Hello Crossroads Family !

“The eyes of all look expectantly to You,” says Psalm 145:15.  I’m sure you probably feel that way in some area of your life — looking to God, waiting for some answer to prayer.  

Can you trust Him ?  Well, Jesus said, “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns ; yet your heavenly Father feeds them” (Matt 6:26).  That’s a helpful word.  

Paul adds, in Romans 10:12, “The same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.”  This should add to our hope and prompt us to ask big things of Him !  

When my kids were young, in the collection of Bible verses we read before mealtimes there was a misprint in Romans 10:12.  It said, “The Lord is rick to all who call upon Him.”  Well, the Lord is not Rick, but He is rich … to all who call upon Him.  

As you call upon Him now for yourself, pray too for someone you know, someone you sit near to at church, someone who could use encouragement or who has a need.  God answers prayer richly.  Thank you for praying for our church and its leadership — we have a lot going on these days !

Calendar

There are several sign-up sheets at the back of the church where you can plug in to serve or to enjoy some good fellowship.  Look for these sign-up lists on Sunday or reach out to the person I’ve indicated if you have a question.  Please take advantage and sign up.  Thank you !

• Cleaning the church.                                                   Diane Ray (lyndelld2002@yahoo.com)
• Sunday morning breakfast foods.                               Bobbie Barbour (bbarbour@centurylink.com)
• Women’s prayer walk and fellowship potluck.            Erin Townsend (ektownsend12@gmail.com)
• Prayer Bible decorating class.                                      Elizabeth Scheib (elizahr.59@gmail.com)
• Food donations for outreach to veterans.                   Julie Kemper (jakinnevamo@gmail.com)
• Women’s trip to Women of Joy, Oct 2-4, in Branson.       Erin Townsend

Dates :

Tonight :  Immerse at 7 pm at the church.

This Sunday, May 3 :  Worship at 10:00.  Children’s church available for ages 0-7.

Sunday, May 10 :

• 8-13 year-olds Bible Class
• Refreshments and recognition of graduates at the close of worship.
• Women’s Prayer Walk and Potluck, 7 pm, at the church.

Saturday, May 16 :

• Women’s Fellowship Breakfast, 8 am, at 54 Cafe.
• Prayer-Bible decorating class, led by Elizabeth Scheib, 9:30, at the church.  

Sunday, May 17 :  Elders meeting following worship.

Thursday, May 21 :  Men’s Recharge, 6:30-8:00 pm, at the church.

Friday, May 22 :  Outreach to veterans at the Nevada VA clinic.  We need some food supplies for this outreach.  Can you please sign up at the back of the church or contact Julie Kemper ?  Thank you !

Dates for upcoming 8-13 year-olds Bible Class :

• May 10
• May 31
• June 21
• July 12

Praise & Prayer

• We thank God for the arrival of new babies and prayers for those expecting babies soon.
• Prayers for upcoming weddings.
• We give thanks for new members joining Crossroads this Sunday.

Thanks for your willingness to walk with the Lord and be a part of the spiritual growth God is giving us individually and collectively !  I hope to see you this coming Sunday morning for a good time of worship and fellowship !   

— Tom

Hello Crossroads Family !

I’m grateful for you !  God is doing a work in our midst !  I see it in you ; I see it in our Elder Team ; I see it on Sunday mornings.  Where will it lead ?  Only He knows for sure.  In the meantime, thank you for your willingness to be part of it.  Times of spiritual and numerical growth are fun times, but they are not without some growing pains.  Let’s have times of meaningful prayer with each other ; let’s keep practicing the five principles of spiritual growth mentioned Sunday (Bible, prayer, fellowship, witness, obedience) ; and let’s ask God to keep us humble in our walk with Him.  Let’s be sure to love one another well and be open to God enlarging our circle of friends and acquaintances.

This Sunday we’ll finish the sermon begun last Sunday, “Discovering My Mission,”  and hopefully we’ll hear some testimonies of how a few of you came to faith in Christ.  If you volunteered to give a 3-minute testimony, would you please let me know you’re still planning to do that, and would you email me your testimony today or tomorrow so I can look it over.  Thank you !  If you need to back out for some reason, that’s fine too ; there’s no pressure.  If you didn’t tell me last Sunday you’d like to give your 3-minute testimony but now you’ve decided you would, please let me know that too.  We’ll make room for you this Sunday morning !

In this Sunday’s sermon, we’ll touch on why world missions should be part of our concern and action when it comes to sharing the good news of the Gospel.  I’ve had several reminders this week of the joy of world missions.  I have a hope and prayer that some from Crossroads will one day serve in full-time missions ; and that we will one day soon be involved as a church in some short-term cross-cultural missions project !

Here are some updates from our missionaries received just this week, along with some other missionary connections that remind me of God’s worldwide work :

• The McCallisters have been busy with travel, connecting with churches and individuals who support them.  They are due with their new baby in May, and they plan a return to Germany in July.  In the meantime, Jesse is also soon to receive his Masters degree from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.  We’re thankful for God’s blessing and preparation for a future ministry in Germany.

• Colin Welch is due to be married to Angie in May, then he will be leaving Paris for Berlin where he and Angie will begin a new stage of ministry together.  Colin sent beautiful pictures in his email of both Paris and Berlin along with a beautiful summary of why God has called him to ministry in Europe through the fine arts.   

• Our friend Markus Kirner who preached in my place a year (?) or so ago is raising funds to return to his home country of Germany along with his wife Grace in order to be part of a church-plant in Munich.  Let’s pray for Markus and Grace.

• My good friends Stewart and Patti Humphry who serve in Church Relations with ReachGlobal (the missions arm of the Evangelical Free Church) shared, in a recent email, a story about a short-term missions trip to Hungary 40 years ago — how God worked powerfully and changed their lives through that trip.

• I was unexpectedly and suddenly put back in touch with former missionary colleagues of ours from France.  This is a couple older than I am and who were mentors to Diana and me, having served first as missionaries in Congo.  I was not even certain they were still living, and now we are busy catching up and remembering special ways God blessed and loved us years ago.

• A French couple from one of our churches sent me a picture this week and asked me to pray for one of their children (now an adult) struggling with some depression in his life.

To be involved in world missions is a special joy and privilege.  To love and pray for people in other parts of the world is a practice we should include in our spiritual growth.  “You shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the remotest parts of the earth” (Matthew 28).

Reminders

Immerse :  Tonight, 7 pm, at the church.

Worship this Sunday, April 26, 10 am.

Recognition of graduates at conclusion of worship on Sunday, May 10.

Women’s prayer walk and potluck, May 10, 7 pm at the church.  Contact Erin Townsend (ektownsend12@gmail.com) if you have questions.

Women’s Fellowship Breakfast, Saturday, May 16, 8 am, at 54 Cafe.

Women’s Prayer-Bible Decoration Class, also May 16, 9:30 am, at the church led by Elizabeth Scheib.  More information and a sign-up sheet available this Sunday for those interested.

Elders meeting, May 17, following the worship service.

Men’s Recharge, May 21, 6:30-8:00 pm, at the church.

Praise & Prayer

• We praise God that Waylon Pace is feeling better and was in church last Sunday after his tonsillectomy and stomach issues.  Thanks to all who prayed for Waylon and his family !

• We praise God that Clayson and Tacy Lyons have met with the elders for church membership.  We will receive them “officially” as new members on an upcoming Sunday morning.

• Let’s be in prayer for Konner and Jaci who will be married May 2.

• Prayers for Erica and Miles Adams, due with baby # 2 in May ; and for Cecilia and Sam Vigue, due with baby # 3 in May.  Also, for those in our congregation who are expecting grandchildren.

• I’ll preach the Senior Sermon at Nevada High School May 10 in the evening and would appreciate your prayers for that.  Mark Tice will preach the morning sermon in my place on the 10th, as I will be out of town.

• Let’s pray for a permanent church home for our church ; for God’s wisdom in welcoming new attenders into our fellowship ; for good shepherding on the part of our Elder Team and others.

Finally

I have a little book in my library written by Robert J. Morgan called All to Jesus.  In it Morgan has written devotional thoughts on passages in the Bible where the word “all” is used.  One of my favorites of those passages is Deuteronomy 34:10-12, a short summary of the life of Moses :

“Since that time no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, for all the signs and wonders which the Lord sent him to perform in the land of Egypt against Pharaoh, all his servants, and all his land, and for all the mighty power and for all the great terror which Moses performed in the sight of all Israel.”

That’s a powerful statement that speaks of thoroughness, commitment, faith, and a desire to finish the work !  It also reminds us that what God has begun He will finish !  Let’s partner with Him as Moses did !

I look forward to seeing you on Sunday, Lord willing !

— Tom

Hello Crossroads Family !

The Apostle Peter reminds us that believers in Jesus Christ should be growing !  

“Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation” (1 Peter 2:2).

Are you growing as a Christian ?  Can you name some specific ways (even if they seem small to you) where you feel like you’re growing ?  Growth is an expectation God has of us ; it’s also a requirement if we’re to live a joyful, victorious life in Christ.  

In Peter’s second letter, he tells us that God has put at our disposal everything we need in order to grow :

He “has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3).

Among the resources He has granted to us are promises which we can claim by faith, the Church where we find fellowship and help, and the Holy Spirit who lives in every true Christian.

This Sunday, we’ll talk about another key to spiritual growth : witnessing.  A witness is someone who tells what he has seen and heard.  As we witness of the Good News, and as we share with others our own experience of salvation — both with words and through loving relationships — we lead people to God and we grow and are changed !  

I hope to see you this Sunday starting at 10 am !  We’ll have Children’s Church for 0-7 year-olds and a Bible Class for 8-13 year-olds whose parents would like for them to attend.

Some notes and reminders :

Immerse tonight, 7 pm.  Tonight’s discussion will be on the Week 9 reading from the handout you received at the beginning of the semester.  Come even if you’ve missed some sessions recently and even if you didn’t get the reading done !  You’ll benefit from the fellowship and discussion !

Men’s Recharge, tomorrow (Thursday) night, 6:30 pm.  All men are invited for study, fellowship, and encouragement.  Tomorrow’s subject will be “Reading the Bible : Practical ways to study the Scriptures,” led by Forrest.  Hope you can join us, men.  I look forward to better understanding ways to approach the Bible !

More …

We’ve scheduled a short reception at the conclusion of worship on Sunday, May 10, to honor our graduates :  Shalea Dahmer, Jacob Dryer, Micah Lyons, Evan Rea, and Audrey Rives.  I hope you’ll plan to hang around for a few extra minutes on Mothers Day.

The Women’s Breakfast & Bible Study has finished for this semester, but all women are invited through the summer to meet on the third Saturday of each month for breakfast and fellowship at 54 Cafe at 8 am.  On May 16, the breakfast will be followed by a time to work on Bible decorating, led by Elizabeth Scheib.  There are a number of fun activities for women planned for the coming summer months !

We’ve scheduled a 24-hour prayer vigil for June 30-July.  More information coming, along with an opportunity to sign up for an hour of prayer during the 24-hour vigil !

Elders Meeting

Thanks for your support of, and prayers for, our Crossroads elders.  We had good meeting last Sunday that surely broke the record for longest elders meeting ever at Crossroads.  We followed it with lunch out together – one of the ways we hope to build up our team this year.  Shane will share more details from the meeting at the conclusion of our worship service this Sunday.  Here are a few highlights :

• We made plans for investing some of the financial surplus and monies that have been specifically designated for a building.

• We studied the financial report for January-March 2026.  Thank you for your faithful giving, especially as we transition into taking me on as full-time pastor.

• We had some discussion in regard to property and building needs and options.  We’ll be taking steps to try to create a visual of the kind of building we think Crossroads needs as we seek God’s provision of a permanent home of our own.

• We had several calendar items and proposed activities to discuss.  We also discussed baptism preparation and follow-up / discipleship for those baptized.

• We discussed the possibility of a church phone that the elders would taking turns having possession of in order to receive calls for church needs and business.

• We participated in a study on Church Membership.  What is Church Membership ?  Is there a basis in the Bible for church membership as it’s practiced in many churches today ?  In what ways is a church to be organized, and how is decision-making to take place in the church ?  What are the expectations we have for one another as members of a church ?

• We prayed together.

Central District EFCA

A good email came to me today from the office of our EFCA Central District.  If you’re interested in receiving the district’s news via email, you can sign up at their website, efcacentral.org.

The Annual District Conference is coming up April 27-28 in West Des Moines.  I’ve been quite a few times to the conference in past years, going all the way back, probably, to 1990.  It’s always a good time of fellowship, learning, speakers, excellent worship, and also a business session where decisions are made that affect the Central District.  As I recall, Crossroads is entitled to have two delegates at the business session each year.  Let’s plan to send some people next year.  Our Hermann church used to send several people to the District Conference ; it was a bonding and growing time for those who went.

In today’s email, Superintendent Mike Shields writes about why some churches seem to thrive while others struggle.  In fact, Mike says this is the question he’s most often asked in his role as District Superintendent.  Here’s a list of things he has seen to be true about churches that thrive :

1.  They hold to a high view of Scripture.

2.  They set a Gospel agenda.  (In other words, the Gospel drives their mission.)

3.  They pursue the glory of Jesus.

4.  They love people well.

5.  They have compassion for the vulnerable.

6.  They serve the community.

7.  They pray for God’s presence and power.

Mike recognizes that there may be other qualities to add to the list.  And he says some churches may appear to thrive for a time even though they don’t possess the qualities listed above. However, they will prosper only for a season if they don’t have a proper view of Scripture, a hunger for the glory of Jesus, and a humble dependency upon God in prayer. 

Let’s keep growing individually and as a church !  I look forward to seeing you later this week and weekend !

— Tom

Hello Crossroads Family !

Thanks to all who contributed to a wonderful Easter worship service last Sunday !  It was great to see all of you, and I loved that so many of you came early.  Great to see your smiling, excited faces.  Our Easter choir did a beautiful job in leading us in worship to the empty tomb and to the cross which also now stands empty !

Easter Questions

It has been interesting to me to read the accounts of Jesus’ arrest, crucifixion, and resurrection paying special attention to the questions asked.  The Easter story gives us some of life’s most crucial questions — ones we need answers to ourselves.  Take a look at some of them below :

• Are you the King of the Jews ? (asked by Pilate, Matt 27:11)

• What shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ ?  (Pilate to the crowd, Matt 27:22)

• Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One ? (the high priest to Jesus, Mark 14:61)

• Do you not answer ?  See how many charges they bring against you !  (Pilate, Mark 15:4)

• Could you not keep watch with me for one hour ?  (Jesus to Peter, Matt 26:40)

• Are you still sleeping and resting ?  (Jesus to all his disciples, Matt 26:45)

• Surely not I, Lord ? (each of the disciples to Jesus, Matt 26:22)

• Surely it is not I, Rabbi ? (Judas, Matt 26:25)

• Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels ?  (Jesus at his arrest, Matt 26:53)

• Behold, you have heard the blasphemy !  What do you think ?  (high priest to the Jewish Council, Matt 26:66)

• What is truth ?  (Pilate, John 18:38)

• Whom do you want me to release for you ?  Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ ? (Pilate to the crowds, Matt 27:17)

• Why, what evil has he done ?  (Pilate again, Matt 27:23)

• My God, my God, why have you forsaken me ?  (Jesus, Matt 27:46)

• Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into his glory ?  (Jesus to two disciples, Luke 24:26)

• Who will roll away the stone ?  (women at the tomb, Mark 16:3)

• Woman, why are you weeping ?  (Jesus to Mary Magdalene, John 20:15)

• Whom are you seeking ?  (Jesus again to Mary, John 20:15)

• Are you the only one … unaware of the things which have happened here ?  (disciples on road to Emmaus, Luke 24:18)

• Were not our hearts burning within us while he was speaking to us ?  (disciples, Luke 24:32)

• Why are you troubled ?  (Luke 24:38)

• Why do doubts arise in your hearts ?  (Jesus to the disciples, Luke 24:39)

And here’s another Easter-related question asked by the Apostle Paul which we’ll address this Sunday morning :

• How are the dead raised ?  And with what kind of body do they come ?

We’ll finish our discussion about life after death.  What will life be like at the moment of our death ?  What will happen to our body ?  What will it be like when God raises it up out of the earth ?  

I hope to see you Sunday !

Calendar

Tonight :  Immerse, 7 pm.

Saturday :  Women’s Breakfast & Bible Study, 8:00-9:15 am.

Sunday : Worship at 10 am.  Children’s church available for ages 0-7.  Elders meeting following worship.

Next Men’s Recharge :  Thursday, April 16, 6:30-8:00 pm, at the church.

Next 8-13 year-olds Bible Class :  Sunday, April 19, during the sermon.

If you’re interested in being baptized, please speak to Pastor Tom or one of the elders.  We’ll hold a baptismal service and fellowship meal Sunday, June 28, after our regular morning worship service.

Prayer

I don’t have any new news on Waylon Pace.  Waylon’s mom, Courtney, was going to try to get him to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City today.  Waylon had his tonsils removed last week, then began several days of upset stomach and throwing up, seemingly unrelated to his tonsillectomy.  Thanks for your prayers for Waylon who is part of our 8-13 year-olds class.  Judy Gossett is Waylon’s grandmother, and Blaiz Pace is Waylon’s sister.  Let’s continue to pray for Waylon and their family !  Thank you !

Hello, Crossroads Family !

We’re looking forward to a wonderful celebration this Sunday of the Lord’s resurrection !  I hope you’ll plan to be there.  We’ll have a special blessing from our Crossroads Easter Choir which will present the Easter cantata, “The Hope of the Cross.”  Thanks to the choir for working so hard to prepare this message through music.  The order of service this Sunday will be like this :

• Congregational Singing :  Come early so you can be ready to join in all the Easter singing !
• Fellowship Break :  A chance to love on each other and greet visitors.
• Easter Cantata :  The Hope of the Cross
• Communion 

Plan to come early.  Make room for visitors and late-comers.  As always, there will be food, coffee, and more to enjoy before and after the service.  Our elders are available if you need someone to pray with or need counseling of some kind for a circumstance in your life.

Some other Easter worship opportunities :

• Some from the Crossroads worship team will be presenting Easter-themed music on the Nevada square this Saturday afternoon, 1:00-2:00.  Join us if you’d like and are able !

• The Vernon County Ministerial Alliance will host a community-wide Good Friday service at Nevada Church of the Nazarene this Friday evening at 7:00.  Steve Russ will be the speaker.

More …

Thanks again to all who made the Bible Quiz Night such a fun time !  Fellowship, learning, fun, and a focus on the ministry and life of Jesus.  It was a chance to meet new people and to appreciate those we know already !  Thanks to Clayson, Tacy, and all the team who helped !

Coming up on the church calendar are our regular weekly / monthly events :  Women’s Breakfast & Bible Study this Saturday, 8 am ; Immerse next Wednesday evening, 7 pm ; and Men’s Recharge is coming up Thursday evening, April 16, at 6:30.

A follow-up from last Sunday’s message :  You could read a long way into Joshua chapter 1 and be blessed by it.  I stopped at verse 7 with an emphasis on “Be strong and courageous.”  But verse 8 is important as well, as we seek God’s vision for our future :  “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it.  For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.”  I hope you’re meditating on God’s Word throughout the week.  It gives us light, and it cleanses us !

Take time to look at the Evangelical Free Church Central District’s website (efcacentral.org).  The Evangelical Free Church is divided up into several geographical districts ; ours is the Central District which comprises E-Free churches in northern Arkansas, all of Missouri and Iowa, and the southeastern corner of South Dakota.  The district’s offices are in the Des Moines area, and many district events are held in West Des Moines which is a pretty straight shot from Nevada.  Currently, on the website you can read about the Annual District Conference (April 27-28) ; a pastors’ wives retreat in the southern half of the district (April 10-12) ; a crisis response effort in northeastern Arkansas (April -June) ; an upcoming training for how to recruit and retain volunteers (May 19) ; and more.  You can also meet members of the district staff and find other E-Free churches in our district.  

We give praise to God for the gracious work of healing for Kris Sisseck.  Let’s continue to keep Kris, Jamie, and family in our prayers.  Also Konner and Jaci who will be married May 2.  Others in the church also need our prayers for physical and family needs.  Thank you !Finally …

I came across this little verse in my Bible reading this morning :

Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God.  (1 John 3:21)

I think we often live under a cloud of self-condemnation, and we can be quick to condemn others around us, too.  I recognize that I am a guilty sinner, deserving of condemnation from a holy, righteous God.  The only way I can read 1 John 3:21 without giving up hope entirely is that I know that through Jesus’ death and resurrection condemnation has been removed.  “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1).  I need to keep short accounts with God in regard to my failings and disobedience, but I’m grateful that Christ restores us to a position of righteousness before God.  And each day we’re closer to being at home with Him !

I hope to see you this weekend !  He is risen !

— Tom