Food is Love! (and You can help spread it!)

At least that is a familiar phrase in some Italian circles!  The food that is being prepared and delivered monthly to Rahab Ministry really IS a great demonstration of sacrificial giving and the loving of strangers who come to  Rahab for Bible study and mentoring.

The Local Outreach Ministry team of Christ Community Chapel has committed to supplying weekly meals and cookies for these women for this calendar year.  We have a schedule in place but we still need a few more women to volunteer.  Each volunteer is only being asked to help out once a month with either a 9x13 casserole, a gallon of soup, or 2 dozen cookies.  The food is delivered to Rahab for you...you just need to get it to the church.  Sound simple?  It really is!

If this is a way you would enjoy serving the Lord during our church's initiative to live out the words of Micah 6:8 this year, please contact the following people for further information.

Jacque Stager

Jacque481@aol.com (330.633.1949)

Barbara Ammirati

Barbara.Ammirati@ccchapel.com (330.573.5951)

To learn more about Rahab Ministry, click here.

"...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 NIV

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

Serve Opportunity at The Haven of Rest

What are you doing Friday night?

For some people the list of possibilities is endless..for others it may be just a quiet night of R & R.

On Friday, April 29th, there is a possibility to give back  to a group of people who serve the homeless of Akron.  

It is only for a few short hours but the rewards are eternal.

Haven of Rest needs 25 volunteers to come and clean up after their annual banquet.  

Details -   Come at 7pm.   Clean up begins at 7:30.   With 25 volunteers, the job should be completed by 9:30pm.  

  Want to learn more about this service opportunity?
 
Just email Duncan Othen (C.C.C. Ministry Coordinator for the Haven of Rest at:          
                              
                            duncanothen@hotmail.com  

It's that simple!

  Bless this amazing Local Outreach Ministry for all they do to feed and clothe the homeless in Akron!   

BLESSINGS Annual Bike Hike Event

Spring is finally here!  It is a great time to get outdoors and enjoy the sunshine.
How about joining us at Blessings Ministry's Annual Bike/Hike event to raise money
for teenage moms in Summit and Portage counties allowing them to remain in school.

In addition to receiving assistance with child care, teen moms are matched up with a Christian mentor for continual guidance and support. Every teen must attend church and a mentor meeting each week, maintain good grades and school attendance, and meet monthly to learn ways to adopt good life skills.


 Please join us

Saturday May 7th at the Stow Munroe Falls High School 
Choose your distance 3, 6, or 8 miles
Choose your mode of transportation:  Walk, run, or Bike

Registration fee - $5*
Fee waived with $150+ in pledges

Mail registration to:
Blessings Charity Walk
5915 Rhodes Rd.
Kent, Ohio  44240

OR Call:   330 678 9019

SEE YOU THERE!

Truly Reaching You Ministries: Setting the Captives Free

 “...and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him (Jesus).  Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 

'The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.'  

Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”    Luke 4:17-24 NIV   

Truly Reaching You Ministries (T.R.Y.) is a Christ Community Chapel local ministry partner engaged in vital Kingdom work in the Akron area. The Local Outreach Committee at CCC recently shared a pizza supper with those associated with and being helped by T.R.Y. Ministries.  T.R.Y. is a relationship-based reentry organization that reaches out to men who have served their sentence and are returning to their communities. Through relationships, mentorship, Bible study, training and education, T.R.Y. provides a healthy support system for those who have made the commitment to surrender their old lifestyle, gain self-respect and renew their outlook on life. 

Perry Clark, the founder of T.R.Y., has a huge heart for God, and for the captives that Jesus Christ came to set free. Recognizing that about 2/3 of the men who served time in correctional facilities ended up back in prison as repeat offenders, he set out to search for answers to what factors contributed to this high rate of recidivism. God led Perry to understand the roadbocks to  men  building successful new lives on the outside:

                                     *The need for healthy relationships

                                     *The need for a safe living environment

                            *The need for employment

T.R.Y. looks for men who are ready to commit to a new way of living, and helps them realize the old way only robs them of the dignity they should have as men created in the image of God. This attitude is expressed by one man whose life was transformed by Christ through T.R.Y. 

“I came to see the penitentiary not as a punishment, but as God saving my life.”

T.R.Y. offers these men godly, healthy relationships, a safe place to live, and an opportunity to learn skills that will help them eventually become employed.  During their time with T.R.Y., the men agree to submit to a set of house rules that provide loving structure to their lives, to coaching and counseling, to productive activities and to job training that will help to restore their sense of dignity and hope. 

At the T.R.Y. houses, the men experience a family environment that is relationship oriented and focused on mutual help.  They also find restoration, forgiveness and healing, in sharp contrast to the addiction, rejection and condemnation they experienced before.  They learn to live out the truth that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

By giving men a hand up, not a hand out, T.R.Y. acts as a channel for God’s restoring love seen in the Gospel. The supernatural transformation God works through Truly Reaching You Ministries is evident in several ways:

·       *Instead of the usual 66% recidivism, only one in 55 men that completed the T.R.Y.  transition went back to prison.

·       *In learning to trust T.R.Y. and obey the house rules, the men learn the benefits of also trusting and obeying God. Said one T.R.Y.  alumni: “I heard you…now I understand what you were talking about.”

·       *Captives are being set free, finding gainful employment, rebuilding relationships, getting married and buying homes.

The stories of the men of T.R.Y.  are amazing testimonies to the life-changing love of Christ, and to the dedicated people at T.R.Y., who faithfully endeavor to "get out of the way", and let God work on men’s hearts. Another T.R.Y.  alumni stated, “the constant in all this is God.”

Do you feel God’s call to help set the captives free, as Perry Clark has? If so, prayerfully consider the following opportunities to serve at Truly Reaching You Ministries:

Volunteer Opportunities:

• Event Set Up
• Manage event registration table
• Support the National Night Out Against Crime Event
• Mail out Christmas cards
• Volunteer support in employment training

For more information on Truly Reaching You Ministries serving opportunities, please contact:

Michael Ammirati, Michael.Ammirati@ccchapel.com 330-650-9533 x340

Barbara Ammirati, Barbara.Ammirati@ccchapel.com 3390573-5951

Lisa Kibler, Lisa.Kibler@ccchapel.com 330-650-9533 x339
T.R.Y.  website:  www.trulyreachingyou.com 
 For more details, click this link:  Christ Community Chapel 

The best place to look for direction is up!

So says True North Ministry, which is a non-profit Christian organization dedicated to helping incarcerated youth to reach their full potential in Jesus Christ. 

There are a variety of reasons behind the problems many young people find themselves caught up in today.  “Most of the kids who commit crimes and end up in a juvenile correctional institution suffer from the impact of a broken family and lack of positive peers, as well as a cultural epidemic of violence and abandoned morals”  according to True North’s website.  One study even suggests that in almost every case of an incarcerated youth, there has not been a single positive adult male role model.  Because True North believes that at-risk youth are in such great need of healthy relationships with adults, their focus is more on building these kinds of relationships, not just devising programs.

Statistically speaking, most of these youth are shown to become repeat offenders.  True North is out to convince them that statistics don’t have to determine their future, but their choices definitely will.  True North believes that their mission is to “liberate imprisoned youth” ~~ and that true liberation is possible when the way is pointed to Jesus Christ.  “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”  John 8:36

The True North facility is located at 1060 E. Turkeyfoot Lake Road in Green Township, and serves several juvenile correctional facilities in the State of Ohio in various ways throughout the year.  

The Christ Community Chapel person who coordinates ministry activities with True North is Carol Fitch.  Carol has volunteered her many gifts to True North for over ten years and is well acquainted with the needs.  Each Monday she goes to the offices with her willing heart and does whatever is needed.  She regularly writes thank you notes for the ministry, writes their blog posts, shops and each week, prepares lunch for about 15 people.  Carol also helps with a woman’s bible study at our church, Love Like Crazy, by bringing activities in for one of the outreach teams of ladies to work on which directly benefit the True North Ministry.  True North has an amazing Christmas outreach to the incarcerated youth which includes gifts and a personal note to each one.  Last year, over 500 of these gift bags were  prepared by volunteers.

Currently there are about 25 members of Christ Community Chapel who comprise a team that goes out once a month to the Summit County Juvenile Detention Center on Dan Street in Akron to share the Gospel with troubled youth.  Personal relationships and trust are built to the point that some come to know the Savior. Several other CCC members are engaged in serving True North by offering their time and talents when they are able to.

If you think God might be calling you to love mercy through serving the True North Ministry , please find contact information below.  Also listed are examples of specific needs.  God bless you as you prayerfully consider how you might regard the words of Jesus:

“Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me...truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” Matthew 25

WAYS TO ENGAGE:

• one on one mentoring program
• writing cards and letters of encouragement
• teach basic carpentry or other skills
• help with maintenance of the facility
• donate for the remodeling of the facility
• donate prepared lunches for 15-20 people
• bake desserts or cookies
• coordinate and collect specific items for Christmas bags
• coordinate and collect specific items for juveniles being mentored

PRIMARY CONTACT

Carol Fitch, cjc2000@ameritech.net

330-322-0693

OTHER CONTACTS

Michael Ammirati, Michael.Ammirati@ccchapel.com

330-650-9533x340

Barbara Ammirati, Barbara.Ammirati@ccchapel.com

330-573-5951

Lisa Kibler, Lisa.Kibler@ccchapel.com

330-650-9533x339

Becky Retzer, Director

Truenorth@neo.rr.com

330-896-2700

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, VISIT THESE WEBSITES:

www.truenorthministry.com

www.truenorthministry.blogspot.com 

http://www.hudsonchapel.org/site.cfm/Ministries/Local-Outreach-24-7/Local-Ministry-Partners/True-North.cfm

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