Harry S. Truman and Israel notes 05/13/2018
Tom’s Midweek Greeting May 9, 2018
TMG
Tom’s Midweek Greeting
Crossroads Community Church
Nevada MO
May 9, 2018
We’re very quickly winding down to the end of another school year. It’s hard to believe that my family and I have been in Nevada for nearly three years. (It will be exactly three years on July 1.) The time has flown by; it seems like only yesterday that we were moving into our pink (now green) house on Arch Street.
I was thinking about what has happened at Crossroads Church in three years: What have we done? What has God done in our midst? Here are some things that came to my mind (in no particular order of importance,… and I’m sure I’m forgetting something!) :
• Grown numerically. I count 36 people (including children) who are new to our church in the past three years. Several of these have gone through the membership course and are now members of the church. (We are sorry that Jami and Tori Schultz had to move away this semester, but we wish them well and hope to stay in touch!)
• Several people (I count six) have given testimony of their faith in Christ through water baptism.
• We completed two years of a Men’s Fraternity group in which many men in our church and beyond were blessed.
• We’ve had two successful women’s Bible study groups.
• We’ve started a small but dynamic Middle School / High School youth group.
• We’ve started a weekly Children’s Church program for the younger kids attending Crossroads.
• We’ve begun a weekly home group for strengthening bonds between us. (Home group will meet during June starting Wednesday, June 6, 6:30-8:30 pm, at the Rodriguez home.)
• A weekly prayer meeting takes place also, many times just prior to home group. (Prayer group on Wednesdays in May and June at 5:45 pm at Judi and Phill Edwards’ home.)
• We have at least ten people involved in a one-on-one discipleship program, “Ten Steps Toward Christian Maturity.” Many at Crossroads are growing spiritually in new and exciting ways.
• We’ve supported three short-term missions trips involving young people from Crossroads.
• We’ve been able to provide financial support to our local Birthright chapter, and also to many individuals and families through our Blessings Fund.
• We’ve moved many women and families out of the Moss House into their new homes!
• We’ve made connections with the Evangelical Free Church Central District through Al Frank, our Associate Superintendent; and we’ve made connections with, and have received support from, The Springs E-Free Church in Springfield.
• We’ve elected a new Elder Board.
• We have a new Church Financial Manager who is doing a great job with our finances.
• We’ve reached out at the Show ‘n’ Shine Barbecue, through a pool party, and by serving at the Pop Shop during the Vernon County Youth Fair.
• Several from Crossroads are getting in on the ground floor of a new Young Life ministry in Nevada, both at Cottey College and for Nevada high school students.
• We’ve developed a new website and have a church member operating it for us.
All this with a pastor who has been battling with anemia! Imagine what you could have done with a healthy (and normal) pastor!
I was quite amazed and grateful last Sunday morning as we said good-bye to seven wonderful Cottey College students who have brought a lot of life and joy into our church family. Congratulations to Rachel and to Hannah, both of whom are receiving degrees this coming Sunday. Congratulations to our two Nevada High School grads, Trent and Sam. Congrats also to four others of our Crossroads family receiving college degrees this month: Elena, Lindsey, Grace, and Billy.
God has been good to us, and faithful to care and grow the seed he has planted in our hearts.
Are we faithful to him? I enjoyed the following definition I read recently of “faithfulness.” “Faithfulness is the willingness to fulfill a responsibility day after day, year after year, without needing to be asked, without demanding praise or thanks, but simply showing up again and again to do God’s work until the work is done.”
I think God loves and rewards faithfulness. To be faithful is to be like him.
Looking ahead, what are some needs we have at Crossroads? Several important ones come to mind:
• We will need several people to help out at the Show ‘n’ Shine barbecue Saturday, May 19th, at Dr. Schowengerdt’s. We’ll have a stand there from around 8:00 a.m. until around 2:00 p.m. If you indicated you would be available to help, we will be getting organized this coming Sunday.
• We need additional helpers for Children’s Church & nursery. What an important discipleship ministry is a church’s ministry to children. And, if we desire our church to grow, it’s important that families coming to Crossroads know there is a place for their children. Currently, we have three CC teachers, but the Rea kids are serving every week as helpers. Could you volunteer to help, even just one Sunday per month? The schedule can be flexible, but we need two people each Sunday (a teacher who is over 18 years old, and a helper who is at least 14 years old). You’ll be glad you did!
• A vision for women’s ministry would be an awesome addition to Crossroads. My experience in church ministry is that a group of woman growing spiritually is usually the dynamo of a vibrant church. How would the Lord make that to happen? Starting small is often the way to go … then watching God grow it.
• Vision for outreach, and a commitment to being the Lord’s light and love in the community. Who has that on their heart and will put action to it ?
• I am looking for help with worship. Leading music every Sunday, and preaching every Sunday (and possibly teaching a class too) is likely a path to burnout for me. Would love some people who would like to do the following : a) help plan worship (pick songs, organize the service) ; b) help lead music ; c) use creative ideas for our space in the gym which needs refreshing from time to time.
• We need to become strong in our giving, understanding that our giving is a reflection of our love for God, and that the first step in planting a long-lasting church is to be financially self-sufficient (i.e., meeting our expenses ; not drawing on reserves, but saving those reserves for a permanent “home” for Crossroads.)
• We need people to be faithful to pray regularly … for ministry, for pure hearts, for unity, for our Elder Board, for the pastor. Thank you!
I’m thinking back to last Sunday where we read the statement of the Lord Jesus that it’s more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). There are many statements of blessing in the Beatitudes in the Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount; here’s a statement by him of something that is more blessed.
By the way, thanks to those who gave generously last Sunday to the Blessings Fund to help Jon and Renee meet a few immediate needs following their house fire.
And congratulations to Adam and MacKenzie who became husband and wife last Friday afternoon!
I look forward to seeing everyone this Sunday morning. We’ll take a little break from Acts and instead look at a passage in the book of Ezekiel. The sermon will be on “Harry S. Truman, Israel, and the End of the World.” Hope you can be there at 10:00! No Adult Bible Study. No Youth Group Sunday night.
Finally…
Last, but not least, this thank-you from Elena Rodriguez: “Dear Crossroads, thank you so much for the support in my upcoming mission trip to Costa Rica! I am thankful to have such an amazing church family. I am so excited to be reunited with the people of Costa Rica and to share the love of God! I look forward to sharing more about my trip when I return! Thank you again! Love, Elena.”
–Tom
Tom’s Midweek Greeting April 25, 2018
TMG
Tom’s Midweek Greeting
Crossroads Community Church
Nevada, MO
April 25, 2018
Dear Crossroads Family:
It’s great to be finishing up the school year and starting our spring/summer season on so many high notes. Last Sunday was another one, as we were challenged by a missions presentation from Elena Rodriguez concerning her summer trip to Costa Rica, and we enjoyed good interaction as a “family” at our congregational meeting after the worship service.
There seemed to be two major lines of discussion at our meeting: 1) thankfulness for God’s blessings on Crossroads since we last met; 2) how to continue to stay connected and experience good relationship-building during the summer months.
1. We are thankful for God’s provision of a new Elder Board which has begun meeting regularly, and also for a new Church Financial Manager, Judi Edwards. Judi shared a brief financial report at the meeting. We can be grateful that giving is up just slightly over last year, and expenses are down just slightly compared to last year. So we are seeing God’s faithful provision.
2. There was good discussion about how we can stay connected during the summer season. I’m grateful that one of the hallmarks developing at Crossroads is a desire to have strong, healthy relationships. Here are some thoughts that came out of that discussion:
— Ways to have fellowship while working together this summer:
• Show ‘n’ Shine barbecue, May 19. Several volunteered to help, and we will need help from around 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. This is a good opportunity to have some visibility in our community and to benefit a good cause, Habitat for Humanity.
• Bushwhacker Days Gospel Night. Julie is needing volunteers to help in the hamburger tent on Thursday evening, June 7. Our church has regularly contributed financially to support this evening of gospel music; to serve those attending, as some of you volunteered to do, would be an extra special gift … as well as good fellowship.
• Pop Shop at the Vernon County Youth Fair in July. Those who served in the Pop Shop last year had a great time. Lots of smiles and laughter, and interaction with our community.
— Ways to have fun this summer. Some suggestions included…
• Let’s all go together to Church Night at the Nevada Griffons game! Church Night is Sunday, June 3rd, at 7:00 pm. Admission is free. If you bring your bulletin from church that morning, the church with the greatest number of bulletins will win a $75 donation to their youth ministry.
• Let’s have some fun going to watch the Cardinals play the Royals in Kansas City in August. We do have a church that loves baseball … and, once upon a time was pretty good at softball(!).
• Let’s plan some dates for a picnic, volleyball, softball, etc.
— Ways to develop spiritual ties this summer:
• Judi Edwards will host a time of prayer on Wednesday evenings on her back porch for all interested in praying for local, national, and worldwide needs. This has been a profitable time of prayer over the past year or more. God is using and blessing our commitment to prayer.
• Home Group will meet on Wednesday evenings during the month of June. I look forward to seeing you for good fellowship and encouragement.
• Continued involvement by those interested in the Young Life ministry development. Next meeting is scheduled for May 8 at 6 pm in the basement of the Cottey College chapel. Anyone is welcome to attend this organizing meeting.
• Ten Steps Toward Christian Maturity discipleship course. We currently have ten people from our church going through this course, and two from outside our church are getting started. Very exciting, and there is room for you to get started this summer. Let me know – I would love to help you get plugged in!
Don’t forget that this Sunday, April 29, we will celebrate Trent Ellis’s baptism at the conclusion of our worship service. (It is also Trent’s birthday!) I hope you can be there. Worship at 10:00 at the Y. There will be no Adult Bible Study at 9:00.
On Sunday, May 6, we will have a short reception following the worship service to honor our two high school graduates and three college graduates.
Let’s continue to put into action our hopes, wishes, and prayers for Crossroads, for our families, and for our individual lives. I was reading through 1 Thessalonians this morning and was reminded of the great long list of practical exhortations Paul gives at the end of that letter
(1 Thessalonians 5:12-11):
• Show appreciation to those who labor among you. Esteem them highly in love.
• Live in peace with each other.
• Admonish the unruly.
• Encourage the fainthearted.
• Help the weak.
• Be patient with everyone.
• Don’t repay evil for evil.
• Always seek after that which is good for everyone.
• Rejoice always.
• Pray at all times.
• Give thanks in everything.
• Don’t quench the Holy Spirit.
• Don’t scoff at prophecies.
• Examine everything carefully.
• Hold fast to what is good.
• Abstain from every form of evil.
The Christian life is an abundant life. God has shown us the roadmap, and he gives us the resources for it, if we will allow him to live out his life through us.
I hope to see you Sunday!
— Tom
Tom’s Midweek Greeting April 20, 2018
TMG
Tom’s Midweek Greeting
Crossroads Community Church
Nevada MO
April 20, 2018
Happy Friday to everyone!
I’m looking forward to re-connecting Sunday morning for a good time of worship and fellowship! I hope to see you there!
I’m especially looking forward to our 9:00 Adult Bible Study, as we finish our series on “The Ten Greatest Struggles of Your Life” with a look at the tenth commandment, “You shall not covet.” It’s about our struggle with contentment. Colin Smith, author of the book, The Ten Greatest Struggles of Your Life, calls this commandment “The Killer Commandment” (!). Why? He also says it’s the key to understanding the other nine commandments. Have you ever thought of the command not to covet as being as important as that? Join us at 9:00, and we’ll learn more together!
Our sermon this Sunday will again be from the book of Acts — a look at Paul’s stay in the great city of Ephesus. It’s a chapter that is action-packed: baptism; speaking in tongues; miracles; an exorcism; and a riot! Wherever Paul went, there was action! What were the sources of Paul’s power in the midst of hard-hitting days of ministry for the Lord? What are the sources of true power in our lives? Are you in need of power for living? We find out what God’s sources of power are for us in our sermon this Sunday from Acts 19.
We’ll also be blessed on Sunday to have a report from Elena Rodriguez about her upcoming missions trip this summer. It’s great for us to be connecting with God’s mission to spread the Good News all around the world!
As concerns local missions, this note from the local Birthright ministry: “Dear Friends at Crossroads Community Church: Thank you for your support with our Boomerang Bottle Campaign. Your contribution is greatly appreciated. Thank you again for your continued support to help make a difference in the lives of those we serve together. Yours in Christ, Birthright of Nevada.” Thanks to everyone who participated in helping Birthright!
Finally, don’t forget that this Sunday we’ll have a “Family Meeting” right after the worship service. Everyone is invited. We encourage you to attend if you consider Crossroads to be your church home. You do not have to be an official member of the church to attend and to participate in the meeting. On the agenda for the meeting will be the following:
• Financial update
• Calendar
• Schowe & Shine BBQ, May 19
• Fellowship ideas for this summer
• Home group schedule
• Prayer
God bless you as you finish the week!
“I sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4
“The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry.” Psalm 34:14
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” Psalm 34:19
Tom