// Meet Sebastian

by Jay Sherrer on January 10, 2012

by Joanna Bartlow, Novo Ministries’ Resources Coordinator

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!

// Thunder Basketball – Making a Difference for Dontay

by Sarah Hunnicutt on December 23, 2011

Thunder basketball has officially become a staple of what it means to be Oklahoman and on December 20th, it was time to bring out the Thunder blue.

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.