One of Duane Crabbs’ first rhythms of ministry in Summit Lake was walking the streets of the Summit Lake neighborhood. Therefore, South Street’s history is rooted in walking the community, praying for the community, and living life with neighbors as peers in the Kingdom.

Through support from the GAR Foundation, South Street has been tasked with distributing COVID care kits and information throughout the Summit Lake and South Akron communities. The best way to do this is going out in pairs and dropping off materials at every door!

Our first few months of canvassing have been cold with minimal neighborly interaction … but we are excited to continue this effort to support families and share with neighbors.

The GAR Foundation is intentional about encouraging this work in our neighborhoods to address historical issues of distrust between the medical community and the Black community — with the canvassing culminating in outdoor educational presentations from doctors and hospital staff.

South Street Ministries knows that any chance to knock on a door provides an opportunity to love our neighbors. Over the years, community canvassing has opened both the doors of homes and of hearts as prayers are shared, families are connected, and hope is fostered. 

Jay Liedeke, a Social Work intern from Malone University, shares about his first experience canvassing the community:

First off, I would like to take the opportunity to thank South Street Ministries — as well as Stephanie “Leo” Leonardi, Joe Tucker, and councilwoman Veronica Simms — for taking the time to speak with me while we were out canvasing. It was truly an honor to be a part of that event, and I look forward to doing this in the future.

One of the biggest things I noticed, and what didn’t seem to make sense to me, as we were canvassing: some roads weren’t salted and had sheets of ice on them while others didn’t. This is crucial because the ability to feel safe leaving one’s home is important. Knowing that we were serving an underserved corner of the city, it upset me to see that a service provided by taxes were not getting done in this neighborhood. 

It may seem small and insignificant, but if one were to stop and think about it, what does that say to the residents? In essence: That they are not worth the time and energy when it comes to simply salting the roads.

The objective of our team’s canvassing was to repair relations between the Black community and doctors, to provide information about COVID-19  and to serve an underserved section of the community. We didn’t have any interactions save for one resident who poked their head out to see what we were doing only to promptly shut the door again. 

It was humbling to see all who showed up to hand out the information. Amazingly enough, it only took about an hour, roughly, to hand out the 500 packets. I was personally amazed at how fast things were handled. As the phrase goes, “Many hands make light work.” 

I truly felt blessed to be a part of this effort, and I look forward to everything that I may be able to do while interning with South Street Ministries. I’m only at the beginning of my career with social work, and even though I’m working to be a clinical therapist, I’m learning to have a heart for community action.

As long as there are neighbors who need to be cared for and served in South Akron and Summit Lake, South Street Ministries will continue hitting the streets with God’s love … and your support!

A Summit Lake Story
By Jason F. Blakely, Sr. — Resident and Poet

Being a resident of Summit Lake for the past 26 years, I’ve had the pleasure of seeing and hearing the beauty — and the pain of seeing and hearing the beasts. 

The beauty being the lake, the diverse groups of people, the decorative churches and religious buildings, seeing neighbors helping neighbors, children and families playing in parks, the food in community gardens, and hearing the joy, hope, and love of other languages. 

I have seen and heard the beasts — the vacant, boarded-up houses, empty lots (one where a school used to be), the potholes of poverty, the drug dealing, prostitution, the crime, and the early-morning, mid-day, and late-night gunshots. 

But through it all, the people of Summit Lake persevere.

The people, the soul, of Summit Lake don’t operate or live in fear … but rather in friendship, family, and faith. Their power lies not in prestige or promises from politicians, but individual and collective purpose.  

Summit Lake is a place that is called home by me and my family, as it is by many others. It is a place constantly growing, healing, and giving. It gives birth to the children of forgiveness, grace, and opportunity. It is a place where people can recognize and claim their worth and know they are important for sure. 

But some people are contaminated with misinformation, fear, and broken promises. Summit Lake is the tree by the water that is nourished — its roots run deep into a fruitful earth. 

Those people who only hear and see the bad may ask, “Why do you stay after being so hurt?” And my answer to them is: 

“Beautiful flowers have the power to grow in contaminated dirt.”

A Season of Preparation
By Joe Tucker

With over a decade of ministry at South Street, I have an increasing appreciation for seasons … 

The rush of summer activity and programming to the slow of winter planning and preparation. Scripture instructs us that there is “a season for everything.”

In the Christian calendar, this is the season of Lent — a time of preparation for Holy Week, Good Friday, and Easter. On the surface, Lent can be a dull season of sacrifice or breaking of bad habits, like giving up chocolate or signing off social media. 

However, in practice, Lent is an integral season of preparation.

There is something inherently offensive about the Cross. It’s hard and heavy. It is violent. As a modern-day symbol it represents the Christian faith, but in the time of Jesus, it was death at the hands of the empire. 

Yet the call of Christian faith is to “carry your cross and follow Jesus” (Matthew 16:24). It takes some time to prepare our hearts, minds, and spirits around this call.

The call to ministry is also hard and heavy. At times, there is even violence. The hardships of poverty, the hardships of reentry, and the hardships of racism regularly affront us at South Street Ministries. This, too, takes some time to prepare our hearts, minds, and spirits around this call.

Lent invites us into that preparation — reflecting on the teachings of Jesus and the way of the Cross, as well as preparing for the coming spring and summer seasons of ministry, service, and community.

In this particular year of 2021, that preparation is coupled with the many unknowns and uncertainties of enduring a pandemic. Please pray for the South Street team as we prepare for:

• Youth to return to school and our support of their families and communities
• Vaccine rollouts and our work in education and connection
• Summer programs like Bike Shop and RICH Kids and our capacity and methods
• Community engagement and planning in Summit Lake
• Envisioning the next chapter of the Front Porch

There is a season for everything. Thank you for weathering these many seasons with us in prayer, support, service, and partnership. Let us continue in the way of the Cross!