Senior Pastor
Dr. Don Baird has been the Sr. Pastor of Community Christian Church since Feb. 1, 2000. Before coming to North Canton, he served congregations in Youngstown, Dayton, and Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. He and his wife Leslie are the parents of four children; Rev. Josh & Rev. Laura Baird, Zach and Katie Baird, Dr. Micah and Rev. Becky Baird, and Dan and Noelle Baird Esway. They have been blessed with seven grandchildren: Sophia Carolynne, Silas Griffin, Kelly Rhiannon, Jonas Elijah, Lilah Rose, Asher James, and Parker Anthony.
An Arizona native, Pastor Baird is a graduate of the University of Redlands in California. He received his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from the Vanderbilt University Divinity School in Nashville, TN., where he also served as a resident chaplain at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Veteran's Administration Hospital. He has advanced training in pastoral care and counseling.
Dr. Baird has traveled extensively, studying the history of Christianity in Europe and Middle East, as well as world missions in Latin America and Asia. He has led annual mission trips for more than two decades.
A fifth generation Disciple, Dr. Baird has served at every level of the church's life (local, regional, & international). He is a facilitator in the Lead Like Jesus movement. He is a member of the North Canton TAP Community Leadership Forum. His avocation is photography.
You may contact Dr. Baird at the church office (330) 499-5458 or via email.
An Message from the Pastor
Director of Faith Development
Mrs. Kim Porter joined our ministry team in 2011. She brings years of creative leadership and experience to the position of Director of Faith Development here at Community Christian Church.
Kim is a graduate of Kent State University and brings her creativity as an art major into her ministry. God has called her to serve as a Christian educator in both lay and staff positions for over twenty years. Kim was the Director of Christian Education with the Akron Area Association of Churches for a number of years and served as the Director of Christian Education at several churches - including First Christian Church of Alliance, High Street Christian Church in Akron and the First Christian Church of Medina. She has been an "on call" staff Resource Assistant at the East Ohio Conference U.M.C.Media Center for many years. She also does equipping ministry/Christian education consulting work with local congregations.
In addition to the significant leadership she is providing our congregation, Kim Porter serves as a coach for Group Publishing's Church Volunteer Central - working with congregations to develop people so that they can follow their call to serve, to use their gifts, to make a difference for Christ and to find joy in the journey.
Church_Volunteer_Central_Info
Kim has a great passion for children, families, and for spiritual growth and faith development. Want to talk to Kim about your faith journey or where your ministry "sweet spot" might be at Community Christian? Contact her at:
kimporter@northcantonccc.org or at 330-499-5458.
Secretary
Fran Pack serves as the church secretary. She will assist you in scheduling events at the church. If you have questions about weddings that are not addressed on the web pages, she will likely be able to help you. You may contact her at the church office (330) 499-5458, fax 330-499-5744, or via
email.
Director of Music
John Hayward grew up in the southwest section of Canton, a product of the Canton Police Boys Club and Lincoln High School. His two major influences were Babe Stearn of the Boys Club and Ruth Cogan, Choir Director at Lincoln High School. Thanks to Babe Stearn, John was able to attend the Columbus Boy Choir School in Princeton, New Jersey. Ruth Cogan helped John attend camps in Denver and Princeton when he was in high school. These camps were sponsored by Westminster Choir College.
In 1956, John performed the part of Amahl in the Canton Symphony production of Amahl and the Night Visitors. John also performed in Amahl while attending school in Princeton, and also performed in 188 shows at Radio City Music Hall. John has also sung with all the major symphonies and conductors of the 1960's while touring the U.S. The highlights were performing for President Johnson at the White House, and doing summer stock with such artists as Robert Goulet, Andy Divine, and Billy DeWolf.
While in the U.S. Army, John toured the world with the Soldiers Chorus of the U.S. Army Field Band of Washington D.C. as assistant director and soloist. He did graduate study at Peabody Conservatory, George Mason University, Kent State, and Eastern Kentucky University. He has held church positions in and taught high school vocal music and drama in Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Kentucky, and Ohio. John has taught at McKinley, Lehman, Hoover, and now Northwest, and is in his 40th year of teaching high school music and drama. He is married to Jennifer Catazaro. They have 4 children: Zachary, Cameron, Isabella, and Max. He also has three grown sons: Jon, David, and Jeremy, and 7 grandchildren.
John has directed the Arian Gesangverein of the German American Club (for 28 years).
We were excited to welcome Karl Harsney to our ministry team in October, 2010. He comes to us with more than 36 years of musical experience in the church, and is recognized as one of the finest organists in the area. A native of Youngstown, Ohio, Mr. Harsney is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Organ Performance. Mr. Harsney continued his graduate studies in organ, choral, and handbell direction at Westminster Choir College, Princeton, New Jersey.
Karl is a member of the American Guild of Organists and recently served as Dean of the Akron Chapter. He is a member of the Akron Friends of Music, and serves that group as treasurer. Mr. Harsney served sixteen years as full-time Minister of Music at Trinity United Church of Christ in Hanover, PA. In 1995 the Harsneys moved back to Ohio where Karl worked nine years as Music Director/Organist, Business Manager, and Office Administrator at Covenant Community Church, Akron. Immediately prior to coming to Community Christian, Karl served as Organist/Director at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church and High Street Christian Church.
Karl has been married for 38 years to Terry Madeira Harsney. Terry is organist at United Presbyterian Church of Cuyahoga Falls and often performs with Karl in concert. The Harsneys live in Fairlawn, where they enjoy growing roses and dahlias, as well as maintaining a vegetable garden.
Mr. Harsney is available for Organ Instruction both here at Community Christian and at his music studio in Fairlawn, Ohio, and is available to provide music at both weddings and funerals.
We are pleased to have Karl as a member of our ministry team!
Director of Bell Choir, Youth Bells
Jody Lindower has been the director of our bell choir since 1986. The Bell choir is an accomplished group of amateur musicians. The choir instrumentation includes five octaves of bells and five octaves of hand chimes. The Bell choir plays regularly in worship, often with violin, flute, clarinet, piano or organ.Jodi is a graduate of Ashland University. She recently retired from Akron Children's Hospital after 30 years employment as a Medical Technologist.
Jody has recently started a Youth Bell Choir - an ecumenical group composed of young people from both Community Christian Church and Faith United Methodist Church.
Children's Choir Director & Joyful Noise Director
Debbie Wilkinson is the skilled and dedicated leader of our children's choir and bell choir. She is employed as a middle school music teacher in the Akron Public School System. Mrs. Wilkinson was raised in our congregation, but had made her home elsewhere. She returned to North Canton at the very moment we were looking for a children's director. What a blessing she has been to our children!
"Joyful Noise"
The latest addition to the music scene at Community Christian Church is our contemporary choir, "The Joyful Noise." This group also sings under the direction of Debbie Wilkinson.
Pianist
Formerly the Organist/Choir Director at the First Christian Church of Massillon, Ohio, Betty Oswald is a gifted pianist and organist. She serves as the organist at St. Jacobs Community Church and frequently plays piano in our worship and concert events.
Treasurer
Norma Frey
Bookkeeper
Pat Yagielski A graduate of the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music, Pat has served our community for many years as the Supervisor of the Emergency Services Dispatch Center and as the Bookkeeper of our congregation.
Wedding Coordinator
Heather Wilkinson
Heather works behind the scenes at every wedding, insuring that the service runs smoothly. Couples planning weddings consult with her before the wedding.
Nursery Attendant
Gennifer Kriska serves Community Christian Church as our Sunday morning Nursery Attendant. "Miss Gen" as all of the children refer to her, is in the nursery from 8:45 am until after worship every Sunday morning.
Custodian
Harold Lint
Weekend Custodian & Kitchen Coordinator
Brenda Case
Brenda serves the congregation as the weekend custodian, working with groups that use the church on weekends. On Sundays, Brenda opens and closes the building, and prepares the all important ingredient of Sunday morning classes and groups - coffee! She also supervises the use of the kitchen and community room by community groups.
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