By Joe Tucker
There are many examples of incarceration in the Bible.
In Matthew 11, John the Baptist is incarcerated. While imprisoned, he has his people reach out to Jesus with a challenging question, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
Prison can be a place of hopelessness. Even John the Baptist expresses doubt and concern while locked up — so much so that he sends a message to his cousin and coming Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth — asking, Are you going to deliver on restoration, or should we expect somebody else??
Jesus’ response is profound: “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
Ron has been a Reentry participant for a few weeks. Upon his first visit to The Front Porch, he entered in with a walker and a patch over his right eye. Like many returning citizens, he needed support obtaining his birth certificate and identification card. Over the weeks, Ron was issued a state ID, navigated the complex systems of obtaining an out-of-state birth certificate, and had eye and knee surgery. (South Street assists with birth certificates and ID cards, but leaves surgery to the professionals!)
He came to Reentry again with a cane, a new hat, and good news to share — making note of the brace around his knee and the clear eyes by which he could fully see again!
Or consider Wax … who came to the Front Porch years ago with nothing — he was broken and discouraged. He had been dismissed from a half-way house and needed support. The Reentry team of the day rallied around him and began connecting Wax to housing, employment, support, and community.
Now Wax comes to The Front Porch and pulls us outside — he has good news to share. He is excited, ecstatic, to show the team his new tow truck. It belongs to the company, but it is his working vehicle, his career vocation.
At South Street Reentry Services, we believe in the full restoration of individuals coming home. We see their spirit and faith, their vocation, their bodies move toward wholeness, good, and God. There are many instances of challenging and hard news within this work, but we are excited to highlight the good news around us as evidence of God’s good work.
By Bob Irwin
Hebrews 13:8 states, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever.”
This simple Bible verse rings true! If one thing the past couple years have taught us is that flexibility is key.
We have had to change up how we minister and serve these kids because of world situations. Yet two things have remained: the kids have stayed the same, and the God we serve has stayed true!
This summer, we are excited to be moving locations! While we’ll continue to partner with the University of Akron student teachers as they provide literacy help, we will be moving to the Reach Opportunity Center.
We are still in the Summit Lake neighborhood of Akron, but this bigger space allows for more kids and helpers. We will meet Monday through Thursday from 1 to 3 p.m. And each day will consist of two snacks, literacy help, rec/free time, and, depending on the day, we will include one of the following: enrichment activities, cooking, dance, emotional wellness, or Bible.
We look forward to seeing what the rest of the summer has in store for us. Please pray we can focus on the reason why we are doing this and that God keeps us strong and united under Him as a staff!
One of the exciting initiatives of the 25th Anniversary Restoration Campaign is increasing our presence in the South Akron and Summit Lake neighborhoods through two properties — Restoration House and Discipleship House!
The renovation of Restoration House is built into South Street’s $130,000 Restoration Campaign. We are committed to the renovation of 801 Grant St. to further serve the needs of the Reentry community through drop-in services, programming, and short-term/emergency housing. Funds for the project are coming in through civic partners (City of Akron) and philanthropic requests. We welcome your individual support of this project as well!
South Street staff members are working with partners to finalize contractors for the renovation of 801.
The Discipleship House is a vision of David Shahata to bring young adults into community leadership, service, and discipleship through a year-long service residency in the Summit Lake neighborhood. This home is already fully renovated, and still has programmatic openings for participants. Click here to learn more, ask questions, or to sign up for Discipleship House!
At South Street Ministries, we believe and enact presence within our communities. We live in the neighborhood and walk with neighbors through community joys, gatherings, hardships, and projects. This is the community legacy that Duane and Lisa embodied 25 years ago … and is still the present reality that South Street staff and team make today! Thank you for being part of it!
In honor of 25 years, we want to highlight the people who have come alongside us in ministry — both equipping and inspiring the restoration of community, economy, and faith.
Chris Usner is someone who loves bikes … and volunteering.
The Usner family got connected to the Bike Shop by participating in a Kenmore First Friday. They visited the South Street stand, where bikes were freely available to borrow and ride, and inquired about getting more involved — their only daughter needed volunteer hours as a school requirement. And Chris did love bikes after all.
Not more than two years later, the Usner family is helping lead the Bike Share program and are active volunteer leaders within Bike Shop! At our first 2022 Summit Lake Farmers Market Bike Share, the Usner family was able to offer children’s bikes to a young family attending the market. With permission slips signed and helmets on, the youngest took off on a bike with training wheels, but the oldest of the family — a five-year-old was ready to learn to ride without training wheels.
She and her father spent the next 40 minutes practicing and mastering riding a bike. As the bikes were returned, we invited the family to participate in Bike Shop in order to earn their own bikes … and the father expressed a desire to further support others in restoring their bikes, too!
Chris continues to dream about the next chapter of Bike Shop — he envisions safety camps and Kindergarten coaster programs! He shares his knowledge of other bike ventures across the country and uses his repair know-how to help fix some of the more technically challenged bikes.
- Bike Shop is running Monday and Wednesday evenings at 130 W. South St. from 6 to 8 p.m. We are now receiving bike donations again!
- Bike Shop is also present on Tuesdays at the Summit Lake Farmers Market from 4 to 7 for free bike shares and bike accessory sales.
- Lastly, Bike Shop is at Kenmore First Fridays from 6 to 8 …
Come visit us to see community, faith, and bike shares in action!
We are excited to invite you to be part of our annual “Trails N Rails,” a fun-filled event that gets friends and family outdoors to support South Street Ministries!
It is a morning of exercise and enjoyment for the entire family while raising funds to help change the lives of today’s South Akron community. You can walk, run, or ride the trail … and catch the train back.
- Saturday, October 8, 2022
- Registration — 7:30–8:30 a.m.
- Walk to Train Ride @ 8 a.m.
- Bike to Train Ride @ 9 a.m.
- 2-Mile Walk to Train Ride @ 9 a.m. — Participants will be dropped off in The Valley to complete a scenic walk and then ride the train back to the picnic.
Plus: New this year is our Trailblazers! If you want to be a Trailblazer and get some cool swag, simply get a group of five or more (from outside your family) to register and walk, run, or ride for Trails N Rails … or get a corporate donation of $250 or more!
Registration is now open for Trails N Rails … register today!
Your prayerful support of South Street Ministries makes caring, compassionate Kingdom work possible.
It is your generous giving that keeps us walking alongside children, families, and neighbors who need hope. Together, we’re celebrating 25 years of making an impact alongside you and the ministry of renewing our community for the sake of Jesus Christ.
Thank you, and God bless you!