Quick Links To Stories Below:
The theme for this year’s Open Gym season has been, “The Journey,” think less of Don’t Stop Believin and more It’s the Journey, not the Destination.
Coach David Shahata has swapped his soccer cleats for a basketball referee jersey and has led the participating boys and young men in three main points:
- There is grace in the journey
- The journey is now
- You can’t tell yourself that you’ve arrived!
Every week on Thursday evenings at a partner church, 15 to 20 adolescents and young men gather for a meal, a time of sharing, and some competitive basketball. The theme of Journey has been used as an introduction into the varied talking points of life, faith, grace, family, death, grief, and the stories we tell about (and to) ourselves.
In a recent week, we took team pictures and asked the team captains for quotes – as if they had finished a professional basketball game. We received a comical and spiritual spread of quotes from the team captains and spokesmen:
“You can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” – Tristan
“If you believe in God, you can go anywhere.” – Marcus
“There is never enough living in life.” – Mike
“Strive for greatness.” – Travontae
“Shoot until you can’t stop.” – LeAndre
Open Gym will run through early May and we are still in need of meal providers! If you or your small group would be interested in bringing a meal on a Thursday evening, contact Joe Tucker by email at joe@southstreetministries.org.
The challenges our youth face are becoming increasingly complex and overwhelming. From mental health struggles to social pressures, they are dealing with a great amount of confusion and uncertainty. Now more than ever it is up to us to provide the support and prayers our students desperately need.
With regularity, we pray for and support our youth and we invite you into that work!
Here are some specific prayer points that you can join us in praying over the youth in our community:
- Mental health – Equipping youth with the skills they need to endure and thrive.
- Open Hearts – Pray that the seeds of love grow into a life of fruit and faith.
- Families as a whole – Caregivers are going through a lot. Some students are transitioning between family members due to experiencing difficulty in their homes. Pray for overall peace and safety for families.
- Programming – Pray for RICH Kids and the next chapters of this amazing youth program! Pray for recruitment efforts and community connections.
- Impact of violence on our kids – A lot of kids are being impacted by the overall violence happening in our city: bullying within schools, changes in our city/culture, gun violence and personal violence. The violence the kids are witnessing is also playing a major role on their mental health impacting their ability to self-regulate and manage their big and small emotions that can turn into detrimental actions.
We encourage you to take a moment to watch the videos to hear directly from our Youth Programming team, who spend time with the youth in our community on a regular basis.
By Elizabeth Karbgo
I am very grateful for our faithful monthly donors – Bridge Builders. On Friday, March 10, our Bridge Builders and other supporters came together to hear from the author of Free Rose Light, Mary O’Connor and James Dillehay (aka JD).
In the space that Mary helped redesign as The Front Porch Architect, she and JD led a deep time of sharing and community listening. Mary humbly read an excerpt from her book that mentioned JD – the excerpt highlighted his past criminal activity and the house he operated from in Summit Lake.
JD then shared his personal testimony including his thankfulness to God and for President Barack Obama commuting his life sentence. JD utilizes the time given back to him to volunteer several days a week with Reentry Services, alongside Donovan Harris, LaMarr Atchinson, Shawn Bonner, and Rose Nall – to help mentor others on their restoration journey.
It was powerful to see how the story of Duane and Lisa looking for a house in the Summit Lake neighborhood over 25 years ago could still ripple and reflect God’s good in the life and continuing story of JD!
We ended our time together with a moving prayer led by JD himself! Longtime friend of South Street, Nancy Brown stated, “I was really glad to be there.
In Free Rose Light, Mary encapsulates many of the stories of South Street Ministries including my personal favorite – the story of Pastor Duane’s commissioning by Patrick Armour to “Lean Into It” (pgs 101-104). South Street Ministries sends a copy of Mary’s book to every person who signs up to become a Bridge Builder regardless of the size of their monthly donation. If you are not currently a Bridge Builder, then we would appreciate you prayerfully considering your support. To sign-up, please call me at 330-375-1991 or visit southstreetministries.org/become-bridge-builders/.
Bridge Builders – thank you again for building bridges of love and support from your neighborhood to ours!
By Luch Grant
When it comes to youth and juveniles, the key is just being consistent. We grow up without the male role model being around to guide us in the direction that we need to go, so we grow up looking up to the closest male around us, even if it’s negative.
For me, my three male role models were my uncle, Lebron James, and Donovan Harris. I lost my father at a very young age, so I always said that when the opportunity came about that I was going to be a leader to those who need a positive role model in their lives. I was asked to be a part of the mentorship at Akron Career Tech, and I was very appreciative of the opportunity. I lead a 6-10 group of juveniles every Wednesday for 45 min.
I make sure to tell them every time we link up that I am not a teacher and I was once in their shoes. That statement forms a relationship between me and them and opens their ears to listen to what I have to say. I always ask them, “What’s one good or bad thing that has happened since the last time we met?” That question allows them to be heard and they can release their emotions if they need to.
Our youth feel like they are not being heard, so they hold everything in and react to that. We talk about leadership and respect. You must have respect to be a leader, so I make sure to touch on that as much as I can. I also talk to them about dressing professionally and how to carry themselves professionally. As young black men, we are labeled and judged based on our appearance so to end the judgment, I like to dress the part. We touch on men’s mental health and different coping mechanisms to deal with it.
We grow up hearing that “boys don’t cry,” so we hold all our emotions in and that’s the wrong thing to do. I tell them that they can always contact me if they want to get things off their chest and I can be that outlet for them. I will change the community in due time.
By Joe Tucker
Sunday mornings are quiet at the Front Porch. The congregation that has journeyed with Duane and Lisa Crabbs, now meet at 1095 Edison Ave., in the Summit Lake neighborhood, so only a few cars sit in the Front Porch parking lot.
One vehicle belongs to James Dillehay – who comes in to clean before his church service on Sundays. Later Sunday afternoon, two recovery groups cycle through the first floor, opening the Front Porch doors to anyone in need of support in sobriety and spirit.
On Monday morning, the Porchlight staff arrive early to prepare for the week. As they open the front door, they are greeted by a South Akron neighbor struggling with homelessness. They invite them into the warmth and provide them with a cup of coffee.
As the morning progresses, Rose opens the Reentry office, offering support to the many scheduled (and unscheduled) returning citizens stepping back into life. The South Akron Youth Mentoring staff head up to the second floor for their weekly team meeting; some stay for the day at the coffee shop, preparing for their ministry work.
The South Street team and many others cycle through the building – planning for programs, meeting to connect and collaborate, and ministering to those who want to step towards change.
Monday ends with a long-standing recovery group opening up the clinic space for yet another hour of sobriety support.
Tuesdays are a flurry of activity at the Front Porch. Porchlight opens, the South Street staff gather for a full team meeting, prayer, and devotional. The South Street staff then pivots to preparations for the weekly reentry meeting – as Porchlight closes, 30 to 50 returning citizens come to the Front Porch for Reentry support, a meal, connections, and hope.
The clinic space opens up, as Cleveland Clinic doctors come and offer free health screenings to Reentry participants and anyone else in need. In the late evening, another recovery group opens their meeting. Another full and impactful Tuesday at the Front Porch!
Porchlight opens up the building early Wednesday morning – with many friends and patrons coming in for meetings, coffee, studies, and socializing. Shawn Bonner works with Reentry volunteers as they further the renovations across the street at 801 Grant St. In the afternoon, Shawn gathers with community leaders from the Akron Parks Collaborative to discuss the full-scale restoration of Morgan Park, down the street from the Front Porch. Wednesday closes with another recovery group gathering to invite and maintain sobriety.
Thursday morning brings college students and Porchlight patrons in for coffee. The South Street team prepares for the Citizen Circle meeting, where a returning citizen participates in a circle of supportive partners quickly addressing barriers and challenges in their life and reentry.
In the evening, a recovery group hosts an anniversary celebration with a keynote speaker! They share about their own journey of recovery and congratulate the group on being and staying together for a hallmark number of years!
As Friday opens, women and men from Tuesday’s reentry meeting return to the Front Porch. They are meeting with LaMarr and Rose to drive to the Health Department and submit and receive their birth certificates. Five to ten individuals will get their identities back this morning!
A few pastors gather at Porchlight for coffee, prayer, and Bible Study. They ‘chop it up’ with the South Street team about true community engagement and neighborhood love, and express a desire to move their congregations in that direction.
The South Street team stays late – completing grant applications, submitting reports, and drafting newsletters. A group comes in to rent the cafe space – they mourn the loss of a matriarch, celebrate a baby to come, or rejoice in a new marriage! In the clinic in the back of the building, another recovery group begins and ends.
Saturdays are Porchlight’s busiest days – guest vendors sell flowers or records. Families mix and reconnect with old friends, and the Porchlight staff quickly distribute drinks and meals to the many tables.
A men’s group meets. The South Street Reentry staff discuss efforts to continue to address community violence. Volunteers visit to help with projects at Restoration House.
As Porchlight closes, the Front Porch slows until two recovery groups come in and out – once again offering a meeting of warmth, support, and sobriety.
Sunday mornings are quiet at the Front Porch. An Executive Director sneaks in to finish an article and reflects on the scope of good – what God has done – in a place committed to seeking God’s Kingdom and seeing it come.
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 making an impact alongside you to renew our community for the sake of Jesus Christ.
Thank you, and God bless you!