February 2025 – Jerry Lout ⚬ Writer ⚬ Speaker ⚬ Mobilizer

February 27, 2025February 26, 2025

Common Stirrings

Once, in my early days of shadowing Jim Tracy on campus, he invited me to join him for a Sunday visit to a church on Sheridan Avenue.

Asbury Methodist’s annual event, designed to spotlight Missions awareness for the congregation should be in full swing. And the church’s outreach director, Mary Ann Smith, whom I had never met was (I would learn) more than up to the task.

Once the last ‘amen’ of worship service sounded and the twin exit doors opened wide, scores of the faithful – families, couples, singles – poured onto the repurposed parking lot.

Worshippers were soon strolling in and out of roomy little tents assembled for the occasion. They moved along, stopping now and then, taking in the several missionary displays set up and manned by a ministry rep or two. The booths featured intriguing photos and artifacts brought from other lands. Intriguing.

At Mary Ann and her team’s invitation, a collection of meal vendors had rolled in their food trucks and set up serving tables. The festive environment saw interested believers exploring “the world beyond” while munching fast food cuisine. The setting lent itself to easy exploration of global needs, extending opportunities for connecting in outreach.

Months passed and one day I sensed a nudge to reach out to Asbury Church. I hoped to see if this missions-minded community would take an interest in “the world at our doorstep”, i.e. international students of the University of Tulsa.

I met with Mary Ann Smith.

Mary Ann listened with interest as I shared our dream of better serving college students coming here to the U.S. heartland from across the world. She paused a moment before offering her thoughtful, poignant response.

“You know, Jerry, it’s interesting your wanting to visit with us about this just now.”

I was all ears.

“For the past little while I have been mulling the question, ‘What role could our church play if an opportunity opened for us to serve the students of T.U.?”

February 20, 2025

Alluring Lyrics

“So, Terry, I have a question.”

Giving his new student friend a short tour of the city, Terry had pulled into the parking lot of a place of worship. The sign out front read Believers Church.

“Sure, Ahmed, what’s your question”, Terry responded.

“Well, this is Believers Church”, Ahmed began. “So, is there also a ‘Non-believers’ church?”

Cross-cultural work often means coming upon unforeseen (and amusing at times) conversation starters. Smiling, Terry praised his friend’s deductive skills in Logic.

Once on a week-day, I invited a student who hailed from the Mediterranean region, to accompany me to a funeral service.

Muhammed and I had been meeting weekly for English conversation sessions. On this date the timing collided with my planned visit to the memorial service of a friend who had passed. Unacquainted with Christian funeral services Muhammed, readily accepted my invitation as a new cultural experience.

The service was simple yet moving with congregational singing included. The lyrics of one particular piece caught Muhammed’s attention.

Crossing the church parking lot afterwards, I asked his thoughts of the service. He replied in a sincere tone.

“I enjoyed it”, he said, adding, “I especially liked that one song.”

Noting the music piece, I told myself to get a digital copy off to him. He beat me to it!

Searching online, Muhammad was soon listening to renditions presented by a range of artists. Reflecting afresh on the themes highlighted in the song, I smiled a thank you to heaven. Through lines immersed in gentle rhythm, the gospel of Christ* was getting heralded.

“He came from heaven to earth to show the way; from the earth to the cross my debt to pay; from the cross to the grave; from the grave to the sky. Lord, I lift your name on high”.

February 13, 2025February 12, 2025

Making Melody

Music and rhythm find their way into the secret places of the soul.*

Strings ‘n Things – The name caught on from the start.

Laid back but purposeful, informal yet structured, Strings ‘n Things soon became a popular Saturday evening destination for a handful of future chemists and engineers. Here at week’s end, they could catch a two-hour reprieve from Keplinger Lab.

Having learned to play guitar on a used flat top my dad picked up for nine dollars back in the 50s, an idea had sprung to mind. What if an unobtrusive spot on campus were dedicated as a banjo, violin or guitar venue for the music-inclined international student open to a bit of hang time with a few American friends?

The curricula would be non-academic in nature. Just a simple, unhurried environment with a fiddler or ‘picker’ or two in a fun, intercultural setting. Friends Art and Leah Christie had begun serving in the area with YWAM (Youth With A Mission). Reaching out to Art, an accomplished guitarist, was an easy call to make. Enthused over the Strings ‘n Things concept Art made his way week after week to the Wesley building.

. His musical talent and gentle, relational disposition formed the perfect blend.

The Wesley clock struck Seven. Students descended the steps to the basement, arriving at random times, no one keeping track.

When, after a few minutes the soft buzz of introductions and chitchat trailed off, I gestured to some folding chairs and students settled in.

“Hey, we are glad you all could make it. Before we start talking instruments and so forth, can our friend Art and me take a minute to introduce you to a popular American folk song or two?” With this, out came our guitars.

As Saturday evenings came and went, our Strings ‘n Things music highlighted a blend of genres. Including biblically-sound yet catchy contemporary pieces. Students from a range of backgrounds, religious and otherwise, sat attentively as lyrics of a hymn were broken down, clarified. Then, drawing out the instruments a random voice called, “Let the lessons begin!”

February 6, 2025February 5, 2025

Going Mobile

Though not entangled in political mischief and court dramas, our trio of “John’s” might have in some ways been likened to the famed Three Musketeers.

Our auto-savvy-Johns (McCants..Wood..Yokum) along with veteran Insurance agent Eddie Huff heeded a call. Marshalling their combined talents in a great enterprise: ISM’s Car Care Clinic. Dan Sterling, our ‘rotating luncheon chef’, brought his great mechanical skills into the mix, too.

Ninety minutes after our students from abroad took their seats in the Clinic classroom, they stood gazing wide-eyed into a car’s open hood in a nearby parking lot. While they absorbed key tips on checking fluids, brake pads and the like they made the most of capturing fresh new lingo tied uniquely to the auto industry.

Priceless insights supplied by our friendly industry craftsmen were all made available without charge. The annual mini-course was first launched as a response to students making a heartfelt, straightforward appeal. Beginning with the phrase, “I need help”. Help on how to shop for a car, how to properly maintain the vehicle. Learning to drive the vehicle fell into the mix somewhere along the way!

The flagship organization that first alerted me to cross-cultural student ministry (International Students, Inc.) highlights a crucial focus. Discover a student’s most keenly ‘felt needs’. Strive however possible to address at least some of these needs.

Helping meet felt needs, I was coached, includes “offering an authentic sense of community, combating feelings of isolation and loneliness, helping newcomers navigate American culture. Offering support on practical, down-to-earth aspects of living in the US.”

By taking to heart that last bit (selflessly helping internationals with practical aspects of navigating life in the U.S.) our delightful Car Clinic guys met that challenge and then some! Year by year, empowering the latest arrivals to navigate by the most poignant of ways. . . on wheels.