One thing I personally have heard from new members is “I like this church”.  “The people are great”, “they reached out to our family”, “you’re always doing something really cool”.  “I can bring my friends here”.  (How many churches can you do that at?)

Crossroads Church does do a lot of neat stuff!  Crossroads has an Exploring Membership class, and Small Groups. Our church is learning about other spiritual traditions, their similarities and differences and how we can be more accepting of their journeys.  (We even give each other room to agree to disagree! Not all churches do that you know.)

Crossroads has Direction Setting Retreats to determine each new year’s travel on our collective spiritual highway.  Groups are created, Charters are written, and votes are taken.  Our church encourages each of its members to explore their own spiritual awakening and growth while on this collective highway.  These awakenings have led to some pretty neat things.

Crossroads has extended its generous hand to Guatemala with sewing machines for working moms, and even building a factory facility for the village. Through the Justice, Peace and Missions group, Crossroads has contributed to the Heifer Project.  Crossroads has opened their pantries to Harvesters and our own church pantry to those in our own community.  Crossroads has blessed needy children in Kenya, and continue to help the Kenyan community here in Kansas City.  Crossroads has helped neighborhoods in each area we have stayed. Crossroads has helped families get back on their feet.  And even more recently, maintained dialogue with the group MORE, for a better Kansas City and country. 

That’s the serious side of  Crossroads Church, now the fun side!  Worship, Sunday Schools, Children’s Time, Sunday Morning Skits, Impromptu Children’s Dancing, Teachings, Women’s Choir, and Prayer Teams. We’ve had exciting Musicals, Potluck Lunches, Community Meetings, Talent Shows, and Spaghetti Dinners. We’ve traveled to Colorado Church Camps, Skiing Trips and even further for Mission Trips!  We have also had a Men’s Retreat, The Girls to Women Retreats, Women’s Retreats, a Ladies’ Tea, (and more that I may be missing, please accept my apologies).  The First Rain Garden!  Whew! 

Just think of all the man hours volunteered at Crossroads’ new church building.  What joy we all experience each Sunday as we gather together for worship. How many people volunteer on any given Sunday for any number of happenings here?  (I know of several who are tireless in their volunteerism, if you know them too, how about thanking them).

Over time, we have welcomed many new members.  The reason each member came back each time varied.  The amount of time they returned also varied before deciding to delve into the Exploring Membership class.  Each new member was presented to the congregation for membership approval.  Although each new member elect had already won over our hearts by the time the votes had been tallied. Each new member has enhanced (and will continue to enhance) our church body.  (May I mention their delicious potluck dishes too?)

Crossroads has had its own background journey, therefore, we at Crossroads allow  church to be church in its broadest sense. We desire our church to a place to explore, move, and grow.  Each one of the above listed started with a tiny seed. And each seed has been allowed to germinate, take root, grow and bear fruit.  And as any gardener knows, gardening can sometimes be messy, hard and, exhausting work, but always rewarding. Thank you to Crossroads for nurturing thoughts into action. May we always do so.

Would I be right in surmising that Crossroads desires to leave a legacy of being church in the sense that God may be desiring?