A Letter from Pastor Jacob
When 2020 started we decided our word for the year would be “New.” We believed God was going to do a “new thing” at Cornerstone—and did we ever hit the nail on the head!
What “new” did 2020 bring? Well, we already knew things often don’t go exactly as planned, and now we experienced firsthand God’s plan being accomplished in new ways, ways we could not have imagined. A new pastor, a new church building, new staff members, new people coming to faith in Jesus, new people finding a family at Cornerstone...and new challenges.
When COVID-19 hit in early March, it derailed our plans and changed how we operate. On-site cGroups and meetings were replaced with Zoom calls. Live worship services at Coventry Elementary School were traded for pre-recorded online broadcasts.
But in the midst of all this uncertainty, God was doing a new thing—not just at Cornerstone, but in Cornerstone. We experienced the incredible faithfulness of God. We have witnessed the awesome people who are core to Cornerstone rise to the challenge in ways we could not have imagined. Because of faithful giving from a core of Stewards and the generous giving of our 2019 Vision & Victory Faith Offering, we were able to gain the technology to meet the needs presented by COVID. We widened and improved our service to our Cornerstone family online, and even expanded it widely to new partners around the world, the nation, and our own community.
As our hearts expanded in compassion, faith, and ingenuity, we seized new opportunities to serve the last, the least, the hurting, broken, and confused. While many churches have been closing, and despite our Mogadore campus leaving to become an independent church, we have seen unprecedented commitment from many people, and our spirits have deepened and strengthened. We have been able to keep up with our commitments and challenges. It has, undoubtably, been a difficult season, but it has been a new Only God season, and I have never been more encouraged about God’s plans for us NOW.
The hard work and dedication of the people who call Cornerstone home have continued to help people find the Father, a family, and a fulfilling future. Heaven’s population has grown this year because of you! You worked with God and saw people become NEW forever.
And NOW, I hope the accounts of what we did together with God will inspire you, encourage you, and make you gratefully proud of it all! I stand in awe of 2020’s accomplishments. And I am exhilarated to see what God will do with us in the NOW.
I am thrilled to be working with you! Jessica and I are so delighted to be raising our children with you. Together, we are changing our world.
Keep Encouraged!
Pastor Jacob Young
Last year brought much change, adjustment, and progress as God directed our church into a whole lot of NEW! And it has catapulted us into 2021 with great expectancy for what God has for us now! In this video, you’ll walk with Discipleship Pastor Brenda Young through the unexpected and incredible year of 2020.
In March 2020 COVID-19 hit the United States. Between Sunday, March 8 and Sunday, March 15 we suddenly became a fully digital ministry. This initial adjustment was just the first of countless twists, turns, and pivots over the next nine months.
We recorded weekly services for broadcast from four different locations over nine months.
Production equipment and operations expanded and improved immeasurably.
The Communications Team moved to the front lines of our ministry, and elevated their excellence across the board.
Ministry Partnerships morphed to include Crisis MP Opportunities specific to COVID-era needs.
Home Church hosts - Seven Home Churches, including one in Missouri, and 44 participants. Seven families said YES to opening their homes for others to hang out, watch services, and grow in community TOGETHER!
Cornerstone's Compassion Ministries, led by City Lights, responded to innumerable COVID-driven felt needs within our church family and surrounding communities.
Every age level and ministry department has responded, innovated, and ministered in exemplary, passionate fashion with full dependence on God.
Givers and Servers have, by and large, remained faithful and consistent allowing us to continue helping people find the Father, a family, and a fulfilling future in a chapter of our collective history when they need it the most.
Cornerstone Family has twisted, turned, and pivoted along with every necessary change. Engaging with weekly online only worship services, utilizing daily faith-building resources, sharing and inviting others to discover Christ and Cornerstone.
These bullet points only scratch the surface of how God has inspired and sustained us through these uncertain and unprecedented times, and how Cornerstone Family and Stewards have charged forward in faith!
2020 has been a very challenging year for City Lights. Most of the standard programs had to be suspended or changed drastically over this year of pandemic.
We are very proud and grateful our food program continues to be one of the few in Summit County giving food nearly every day of the week. We believe the best time to provide food is when a person is hungry, not when it is convenient for us.
Over this past year we have spent thousands of dollars with multiple dozens of dire situations including mortgage payments, utility shut off, automobile mechanical issues, and with people that just needed a helping hand. It is a rare day that we are not actively helping someone.
Monthly collection and distribution of hundreds of pieces of gently worn clothing in partnership with Community Support Services, Rahab Ministries, the Haven of Rest, and more.
Distributed approx. 15,000 lbs. of food to over 1500 individuals in need.
Volunteered hundreds of hours at the Akron-Canton Foodbank.
Raised and gifted nearly $8,000 in Christmas money to the parents of over 75 children. This year we expanded this program to many families outside of our church in heart-wrenching situations.
In collaboration with The Akron Dream Center, we provided and distributed close to 10,000 lbs. of healthy food the first Saturday of each month.
Initial and repeated check-ins with thousands of Cornerstone members during the early months of COVID.
In collaboration with The Joy Park Federation, we provided 25 turkeys and many volunteers for their Thanksgiving program.
City Lights has provided over 700 handmade masks to anyone in need, including but not limited to, Children's Hospital Oncology Unit, Akron General Hospital, and the Hartville Migrant Farms.
In collaboration with New Exodus Church, we are providing snacks and water for the nurses on the Cleveland Clinic COVID floors.
Help to rescue one of Akron's largest food giveaways on the verge of closing. We have committed to provide volunteers to unload trucks and distribute food twice a month.
Gifted dozens of pieces of furniture free of charge.
Ministry Partners Serving Weekly
25 Average Weekly MPs during COVID
cGroups during COVID
Online and On-site
18 cGroup & Ministry Leaders committed to the New Life Journey Course, a spiritual adventure of leading others to follow, imitate, and become like Jesus. Through the training they are encountering Jesus, growing in community with other leaders, and learning how to reach their full potential.
New Ministry Launches
“Moms on Target” (78 members) Moms on Target seeks to provide an opportunity for mothers in all of their forms (birth, foster, kinship, step, etc.) to find fellowship, mentorship, encouragement, and grace through the ever-changing seasons of motherhood.
“Care Ministry” Supporting Cornerstone Church friends and families through life’s difficult seasons and celebrating life’s meaningful events.
cGroup Leaders embraced change
Group leaders have shown extraordinary leadership by moving to online platforms, learning new skills, and embracing technology with positive attitudes and care for the people they lead.
Across all our ministries and teams, Cornerstone Family became familiar with Zoom and other virtual community platforms. Our cGroups and Team Meetings, have carried on using digital technologies! Amazing!
Memorial Team
The Memorial Team continues to serve and comfort hurting families with humility. They adapted swiftly to the new COVID guidelines, making changes to procedures to provide safe dinners as they continue to extend the love and kindness of Jesus.
Women’s Retreat
The Women’s Ministries Team didn’t skip a beat in the midst of this challenging year. Led by Deanna Shriver and a power-packed core group, they delivered many opportunities for women to connect and grow. (Team members: Shela Oberlin, Terri Stump, Katie Street, Tara Seeman & Beth Ondo. Joining the team for the special events were Lisa Smith & Becca Sue Dimeff.)
After Covid hit, Deanna and the team were compelled to bring a little bit of JOY with JoyFull prayer boxes hand-delivered to 100 women!
In May and June, they produced the first ever Virtual Café Chats.
Then, in September the first ever Virtual Women’s Retreat, “Lasting Legacy.” It was transformative and impactful with 20 host sites and more than 100 virtual attenders!
We are grateful for the eternal impact this team continues to make in the lives of women.
Web Host Team
Ministry Partners answered the call to serve online by hosting the chat during our online services on Sundays and special events. They embraced the change by learning new skills while engaging and assisting online guests.
With all of the craziness that 2020 brought, the NextGen ministry was able to pivot and be flexible amid great amounts of change. Our families and Ministry Partners handled every wrinkle of this past year with grace. In 2020 we shifted all our ministries online and were even able to bring some of it back in person. Through it all, God moved, and we were able to carry out our vision of making a successful pass of a vital and relevant faith to new generations. The first highlight was seeing our cKidz families transition to virtual experiences. From the cKidz online experience to cKidz Playground, we were able to connect with our Pre-K through 5th grade and teach them the love of Christ while having some fun! We were even able get together in person a few times. In October, we hosted the Fall Fest to celebrate the season with costumes and candy. We saw 30 cKidz come by and have some fun! During Christmas we decided to help Santa with some letters that needed to be written to our cKidz on his behalf and we ended up mailing out 37 letters from Santa this year!
Our cStudents also transitioned to online ministry. We kicked that off by creating a NextGen Instagram for our students to engage with. We hosted live events, interactive posts, and giveaways. We even created a TikTok and are having loads of fun there too! In October we relaunched on-site Youth group (Grades 6-12) on Wednesday nights. Our average attendance so far has been 14 and that number is continuing to grow as we engage new students and welcome back students who have called Cornerstone home for a long time!
Additionally, we were able to transition our Shining Light Special Needs ministry online. We’ve been able to teach them the love of Jesus through Zoom experiences and other events such as drive-thrus and home deliveries.
Overall, we have seen six reported commitments to follow Jesus and four baptisms in NextGen! We have several students who have taken steps to engage the church by committing to Ministry Partnerships and one student serving as a Junior Intern! Whether they are a cKid, cStudent, or a friend with special needs, we are seeing the work of the Spirit in our ministries. We are so excited for what God has for NextGen in 2021!
Average cKidz Online Views
27
Letters From Santa Participation
37
Average Youth Attendance
14 + growing
Average Youth Instagram Engagement
16
Average Shining Light Participation
5
