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My mother said to Dr. Shamish, “We have three… wooooo-nderful children. And none of them has ever given us annnny trouble.” (Ask Amy to do her Marmie impersonation. It’s perfect!) When my mother repeated this adulation the third time, during the doctor’s maybe-seven-minute evaluation, he looked across the bed at me and smiled.

“This is your son?” he asked her. “Yeees. This is Russ – and his wife, Amy (Mama pointed), and they will be with me all night.”

“Well,” the young, “Cubish” doctor said (He told us his name is Hebrew. His mother is from Cuba. His father is Jewish!), “Well… if they are staying all night with you, they are wonderful children. You would not believe how many people I see in the hospital who have no one staying with them.”

On Monday afternoon I got a text from my sister. My 92-year-old mother had fallen. (And, no, Dr. Shamish, she was not using her rollator when she fell!) The nice, young EMT said she was sure it was a broken hip. Long story, short, Amy and I spent a “restful” Monday night in two of the plush, Naugahyde reclining hospital chairs, that come with the price of the room, when you book a night at Baptist Hospital, Easley, South Carolina! Traveling I-85 to SC Highways 153 and 123 brought back a lot of memories from our years at the Baptist boys camp above Pickens and our five years in Clemson.

We got here about 10:00pm, and we’ve been here ever since. My sister joined us today after lunch, and my brother came after a couple Principal meetings he could not skip. They stayed the afternoon until we could line up the schedule, making sure one of my mother’s “three… wooooo-nderful children,” (or some combination of her wonderful in-laws), will be here as long as she is here. One of us will be here.

Don’t get me wrong – we’re not that wonderful. I’m just having a little fun quoting a drugged-up mother with a broken hip! We do believe, however, that no one needs to be in any hospital room alone. Ever. Someone needs to help listen to the doctor, to make sure the nurse is, in fact, giving the right medications (this is no critique of nurses – but everyone makes mistakes, and we are ultimately responsible for our own healing). Someone needs to insist the patient eats the supper brought to the room and make sure the 92-year-old doesn’t try to climb out of the bed and head for the door (three times while I’ve been typing these words!). Someone needs to be there – just to make sure no one is lying in a bed alone, afraid, confused, wanting or needing, and with no one to ask.

So, that’s where we’ll be – this is where Amy and I will be: right here at my mother’s side, until our shift is over, and someone else can be here.

We’re not that wonderful – but being here is. - Russ

PS… Not everyone has three wonderful children. That’s why God gave us Church. You may need to be there for someone who is not your mother. It’ll be wonderful for you, too.

One of the ways Park Road has made a significant difference in the community is through our partnership with Starmount Academy of Excellence. Starmount is a CMS Title I school with a population that is over 70% Hispanic. If you have not yet experienced the joy of being part of this ministry, the School Work Team currently has several opportunities to plug in.

Book-A-Palooza

George Miles leads this project, which allows Starmount students (PreK–5) to select three books to keep for free. Volunteers are needed Tuesday, March 31, to unpack books, and Wednesday, April 1, to help students select books and pack up the remaining books. Sign up by clicking here:

Book Drive Volunteers: Book-A-Palooza – April 2026

Snack Bag Packing

Karen Mayer will coordinate packing parties in the Youth Building from 9:00–11:00 a.m. on the following dates: March 24, April 29, and June 4. Five volunteers are needed at each event to pack 100 snack bags. Contact Karen here.

Stay tuned for more opportunities as the school year winds down.

Sunday, March 15 | 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Location: Parking lot behind the church (off Ashcraft)

Everyone is invited to take part in our upcoming PRBC Blood Drive, hosted by OneBlood and sponsored by the Men’s Work Connection Group. The Big Red Bus will be on site for donations — come out and help make a life-saving difference!

How to Participate:

• Visit oneblood.org and search for blood drives in ZIP code 28209 on 3/15/2026 to schedule your appointment.
• Walk-ups are also welcome on a first come, first served basis.

Questions? Contact Kevin Kline via email or 704-771-6319.

The senior adults of the church are looking forward to the next VSP (Very Special People) luncheon on Thursday, March 19, at noon in Helt Hall. We will enjoy a delicious meal followed by a short program. Then Daniel Miles will entertain us. If you've never attended VSP, please give us a try. Where else can you get delightful fellowship, a good meal, excellent entertainment, and perhaps win a table centerpiece, all for $8?

Make reservations by noon Tuesday, March 17, by signing the list in Helt Hall on Sundays, calling the church office at (704) 523-5717, or emailing Max Carroll.

For Read Across America Day, members of the Myers Park HS football team came to read at PRBC Child Development Center. It was difficult to tell if our preschoolers or the football team had more fun! The boys read stories, ate breakfast with us and played with the children on the playground. We plan to have them back again soon! 

Fresh air, fresh food, new friends! Garden plots are available in the PRBC Community Garden—no experience needed. Plots are $75.00 a year. Email parkroadgarden@gmail.com if you are interested. Claim your plot today and start gardening. See you in the garden!

This Saturday, March 14 will be a busy day for Park Road volunteers! Some of us will be in the mountains helping to make progress on Jennifer’s house that weekend. Others will be hosting Room in the Inn on Saturday night at Myers Park United Methodist (most of those volunteer slots are already filled by the Knight family). On that Saturday morning, we still need people to help prepare and serve lunch at the Men’s Shelter, 1210 N. Tryon St. Food preparation begins at 10:30, and no prior experience is necessary. Lunch is served at noon, and by 12:45 you’ll be free to leave. Sign up to help here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0945aca92da2fd0-roof#/

Charlotte Pride Band will present OVERCOME on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at 4 p.m. here at Park Road Baptist Church. This is a pay-what-you-can concert. Click here for tickets.

Join Dr. John Stanley Ross and the Charlotte Pride Band for an afternoon of empowering music against ever-increasing odds, building to a climactic resolution. The Pride Band is fantastic, and their director, Dr. John Ross, is Director of Bands at the Hayes School of Music at Appalachian State.

Join us for Thirsty Third Thursday, THIS Thursday. March 19, at 6 p.m. at Rhino Market and Deli in South Park. (4300 Congress Street, Charlotte, NC 28209)


Please note, there are multiple Rhino Market locations — be sure to head to the South Park spot, conveniently located directly across from the Village Tavern. We can’t wait to see you there!

*Youth - are students who will complete grades 6th– 12th during the 2025-2026 school year.

Unidiversity: July 6-10

We're headed back to Maryville, TN for everyones favorite week. Sign up now to lock in the $50 early bird Discount. Early Bird Pricing is $325. Contact Caleb for more information.

Regular Scheduled Programing is as follows:

• Sunday Mornings, 10a - Preview
• Sunday Evenings, 5:30-7p - SNT

*Children - are students who will complete grades K– 5th during the 2025-2026 school year.

Camp Prism: Exploring God’s Big World

Camp Prism is for all kids who have completed 3rd–5th grade. This year, we will be exploring creation and how we’re all bound together in God’s great big world. To sign up and to learn more, email caleb@parkroadbaptist.org

Regular Scheduled Programing is as follows:

• Sunday Mornings 9:45-10:45am Children's Sunday School (K-5th)
• Sunday Mornings 10am-12pm Nursery
• First Wednesdays 5:30pm Dinner/6pm Children's Midweek - The first Wednesday of each month.

Coming Up at Park Road

• Sunday Worship

Facebook Live and In-Person - 11am

(Sancutary)

• Sundays

Pickleball - 7:15pm

(Community Center - Gym)

• First Wednesdays

Dinner and Vespers

5:30pm Dinner / 6pm Vespers

(Community Center - Gym)

• First and Third Tuesdays

Bible Study and Fellowship - 10am

(Community Center - Room 503)

• Tuesday and Thursdays

Flexercise - 9am

(Community Center - Gym)