Growing up in the twenty-first century is sometimes hard. Kids need a great home and a great church to help them become everything God has planned for them to be.

Almost 2,000 years ago there lived a very unusual man. He was very religious, but he didn’t know God. In fact, he looked for ways to hurt people who loved God and trusted in His Son. But God still loved this man very much.

In the Bible, the ninth chapter of the book of Acts explains how God changed the life of this man. God sent him to a home on Straight Street in the city of Damascus. A man there told him about Jesus, and explained what he should do.

To us, Straight Street is where we all receive our spiritual sight and learn about God. So we’ve chosen “Straight Street” as the name of The Chapel’s ministry to first through sixth graders. Here is that story from the Bible:

¹ In Jerusalem Saul was still threatening the followers of the Lord by saying he would kill them. So he went to the high priest ² and asked him to write letters to the synagogues in the city of Damascus. Then if Saul found any followers of Christ’s Way, men or women, he would arrest them and bring them back to Jerusalem.

³ So Saul headed toward Damascus. As he came near the city, a bright light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. ⁴ Saul fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”

⁵ Saul said, “Who are you, Lord?”

The voice answered, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. ⁶ Get up now and go into the city. Someone there will tell you what you must do.”

⁷ The people traveling with Saul stood there but said nothing. They heard the voice, but they saw no one. ⁸ Saul got up from the ground and opened his eyes, but he could not see. So those with Saul took his hand and led him into Damascus. ⁹ For three days Saul could not see and did not eat or drink.

¹⁰ There was a follower of Jesus in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to Ananias in a vision, “Ananias!”

Ananias answered, “Here I am, Lord.”

¹¹ The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to Straight Street. Find the house of Judas, and ask for a man named Saul from the city of Tarsus. He is there now, praying. ¹² Saul has seen a vision in which a man named Ananias comes to him and lays his hands on him. Then he is able to see again.”

¹³ But Ananias answered, “Lord, many people have told me about this man and the terrible things he did to your holy people in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ Now he has come here to Damascus, and the leading priests have given him the power to arrest everyone who worships you.”

¹⁵ But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! I have chosen Saul for an important work. He must tell about me to those who are not Jews, to kings, and to the people of Israel. ¹⁶ I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

¹⁷ So Ananias went to the house of Judas. He laid his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus sent me. He is the one you saw on the road on your way here. He sent me so that you can see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸ Immediately, something that looked like fish scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he was able to see again! Then Saul got up and was baptized. ¹⁹ After he ate some food, his strength returned.

Saul Preaches in Damascus

Saul stayed with the followers of Jesus in Damascus for a few days. ²⁰ Soon he began to preach about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “Jesus is the Son of God.”

²¹ All the people who heard him were amazed. They said, “This is the man who was in Jerusalem trying to destroy those who trust in this name! He came here to arrest the followers of Jesus and take them back to the leading priests.”

²² But Saul grew more powerful. His proofs that Jesus is the Christ were so strong that the Jewish people in Damascus could not argue with him.

 

Kids have their own Pastor who is committed to knowing them and helping them and their families in their Christian journey. He is helped by a staff of directors, coordinators and volunteers.

The Chapel is committed to helping kids “find their way” and grow to become successful adults.

Our ultimate purpose to help kids grow to become like Jesus Christ. We accomplish our purpose through a program of activities and relationships that are both profitable and fun.

We encourage our kids to participate in four parts of our program. Each part plays an important role in the development of kids at The Chapel. Check the weekly schedule to learn when these programs are offered.

 

Sunday School

In Sunday School kids are divided into smaller groups where a teacher knows them, loves them and teaches them biblical principles. Kids learn how to live as Christians, and how to use their Bibles to find the instructions they’ll need for life.

 

 Kids Worship

The Chapel currently offers four different Kids Worship programs, each focused on specific grade levels to help kids learn to worship and put the Bible into practice in their lives.

 

Choir

Music isn’t just for girls and for sissies and for kids who can’t play football. It’s for everybody! All kids like to listen to great music, and in our excellent choir program we teach them to make music, too! Choirs meet for thirty minutes each week (kids can come to a half-hour earlier for extra practice) and once a month at night. As the time for performances gets closer, we’ll announce other special rehearsals. Kids need the experience in participating in something really great with other Christian kids. They’ll develop memories that will mean a lot as they grow older. Choirs rehearse on Wednesday (at the Akron campus) and Thursday (Green campus) from 6:30-6:55 p.m., with early rehearsal (for kids who can make it) beginning at 6:00 p.m.