical questions. At the center of many of these questions is the question of Life. News media, politicians, scholars, philosophers, and social media influencers are all bombarding us with opinions. Christians however do not look for which way the cultural wind is blowing on any given day to find our answers, we have a “more sure word of testimony”, we have a Bible! The concept of the sanctity of human life stands as a foundational principle deeply rooted in sacred scriptures. The Creation Narrative (Genesis 1:26-27): The Bible opens with the declaration that humanity is created in the image of God. Genesis 1:26-27 emphasizes the divine origin of each individual, underscoring the intrinsic worth bestowed upon us by our Creator. This foundational truth sets the stage for understanding the sanctity of human life from the very beginning. The Psalmist's Praise for Life (Psalm 139:13-16): Th...