CCC’s Love Like Crazy Group Shows God’s Love through PSS

“…serve one another humbly in love.  For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Galatians 5: 13b-14

God’s people show His love in acts of humble service.

The Christ Community Chapel (CCC) Love Like Crazy-Serve group wants to show God’s love by serving the church’s partnering ministries. The women's group is featuring a series of Simple Opportunities to Serve (S.O.S.).  In January, S.O.S. highlights the needs of Pregnancy Solutions and Services, or PSS.

How?

Those who would like to help are encouraged to donate items needed by the women PSS serves.  Items will initially be collected in the atrium at the beginning of Women's Bible studies Thursday, Jan. 23rd.  Additional items can be marked “PSS” and dropped off at the CCC Hudson campus Office Receptionist desk during office hours M-F.  All are encouraged to "like" the Love Like Crazy - Serve Facebook page.

 CCC members and friends have donated through PSS to show God's love before. Here are items collected from a baby shower put on by a CCC community group.

What?

PSS needs items to make layettes for the new moms it serves. Layettes include either travel size or regular size items like baby lotion, shampoo, wash and powder. PSS can also use size 4 and 5 diapers, baby socks, baby bottles, pacifiers, rash ointment, Q-tips, formula (cans of Similac Advanced and Enfamil) and other small items a new mother would need.

Friends and members of CCC are also encouraged to pray for Pregnancy Solutions and Services staff, and the abortion-minded women they counsel. 

 

Some CCC members who have served through the 
 Love Like Crazy group.

What’s the impact?

Saved lives.

For now and eternity.

PSS helps women choose life for their unborn children. It also shares the Gospel with moms and dads-to-be. Those who lack financial resources are encouraged through counseling, mentoring, free services and gifts showing the Christian community’s love and support, such as free layettes.

God's grace and love are also ministered to those who have had an abortion through counseling.

Wow. How do I help?

You can drop off items marked for PSS at CCC’s Hudson Campus Office Receptionist Desk.

For more information, contact Kathy Chmielewski, CCC Local Outreach Ministry Coordinator for PSS , at: kcistone@windstream.net .

Or, contact Barbara Ammirati, Assistant Director of Local Outreach, at:  barbara.ammirati@ccchapel.com

Rahab Ministries and CCC: Catching God’s Compassion

When they cry out to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.

Exodus 22:27b

God is compassionate.

Christ Community Chapel’s Love Like Crazy women’s group has drawn women to serve with God’s compassion through Local Outreach ministry partners like Rahab Ministries. Rahab is dedicated to breaking the chains of sexual slavery for women in the Akron area.

God’s people hear the needs He hears.

CCC’s Carla Gasser and Esther Morse of the Love Like Crazy group have volunteered at Rahab Ministries. Carla has helped with strip club outreaches, leading devotions, distributing toiletries to the women, and praying with and for the women.  The more Carla saw God’s compassion at work, the more she heard the needs of the Rahab women. Says Carla:

“I noticed that every time I was there, the women asked for simple things like shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hairbrushes, lotion, etc.  We never had enough! “

God’s people hear & respond to the needs.

Carla had a tradition of holding Christmas Open Houses in her home. She and Esther decided to make the 2013 Open House more meaningful. Carla invited over 100 women to stop in, hear about Rahab Ministries, and donate toiletries. 

What kind of response?

Says Carla:

“The response was absolutely overwhelming!  I hope you saw the pictures I posted on facebook!  My entire living room was filled!  I would guess that over 70 women came through my house that day, each with bags full of donations.  We could not fit it all in Leann's car!! And the women who could not attend, kept dropping things off on my porch.”

For God so loved the World that He gave....

What happens when God’s people respond?

Carla further explains:

“When I brought the rest of the donations to RAHAB the following week and loaded up the toiletry cabinet and closet my heart almost burst.  Then, when it came time to pass out the toiletries, you should have seen the looks on the women's faces.  For them to get a full bottle of shampoo, conditioner, and lotion was a real treat!  Plus they got new socks, gloves, underwear, and hairbrushes.  God is so good!  What a privilege to do such a small, simple thing for an amazing ministry.  I was truly blessed!”

Rahab House Mom Leann's smile of thanksgiving says it all. This is just part of the current inventory of toiletries at Rahab.

When God’s people are used as His compassionate hands and feet, those receiving the compassion respond with thanksgiving and praise, glorifying His name.  

And, those who serve experience visible signs of how God’s love overflows from His heart, to the servants’ hearts, to the recipients’ hearts, and back again. 

All for His glory.

I'm moved. What to do?

CCC and friends have been providing hands-on support, meals and toiletries for Rahab Ministries. The needs are ongoing.

To learn more, contact CCC’s Local Outreach Ministry Coordinator for Rahab, Jacque Stager at 330.687.1071, or by e-mail at: Jacque481@aol.com