Urban Ministry

Who Is My Neighbor?

“Who is my neighbor?” An expert in the law once asked Jesus this question to try to trip him up. Jesus, as usual, answered with wisdom and authority, and tells a memorable story of mercy and love. (See Luke 10:25-37 for the complete story.) Recently, The Chapel has had a great opportunity to show mercy and love to some of our neighbors. morgan

Six years ago, Pastor Mike Castelli began to pray for an opening for a neighborhood ministry in the Green area. He approached a neighborhood close to the Green Campus called Briarwood. He thought The Chapel could show the love of Christ in a tangible way. His offer of help was turned down time and time again.

Enter a man named Jim. About a year ago, Jim became the property manager of Briarwood. One day in the late afternoon, Jim walked through the doors of The Chapel. He wondered if maybe The Chapel would consider showing the love of Christ in a tangible way. Did you catch that? Jim’s request mirrored Pastor Castelli’s prayer of six years.

For nearly a year now, Chapel folks have been building relationships with the residents of Briarwood, specifically the children.

The campers of Camp Straight Street have supplied summer games and activities and even passed out cookies made by the Cookie Ministry.
Some of the children that live at Briarwood came to Camp Straight Street with the help of scholarships.
CCS (Chapel Community Service) volunteers helped hold a carnival for the entire complex where hotdogs, popcorn and Bibles were passed out to everyone.
Urban Ministry department volunteers have been giving free tutoring twice a week after school during Homework Club.
Lisa Marshall, Director of Urban Ministries, has a Bible Club and recently hosted an Easter party. Children, along with their tutors, painted t-shirts, played bunny bowling and decorated eggs. But first they watched a movie about the real meaning of Easter.

Showing a little love and mercy through helping some students with multiplication tables or games or Easter parties could build a bridge to our church. The Chapel is all about blessing our community and we are so grateful for the wonderful neighbors we’ve met at Briarwood.

Purpose for Urban Ministries

The Message translates John 1:14 like this: "The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood." Having a flesh and blood presence as Christ's representatives in our urban neighborhoods is what Urban Ministry is all about. The Chapel is dedicated to extending a hand of generosity to those who have significant physical needs (clothing, food, etc) but also a hand that shares the Good News of Christ, the source of knowing God. We call it G2 (if you know Gatorade's latest marketing moniker!), being all about Good Deeds and Good News.

Urban Ministry touches …

A letter for Urban Ministry from a Leggett 4th Grader:

You inspired me to do good things in my life and you've brung me closer to God. Thank you for teaching me right from wrong. You have been nice to me since I came and now I have more fun learning about God than when I am learning about anything else. Now I know more than I use to. Sometimes I'm jealous of what other people have that I don't, but I know not to do that anymore. I put God first. I don't worship things. I treat my mom good. I try to be nice to others but I'm hardly doing a good job at it. So thank you for everything you have done to make me a better person.

Leggett School

In 1999, The Chapel met with urban ministry specialists to seek answers on how to minister to the nearby urban community. The specialists were clear that meaningful ministry does not begin with programs but with relationships. And the best way to build relationships is through the local school. Today, The Chapel enjoys both a wonderful relationship and ministry with Leggett Elementary School.
You can be a part of what's happening at Leggett:

Backpacks, school supplies and uniforms (this is the Christmas in July emphasis)
Coats for Kids (a coat drive in late September)
Backpacks of Love (every Friday, bags are backed with food that will help kids get through
the weekend)
SAVE (Students Against Violence Everywhere, weaving in Peacemaker principles)
Report card pick-up dinners for 350 people
Holiday class parties
Tutoring
Good News Club (students invited to attend a club where they learn about Jesus Christ)

Briarwood Community (near Green Campus)

In 2009 Briarwood Community in Green invited The Chapel to help its students with school as well as various physical needs. This has also provided an opportunity to invite kids to learn about the Good News.
You can be a part of what's happening at Briarwood:

Backpacks and school supplies (this is the Christmas in July emphasis)
Tutoring
Good News Club (students invited to attend a club where they learn about Jesus Christ)
Coat for Kids (a coat drive in late September)

Jail Ministry

The Chapel, in cooperation with Prison Fellowship International, provides Christmas gifts to children of incarcerated moms and dads in Summit and Stark counties and then sponsors a "Jesus Birthday Party" with food, singing and a Bible message. Also, The Chapel's Jail Ministry is partly tied to two ongoing community jail ministries, Broken Chains and The Way Out.

Reach Akron

This midweek ministry is comprised of about forty college students who teach the Bible and provide mentoring to Leggett and Mason Park kids.

Vacation Bible School Summertime Outreach

Inner-city Vacation Bible Schools are led by our Urban Ministry director and many volunteers. Assisting are Chapel middle school students who gain ministry skills and a heart for the city through this unique urban setting.

Local Church/Local School adoption training

Local churches may contact Lisa Marshall at 330.315.5520 for information on receiving training in how to adopt or build a relationship with a local school.

Special Projects

In 2009, Chapel attendees provided 1,000 Easter baskets (filled with goodies, school supplies and Christ-oriented literature) for children under the care of Children Services Board. We will repeat in 2010.

The Chapel gave hundreds of pounds of food through all of March 2009, for the Akron/Canton Regional Foodbank drive.

The Word for the Street

Several years ago, The Chapel's Focus ABF began a downtown ministry to the homeless and desperately poor called The Word for the Street. Members of that ABF, and now others who have joined the ministry, meet every Monday night at 6:30pm behind the YMCA in central Akron. Following Bible teaching and singing, those in need receive a meal and necessary clothing along with friendship from Chapel members. Distribution of clothing is performed in several parts of the city where need is extreme.

Contact Lisa Marshall at 330.315.5520 to be a neighbor, Jesus-style. Visit our Urban Ministry website.