Urban Vision Volunteering Opportunities

Urban Vision continues to reach out to one at-risk child at a time on behalf of Christ in Akron’s North Hill area.  Urban Vision is constructing a bicycle Pump Track (for more on the UV track, see: http://pumptrackproject.com/ ), which is a magnet for kids. Recently, three local kids came to ride on the bike track, and stayed to hear Urban Vision’s message. They heard the Gospel in a small group. As one observer said, "They came with bicycles, and left with Bibles." Please pray for Urban Vision’s work in the city.

However, helping our neighbors in need through Urban Vision is not limited to those with carpentry or speaking skills.

If you love to cook, please consider opportunities to help Urban Vision with meals for local kids. Urban Vision (UV) serves more than 890 meals per week as part of its ministry. Please click on the following link if you’re interested in learning more about preparing either full meals, or portions of meals, or serving for UV programs and events:

http://www.urbanvisionministry.org/our_current_needs.aspx

Urban Vision can use a little help from their friends this summer!

Students at Urban Vision's Beacon Christian Learning Center have made great progress in their education this past school year, but volunteer help is immediately needed for the summer so what they've learned doesn't slip away! Also, there is a need to help incoming students get a jump on the next school year. Urban Vision is looking for committed volunteers who will develop relationships, encourage, motivate, and invest in the lives of children.

WILL YOU CONSIDER HELPING THE BEACON KIDS THIS SUMMER?  The volunteering time is up to the volunteer.  The students are elementary, junior high, and high school.  There are summer teachers in place with assignments based on individual needs of the students, but MUCH volunteer help is needed.

In a nutshell, here's how you could help:

Elementary and Jr. High ~ Helping one on one with a student with their reading, math flashcards, etc. depending on their individualized plan; helping motivate them and staying on top of them with their work.  16 volunteers are needed for Fridays June 28 - July 26th, 2:15-3:15 pm and August 9th 4:45-5:45 pm.

High School ~ Helping with everything from their reading and math flashcards to grading papers. July 8-August 2 and August 12-16, 11:30-4:00 pm. Volunteers are needed to serve 1-5 days a week, from 1 hour to all day.

If you think you are interested in helping and want more information, please email Guida Sweitzer directly as soon as possible! guida@urbanvisionministry.org

Urban Vision Christmas Store: Christmas with Dignity, Kids with a Future

'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.

Matthew 25:40

The annual Urban Vision (UV) Christmas Store event took place on December 15^th. It was an opportunity for UV kids to spend the UV dollars they have earned during 2012 through successful participation in programs helping them in everything from improving their school grades to earning the right to become leaders at UV.

Urban Vision seeks to give North Akron kids a Christ-honoring alternative to life on the street. Currently, there are about 200 kids in various UV programs, and there is typically a waiting list of about 60 at-risk children hoping to be lifted up, challenged to personal growth, and rewarded for personal achievements. Urban Vision is reaching the community for Christ, one child and one family at a time.

UV’s programs, such as Set on Success, provide kids the chance to improve their grades in school through tutoring and mentoring. When the kids hit key goals, they are rewarded with UV dollars, a currency that they can save up and spend on Christmas gifts for their families. The kids also learn valuable life lessons, since the UV dollar incomes are taxed, saved in a UV bank, and budgeted against the child’s Christmas shopping list.

This year, a Christ Community Chapel Christian Leadership Concepts (CLC) men’s group decided to make their service project helping UV with the Christmas Store. The store project depends on UV staff and countless volunteers who set up a physical department store, complete with priced merchandise, sales clerks, customer shopping assistants, gift wrappers, inventory keepers and others who enable the kids to experience the real world process of earning money, budgeting for Christmas giving, buying the goods and giving them to loved ones. UV insists that providing the kids with “a hand up, not a hand out” is key to their catching a vision of a productive future for themselves, with Christ-honoring coaching and counseling along the way.

Christmas Store volunteers arrived at Urban Vision around 7:00 AM on December 15^th, and were treated to a light breakfast, a time of worship, some training and guidance encouraging them to think of the kids as their own, since they belong to our God. Gifts available for the kids to purchase ranged from snow scrapers to bicycles and televisions. It was amazing to see these inner city young people comparison shopping, weighing the merits of different items, making selections, paying money from their UV “wallets”, collecting change, and moving among the various departments. The UV Store included departments for toddlers, kids, men and women, with merchandise from deodorant to overcoats. The store alone, with its logistical requirements, is a huge testimony to the love and dedication of the UV staff and volunteers.

Christ is clearly doing a great work in preparing the Urban Vision kids for adulthood. While UV did not encourage discounting (why devalue the rewards for their achievement?), the sales people had a great time explaining the value of items at different price points. The kids spent their money very wisely, with a great sense of Christmas cheer, amazing energy and good humor.  

As is the case so often, the CLC group members came to be a blessing to others in the name of Christ.  However, the men also were greatly blessed by seeing the fruit of the Spirit in these amazing young UV shoppers.  Urban Vision is indeed reaching North Akron for Christ, one child and family at a time.

 You may wish to learn more about the UV Christmas Store as a possible opportunity to serve in the name of Christ next year.  If so, please go to their website at:

http://www.urbanvisionministry.org/home0.aspx

You may also want to prayerfully consider the current opportunity to help Urban Vision in its $70,000 December Match Challenge.  This initiative is designed to help UV pay for staffing and materials for its operating needs in 2013. For more information about Urban Vision, please contact:

Barbara Ammirati @ barbara.ammirati@ccchapel.com

Michael Ammirati @ michael.ammirati@ccchapel.com

Urban Vision: Immediate Serving Opportunities

CCC Local Outreach ministry partner Urban Vision has a couple of great opportunities for our members to do justice and love mercy by helping at risk children in Akron’s North Hill area.  Both opportunities are geared toward helping our young neighbors in need succeed academically, and giving them a vision for a brighter future, just as the Lord says, “…I have a plan for you….to give you a future and a hope.” (Jer. 29:11)

A “most important” volunteer need at Urban Vision is for Kids’ Club helpers. Key to this role is to love a bunch of really cute kids as God their Father loves them. The children range in age from 4 years old through 8^th grade. Helper volunteers lead teams and enjoy their time being with the kids. To qualify, volunteers must be at least 12 years old, and must have completed the 6^th grade. Helpers are needed on Fridays from 3:30 to 6:30 PM during the school year.

Urban Vision also has openings for volunteers to be Set On Success Homework Helpers.  Volunteers help kids in kindergarten through 8^th grade with homework on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 5:00 to 6:00 PM during the school year. Specifically, much of the time is spent helping the students with math, listening to them read, or lending a hand with homework in other subjects. Volunteers must be at least 14 years old, and must have completed the 8^th grade.

To volunteer please contact one of the following people:

Michael.Ammirati@ccchapel.com 

Barbara.Ammirati@ccchapel.com 

Nathan@urbanvisionministry.org or call the office 330.762.1163. If you contact Urban Vision directly, please let them know you heard about the opportunity through Christ Community Chapel’s Local Outreach blog.

And what does the Lord require of you? To do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.  Micah 6:8

Urban Vision's Christmas Store ~ can you help?

 

 As members of Christ Community Chapel, we are called to know Christ, grow in Him, and serve in His name. If you feel called this Christmas to be the hands and feet of Jesus, please prayerfully consider volunteering at Local Outreach ministry partner Urban Vision this December. There are also opportunities to donate gifts to benefit our neighbors in need served by Urban Vision.

The Urban Vision Christmas Store is December 17^th. This event is designed for rewarding Urban Vision kids who have earned U.V. Credits by participating in programs, getting good grades and demonstrating excellent behavior. The kids can spend their Credits to purchase gifts from the Christmas Store.

The preparation of the Christmas Store requires help from volunteers, starting on Wednesday, December 14^th (6 to 9 PM), when items will be pulled from storage, tables will be set up, and donated items will be sorted. Volunteers are also needed on Thursday, December 15^th from 4 to 9 PM, and on Saturday, December 17^th, from 7:15 AM to 1:00 PM. In addition to setup volunteers, help is also needed for Shopper Guides, Store Clerks, Gift Wrappers and Clean-up Helpers.

For details on volunteer opportunities and the latest “wish list” related to the Christmas Store, please go to:

http://www.urbanvisionministry.org/christmas_store0.aspx

"And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8

Urban Vision's Nehemiah Campaign

CCC Local Outreach ministry partner Urban Vision is like Nehemiah, the Old Testament man of God who was moved to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem after the Jewish people were taken into captivity. However, Urban Vision has mostly focused on rebuilding the spiritual lives and academic hopes of at risk youth and their families in North Akron, one life at time, for God’s glory. At the same time, Urban Vision’s ministries of mercy and justice are based in a physical building at 749 Blaine Avenue in Akron.

To ensure its stewardship of both the building and its outreach to neighbors in need, Urban Vision has launched its Nehemiah Campaign to raise $541,866 by December 31, 2011. The funds will be used to (1) ensure much needed repairs are made to the building, and (2) support additional staff needed to meet the needs of the local community. The building’s outside masonry needs to be repaired, so water does not enter and eventually cause the walls to collapse. The building also needs new exterior doors and repairs or replacement of leaky windows. All of this will enable this vital ministry to continue serving the growing needs of North Akron families via great programs such as Set on Success, which helps young people improve their academic results and gain a vision for a brighter future. All programs ensure the youth understand that Urban Vision is extending Christ’s love to them, as Urban Vision provides an alternative to joining gangs and other high risk activities.

Would you or your group prayerfully consider how you might support the Nehemiah Campaign? Urban Vision is also in need of hands-on volunteers to be the hands and feet of Christ in North Akron. For more information, please…

Visit Urban Vision’s website at:  http://www.urbanvisionministry.org/nehemiah_campaign0.aspx

Or contact:

The Christ Community Chapel Local Outreach coordinators: michael.ammirati@ccchapel.com or barbara.ammirati@ccchapel.com.

"And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8

Edge 6th graders go on local mission trip to assist Urban Vision!

For the first time ever, the CCC Edge sixth graders set out on July 24^th for a four night/five day local missions trip to Akron, Ohio. The youth group responded to the mandate to know Christ, grow in Him, and serve Him by assisting CCC’s local ministry partner Urban Vision in North Akron.

One third of the Edge group focused on renovations to Urban Vision’s ministry building. The team replaced side entrance doors, put in new ceiling tiles, repaired walls, and painted. The rest of the Edge group did rehab work on a home on Schiller Avenue in North Hill that will house a young couple that is joining the Urban Vision staff. The team resealed the outside foundation of the home, and sealed the inside block in the basement. They also completed the entire outside landscaping, insulated interior walls, did drywall and painting.

The Edge team did a great job bringing transformation to the Urban Vision building, and to a home that will be used for ministry and outreach efforts in North Hill. As the youth did their labor of love for Christ and our neighbors in need, Jesus continued His transforming work in their lives.

To learn more about Urban Vision, visit their website: www.urbanvisionministry.org or contact the Christ Community Chapel Local Outreach coordinators: michael.ammirati@ccchapel.com or barbara.ammirati@ccchapel.com.

"And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8

They are loving like crazy!

Christ Community Chapel’s Love Like Crazy Bible study is a women’s laboratory for living out the truth that God is love. The group states, “He loves us with a crazy, radical, unconditional love.” On reading the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan, the Love Like Crazy ladies grasped that “love is an action and being a follower of Christ means loving God and loving people.” This lines up with CCC’s Gospel-driven call to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with our God.

The Bible study consisted of four teams, each of which committed to serving a different ministry organization outside the CCC walls. One team partnered with Urban Vision in North Akron. Urban Vision seeks to glorify Christ by restoring its community one child and one family at a time.

Recently, one of the concepts Pastor Joe Coffey presented as a way we could do justice was to help Urban Vision buy and rehabilitate homes to help local families own their own dwelling at an affordable price. Urban Vision also teaches the families the needed life skills for budgeting and home ownership.

Urban Vision’s neighbors in need include about 600 of the Karen people group, one of Asiatic origins, that are starting a new life in the Akron area. (See a previous blog post here.)  They have been persecuted in their homeland, and have been granted asylum in the U.S. However, many times their landlords charge them excessive rent, while failing to provide basics such as running water. To counter this injustice, the Love Like Crazy team recently decided to literally take up Pastor Joe’s challenge and is raising money to purchase a home in North Akron, setting a goal of $20,000.

The Love Like Crazy team is encouraging people to purchase a Love Like Crazy necklace, as all proceeds go directly into the fund to purchase a home.

Clearly, the Love Like Crazy ladies are, as a group, showing how the Gospel of God’s love must not only penetrate our minds, but also prompt our hearts and hands to serve, since love is an action.

So, what does it look like when the Gospel transforms an individual believer in a deeper way? One lady, after serving at Urban Vision with the Bible Study, felt the call to organize 20 people on her own during Spring break to help Urban Vision clean its facility.

Are you loving like crazy?  In addition to purchasing a Love Like Crazy necklace, you might consider making a separate donation, or perhaps even to offer to match funds that are raised for the Urban Vision housing effort. For more information on ways to engage, contact any of the following people:

Carla Gasser: lovelikecrazyccc@gmail.com (330.703.0632)

Esther Morse: lovelikecrazyccc@gmail.com (330.603.6463)

Michael Ammirati: Michael.Ammirati@ccchapel.com (330.650.9533 ext. 340)

Barbara Ammirati: Barbara.Ammirati@ccchapel.com (330.573.5951) 


Urban Vision: www.urbanvisionministry.org

To visit the Love Like Crazy website and follow the fundraising progress, go to: 

www.lovelikecrazyccc.blogspot.com

Urban Vision: Transforming Young Lives through Christ

Christ Community Chapel is honored to partner with Urban Vision, whose mission is to reach the North Akron Community by demonstrating the redemptive love of Jesus Christ. Urban Vision does this through faith-based programs focused on the needs of the people. Programs are designed for restoring the community one child and family at a time.  A pressing need that Urban Vision sees is intervening in the lives of young people who otherwise could be headed in the direction of joining gangs in search of identity and recognition.  The fruit of transformed lives is on the tree. For example, one young man who came to Urban Vision was once a “street kid”.  Today, he  has been accepted to a private Christian high school with the hope of a good future.

Urban Vision helps young people visualize what they could achieve academically, in their adult working lives, and ultimately, for Christ. The organization offers after-school tutoring, and rewards kids for achieving academic goals. The Set on Success (SOS) after-school enrichment program for K through 12th grade students helps them complete their homework and get a solid foundation in reading and math. Urban Vision currently has a waiting list of 40 young people eager to enter this program.  Urban Vision also spots potential leaders among these youth, and offers Christ-centered training for them. In addition, hard work, academic success, and discipline in things like Scripture memorization can earn these young people the right to enter Urban Vision’s rigorous Teen Leader Training program.

Urban Vision wants to minister to entire families in its North Akron community. One ethnic group it is helping is the Karen (pronounced Kah-RIN) people, who number about 600 in Akron. The Karen are a people group who are from Burma, many of whom are Christian as a result of Baptist missionaries’ work there. Because of ongoing religious persecution in their region, Christian groups in the United States are helping the Karen people to immigrate for sanctuary.  Urban Vision is helping the Karen people in our area get settled and learn the English language. 

We at CCC are encouraged to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with our God. One injustice Urban Vision desires to see rectified is unjust treatment of these immigrants by the housing landlords. In some cases, for example, these landlords charge steep rent, yet refuse to provide basics such as running water. The tenants are told that if they complain, they will be evicted.

There is great potential to help these people become homeowners if Urban Vision’s ministry partners can provide the capital and know-how to purchase and rehab homes in the area. Home rehab would be followed up by counseling and other efforts to allow the Karen and other locals to apply for and get modest loans to own a home.  While freeing the tenants from injustice, this initiative could also improve the community as a whole, to the glory of Christ’s name.

It is humbling to think of the broad scope and impact Urban Vision is having in the lives of our neighbors in need. Would you prayerfully consider how you might serve at Urban Vision? 

Some specific needs are:

*housing: help acquire and restore homes in the North Hill area

*life skills training: teach life skills classes such as finance, budgeting, home repair, parenting skills, and relationship skills

*job training: help writing resumes, typing skills, computer skills, training for interviews

*help with after school programs (homework helpers, cook and serve meals, monitoring gym, etc.)

*help to launch a general store for use by residents

*train young adults with music lessons so they can serve as worship leaders

*help with the vision to build an auto mechanics garage for skills training and affordable transportation

*cook and serve meals for special events

*adult English classes

*building maintenance and renovations, computer and phone repair, cleaning

If you are interested in serving in any of these areas,  contact one of the following people.  Please mention that you heard about these opportunities on the Christ Community Chapel Local Outreach Blog.


Housing: Tim Chafins
tchafins@gmail.com
330.612.4473


Life Skills & Job Training: Rodney Matthews
rodney@urbanvisionministry.org
330.762.1163


Auto Mechanic Garage:  Rob Williams
330.762.1163


After-School Programs & Musicians Training:  Lauren Beck
laurenbeck.urbanvision@gmail.com
330.762.1163


Other Contacts at Christ Community Chapel:


Michael Ammirati
Michael.Ammirati@ccchapel.com
330.650.9533 x340


Barbara Ammirati
Barbara.Ammirati@ccchapel.com
330.573.5951


Lisa Kibler
Lisa.Kibler@ccchapel.com
330.650.9533x339


Visit these websites:


Christ Community Chapel -  click here


Urban Vision -  click here