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Business Breakfast Encourages Faith In Uncertain Times

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By BARBARA ROUTEN

Tribune correspondent

Published: June 21, 2008

BRANDON - Members and guests of Christian Business Connections met for a Brandon Prayer Breakfast on June 9 at Center Place Fine Arts and Civic Association.

David J. O'Brien Jr., president of SurvTech Solutions Inc. in Tampa and Orlando, opened the meeting with a prayer. Manuel Diaz, general manager and chief financial officer of McCullagh and Scott Construction in Brandon and an ordained minister, spoke on "Leading in an Uncertain Marketplace."

Diaz "encouraged all to look to God in these troubling times, for he is our source," said Connections member Cynthia Pinckney, head of the Brandon-based Cynthia Pinckney Ministries nonprofit outreach program.

Diaz said "we should build a foundation like the apostle Paul by being servers, trust God and not flesh, persevere, be filled with joy, slow to anger, allow our circumstances to strengthen our faith. And he also gave us five points to remember in the workplace: Be prayerful, be pliable, position yourself, be practical and be powerful.

"The purpose of the prayer breakfast is to provide an opportunity for all Christian business people to come together and listen to an inspirational message, pray for our community and network with other Christian business people in a way that honors our Lord," Pinckney said. She led the group in prayer for "our government, cities, schools, leaders, pastors, neighbors and friends. ... All glory goes to God."

The group meets from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Mondays at Mimi's Cafe, 804 Providence Road, Brandon.

For information, go to www .christianbusinessconnections .com.

Retreat Set For Inspirational Writers
DOVER - Christian authors Ruth Carmichael Ellinger of Brandon and Debora M. Coty of Seffner will hold a Hillsborough Inspirational Writers Workshop for beginning, intermediate and advanced writers from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 4 at Cross Creek Ranch, 12950 Wheeler Road E., Dover. The theme is "Touching Lives Through the Written Word."

Session topics include "A Writer's Journey: Traversing Pinnacles and Potholes on the Road to Publication"; "Beginning the Marathon"; "Writing Great Fiction"; "Avoiding the Slush Pile/Writing the Killer Query"; and "Promoting Yourself, Marketing Your Work."
Ellinger is the author of the popular Christian books "Wild Rose of Promise" and "Wild Rose of Lancaster" and an inspirational speaker and Bible instructor. She was selected writer of the year in 2006 by American Christian Writers and is president and founder of the Brandon Christian Writers group.

Coty has written for Christian magazines, writers' journals and devotionals. Her novel, "The Distant Shore," reached the top of the Vintage Romance Publishing best-seller list within three months of publication. She also contributed to "Grit for the Oyster: 250 Pearls of Wisdom for Aspiring Writers," which will be released by Vintage Spirit this fall.

One of her goals for the workshop, Coty said, "is to impart hope to other reluctant, aspiring people too fearful to try something new" - not necessarily writing.

"If I can begin a successful new career at age 45 with no training, no experience but lots of desire, so can you," she said.

Cost is $75 per person before Sept. 1, $90 after that. Lunch and snacks will be included.

Checks may be made payable to Ruth C. Ellinger/HIWW or Debora M. Coty/HIWW and mailed to Ruth C. Ellinger, 1405 Lithia-Pinecrest Road, Brandon FL 33511. The sender's name, address, e-mail address and an indication of whether he or she is a beginner or intermediate/advanced writer should be sent with the check.

For details, contact Coty at gracenotes@deboracoty.com or Ellinger at (813) 685-7387 or writer@ruthellinger.com.

Drive For Iraqi Kids Nets 400 Soccer Balls

BRANDON - The Kick for Nick soccer ball drive, organized by David Baumgartner in April at the Brandon Area Youth Soccer League complex in Brandon, netted almost 500 balls to send to U.S. soldiers to give to Iraqi children.

"Awesome" is how Melissa Howard, a member of the Brandon Area Youth Soccer League board of directors, described the drive's success. She is grateful for the community's response.

She said BAYSL is trying to arrange for shipment of the balls to Iraq and could use some financial support for that effort.

The Kick for Nick project honors the memory of Army Pfc. Nicholas "Nick" A. Madaras of Connecticut, a young soldier stationed in Iraq. He had noticed how important soccer was to Iraqi children and planned to have his family send some soccer balls for the kids to play with.

He was killed in action in Iraq before the balls were shipped. His father, Bill Madaras, started Kick for Nick to keep alive his son's wish.

An e-mail from Madaras described his most recent Kick for Nick shipment to Iraq, a box of 30 balls and a pump. The soldier who received the balls, 1st Lt. Justin Chabalko, wrote to Madaras on June 8.

"Wonderful news, I have received all of the balls," Chabalko wrote. "NBC News came out with us for two days and filmed us handing out your soccer balls. ... Thank you again for what you do; your support is invaluable to me and my men, and as always Nick is in each one of our hearts."

Checks to help with shipping costs may be mailed to BAYSL at the J.C. Handley Athletic Complex, 3104 S. Kings Ave., Brandon FL 33511, Attention: Kick for Nick.

For information on the local soccer ball drive, contact Howard at mbhoward5@ verizon.net or Baumgartner at kick4nick08@yahoo.com.

For details about Kick for Nick, go to www.kickfornick .com.

Send news and photos of community interest to Barbara Routen at The Tampa Tribune, 505 W. Robertson St., Brandon FL 33511, e-mail neighbors@tampabay.rr .com or call (813) 657-4531.

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