PSS Bike-A-Thon 2016: Working to Save Lives!

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

Acts 20:35

Giving to benefit the weak can align us with God’s will.

Some give hard work, and others give of their financial substance to benefit the weak in the name of the Lord. The Pregnancy Solutions & Services (PSS) Bike-A-Thon on July 30^th is a way to help the weak.

Who are the weak?

PSS is raising funds for medical services to save the lives of the unborn. PSS also exists to give the life saving message of the Gospel to parents-to-be in the Akron area.

How can I help?

You can register to ride your bike and raise funds for PSS. Or, you can pledge funds for a PSS rider.  For details, go to: http://www.pssfriends.org/bike-a-thon/ .

For information on how you can pray, give or go to benefit Christ Community Chapel’s Local Outreach ministry partners who help the weak, please contact Barbara Ammirati at: barbara.ammirati@ccchapel.com .

The Verdict Akron: How Might You Make a Difference?

In his name the nations will put their hope.

Matthew 12: 21

For those in this sin-sick world, God provides hope.

That hope comes by placing one’s confidence in the name of Jesus.

How can that hope be shared with others?

One way is to bring someone to an upcoming event. The Verdict Akron is a hope festival for the city. It will take place on August 6^th, from 11 AM to 8 PM at Grace Park in Akron. It is a free community event offering extreme entertainment, daily necessities, love and messages of hope. 

Why a hope festival?

In the words of The Verdict Akron Facebook page:

“Why?

Look around you. Pick-up the newspaper or click on the local news. Drive through the City. Stop and have an honest conversation with a police officer or someone who lives in the heart of the hood. In fact, do the same thing in the suburbs, they are not immune from these issues. Do we need HOPE? We all know and feel the answer.

‘Heroin, human-trafficking, homicides, hopelessness’. . . the headlines are all around us. We can ignore them, accept them as the new norm, play the blame game, talk the problems to death, or just deny that they exist.Or, we can stop talking and together -DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.”

Who is The Verdict Planning Committee?

The Verdict planning committee is composed of business, law enforcement, clergy, ministry and other partners from the community who love God and love others. Members recognize that as they look around, crime, drug addiction, human trafficking, hopelessness, loneliness, division and darkness are destroying our City. The committee and its partners are convinced that there is only one solution to these problems: A relationship with Jesus Christ. The Verdict planning committee exists to share this HOPE with the City.

What will be offered at the event?

This FREE event will include a dynamic special speaker, a concert by a national-recording, hip-hop artist who describes himself as an “ex-hustler turned urban missionary”, Akron’s first ever, city approved, motorcycle stunt show by the founder of street racing/stunt riding.

There will be a “City of Resources” which will include tables of ministry partners that specialize in helping the hurting regarding: exiting a life of crime, drug addiction, prostitution, human trafficking and assisting with housing, job placement and employment.

The event will offer a Fugitive Safe Surrender tent to allow people the opportunity to clear up warrants and child-support issues through the Summit County/Akron City court systems. There will be free food, bouncy houses and giveaways for kids.

In the week leading-up to this event, The Verdict partners will come together as a community for “City Serve” to invest in cleaning up our streets. Partners will paint fences, pick up trash and “build bridges.” They will be an example to our larger community and our Nation that help and HOPE require more than mere words. Partners will love like Christ with actions.

How can I learn more?

Contact Barbara Ammirati of Christ Community Chapel’s Local Outreach Team for information at: barbara.ammirati@ccchapel.com .

Or, you can go to https://www.facebook.com/theverdictakron/ .

Grunts for God: Rahab House Beautification!

One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.

Psalm 27:4

God is beautiful in His everlasting love, righteousness and perfection.

However, the beauty of His perfect love is not always evident in this sin-sick world.

God’s people can make His beauty visible.

How, you might ask?  Sometimes we can use something as simple as a shovel or rake to show His beauty.

How? Through a holy/common union.

We seldom consider how the most common things we do, such as gardening, can be made holy by dedicating them to the glory of God. Recently, a small army of seven people set out to be the hands and feet of Jesus in serving at Rahab House in Akron.

 Rahab House offers a warm welcome to women in distress.

Rahab seeks to rescue women ensnared in human sex trafficking by showing them hope in Jesus Christ. At Rahab House, the most broken among us learn about that hope, and how Christ loves them beautifully and seeks to redeem their lives.

 A rock in Rahab House's flower garden. 

Rahab is a ministry of hope.

Grunts for God.

So, seven members and friends of Christ Community Chapel recently decided to help beautify the front of Rahab House.  This was done via a gardening blitz. The mundane, grunt-work stuff like pulling weeds, turning soil, planting flowers and spreading mulch was done so that God’s inviting love would be more evident to the women served by Rahab Ministries. And, the project was drenched in prayers for the rescue and redemption of those women. 

Going low and serving...

 ...with a beautiful result..

...that united friends, both old and new!

The common grunt-work, dedicated to God, became an act of worship.

What can you do?

Please prayerfully consider the common stuff you do, and how it might be dedicated to God. 

For information on specific local serving opportunities, contact Barbara Ammirati of Christ Community Chapel’s Local Outreach team at: barbara.ammirati@ccchapel.com . Whether you have a Community Group, or an ad-hoc small army, there may be a need that resonates with you!

For more information on Rahab Ministries, go to: http://www.rahab-ministries.org/ .