First United Methodist Church
Jackson, Michigan 49201
517-787-6460

• Education: Graduated with a B.A. from Slippery Rock University Graduated with a M.Div. from United Theological Seminiary 5 units C.P.E. from Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne, IN
• Experience: I have served five United Methodist congregations in the West Ohio Annual Conference. I have served as an interim pastor at two congregation in the West Michigan Annual Conference. I currently serve as the Minister of Parish/Associate Pastor at First UMC in Jackson, MI.
• Comment to those looking at my sermons: I hope these sermons are helpful to you. Please feel free to use pieces or parts of these sermons to help a person or a congregation grow in their faith.
• Sermon or series that made a difference: Sermon about Philemon and Onesium and how we are to be helpful to God and to others.
• One of my favorite illustrations: Story told by a father about a young man named Shay who was developmentally disabled and was allowed to play baseball with a group of other boys. The boys helped him and encouraged him as he scored the winning run in baseball game.
• Family: I am married to the Rev. Mark Babb, OSL who is serving as the Director of Music at St. Paul United Church of Christ in Waterloo, IL. My mother lives with us.
• What my parents think of my sermons: My mom like my sermons because she can understand them.
• What my spouse (really) thinks of my sermons: I bounce ideas off by husband and sometimes he is able to give me ideas or illustrations that help me as I write my sermon.
• Best advice given to me about preaching: Always use illustrations in your sermon, something by which a person can connect to their experience. It’s ok to use humor appropriately.
• Books that have had an impact: Leading Beyond the Walls by Adam Hamilton (actually any book by this author) The Contemplative Pastor by Eugene Peterson Reaching For Rainbows by Ann Weems Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations by Robert Schnase
• Hobbies: I enjoy fishing. I also create beaded necklaces, bracelets and earrings.
• If I could Preach one more time, I would say...: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself just as Jesus did and does.
• Something funny that happened while preaching: I used an illustration about ducks and how they differ. Instead of calling a particular duck a red-headed duck, I refered to it as a red-neck duck. The whole congregation had an uneasy silence that I recognized and when I asked what I had said, the whole place erupted in laughter.
• What I want on my tombstone: Loved God and Loved God’s People