so much new

I would assume the hint that any organization is healthy can be evaluated on whether or not new things are happening and new people are joining.

Just as we settle into a new normal - God seems to be moving us in many new directions which equals new opportunities to reach people for the Lord!

I am so thankful to be part of a ministry that constantly changes and where we rarely hear, "But we've always done it this way," most likely because there isn't a this way!  

As we prepare to continue adding new staff and leaders into our ministry - new doors will open.  Each person has a sphere of influence and unique giftedness that can contribute to accomplishing our mission.  Leading People to the Truth that Transforms lives in North Central Ohio and Around the World!

As we move into this exciting new era here at Crossroads, what will your contribution be?

What area of your life do you need to become fully dedicated to the Lord in?  Serving as a volunteer?  Giving? Regular attendance instead of when you feel like it?

As we look around our community, listen to the news or watch tv, it's clear - everyone is searching for purpose in their lives trying everything from working too much doing anything to make money, watching movies and tv shows that are not Christ honoring, being unfaithful in marriage and sadly some claiming to be a believer but really not acting much different than the lost.  All these things leading to emptiness and sometimes to depression or addiction.

We only have the answer to these desperate attempts if we have a relationship with the Lord AND live everyday like we do.  It's heartbreaking to see people who claim the name of Christ - swearing or sharing negative comments on social media, making evil postings that sound no different than the lost.  Leading the unsaved to believe that they're as good as the people claiming to be Christians.  Sad.

Instead let's be set apart from the world as Christ clearly calls us to be - allowing people to see what it means to love the Lord and to know him personally.

Let Crossroads be known as an authentic group of believers that make a difference in our community as we live each day!  Please join us as many new and exciting things will required an even greater commitment from all that worship with us! 

There's 'so much new' - I just cant' wait to see what God has in mind!

weekend report

It's been a while since I've written.

I messed up and lost my domain temporarily - but was able to get it back fortunately!  So here I am.

It's been so busy at Crossroads that I barely get to think about what's next, but thankfully I get to do life with staff I love - while pursuing our ultimate goal to provide as many opportunities for people to know our Savior and grow closer to Him in their daily lives as we possibly can.  Always with a focus on eternity, not the problems of today!

As we carry on the daily work I try take time to praise Him and thank Him for all he's given us at Crossroads.

This past week our praise team did an awesome job leading us in a great time of worship with our praise choir as Pastor Jesse completed the Desperation series.

 Our Setlist:

Announcements
Wonder
Glorious Day
Amazing Grace My Sins Are Gone
Revelation Song
Series Bumper video
Message: The Gift of Desperation  - Jesse Rider
Exit Song - Wonder


It's amazing to watch ministry during the week when the services are over and not everyone is there.

I watched a beloved friend who serves weekly move about the office cleaning the bathrooms and washing our towels.  She just quietly moves through our work zone, doing what she does to make our areas so wonderfully clean and neat!

Today was also a good example of the church at work as we hosted a funeral meal for one of our precious senior attendees.  My husband and I had been in his families' home for card parties, Christmas get togethers and meals together.  He always had some teasing for me and I'll miss him. This weekend there will be one more empty seat in our auditorium, instead of being there he's sitting with my dad, looking at the face of the King of Kings!  How amazing is that?

We have a team of volunteers that do a beautiful job of serving our funeral meals at Crossroads and I got to witness them 'doing what they do' so well to comfort and serve a family experiencing loss.

the Crossroads kitchen full of generous serving

This is ministry.

And I'll never tire of being part of it!

what I learned today

I realized this morning as I had a couple minutes to reflect back over my whirlwind life lately, that outside of my family - one of the biggest blessings I get to enjoy are the diverse 'communities' that I get to be part of.

Pastor Dave on stage at ALIVE!

Crossroads provides me with opportunities WAY outside what I ever dreamed I'd participate in - and last week I watched as God worked to extend Crossroads' Community again as Pastor Dave got invited to speak at the ALIVE music festival as one of the main teachers for thousands of teens and their parents/youth pastors!  God seems to be moving us outside of ourselves and into the community immediately around us as well as regionally, without us trying to make it happen!  So blessed!!

Here are some of the community areas I love the most in my life:


CROSSROADS STAFF
- I do not exaggerate when I say the Crossroads staff is my second family.

1. I know any one of them would be there for me or my family at a moments notice
2. We line up behind a common Mission: "Leading People to the Truth That Transforms Lives in North Central Ohio and Around the World.  This is what we measure each possibility against, each ministry opportunity we consider getting involved in.  We do nothing that doesn't support our Mission!  It helps us to be intentional with our time and resources.
3. We celebrate with one another and support one another in disappointing times - we are family!

SERVING AT CROSSROADS

-The reason I am on staff today, is because I first got involved in serving as a volunteer.  

1. When Ron and I began attending, I served on the praise team singing and playing synth.   
2. We attempted to also help in the children's area, but it didn't take us long to realize this was NOT our gifted area!  We did however enjoy the adult friends we made.
3. Next I was offered my Director of Creative Arts position as a volunteer and Ron and I worked together with the Crawfis' to create massive set designs and worked on all the special events.  (this was pre-lighting and video - so everything had to be physically created back then - we even used a slide projector for song words!)
4. The people at Crossroads that I have served on teams with as a volunteer, and as a staff member, have become life-long friends.  Something that will never happen if you just attend Crossroads and don't get involved in serving somewhere!
5. Although I'm very dedicated to continued development of all the Creative Arts teams and groups, I look forward to getting to know more and more new people along the way outside of our area as well!

NEW FRIENDS

-For 18 years I've stood in the Sound Booth, or calling cues in the Lighting Booth, and recently I most often am pacing back and forth across the back of the auditorium, watching the details of the services.

We almost didn't get it all to fit in when it was time to leave
the ALIVE festival last weekend!

I've often joked that I recognize everyone - but really know very few names.  But recently I've broken out of my area and just last week I had the opportunity of getting to slosh through the mud with 26 High School Students from Crossroads at the ALIVE music festival.  Ron and I went as the official cooks.  (little did we know most of our time would be spent just trying to keep things dry!)  

I came back feeling like I had just met a whole new generation at Crossroads!  Oh my goodness how great these students are!

I returned so encouraged about their future involvement with the ministry and met some who have attended since they were small children!  How encouraging!!   For others this was the very first time they've done anything like this with Crossroads - exciting first steps!

I think in January, Lord willing, I'll be going to Guatemala with the Crossroads team.  Again it's a team containing some 'already friends' - but, I also see names I don't know, and God never arranges these things randomly!  So I can't wait to do ministry with new friends too!

There is no true connection outside of community and I encourage you today to sign up to volunteer on a team at Crossroads, join a House Church or take a CLASS and experience strong connection through community!

Community: A unified body of individuals; a social unit of any size that shares common values.

What God reminded me of again today - was what a privilege I have as a believer in Him to do life with so many amazing people!   Are you part of the Crossroads' community?

volunteers

volunteer: A person who freely offers to undertake a task.

I grew up in a church, so I've always volunteered in a variety of ways.

As a child our family cleaned the church and did all the yard work.

As a young married couple we voluntarily lead the youth group and a traveling young married's worship team.

By the time we had kids, we were ready to begin to volunteer in whatever age group they happened to be in at the time.  (It didn't take long for me to see this was NOT my gifted area!)

As so we moved on to the Board of Trustees, Sunday School leaders, my hubby to the Elder board and the rest is history.

Despite the volunteer heavy upbringing I had - I never expected others to serve.  Just because I had been taught to didn't mean others were, so it didn't upset me when they didn't, although I knew they were sacrificing a HUGE blessing.

But these past 17 years at Crossroads - I think I've seen the most unbelievable things, behind the stage not on it.  The quiet people that serve and don't care if anyone ever knows... I find them fascinating!!  Maybe that's why my favorite Bible stories have always been the ones about the under-dogs, the unexpected heroes!!

Don't get me wrong - my whole position on staff revolves around the up-front ministries and the amazing Godly people that are gifted to serve there.  I adore them!

But, that volunteer that no one knows about - they're very special too.  They volunteer out of obedience and don't need to be checked up on, they're faithful and honest and just as important as the most well-known among us!  And Crossroads is what it is today largely due the the tremendous volunteers we have cleaning, and greeting, and making sure we're secure, and providing child-care/teaching, and parking even in the winter and making coffee, and singing and running tech areas and helping in the office during the week...I could go on and on but I'll just say this...

Those of you who volunteer at Crossroads and serve with a joyful heart - will share in the eternal reward and celebration of every soul that comes to know Christ as a result of stepping through our doors!!

Thank you - I love you all!!