August at NBBC: Coffee, Wrestling, and Community

Zoe Willows

So, I was looking at the bulletin for New Bethel Baptist Church, you know, the one over on 8936 Southeastern Ave in Indy, and I immediately thought of you, Samuel. They are moving the "Coffee and Jesus" hour with Pastor Dianna. It's now at 9 a.m. sharp. Like, 9 a.m.!! That's a whole thirty minutes earlier than before.

Samuel Rivers

Wait, 9 a.m.? Oh, boy. That's, uh, that is a test of faith right there, Zoe. You know my morning routine involves a very, very slow transition from sleep to reality. Losing thirty minutes of sleep for the coffee hour before the 10:30 service? That's a real sacrifice.

Zoe Willows

Oh, please, you can sleep when you're dead! Besides, Pastor Dianna has some seriously heavy-hitting topics lined up for August to make that 9 a.m. wake-up call worth it. On August 2nd, she's kicking things off with Genesis 32:22-31. The sermon is literally titled "The greatest fight of all time." It's the Jacob story, where he physically wrestles with God all night. I mean, talk about a wake-up call.

Samuel Rivers

Ah, the wrestling match at Peniel. That is- is- it's such a raw, messy story. Jacob literally gets his hip put out of joint. But what I love about that text is that he refuses to let go until he gets a blessing. It- it- it shows that wrestling with God, wrestling with your doubts and your, uh, your late-night fears, isn't a sign of weak faith. It's actually a sign of intimacy. You don't wrestle with someone you're distant from.

Zoe Willows

Exactly! It's active engagement. It's not passive. And speaking of active, further into August—August 23rd, to be exact—she's preaching from Exodus 1:8 to 2:10. The sermon is "Five Women Who Change the Course of History." We are talking about Shiphrah, Puah, Jochebed, Miriam, and Pharaoh’s daughter. These women basically staged a quiet, underground revolution against the entire Egyptian empire to save baby Moses.

Samuel Rivers

Right, the midwives Shiphrah and Puah just straight up lying to Pharaoh's face when he ordered them to kill the Hebrew boys. They just said, "Oh, those Hebrew women are too lively, they give birth before we even get there!" It's incredibly bold.

Zoe Willows

I am obsessed with them! They are the ultimate historical whistleblowers. It’s this beautiful, quiet defiance that completely shifts the timeline of history. Without those five women acting as this protective shield, the Exodus doesn't happen. No Moses, no parting of the Red Sea. Just five women doing what was right under the nose of an empire.

Samuel Rivers

It’s a massive contrast to the end of the month, too. On August 30th, Pastor Dianna is shifting from those grand, dramatic Old Testament narratives to Paul's practical rules in Romans 12:9-21. She's calling it "Paul’s How-To Guide." It’s basically the ultimate "how to not be a hypocrite in community" manual.

Zoe Willows

Yes! Paul gets so specific there. He’s like, "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good." And then he drops that incredibly hard one: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him." Like, thanks Paul, super easy, no notes.

Samuel Rivers

Yeah, right? Simple to say, but try doing it on a Tuesday morning when someone cuts you off in traffic on Southeastern Avenue. It’s the daily grind of faith.

Zoe Willows

Speaking of the daily grind and community, we have to talk about the physical logistics at NBBC, because August is packed. First up, their Community Breakfast is Saturday, August 1st, from 8a.m. to 11 a.m. But here is the critical warning for the regulars: September's breakfast is actually moving to September 12th because of the Labor Day weekend. So write that down on your fridge magnet now.

Samuel Rivers

That is a crucial public service announcement. People do not like messing with their breakfast routine. Now, if you're looking to put that food energy into action, the church is serving at God’s Bounty food pantry on the first Thursday of the month, which would be August 6th. The pantry accepts donations on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m., and then they serve the community on Thursdays starting at 1 p.m. If you want to jump in on that, you need to reach out to Paul Young.

Zoe Willows

Paul Young, got it. I love that they have this constant, weekly rhythm. But let’s look at the midweek contrast here, because Wednesday mornings at NBBC sound like a total mood swing depending on which room you walk into. At 11 a.m., you’ve got the Book Club meeting via Zoom, led by Janie Bryant. They started a new book in July, Joan Chittister’s "The Time is Now," but they're saying you can still join in.

Samuel Rivers

Joan Chittister doesn't pull any punches. She’s all about spiritual activism and waking up to the moment. But then, literally two hours later, at 1 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays, the Euchre Club meets in the Judson Room on the lower level.

Zoe Willows

Wait, Euchre? That is the most Indiana thing ever. I can hear the cards slamming on the table from here.

Samuel Rivers

Oh, it is a contact sport in the Midwest, Zoe. Janet Fiddler is the contact person for that one. So you go from deep, contemplative Zoom discussions about modern prophets with Janie at 11 a.m., to aggressively ordering up a trump suit in the basement with Janet at 1 p.m.. I love it.

Zoe Willows

It’s perfect. Balance! And if you need to stretch out the tension from those card games, they actually have free yoga on Saturday mornings at 9:30 a.m., also in the Judson Room on the lower level. Barb Fengya leads that. It is totally free, you just bring a mat and wear comfortable clothes.

Samuel Rivers

No experience required, just show up. That’s a pretty sweet deal. And hey, if you want the full breakdown on all of this, the new issue of "The Journey" newsletter is coming out tomorrow, July 26th. So keep an eye out for that to get all the finer details.

Zoe Willows

Yes, grab that newsletter. Well, I’m gonna go find my yoga mat and maybe practice my card shuffling. Talk to you later, Samuel.

Samuel Rivers

Sounds good. See ya.