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It Takes Money to Make Money

Posted on 09 February 2012.

 

By J. R. Dalton
 
    As a twenty-something working at a bank, I know all too well how hard the “Gotta have money to get money!” fact of life can be. The same principle applies to credit, “You have to have credit to get credit.” Not having it can be a big hold up in your growth as a responsible adult. It can keep you from taking off in the direction you want in your life, your future family, and your budding career. This crippling paradox springs up again and again when you are trying to make a life for yourself, but there are ways to get the credit monster to be a happy little credit puppy. I hope that the trendy youngsters and thrift crunching kids with swagger out here in Central will appreciate another youth giving some tips on establishing credit. Here is a mash-up of the research I’ve found by Dave Ramsey and my own life experience thus far which I’ve put into 5 easy steps.
    Step One: Get a Job  - The basic fact of the matter that we are dealing with is that it takes money to get money’. So it is imperative that you are bringing income to the kitchen table when trying to cook up your credit feast. This means you need to have a bank account, pay your taxes, and learn to manage that money whether you pay bills or not.
    Step Two: Save Money – There are two reasons that you will want to save money. Reason A: Because you need to have cushion for all of life’s little circumstances. After all, MasterCard can’t fix your flat tire or the heat in your car mid-winter, especially if you don’t have the credit to get a “MasterCard”.  Reason B: Because you are going to want a CD (Certificate of a Deposit). A Certificate of Deposit, in laymen’s terms, is an account with a bank which you open by giving them a sum of money to hold onto. Banks will actually pay you a percentage of whatever you gave them just to let them hold onto your money for you! 
    Step Three: Get a CD – Back in the 80’s CD interest return rates actually skyrocketed to nearly 20% at some competitive banks, but don’t get too excited since the average interest rate for CD’s today is less than a percent. The goal, however, is not to make money off of the interest your CD makes, but instead to use the CD as collateral for your first small installment (loan). Collateral is what you give a bank to keep if you were to not make your payments. Ergo, it would be better to have a CD be your ‘collateral’ than your car. Besides, the money you put into a CD is still yours once the Certificate matures.
    Step Four: Apply for a Loan – Start with a loan rather than applying for credit cards. Credit cards are a great way to establish “revolving” credit; however, they should be avoided if you aren’t yet disciplined with budgeting and spending. So apply for that loan – you never know what you’ll get… until you try. (but don’t be excessive; wait to get feedback from one bank before you go to every other one on the block. The credit bureau displays every time you apply for some sort of credit-necessary item, e.g., a new cell phone, car, or loan.)  
    Step Five: Slowly Make Payments – Most credit card providers only look for 6 months worth of established credit. That means that once you’ve taken all of the above steps, it won’t be long before the offers for more credit will come in. (Be careful though, not every offer is a wise investment. It’s important to have other, older, and wiser people in your life to ask questions in these situations.)
    Bonus Step Six: Bask in the Glory of Paying Off Your First Loan – This may be a year or two later when the time comes that you have made your payments and officially have enough reputable credit with the bank. I have successfully paid off two loans and look forward to earning more credit in the future. For now, I hope that these tips will help other young people like me to get the ball rolling on the road to their future.

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Letter to the Editor – To Loop or Not to Loop: Central’s Choice

Posted on 26 January 2012.

 

For the past five years Woody Jenkins, editor of the Central City News, has been warning Central about the Baton Rouge Loop.  In editorials and bleak headlines he has prophesized the loop “would deliver all the problems of the nation right to the heart of Central,” and “forever change the community for the worse,” leading to “criminals passing through, illegal aliens, drugs, prostitution, pollution and noise.” 
 
According to Louisiana State Law, Central is given the right to prohibit the construction of the Baton Rouge Loop through any part of Central.  House Bill 411 adopted by Louisiana House of Representatives in 1997 gives cities protection and recourse.  Woody Jenkins, the Central City News editor and a resident of Baton Rouge, served as a State Representative in 1997 when this law was adopted, and it states in part:
H.B. NO. 411: §.2028; Para. A
 
“An authority created and established pursuant to this Chapter may only construct new additional highway toll and/or transitway toll facilities under the terms and conditions set forth in this Chapter, with the prior express written consent of the affected governing bodies within the geographical boundaries of the authority after a public hearing.  Said facilities must be part of the approved transportation plan and program of the department and the local metropolitan planning organization, where applicable.”
 
I must ask, did former State Representative and current Central City News Editor Woody Jenkins print headlines and articles stirring up fear and controversy all the while knowing the Loop could not be built through Central without Central’s permission?  Or, did then State Representative Woody Jenkins, whom I supported, simply not know what the legislation meant when he voted for its adoption?
 
- John E. Green III
 
Central Speaks encourages letters to the editor form Central Citizens and may choose to print letters on pertinent topics which are responsible and accurate.  Central Speaks also encourages letters from an opposing viewpoint.  The claims of fact made in the preceding letter are accurate.

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Let’s All Get Mad!

Posted on 13 January 2012.

Commentary by Dave Freneaux

I am neither for nor against a toll road in or near Central. I am, however, against higher taxes, against underfunding schools, against increased traffic problems and for solutions which solve such issues while protecting the Central Community.

Tuesday night’s Council Meeting will likely rank as one of the biggest wastes of the time and resources of the people of Central in the past 18 months.  (Passing a resolution in November to try to control who sits where at Council meetings takes a close second in that it was just as useless, but at least it did not involve much publicity and debate.) It has been clearly established that Louisiana State Law says that no toll road can be built through the City of Central without Central’s prior written consent, and after a public meeting is held on the issue. Yet, Council Member Messina insisted on sponsoring a resolution expressing the Central City Council’s disapproval of the Baton Rouge Loop Project. With the support of Council Members Washington and LoBue the resolution passed, and it will accomplish nothing.  But let’s not consider the facts, let’s just get MAD.

Want to get MAD? Let someone tell you they are going to destroy your community by cutting the city in half with a 1,500 foot wide walled toll road.  Want to get MADDER? Do a little research and find out that the proposed toll road would instead look more like the four-lane section of Joor Road. Want to get REALLY MAD? Find out that you got mad for nothing, because no toll road can be built without Central’s prior written permission. Then realize that Central’s City Council should be spending its time understanding the laws already on the books to protect Central rather than creating a meaningless resolution to complain about something that can’t happen anyway.

Want to get MAD? Let some Council Members and a newspaper tell you that you need to give up your Tuesday to come tell the City Council to support a vote for a resolution to stop the Loop. Want to get MADDER? Come to the meeting and spend two hours listening to neighbors argue with each other and further divide this community, only to find out that the Resolution you are arguing about has NO force of law and is only the opinion of the three Council Members needed to pass it. Want to get REALLY MAD? Watch the Council pass the resolution by the same 3-2 margin that has prevailed in almost every controversial issue in Central since this Council took office in 2010. Understand also that when the REAL time comes for Central’s City Council to vote on whether to approve a toll road, these five men may not even be serving on that Council.

Want to get MAD? Do some research and understand that if our School System paid its pension liabilities each year it would be losing over $1 Million a year.  Want to get MADDER? Realize that the loss will grow every year and eventually that pension liability, currently about $6 Million and growing by over $1 million a year, will have to be paid. Want to get REALLY MAD? Look back in 10 years when our property taxes rise or our schools suffer financially and remember that a road skirting the north edge of Central could have brought much needed sales tax revenues to support our Children’s education and keep our property taxes down.

Want to get MAD? Watch every year as traffic congestion gets worse in Central. Want to get MADDER? Understand that most of Central’s traffic problems are caused not by cars IN Central, but by cars driving THROUGH Central. Want to get REALLY MAD? Understand that wider roads and more roads in Central are the only solutions to traffic congestion, and that such roads are expensive, and that a toll road constructed where Central wants it built could mean traffic relief as well as $250 million in infrastructure at no cost to the taxpayers.

Want to get MAD? Go through the minutes of the Council meetings since July 1, 2011 and see how much of our City’s time and resources have been wasted on infighting and needless grandstanding on issues that have no legislative merit. Want to get MADDER? Consider all of the work that does not get done while the bickering continues, work like planning for infrastructure, solving traffic issues, setting a direction for police protection, fixing the sign ordinance, or any number of things that actually ARE the Council’s job. Want to get REALLY MAD?  Come to the Council Meetings like Tuesday’s to watch Central’s City Council argue and grandstand for two hours about legislation that has no force of law and is really no more than opinion.  Let’s all find the next politically charged and meaningless resolution to fight about and start the whole divisive process over again. Let’s All Get Mad!

Actually, I have a better idea. Let’s all ask our Council Members and the news media to stop grandstanding and sensationalizing and start working together, doing real research, solving real problems and finding common ground and productive ways to help Central grow.

Posted in Editorial/Op1 Comment

The Loop, Christmas, and LSU Football

Posted on 22 December 2011.

 

An Editorial by Dave Freneaux
 
So it is Christmas and LSU will soon be playing for the National Championship, but what do those things have to do with the Baton Rouge Loop?  Simple…it’s all about huddles and presents.  Let me explain.
 
LSU’s defense will stand at the line of scrimmage and wait as Alabama huddles and talks about what play to run and how they will try to gain yardage.  They will break the huddle and as they line up over the ball LSU will try to guess whether it is a run or a pass and who will get the ball.  Imagine now that Alabama invites Tyrann Matthieu to join the huddle and help call the play.  Alabama surely will not do that, but the Capital Area Expressway Authority will.
 
Why should the City of Central denounce the loop?  We now know that there can be no toll road through Central without our approval, so why not join them in the huddle and see if they will call a play we like?  Instead of passing a resolution condemning the Loop, why not ask for a seat on the Board of Directors of the CAEA?  From there perhaps Central could influence a route for the toll road through less developed areas of the city which could attract businesses, build infrastructure, and provide much needed tax dollars to support our growing schools.  I am not saying Central should approve a toll road, but I am saying that Central should request a seat at the table and see what the possibilities are. 
 
So what about those Christmas presents?  We will probably each get at least one gift this year that we really don’t want.  Who really wants a neon green clip-on tie?  Smile, say thanks for the gift, then go to Walmart tomorrow and return it.  No one says you have to wear it!  And so it is with the Loop.  It is a fact  that Central needs more roads, wider roads, or both.  It is also a fact that Central does not have the money to build the roads we need.  Now along comes the CAEA with a present all wrapped up with a bow on it.  I say let’s unwrap it and at least look at it.  If it is a neon green clip-on tie, don’t wear it.  If we like what we see in the box, Merry Christmas!  And, if we at least go sit at the table and help the CAEA pick out the present, it might be that perfect road we always wanted, complete with improved traffic flow, infrastructure, and tax dollars to educate our children.
 
For the record, I am personally supportive of roadway additions and improvements which preserve the character of the Central community while alleviating traffic, improving our infrastructure, and broadening our sales tax base to support our City and School System.  This is neither an endorsement nor a rejection of the CAEA Loop project, it is simply an encouragement to consider all possible solutions and to choose wisely.
 

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Sweeten Things Up

Posted on 20 December 2011.

 

By J.R. Dalton
 
Have you ever made sweet tea? If not, then humor me for the moment because this is good. Having gratitude in a relationship is like trying to sweeten tea. If you incorporated your sugar while the tea was still steaming hot, then it dissolved and you would have had no problem with it tasting sweet once it cooled. On the other hand if you tried to stir in the sugar once the tea had already been chilled, the sugar would likely swirl around for a few moments before gradually floating to the bottom of your container. Imagine that gratitude is the sugar or “sweetness” in your relationships, the container is life, and the tea is your relationship. When the relationship started, it was hot and romantic and the sweet things were easy to mix in, but as time rolled on the relationship cooled and the sweetness settled until those times you chose to stir it up again; perhaps it was a date, a love letter just because, or a day inside to just spend with each other. Showing appreciation is the continuous revisiting of those moments, that first love romance, and the kindness where you stirred the tea again and maybe even threw in more sugar. 
 
If you’re looking to add some flavor, maybe even more sweetness, into your relationships you don’t need to go looking in the latest issue of Cosmo or read too deeply into the family at church that you have always seen smiling. Given that being grateful is as simple as expressing appreciation, it isn’t something you’d have to prepare super long for or practice once a year on a holiday. Instead let Christmas be your inspiration to reach for a deeper level of sweetness in your relationships. That goes for friendships and family connections as well as romantic relationships. Gratitude has been found, by Psychologists at Vu University in Amsterdam, to be one of the leading elements to happy and affectionate couples. Though concepts of communication and trust largely contribute to healthy relationships, gratitude is equally as much a fundamental aspect of relational development, and during the holiday season talking about thankfulness is a given. 
 
Dr. Jeremy Nichols, Ph.D. also surmised that a healthier cycle of loving behavior could be increased among platonic and romantic relationships if people were to actively express appreciation and assess the feeling of gratitude in themselves. This is as simple as the age old saying puts it. Don’t take the little things in life for granted.” Dr. Nichols believes that if we are to change the flow of love in our culture we must start by recognizing “the efforts of others that are costly to them and beneficial to us” (Sept. 2011) i.e. gratitude. 
 

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J.R. Dalton: Story of My Life

Posted on 14 December 2011.

 

Dear Central Speaks,

I am 21 years old now, but I moved to Central when I was 19; that was only after living in every low income neighborhood in Baton Rouge since I ran away at 16. I had never even heard of your town until high school when I started dating a girl who lived off of Sullivan Rd. After a few months of hanging around out here, while she and I were still dating, I realized that this was the sort of place I wanted to live in. At that time I was mixed up in the sort of life parents try their hardest to detour their children from. I was addicted, unenthused with life, and found myself breaking promises and disappointing my family. I remember finding hope outside one of your churches out here and from that point I made a step in the right direction.

 It was not until I had dropped out of school and lived in the real world for a few years that I developed the means to make the move. It happened in January of 2008, when a buddy of mine that lived off of Hooper needed a roommate and posted “Only $240/ mo. Rent” into his Facebook status. I gave him a call and moved in not long after. I worked a little at Raising Canes the first year and by the time I turned 19 I was a shift Manager at the McDonald’s on Joor. I struggled with what I wanted to do and who I wanted to be.

I am steadily approaching 22, have several grey hairs that I’m strangely fond of, and have already lived two lives, only one of which I’m proud. Over the past few years I have been transformed, rebirthed, and corrected yet still I am faced with the aftermath of my former-self. Still, I am odder than who I was raised to be so I’ve become a socially accepted black-sheep in my family and circle of friends–no less black yet loved so much. Now that I’ve finally gotten into college and have some real-life experience behind me I have the full support of my family and friends.

College was the furthest thing from what I thought I was capable of, and growing up I had no real encouragement to think differently. I wanted to grow, learn, be someone great, and I knew that in the world today, getting a degree would be my ticket. Now after so long being out of the academic ring, I’m enrolled and I’m already enjoying learning about those very things I thought I’d never use after school.

It has been nearly 3 and a half years since that move here and though I have too many fast food restaurants on my resume, I’m still more than motivated to be something better. After much work, many bills, and hard times without a direction, I have learned how to keep a job and upgraded from follower to leader. I have been working at local bank and now have every bill paid forward with at least 6 months- worth of cushion. I have few worries and many hopes. I have been playing music and doing gigs at most of your local bars. I have a beautiful girlfriend now, whom I have been dating for nearly two years and if I stay on the same financial track it will not be long before I marry her. Abe Lincoln said, “I do not think much of a man that is not wiser today than he was yesterday.” I have come a long way from my teen years and through it I have gained purpose and a vision for what I want to do with my life.

So here I am. I want to write; maybe even be a journalist. I love reading and writing, though it’s not what I am known for. I am in college right now at BRCC and I hope that one day I can make something more out of my past than just memories, but for now, I’ll write.

I write because I want to speak. I speak because I want to be heard.

J. R. Dalton

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Reflections

Posted on 09 December 2011.

 

 
By J.R. Dalton
 
I was recently moved when I read the essay “Two Ways of Seeing a River” by Mark Twain. In it Twain gave an eloquent breakdown to all the beauty he saw on the Mississippi riverfront as a child. He noted how the simplest of things like the breaking of a wave in the wake of a steamboat looked or how a log floating downstream would completely grab hold of his curiosity and intrigue. By the second half of the essay, Twain digressed saying that he no longer saw the wonder or beauty on the river the way he used to, but that now he only saw each mark of Creation to be just a symptom of high tides and other deteriorations of nature. Twain concluded by saying that “the romance and beauty were all gone from the river.” He then gave a metaphor saying “I have pitied doctors from my heart,” “What does the lovely flush in a beauty's cheek mean to a doctor but a "break" that ripples above some deadly disease?” He began to wonder if this doctor had grown so intelligent in his education and occupation that he no longer saw freckles as beauty but as a natural deformity.
 
As a child, I ran and played outside all day. Every fall I’d climb into a pile of leaves to watch as one little ant would carry back food to his family. I followed the rolly-pollys and chased the squirrels through my backyard. I recall sitting in my grandmother’s lap and staring up at the flecks of gold and silver in her lavender eyes. There was so much wonder and beauty in my world as was in Twain’s. My question to you is, are you still captivated by the little things or have your jobs, worries, and responsibilities educated you so much that you have lost that passion for simple elegance? Is this the price of adulthood? Take some time this week to notice all of the wonderful things you were once curious about. Think about how those things changed you and never lose sight of what is truly beautiful in your life. 
 

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Opportunity Knocks

Posted on 06 December 2011.

 

By J.R. Dalton
 
Did you know that Thomas Edison still holds the world record for “most inventions” with 1,093 patents? Or that a man by the name of Philip Parker has written and published over 200,000 books. There are many remarkable people in the world that have done amazing things but what connects those people and their successes has been their ability to take the opportunities that others missed and make something happen. "So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8But since we belong to the day, let us be sober." (1Thess. 5:6-8) This is not aimed toward a decision to drink or not drink but instead to arouse you from the naptime your goals and ambitions have been taking. 
 
One big reason why those famed names have grabbed hold of opportunities is because they were looking for them. Simple enough, right? How can you see when the light turns green if your eyes are closed? Even more so for those who live here in Central, can you see when the light turns green if you are staring at a text or the Facebook app on your cell? So often we drift through our day unaware and in a daze, almost drunk, that the chances to do something of worth slip right through our fingers. Instead, we have to carry an intellectual sobriety and be ready for what comes our way. 
 
Yes, success comes after many failures but if you are alert and eager for the next possibility you may not have to suffer as many losses; thus, we have made the first progressive step towards success. The holidays are here and with the Daylight Savings switch we are all ready for sitting at home relaxing with family. Maybe your opportunity is in growing closer to loved ones, finally having that garage sale you’ve been telling yourself you’d one day get to, or maybe just being ready for what next year is going to bring. Start thinking about what you want in your life, relationships, and job and be ready and awake when the time comes and opportunity knocks.

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A Different Sort of Christmas

Posted on 22 November 2011.

 

By Mia Freneaux
 
There are many alternatives available in Central to your run-of-the-mill, made-in-China, found-at-the-mall gifts.  Here are a few suggestions that are not only creative, but support our local businesspeople and keep the tax dollar in our city, where it benefits our citizens and our schools.
 
Inspire your loved ones' talent with lessons.  Guitar lessons, piano lessons, voice lessons, art lessons, cheering and gymnastics lessons, martial arts lessons, dance lessons, even cake decorating, are all offered by residents of our city. 
 
Pander to your loved ones' comfort with gift certificates to their favorite local spa, nail salon, or massage therapist.
 
Delight their tastebuds with a gift certificate to one of Central's amazing restaurants.  Did you know our restaurants offer seafood, steaks, Mexican, Italian, Greek, and Chinese cuisine?  What a huge variety!  And all here within our city boundaries!
 
Let them enjoy the fun with a gift certificate to one of our painting parties, or paintball, or horseback riding, or community theater productions.
 
Give them a Sweet Treat with a gift certificate to one of our bakeries or ice cream or frozen yogurt parlors or smoothie shops.
 
Let them choose their own present with a gift certificate to one of our local boutiques - you'll know it's the right color and size!  Our retailers offer everything from jewelry to clothing to shoes to artwork to home decor to computers and games to tools to makeup to floral arrangements!
 
Buy them a service: a year of lawn care or lawn design, pool upkeep, car detailing, house cleaning, house painting, or pet grooming or boarding.
 
How about something unique?  Our local photographers are ready to record memories with a family portrait.  Or you can call the Art League of Central and commission an artist to create a piece of original art. 
 
It is hard to believe that we offer such a variety of gifts here in our own town.  Check out your Chamber of Commerce directory – you'll find many ideas there and best of all, you don't have to travel, fight traffic, stand in long lines, and get impersonal service.  Our retailers and business owners are all ready to serve you on a first name basis!  Help them, help yourself, and let Christmas be a joyful, stressfree season this year.
 
On another note, if you're planning that big family get together, don't forget our reception halls, caterers, and those offering party supplies such as space walks.  Let others do the work for you and you'll really enjoy the holidays!

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Mike and Denise Kelly – Loving by Example

Posted on 11 November 2011.

By DeeDee Dupree
 
    I met Mike and Denise nearly thirty years ago. Over the years, it has become abundantly clear this is a mighty, unbreakable couple, with the blessing of God upon their marriage. They live, love and learn God’s word every day. Recently celebrating their thirty-eighth wedding anniversary, I asked what their secret to a successful marriage was. Almost in unison, they answered, “Put Jesus first! Honor God. The couple that prays together stays together.” 
    Mike and Denise met in 1972 at Glen Oaks High school. Their upbringing and family differences were extensive.  Denise came from a Christian home with parents, Lucille and Denver Evans, whose marriage was strong and centered on the Lord. They have been married nearly sixty years and are the example that Denise modeled her own marriage after. In the beginning, Mike was not serving the Lord, but through prayers and divine intervention, he dedicated his life to God. “He was the desire of my heart,” Denise stated fondly. They were married in 1973, only a year after they began dating. They are now the proud parents of five kids, five grandkids and one on the way. 
    They have been long time Central residents and made Journey Church their home for worship in 2008. They were determined to find a church that the whole family could be a part of. This family truly exemplifies the spirit of volunteerism that the central Community is known for.  When asking other central couples how they would describe Mike and Denise, they simply replied, “Perfect!” I asked what they thought about that and they stated no one person or relationship is perfect. They strive to be an example to other couples, but do not pretend to see everything or every situation exactly the same. As potential conflicts arise, they go to God first. They do not wait to see if they can fix it on their own. They know God can and will bring them through any situation. 
    With over 60% of marriages failing these days, I wanted to see what advice they would have for newlyweds or couples considering marriage. “Couples of all ages and in any stage of their marriage can benefit from a 6 disc series called The Song of Solomon.  It is by Tom Nelson and can even be found on itunes,” Mike suggested. If each household will honor God, and one another, there is no place for the devil to destroy the marriage. In listening to them, it is apparent that they truly enjoy living life, they do not take each other for granted and they treat each other in the same manner they did when they first tried to seek the attention and favor of the other. 
    Denise tells couples of all ages, to keep the 3 A’s in their relationship. ATTENTION, AFFECTION AND APPRECIATION. “That is a daily requirement. Choose to be happy, pray for one another and always encourage each other.  Take care of yourself and your appearance, keep the spark alive, look good for each other and give compliments,” she suggested. “I also believe that couples need to take their vows seriously. Never go into a marriage with the mindset, well if it doesn’t work out, we can just get a divorce. Know your marriage is for a lifetime before saying those vows to one another. Be determined to make it work because it is a promise to God.”
    I asked Denise to describe her husband Mike and she replied, “He exemplifies 1 Corinthians 13:4. He is patient, kind, he does not boast, he honors others, he is not easily angered. He treats me with respect and tells me how much he loves me every day. He is a genuine man. He lives his witness every day. God blessed me beyond measure.”  She also stressed how important it was to set an example to your children through your own marriage.
    With God’s love and guidance, couples can break generational curses of divorce. I had the privilege of speaking with their daughter Joni and she reinforced what an example they were to her. She has stated she would not want to settle for anything less that what she sees in her parents' marriage.  She loves the way her father treats her mother and hopes to always have that in her own relationships. I personally feel that is the highest compliment she could have given them. I also asked a dear friend of theirs, Dena Arnone, to describe the couple. She said, “They are a great example of God’s perfect plan for a successful marriage. I am blessed by their friendship.”
    When I asked Mike to describe Denise, without an ounce of hesitation he stated, “I treat her as my queen.  I’ve nicknamed her P31, (referring to the scripture Proverbs 31). She is a virtuous, Godly woman. She lives up to every aspect of that scripture. She is a wonderful example to my children and to members of our church.  We have a home that honors God. We both give 100% to our marriage and I am proud to be her husband. She is my best friend.”
    Those that know them best say they have never seen this couple argue or belittle one another in any way. Their relationship is a miracle; they give no place to the devil. They teach others with their actions instead of words. They don’t react to worldly things, they simply respond with God’s love. They believe in treating others the way they want to be treated. The first thing they say to their children or other couples in need of advice is, “Lets pray about It.”  They believe there is always a solution in HIS Word. God has the answers and wants to give it to us. He wants to restore the many broken marriages in and out of the Central Community. He is a God of second chances. God is their source for a successful marriage. 
 
I am personally thankful to know this exemplary couple.
Mike and Denise Kelly,
enjoying God’s Gift of Marriage

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