Urban Ministry

Easter Baskets for Summit County Children Services

Pick up a paper egg and instructions in the Atrium to bless a child or teen with an inspirational Easter basket.
All baskets need to be dropped off in the atrium area by March 7.
Contact Lisa at 330.315.5520.

Angel Tree Party

The Chapel’s spirit of generosity glowed as you graciously provided gifts for Angel Tree. You provided gifts for 150 children of incarcerated parents. A “Happy Birthday Jesus” party was held on December 12 at the Akron Campus and over 100 people attended.

Angel Tree’s purpose: to reconcile prisoners and their families to God, to each other, and to their communities through the transforming love and grace of Jesus Christ. Signing up for Angel Tree gives prisoners a way to send their children not only a Christmas gift, but also the reassurance of their love.

Lisa Marshall, Director of Urban Ministries, says the party is definitely one of the highlights of Angel Tree her year. She has a committed group of volunteers who faithfully contact families ahead of time to verify info for the gifts, such as sizes and also invite them to the party.

The party started with a light breakfast with quiet Christmas music playing in the background. Lisa gave an object lesson on the “Candy Cane story” which was well-received. They sang Christmas songs to point to the reason for the season. Then they asked each of the children and families if they wanted to write a thank you note to their parent for the gifts they requested for them. A volunteer took pictures of families to send to the inmates as well. They were told that we the cards and pictures would be sent to the inmates. That's when the tears started flowing.

Lisa relates an especially moving story, “One grandma came up to me and she was crying because she had a bad attitude about the father of her grandchild. The grandchild was singing her heart out and writing her heart out and this grandma realized that this wasn't about her. This little girl never met her father but in this brief moment she felt connected to him. Grandma said she needed to ask forgiveness for feeling this way because this was not what God wanted from her in her heart.”

A teen girl wrote to her father with tears in her eyes that she would probably never know him but that she was touched that he thought of her at Christmas. A family from Leggett school expressed their gratitude for all that The Chapel does for them because this single mom has three children and one of them is special needs and she struggles to make ends meet. Family after family wrote letters and posed for pictures. It really is about reconciling families.

They decided to surprise the caregivers with Bath & Body Works items and a food gift card. An anonymous donor wanted to do something special for the caregivers and they were able to provide for all 60 + caregivers. So many at the party said they were so blessed by this act of kindness. Isn't that what God asks us to do? A simple act of a kindness can give you that special feeling in the hollow of your heart.

Lisa emphasizes that this could not take place without the generous and kind people in the congregation who take on buying the requested gifts for the children. She also expresses appreciation to the Vandevere family who donated all the food for the party. What a special blessing it was this year to see Christ in the midst of all this!

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.