Mission Outreach
Mission is everything we do as church to fulfill Jesus' call to serve as in Matthew 25:31-46 & 28:16-20 , Acts 1:1-8, and Ephesians 4:7-16. There isn't a separate mission part of our budget or of our ministry. It is everything...or nothing at all. Outreach is that portion of the mission which reaches out to help people beyond our normal relationships or comfort zone. Here are some pieces of our reaching out beyond our selves:
Family Promise (Formerly Interfaith Hospitality-IHN).
Miller Ave United Church of Christ Mission - This is a small congregation in the Summit Lake neighborhood of south Akron, between south Main Street and Summit Lake. The neighborhood has many vacant lots from demolished houses and many boarded up houses as well as occupied houses that are in very bad condition. The neighborhood has a minority of long term residents. The Miller Ave UCC Mission is led by the Rev. Tom Gerstenlauer as Mission Minister and a board made up of representatives of covenant (supporting) congregations and community members. At this time Rev. David Loar of our congregation is the chairperson of the board. The mission serves people in the neighborhood with:-
- Lunch on Us, the 3rd and 4th Saturdays of the month congregations provide a meal for on average 75 to 100 people. Fairlawn West does this 2 to 3 times a year, but we can help other congregations each month.
- Food Pantry, collect food items and personal hygiene items for families.
- 5th Sunday, at 5:00 pm every month that has a 5th Sunday, a meal is provided followed by a worship service. Fairlawn West provides the meal 1 or 2 times a year.
- There are other forms of ministry that you can help with as well if you contact David Loar.