Ministry Spotlight!



Rita Ballenger, Founder
Abolition Bakery
www.abolitionbakery.com

I was shocked. I fully expected to hear about human trafficking in third world countries. Instead, I learned about human trafficking in our states, our city, and in every city! Rita thought as she attended a human trafficking presentation by the Collaborative to End Human Trafficking. Read more.




Bob Hershey, Executive Director
Cleveland Pregnancy Center
www.ClevelandPregnancyCenter.org
Now choose life, so that you and your children may live
and that you may love the Lord your God,
listen to his voice, and hold fast to him.
Deuteronomy 30:19–20 NLT

Forty years ago, my wife and I were both eighteen and high school sweethearts in our first year of college. She became pregnant. We didn’t know what to do.
Read more.


Bill and Cathy Goodrich
God Cares Ministry
www.GodCaresMinistry.com
In 1984, at the age of twenty-six, I felt the desire to visit with residents living in a nearby nursing home to bring happiness to those who were lonely.
Read more.






Elizabeth Englehart, Coordinator
Titus 2 Mentoring Women
Grace Church Women’s Ministry
"I always wished I'd had a mentor."
Titus 2 connects generations of women, closing the generational gap. We walk alongside each other in intentional relationships focused on Jesus Christ.
Read more.


Michelle Virnelson
Love INC (in the Name of Christ) 
Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Our mission is to mobilize the Church to transform lives and communities In the Name of Christ. Serving Cuyahoga County, we partner with Christian churches to meet the unmet needs of individuals and families. We connect the resources to the need.
Read more.





Kamila Burgess, Refugee Program Assistant
Building Hope in the City
I work with refugees and immigrants. I manage The Hope Center, coordinate volunteers, and direct the Refugee Mentoring Program. 
Read more.




Guest Posts

Just Show Up by Kelly Griffiths

A friend of mine texted me this morning asking for prayer. As she should. She’s about to embark on something that’s way out of her league. She does this for Jesus and for His people, especially those who feel most forsaken, who the world deems most filthy and most foul, but who are loved by God.
I text my friend: Just show up. God will do the rest. Read More

Restrained for Greatness by Maureen Zappala

Self-discipline. What comes to mind when you hear that word? I don’t know about you, but that word can make me crazy! It speaks of restraint. Limits. Boundaries. I'm not a fan of restraints, limits or boundaries. But what if restraints didn't exist? Read More 

Slowing the Pace of a Busy Life by Michelle Virnelson

I had a minor parking lot scrape last week. As I pondered (no, ruminated on would be the better description) what happened, I sensed God say, “Michelle, I’ve been trying to tell you. Slow down. Get more sleep.”
“I know, Lord. I’m trying. But, I don’t know how or what to do.” Read More

A Story of  Grace: Forgiving the Other Woman

Mark and Rita fell in love, married, and had two children. Then, Mark met Beth. They ended up having an affair. Mark left his family and married Beth. Eight months later, Mark had a life-altering stroke. This is Beth and Rita’s story of grace. Read More

Dispensing Grace: A Black Person in a Mostly White Church

It seems I’ve been dispensing grace all my life. I never thought of it as grace until taking a class on the subject. Yes, I’m talking about the race thing again. In most situations, I’m the only person of color in a given group. Read More

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