God working through His family: Restoration Alive Service launch

Christ Community Chapel’s new campus at Cuyahoga Hills Youth Detention Center celebrated its first worship service, the Restoration Alive Service, Wednesday, February 8^th.  Members of CCC’s existing campuses are excited to welcome the facility staff and residents to their family. 

However, existing members were not the only ones excited about the launch. The service was attended by 80 facility residents, or about half of its total population. This far exceeded CCC’s expectations, since the service is competing with other activities for the men’s free time. Overall, there were 115 attending the service, counting the men, facility staff, guards and CCC volunteers.

During the first Restoration Alive Service, CCC’s lead pastor Joe Coffey presented the message from 1 Peter on how Christians, the family of God, are to respond to conflict. Pastor Joe highlighted in his sermon that as Christians, we are all part of the family of Christ. This thought likely resonated with the men, many of whom do not have families to support them in their struggles. CCC’s Jim Bossler led the worship music, and Pastor Marshall Brandon hosted the service and prayed for the men at the end. Pastor Nate Hunter helped organize the CCC volunteers, and facilitated the time of fellowship after the service.

God’s work was evident not only in the attendance, but also in the response. One man received Jesus as Savior at the end of the service, and several others had questions, indicating that God’s Spirit was doing great things through His “ordinary” family members!

To volunteer, or for more information, please contact

Michael.Ammirati@ccchapel.com or 

Barbara.Ammirati@ccchapel.com

“Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit”, says the Lord (Zech. 4:6

A new year brings a new CCC venue: Restoration Chapel Alive!

God’s Family: God’s power doing great things through ordinary people

God’s family at Christ Community Chapel is embarking on a great spiritual adventure with the upcoming launch of our new venue at the Cuyahoga Hills Juvenile Detention Center in Highland Hills,  Ohio.  To date, 67 (and counting!) volunteers from CCC have signed up to step out of their comfort zones and help with this ministry. Could God be calling you to carry His Gospel to the facility’s 160 young men? Most volunteers are grouped into four teams, each of which will take turns one week a month to minister.

At a recent launch team meeting, CCC’s Duncan Othen, a veteran of 10 years’ ministry to incarcerated people, acknowledged that the volunteers may feel unease the first time they enter the facility and hear the doors slam behind them. Such concern is natural. However, Duncan encouraged the team to “be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD!” (Psalm 36:24) He also reminded the team, “there is no such thing as a ‘hopeless case’ in God’s sight.” Indeed, when believers walk by faith in the Spirit, all things are possible. Duncan assured his fellow CCC servants, “you never know what seeds have been planted” in a young man’s life when you bring the Gospel, the truth that sets the captives free. The volunteers are called to plant the seeds, and the Spirit of God makes them sprout and grow supernaturally.

Michael Ammirati of CCC’s Local Outreach team outlined the time line for the first phase of the ministry. This consists of bringing Christ into the center through excellence in a worship service. Since the Wednesday night services will compete with other potential uses of the residents’ free time, the music will be compelling and strong. On February 1, a four-hour training session for volunteers interested in participating in this ministry will take place with  Chaplain Clark on the Hudson Campus from 5:30 to 9:30 (contact Michael Ammirati if interested in attending).  On February 6^th, there will be another team meeting, followed by the February 8^th launch of the “Restoration Chapel Alive” worship service.  The service will consist of live worship music and a sermon from Pastor Joe who will bring God's word to the men, and a time for small group interaction between the volunteers and the men who attend; Pastor Marshall  Brandon will be hosting the first service.  For the second phase of the ministry, Bible studies and skills training and one-on-one mentoring  will be offered.

This ministry will be the first of its kind in a State Correctional Facility, in that CCC teams will bring worship equipment into the facility, and leave it set up. This will be a visible reminder that Christ Community Chapel has a vision to bring Christ to those who cannot go to a church. Our CCC leaders are praying that with time, the State will see a supernatural transformation in the detention center residents. The ultimate fulfillment of this vision would be for this ministry to be a template for detention centers State-wide. 

God’s family at Christ Community Chapel has been called to be instruments of a “God-sized” miracle in Ohio. Please pray that God’s Spirit and power would move through our volunteers, who seek to love these young men as God does. Please also prayerfully consider whether God might be calling you to volunteer in this ministry.

It’s true. We are but earthen vessels, ordinary, weak and fragile in our humanity. However, when such vessels contain the all-surpassing power of God, we should expect God’s family to be part of something truly great!

To volunteer, or for more information, please contact

  Michael.Ammirati@ccchapel.com or Barbara.Ammirati@ccchapel.com

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves.”  2 Corinthians 4:7 NASB

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

Rahab Ministries Scarlet Cord Event: A Fundraiser that raised our spirits!

 On November 11th, CCC Local Outreach partner Rahab Ministries launched its third annual benefit concert.  This year a large crowd of attendees was blessed by the lively, upbeat urban music of Praise-Apella, a popular Cleveland based Christian musical group.  

As before, the Scarlet Cord event featured a silent auction as well as beautiful and delicious desserts, all items being donated by local businesses and individuals.  Several Christ Community Chapel members were among the donors of desserts and auctioned items.

  

And also as before, attendees witnessed first hand women whose lives have been transformed by the Gospel and helped by Rahab Ministries. Their testimonies were given not in speeches, but by posters that each held up.  The first side of the  poster was the woman’s self-description prior to meeting Christ, and the other side described the woman’s new life in Christ. Here are some examples of these brief, but powerful visual testimonies.  These transformed women agree with the Apostle Paul, who proclaimed, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God to save….”  And God’s saving power was very evident in the joyous celebration of their new lives at the event.

Rahab Ministries is a street outreach to Akron women who are trapped in a lifestyle of prostitution, addiction and other criminal activities. Volunteers meet these captive women on the streets and in prisons, extending the love and forgiveness of Christ Jesus to them, and assuring them they do not have to continue in bondage.  There are ongoing opportunities for CCC members to help Rahab Ministries.  To learn more about what you can do to help, please contact CCC Local Outreach Coordinators Michael and Barbara Ammirati.

michael.ammirati@ccchapel.com

barbara.ammirati@ccchapel.com

To learn more about Rahab Ministries, please see their website: www.rahab-ministries.org/

"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

Sharing the Blessings of Thanksgiving...

Beginning today and going through Sunday, November 20, members of Christ Community Chapel are taking part in our annual Thanksgiving Basket ministry.  Folks were lined up by the dozens to sign up and take a plastic tub home to fill with everything required to make a nice Thanksgiving meal for a family-in-need.

A list of items with which to fill the tub is provided, so every family receives the same thing.  Several hundred tubs were signed out today, and the hope to is to bless upward to 500 families in our area this Thanksgiving.

If you or your group is interested in helping this year, come to the Justice & Mercy kiosk before, between, or after services Nov. 13 or Nov. 20 to receive your tub and instructions.

Filled tubs are to be brought to the church on Monday, November 21 between the hours of 3-6 pm, when they will be loaded into vehicles for delivery to families.  If you have any questions, please contact Scot or Judi Dalton at 330-650-0109.

Thanks to everyone who is helping in any way to brighten the Thanksgiving holiday for families in our area who need a helping hand this year!

 "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." II Corinthians 9:7

Love Never Fails...

On the weekend of October 22-23, a great outpouring of love was witnessed at Christ Community Chapel as members donated their gifts at the baby shower for Pregnancy Solutions and Services (PSS).  The shower was organized by a CCC community group and the response by the entire church was simply breath-taking!

New infant clothing, diapers, wipes, formula, crib bedding and other necessary baby items were collected for PSS and loaded into the new Mobile Ultrasound Unit that was purchased through donations to the CCC Bike Challenge that was held this past summer.

CCC members lined up to take a tour of the Mobile Unit, which was dedicated to be used for saving lives and for the glory of God.

Heartfelt thanks to the community group who sponsored this shower, and to all who had a part in it's success.  Your gifts of love will make an eternal difference in the lives of mothers-in-need who will choose life.

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