OUR STORY

Summit Christian Church has been around for a while. Starting in the mid 1920s as Noble Avenue Church of Christ, the church made a decision to move to the northwest part of Akron in the 1960s to its present day location. When they moved, they renamed themselves to West Akron Church of Christ. After years of ministry and serving, they decided to rename themselves as Summit Christian Church in the early 2000s.

In 2025, the church decided it was time to refresh their focus and find out what they were uniquely designed and positioned to do. That is when the word “restore” became apparent. After much prayer and counsel, the church embraced their new mission: Restore purpose by following Jesus together in everyday life. From there, they dismantled everything that they were doing and rebuilt it with that new mission in mind. On October 4, 2026, they relaunched as a new church - same building and many of the same people, but with a new mission and vision and DNA. The best part? The story isn’t done and you have a place in it!

Restore purpose by following Jesus together in everyday life.

The Mission

(AKA the “what”)

Forge a community of people who have discovered their God-given Gifts and abilities and are using THEM For the kingdom of God, by the Holy Spirit.

The Vision

(AKA the “where”)

The Team

Sean Plank

Pastor

Hailing from the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Sean joined the team in 2020. He previously served in churches in Kentucky and Virginia. In his free time, he likes to spend time with his family, cheer on the Kentucky Wildcats, and sit in a local coffee shop.

Elders

The Leadership Team

Dale Campbell

Charles Hahlen

Dave Lombardi

Dave Pulay

BACKGROUND

We are in a fellowship with thousands of other churches across the globe known as the Independent Christian Church, which is part of a movement that started in the early 1800s. This movement seeks to restore the principles and practices of the church as found in the New Testament. This includes unity, service, and love. There are a few rallying cries that we hold on to:

  • No creed but Christ, no book but the Bible, no law but love, no name but the divine.

  • The church of Jesus Christ on earth is essentially, intentionally, and constitutionally one.

  • Where the Bible speaks, we speak; where the Bible is silent, we are silent.

  • In essentials, unity; in opinions, liberty; in all things love.

FOUNDATIONAL BELIEFS

    • We believe God is the creator of all things.
      Genesis 1:1

    • We believe Jesus is God’s Son and the Savior of the world.
      John 3:16

    • We believe the Holy Spirit lives within every follower of Jesus and equips each follower for ministry.
      John 16:5-15

    • We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God and the final authority for all matters of faith.
      2 Timothy 3:16

    • We believe the Bible teaches that marriage is to be a lifelong relationship between a man and a woman.
      Matthew 19:4-6

    • We believe every person has sinned and needs the salvation Jesus provides.
      Romans 3:23

    • We believe Jesus died, was raised to life after three days, and will return to rescue us.
      1 Corinthians 15:3-4

    • We believe salvation comes by grace through faith in Jesus.
      Romans 5:8-11

    • We believe faith is expressed through hearing God’s plan for salvation, believing Jesus is God’s Son, confessing our need for Jesus’ work on the cross, repenting of our sin, being immersed in the waters of baptism, and living an obedient life.
      Acts 2:38 Romans 6:1-7 2 Peter 3:9

    • We believe the Church is the body and bride of Jesus on earth.
      Acts 2:14-47

    • We believe it is God’s plan for elders to shepherd the church.
      1 Timothy 3:1-7

    • We believe death seals the eternal destiny of each person. The saved will inherit eternal life and the unsaved will experience eternal separation from God.
      Romans 8:10-11

Connect WITH US.

Have questions? Let us know!