God in the Neighborhood

This is an excerpt from Ron Babbit's letter to supporters of his ministry. Ron is the senior minister of the Contact Church.

"Phil-a-mino was hanging out at the playground area in her apartment complex as she watched her son, Curly John, play. Another couple was there, Donnie and Amanda, with their two children. Phil-a-mino, or as Big O calls her, Philly, struggles. But she has found a church family because Big O paid attention and started reading the WORD with her. Read on to see how GOD has been working in hearts.

"When Philly met Donnie and Amanda on the playground, she immediately told them about a church that she was attending. She told them that they would be welcome and could come and go with her. They showed up during our mid-week, Tuesday Nite Live service, where we pray, read and sing. This is a powerful time of growth in our walk with HIM. Donnie and Amanda immediately started asking questions and said that they needed some furniture. Donnie asked, 'Do you know anything about the mattress and box springs that are standing in the hallway?' I asked him if he needed them. He said, 'We have a mattress, but it is covered with mold.' I said, 'Do you guys think you can handle a very nice bed, with head-board and rails?' He said with a big smile, 'I think we are up to the challenge!' Stan the Man was standing there so I asked him what his plans were for the rest of the evening. Stan the Man said, 'Let's go.' I love that spirit. I pulled my truck around to the east side of the building to load the bed. While holding the door (that's my new job) Tree walked up and handed me $50. He said, 'Ron, if you have the time to help them get the rest of their furniture out of storage, this will take care of the storage cost.' I told Tree thanks and thanked him for paying attention to the needs of others and doing something about it. We got the bed loaded and made the haul upstairs. When we got into the bedroom, you could smell the mold and mildew! We picked up the nasty mattress and hauled it to the dumpster. The next day it was gone, because another family needed it.

"We began looking for a couch because Donnie and Amanda had pulled one from a dumpster to have something to sit on. A couple days later Stan the Man picked up Donnie and told him that if he was willing to help haul three couches that he could have one of them. Donnie said, 'Sure!' Donnie and Amanda now have a beautiful couch in their pad, thanks to another brother being willing to help with this need.

"The great joys and blessings of the 'furniture moving ministry' are being able to share the WORD OF GOD and ask the life and death questions: 'Amanda, if you were to die tonight, where would you spend eternity?' 'Donnie, if you were to die today, where would you spend eternity?' They both said hell. We shared what the LORD has done for all mankind. They now have an opportunity to make a commitment to our SAVIOR. The GOOD NEWS!

"Donnie and Amanda were baptized into CHRIST.

"Following one of our fellowship meals, Blondie noticed that when Donnie and Amanda finished eating, they immediately began cleaning the tables, looking for the vacuum cleaner and picking up...

"Recently Tree called to say his buddy, Dilly, needed to hire a hoss to work with him in his tree trimming business. I got his number and shared it with Donnie who had mentioned his willingness to work. Dilly put him to work and the next day called me to say that Donnie is a keeper. He is now on the payroll.

"What a blessing; now Donnie and Amanda can provide for themselves. What a joy it is to watch the family of GOD serve together, and help others learn about the blood of the LAMB and HIS forgiveness.

"Amanda and Donnie have already been inviting their neighbors to Contact. Donnie is gathering several young men who would like to have a bike and are willing to work for it. Many have given us bikes; now we have someone who is willing to develop a plan for some clowns and darlins to work for a bike...

"Souls are being added to the Kingdom because of the CROSS, and because someone on the playground was willing to tell someone else about a church called Contact. As TJ says, 'Everyone needs a contact with the LORD.' Amen church!"

Bible Studies, STDs, and Unplanned Pregnancies

Here is an excerpt from our minister Ron Babbit's recent newsletter to supporters of his ministry with the Contact Church:

"Recently, during a Bible study, I was reading Luke 7--JESUS AT HIS BEST. The harlot was washing JESUS' feet. The young lady in the Bible study told me that she has a sexually transmitted disease. She hasn't been in school since February 2009. She doesn't stay with her mom; they are battling. GOD provided an opportunity to share the love of the LORD. Before our Bible study with this darlin, we picked her up as she was walking to visit with her friend who is 12 years old and pregnant. That gives us another opportunity to set her up with Mary Lasarsky. Mary loves, encourages, and teaches darlins who are in trouble with early pregnancies. Remember in Luke 7 the Pharisee sits back and criticizes the harlot washing JESUS' feet? Have you ever noticed how (#1) Pride Paralyzes Us, (#2) Forgiveness Releases Us, (#3) Faith Saves Us?"

For more information about the Contact Church's pregnancy program, please see www.contactchurch.net/Contact_Life.

The Power Behind the "Get To" Lifestyle

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing, and perfect will" (Romans 12:1-2).

Our preacher Ron Babbit does not say "I have to." Instead, he says "I get to." For example, Ron says,

"I get to teach the darlins and clowns in Sunday school..."
"I get to go into the hood and sling the word..."
"I get to help Odie Mae move into her new apartment..."
"I get to forgive that cat who took advantage of me..."

By his example, Ron Babbit teaches us that mercy turns obligations into opportunities. He does not approach life as being full of obligations he has to fulfill; rather, he sees life as being full of opportunities he gets to enjoy. How can he see life in such a manner? Because each of his sentences above ends with these words:

"...because of the One who died on the cross for me."

The mercy of God gives us the power to approach even difficult tasks with a sense of gratitude and joy.

Don't Give Up

Our preacher Ron Babbit has a godly perspective on grace and forgiveness that drives his ministry. He also has a unique way of expressing biblical truth. This is an excerpt from his latest letter to supporters of the Contact Church of Christ:

"Have you ever given up on anyone? Has anyone ever given up on you? Someone said, 'Robert just needs to quit showing up.' As if we have it all together. Amen? However, TJ didn't get the memo to give up. TJ continued to read, encourage, teach, pray, call, pray and call, teach and encourage for 40 days and 40 nights. Robert had served time in prison. He was a #1 anger filled, fist slinging, jaw jacking, Satan serving murderer, looking for another clown's jaw to place his fist into. That was his heart, his way of life. Mitch asked GT if he would go visit Robert. GT told Robert about JESUS--The Peacemaker, Covenant Maker, Forgiver, Soul Cleanser, Guilt Remover, Reconciler. The One who brings families together at the CROSS and heals hearts. A few weeks ago we witnessed Robert's baptism into CHRIST. A time of many emotions. I'm sure some guilt, maybe some release, some re-focus, some gratitude, some remorse, some 'I get to hold my head up.' Now Robert doesn't have to fight with his fists. He gets to fight against the real enemy, Satan. Praise GOD for this church called Contact, that GOD had raised up to accept people and reach into hearts. Forgive us that we have too often found ourselves being the 'older brother' standing on the outside saying, 'I've been faithful all along, I have never had any ugly thoughts, I have never wasted any $. I have never cheated. I have never lied. I have always had it together.' Then along comes a brother or sister who remembers what it's like to have been bought by the blood of the LAMB, to have forgiveness, to be loved by the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. PRAISE GOD another soul has been united with JESUS! The Devil just won't win. Amen Church! Keep loving, praying and giving because HE continues to give!"

Doing It All for the Glory of God

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31, NIV).

During his sermon last Sunday at the Contact Church of Christ, Ron Babbit asked the congregation, "What is the purpose of the church?" Several answers came from us. "Sharing." "Helping people get to heaven." "Helping each other." Those are good answers, but someone gave the best answer: "To give glory to God." I do not know who called out that answer, but it was just what Ron was listening for, and it led to a great sermon about giving glory to God.

Since Ron's sermon, I have been asking myself, "How can I give glory to God? How can I make him look as good as he is? How can I show people how kind and just he is? How can I demonstrate how powerful he is?" I don't have a complete set of answers to my questions, but here are a few of the thoughts that have come to me:

*I can be thankful to God (even for little things like what I eat or drink).
*I can pray to God. When he answers, I can give him all the credit.
*I can trust God when circumstances should make me anxious instead.
*I can put in a good word for Jesus in everyday conversations.
*I can be kind because of the way God has shown kindness to me.
*I can admit my sins and failures as I rely on the sacrifice and resurrection of Christ to make things right between me and God.
*I can read the Bible, acknowledging my need for God's wisdom.
*I can take the time to help someone who needs help, recognizing an opportunity to be used by God to bless another's life.

I would like to be able to give God all the glory without drawing any attention to myself, but I do not know how to do it in most situations. In most of my examples, some of the glory could be deflected to me very easily. However, I must not let it stop me from attempting to give God the glory in my life.

Do you have some ideas about how you could give God the glory in your life? Please share your thoughts in the comments section.

Panthers for Christ

Sometimes I like to quote from Ron Babbit's newsletter to supporters of his ministry. Ron is one of our ministers in the Contact Church of Christ. He and our other ministers receive support from other Christians and congregations in order to serve the Contact Church, a ministry to the urban poor in Tulsa. (Thanks to everyone who supports the urban ministry!)

In his recent newsletter, he wrote about Panthers for Christ, a club that the Contact Church started at Clinton Middle School. He said,

"Panthers for CHRIST continues to grow. Panthers for CHRIST is GOD'S challenge for us to go to a Middle School and love some clowns and darlins. Recently this school was an at risk school---low grades, whatever it takes to be placed on that list. But, Good News! The Clinton Middle School is no longer on the at risk list! Recently, Panthers for CHRIST was complimented by the Clinton Middle School Principal, Mr. A. He wrote a letter to the Tulsa Public School Superintendent stating that one of the reasons Clinton Middle is off the at risk list is because of the largest organization in the school---Panthers for CHRIST! We continue showing up with healthy donuts purchased by a godly brother who believes in serving and loving others. The challenges come when some bad clowns show up and are ready to 'dance' (translated---let's start a fight). My constant prayer is that I don't knock one of them naked! I'm not ready to do prison ministry! GOD is great!"

Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous

"The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
Those who know your name will trust in you,
for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you" (Psalm 9:9-10, NIV).

I want to share a few words from Ron Babbit's newsletter to his supporters. Ron is our preacher in the Contact Church of Christ. He has a way with words and a way with people. If you are investing in his ministry, you are investing well in the kingdom of Christ. He is one of the most effective ministers I have ever seen, and he works with people with some of the most difficult problems.

When I became involved in urban ministry, I had an idea that we would be a little soft on biblical teaching while emphasizing feeding and clothing. I had a seeker-sensitive mindset, fearing that people would be offended by a direct presentation of Christ's gospel. I also thought that people would be turned away by teaching biblical ethics. Ron Babbit and Frank Lott have shown me that I was wrong. We do meet a lot of physical needs among the poor of Tulsa, but we see many people who are looking for God and God's directions for living. Merely feeding and clothing them would be a terrible disservice to them and to Christ.

Last week, Ron preached about King David's sins against Uriah, Bathsheba, and God. In his sermon, he challenged our congregation to turn away from laziness, drinking, drugs, pornography, sexual immorality, and immodest clothing. He pointed everyone toward the forgiveness we need in Christ. At least six people responded, asking for help and prayers. God has gifted him with the ability to confront people in a way that assures them that he cares about them.

Here are just a few stories from his newsletter:

This last week a lady responded to the LORD and shared this letter. "My dear friends at Contact, I want to thank you for teaching me about faith, patience and how great the love of GOD is. Three months ago I had no income, no idea of where I would live when my lease was up, and where my next meal was coming from. Thanks to you all showing me GOD's way, I now have a wonderful home, all the food I could want and more chances to share GOD'S WORD than I ever imagined. I am so blessed by GOD's love and so very grateful to all of you at Contact for helping me through my pain and fear and for all the love you have shown me. Thank you."

This sister brought to Contact a lady who has been faithfully cutting herself. As I was on my knees listening to her story, I reached to touch her and noticed that her arms looked like a cutting board. Even the cutting doesn't tell the hurt inside her bones---the feelings of worthlessness, the loss and emptiness, needing someone who would listen and touch with the love of the LORD. Some of the cuts on her arm were fresh. Other cuts were a few days older, but the scars in her heart are deeper.

We praise GOD that someone brought her to the Contact family for prayers of encouragement and reminders of what she means to our GOD. It was a joy watching and listening as others shared with this lady about her worth, her importance, and her need to share her love with others...

Another precious sister who has been baptized into CHRIST continues to arrive for services. She has been homeless all of her life, that's all she has ever known. She might be 23-24 years of age. She told me she had been an orphan all her life (I can't identify with that). Always having a warrant out for her arrest, she couldn't remember a time when the police were not hunting her down. She needed guidance and thought she could find it in men. "I needed someone to love me for who I am, unconditionally and to tell me about GOD," she said. She was brought to Contact by a guy. She is now pregnant and he's not the daddy. She doesn't remember who the swinging dad is, so this cat dumped her. He's struggling. They both continue to come to Contact because they love the family of GOD...So goes the lifestyle of the rich and famous. Amen? We continue seeking to settle souls into the arms of our EVERLASTING FATHER.

Some Wise Counsel

"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ" (Philippians 1:27, NIV).

Contact church minister Ron Babbit says, "Don't make the preacher lie about you at your own funeral."