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 are becoming who they were created to be 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

  • The Bible is God’s word to all humanity. It was written by human authors, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and points the way towards truth and full living. (2 Timothy 3:16; Psalm 119:105; Proverbs 10:5)

  • Summit Christian should be like the first century church. It must be a fellowship meeting people’s needs and applying Jesus’ practical teaching to everyday life. It is a church that partakes of the Lord’s supper each week and immerses new believers into Christ through Christian baptism just as the church did in the first century. (Acts 2:42-47)

  • Salvation is a gift of God through Jesus Christ. Jesus is God’s son who died on the cross and was raised on the third day. Salvation requires we publicly confess who Jesus Christ is and our own faith in his sacrificial work on the cross. (John 3:16; Acts 2:38; Romans 3:23-26)

  • It is God’s plan for elders to shepherd the church, leading her as God would direct. (1 Timothy 3:1-7)

Connect WITH US.

Have questions? Let us know!