By Joe Tucker

Serving and leading in ministry can at times feel like a roller coaster. There are waiting periods, turbulent seasons, highs, lows, g-forces … and your stomach can be left in knots. 

South Street Ministries, over the past three years, has ridden the roller coaster of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. Like all cities across America, Akron received millions of dollars in Covid-relief support in 2021. For Akron these funds went to parks, housing support, infrastructure, and violence intervention efforts. 

In 2022, South Street (and 20+ other organizations) received a three-year contract from the City of Akron to implement violence intervention strategies throughout our Reentry programming, Restoration House, community engagement work, and with the newly developed Before I Self Destrukt program. This funding supported part-time staff to become full-time (Shawn Bonner), added new, young leaders to the South Street team (Luch Griffin), stabilized Reentry and Redirection services, and helped finish the construction of Restoration House. 

Yet the end of 2024 brings the end of ARPA funding in our city and across the country. For many non-profit organizations (and school boards and cities), our stomach can be left in knots after completing the roller coaster ride of federal level funding requirements. Added to this is the uncertainty of what comes next — and the question: 

Where do we go from here?

Our ministry team is asking this same question internally … and we like the answers God is showing us! 

We are going from government funding to people power.  

As we move into the holiday season and the end of 2024, we look to our partners for support, giving, and provision. 

We are going from transactional to transformational.

We desire that our Reentry meetings are a time of transformation — beyond the transaction of items or support and toward the transformation of the spirit and mind!

We are going from Reentry to Redirection. 

We desire to walk with women and men as they redirect their lives toward sustainability, faith, and community.

We are going from the State to the Church. 

Moving away from civic contracts, we desire to further partner with area churches to advance God’s good in our neighborhoods.

And we are going with our team (to sustain and empower the South Street staff) …

• Into the hard places — continuing to engage teens and young adults in the intervening work of violence prevention. 
• Into the community — further into Summit Lake and South Akron engagement, community, and development. 
• Into God’s good — seeking God’s guidance, goodness, and grace in all of the above for ourselves, our neighbor, and our community. 

Thank you for going with us. Together, we are moving toward transformation in new and practical ways — and we know God will work through us for the good of our community and His glory!

We switched up the framing of our annual fundraiser, Trails N Rails, this year — and we’re thrilled with the results! 

First came a ride on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad for six miles north, then a bike ride back to downtown Akron for a celebratory picnic at the Mustill Store — thus we experienced Rails N Trails this year. We had great weather, a great ride, and great people involved. And so many thank-yous are in order …

Thank you to the 18 men who volunteered under Shawn Bonner to help set up tables, shuttle bikes, and tear down (South Street strives to make our gatherings reflective of our ministry — we want our youth, our families, and our justice-involved neighbors present alongside us through the work, service, and celebration!)

Thank you to our sponsors for helping to support the daily and impactful work of South Street Ministries. 

Thank you to the riders and registrants who joyfully rode/walked, picnicked, and celebrated with the South Street family. 

And thanks to our God: In all of our comings and goings, we recognize God’s presence; in our walking and bike riding, we recognize God’s spirit; in the giving and receiving, we recognize God’s provision. 

And in the daily, impactful, and transformational work of South Street Ministries, we recognize His power at work through His people — for His Kingdom. 

Your partnership and prayers make a difference in our community. Thanks for another great Trails N Rails!

Matthew 19:4 (NLT): “But Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.’”

This is the verse that comes to mind when thinking of RICH Kids. Over the past month of working with the children, I have learned just as much from them as they have learned from me. They have reminded me of what it means to be child-like and truly live out of that in the Kingdom. 

The Discipleship House crew (Bethany, Raheem, and I) have been leading Bible Block with some of the older students, and it has been both refreshing and rewarding to see their love and curiosity for learning more about the Lord. We are currently going over the fruit of the Spirit and what it means to live those out!

Some of the kids have started dance classes at Vincent House, and some go to a Ninja Gym. Both of these places have been wonderful outlets for the kids to grow in different skills physically and emotionally. It has been sweet seeing the kids experience new things and hearing their feedback (sometimes good and truthfully hard) on these activities. 

All-in-all, the time at RICH Kids has been life-giving. The kids carry such joy with them. Working with them has allowed me to grow and learn in new ways. If you ever want to join in on the fun — AND the craziness — come volunteer! You won’t be disappointed, and, if anything, you will leave feeling a bit more loved! 

What a privilege it is to be reminded where the Kingdom of God dwells!