.png)
#ROOTED2RISE​
Psalm 1:3 | “They shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth fruit in its season; whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever they do shall prosper.”
​​
As we begin the year under the theme #Rooted2Rise, January invites us to look beneath the surface of our lives. The Apostle Paul teaches in Colossians 2:6–7 that a flourishing faith is formed over time. We are called to be rooted and built up in Christ, established before we expand, so that our lives remain steady and resilient even in shifting seasons and revolutionary times.
​
Spiritual discipline is not about rigid rule-keeping or control. It is about shaping a life ordered by love, justice, and freedom. Jesus made the foundation unmistakably clear in Mark 12:30–31. We are to love the Lord our God with our whole self, heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. These are not abstract ideals. They are rules for daily living that shape how we pray, how we speak, how we forgive, and how we show up for one another and for the world God so loves.
​
January’s Root Check calls us to honest reflection. What anchors us when life feels uncertain? What habits nurture our spirits rather than drain them? How prayer, Scripture, and service deepen our roots so that we can rise with courage, clarity, and purpose.
​
Seven Ways We Practice Rooted Living
-
Daily prayer, creating space to listen for God’s voice.
-
Scripture reading, allowing the Word to form our thinking and guide our choices.
-
Fasting, releasing distractions so our focus can be renewed.
-
Service, loving our neighbors through acts of justice and compassion.
-
Generosity, trusting God by giving faithfully.
-
Community accountability, walking the journey together.
-
Sabbath rest, honoring our limits, and receiving God’s grace.
​
This season of recommitment unfolds alongside the national observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday, reminding us that spiritual discipline and public witness belong together. Inspired by the faith and courage of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, we remember that a life rooted in love must rise in action for justice, dignity, and peace.
​
In January 2026, beyond our worship services, Magnolia will live this calling both spiritually and publicly. We will participate in the following:
-
Sunshine Cafe at the Statesboro Food Bank on January 6, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.
-
Behold, A Night of Poetry on Thursday, January 15, 2026, at the Averitt Center at 7:00 p.m.
-
Youth Prayer Breakfast on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at the Williams Center, Georgia Southern University, at 8:00 a.m.
-
King Parade on Monday, January 19, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.
-
Community Observance Program at Elm Street Church of God at 1:00 p.m., featuring Pastor Johnson as the Keynote Speaker.
​
As we fast, pray, remember, and serve together, we deepen our roots in faith and love. And as we do, we prepare not simply to endure the year ahead, but to rise grounded, faithful, and free, bearing fruit that blesses our community and honors God.
#ROOTED2RISE​
Our theology in practice is simple: to be rooted in God’s love and to rise in God’s image — a people whose branches reach wide enough to shelter all whom grace has planted near us.
―Pastor Francys Johnson
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King did not come to us as abstract moral philosophers. They came to us as a Baptist preacher and a First Lady of the movement, shaped by the rhythms of the Black church, formed in Sunday School rooms and revival tents, and disciplined by a tradition that still trusts that God speaks into history. Their faith was not ornamental. It was formative. It trained the heart, sharpened the conscience, and prepared them to stand when standing carried a cost.​
Their courage was not improvised. It was cultivated. Long before microphones and marches, they stood in pulpits where Scripture and song were not performative but proclaimed as a living word—one that judges nations, consoles the afflicted, and refuses to leave the world as it is.
​​
Together, they embodied a Baptist faith that knew worship must bear fruit in public life. Learn more.
