Lives are changing

Same Kind of Different as Me is a great book.  Have you read it?  If you have not, I strongly encourage you to pick it up. (Reading Rainbow plug: "...but don't take my word for it...")

In fact, I don't want to even call it a book for fear that we might lump it into a general category of books that we'll "get to when we have time".

This is a story.  It is a powerful true story of God working in our world today.

It's so powerful that ten people at FBC Norman, OK have decided to gather around a table every Wednesday night for six weeks. We have conversations around this story that challenge root issues of our culture, our faith, and our perspectives.

There is a gentleman that attends this group who on the first day was frustrated with the "whys" of people in poverty.  "Why are they in there situation?" "Why can't they get out?" "Why don't they just get work?"  As we embark on the journey of the story together all of our hearts are softening.  Last night was our third meeting together and I am humbled to watch this particular gentlemen's heart grow.  His comment last night was "I am realizing that all these people are people and they all have their own stories."  He continued, "If we just treat them as people, that will make all the difference."

What he pointed out is true.  Our prejudices and fears cause us to treat people as less than human.  Debra, I think the heroine of the story, had the acute ability to interact with anybody (a smelly, dirty, addicted bum or a clean, arrogant, selfish yuppie) and see God in them, the hope on transformation, and a person who could be loved.

Check out the story!

A Movement of Social Compassion

You will find this article written in the CBFO Spring newsletter.  Wanted to share it with everyone.

CBFO Article Spring 2011

God is on the move today.  There is no doubt about that.  As cultures and generations change and shift, come and go, one thing is for certain: God is on a mission.  He is working to reclaim what is his.  He is working to reclaim and redeem his creation and the crux of that creation, humanity.  One of the amazing pieces to this puzzle is that he invites us to partner with him on this mission.  His grace extends to include us and we are a grateful people because of it.  We are co-laborers with our Creator. 

As a co-laborer on the mission and a product of God’s reclamation at First Baptist Church Norman, I participate in an expression of faith that is becoming more and more realized within the local church community.  I am talking about a movement of churches across Oklahoma rediscovering their need and desire for social compassion.

I grew up in Oklahoma, studied at Oklahoma Baptist University, and honestly, it was not until I traveled to a neighboring state to study at Truett Seminary that I learned of this crucial aspect of local church life.  So let me further what I mean by “social compassion”.  As a church discovers social compassion as a part of their identity they are corporately pushed to do something outside of themselves.  They challenge the notion of the church as a Christian social club existing solely for the safety and well-being of its members. They spend themselves, Good Samaritan-style, on behalf of someone who they are pretty sure cannot and will not pay them back.  They invite the lonely, addicted, and outcasted in to find companionship, freedom, and belonging.

You may have thought, initially, that I meant building houses, painting buildings, and planting gardens when I said, “social compassion.”  Well, I mean that too.  However, if those things are done as one time projects we can refer to that as short-term social compassion and it is only a small (though vital) piece to the mission.  With short-term social compassion you are only able to show a glimpse of God’s grace and love.  With something more long-term there would be an added relational component.  

Long-term social compassion is hard, extremely messy, and very unattractive.  It also means that you might get taken advantage of and you might become good friends with really bad people.  And perhaps the worst thing of all might happen.  You might begin to see yourself in those people, see your pain in theirs, your sin in theirs, and realize you have a lot more in common than not. 

As FBC’s Community Minister in a church collaboration with Buckner Children and Family Services, I direct the ministries that equip, empower, and reach out to the families and individuals in poverty.  One example of how FBC Norman is discovering their social compassion identity arose a few years ago when we realized that a hungry, low-income family in Norman could find their way to every meal of the week except Sunday lunch.  We saw that gap in services and began the Friendship Lunch.  What started out as a free Sunday lunch for a few hungry neighbors is now a meal that fills a hunger gap for an average of 150 people each Sunday.  What started out as a possible short-term venture has turned into long-term relationship building and conversion experiences (by volunteers and guests alike).

Let us not think that just because this is a new movement that it is only the new generations who are pioneering the way.  The social compassion story at FBC Norman shows otherwise.  It was the senior adult ministry that followed the Holy Spirit’s call on their faith.  They nurtured and cultivated ministry programs that pushed our expressions of God’s love outside of the church walls.  Not only that, but the older generations are the ones who brought people into the church who were outcasts to society and most other churches.

I am humbled to be on mission with God at First Baptist Church as we continue to discover our grateful identity through expressions of social compassion.  In the end, we are all trying to carry out the mission of Christ which is “…to preach the gospel to the poor…proclaim release to the captives…recovery of sight to the blind…freedom for the oppressed…[and] to proclaim the year of Jubilee.” (Luke 4:18-19 NASB)

Joey Armstrong

Community Minister, FBC Norman, Ok

Buckner Children and Family Services

Casting Lots

A friend of mine had to go to jail the other day to sit out a fine he had from 1998.

What a bumber.  You receive a fine for messing up and 13 years later, a police officer comes to you saying, "I've got to take you in.  You have a warrant for your arrest for a fine you never paid back in 1998."

This man is an amazing testimony of faith in my life.  When he was sitting in his cell he reflected and prayed a lot.  (Makes me think a jail cell is what it's going to take to slow many of us down, take a breath, and pray.)

As he was praying, being so frustrated by the experience, he asked God if he would get out of jail.  Such a great, simple question for someone who's life is journeying toward God.  Out of an urging from the Holy Spirit inside of him he tore a corner off a magazine page and decided to go the o'l "heads or tails" route.  He threw the piece of paper up in the air and decided that if the picture side lands face up the answer would be "yes, you will get out of jail."  If the text side, "no, you won't get out."
It landed on the top bunk of the cell, picture up.  He expected it to land on the floor so he didn't know if the outcome was legit (don't we all operate semi-superstitiously?).  Wanting to make sure, he threw it up again.  This time it landed on the floor and again, "yes, you will get out of jail."

Still not satisfied he asked God, "Well, will I get out today!?"  If the picture side lands up, "yes, today." If the text lands up, "no."

He threw it up into the air.  It landed text side up.  His heart sank, but prayerfully he knew God had spoken.  He realized he needed to be patient and submit to where he was in life.  He ended up being able to minister to some younger males who were there for much greater offenses than a 13 year old fine.
The next morning he was handed his belongings, and told someone had posted bond for him.  He was released and to this day has no idea who paid the money.

He told me this story after we read Acts 1 together; the story of the disciples choosing Judas' replacement.  They cast lots.  A very interesting medium to allow God to work.

To Norman With Love 2011

This year is going to be a little different.

The entire Christian faith community is invited to participate in what could be Norman's largest unified movement of churches towards one cause.  If you attend a church in the Norman area, consider presenting the idea of participation to someone on staff, or a group of friends within the church.  If you believe that churches have no reason to compete with each other, need to be a larger positive presence in the city they are a part of, and/or need to be an incarnational expression of God's love and grace, then consider participating.

This year To Norman With Love is taking place on Saturday May 21st.  Discover all the details at tonormanwithlove.com.

Can't wait to serve the city with you.

Music for the Saddness

I met a homeless man back in November.  He had just arrived in Norman with nothing except the clothes on his back.  After spending much time together we have become good friends and now read scripture together at least one morning of the week.

His faith inspires me.  Although born and raised in Oklahoma, he is of a different culture than I and the way he sees the world reminds me to find my identity in my Creator and not my job, material things, or relationships.  He has a hunger for scripture that would make any white, middle-class, success-driven minister be jealous.  The funny thing is when he insists that I have a lot to teach him, I immediately respond with, "no, you have a lot to teach me."  And then we carry on for a few minutes like two girls do when trying to convince the other one saying, "no, you're pretty" "no, you are", "no..." and so on and so on.

Last week after we were finished reading scripture together, knowing that I play the guitar, he said, "Could you play me something on your guitar before I go?"  I told him I'd be glad to!  So we went to my office, he sat across from me and I played him the incredibly old praise song from my youth days called "Whom Shall I Fear."

The whole time he never took his eyes off of my hands.  You would have thought I was Bach playing prelude to cello suite no. 1 instead of the G, C, D, C awesomeness of praise songs.

As I was putting my guitar back into its case he said, "I think if I knew how to play an instrument I'd never be sad again."

And with that, my heart melted.

Something Simple

Snow, snow, and more snow.

I am writing this the morning after Norman received yet another wintery blast of 6"-8".  Wow.  In terrible weather such as this many people do have worries and thoughts of those who are without adequate shelter.  I in no way know all of the homeless population in Norman, but the ones that I am acquainted with, to my knowledge, have found a warm place for these last few weeks.  The Salvation Army is not turning anyone away and last I heard they maxed out at 32 guests a few nights ago.  For those that have seen our local Salvation Army, that's a packed house.  All those living at the river found their way to the Salvation Army or friend's houses.

A great friend of mine who is a Senior at Norman North came to church with a great idea last week.  He came a day after the first big snow hit and said, "Joey, what do you think about taking a large container of hot chocolate over to the people staying at the Salvation Army?"

It is creative, personal, and relational genius like this that characterizes the up and coming generation.

So, last Thursday at about 4:30pm four of us ventured to the church kitchen to make a vat of hot chocolate.  Let me just say, making hot chocolate in such large quantities should only be attempted by professionals...which we were not.

However, an hour and a few minutes later we arrived at the Salvation Army with a drink that was sure to warm your insides.  We all enjoyed getting to visit with the people staying there.

Many of those who enjoyed the chocolate already come to our church on Sundays.  When they showed up that Sunday, they had smiles on their faces and high remarks about the hot chocolate that was still delicious at breakfast.

What a great idea that was.  A small investment in the right place making the biggest difference.  Something simple.

Community Ministry Banquet

I can't believe I haven't written about this yet!

Tomorrow night is going to be one amazing night.  If you are not doing anything, please come be a part of sharing a community meal, hearing stories of how God is working in Norman, and finding out how you can be involved in his 2011 work.

The banquet begins at 6pm in Hallock Hall at FBC Norman.  There is no childcare, but children are encouraged to come to this family event!

Here are some highlights to expect...

Pictures from 2010
Videos from 2010
Recognition of volunteers
Gourmet cuisine
and special guest speakers!

You can purchase your ticket online (click here and choose 'pay for event') or risk it being sold out at the door.