By Joe Tucker

South Street Ministries celebrates its 25th anniversary this year!

Founded by Duane and Lisa Crabbs in 1997, South Street has been partnering with communities in South Akron through ministry, service, and neighborly love for a quarter of a century — and we are excited!

Excited: 

• For new chapters at The Front Porch and 801 Grant Street and eager to dig deeper into the restorative work of Reentry. 
• To continue in youth ministry and programming, and look forward to growing more and more in Godly love for our neighbors and neighborhoods. 
• To honor our founders, celebrate the many women and men who have ministered with us, and deepen the support of our staff who presently serve.

Throughout the course of this year, we will share stories and highlights from our

history, our past volunteers and staff, and the supporters who have journeyed with us for years. We will also share some of our forthcoming initiatives and opportunities to expand our reach.

I’ll even share a sneak peek here: An exciting new chapter for The Front Porch is on the horizon after a winding path forward from its humble beginning.

“The Presence of the Lord is Here,” a gospel song made popular by Byron Cage, was once the hallmark of the church fellowship that met in The Front Porch years ago … 

We truly believed this sentiment as we spent years praying and working to renovate the space into a community cafe and job hub. Duane even created a sermon series about the many scriptural references to the communal breaking of bread — and what the eccentric table-fellowship of Jesus meant for Him in His day.

Those prayers were answered in the operation and expansion of The Front Porch Cafe:

from an outside grill to panini presses to a commercial kitchen. (You can read all about South Street and the humble beginnings of The Front Porch here). 

Yet the work was hard, and the leadership transitional. In 2017, the longest-standing Cafe leader, Thomas Jones, passed away from cancer. Candidly, the Cafe was never the same after his passing.

In 2020, the global pandemic began — the Cafe was closed as a result. We determined to stabilize South Street financially before attempting to safely launch another effort at the socially based enterprise. But The Front Porch continued as a hub for Recovery and Reentry. From the leadership, vision, and connectivity of the growing Reentry team — The Front Porch became a job hub again in 2021. This time as a gathering site for transportation to gainful employment.

Now, in 2022, we plan to relaunch The Front Porch as a hub for hospitality, coffee, and convening once again! “The Presence of the Lord is Here” as we prayerfully commission the space’s next chapter starting this month.

So — as we look forward to all that the new year holds, we are excited to honor what has been done in our past, and also to share what is to come. Join us as we celebrate 25 years of “unlikely partners taking shared risks to renew our community for Christ’s sake.”

By Elizabeth Kargbo

“I thank my God every time I remember you” — this is how Paul starts his letter to the Philippian church in Philippians 1:3; and as I write to you today to reflect on the ministry that has taken place over the last year, this verse is echoing in the chambers of my heart. 

The staff and board of South Street Ministries are aware the ministry that took place in 2021 was only possible because of your support in prayer, service, and giving — and we want you to know that we are thankful as we remember your impact today!

Since joining the staff in September, I have had the privilege of observing my co-laborers for Christ’s sake faithfully serving with humility, compassion, zeal, and commitment despite the challenges of the pandemic. 

I have had the honor of sitting in Reentry meetings, Citizens’ Circles, and Recovery groups as facilitators inspire the transformative work of restoration in their participants — a work that many of them have experienced firsthand, as they once attended the same programming they now lead. 

I have seen the Reentry staff skillfully assist multiple returning citizens with case management, job finding, clothing, housing, birth certificates, driver license reinstatements, and a variety of other needs. Moreover, this team of dedicated staff has frequently woken up at 3 a.m. to give a group of Reentry participants employment rides from The Front Porch to Sandridge Food Corp in Medina. During these half-hour-long rides, the staff speak life-giving words of encouragement regarding faith, wisdom, and life skills development that will yield lifelong benefits.  

I have also had the opportunity to attend RICH Kids after-school programming. I got to witness our youth as they received reading and homework help, and I saw them delight in learning how to make a nutritious snack. 

On a beautiful fall day during our Trails N Rails event, I watched many ride bikes that were received and repaired through our Bike Shop this past summer. 

I have attended meetings where we work to cast vision for the next iteration of The Front Porch and community engagement in South Akron, and I have served alongside hard-working volunteers as they helped with basement and kitchen demolition, as well as clearing backyard debris at 801 Grant Street. This work is being done in preparation for renovations to begin on “Restoration House” — a women’s transitional Reentry home scheduled to open this year. 

Furthermore, I have witnessed daily examples of Christ’s love as our staff met the needs of low-income individuals who drop by The Front Porch for prayer, food, warmth, an employment ride, or other various needs. Again and again, the staff demonstrates the same loving care Jesus showed, often pivoting to attend to urgent needs in front of Him.

Throughout the holiday season, I witnessed multiple acts of generosity and heard expressions of gratitude from the recipients. South Street provided 150 Thanksgiving baskets around the neighborhood, and I heard from these neighbors how blessed they felt to receive a turkey and plenty of sides so they could prepare a homemade meal for their family and friends. 

In addition, our female Reentry volunteers cooked up a Thanksgiving feast seasoned with love for our Reentry participants, and I listened to the sounds of fellowship and gratefulness expressed by all who enjoyed that delicious meal. 

During Christmas Store, I watched the Youth Staff help our RICH Kids “shop” for Christmas presents for their families, and I saw the kids’ faces light up with bright smiles as they found the perfect gift for each relative. 

These generous holiday gifts reminded me of Christ’s gift of salvation to us — a gift we did not earn on our own, but one that was generously bestowed on us. A gift we then are able to share with others.

I want to thank you on behalf of the South Street Ministries staff and board for your generous giving so that together we have the privilege of sharing with others.  

Shawn Bonner, Director of Community Engagement, talks about “invisible paychecks” as the personal feeling one receives when used by God. For example, someone gives you an “invisible paycheck” when they give you a compliment. I received one when a Reentry participant called a slice of my ice cream cake a “piece of home.”  

As I continue to thank my Lord for you, I hope you receive your “invisible paycheck” for helping make the programming and care that took place at South Street Ministries in 2021 possible.

By Toni R. Code Jones

It seems like yesterday when Lisa Crabbs and myself stood in the middle of The Front Porch looking over the space that humbly invited so many from near and far with warmth and grace and came up with the idea of a Christmas Store. We brainstormed about what the set-up would look like and how we can get presents not only for the children we serve but for the parents and their caregivers too. The sparkle in our eyes was like the stars that shine high above in the sky the night Christ was born.

Lisa and I went to Joe Tucker and presented the idea, and, just like that, the Christmas Store was born. Like little elves, Joe Tucker went to work checking his list, and checking it twice, sending out emails to all those who were naughty and nice … Eric Harmon did some repairs to the stage … while Lisa and I went to work on decorating The Front Porch Café. Oh how excited we both were as we came up with a date for our first Christmas Store. Children came in making cookies at the cookie station and having hot dogs and juice. Smiles and laughter lit up the room, just like the three stars that lit up the sky the night Jesus was born.

Eight years later, and with a pandemic that rocked our country, weakened the economy, and mandated masks be worn at all times, South Street Christmas Store went on without a glitch!

As I reflect, through years 1-7, tears stream down my face and my heart lights up, just like the three stars the day Jesus was born. I smile at the wonderful dedication and loyalty from all our ministry friends and family. Gifts and donations still poured in — and Joycelyn Grant, Joe Tucker, Bob Irwin, David Shahata, and I were still able to purchase more gifts to uphold and support the Christmas Store. Families have lost loved ones to Covid-19. Drug overdose and gun violence dotted 2021 … and yet, still, the children and families had smiles on their faces that lit up the room as the three stars did the day Jesus was born.

We can all rejoice knowing that Jesus was born to die to give everyone a pathway to our Heavenly Father.

We were so thankful to those who donated and volunteered their love and time to make it a very special Christmas indeed!!!

“Jesus still teaches us today, The Word such a treasure

And for those who follow The Word life is full of pleasures.

Still celebrated today this baby born so long ago

Causes peace, goodwill and still sets the world aglow.”

—Excerpt from “Did Jesus Know?” by Catherine Pulsifer

Happy New Year to you!

It’s a new year, which means the start of new things: new goals, habits, and routines …

As you envision all the “new things” your 2022 might hold, we would love for you to consider adding monthly giving to South Street Ministries to your list of resolutions.

Giving monthly to South Street provides us with consistent funds we can rely on as we continue to do the work God has called us to.

Examples of the programs and services your giving would pour into are:

• Reentry: Assisting returning citizens with job finding, clothing, housing, and a variety of other needs
• #AdjustTheCrown: Instilling value and worth in teen girls 
• RICH Kids, Bike Shop, and more: Loving and serving youth in South Akron 
• Enabling our staff and volunteers to reach into our community as we seek to pray for, minister to, teach, love, and serve our neighbors with the love of God

Our excitement here is palpable as we enter our 25th anniversary year! We are thankful for the prayers and support we’ve received so faithfully in the past 25 years, and we look forward to carrying the work of love, empowerment, and change far into the future.

If you are already a monthly donor to South Street — Thank you! Your support means so much to us. 

If monthly giving is something you feel called to in this new year, we invite you to click below to partner with us to make a continued impact in Christ’s name.

By Anne Harmon

“Church on Sunday should be the huddle; the work of the church is done Monday through Saturday,” Duane famously used to say when South Street met at The Front Porch Cafe on Sundays … at whatever hour it actually got started.  

And truthfully, that’s what drew me to South Street at the beginning of 2009 — when we still met at the community center. I needed a good huddle and a community of people who wanted to do life together — and separately, through our many varied vocations, reconnecting on Sundays to huddle for the next week ahead. 

One of the earliest connections I had at South Street was with Matt, a mason who lived out his faith by buying and restoring derelict properties in South Akron and Summit Lake and making connections with the families who lived there. I found myself scrubbing and painting the walls of a house Matt had purchased alongside another man, Eric, who was also in need of a good huddle and a community … and it just so happens that man later became my husband!

South Street has been such an integral part of our married life together. Eric’s seven-year employment at South Street — working with the unlikeliest partners to rehab the old Croatian Club into The Front Porch Cafe — is easily the most obvious connection.  

But there are also many other subtle ways our lives have been woven with the themes of South Street: my many summers running the kids gardening program, Eric’s insistence on starting program after program, Bible studies, discipleship groups, costuming Christmas pageants … the connections go on and on.  

I am an educator by trade, not a minister … but somehow South Street manages to equip and support whoever walks through the door: a motley crew of tradesmen, firefighters, mathematicians, teachers, social workers, baristas, the underemployed, and nurses. We all still huddle on Sunday (though, for those of us with little kids, it looks more like herding), and we continue to do the work of God’s kingdom together — but also separately, in our own ways, Monday through Saturday. 

The good work of South Street is easy to see in the eyes of kids who get bikes, families who receive meals, or young men who find employment … but the subtlety of day-to-day life together is why our family keeps coming back, year after year and season after season.

Eric and I are grateful for the huddle that shaped us in our early dating days and continues to shape us and our children today.  

By Jocelyn Grant

Spring always brings the start of #AdjustTheCrown’s program season. Just before we get down to business in the fourth year of this program, we’re going to have some fun! 

We are gearing up for a special Winter Meet-Up for #AdjustTheCrown on

Saturday, January 15, 2022. It will be a day party complete with hot chocolate and delicious treats as the young ladies set their intentions for 2022. 

For this Meet-Up, we will:

• Revisit journaling, emotional wellness practices, healthy/active living, and other healthy coping skills
• Discuss how the young ladies have been empowered to continue to wear and “adjust their crowns” since our last meeting
• Review goals set in August 2021
• Create vision boards for 2022
• Preview the regular program season set to begin in February

If you think this event, or the #AdjustTheCrown program, would interest a young lady you know between the ages of 11 and 18, you can register her here.

Seats are limited (and masks are required for attendance). See you soon!

By David Shahata

The return of our Open Gym program is coming soon, and we are looking forward to it with much excitement and anticipation! 

I have such a heart for Open Gym — as a coach myself, I see the immense and profound potential we have to impact and disciple through the platform of sports. Open Gym is a space where this happens!

Open Gym, a program for middle to high school-aged kids, is centered around basketball. We eat a meal together, have a group discussion based on the biblical theme we picked for the year, and play basketball. 

One thing I cherish about Open Gym is the culture that has been created by our youth. It is so beautiful! These kids aren’t coming just for the “good stuff” (basketball), but they are truly present and enjoy being together during our meal and are genuinely engaged in receiving from the discussion time. 

The wholeness of our time together is the “good stuff,” and the connectedness created in that space allows for more interaction and organic discipleship to occur. 

After having to cancel last year’s Open Gym, I am very eager to return to this special program, and I know our youth feel the same!