Hello, Crossroads Family !

Thanks for your understanding and patience last Sunday with the need to cancel in-person worship.  I felt like God gave us a special blessing through worship and a sermon on Facebook !  Those videos are still available on the Crossroads Facebook page.  I hope you were blessed.  

There’s nothing like being together in person, and we’re planning on that this coming Sunday morning at 10:00.  I hope to see you there !  Children’s Church will be available during the sermon for those 0-7 years old, and the 8-13 year-olds Bible Class will also meet this Sunday during the sermon.

You know by now that there’s a lot going on at Crossroads and a lot about to happen once we turn the page from January to February.  I’m excited about it, and I hope you’ll find one or more ways of plugging in and helping us all grow in an ever-deepening relationship with God and with each other.  Let someone around you know about the good time we’re having at Crossroads.  

There will be sign-ups at the church this Sunday for these four upcoming activities :

• Immerse
• Women’s Breakfast & Bible Study
• Food to bring for a February 22nd fellowship meal
• Bible Quiz teams for the Bible Quiz Night

For these activities, we need to have a sense in advance of numbers of people, and in at least two of the activities books need to be ordered.  So please sign up or contact the person in charge (Immerse : Forrest Drury ; Women : Erin Townsend ; Fellowship Meal : Bryan Townsend ; Bible Quiz : Clayson Lyons).  Thank you !

Calendar

Here’s that calendar !  We would love — if you’re new to Crossroads or if it has been a while since you participated — that you would consider connecting this semester !

Immerse : Poets  —  Join us starting February 11 for Immerse: Poets, a 12-week group experience that reads the Bible like a book—without chapters and verses. This class is more like a book club than a Bible study, focused on reading large sections of Scripture and discussing them together as a community. Join us as we discover how God’s story invites us to live out our part in His plan.

Women’s Breakfast & Bible Study begins Saturday, February 14, 8:00-9:15.  In addition to great weekly fellowship with other women, the study this semester will be in the Gospel of Luke, using Lisa Harper’s book Luke : Gut-Level Compassion.

Men’s Recharge (a monthly gathering for fellowship and growth for men) begins on Thursday, February 19, at the church, 6:30-8:00 pm.  Over the course of 2026, we’ll study several disciplines all Christian men should be practicing.  And we’ll develop some action plans for making these good habits realities in our lives.  “Practice what you preach” will be the theme.

Fellowship Meal — We’re planning to eat together following worship on Sunday, February 22, and we’re asking everyone to bring food to share.  Bryan Townsend is helping us organize and will have a sign-up at church this Sunday with ideas for food to bring.  In an effort to keep the room from being too crowded, we’re not going to set up tables for the meal.  We’ll eat on our laps, picnic style, so keep that in mind when you think of food you want to bring.  Thank you ! 

Baby Bottle Boomerang — The baby bottles filled with change to support Birthright of Nevada are due back to Kim Reedy by Sunday, February 22.  Thank you !

Bible Quiz Night — Our Bible Quiz will be a night for the entire church to enjoy, whether you’ll be competing on a team or just rooting others on !  Snacks, fellowship, and interaction with some friends and teams from other area churches.  Saturday evening, March 28.  Please sign up to be on a team or let Clayson know !

Easter Cantata — We have enough interest and volunteers to begin planning a special cantata for Easter Sunday !  We’ve ordered books and will need to start practicing soon since Easter is a lot closer than you think !  If you’re interested in joining this Easter choir but haven’t yet let Jessica know, please reach out to her soon and let her know you’ll be a part.  There’s room for you, and (best of all) no auditions needed !    It’s going to be a lot of fun !  Be listening for information about practice times.  Thank you !

In addition to all this, please know that your 2025 Giving Statement will be available at the church this Sunday.  Be sure to pick yours up, and if you’re not there this Sunday we’ll drop yours in the mail to you.

Personal Thoughts

These few days of school being closed have reminded me that leaving the high school and beginning full-time at Crossroads later this year will be an adjustment for me.  I’m grateful for the extra time I’ve had this week, but it’s hard to change routines, isn’t it ?  One of the best things about being a full-time pastor will be to have again sufficient time to think and study in preparation for preaching and times of counsel with others.  That’s something I need badly but have been short on due to a busy school schedule.  I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to return to full-time ministry, later this year, Lord willing !

Some ways that God blesses me are through the one-on-one or small-group meetings I get to have with some of you each week.  It’s a source of energy and keeps me focused.  We need personal accountability and times to learn from others, don’t we ?  I hope you’re finding that kind of spiritual interaction too.  What’s a creative way you could connect with someone in the church this week or next ?  

Our elders have committed to two significant additions to their schedule this year.  One is to build stronger ties as a team by sharing a meal together occasionally.  A second is to meet once a quarter for a study session.  At our next meeting we’re going to discuss some possible topics for our four study sessions in 2026.  Here are some ideas I’m hoping to propose :

— Church Membership.

This has already been a topic of discussion, so we now want to take time to explore it more fully.  What is church membership ?  Where does the idea come from ?  The Bible ?  Elsewhere ?  How does the Evangelical Free Church typically approach church membership ?  

— Men & Women in Ministry

Occasionally, someone new to Crossroads asks a question about our practices concerning men’s and women’s roles in ministry.  This would be a worthwhile discussion.

— Spiritual Gifts

What does the Evangelical Free Church, and what do we, believe about spiritual gifts as outlined in the Bible ?  Can we be better at helping people use their gifts ?

— Small Group ministry.  (Home Groups, Life Groups, … etc.)

You know my feeling that a healthy future for Crossroads depends on these kinds of small groups, meeting most likely in homes, facilitating deep relationships and allowing all members of the church to serve, provide accountability, and grow.

— Three other possible study topics on my mind :  What is the purpose and role of water baptism ?  What is the Evangelical Free Church of America ?  What is biblical eldership ?

I’m grateful for our elders’ willingness to study and grow.  I’m sure the entire church will be impacted by our four studies, whether they be on these subjects or others.  Thanks for your prayers for our Crossroads elders !

——-

I’ve found that in addition to reading and meditating on God’s Word, I need a pretty regular diet of good Christian books in order to walk joyfully and serve well.  I don’t read quickly, and ordinarily I have three or four books going at a time, so I make slow progress.  But I’m thankful for the teachings of Christian men and women who took the time to write !  Here are some books I’ve started this new year :

— Daily Light on the Daily Path, compiled by the Samuel Bagster family

This book is a simple compilation of Scriptures for morning and evening for each day of the year.  Each morning or evening’s reading takes less than a minute to read.  The theme of each compilation isn’t given ; it simply becomes evident as you read it.  I don’t have any idea who the Samuel Bagster family is, but they did an amazing job in finding beautiful threads of uplifting themes in the Bible.  They speak profoundly to the heart upon rising and just before going to sleep.

— Prayer, Praise & Promises : A Daily Walk Through the Psalms, by Warren Wiersbe

You know I love the psalms, and I’ve been reading Warren Wiersbe (1929-2019) as long as I’ve been in ministry.  One of the best books of his I have in the library is Preaching & Teaching With Imagination.  I love the love way Wiersbe finds things in the Word I often miss.

— All Things Are Possible :  Meditations on Biblical Prayers for God’s Help, by Daniel Partner

I got hooked on Daniel Partner’s little devotional books by reading one he wrote for Advent.  The entries are short but always profound.  This one is specifically a compilation of prayers for “HELP !” that are found in the Bible.  Partner is from Oregon where some of my kids live, so although I don’t know him, I can imagine him (and them !) there.

— 40 Questions About Angels, Demons, and Spiritual Warfare, by John R. Gilhooly

I heard this professor speak on this topic on a podcast recently, and it was one of the best discussions I’ve heard on the subject.  I was grateful for his willingness to admit that there’s a lot about angels and demons we’re really not told in the Bible.  And he makes the assertion that some of what we call spiritual warfare is not really from the Bible but from culture and popular opinion.  I’m excited to make more progress in this book.

Finally, yesterday I did also pick up, for a re-read, Elisabeth Elliot’s story of her husband Jim called Shadow of the Almighty.  Jim Elliot and four other missionaries were killed 70 years ago this month attempting to bring the Gospel to people living in the jungles of Ecuador.  

In the introduction to that book, Elisabeth Elliot raises a question as to whether or not we have heroes today.  It gave me a chance to ask myself, “Do I have any heroes ?  Who are they, or who were they ?”  My dad is one who comes to mind.  I didn’t appreciate him as I should have while he was alive.  Now that he’s gone (and I’ve learned more about life myself), I see that he was not only a great model but truly a hero.  I would also say my kids have been my heroes.  They’ve joyfully and willingly gone through a lot in their life and, for what it’s worth, have stuck by their old dad through thick and thin ! 

I’ve been blessed by many mentors — maybe the word “hero” is too strong, but certainly people whose influence changed me.  I’m grateful, and I hope it will be an encouragement to you, as you influence people around you, to not grow weary in loving and serving others. 

“Therefore, remain steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Cor 15:58).

I hope to see you this Sunday !

— Tom

Hello, Crossroads Family !

We had a good elders meeting last Sunday following the worship service !  We’re grateful for your prayers for all of us on the Elder Team.  It’s good to have Bryan and Tommie joining us on that team.  I’ve shared a few notes below from our meeting, and Forrest will give us a report this coming Sunday morning at the end of the worship service.

It looks like the church schedule is set in regards to ongoing activities for the spring semester :

Immerse

Everyone is invited to the start of the new session of Immerse.  We’ll begin Wednesday, February 11, 7:00-8:15, at the church.  This semester’s session will be in the poetical books of the Bible (Job, Psalms, etc) and will last twelve weeks.  Good times of midweek connection and encouragement !  If you need more information, please speak to Forrest.

Women’s Breakfast & A Bible Study

Women, you’re invited to sign up now for this semester’s Saturday morning studies which will begin February 14, 8-9:15 am, at the church.  A sign-up sheet is at the church, or you may contact Erin Townsend (ektownsend12@gmail.com).  The group will follow a study of the Gospel of Luke called Luke : Gut-level Compassion, by Lisa Harper.  (Don’t forget there is a women’s fellowship breakfast this Saturday, the 17th, at 54 Cafe at 8 am for anyone interested.)

Men’s Recharge

Men, our second year of Recharge begins Thursday, February 19, 6:30-8:00 pm, at the church.  This year’s theme is “Practice What We Preach.”  We’lI look at practical action steps we can take for living out what we believe.  Good fellowship, accountability, and personal growth for all men !  Hope you’ll join us ! 

8-13 Year-olds Bible Class

The upcoming dates for the 8-13 year-olds Bible class are February 1 & 22, March 15 & 29, and April 19.

More …

24-Hour Prayer Vigil

Our 24-hour prayer vigil is coming up !  We’ll be praying as a church continuously for 24 hours starting at 6 am on Monday, January 19th.  If you haven’t signed up for a 1-hour time slot, please sign up at the church or reach out to Catherine Moss.  Catherine will have available for you a set of prayer requests and help for spending an hour in prayer.  There’s still room for you !  Let Catherine know if you have any questions !

Easter Cantata ?

Are you interested in joining others in preparing a cantata for Easter ?  We have a cantata in mind made up of seven contemporary, worshipful songs for Easter !  If you’re interested, please let Jessica know soon so we can gauge the level of interest and work out a schedule for practices.  (You can also let me know by responding to this email if you’d like.)  Singing together is a great way to get to know a small group of people !  In addition, this would be a wonderful way to bless others and yourself through a special Easter service !  Don’t be bashful !  We can use you !

Fellowship Meal

We’ll have a fellowship meal after the worship service on Sunday, February 22.  Please mark your calendar !  We’ve haven’t eaten all together in a while !  More information coming on what you can bring.   

Bible Quiz Night

Have you signed up yet to be part of a team for the Bible Quiz on Saturday, March 28 ?  We’ll be competing in teams of three against each other and against teams from two or three other area churches !  Let’s have fun and grow in our love for God’s Word !  Quiz questions will be from the Gospel of Luke.  You can sign up at the church, or you can contact Clayson.  There’s still time !   

A few notes from the Elders meeting …

• We’ll be meeting on the second Sunday of each month.  If you have something that needs to be addressed by the elders, please keep the second Sunday in mind.

• Among our goals as a team :

• Help guide the church in reaching the goal of paying a full-time pastor’s salary as the first step in moving towards a home of our own.

• Begin to meet with some of the current ministry teams in an effort to help them fulfill their goals.

• Schedule a quarterly study session for the elders on topics that concern the local church.

• Implement some practical steps to help us be better shepherds of the church and to better facilitate relationship-building.

• We discussed some of the needs among members of the church and prayed for them.

This Sunday, January 18 

I’ll be preaching on the subject of prayer in preparation for our 24-hour prayer vigil and as part of my series on Real Life Christianity.  The text will be Genesis 32:1 – 33:17 which includes a prayer of Jacob which we’ll look at more closely (32:9-12).

Personal

Thank you for your prayers and understanding during this busy season of show choir at the high school.  Thanks, too, for your prayers for my granddaughter, Jazlyn, in Portland.  She is making slow but steady progress, although a date for discharge from the hospital is still uncertain.  Of particuar concern at this stage is a condition related to underdeveloped retinas in her eyes.  Treatment and progress for this are among the things that need to take place before she can go home.  Thanks for your prayers for Jazlyn and her parents, Dan and Betsy.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

I hope you have a great week and, Lord willing, we’ll see each other this Sunday morning !

— Tom

Hello, Crossroads Family !

This is going to be really quick and probably full of errors !  I desire very much to be with all of you and want to communicate at least a little something before I head to the high school for two hours of show choir rehearsal tonight.

This is the super-busy season of the year for me at the high school.  I will greatly appreciate your patience as we begin the competition portion of our season.  In addition to three hours every morning at the high school, I will need to be at an extra 4-hour rehearsal next Tuesday night, a performance next Thursday night, then about 12 hours of extra rehearsal the following weekend.  Beyond that, I’ll be away with the choirs on seven of the next eight Saturdays for all-day (and part of the night) competitions at other Missouri high schools.  It does limit me in my availability and ability to serve in the church to the degree that I want and you need.  This is one of the reasons we’re moving to a full-time pastor’s position starting in September !  Please lean on our other elders and each other too !  I know you’re already doing that !  Thank you !

I’m so looking forward to Sunday !  I hope you are too !  At Sunday’s worship service, we’ll be hearing some information on some special things coming up :

• Catherine will share some details about our 24-hour prayer vigil, January 19.  Please sign up for a 1-hour time slot on the sign-up sheet in the back of the church.  There are many creative ways to pray for an hour, and if you want to pair up with someone, feel free to do that too !  Our focus will be to really pray earnestly for the people and ministry of Crossroads.  Thank you !

• Clayson will have some details to share about our Bible Quiz competition on Saturday, March 28.  Please mark your calendar !  We’ll be competing in small teams against each other and against some teams from another local church !  Clayson will have a sign-up sheet this Sunday as well so that you can form your team.

• There will be a women’s fellowship breakfast at 54 Cafe at 8 am on Saturday, January 17.  All women and your friends are welcome !  Then, Women’s Breakfast & Bible Study starts back up again Saturday, February 14, 8-9:15, at the church with a study in the Gospel of Luke.

• There are some exciting preparations being made for Men’s Recharge which begins Thursday, February 19, at 6:30 pm.  The theme will be “Practice what you preach.”  Men, if we had 75% of our Crossroads men there, what an amazing group and amazing fellowship we would have !  Would you please mark your calendar, commit to coming, and invite a friend or neighbor to come with you.  Cris will share more information and have a flyer available soon.

• Finally, Jessica and I are interested in knowing who would be interested in being part of an Easter cantata.  Yes, that means a choir !  Wouldn’t that be exciting for Easter !  We’ve looked at a cantata we feel really good about but are curious to know … are you interested ?  Once you let us know, we can discuss options for practice times.  If we had 15-16 people, it would be a great choir.  We’re capable of that !  Think about it !  Fun times !

• A praise :  The giving at Crossroads for 2025 was at what must surely be an all-time high.  Thank you for your generosity.  This is a healthy sign of your commitment and faith.  Also a wonderful blessing from the Lord.

See you Sunday, Lord willing !

Tom