Tim Bolding, Co-Director, coordinates the men’s classes and programs at Morgan County Jail and teaches class at the North Alabama Community Work Center (formerly Decatur Work Release) and Hamilton A & I (Aged and Infirmed). Two weekends ago, North Alabama Community Work Center hosted the 1st Kairos program (similar to an Emmaus walk on the outside) in the state of Alabama since Covid began. Along with 24 inmates, a large group of men from the North Alabama area gathered at the detention center to study and grow in the Lord. They were fed spiritually and physically, along with being fervently prayed over. The weekend was filled with a powerful and tangible feeling of the Holy Spirit at work. This month, there will be a half day seminar at the Hamilton A & I prison where 30 inmates will attend. We are expecting God to do some amazing work in the hearts of the inmates and the instructors attending.
Our Morgan County Jail classes continue to go well. We are fortunate to be able to offer the inmates faith-based classes and programs every day of the week. After the months of not being able to teach class because of Covid, the staff at the jail shared their appreciation for the classes and programs because they can see the difference it makes in the jail. Just a few weeks ago, 24 inmates were baptized and 9 more the following week. Churches are allowed to come and baptize those that are touched by the Word of God in their classes. Tuesday nights at the NCC, we have a Men’s Bible Study at 6pm. Tim Bolding picks up and brings 10-18 male trustees from the jail to join men from local churches, recovery programs, and businesses to study the Word together, fellowship and enjoy a meal. If you would like to attend our Men’s Bible Study, we would love to have you. We love our desserts from Bonnie Black and Cindy Griswold, our amazing cooks from Decatur Baptist Church, and those who jump in to help us out on occasion. Be a part of learning and spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
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The Neighborhood Christian Center has always worked to educate people and make disciples, but over the past few years we have become more intentional about developing our Education and Discipleship Ministries. Education and discipleship are investments that yield life-changing dividends in the lives of those we serve and for our community. Our staff and volunteers are currently teaching over 45 faith-based classes weekly at our Center and Transitional Homes, Morgan County Jail, Limestone County Jail, Limestone Correctional Facility, Falkville Carpenter’s Cabinet, System of Services (SOS), and North Alabama Community Based Facility and Work Center (formerly Decatur Work Release).
We have learned over time that our neighbors are in need of more than just physical assistance. Even though we continue to offer short-term help through our clothes closet, food pantry, holiday programs and more supporting ministries, we desire to develop sincere relationships and to be the compassionate hands and feet of Christ. After relationships are built, it affords us the opportunity to speak to our neighbors in need on a much deeper and spiritual level. We pray that God continues to use our staff and volunteers as we offer hope and healing in Christ through these faith-based classes and that we strive to further the Kingdom by investing in people’s lives – seeing lives being changed by the transforming power of Jesus Christ.
“Therefore, if any man be in Christ, the new creation has come; the old has gone, the new is here.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
The NCC provides many classes that are faith-based (where the Gospel is the focal point of the classes) coupled with skills to help them grow to be better spouses, parents, employees, citizens, and more has been effective throughout our community. We currently teach between 35-45 Bible studies and faith-based educational classes weekly
–Jobs for Life: Training program that teaches people not only how to get a job (through work ethic, character/integrity, filling out applications, making a resume, mock interviews, etc) but also keep a job
–Life Skills 101: Teaches foundational principles in areas of addiction, finances, relationships, employment, and education that will help steer our clients toward success and independence.
–Faith & Finances: Financial program that offers a context for low to moderate income people to learn best practices of financial literacy
–Powered for Life: Teaches youth the concept of key life principles/skills and promotes a sense of community
–Work Life: Biblically integrated job preparedness curriculum designed specifically for people from backgrounds of generational poverty. In addition to practical job skills, the curriculum empowers participants to recognize that God is at work in the world and that their jobs are a way of participating in that work
–Relapse Prevention: Gives biblical wisdom and insight into your temptations and provides tools for deepening your faith and confidence in God, while preventing relapse
–Inside Matters: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People with scripture
–Wounded Woman: Wounded women can step out of darkness into hope, regain their feet, restart their lives, recover their energy, and even reclaim their joy
–Life’s Healing Choices: Freedom from our hurts, hang-ups, and habits through eight healing choices that promise true happiness and life transformation
–Crossroads: No matter how many times someone has tried and failed, there really is a way through the addictive fog
–Cross Talk: A Daily Gospel for Transforming Addicts is a 45-Day devotional book designed to transform your thoughts that lead to addiction into gospel thinking that brings glory to God
–Every Woman’s Battle & Every Young Woman’s Battle: The only way women can survive the intense struggle for sexual integrity is by guarding not just your body, but your mind and heart as well
–Purpose Driven Life: Learning your purpose in life will help you understand why you are alive and God’s amazing plan for you
–Anger Management: Deals with the root issues of anger and effective, Biblical ways to handle anger
–On the Threshold of Hope: Dealing with Trauma of Childhood Sexual Abuse
–Relationships 101/Parenting Skills 101: These classes focus on healthy dating relationships, healthy marriages and parenting, step-parenting, and youth relationships
–Grief & Forgiveness Support Group: Offers hope and healing while working through issues of grief and forgiveness
-We also have Men’s & Women’s Discipleship Group and Bible Studies such as Molded by the Potter’s Hands, Sermon on the Mount, Hebrews, James, Malachi, Jonah, Philippians, Prodigal God, Crazy Love, 1st John, Forgotten God and many more.
If you are interested in participating in one of our classes, please contact the Center at 256-351-7633
