25th Anniversary Highlight

How did you first get connected to South Street Ministries? 

Elizabeth first got involved by placing Malone University social work interns and students at South Street Ministries soon after South Street’s 15 year anniversary.  She is a professor of social work at Malone University and also directs the Intercultural Studies programs at Malone. Elizabeth teaches a Community and Organizational Development class and felt that South Street was a great fit for students to learn and grow through interning. This led to us becoming connected personally to South Street, moving to the area almost 7 years ago, and purchasing our home in Summit Lake 5 years ago. From a spiritual perspective, moving into the neighborhood has allowed us to be involved in Christian “incarnational living” in order to minister by loving our physical neighbors and engaging the broader community through our connection to South Street Ministries and South Street’s Front Porch Fellowship church.

Why do you give to South Street Ministries?

We invest our time, talent, resources, and capital in South Street Ministries because of its calling to impact our community for Christ.  We particularly like the fact that South Street uses the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) model of ministry for asset-based community and economic development.  In fact, South Street is an active part of the CCDA National organization, and Joe Tucker from South Street currently serves on the CCDA National Board of Directors.  South Street seeks to embody the incarnational model of ministry, modeled after Jesus living in relationship with those who were often marginalized and disadvantaged.  Not only is South Street’s theology consistent with the CCDA philosophy of ministry, but it is practically meeting the needs of residents in South Akron and Summit Lake.  For example, the Café is an excellent example of a social enterprise that generates business revenue, while employing people that need entry-level jobs as a stepping stone to reentry into the workforce.  The South Street youth and after-school programs provide daily help and support for children in some of the poorest neighborhoods in Akron and the South Street reentry program provides assistance and mentoring for the formerly incarcerated as they navigate the transition from jail and/or prison.  The Bike Shop also helps children and residents obtain a mode of transportation while teaching practical skills to repair and maintain a bicycle.  It is hyper-practical programming coupled with the right theology and motivated by a heart of love that keeps us engaged with South Street Ministries.

How has giving to South Street impacted you/your family? Why are you passionate about serving at South Street?   

South Street is an example to us of the type of community we desire to be involved with so that we can live out our calling to love our neighbor as ourselves. Our involvement with South Street Ministries led us to move to Summit Lake, helped us get acclimated to the culture of Summit Lake, and led us to worship at the Front Porch Fellowship (the Summit Lake church associated with South Street Ministries). South Street provides the day-to-day programming that our community needs, and we get to see its impact as they bless our neighbors and the community as a whole.  Furthermore, there is a unique atmosphere of grace and acceptance at South Street.  It’s permissible and expected that mistakes, misunderstandings, errors, problems, challenges, and setbacks will happen.  Ministry is messy, and the culture associated with South Street makes allowance for human frailty while bringing appropriate correction, encouragement, and love to counterbalance the trials and tribulations of ministry.  We have learned and continue to learn a great deal about how to connect our theology with practical Christian living by our involvement in the South Street community.

What area do you serve in at South Street?   Is there a favorite moment or story you would like to share from volunteering at SSM? 

We have been blessed to volunteer at the various affiliates and programs of South Street, including Rich Kids, the Christmas Shop, the Summit Lake CDC, the Akron Leadership Foundation, the Kingdom Leadership Alliance, and the community assessments to learn how neighbors perceive needs and opportunities.  Our day-to-day service is mostly relational through providing a helping hand to neighbors in Summit Lake as we partner with South Street and other local non-profits.  It’s unbelievable the unique experiences and learning that takes place through living as next-door neighbors rather than just commuting to a neighborhood to serve and then returning home to be a neighbor in another community.  We do get the chance to serve neighbors, but they serve us too in a way that truly has become mutually beneficial and edifying.  Someone may borrow an egg or cup of sugar from us for a recipe that they later share with us.  We’ve helped neighbors with paperwork to access funds for needed work on their home, helped kids with homework, hosted parties in the community garden next to our home, and been blessed by neighbors who invite us to their own family celebrations.  Living in Summit Lake is also a very cross-cultural experience that has fundamentally changed how we see and view those who are poor in the eyes of the world.  There’s a much greater sense of community here than we’ve experienced in other communities.  We still have much to learn, but each passing year gives us a better perspective and a deeper appreciation for the strengths and needs of people in urban Akron.

What would you like others to know about South Street?

We would like to encourage others to invest in South Street Ministries through supporting them, volunteering with them, and spending time in the neighborhoods they serve. You will truly learn so much and be blessed in return!

Tell us about you and your family 

Vocationally, Elizabeth is a licensed social worker and professor who directs the Center for Intercultural Studies at Malone University. Prior to teaching, Elizabeth was a missionary and social service coordinator in Romania for approximately 6 years. Elizabeth was involved in Romanian leadership development and providing social services to some of the poorest and most marginalized in Romania – gypsy (or Roma) children and families, older adults and people with disabilities.  As with many minority groups in the United States, the Roma are racially discriminated against, which has given Elizabeth a new perspective on racial issues and discrimination in the U.S. too.  In moving to South Akron, Elizabeth has discovered many parallels between her work in Romania and South Street’s ministry in Summit Lake.  God used these past experiences to prepare her for life in urban Akron.  While Elizabeth is a social scientist, Charles’ background is rooted in engineering and chemical science.  He is a chemical engineer and business professional by education and vocation.  Charles spent time in corporate America before the Lord called him to get involved in founding and capitalizing startup companies.  Spiritually, Charles has been heavily involved in teaching Bible studies and church administration as both a deacon and an elder.  During one season of his walk with Jesus Christ, Charles also received three years of Christian counseling training through Emerge Ministries in Akron and served as a pastoral counselor at a ministry center in Geauga County.  Both Charles and Elizabeth have a heart for helping people and encouraging them in their relationship with Jesus.  They met roughly 9 years ago and were subsequently married the following year.  Despite starting their marriage and living in the upper east side of Cleveland, Charles and Elizabeth both felt a calling to the Akron/Canton area.  South Street played a key role in helping guide us to explore South Akron as a place to relocate.  A series of Divine appointments and seemingly impossible events ultimately led us to move from Cleveland to South Akron.  Over the past 7 years, we have grown to love the people of Summit Lake and South Akron, and expect to see God continue to reveal Himself to us through our neighbors.