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THE OKLAHOMA UNITED METHODIST

Weekly

Volume 6, Number 1 • January 3, 2024 • www.okumc.org

Oklahoma City church finds a way to serve unhoused and underserved neighbors, rain or shine, with outreach foundation 2

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E HERbs, K CLIC nts, jo eve for more! and

Save the Date Employment

Exodus House residents share their New Year’s resolutions for 2024 7

Passages

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

January 3, 2024

Oklahoma City church finds a way to serve unhoused and underserved neighbors, rain or shine, with outreach foundation Director of Communications: Joseph Harris Multimedia & Web Manager: Andrew Himes Editor of Publications: Jena Barber Communications Specialist: Tabitha Beckman 1501 N.W. 24th, Oklahoma City, OK 73106

Stories and photos by the editor unless otherwise noted.

Send news to editor@okumc.org.

Submission deadline: Each Monday.

Next publication date: Jan. 10.

Subscribe online at www.okumc.org.

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T

here’s a distinct emotion that you can only access when you’re engaged in loving service to people who are invisible to most of society. Maybe it’s a certain species of joy. Perhaps it’s a fraternity born of common humanity. Or it may simply be the feeling of having been transformed into a vessel of God’s pure love.

Whatever that feeling is, it works as a medicine to scores of people in an unassuming Oklahoma City parking lot, triggering happiness hormones in the giver and the receiver alike. The Southern Hills Outreach Foundation, a nonprofit organization birthed by Southern Hills United Methodist Church, has written the perfect prescription.

Head down to the back lot of Exchange Baptist Church in Oklahoma City at around 11:30

The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

January 3, 2024

a.m. any given Tuesday regardless of the weather - and you’ll find a group who, until a recent move, served the unhoused and underserved at the OKC Stockyards.

What is on offer changes depending on needs - and on what the organization can access. On this day, with Christmas a week away and a breeze chilling the air, the needs were many. Olivia Ankrom, who Community members of all ages benefit from the work, generosity, and love offered by Southern serves as administrative Hills Outreach Foundation, a ministry of Southern assistant and volunteer Hills UMC. coordinator at Lazarus Community, handed out Jimmy James, who has no affiliation coats. One happy recipient showed with the church but just loves to serve off her long wool coat, which will the community, helps people pick out keep her toasty throughout the coming clothes. “Everything I do, I wouldn’t winner.

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Barbara Linn (RIGHT, behind table) shares coats, shoes, hair combs, belts, undergarments, and more from the back of her car.

be doing if it weren’t for God,” he shared. “Giving it all to God is the hardest thing to ever do, but the best thing.” James has been helping for about a year and a half. He worked with individuals to find clothing that fits. He also helped people repack their bags, locate other services, and more.

“I feel lucky to be here.”

Volunteers greeted people experiencing homeless as the old

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Volunteers help community members find clothes to keep them warm, and throw in toiletries and other necessities when they can.

friends they certainly now are, asking after health conditions and families, and rushing to find that one thing they’d saved for when they saw this friend next.

Barbara Linn, a member of Southern Hills UMC, lost her husband last November. She brought his clothes to share, and has been volunteering ever since. “We’re here every Tuesday, no matter what,” intoned Linn. “We were here on the fourth of July, and we’ll be here the day after Christmas.”

Linn’s popularity, in addition to her winning smile, might have something to do with the shoes, belts, coats, and more that she keeps ready for those who need them. It might also be her loving spirit.

One gentleman Olivia Ankrom (RIGHT), member of Southern Hills UMC and asked for a belt, employee of the Lazarus Community, hands out coats and pillows from her vehicle. but she was out.

“If you come back next week,” said Linn, “I’ll try to make sure I have one for you.”

Dan Humpula, whose wife Ann is one of the organization’s founders, handed out Christmas gift bags that included goodies like toiletries, warm socks, gloves, and even bus passes.

He wants other churches to know that they’re always looking for other groups to partner with. “If you know any churches that want to partner with us to improve the way we do things, we’d love to talk to them,” he asserted between Merry Christmases as he found just the right package for each visitor.

A hot meal was the order of the day. A hearty Christmas casserole, green bean casserole, fruity dessert, and rolls were paired with desserts plus water, hot chocolate, or coffee.

Tables were set up so people could dine on site, or bags were available to take the meal with them. Dog food is, as always, a great need for the companions of those served by the outreach organization. JR Mayanga, associate pastor at Southern Hills UMC, was on hand to bag up kibble for hungry pups.

“This is a lay driven ministry,”

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Dan Humpula hands out gifts of necessities and thoughtful extras at Southern Hills Outreach Foundation’s weekly community sharing event.

said Carlos Ramirez, senior pastor of Southern Hills UMC. “We pastors support the best way we can. This is a testament to the power of laity.”

“Someday, with a bit of hope and the reformataion of the hearts of people, there will no longer be a need for an outreach like this,” explained Ann Humpula, the foundation’s leader.

Volunteer Jimmy James (LEFT), helps a man pick out clothes.

If you head down to the back lot of Exchange Baptist Church on any given Tuesday, you’ll be sure to see people with tattoos, uncombed hair, and tattered clothes layered on to keep them warm. You’ll also see the face of Jesus. The very people served by the Southern Hills Outreach Foundation are the ones Jesus surely referred to as

Sugar, a sweet Dachsund with lovely eyes, makes friends wherever she goes. She and her dad (CENTER) both appreciate a good meal provided by Southern Hills Outreach Foundation.

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“the least of these.”

Ask any volunteer, though, and you’ll also find that they’re also some of the best of us.

A hot meal is always on the menu for Tuesday lunches.

The foundation feeds around 200 people each week.

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

January 3, 2024

Mediating Healthy Relationships through King’s Model of Nonviolence Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday, January 15, 2024 at 4:00pm Quayle United Methodist Church 5001 N. Everest Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73111 Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

GUEST SPEAKER 17th President Dean of Gammon

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy is remembered because he played a pivotal role in the American Civil Rights changes.

We desire to impact the Oklahoma Conference, the ecumenical church and the larger community in transformative ways.

For More Information Contact Rev. Dr. Bessie Hamilton, Associate Director of Connectional Ministries for New Faith Communities and Multi Ethnic Initiatives - bhamilton@okumc.org

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January 3, 2024

Exodus House residents share their New Year’s resolutions for 2024

I want to quit beating myself up.

- Brent, Exodus House Tulsa resident

I want to get closer to my kids and my parents.

- Crystal, Exodus House Tulsa resident

I want to exercise more.

- Whitney, Exodus House Tulsa resident

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I want to walk in love more, to truly love my neighbor as myself, and to take time to heal.

- Ginger, Exodus House OKC resident

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January 3, 2024

I want to keep trusting God and going forward no matter what.

I want to continue to bless others.

- Donisha, Exodus House OKC resident

- Todd, Exodus House OKC resident

O

ne of the beloved Second Mile ministries of OKUMC is CJAMM, which stands for Criminal Justice and Mercy Ministries.

“As part of the Exodus House program at CJAMM, we request that each client make a list of three or four goals they want to accomplish while in the program,” said Keith Dobbs, executive director. “We hear things like, get my kids back, buy a house, see my grandmother before she passes away, and even one said he wanted to go to his daughter’s kindergarten graduation. We try to make those happen!”

CJAMM’s mission is to break the generational cycles of incarceration.

They accomplish this through multiple programs, including two reentry-sobriety houses, called Exodus House. Other programs include New Day Camp for children whose parents are impacted by incarceration, Redemption Missions in Lawton, and more.

To learn more about the ministry

My New Year’s Resolution is to always be reflective of Christ in every action I take related to these clients and help them accomplish their goals.

I want to quit smoking.

- Charity, Exodus House OKC resident

- Keith Dobbs, CJAMM executive director

or to find out how you can help, go to their website or reach out to Dobbs or his assistant director, Anne Robertson.

CJAMM is one of the six ministries to which churches can make pledges

to support during the coming year. If your church has not made its pledge, please consider doing so today.

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I want to be a better person than I was this year.

- Levar, Exodus House Tulsa resident

I want to get hired at a job and to be there for my daughter’s life forever, and graduate the Exodus program and to prove to God and everyone around me that I’ve changed for the better, not the worst, like some people thought.

January 3, 2024

I want to start paying double on my car payments, build back my savings to $4,000, and quit vaping.

- Christian, Exodus House OKC resident

- Adam, Exodus House Tulsa resident

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January 3, 2024

Ministry in a Minute

The gang was all there for A Charlie Brown Christmas (ABOVE, RIGHT), performed by 16 children from the First UMC Durant Kids First children’s ministry. The youngest actor, at just 1 year old, played Woodstock. The play was produced by volunteer directors Carolyn Martens, Shelly Lee, and FUMC children’s director Mardi Dunn. Special guests Santa and Mrs. Claus also stopped in to visit with all the boys and girls. Everyone enjoyed lots of sweet treats and cookies after the play. Photos by Matt Swearengin.

LEFT: The Eden Chapel Youth Trio performed a beautiful medley of Christmas music, playing a French horn, flute, and clarinet. Remarkably, one of the youth arranged the medley - without adult help. Photo by Barbara Wells

Watering the Earth :

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CONTACT US TODAY TO PROVIDE FOR THE MINISTRIES OF YOUR CHURCH AND LASTING GOOD IN YOUR COMMUNITY

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January 3, 2024

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