Birth date: Apr 30, 1927 Death date: Jan 30, 2016
Barben Ella May Barben (née Dowell) of Maple Shade passed away on January 30th at the age of 88. She was the beloved wife of the late William “Joe” Barben Sr., married for 64 years. Loving mother of Joseph Barben (Paula), Kathlee Read Obituary
Ella May Barben was not only my mother in law, but my spiritual mom as well. You see, I was one of the beneficiaries of Mother's "dining table ministry" some 40 years ago. At that time she sat me behind a bowl of ice cream in her dining room and asked me with a "so-you-want-to-date-my-daughter" tone of voice the following question: "Did you know the Bible teaches that you can know whether you're going to heaven or not?"
As an unbeliever at that time I was astounded. I had assumed (all my life I guess) that the Bible defined some moral/ethical scale in which Theresa was on top and Adolph at the lower end with me hovering somewhere in the middle (or slightly above, l'd like to think). That misunderstanding didn't last long.
Mother then guided me down salvation's Roman Road: 1. No one qualifies; this means me (3:23) 2. Sin leads to death, but Jesus me gives eternal life (6:23) 3. Jesus died for me (5:8) 4. Confess and believe (10:9) 5. If I call on Him, I'll will be saved (10:13) 6. I am justified by faith in Jesus alone (8:1) 7. I fear no condemnation because I belong to Jesus (5:1) 8. Nothing will separate me from the love of God (8:38,39).
Shortly thereafter I became a member of God's eternal family, thanks to Mother, her faithfulness to Jesus Christ and the gospel, and her burden for my soul.
