Good things come in threes
Religion Editor chinton@oklahoman.com
There’s an old saying that two is company, but three is a crowd.
This doesn’t hold true at one generous south Oklahoma City church.
Exchange Avenue Baptist Church, 1300 S Pennsylvania Ave., opened its doors to two Whiz Kids groups, and this school year, the house of worship has welcomed a third group participating in the faith-based mentoring program.
Whiz Kids, a ministry of the nonprofit City Care, connects inner-city churches and suburban churches to offer free tutoring and mentoring to children in first through sixth grades at Oklahoma City-area schools and in Tulsa. The inner-city church typically provides a location for the one-on-one tutoring, and volunteers from both churches provide the lessons.
Whiz Kids leaders like Bea Jea Webb said the church’s generosity is much needed because the nonprofit always is seeking to partner with more churches and volunteers, particularly those in the south metro area.
She said Whiz Kids has not been able to serve Arthur Elementary School, 5100 S Independence, because the necessary church partnerships are not available. A church had offered its facility as a host site, but it did not have the mentoring volunteers to pair with the students.
“It takes a (church) site and volunteers to provide for the schools that we serve,” Webb said.
“South Oklahoma City has been a bit of a challenge for us to find host sites, and Exchange Avenue reached out to us as a superhero. We thank them for being there to meet the need.”
The Rev. Jon Johnston, Exchange Avenue’s senior pastor, said his church agrees with Whiz Kids’ mission to provide academic help and positive role models to local students.
“As a church, we are to be a light in the community, obviously sharing the love of Christ but also to reach people where they are. We see the opportunity to do both with Whiz Kids,” he said.
“We just want to invest back into our neighborhood and into the people.”
Three in a row
Billie Oldham, an Exchange Avenue church member, is a longtime Whiz Kids supporter who serves as the Whiz Kids site coordinator at her southside church. She said Exchange Avenue was initially a host site only for students from Westwood Elementary School, but then Mark Twain Elementary School began meeting there this school year.
Oldham has been involved with Whiz Kids for more than 20 years. She said the schools’ Whiz Kids programs meet on Tuesdays, typically sharing a space in one of fellowship areas of the church. She said the two groups share a meal together, as well as chapel sessions where they learn biblical lessons. After the chapel sessions, the individual tutors for both groups meet one-on-one with their students.
Oldham said when the Whiz Kids program for Stand Watie Elementary students lost its host site, she asked Johnston if Exchange Avenue could add a third group. With his approval, the Stand Watie students and mentors began meeting at the church on Thursdays.
Webb said she was thankful for Oldham’s resourcefulness.
“She knew the heart of her church and the heart of our program and brought us all together,” Webb said of Oldham.
The pair said the Westwood Elementary Whiz Kids program operates through a partnership between Exchange Avenue Baptist, The Bridge in Mustang and Emmaus Baptist Church. The Mark Twain program operates through a partnership between Oakcrest Church of Christ and Eagle Heights Baptist Church.
On a recent Tuesday, Becky Hopper, Whiz Kids site administrator for all three programs at Exchange Avenue, showed up dressed in a poodle skirt and sweater with her certified therapy dog, Hap.
Hopper had Hap, a poodle, help her with a fun chapel session about the fruits of the spirit for the Westwood students. When Hap jumped high in the air to express joy — one of the fruits of the spirit — the students smiled and laughed.
Hopper also expressed gratitude for Exchange Avenue’s willingness to host a third Whiz Kids group.
“I’m so thankful to Billie and Pastor Jon. I was so grateful for them to accommodate us.”
Salvation Army kicks off programs
The Salvation Army Central Oklahoma Area Command kicked off the Angel Tree and Red Kettle campaigns for the 2017 holiday season on Tuesday at Penn Square Mall, 1901 Northwest Expressway.
The community-at-large will be able to adopt The Salvation Army’s “angels” by visiting the Angel Trees located at Penn Square and Quail Springs Mall, 2501 W Memorial Road, from Nov. 21 to Dec. 8.
People who take a tag from the tree are asked to purchase the gift items listed on the tag and return the gifts to the malls by Dec. 8.
Meanwhile, The Salvation Army’s iconic red kettles began showing up throughout the city on Nov. 15.
Families, friends, clubs, businesses and church groups still can volunteer to ring the bells through Dec. 23, excluding Sundays. To volunteer, contact Liz Banks at 246-1107 or go to www.redkettlevolunteer.org.
Remembrance ceremony planned
Buchanan Funeral Service will hold its 10th annual Holiday Remembrance Ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 2 at 8712 N Council Road. Created to offer comfort and hope during the holiday season, the ceremony provides guests an opportunity to light candles in honor of their friend or family member who has passed away. The service also features uplifting music and an inspirational message offering solace during the holiday season.
Families who RSVP for the event by Monday will receive a special holiday ornament. The special memorial service is free and open to the public.
For more information or to RSVP, call 722-5262 or go to BuchananFuneralService.com.
Church hosts anniversary events
Fairview Missionary Baptist Church will celebrate its Church Homecoming and 108th Church Anniversary on Dec. 3 at 1700 NE 7.
The Rev. J.L. Mitchell and his Tabitha Baptist Church congregation will join Fairview for 10 a.m. worship. Mitchell will serve as guest preacher. Fairview also plans to recognize the congregation’s “senior saints,” who are 85 and older, and members who have been a part of the church family for 50 years or more. A fellowship dinner will be held after worship.
For more information, go to www.fairviewokc.com.
Singers offer Christmas show
PURCELL — Link Union, a bluegrass family from Lebanon, Missouri, will present their Christmas Show at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 4 at Sunray Baptist Church, 2223 N Ninth. Admission is free. A love offering will be taken.
For more information, call 527-6808.
School receives grant from foundation