TOP 20 OF 2020
What have been the highlights for us throughout 2020? Here is a list of 20 of our most memorable moments and missions of the past year!
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For Donovan Harris and the Reentry team, the momentum of Front Porch Reentry pre-pandemic was amazing. Even in the cold January and February months of 2020, more than 40 individuals would gather at the Front Porch every week for Reentry support!
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When the pandemic started, Erin Irwin was amazed by the sheer generosity of so many — people so quick to support the needs of the community. Masks were sewn and given, neighbors supported neighbors, and a community stepped up in caring concern for one another.
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For Lisa Crabbs and the South Street leadership, this year marked some heavy decisions and changes — with the Café paused, there was a lot of uncertainty. But the goodness of God for both our organization and community became consistent themes in our times of staff prayers and in moments of His provision.
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One of the first programs to stop was Open Gym. The 2020 Open Gym season was themed “Audience of One,” and David Shahata reflected on the strength of this season with eager new faces and established, returning youth leaders who were there for the right reasons!
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We began to visit houses and homes, dropping off groceries, learning kits, or just saying a quick and encouraging “hello.” For Bob Irwin, the visitation days were one of the biggest highlights for him. The kids would get so joyful when we would come by their homes and just spend 15 minutes visiting. They would light up with excitement as soon as we rolled up!
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RICH Kids academic support continued as well. Jocelyn Grant oversaw a group of academic interns from Malone and the University of Akron who would read with kids, tutor them, and pray with children over Zoom!
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For David Shahata, the discipleship moments with the youth of RICH Kids were some of his favorite 2020 moments — working with fourth- and fifth-graders over deep questions and encouraging the older youth to lead the younger during Bible times.
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One new project for the ministry this year was working Across the Lake! The South Street team had the joy of working with Summit Lake and Kenmore residents to tell stories from the community and commit to future visions and efforts of unity together across the lake. Stay tuned for Across the Lake videos — coming soon in 2021!
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For Joe Tucker, taking Bike Shop on the Road was a major highlight. We had the joy of visiting more than 100 individuals with repaired bicycles for family rides and connecting them with support from churches, ministries, and resources during the summer and fall.
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And then we went for a virtual ride with Trails N Rails 2020! We were amazed that so many sponsors were able to sustain support amidst a challenging year. Plus, Joe Tucker shaved his beard off for the cause!
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Jocelyn Grant loved shopping and packing items to be delivered to families. South Street’s ability to innovate in order to continue in love and service. Like a cook preparing a meal for the family, she felt as if love was the main ingredient in the packing and delivering of grocery support!
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And love was evident in the Crabbs family as well! Duane and Lisa welcomed their first granddaughter (fourth grandchild) into the world — with overseas missionaries Josh and Allie Crabbs coming home for the delivery and season. Lisa testifies to God’s faithfulness in all the uncertainties of 2020 traveling!
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Family was a big theme for all of us at South Street Ministries. David Shahata had the joy of visiting parents and families through RICH Kids and the Bike Shop. For him, it was a new level of ministry and community engagement.
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For Gary Eckenrode, the joy was returning to the South Street family. With the Front Porch site reopened to recovery and Reentry meetings (in limited numbers, with masks and other safety conditions in place), Gary returned to help clean and sanitize the building, help record the temperatures of incoming individuals, and take joy in being back in the work of the ministry!
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Our South Street family grew this year as well! Recently, Roy Johnson Sr. and LaMarr Atchison have joined the Reentry team to support Donovan Harris in the ministry and administration of helping individuals return home, redirect their minds and spirits, and work to restore their lives. This work continues throughout the pandemic!
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As Erin Irwin listened to her neighbors and community, she was struck by the deep resiliency of the South Akron and Summit Lake neighborhoods amidst hardship. Some of the young adults she’d mentored were now being promoted within their work — advancement amidst adversity!
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For Jocelyn Grant and the young women of #AdjustTheCrown, recognizing the challenges of this year, they stepped up to provide bags of support for graduates of Project Rise! This was a highlight in which we got to see our youth lead through service!
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This year was full of a lot of screen communication. For Joe Tucker, a recent text with a young man made his year, as the youth asked question after question about the book of John. These were seeds planted in early Open Gym (February 2019) that didn’t show growth until the near end of 2020!
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As this year comes to a close, we are deeply thankful for your overwhelming support of our eight annual Christmas Store! So many rallied together so generously for the cause (although a very different look and process this year)!
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The last highlight but not the least: Your overwhelming support for the Christmas Store AND incredible help to make our God-given mission and work within the community possible.
Thank you for sustaining and advancing South Street Ministries through 2020. Our closing highlight is that provision — and how it is then extended to our neighbors. This is a season of benevolence, and we are committed to serving, giving, and loving joyfully!
A Word from the Executive Director Joe Tucker
One of the things I love about South Street Ministries is the fact that we get to work with so many denominations.
I grew up attending The Chapel and had a few favored Christmas routines and rhythms. One new Yuletide tradition that I have borrowed from my liturgical brothers and sisters is Advent: lighting a candle together as a family the four Sundays leading into Christmas with a series of devotions and Scripture readings.
The four candles (in most traditions) symbolize hope, love, joy, and peace. And Advent literally means “arrival.” It is the sense of waiting and expectation.
If ever there was a year to expect something new and different to arrive it has been 2020! Yet, the nativity narrative reminds us that Jesus comes unexpectedly — from the most unsuspecting of places!
I have found this unexpected reality to be true at South Street — hope comes from unsuspecting places.
- It is the returning citizen hoping against all odds for a restored life and family that rekindles my hope.
- It is the deep love of family members who have lost a brother that encourages my own growth in God’s love.
- It is the joy of a walking neighbor that reminds me to foster deep joy in my own day and life.
- And it is the peace of a still Summit Lake that inspires me to make peace in my own community, places, and people.
Advent invites us into expectation. I am expectant about what God is doing at South Street Ministries!
The challenges of 2020 have sharpened and shaped the ministry into a new chapter … deeper family and school engagements in Summit Lake, stronger Reentry services and support, a new iteration of the Front Porch — and all of them with discipleship weaved throughout.
This is one of the reasons I value Advent — for me, it is a deeper grounding of practiced faith.
These past weeks, we have walked through the Scriptures, examining hope, love, joy, and peace through the lens of the prophets and the nativity. This is not an easy journey. These are not simplistic expressions of love and joy.
Likewise, 2020 hasn’t been simple or easy. We have weathered deep challenges and suffered hard losses.
But we are invited into expectation of what comes next, and, like the story of the birth of Jesus, I suspect what is next will be from the most unsuspecting of places — perhaps from South Akron and Summit Lake.
A Beacon to the Community
South Street is dedicated to equipping and inspiring the restoration of community, economy, and faith.
Our Reentry Liaison Lamarr Atchison explains how South Street’s Front Porch ministry embodies this cause!…
“The Front Porch has been the anchor to many drifting ships. It has been the place where lost vessels can find guidance. For me, it has been my source of change and growth, a place of help and peace. The great thing is, the building is a cool place, but the people in the building are even cooler. It is a special place that invites all those looking for help and a new start. The Front Porch is a beacon to the community. It must continue to shine.
But we cannot do it without you. Please help us finish 2020 with the vision, prayer, and support needed to love strongly and lead boldly into 2021.
Thank you, and God bless you!
A Deep Gratitude to You for our Eighth Annual Christmas Store
Your prayerful support of South Street Ministries makes every program — every partnership — possible.
We welcome your generous gift today as we walk alongside children, families, and neighbors who need a restored sense of hope. Together, we’re renewing our community for the sake of Jesus Christ.
Thank you, and God bless you!