“For such is the Kingdom of heaven”

“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Luke 10:2)

375 children come to learn about Jesus each Sunday in the Children’s Department.  200 children come to memorize God’s Word on Wednesday nights during the school year.

We have a harvest field right within our walls, but the workers are few.  We need more than 250 volunteers each year to lead and assist in classes. This is not a desperate plea.  It is a statement fact.

Children learn through consistent, relationship-building interaction.  If you think back, you can perhaps recall a Sunday School worker that made a difference to you or one of your children.  What if that person hadn’t been willing to be there?  The Children’s Department is in need of committed volunteers for fall.  And, filling a summer opening is a great way to get a feel for what takes place during the year.  Can you be that person who looked past what was convenient and gave of themselves for the children at CBC?

Questions?  Information?

Collecting Stones; Building a Monument.

“The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD.” 1 Chronicles 29: 9

Sunday, May 31^st, we say goodbye to Pastor Tim Jack who has served CBC for over 23 years. Starting as the Youth Pastor, he transitioned to Senior Associate, and again to Executive Pastor; leaving his touch on every ministry along the way. From being a key founder of the INLD (a missions sending agency) to being chiefly responsible for the move to our new Eastgate location; Pastor Tim has long supported the infrastructure of Crossroads. Senior Pastor, Dr. Jerry Mitchell, often referred to Tim as his wing man, his right hand support.

 

To honor Tim, and his wife, Linda, we are following the instructions given by God to Joshua (Joshua 4:1-24) and collecting memories, or “stones”, of how God has worked thru them, the miracles God did in their ministry, the lessons we learned from their service, and the way we’ve been blessed by their hearts. Download and bring yours on Sunday, or, if it’s after May 2009, email a few words. It’s never too late to honor God by saying, “Thank You.”

 

If you would like to keep updated on the journey God takes them on, subscribe to Pastor Tim’s blog.

Crossroads Bible Church Slovenia ’09 Mission

The Slovenia mission team, comprised of 12 graduating high school students and staff, has been training and preparing for 6 months. They’re headed, Lord willing, to be teachers and facilitators at an evangelistic English Camp in Slovenia run by Josiah Venture. The team has come together extremely well internally and other students, parents, and friends have committed to praying for them during this two week trip in June. Only one hurdle remains — full funding. 

Why now?

During this economic season, the leadership at CBC has decided temporarily to not start any new short-term mission projects. However, this team was established well before any budget constraints and Josiah Ministry is counting on them for what is a most strategic opportunity for their work in Slovenia. The team is committed to finding all the funds needed even in a tough economy – they want to keep their word to our ministry partners.

What’s so different about this trip?

From the ground up, this trip is different. Designed to challenge our students, this Slovenia ‘09 trip goes beyond simply exposing them to missions. For two weeks, this team of students and staff will actually serve as true missionaries.

Why Slovenia?

Slovenia declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. The Slovene people are now deciding who they will be as a nation. Values and beliefs are shifting rapidly. Out of a population of just under 2 million people, only about 1,000 Slovenes claim to be evangelical Christians. This makes Slovenia among the most un-evangelized countries in the world.

Anybody hungry?

On May 17th, following the second service, we’re serving up a strawberry pancake feast and informational meeting to tell more of the story and answer questions. Bring your family and stay after second service, 12:15-1:30 p.m. Enjoy lunch as the students share their stories. Pray with us as we watch how God provides. Be inspired by the enthusiasm these young people have to go and share the good news. Be encouraged as together, we make a difference.

You can contact Donny Vanker or Jack Fender  for more information about the team, the ministry, or the lunch.

Thanks Tami!

Tami Fenno (known previously as Tami Dale) has made a difference in the lives of hundreds of young women at Crossroads over the past seven years. As marked by Jerry’s words last Sunday we are all thankful for her ministry even as she leaves our ministry team. When we brought Tami on as an intern it was something different and new and it was, at the time, a significant investment for Crossroads. We hoped to train young women to shepherd our adolescent girls through the unique issues they face, adding depth to our already robust student ministries. We knew that it would be much better for women to care for young women. Tami long ago passed the intern stage. She has served excellently on our ministry staff. She has set the pattern for the many women who are and will follow in her footsteps.

Thank you Tami! You have been a friend and servant to many. Crossroads is in your debt.

Same Blog, but New

Welcome to our new web address. (Update your bookmarks and RSS feeds as the old site will not be updated and will soon disappear). Snapshots will change from being a view from the Executive Pastor to be more of team blog with posts from various staff members. If you have a topic, or a question, that you would like the team to address just leave a comment on our “questions page” or send a note to info@cbccross.org.

Missions

With all the talk in the church about being “missional” and reaching out to the lost world that is just outside our doors – our local neighborhood, it might be easy to forget that there is a very big, very lost, world that still needs Jesus. Crossroads has been, and remains, committed to playing a part in reaching that world. To that end we have committed significiant resources to staff and thirty missions partners around the world.

Minister Jack Fender is our staff representative to these partners, and for them here at CBC. Along with his great team of leaders and servants (including Jenifer, our great missions admin) we care for these ministry partners. Jack also helps us, as a congregation, to stay current about their work, to pray effectively, and to discover ways in which we might partner alongside them. Jack also coordinates and oversees any short-term teams from Crossroads.

Another Staff Change

By now most have seen the CBC Weekly Update or the Crossroads Today know that a significant staff change was announced . Last week I informed Jerry and the Elders of my decision to resign as Executive Pastor at Crossroads Bible Church. It has been a privilege for Linda and I to serve Crossroads for the past twenty-three years. Who would have thought that we would have seen God move in so many amazing and wonderful ways! It has been a joy for me to partner in so many ministries with the staff, elders and members of Crossroads. I am confident that God will continue to richly bless the church and ministry in the seasons to come. 

Please note that this is not a choice that Linda and I have made flippantly or rashly. I have not been asked to leave, but we do have a sense of release from the Lord, which we have not had before and we leave as friends with Crossroads. The next season of ministry at CBC will require different leadership, and the next season of my life and ministry will bring new adventures. While transitions and changes may be difficult, we can all trust in God who does not change.  I’ll be working and in the office through the end of May doing all I can to bring about a smooth transition.

I’ll be updating my personal blog with details of our journey as they unfold.

… To Save Sinners

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 1 Timothy 1:15 (ESV)

The 48 families who initially comprise The Downtown Church filled the Crossroads platform this morning following a charge from Pastor Jerry Mitchell. They were affirmed and sent as the entire Crossroads congregation extended the right hand of blessing. TDC pastor Jayson Turner passionately and clearly shared the need for a church “… Jesus came to save sinners, and there are still quite a few left in our city.”

Jerry also presented two gifts to Jayson. One a memorable link to the past – pages from a 400 year old Geneva Bible, also known as the Bible of the Reformation. We trust that Jay will always remember that he stands in a long line of men who have taught well from the Scriptures. The second was an excellently bound English Standard Version Study Bible - a newer translation with roots in the Geneva text. Personal notes from fellow servants at Crossroads will hopefully be of encouragement to him in the sometimes difficult task of shepherding the flock.

The Geneva Bible pages includes one of the foundational passages shaping the new church – Matthew 5:14.

Praise God for his work in our midst

 

The Downtown Church … the Time Has Come

Sunday, March 15 marks a key moment for Crossroads – the point at which The Downtown Church is formally recognized and “launched” as a new work in downtown Bellevue. This is an exciting time for Crossroads as TDC is the first of several local churches we hope to establish by 2020. We are heavily invested in this church. Pastor Jayson Turner grew up at CBC, received training as an intern, and served on staff for 17 years. Fifty CBC family units will be part of the initial church. And CBC has been, and will be, supplementing TDC’s budget for up to three years.

Next week Jayson Turner and fifty family units from CBC will begin meeting at the Bellevue Boys and Girls Club at 10 AM. But today we join with them in worshiping our Lord and celebrating his work.

Addendum … Response

Yesterday I posted an update on our financial plans for the next year and linked to Pastor Jerry’s update on the same. As noted, we are in fairly good financial health considering the greater economic situation, but it does appear that we must scale back our budget as giving trends indicate a decline. I was reminded today by a sensitive soul that I might have effectively echoed Pastor Jerry’s call to the fellowship. Not a call to give. Rather, would you join us in prayer for us during this time? Specifically that God would continue to give us wisdom to be good stewards of His resources to whatever degree He chooses to provide through His people?

Would you?