Mary Dailey Brown, co-founder, president and CEO of SowHope, has impacted more than 56,000 women in the world by funding projects in 15 countries.Mary Dailey Brown's work as a White House staff photographer for Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but she wouldn't trade that job for what she's doing now as co-founder of the international charitable organization, SowHope.

Since its founding in 2006, SowHope's programs have impacted more than 56,000 impoverished women living in 15 Third World countries.

Hope for a prosperous future

By "impoverished," Dailey Brown is referring to women who earn $2 a day or less.

(l to r) Jeff Hoos is the president and Paul Klokkert the vice president of Calvary Carpet Care.Three years ago, Jeff Hoos and his wife, Sarah, moved from Illinois to Holland without completely knowing what God had in store for them. Jeff was certain, though, the Lord was leading him in far different direction from the one he knew as the owner of Classic Carpet Care, in Arlington Heights, Ill.

"We were discerning God's leading," said Hoos. "The Lord said to move out here to Holland. We didn't know exactly what we would do. We thought maybe we'd enroll in a Bible college."

Fletcher Cochran is the executive director of the Employment and Resource Network and Ken Soper is its founder and Master Career Counselor.Thankfully, the Great Recession is in the rearview mirror of history. But there is still work to be done for those who want to learn how to remain employable, are searching for a new career, or need to know how to find work, say the founder and executive director of the nondenominational ministry, Employment and Resource Network (EaRN).

"Unemployment is very low, but that doesn't tell the whole story," said Fletcher Cochran, executive director of EaRN. "We still have people in transition who want to identify the vocation that is right for them and develop search plans."

West Michigan Christian News writer Terry DeBoer surveys the landscape for the area's faith-based arts and entertainment events over the coming month. Here are his three highlights for January.

Ever notice how New Year’s Resolutions are often about how we wish we were different?  Lose weight.  Lower golf handicap.  Watch less TV.  Quit smoking.  Quit drinking.  Quit less-than-useful habit du jour.  Get out of debt.  Off-load stuff accumulating in the basement, the attic, the garage.

The moral of the story is that a lot of us want to improve ourselves and our lives, or at least our general condition.  But we have this problem called the human predicament.  As Pogo famously said years ago, “We have met the enemy and he is us.”  It’s not family nor friends.  Not our environment.  Not even the economy that keeps us from fulfilling our dreams.  It’s us.

Guiding Light Mission’s Back to Work program director Matthew Holmes is in charge of sorting through the Keep GR Warm donations.So far, winter's cold snap has not invaded West Michigan like it has in previous years. However, the staff at Guiding Light Mission knows Jack Frost's raw chilliness is a momentary reprieve.

It's for that reason GLM recently launched its initiative called Keep GR Warm.

This is not the first year GLM has accepted donations of coats, blankets, gloves, hats and socks, said its executive director Stuart Ray.

As Cornerstone Church planned its services for Christmas Eve this year, it realized that more is better.

Between the three locations of the multi-site, Grand Rapids area church there are nine Christmas Eve services at times ranging from noon to 10 p.m.

"Because we are trying to reach people who typically don't attend church, we spread the service times out during the day to make it convenient rather than expecting the family to adjust their schedule around us," said Ken Nash, director of multi-site/worship and a teaching pastor.

A live/film event featuring a Women of Faith "experience" is coming to theatres in West Michigan this February.

The interdenominational Christian ministry – which for 20 years has hosted arena gatherings for women featuring prominent speakers, authors and music artists – is planning its first ever cinematic event at theatres nationwide, including multiplexes in Grand Rapids, Holland, Muskegon and Kalamazoo (see details below).

During 2015 Women of Faith (WOF) presented its "Farewell Tour" which included many of the ministry's most popular presenters such as speaker/authors Patsy Clairmont and Luci Swindoll and singer Sandi Patty.

Matthew West gets in the Christmas spiritSinger-songwriter Matthew West is back on board the giant Winter Jam tour, coming to VanAndel Arena on Sun. Jan. 3 (see details below).

The Christian music artist will perform more true-life-story songs from his latest CD, "Live Forever."

"The whole record theme is about moving forward," said West of songs such as "Day One" and "World Changers".

West's last three albums have all been based on testimonies found in true stories sent in by fans – gleaned from the tens of thousands of emails, letters and messages he's received. Many of the resulting songs have been assisted by videos introducing viewers to the people involved. Two examples are "Hello, My Name Is" (about Jason, a reformed drug addict) and "Forgiveness" (a mother who forgave the drunk driver who cuased a car crash that killed her daughter).

Degage’s Christmas store offers its patrons a place to buy gifts with dignity.Christmas is the time of year when people anticipate giving presents to loved ones. That same desire holds true for the homeless and disadvantaged who often can't afford to purchase gifts. Enter Degage Ministries, 144 South Division Avenue. The Heartside District ministry is hosting its Christmas Store on Dec. 16 and 17 for the people it serves.

All the merchandise cost $5 or less, said Liz Warners, Degage's volunteer and development coordinator. Items for sale range from comforters to coffee makers, soaps, cleansers, hairnets, hygiene products, candles and underwear.

It's that time of year again. The period when we take a moment and reflect on the awesome Christmas story that many people first remember hearing as little children. I thought it would be good for us to take a moment and go back to that childhood and contemplate this beloved writing.

"'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring..." Wait, wait, wait. See, that's what most people think of when they remember the Christmas story. But that's not the authentic account of Christmas.

Bestsellers – December, 2015

Fiction
1. Two Steps Forward – Sharon Brown
2. Taken – Dee Henderson
3. Painter's Daughter – Julie Klassen
4. Cup of Dust- Susie Finkbeiner
5. Story Keeper – Lisa Wingate
6. Chasing Sunsets – Karen Kingsbury
7. Photograph – Beverly Lewis
8. Come Rain or Come Shine – Jan Karon
9. War Room – Chris Fabry
10. Steams of Mercy – Lauraine Snelling

Sarah Morin (in foreground) is among 60 dancers are a recent rehearsal of Turning Pointe’s Christmas favorite, “The Promise.”Unlike many teens whose faces are found buried in their smartphones, dance students Hannah Beath and Sarah Morin willingly dedicate their spare time to mastering the cabriole, pirouette and other dance moves.

They are quick to say their dancing serves a higher purpose, which will be self evident when they are their young colleagues perform a Christmas favorite titled, "The Promise."

Christmas can easily become all about gifts and decorating and great food, but thanks to a new book even the simplest Christmas object can open the door for learning.

"Christmas Object Lessons" offers 45 Scripture-based lessons that help children (and adults) keep Jesus at the center of the season. From bells to cookie cutters, holly to ornaments, from snowmen to wrapping paper, author Verna Kokmeyer offers a short story, Scripture verse, discussion question, prayer and simple activity to add depth and meaning to these classic objects.

"I love that object lessons can make complex, theological concepts simple and easy to understand," said Kokmeyer. "Then, when you see that object later you remember that lesson."

Kokmeyer is no stranger to object lessons. She's been writing books full of them for two decades. She's written object lesson books for toys, animals and sports, with "Object Talks from Sports Kids Love" recently republished by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas ($9.95). LPC also publishes "Christmas Object Lessons" ($9.95), which is available locally at Baker Book House, 2768 E. Paris Ave. SE.

Lisa Blystra: “CBI is really demonstrating God’s love and sharing the truth of His Word.”Earlier this year, Lisa D. Blystra assumed the leadership helm at the Kentwood-based Crossroad Bible Institute because of the ministry's ability to point prison inmates and ex-offenders to a better future through its Bible correspondence courses thanks in part to its worldwide partnerships with churches and affiliates.

"My love for marginalized people and my passion to have churches reach out and realizing what Crossroad Bible Institute is doing so well are the reasons I sought this position," said Blystra, who in September was unanimously tapped by CBI's board of directors to serve as the nonprofit prison ministry's executive director.

West Michigan Christian web writer Terry DeBoer surveys the landscape for the area's faith-based arts and entertainment events over the coming month. Here are three highlights for December:

*Open Eyes Christmas Concert – A good dose of holiday hip-hop, with dance, DJs and spoken word featuring Beacon Light (aka Brandon Clahassey) and other area artists starts at 7 p.m. Fri. Dec. 11 at The Edge, 735 Ritzema Ct. SW, Grand Rapids. The Edge is a hip-hop church where Beacon Light is a worship leader. "Open Eyes" is the title of his forthcoming album. Other performers include Steven Malcolm, Mark Evans, Edify and Michael Nobody, all centering on a Christmas theme. Tickets range from $5 to $11.54. For more information visit online.

Bob WellsSome old and some new Christmas performances dot the West Michigan calendar in early December.

Musical director Chris Hansen says the annual "Hark Up" Christmas presentation is subtitled a "Symphonic Celebration of Hope."

"We have 35 string players with us, including the (Hudsonville) Unity Christian Orchestra," he said of the student ensemble directed by Sara Jager. Other guests include violinist Susan Mora of the GR Symphony, cellist John Smith and violist Brysien Beer.

The "Hark Up" production features hundreds of singers, dancers, instrumentalists and multi-media in an original show called "Sing A New Song," and is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4 and 5 and 3 p.m. Dec. 6 in DeVos Center for Arts and Worship at Grand Rapids Christian High School.

Following up last year's successful multi-artist collection, here comes "Gospel Goes Christmas Vol. 2," with songs of the holiday from an almost entirely different roster of top gospel artists.

A welcome addition is Marvin Sapp, a Grand Rapids pastor (Lighthouse Full Life Center Church) as well as a national recording and performing artist.

His song for the collection, "Holy," is taken from his Christmas album of two years ago, "Christmas Card."

Digital billboards are making their way into the world. Although old-fashioned billboards still dominate most major highways and thoroughfares, digital billboards can be seen locally along Interstate 196 near Holland and on U.S. 131 in Grand Rapids. They are very colorful and bright, but depending on what time you drive by, you may see a different ad than someone else. Your exposure to a certain advertisement can be hit or miss.

The Treasure Ken Thompson, of the First Reformed Church of Grandville, is about to begin a "Trek for Treasures", to help out World Mission, based in Grandville. This fund-raising effort will allow World Mission to get "Treasures", solar-powered audio Bibles, into remote parts of the world, including the 10/40 window. The Treasures are available in up to 4,500 languages. The solar panel on the unit allows the sun's rays or a light bulb to energize the player to play the gospel. One unit can reach as many as 144 people and many groups meet to listen to the Treasure. They are utilized by pastors in churches in these areas where so many of the people are oral learners.

A chaplain with Forgotten Man Ministries teaches biblical principles at a “God Pod.”Real change. A new attitude. Embracing the Gospel's "raw message."

The descriptions rapidly roll off the tongues of the inmates incarcerated at the Kent County Correctional Facility who've immersed themselves in the Forgotten Man Ministries' Biblical Life Principles Pods (BLPP), or "God Pods," as the inmates are known to call them.

Whichever term is used, the goals flow in the same direction: Showing men and women deep change is possible if they give the Lord a chance to operate in their lives, inside and out.

Gospel music fans from urban/contemporary to Southern have options during the Thanksgiving holiday week in West Michigan churches.

Gospel singer Tiff Joy takes the platform at 6:30 p.m. Tues. Nov. 24 at Revolution Christian Ministries, 5301 28th St. Ct. SE. No tickets are necessary.

Tiffany Joy McGhee (Tiff Joy is her stage name) burst onto the gospel music scene two years ago as the songwriter and soloist on "Amazing," a radio hit for Ricky Dillard & the New G's. The celebrated tune was nominated for both Grammy and Dove Awards and won a 2015 Stellar Award as Song of the Year.