2026 Missions Team Interest Meeting
March 29, 2026
2026 Mission Team Interest Meeting
Sunday, March 29th | Following the 2nd Worship Gathering
Classroom #3
Learn more about our 2026 Missions Team by stopping by Classroom #3 following the 10:30AM Worship Gathering on Sunday, March 29th. Pastor Alex Cook will be available to give a brief overview and answer any questions.
Questions? Contact Group & Missions Pastor Alex Cook
2026 Mission Team Opportunities
Interested in joining a 2026 Missions Team? Learn more about the teams and apply through the links below.
Guatemala
July 22-28
Dominican Republic Team
August 25-31
Missions Teams FAQ
Where are we going this year?
Teams will be going to Guatemala, and Dominican Republic.
How much does a trip typically cost?
Cost is approximately $1500-$1700 per trip
Do I need a passport?
Passports required (if you do not have a passport, it is best to begin passport process now)
When do planning meetings start?
Specific team meetings will begin at least 3 months before trip.
How is the trip paid for? Are fundraising opportunities provided?
There will be opportunities and assistance for those raising support for a trip.
Local Mission Opportunities
Comfy Cozies
Comfy Cozies is a group that crochets, knits, and sews. Items are then given to many local and global organizations. To get involved contact info@ncchapel.com or call 330.494.3419
Local & National
James Talbert
The Vincent House/Citizens Akron
James is a proud member of the Middlebury neighborhood where he lives with his wife Julia and daughter Jada. It’s his great privilege to be a pastor and founding member at Citizens Akron Church. James is alumni of Malone University & Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. James enjoys long conversations, finely curated playlists, and giving hell a really hard time in Akron!
Ways to Pray:
- Praise: For NCC students coming to serve at the Vincent House during Amplify Student Winter Weekend.
Michael and Teresa Brown
Cru- BGSU, Ohio
Michael and Teresa minister at Bowling Green State University (BGSU) as a part of Cru (the campus ministry whose presence and proclamation connects with thousands of undergraduate and graduate students each year). They are also involved in Regional Foster Care Community, SEARCH Residential Community (spiritual residence hall at BGSU), Vanguard Men’s Organization, their Bowling Green Neighborhood Missional Community, the Campus Multifaith Alliance and BGSU Athletics.
Ways to Pray:
- Praises: Michael continues to see much spiritual fruit from the hundreds of people a month whom he interacts with!
- Praises: We all feel fully acclimated to this Ohio winter, but we are still looking forward to spring!
- Pray: Please pray for an uncomplicated delivery for our daughter and son-in-law with baby #4, and our son and daughter-in-law with their first child.
- Pray: Michael will begin travels on February 20th for speaking and coaching engagements in Texas and Pennsylvania.
Richard and Sandy Lewis/
Lewis Cross Cultural Training, Inc., Arkansas & International
The Lewis’ lived in Kenya for 14 years, working among tribal groups. For the past 25 years, Richard has taken his wealth of pastoral and missions experience to teach and coach missionaries and spiritual leaders in over twenty countries. Although they live in the U.S., Richard is often in Kenya, India, Nepal, and many other parts of the world, teaching nationals to go cross culturally to share God’s word. He teaches sessions for Perspectives and an online course for a Bible College, and has a weekly podcast with interviews of missionaries around the world. He serves as a resource for churches, helping to establish mission focus.
Ways to Pray:
- Praise for the faithfulness of prayer and financial support from NCC.
- Pray for Richard as he teaches in a Masters program geared toward Christian professionals in India.
International
Christiana
Undisclosed Country in Northern Africa
Works with an organization within the country to establish relationships with nationals in order to share God’s word. She has a heart and passion for relational ministry to those who have suffered great loss in their lives, such as widows, orphans, refugees, etc., She speaks several languages and seizes every opportunity to share the gospel and disciple new believers.
Ways to Pray:
- Pray for the local fellowship that there would be unity and kindness.
- Pray for a friend’s father who underwent brain tumor surgery, and was recently diagnosed with lung cancer. Pray for wisdom as they decide a path for treatment.
- Pray for Christiana in her goal to spend 24 hours each week in prayer and reading The Word.
- Praise: God protected Christiana in a near miss car accident.
- Praise: For twins born to co-workers in Australia.
Sid and Stephanie
Undisclosed Country in West Asia
Stephanie (originally from North Canton Chapel) and her husband “Z” (native to the region) have been living and working among the people for six years. They both work in translation for un-written and un-translated dialects and language groups. Their work includes training nationals in oral and written translation of the Word. They use and teach “storying” in a local dialect and context to share with people in a community; these people can then share these stories with others—a form of teaching that reaches far and produces growth. They also work with locals to train and prepare written translation for un-written and un-translated dialects and languages.
Ways to Pray:
- Praise for stateside visit with family and friends.
- Praise for the support of NCC.
- Pray for good health for the children.
- Pray for a new translation project that is beginning.
- Pray for Christian fellowship for Sid & Stephanie.
Jeff and Julie
Global Workers
Jeff and Julie have 30 years of experience training global workers, cultivating national partnerships, mentoring, and encouraging. With Live Global they are deployed to a variety of locations for extended periods of time to come alongside indigenous leaders to serve them through mentoring, training, and development of nationally led ministries. They build trusting partner relationships. They support global partners transforming their communities toward a common Gospel goal and serve partners in collaborative efforts.
Ways to Pray:
- Pray for partners to have strong health to continue leading.
- Pray for a young pastor being trained to take the mantel of leadership in local church.
Mark and Gina Schmidt / Educate BV
Guatemala
The Schmidt Family family serves the people of Buena Vista, Guatemala. They host an educational center, Centro Educativo DeepStream, which currently works within the daily routines of the public middle school, a private advanced study program for additional students in BV (grades 1st-12th), preschool program, medical clinic, and other health initiatives. Their vision is to train the future men and women who will lead Buena Vista – spiritually, mentally, and physically. Mark and Gina minister as a family as they work daily in Buena Vista.
Ways to Pray:
- Praise for NCC’s involvement in our ministry!
- Pray for continued growth in our staff and students, and all that God is doing.
New Pines Seminary
Cuba
New Pines is a Cuban denomination that is based solidly on God’s Word. The seminary campus in Oliver is used for both training young men and women, denominational meetings, summer camps, and celebrations. The focus of the seminary is to train, disciple, and send leaders and pastors throughout Cuba and as missionaries to other countries. Their goal is to enable the formation and multiplication of reproductive healthy churches that impact society with the gospel.
Ways to Pray:
- Praise for the recent New Pines Convention that had good attendance and unity.
- Pray for Cuba as the recent turmoil in Venezuela has heightened insecurity and economic strain on the people.
- Pray for upcoming classes, students, teachers, and for all transportation needs for them.
Brett / Operation Mobilization
Undisclosed Country in the Middle East
Brett (originally from North Canton Chapel) serves with Operation Mobilization and works with a people group who have been unreached for the last 1400 years. He and his team are very proactive in sharing the good news face-to-face, through discipleship, and through media. He also reaches out to a wider audience online through a media project and podcasts. In addition to sharing his faith with students and leading studies in God’s Word, Brett acts as a team leader for younger men of various nationalities.
Ways to Pray:
- Pray for opportunities and encouragement in the challenging situations Brett faces.
Dave and Anne / ABWE International
Undisclosed Country in the Mediterranean
Dave and Anne are involved in discipleship and church planting through methods including weekly home group meetings with gospel presentations for national believers and those that are not-yet believers; one-on-one discipleship meetings; mentoring new families serving in career overseas work; working alongside congregations to train nationals in leadership (B. study, sermon preparation, and worship leadership) and helping to identify leaders for various roles within those congregations.
Ways to Pray:
- Praise for a safe return after a brief visit with family over the holidays.
- Pray for spiritual and emotional healing for all in our country.
- Pray for two of our church members battling cancer.
Nate and Rachael Stone / Love Restored
Dominican Republic
The Stones (originally from North Canton Chapel) created an organization named Love Restored which endeavors to create a bilingual rescue center for women caught in the sex trade. Their prayer is to build relationships with these women that display the gospel of Jesus Christ in everyday life. They seek to take an active role in their development as independent, self-supporting, Christ-following adults resulting in a Gospel movement throughout the Dominican Republic.
Ways to Pray:
- Praise that we have recently welcomed in an 18 year old who was aging out of the child protective services. She now has a safe place to be surrounded by other believers as she learns more independence.
Tim and Fern Talley / Gospel Seed Network
Thailand
Tim Talley, originally from North Canton Chapel, has the goal to move people in Southeast Asia towards maturity in Christ, seeing the expanse of His name, and helping kingdom minded men and women respond to the dreams and visions God is calling them towards.
Gospel Seed Network has partners which include churches, orphanages and government schools, and helps meet tangible needs of the people in multiple communities in Southeast Asia. They have a Bible Institute, English class, life skills class, music class, offer scholarships to underprivileged children who are at risk of being trafficked, plant organic churches, and coach people to become leaders within their families/communities so they can begin and continue the mission of God among their own people.
Ways to Pray:
- Praise for the privilege to work with a team of doctors and volunteers to provide free eye checkups and glasses through partnership with the COC Foundation Humanitarian Project.
- Pray for the team that is doing great work among the Shan people in Hang Dong.
Micah and Emily Griffith- ABWE
Poland
Micah, Emily and their four children, Silas, Eden, Olive and Amos are our newest mission partners.
Micah has been a young adult pastor in Virginia for the past seven years.
He and Emily have felt called to be serving Jesus in the country of Poland. They will be church planting through evangelism, discipleship, and national partners.
Ways to Pray:
- Praise: We landed safely back in Poland, and are adjusting well as a family.
- Praise: The kids had a good start back in their Polish school.
- Praise: Praising God for the strength that He has given us as a family.
- Pray for our family as we adjust back to the Polish language.
- Please pray for our kids in their classes and relationships at school.
- Pray for the visa process, as it is slow and complicated. Pray the government will process the application yet this year.
- Pray for our team as we transition to a deeper level of ministry and strategy toward church planting in Poland.
- Pray for open gospel doors with our neighbors.
Local Partners
The Pregnancy and Parenting Center
In January, 2022, The Pregnancy & Parenting Center, formerly Pregnancy Choices, adopted a new name to more accurately describe the services taking place at our 22nd Street location. Here, moms and dads receive support, supplies and parenting education. TPAPC is a proud member of the Pregnancy Support Network consisting of The Pregnancy & Parenting Center, Akron Pregnancy Services, Eva Women’s Clinic—Canton and Akron, and Hope and Healing.
Ways to Pray:
- Praise for our two maintenance workers who faithfully maintain our facilities, and save us so much money through their stewardship.
- Pray for our clients as new classes and book studies start.
- Pray for encouragement, and sustenance of Eva team in their heavy, and important work.
- Pray for our Hope & Healing team who help people struggling with past grief-related situations find peace, comfort, and healing through Jesus Christ.
RAHAB Ministries
RAHAB is God’s continuing story of setting people free physically and spiritually. With an 18-year history of providing cutting-edge trauma informed services to survivors of and those vulnerable to human sex-trafficking, RAHAB Ministries is dedicated to offering hope and healing for broken and exploited women and children and filling gaps in service for the most vulnerable.
Their adult Drop-In Centers, intentionally right in the middle of the drug activity and street level trafficking in Akron and Canton, provide space that offers respite from factors that enslave. Women stop in for family-style meals, Bible Studies, encouragement and friendship. They shop the free clothes closet and receive donated hygiene items.
Ways to Pray:
- Pray for provision in three open staff positions – that God will direct the right people to those positions.
- Pray that women and youth will see themselves from Jesus’ point of view.
- Pray that we always keep Jesus at the center of everything we do.
Refuge of Hope Canton
Refuge of Hope is a faith-based, non-profit, Christian rescue mission providing safe, sober, emergency transitional shelter for men and hot, nutritious meals for hungry men, women, and children in Stark County. Homeless men receive hot showers, clothing and access to counseling in a safe and clean dormitory-style shelter.
Ways to Pray:
- Praise that we are celebrating our 25th anniversary. 111,324 meals have been provided, 18,800 bedded, 25,055+ volunteer hours, and helped 98 men transition from homeless not independence!
- Pray for restored health for several staff members fighting illness.
- Pray for homeless circumstances to improve and more to see the light of Jesus.
- Pray for our Spring Banquet coming up on April 14th.
Hammer and Nails
Hammer & Nails grew out of a temporary ministry in North Industry Christian Church partnered with Group WorkCamps to host a week-long camp in both 1995 and 1998. The purpose of the camps was to assist disadvantaged Stark Count homeowners with home and property repairs and maintenance. As a result of these camps, over 400 youth nationwide assisted over 100 homeowners.
The success of the work-camps, along with encouragement from the community, led to the creation of Hammer & Nails, Inc. as an independent 501(c)3 organization. To date, over 1700 homeowners in Stark County have been helped, but the need for assistance is still great.
Ways to Pray:
- Praise: for faithful volunteers, and ongoing financial support.
- Praise: for the new ramps & rails facility.
- Pray that God will provide a new project manager.
- Pray for homeowners who need assistance.
Rooted Kent
Rooted invests in the overall long-term health of families in the Historic South End of Kent, Ohio, by serving as a community resource center where families and individuals regularly come together to learn, grow, and connect. Rooted helps facilitate and provide a wide range of programs that promote youth development through mentorship and skill-building; provide comprehensive and compassionate support for seniors addressing physical, emotional and spiritual needs; and act as a connection point for families to support and care for one another including academic support, employment and job training, health and wellness activities, and cultural events. Rooted does this work in the name of Jesus, who modeled a life of love, compassion, and service.
Ways to Pray:
- Pray for our occupancy inspection, and zoning approval.
- Pray that God would lead and guide in the maker space project, and that he would give us favor in partnerships in the project.
- Pray for our team of 8 who have volunteered to lead programs.
- Pray for five school-aged children in our mentorship program who have very difficult family lives, who demonstrate challenging behaviors at school and in our program.
- Praise for the Christmas Eve offering of $44,000 from NCC. We also received a donation from Quaker Square furniture providing all the tables and chairs for our cafe space.
- Praise that God has opened a door for partnership with Kent City Schools to create a maker space in our building. We plan to open this space in August of 2027.
- Praise: We have a potential donor who may be paying for all of the equipment needed to make the kitchen space fully functional.
Hope Bridge
Hope Bridge is on a gospel-led mission to mobilize the state of Ohio to step into the crisis within its foster care system by raising awareness and equipping churches and communities in the care and support of vulnerable children and families.
Ways to Pray:
- Praise: For the opportunity and growth that we have seen.
- Our largest fundraiser of the year is on May 15th. Please pray for success beyond expectations.
- Pray for single moms to attend a Bible Study starting in February. For consistency in love and safety for those who have been through broken situations.
- Pray for youth and children, foster and adoptive families.
- Pray for aged out youth.
Eagle Fuel
Eagle Fuel is a local outreach that was birthed from NCC’s desire to serve and care for students in the Plain Local School district who do not always have food or meals readily available. In partnership with Plain Local Schools, each month during the school year, NCC provides 788 meals for 394 students, all which are sorted and packed by volunteers at NCC.
Contact for more info at: Eaglefuel@ncchapel.com
Alex Cook
Group & Missions Pastor