Youth and Family Ministry Major at Oklahoma Christian University
Ultimate Frisbee extraordinaire
Would love to have a pet wombat someday
Next dream travel destination – Japan

Why Mr. Cameron volunteers…

“I volunteer because I like to serve and I want to serve. It’s a great opportunity for me to get out and practice being a Christian.”

“It’s fun just to hear [the Yellow Team boys] talk; to hear what it’s like to be that age again. It’s fun to hear how they see things; like what makes sense to them and what doesn’t.”

“[Volunteering is] definitely is one of those things that has its ups and downs. There are weeks that if feels like you haven’t done anything. But you are making an impact. The kids are listening.”

What Megan Connell, Mr. Cameron’s Site Coordinator, has to say about him…

“This is now our sixth year of Novo Bible Club programming at [the site I coordinate]. During the first 3 or 4 years of programming, many of the children at [that site] had a new small group teacher every 10 weeks. A couple of years ago, we began recruiting local volunteers for this site, in hopes that the children would have more consistent teaching, a teacher with whom they could build a more permanent relationship, and the presence of a constant, caring adult in their life. At the beginning of fall in 2010, Cameron joined the team and became the teacher of the older boys small group. Cameron has faithfully taught these boys, week after week, building trust with them and setting an example for them of a man who faithfully serves Christ and loves others. I am so grateful that Cameron has continued to make time out of his busy college life for these boys each week. And maybe these boys don’t realize it right now, but, someday, they will realize how big of an impact he has made on their lives.”

Thanks for making a difference, Mr. Cameron! We appreciate you!

Meet Sebastian.

Sebastian is a 7 year-old boy who has an incredible imagination, a deep love for books, and boundless amounts of energy.

One week Sebastian’s Small Group Leader was teaching the group about promises. He used the example that when people get married they make a promise to each other and that it’s very important to keep that promise. “People don’t have to keep that promise,” Sebastian replied. “My parents didn’t keep that promise.” Sebastian lives with his mom because his parents are divorced.

Sebastian attends church each week and started coming to our Novo Bible Club at the beginning of this semester. He is hearing and learning more about God. Even though he hasn’t been attending our program for long, he already loves learning and sharing what he’s learned with his leaders.

One crisp Thursday in fall of 2011, something changed in Sebastian. As he heard the gospel presented, he bowed his head as if he were praying. After a minute, Sebastian’s head and hand darted up. The teacher asked him to save his question for after Large Group. About two minutes passed and Sebastian raised his hand again; once again he was asked to save his question for later. After the teacher wrapped up the Challenge, Sebastian threw his hand up in the air again, but this time he didn’t wait for an answer: “All I wanted to tell you was that I just believed in God!”

A few minutes later, Sebastian was taken aside by one of the Novo Bible Club leaders where an incredible conversation took place. Verses from God’s Word were shared with him to be sure that he truly understood what Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection meant for him. Throughout the conversation, it was evident Sebastian had had many seeds planted in his life and that the Holy Spirit had moved on Sebastian’s heart to convict him of his sin and draw him to repentance. The leader read Acts 16:31, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” Then the leader asked, “Have you believed on Jesus before? Have you made this choice to follow God with your life?” Slightly exasperated by all the questions and ready for a snack, Sebastian confidently replied, “Yes, yes! I HAVE followed God with my life – I already told you! I did that tonight when I had my head bowed over there and I was praying to God.” With a big smile and a lighter spirit, Sebastian asked to go back to his Small Group.

With Sebastian’s choice to believe on Jesus, his eternity is sealed. No matter what happens in Sebastian’s life, we can know and believe that we will see him in Heaven one day. We know that his life has been changed – forever!

There are thousands of children who live our inner-city communities that need to be loved, to hear Truth, to experience life-change. The staff and volunteers of Novo are grateful for the privilege of working with boys and girls like Sebastian each week in our Novo Bible Clubs. We are especially grateful today for those who partner with Novo to reach Sebastian right in his own apartment complex. Many thanks to our Program Site Partner, – Gateway Community Church – Forest Creek Apartments, and all of our volunteers at that site!

Debbie Williams, Community Relations Coordinator for the Oklahoma City Thunder, worked her magic once again and – after bringing the Rolling Thunder Book Bus to four of the Oklahoma City housing projects where we work – asked if we could use 30 tickets to take some of the amazing kids she met earlier in the year to the Thunder’s preseason finale game against the Dallas Mavericks. What kid wouldn’t be thrilled to go? (What teacher wouldn’t be, for that matter?) We had 30 tickets and a few days to round up just the right kids to go cheer on the Thunder.

The day had finally arrived. The 30 tickets were each assigned a name. But 11-year-old Dontay wasn’t one of them. And he was beyond disappointed. When Dontay’s teacher realized what had happened, she frantically searched for any tickets that maybe, just maybe, weren’t being used. Nothing.

Dontay’s teacher said that she would give up her ticket so he could go.

But God, in the way He tends to operate, worked everything out so both Dontay and his teacher could go.

I ended up sitting next to Dontay at the game. It was awesome. I think the only thing better than watching your first live Thunder game is watching a little boy absolutely immerse himself in the atmosphere of his first live Thunder game.

Dontay plays basketball and did a running commentary. Since I’m an old pro myself (Oh fine, I played in high school.), we had lots to talk about. When the music played, Dontay danced. When the chants began, Dontay cheered the loudest. And when Perkins blocked Nowitzki, you know Dontay was on his feet.

I don’t know a lot about Dontay. I only spent a few hours with him in Loud City. But I do know that he loves basketball. He has a sweet spirit. Dontay lives with his grandma who loves him and his two older siblings and is teaching them and their many cousins to know, love, and serve Jesus. I know that Dontay is bright and wants to go to college someday. I know that he doesn’t get to see his mom, but that his dad is involved.

And I know that going to a Thunder game was the highlight of Dontay’s year.

Thanks, Thunder, for making a difference for Dontay.

John Waller, “The Blessing”

These lyrics flow through my mind today as I think about our opportunity to be a blessing in the hearts and lives of Oklahoma City’s inner-city boys and girls. An amazing mission field is right here in front of us, and with God’s help, we are doing EVERYTHING we can to reach these boys and girls to make a difference… but we can’t do it alone. For just the cost of a movie ticket or a few Starbucks drinks, YOU have the opportunity to be a blessing, to leave a legacy, and to change a child’s life – a child just like Yamilex.

Yamilex wakes up many mornings unsure of what the day will hold. She hears her grandma coughing from across the hall and wonders if she will be admitted into the hospital again today for lung failure. Her eyes rest on the photo of her mom’s last visit home – will her mom be back soon? Her heart cringes as her eyes move to Tyrone’s place in the picture. She remembers being scared as the police came to take him away late one night. Yamilex very much wants a daddy; her two sisters have daddies that live elsewhere, but she is left with no one to give a Father’s Day card. Her current realities hardly seem to be the picture of carefree days and scrapbook-worthy memories.

But once a week things are a little different for Yamilex. She looks forward to going to a Novo Bible Club in her school and getting to be a kid again, even if it’s just for a few hours. She plays games, eats a yummy snack, and has a lot of fun! Her mentor encourages her to honor her mom, and also helps her see how to avoid making poor choices like many of her peers. Once a week, Yamilex hears that she was created for a purpose; a vision is being cast into her life that is bigger than her imagination can even comprehend right now! We watch with joy as Yamilex begins to understand and own the truths she hears from her mentor and makes good choices.

At Novo, we see the heart-breaking realities of our inner-city communities on a daily basis. We see broken families, shattered dreams, and hopeless lives. We want these inner-city boys and girls to have happy, innocent, and carefree childhoods where they are loved and can play outside without the fear of drive-by shootings, gang activity, or prostitution. There are days when we look at the devastation that characterizes so many of these communities and change seems impossible. However, we know that change is possible when you know the Author of life-change. Novo is busy educating, empowering, and equipping the faith community to counteract these challenges and negative realities; we are committed to make a real and lasting difference here in this city.

In order for us to continue making a difference for children like Yamilex, we need your financial support. From now through the end of the year, all contributions to Novo Ministries will be matched – dollar for dollar – up to our $200,000 target goal! Our Board of Directors and a few key friends of Novo Ministries have generously pledged $100,000 to help double each and every gift between now and the end of the year. Please consider sending a gift today with the enclosed response card or go on-line to donate from our website. Even if we can’t change all of the realities our boys and girls face, we can provide guidance, give support, and introduce them to the One who gives them hope and purpose. You can be a part of real and lasting life-change. Give today and see a child’s life forever changed.

Ask Yamilex… it’s worth it.

I just wanted to write you a letter saying “thanks.” It’s been fun being your small group leader this year. Thank you for…

• The colorful pictures of you and your family
• Bringing me laughter
• Getting me out of the office
• Saying silly things
• Telling me about lost teeth, broken arms, and scarred knees
• Giving me Taki’s for the first time
• Sharing your neighborhood with me
• Teaching me the value of simple explanations
• Challenging me to put my petty complaints in perspective
• Beginning to open up
• Forgiving my mistakes
• Letting me pray for you
• Letting me cry over you
• Letting me laugh with you
• Letting me love you

Thank you for reminding me of the beauty of the Gospel. Thank you for coming back each week, even though our craft attempts are sometimes a flop. Thank you for bringing me joy this year.

Sincerely,

Your Small Group leader

Michelle’s been coming to Novo Bible Club for several months now, and we’ve enjoyed watching her grow, despite some of the harsh realities that characterize her life as a child living in the inner city. Michelle loves coming to Novo Bible Club and spending time with her leader, Miss Jenny, and learning about God and the purpose He has for her life. Michelle happily told us, “Miss Jenny teaches us how to be friends. When you get in trouble, she tries to help you and she makes you always have a smile… She makes you feel like you’re special!”

Novo Ministries is connecting inner-city children like Michelle to faithful mentors each and every day of the week all across our city. You can make a difference in the life of children like Michelle this holiday season by giving to Novo Ministries. How? Every gift you give to Novo Ministries, from now through the end of 2011, will be doubled. For each child like Michelle you invest in this year, another one will be connected to a passionate, committed mentor, as well, and another life will be changed.

Impact Michelle. Change our city. One heart and one child at a time.

How it Works:

Several of our major supporters are encouraging us to finish strong in 2011 by offering a challenge. For every dollar we raise, they will donate a matching dollar, up to $100,000. It’s that simple. Your amount, times 2.

How You Can Help:

1) Give.
We have less than two months to raise $100,000, which means every penny is vitally important. No gift is too small! You can give online here, by mail (address below) or by calling Novo Ministries at (405) 208-4255.

2) Share.
Tell your friends, family, and co-workers about Novo Ministries’ story and the Matching Gifts Campaign. Include this short-link (http://bit.ly/uWXo4L) with social media posts and emails, encourage your networks to follow your example and give!

3) Pray.
$100,000 is a LOT of money to raise in a short time, but we know we can do it with God’s help.

4) Repeat.
Keep sharing and praying. We’ll keep you updated via our Twitter and Facebook on our progress and specific ways you can participate in making this year’s Matching Gifts Campaign a success!

Questions? Contact Valerie Sherrer at vsherrer@novoministries.org or at 405.209.9765

Mailing address:
Novo Ministries
P.O. Box 672
Oklahoma City, OK 73101

Don’t forget to connect with us on Twitter and Facebook.

Meet more kids like Michelle

Miss Sherry is a great volunteer. I have the privilege of working alongside her each week. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned about Miss Sherry by watching her lead and personal conversations, it’s that she is a woman who, in her own words, “doesn’t like to sit still. . . . I wanted to get on Survivor, but my husband wouldn’t tape it.” She is a woman with a plan and a vision for what she wants to accomplish! From walking up the Continental Divide to playing laser tag on her 50th birthday to making her first fondant cake to mission trips to Slovenia to being a part of the Choctaw Dancing Hooves. (By the way – they were showing at the Oklahoma State Fair on September 23rd and 24th. Check out this fun video from last year!)

Miss Sherry’s zest for life is infectious, but her passion for sharing the Gospel is even stronger. She works as a physical therapy assistant and routinely gets to talk to elderly patients about Jesus. Everywhere she goes, Miss Sherry is planting seeds for the future. This is partly what drew her to Novo Bible Clubs – “It’s an investment in the future and [the kids] are kind of like my surrogate grandchildren.” Miss Sherry shares her life with these “grandchildren.” She brings out her old Tiddly Winks game or introduces them to Jenga for the first time. One of the kids has even “friended” her on Facebook. But Miss Sherry doesn’t just play with the kids. She’s not just a friend or even a “grandmother” figure. Miss Sherry, for these boys and girls, becomes the hands, feet, and face of Jesus. She prays for them, invests in them, and pours her boundless energy into them. For Miss Sherry, “This is an opportunity to make a change in lives that will be a long term solution and if you have time to invest in a kid, it will be worth it.”

So Miss Sherry plants seeds of hope and truth and love in the lives of her Bible Club kids. And I have a feeling that each time Miss Sherry’s Blue Team boys and girls look at their special strawberry plants, they’ll remember those seeds, too.

Check out our volunteering page to learn more about how you can make a difference or click here to learn more about child sponsorship.

For many of the kids at our Novo Bible Clubs and after-school programs, however, taking ownership of a book of their very own is rare and exciting privilege. Many of the kids, even in higher grade levels, have had only minimal exposure to literature of any kind. Their school libraries may contain few interesting and challenging titles, and importance of their reading is often under-stressed. Consequently, many are one or more grade levels behind in reading with little hope of ever catching up. This lack of ability and desire to read well creates a burden for children in underserved communities both academically and spiritually. Novo curriculum emphasizes the importance of reading the Bible and understanding God’s Word, but many of the kids simply do not have the foundational tools necessary to do so.

After reading a recently published article in the Daily Oklahoman, Oklahoma City Thunder Community Relations Coordinator Debbie Williams contacted Novo Ministries with a desire to arrange Rolling Thunder Book Bus stops at a few Novo after-school programs. With the bus’s packed schedule and long list of waiting schools and programs, the opportunity was as improbable as it was exciting. The details were quickly arranged and the stops scheduled – God’s provision at work in the midst of everything.

And so, over the last few weeks, dozens and dozens cheering and smiling Novo Ministries kids have each boarded the Rolling Thunder Book Bus to pick out their very own book. Some grab the first book that catches their eye, others spend time carefully surveying their options, their faces covered with expressions of indecision. But no matter which book they select, whether a challenging novel or a fun profile of their favorite athletes, each has been blessed with a unique experience. Though they may not realize the significance of the book they have picked out, it has the potential to play a very important role in their lives. Rather than borrowing a book from the library or even being handed one chosen by someone else, the children who have boarded the bus have hand-selected their very own opportunity. They can now read a book that interests them, practice a skill pivotal to their growth and education, learn something new, and grow a love for reading. With the simple gift of a free book, the Rolling Thunder Book Bus has become a catalyst in changing lives. For many of the kids who have participated, owning a book is both an avenue to a better education and a step toward a different future.

God has hopeful futures and big plans for each child at Novo Bible Clubs and after-school programs. His desire is to have a personal relationship with each one. There is no formula for helping kids develop that relationship. Each has its own beginning and a unique story, and so we pray. We pray that God will somehow use Novo Ministries to reveal Himself to the kids we build relationships with. God hears our prayers, and He answers us, sometimes in ways we never saw coming. Sometimes He sends the Rolling Thunder Book Bus.

To learn more about the Rolling Thunder Book Bus and see it in action at our Ambassador Courts housing project site, click HERE.

To learn more about the kids at Novo Bible Clubs or to sponsor one to attend, click HERE.

To see more pictures from the Rolling Thunder Book Bus visits, check out our Facebook page!

But maybe even better than new pencils is a new beginning – a fresh start. Some of the same friends will be there, but you’ve had a whole summer away and now you’re older, wiser, and tanner. The old you – the one who didn’t turn in your homework or who poked the kid in front of you during math – gets the opportunity to do things right this time.

And it’s the same at Novo Bible Clubs, but instead of having just one fresh start, each week becomes a new chance for the boys and girls to make right choices – they feel safe. They know that if they fail, they can come back and that the bad grades won’t pile up. Grace can be found and positive life change can happen whether it’s the beginning of August or halfway through February. They can choose to do right week after week after week. (Thank you, Education Department, for reminding me of this.)

Coming back each week leads them to pursue another choice, though.

Believe or not? Because new beginnings at Bible Club are great and all, but what difference will their good choices here truly make if they don’t make the right forever-choice? What about our choices? Are we motivated by looking good or doing good? Or are we motivated out of gratitude and love to serve the One who is all good and who has transformed our hearts? This isn’t just about new pencils, a new school year, or new Bible Club beginnings. This is about new life. THE new beginning!

So I’m grateful for new school years. I’m thankful for second chances. I’m thankful that His compassion and mercy are new every morning and that each breath I breathe is an opportunity to choose new life and to share it with others – especially my friends at Bible Club.

“Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” – Lamentations 3:22-23

Want to learn more about how YOU can make a difference this school year? Check out our volunteering or child sponsorship pages to find out!

The adventures at Sooner Haven began the moment we started canvassing at the beginning of April. There had been a Novo Bible Club at Sooner Haven on Wednesdays for seven years, but during the eight months prior to my starting as the coordinator for that site, there had been no programming. When the other workers at the Novo Bible Club and I journeyed past the community center into the community, we got as far as the first playground before kids came running up to ask us who we were. They quickly recognized the name tags and t-shirts, and that’s when the questions began pouring out. “Are we going to have Bible Club again?” “When does it start?” “What’s your name?” “Who will be my leader?” “Can we have Bible Club today?”

As the 2010-2011 school year drew to a close, the community center filled with upwards of 35 excited children each Wednesday. We are grateful for the opportunity to get to know each of the children and reestablish our influence in this community. We are excited about continuing to strengthen these relationships in the fall of 2011!