BRANCHES August 2016

BRANCHES 

SUMMER LOOKBACK 

Photo Montage of Southwood 

Summer Events 

small groups: 

reflections from members 

AUGUST 2016 | southwood.org 

why employment? 

reconciliation through Jobs for Life

SOUTHWOOD 

overview 

BRANCHES 

DESIGNER Phillip Lackey 

CONTRIBUTORS 

Will Spink 

Sarah Niemitz 

Anna Babin 

Aaron Shaffer 

Martha Brady 

Vinit Mahesh 

Doug Roberts 

Joseph Holland 

Skeets Simonis 

PHOTOS 

Phillip Lackey 

Winnie Winford 

Southwood Members 

FEEDBACK! 

We want to hear from you! Please send 

your suggestions and comments to 

branches@southwood.org 

1000 CARL T. JONES DRIVE | HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA 35802 

(256) 882-3085 | WWW.SOUTHWOOD.ORG 

COVER PHOTO 

Relaxing at the 2016 Ice Cream Sunday 

CHURCH STAFF 

NIÑA BANTA Director of Children's Ministry 

RITA CLARDY Executive Assistant 

SHANNON CLARK Administrative Assistant 

RON CLEGG Director of Shepherding 

JANICE CROWSON Director of Facilities/Finance 

KIM DELCHAMPS Administrative Assistant 

TERRI GOOD Accountant/Bookkeeper 

TREY GORDON Summer Youth Intern 

PHILLIP LACKEY Graphic Designer 

SARAH NIEMITZ Director of Community Development/Assimilation 

JAMES PARKER Chief Musician 

PETER RENDER Director of Youth/Families 

ANGELA SIERK Assistant Director/Children's Ministry 

WILL SPINK Senior Pastor 

WINNIE WINFORD Assistant Director/High-Life 

CONTENTS 

3 pastor's note 

4 why employment? 

Reconciliation through Jobs for Life 

6 summer lookback 

Photo Montage of Summer Events 

8 general assembly 2016 

Key Issues That Affect Us All 

10 leadership training 

Attending This Fall's Class 

11 small groups 

Reflections from Members 

UPCOMING EVENTS 

Sunday School Spotlight 

August 7 

Kids Leadership Training 


Leadership Training Class Begins 


Family Movie Night 


Men's Retreat 

September 16 & 17 

NEW 

STAFF 

Please Welcome the 

Newest Members of Southwood's Staff! 

Pictured Left: Peter Render and Ron Clegg 

Pictured Right: Rita Clardy, Angela Sierk and Shannon Clark 

2 AUGUST 2016 | SOUTHWOOD.ORG

PASTOR’S NOTE 

A Postcard in Late Summer 

The excitement of a new school year is 

building rapidly at the Spink home these days. 

Conversations about connecting with old and 

new friends, plans to purchase needed clothes 

or supplies, and agonizing over which activities 

to participate in are now daily occurrences. 

While we are sad to see the flexibility of 

summer end, there is a lot to look forward to 

as well. 

You’ll notice in this issue of Branches that the 

same “new year” excitement and transition is 

happening at Southwood, too. You may take 

advantage of opportunities to invest in old 

and new relationships through a small group, 

you may wrestle with whether to serve with 

the Children’s Ministry here at Southwood or 

with Jobs for Life in the community, or you may 

consider a deeper study of God’s Word and 

Biblical theology in the Leadership Training 

Class. If you haven’t been doing so already, 

I’d urge you to pray (no really, stop and 

actually pray!) about where God would have 

you engage intentionally for the sake of his 

kingdom during this season. 

When I was growing up, the excitement and 

anticipation began a little later in August 

(seriously, “Back-to-School” sales in June and 

July?!), but I remember in addition to all the 

things I mentioned earlier waiting anxiously 

for a particular postcard every year. It was the 

note from my new teacher that informed me 

she would be the one walking through the 

next year with me and instructing me week in 

and week out. Now I don’t expect you all feel 

the anticipation of a new sermon series the 

way the pastor does, but I hope God’s Word 

always remains exciting to us. If you’ll pardon 

the rough analogy to a “new teacher” and the 

presumption of putting my own words into the 

pen of a biblical author, this is that postcard 

for you: 

“Dear Southwood, I’m so excited to have you 

in my class this year! I’ve been working hard 

researching and planning to teach you about 

the life of Jesus—true stories about miracles 

he performed, parables he taught, who he 

was, and what all of that means for our lives. I 

know that many of you had Professor Paul and 

Prophet Daniel the past couple of years and 

that they, too, have taught you a lot about Jesus 

(we’re kinda hung up on him around here!). 

But our class this year will be a different angle 

where we walk carefully through his life here on 

earth—from the promise and announcement 

of his birth to his public ministry and eventually 

his death and resurrection. I want you to know 

all about what really happened and particularly 

to have your hearts inspired and transformed 

by meeting Jesus himself and knowing him 

better. He really is ‘good news of great joy for 

all people,’ so I expect it will be a life-changing 

year for all of us! See you at the first day of 

school—August 7! Your teacher, Dr. Luke.” 

I know, I know… Some of you were hoping to 

get Mrs. Chronicles this year. I’m so sorry! Part 

of the excitement, though, is that we’re all in 

this same class together! So, grab a spouse, 

grab your children, grab a friend and join us 

as we begin this journey through the Gospel 

of Luke. I’ve had the privilege of doing some 

“summer reading” and studying ahead, and 

I can’t wait to join you in learning from this 

particular portion of God’s Word. See you 

Sunday! 

Will Spink 

Senior Pastor 

If you would like to contact 

Will, use the following: 

will.spink@southwood.org 

@WillSpink 

AUGUST 2016 | SOUTHWOOD.ORG 3

SOUTHWOOD 

branches 

WHY 

EMPLOYMENT? 

JOBS FOR LIFE: A MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION 

by Sarah Niemitz 

Christians can quickly point to biblical commands to preach 

the gospel, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and shelter the 

homeless. These ministries are a beautiful, important reflection of 

the caring love God has shown us in Christ. It is no surprise then 

that over 60% of churches have some kind of food ministry, just a 

few less have a clothing ministry, and just a few less participate in 

the ministry of shelter. 

If these commands are so biblically clear, then why is Southwood 

concerned with a ministry of employment and job preparedness? 

Where is our commanding verse? 

Well, I do not have one. That’s right; I can point to no verse that 

clearly commands the people of God to prepare and equip others 

for meaningful employment. However, what I can point to is God’s 

pattern of reconciliation throughout all of Scripture and Paul’s 

clear instruction in 2 Cor. 5:18 that we, the people of God, have 

been given this same ministry of reconciliation. Colossians 1:20 

declares that in Christ God has chosen to “reconcile to Himself 

all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the 

blood of his cross.” 

in God’s design even his perfect creation needed Adam and Eve’s 

care and attention. Through tending the garden or naming the 

animals, Adam and Eve were going to learn more about the God 

who made them and more about His purpose for their lives. 

If this is true, then as the Church pursues our God-given 

ministry of reconciliation, offering people the 

opportunity to learn more about 

their Creator and His purpose 

in their lives would 

be an important 

Prayer Network 

City 

What is God reconciling? ALL things. Remember in 

the garden Adam and Eve’s relationship with God 

was severed, their relationship with each other was 

broken, their ability to multiply and fill the earth 

became painful, and their ability to work the ground 

as God commanded became toilsome. Every 

aspect of their lives cracked, and suddenly the 

ground grew weeds, disease took over bodies, 

and love turned to fear and manipulation. But 

God says that through Christ He is not only 

reconciling men and women to God, but He 

is reconciling ALL THINGS to Himself. 

Business 

Non-Profit 

All things includes work. Remember, God 

gave Adam and Eve work before the fall, 

as an opportunity for them to reflect His 

authority and creativity in creation. Work 

was to be a beautiful act of worship, and 

Church 

Students 


anches 

SOUTHWOOD 

ministry! When we pursue ministry that helps others find and 

keep meaningful employment, we offer them opportunities for 

reconciliation in three ways. 

1. An opportunity to be reconciled to their Heavenly Father 

and to learn more about His purpose for their lives. Believers 

and non-believers share the same identity as image bearers 

of God with innate gifts for meaningful use. The church has 

the chance to share God’s intention for work, as well as His 

promise of reconciling all things to himself in Christ, in an 

accessible context. 

2. An opportunity to be reconciled to themselves and to those 

around them. Work provides dignity, and statistics show that 

when individuals and communities lack work, violence and 

abuse increase dramatically. “Hurt people hurt people” is 

a common counseling phrase, and it bears out in the world 

of unemployment. When we offer people a real path 

back to employment we offer them dignity, 

which not only benefits them but 

their spouses, children, and 

communities. 

3. An opportunity to be reconciled to their communities and 

the world around them, becoming contributors instead 

of consumers of benevolence. No one thinks that feeding, 

clothing, and sheltering the same people indefinitely is 

sustainable or empowering, and most individuals involved in 

these ministries would say a stable job is the only path to selfsufficiency 

for their clients. But currently only 2% of churches 

are dedicated to helping people find those jobs! What if we 

spent the same resources on employment ministry that we 

spend to feed people—doesn’t it seem possible that we 

could begin spending less on food as people are empowered 

to provide for themselves? 

This is why Jobs For Life challenges churches to “flip the list” 

and work to provide individuals real paths toward life-giving 

employment. Flipping the list does not mean ignoring hunger; it 

means dedicating more resources to helping people find jobs so 

that they no longer face chronic hunger. If we truly believe jobs 

are the most sustainable and empowering way out of poverty for 

our neighbors, then our ministries, our budgets, and our time 

ought to reflect that belief. Imagine if churches worked with nonprofits, 

the local business community, and even the city to help 

individuals find and keep meaningful jobs. It is happening, right 

here in Huntsville!! Southwood is partnering with The CornerStone 

Initiative, Huntsville Housing Authority, and Westside Community 

Church to hold our second Jobs For Life class this fall, and we 

need you! Consider joining our Jobs For Life family this fall and 

participating with us in this powerful ministry of reconciliation. 

Church 

Business 

DETAILS: 

Classes run Monday & Thursday evenings, 

September 12 through November 10th 

5:30-8pm (dinner from 5:30-6pm) 

Classes held at The Oscar Mason Center, 

located at 149 Mason Court, 

Huntsville, AL 35805 

Non-Profit 

City 

Ways you can serve: 

• Provide a meal 

• Join our prayer team 

• Join our business network 

• Volunteer with childcare 

• Help with resume writing & 

interview skills 

Champions 


Churchwide 

BBQ Picnic 

Ice cream 

sunday 

SUMM 

LOOKB

ER 

ACK 

youth summer 

events 

vacation 

bible school

SOUTHWOOD 

A Pastor Looks Back at 

General Assembly 2016 

Key Issues that Impact All of Us 

Not many Southwood members think of 

sitting through committee meetings and 

assembly meetings at the annual meeting 

of the Presbyterian Church in America 

(PCA) as a highlight of their summer 

vacation. But that doesn’t mean the issues 

dealt with there aren’t important and 

helpful to all of us. I’ll highlight a couple 

of particular things for us to consider, but 

as always it is encouraging to remember 

that God is continuing to build his 

Church (unlike most denominations in 

our country, the PCA grew numerically 

this year). We should be encouraged 

by many issues we are not debating 

because the PCA continues—even in our 

disagreements—to be committed to the 

authority and inerrancy of God’s Word, 

a biblically driven theology and mission, 

and the priority of sharing the good news 

of Jesus with all people. 

Repentance and Racial 

Reconciliation 

The most significant issue dealt with at this 

year’s Assembly was racial reconciliation. 

I mean this not merely in terms of a 

statement approved but particularly in 

the relationships developing across racial 

lines in the denominational leadership, 

the spirit of excitement surrounding 

future ministry among minorities in 

our communities, the development 

of the African American Presbyterian 

Fellowship, and the tenor of discussion 

in many seminars and meals organized 

around this theme. 

One of the fruits of this general movement 

of the Spirit in the PCA was the approval 

of the statement included in full alongside 

this article that expresses corporate 

repentance over past and present racial 

sins and commits to ongoing gospeldriven 

racial reconciliation. I shared 

by Will Spink 

about this at some length in my July 3 

sermon from Daniel 9 entitled “Corporate 

Confession.” This is a vital issue at this 

time in the life of our denomination and 

our nation, and we need to consider it 

in our own hearts, lives, and churches 

as well as in the broader denomination. 

Social change in general and racial 

reconciliation in particular are not the 

gospel in themselves, but the gospel of 

Jesus Christ has always impacted society 

in both word and deed, and the reality of 

the gospel at work always breaks down 

barriers that divide us from each other by 

uniting us together in our bond in Christ. 

Much has been done in this state alone 

in the name of Christ that denies the 

biblical truth of all people being made in 

God’s image and treated as worthy and 

valuable because of that. It is, therefore, 

incumbent upon us to consider what 

repentance needs to look like for us and 

what the fruit of repentance would look 

like in our own lives and our own church. 

Since we are prone to blind spots in 

regard to our own sin, this often begins 

with listening and seeking to understand 

the pain and experiences of others. 

I’ve been listening for the past year to 

some of our minority members here at 

Southwood in an effort to put myself in 

their shoes as they experience being a 

part of the family here. We could all be 

more intentional about listening to our 

friends and neighbors and learning from 

them as well. 

When God gives us a vision of his kingdom 

in Revelation, it is a multi-colored kingdom 

made up of people from every tribe, 

language, people, and nation. Perhaps 

since we often pray, “Thy kingdom come 

on earth as it is in heaven,” we should ask 

ourselves if our current relationships reflect 

the longing for God’s kingdom that should 

be in our hearts. In 20 years God may intend 

Southwood to be a minority white church. He 

also may not—there are many factors that 

could impact that reality. But for now, I know 

He would call my friendships, the people I 

invite into my home, and the people I learn 

from, to be more colorful than they are today. 

This would be one fruit of true repentance 

for me and for many of us. Even if we feel 

generations preceding us were guilty of 

more outwardly grievous racial sins than we 

have been, we need to consider the reality of 

what those sins have produced in our hearts, 

in our cities, in our social systems, and in the 

ministries of our churches. I believe we will 

find much to confess. 

I also believe the gospel frees us to confess. 

The Bible says it is the kindness of God 

that leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4). 

Because we are confident in his mercy 

and forgiveness, we are safe to own our 

sin and brokenness. One of the primary 

things I believe has sparked this renewal 

and repentance in the PCA is the way our 

African-American brothers and sisters 

have patiently modeled the merciful and 

forgiving heart of God to us. They have 

been unrelenting in their work for justice 

and equally unrelenting in their gracious 

commitment to forgiveness! 

In addition to the statement made, the 

denomination as a whole took some 

practical steps as fruits of repentance by 

approving the establishment of a “Unity 

Fund” to help finance the training of 

minority pastors as well as a multi-ethnic 

study committee to continue advising us on 

racial realities as we move forward. Please 

pray for God’s continued work in these 

areas and particularly for the members 

of this committee: Kevin Smith, Carl Ellis, 

Alexander Jun, Sean Lucas, Jonathan Seda, 

Richie Sessions, and Alex Shipman; advisory 

members Sylvester Brown, Otis Pickett, and 

Russ Whitfield. 

Women in the 

Church Study Committee 

In regard to the Bible’s teaching on gender 

issues and marriage, the PCA has always 

held a complementarian position. This 

means that we believe God designed 


"Pursuing Racial Reconciliation 

and the Advance of the Gospel" 

Be it Resolved, that the 44th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church 

in America does recognize, confess, condemn and repent of corporate and 

historical sins, including those committed during the Civil Rights era, and 

continuing racial sins of ourselves and our fathers such as the segregation of 

worshipers by race; the exclusion of persons from Church membership on the 

basis of race; the exclusion of churches, or elders, from membership in the 

Presbyteries on the basis of race; the teaching that the Bible sanctions racial 

segregation and discourages inter-racial marriage; the participation in and 

defense of white supremacist organizations; and the failure to live out the gospel 

imperative that “love does no wrong to a neighbor” (Romans 13:10); and 

Be it Further Resolved, that this General Assembly does recognize, confess, 

condemn and repent of past failures to love brothers and sisters from minority 

cultures in accordance with what the Gospel requires, as well as failures to 

lovingly confront our brothers and sisters concerning racial sins and personal 

bigotry, and failing to “learn to do good, seek justice and correct oppression” 

(Isaiah 1:17); and 

Be it Further Resolved, that this General Assembly praises and recommits 

itself to the gospel task of racial reconciliation, diligently seeking effective courses 

of action to further that goal, with humility, sincerity and zeal, for the glory of 

God and the furtherance of the Gospel; and 

Be it Further Resolved, that the General Assembly urges the congregations 

and presbyteries of the Presbyterian Church in America to make this resolution 

known to their members in order that they may prayerfully confess their own 

racial sins as led by the Spirit and strive towards racial reconciliation for the 

advancement of the gospel, the love of Christ, and the glory of God; and 

Be it Further Resolved, that the 44th General Assembly call the attention 

of churches and presbyteries to the pastoral letter1 contained in Overture 55 as 

an example of how a presbytery might provide shepherding leadership for its 

churches toward racial reconciliation; and 

Be it Further Resolved, that the 44th General Assembly remind the 

churches and presbyteries of the PCA that BCO 31-2 and 38-1 provide potent 

and readily available means for dealing with ones who have sinned or continue 

to sin in these areas. 

WATCH GA WORSHIP SERVICES 

Video recordings of worship services (and sermons) are at: 

http://livestream.com/accounts/8521918/PCAGA2016 

Tuesday—Sermon by Jim Wert, Retiring Moderator 

Wednesday—Worship by Keith & Kristyn Getty; Sermon by Tim Keller 

Thursday—Sermon by Thurman Williams on Racial Reconciliation 

unique roles for men and women as well as 

that both genders need each other for the 

appreciation and reflection of the image 

of God and the beauty of his body, the 

Church. While there is broad agreement on 

many fundamental issues here, the practice 

in regard to how that works out in the local 

church is varied through the denomination. 

As a result, the General Assembly approved 

a study committee on the role of women 

in the ministry of the church to report back 

next year with direction as to how we can 

best engage our women in many different 

ways. Thankfully, we are including our 

women in this conversation as several will 

participate on this study committee, whose 

members are as follows: Irwyn Ince, Jeffrey 

Choi, Ligon Duncan, Kathy Keller, Mary Beth 

McGreevy, Bruce O’Neil, and Harry Reeder; 

advisory members Nikisha Alcindor, Leon 

Brown, Dan Doriani, Kimberly Jones, Lani 

Jones, and Roy Taylor. 

There has been some controversy surrounding 

the committee’s direction and composition 

during and following the General Assembly. 

So, please pray for the members of this 

committee, for God’s direction on their work 

and recommendations, and for unity and 

charity for our denomination as we approach 

these issues. 

New PCA Logo 

Finally and on a lighter note, for the first time 

in its 43-year history, the PCA has an official 

denominational logo. This may eventually 

be of help in identifying sister churches on 

the internet or on the road in other cities, 

but for now it’s making headlines for other 

reasons. The newly approved logo (pictured 

on this page) features an open Bible and 

a cross, but the third element is less clear 

and has been mentioned as 

picturing the world and 

thus our mission as the 

Church. Apparently to 

many, however, it is 

more recognizable as 

a Star Wars character, 

which even The 

Washington Times 

has pointed out in a 

recent article. 


SOUTHWOOD 

branches 

LEADERSHIP 

TRAINING 

...A CLASS FOR 

ANYONE AND 

EVERYONE 

CLASS 

by Anna Babin 

I had the privilege of getting to attend the 

Leadership Training Class with my husband in the 

Fall of 2014. We had only been married for a few 

months when we went through the training, and the conversations 

between us that the class sparked were such a blessing to our 

marriage. God used this training to help me have a better and 

deeper understanding of the Gospel. 

The class really helped me to understand why I believe what 

I believe, and I now understand the Gospel in a much deeper, 

sweeter, and more complete way. It helped me more fully realize 

just how sinful I am, which is never super fun to admit or think 

about, but it helped me to more clearly understand my need 

for a savior. This has led me to love Jesus more and to view His 

holiness, perfection, and mercy in a more accurate light. Through 

this training I was encouraged to ask myself hard questions about 

my faith and to examine Scripture for answers. 

I grew up in the Methodist church without much knowledge about 

theology, and I never really had great answers for why we believed 

what we believed. This leadership training class was the first time 

I had heard of a church really going deep into what they believe 

and working through the theology behind it. I am amazed by the 

care Southwood takes to educate and provide a foundation of 

theology to anyone who is interested, and I love the transparency 

it shows through the teaching. Every topic we discussed was 

backed up with tons of Scripture, and everything that we went 

through was filled with the gospel. 

I know I am now much better equipped to experience and 

express grace because of this class, and so I highly recommend 

you go through it when it's offered this fall. It’s not just for people 

interested in becoming officers of the church—it’s for everyone! 

Michael and I both plan on attending again this year because it 

was just that good. I hope we'll see you there! 

FOR CLASS INFORMATION 

OR TO SIGN-UP, GO TO 

SOUTHWOOD.ORG/LEADERSHIP 

FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT 

Friday, Aug. 19 • 6pm 

At the Lodge 

Popcorn & Grilled Hot Dogs 

$4 per person 

$15 per family (four or more) 

a lightning fast & fun 

rsvp to kim.delchamps@southwood.org 


anches 

SOUTHWOOD 

smallGROUPS 

Mixed Group 

Women's Group 

Men's Group 

by Aaron Shaffer by Martha Brady by Vinit Mahesh 

My wife, Christen, and I 

have been married a little 

over a year now. One 

of the things that was 

really important for us 

was getting into a couples' small group. 

We were really excited to be placed with 

some amazing couples—some of which we 

already knew, others whom we didn’t. But 

I could tell from the first time we met that 

these were people that could be honest 

with one another. I remember my wife and I 

talking after small group, thankful that God 

had provided this group. Little did we know 

how much we would need them. 

Several months after being in our small 

group I got the tragic news that my brother 

died suddenly and unexpectedly. The first 

person to come sit with me while I cried 

was an Elder in our small group, while 

many others prayed and checked in on us. 

Over the course of the next couple weeks 

our small group showed up for us in many 

different ways—cooking meals, providing 

comfort and just giving us a place where I 

could just be myself. I remember having 

no energy and not wanting to socialize at 

all (surprising if you know me), but I found 

myself looking forward to small group. Our 

small group has taken the summer off, but I 

can't wait to start back up in the fall. 

I believe there is a lot of power in being in 

community and I’ve witnessed first-hand 

what a small group can offer. I would highly 

encourage others to join small groups 

and maybe even consider volunteering to 

facilitate small groups too. 

Small groups of women 

over the years have been 

invaluable! How can you 

put a price on friendship 

that is deeper than trite 

pleasantries passed on a Sunday morning? 

For me, Thursday mornings at Southwood 

involve getting to know women of all ages 

around GOD's Word as we study, discuss, 

learn, encourage each other and pray for 

heart needs. It involves a group of small 

groups that meet together with nursery 

provided. Our age range is from 20-90! 

We moved here 3 years ago. I was newly 

retired from nursing, only knowing our 

daughter and her family. As a result of 

Thursdays, I have a variety of friends in a 

new church, that have helped me become 

part of this place I now call home. 

Each year has brought growth for me in 

new directions. Each year has also brought 

its share of new challenges. I observe 

that most of the women in mixed groups 

here don't engage in the same way as the 

women only groups. Honest questions 

come more freely, prayers tend to be more 

open, vulnerability is more present. 

Come join us on Thursday mornings this 

Fall as we grow together, studying Hebrews 

with Nancy Guthrie's study guide HOPING 

FOR SOMETHING BETTER: Refusing to 

Settle for Life as Usual. 

I have been in a men’s 

small group for about 

7 years. Over the years, 

we have learned to trust 

one another to the point 

that we can be bluntly honest about our 

personal struggles with life and sin. Having 

the accountability of brothers in Christ 

who love, learn, and pray together is such 

a crucial part of my ability to navigate 

through life’s complexities. I wish every man 

in the church was in such a group! 

The co-leader, Curt, and I are in our mid- 

50’s, and the other guys in our group are in 

their 20’s and 30’s. We typically start with a 

meal and then transition to a Bible study, 

and it has been exciting to comprehensively 

study Old and New Testament books 

over the years. We end each meeting by 

praying for one another and have shared 

experiences of new marriages, deaths of 

parents, marital issues, births of children, 

and job and career changes. The group has 

allowed me both to grow in Christ, and to 

speak into the lives of younger brothers. 

want to 

connect in a 

BIG WAY? 

Next Wave: 

Small Groups 

Sign up TODAY at 

southwood.org/ 

growingsmall 

AUGUST 2016 2016 | SOUTHWOOD.ORG | 11 11

at DeSoto State Park 

September 16 & 17 

Sign-up today at 

southwood.org/mensretreat 

"What a good time to get together with other men in 

the Church. It was encouraging to have men from many 

different age groups interacting and getting to know one 

another better. I found it to be a good time to learn what 

God is doing in the lives of other brothers." 

—Doug Roberts 

"Unfortunately, we men often 'neglect to meet together' 

(Heb. 10:25). The Men’s Retreat is an incredible time to 

make connections and begin 'encouraging one another.' 

Hope to see you there!" 

—Joseph Holland 

"Last year's Men's Retreat was great. I was able to hang 

out with some old friends and make some new ones. I look 

forward to attending again this year." 

—Skeets Simonis

BRANCHES August 2016

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