Local Mission Opportunities
Care & Connect (Foster our Community)
Second Thursday of Every Month from 7PM-9PM
a night of support, encouragement & connection for foster, adoptive and kinship moms.
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
- July 31 from 6-7:30PM
- August 13 from 10AM-11:30AM
- August 28 from 6-7:30PM
Local & National
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:
- Praise for Michael’s travels and speaking engagements in June all went well
- Hosted 126 people in our home this summer
- Five students are reading through the gospels with Michael
- Levi, our 3rd grandson was born May 31st
- Pray for Michaels travels and speaking opportunities
Mike Hepler
Christ Led Communities (CLC), Ohio
Mike (from North Canton Chapel), travels to area churches in Ohio to help establish men’s ministries using the CLC material. He equips men to be leaders based on growing relationships with Christ developed through men studying God’s word together.
Ways to Pray:
- Pray that the Holy Spirit would have His way with the men in becoming more mature in their faith, able to reach out to others to do the same for them.
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.
- Praise for the opportunity to speak to pastors in Springfield, MO on “Rethinking the Great Commission: Reaching the Samaritans in your community.
- Pray that he will have a great relaxing time with his family as he has two month s off.
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:
- Praise for a great and relaxing time visiting family
- Her shoulder which is fully functional and she is equipped with exercises to keep healthy
- Pray for advanced intense security training the week of July 8, with physical and real life scenarios to equip her for emergencies.
- Safe travels July 16-17 as she heads back overseas. That her body will adjust to 120 degree temps without getting sick … for good bonding with new teammates, and sweet connections with many locals.
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 their first AC that was installed for the babies as the summer temperatures have reached a maximum (118F+).
- For the successful and transformative B. Geography workshop led by a scholar and expert that better equipped the workers.
- For the great opportunity Stephanie had to attend workshops and seminars for two weeks. (This was a big trip for their family, as she hadn’t been away from the babies for more than a few hours before this trip!)
- For the translation project that has begun in one local language, the three storying projects that continue through a local colleague, the ongoing story projects, with two other language groups, and the orthography projects that are wrapping up their data analysis and presenting their alphabet proposals to their communities.
- “We are grateful for each of you and continue to thank God for how He has so abundantly filled our hearts with your time, care, and thoughtful provision for our needs.”
- Pray with them for healing and health, as well as wisdom as Sid will travel in July and they will be getting ready for rainy season soon.
- For someone to help with childcare so Stephanie can work well on m. tasks. They are grateful the babies are growing and strong in their first nine months of life!
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:
- Pray for people to continue seeing life change. Pray for us to work hard and always be energized for the work of the gospel!
- For CrashLeather sales which is always a blessing to our ministry.
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.
- Praise that some food aid arrived to help with camps!
- Pray for the camps held in July & August, and that they will be protected from breakouts of the viruses/disease that is spreading in the country
- That God will guide us to encourage young people to remember that God is with us and has never abandoned us even when we go through difficulties. We want to lead young people to have intimacy with Jesus.
- For the support of the Seminary, students, workers and teachers and for wisdom and direcNon for the new school year
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 me as I am in a transitional period in my ministry. Many people I was working with have left over the last six months. Pray for God’s leading, wisdom, and clarity through this season. Pray that my eyes will be open to new opportunities and ways to serve him here.
- For me as I lead a media ministry geared toward the majority faith. We want to reach as many people as possible with high-quality, Christ-centered content. Pray that God will continue to bless and lead me in that.
- For the community of local believers that I am a part of. I want to see spiritual growth and maturity, a greater sense of responsibility and leadership from our local guys, and for more people to come to faith in Jesus and join us in our fellowship.
- For me to be filled with the Spirit and walk by faith and not by sight. As I write this, the Friday sermons are being blasted from the mosques all around me. There is a real sense of heaviness and oppression. Pray that my eyes would be fixed on Jesus and pray for a real spiritual waking here.
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.
- Pray for our congregation as we seek non-profit tax-exempt status as a “house of prayer.”
- That God will work in the hearts of the workers in the neighborhood and areas around our church building who have heard the gospel.
- For uneventful births for the 3 pregnant women in our congregation.
- For all in our region to seek after the One True God, especially since everything else they’ve been trusting in to keep them safe has failed.
Makayla (Stone) Czaplicki/ Students International
Dominican Republic
Makayla (originally from North Canton Chapel) serves at the El Callejon Social Work location in Jarabacoa with children of all ages teaching Bible lessons and crafts and activities. She also works with young women and meeting their needs.
Ways to Pray:
- Pray as they move into their home and transition back to life here in the States, and that they would be encouraged as they see God’s plans unfold for this next stage of their lives.
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: Nate reports that his recovery is progressing well, and he is continually feeling physically stronger. The Stones’ ministry continues with several emphases.
- Prayer: The Stones will be in the U.S. in July for a visit which will include a medical check-up for Nate.
- Funds are still needed to complete the church building project.
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 that teams are able to come on a regular basis
- For the development of leadership
- Pray for Fern’s mom healing from cancer
- For Ferns pregnancy, baby due soon!
- For new male staff leaders for the Care Corner Orphanage
- For meeting point church plants raising funds to build a church, meeting center, temporary homes for refugees and a day care center
- For the upcoming new church plant in the Mahea district and its leaders
- For regular day to day ministry, leadership and sending of those being discipled
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: Outreach opportunities in teaching English to draw people to God.
- 5 weeks of humanitarian service in Tcwez. Handing out groceries and each time sharing the gospel.
- Speaking opportunities at Fourth Baptist and Chapel Service where Emily teaches
- Pray for: Team from sending church coming for a week this summer to help with church plant
- Continued growth in learning the language and adapting culturally.
- Continued prayer in finding a pastor for our church plant in Tcwez
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 a new client services director – Holly West, starting July 9th!
- That we will be adding several new events to our calendar in the future
- New ultrasound mobile unit to take delivery in August, which will be named the Nan Van, in honor of the wife of a significant donor.
- Pray for an overnight field trip to the National Memorial for the Unborn in Chattanooga on July 25-26. We are renting two 12-passenger vans to do the overnight trip.
- Internal educational events, and external community events that are a significant part of our client service department’s plans.
- Good exposure and outreach. From July 18-20, the Pregnancy Support Network (our umbrella ministry) will be at the ALIVE Music Festival!
- Search for our part-time Church Relations Coordinator
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:
- Prayer: God to protect survivors still trapped in trafficking.
- Peace and protection over the Drop-in Homes.
- Volunteers to join in the work of Rahab.
- Youth trapped in sex trafficking to find freedom and healing.
- Specific to Stark County:
- The new jail ministry in Stark County
- Open doors for this ministry, specifically so that they can increase from one visit per month to two visits per month – which is being requested by the women!
- Volunteers! We are struggling to fill the gaps in Stark County.
- The Canton Drop-In Home has been specifically praying for the women who are struggling under mental health issues.
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:
- Pray God gives direction and wisdom in filling open staff positions
- Each resident experiences God meeting them where they are
- For more faithful volunteers to help sort donations and serve meals
- Praise God for Scott Schnyder, new CEO. Scott joined Refuge of Hope in 2007 and is committed to the mission to bring the hope of Jesus Christ to all who enter their doors.
- That in the first half of this year 43,695 hot meals served
- That in the first half of this year 7,803 bedded nights provided and 45 men went from homelessness to independence
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: John Middleton, a Vietnam Veteran from Alliance, is known for his selflessness. His daughter reached out to Hammer & Nails for help with home repairs for his Alliance home, and we were happy to assist. John, who has a loving family with four children, fourteen grandchildren, and numerous greatgrandchildren, has been battling cancer while continuing to care for others.
- Foursomes for the upcoming 20th Annual Golf Outing, scheduled for Friday, July 12th at Spring Valley Golf Course and Banquet Hall have been filled.
- Prayer: To commemorate their 25th anniversary, Hammer & Nails is launching a special campaign to collect 25 stories (at least!) from their supporters. Whether you’ve volunteered, donated, worked with them, or benefited from their services, your story is a testament to their mission: Fixing Houses, Changing Lives.
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:
- We are continuing our programs with seniors at two low income senior apartment buildings. Between the two locations, Rooted leads 21 different activities per month. Our desire is that small groups or individuals from local churches would facilitate these activities. We currently have 2 small groups from 2 local churches facilitating 3 of these activities, and my family and I lead the other 18. A majority of the residents have lived very rough lives and this has been a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate the love of Christ to them and share truth with them when the Lord creates and opportunity. My family is blessed to serve them, but we would also love to see more believers involved. Please pray that God would lead other Christ followers to join us in being salt and light at Kentway Apartments and Tower 43. And please pray that the Lord would give the residents at these buildings soft hearts that are open and receptive to the gospel.
- We are continuing work on our building. We are waiting for the plumbers (who are donating their labor and materials) to finish up and then volunteers will help pour concrete and frame walls. Please pray that God would provide more volunteers to help with the construction work. We work every Wednesday from 9-2 and occasionally on Saturdays.
- We are preparing for our annual back to school bash at Holden elementary. Last year we had about 120 people attend. This years date is Saturday August 17 from noon to 2. At this event, we have bouncy houses, carnival games, face painting, free food, and free school supplies for families. It is a great event to demonstrate support for the community, encourage kids to be excited about school, and for Rooted to connect with parents in our neighborhood. Prayer requests for this event would be: good attendance from families, many donations of school supplies from local churches, and many volunteers to staff the event.
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:
- Pray for wisdom in decisions, financial provision and for needed families to foster and adopt.
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 Kelly Odegard for more info at: Eaglefuel@ncchapel.com
Ukraine
Learn
After eight years of ongoing conflict, tension continues to mount on the border between Ukraine and Russia. Imminent conflict between the two countries could spark a catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, causing millions to be displaced from their homes.
Pray
Send Relief, a cooperative ministry between the International Mission Board and the North American Mission Board, is working with local Baptist partners in Ukraine to care for displaced families in desperate need of help and hope.
You can help! There is extraordinary power in prayer. Here are ten ways you can pray for the Ukraine crisis:
GIVE
The Ukraine Crisis fund provides resources to Ukrainians, missionaries, and partners serving Ukrainian communities in a time of upheaval and unrest, compassionately sharing the gospel with hurting people.
Right now, the team is serving among Ukrainian refugees to meet physical needs and share Christ. Help us respond to this urgent situation with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Alex Cook
Group & Missions Pastor