Crossroads Community Church

Nevada Missouri Church

Affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America

621 E. Highland Ave

Nevada, MO
Worship service – Sunday’s at 10:00am

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Tom’s Midweek Greeting – March 26, 2026

April 7, 2026 By Tom Rea Leave a Comment

Hello, Crossroads Family,

These are full days for many of us !  I’m thankful for God’s grace and faithfulness.  Thankful, too, for the fellowship I have with all of you in many different ways during the week.  Christian fellowship is a gift.  There is an ability to relate on a deep level or on a light, superficial level any time a brother and sister in Christ meet or take time to communicate with each other.  Your part in that is a blessing to me and may be an overlooked way by which you’re blessing others in the church.  Thank you !

We’ll have an opportunity for some special fellowship this Saturday evening with our Bible Quiz !  The fun will start at 6 pm at First Baptist Church on Highland Ave in Nevada.  I hope you’ll be there whether you’re part of a team or just want to watch and enjoy the fun !  Thanks to Clayson for organizing and for inviting other churches to join us !

Of course, we want especially to be praying today for the Sisseck family, particularly for Kris.  May God provide for all needs — physical, spiritual, mental, emotional, for loss of work time, and more — during these days of finding and treating the sources of Kris’ incident this week.  Thanks for your prayers.  

As others in the Crossroads family come to your mind, pray for them too.  Many are in need of prayer !  Ephesians 1:15-19 and Colossians 1:9-12 are good model prayers to use in praying for people ; or take a minute to think of the things you’re asking for yourself — many of those needs are the same needs of the people around you !

Reminders :

This Sunday :  Worship at 10 am.  As of now, we will have use of the bathrooms in the building.  So no worries and hope to see you Sunday morning !  Children’s Church will be available for 0-7 year-olds if you are a parent and are interested ; also, the 8-13 year-olds Bible class will meet during the sermon.

Cantata Practices :  Easter Choir members, we’ll practice this Sunday at our usual time, 12:30-1:30, and again Wednesday, April 1, 5:30-7:00 pm, at the church.  

Women’s Breakfast & A Bible Study :  This Saturday morning, 8-9:15, at the church.

Immerse :  Next Wednesday, April 1, 7 pm, at the church.   

Easter :  Easter worship will feature our Crossroads Easter Choir singing “The Hope of the Cross” in place of the sermon.  We’ll also worship the Lord around the Communion table.  I hope you’ll come for a very special time.  We’re not planning a breakfast this year, but there will be plenty of refreshments, as usual, so come early and enjoy some extra fellowship.

Elders Meeting :  Sunday, April 12, following the worship service.  We’ll have our usual monthly meeting, then follow with a study on the subject of Church Membership, and also lunch together.  Thanks to everyone for your prayers for our Elder Board.Finally …

This set of Bible verses provides an interesting perspective on Easter and the events leading up to it :

  • God … calls you into His own kingdom and glory.  (1 Thess 2:12)
  • Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world.  If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight ….”  (John 18:36)
  • Waiting till His enemies are made His footstool.  (Hebrews 10:13)
  • The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever !  (Rev 11:15)
  • You have made us kings and priests to our God ; and we shall reign on the earth.  (Rev 5:10)
  • I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them … and they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.  (Rev 20:4)
  • The righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.  (Matt 13:43)
  • Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.  (Luke 12:32)
  • I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  (Luke 22:29-30).
  • Your kingdom come.  (Matthew 6:10).

I texted as many of you as I could earlier this week about a worthwhile podcast on the subject of the final weeks of Jesus’ life.  It’s a discussion between two Bible professors and is helpful in understanding those final days.  It will bless you if you have a chance to listen.  The podcast is called “Bible and Theology Matters,” and the host is Dr. Paul Weaver of Dallas Theological Seminary.  Look for the episode from March 19 called “The Passover & Last Supper Explained.”

Interestingly, I learned this week that the choir director I had as a high school student at Rock Bridge High School in Columbia, passed away last weekend.  He brought a smile and joy to the classroom ;  and he trusted me, during my junior and senior years, to accompany the school’s two choirs.  He was a man of God, and frequently our concerts included sacred pieces, including the Hallelujah chorus and other pieces from Handel’s Messiah.  Those were challenging and fun days of music.  One of our choirs wore tuxedos and black dresses at concert time, and I remember he showed up once in a black tuxedo with a bright yellow vest.  Looked a little like a bumblebee, but he made people smile, including me.  I’m grateful for the confidence he had in me as a young person.

I pray God will bless the remainder of our week, and I hope to see you Sunday !

— Tom

Filed Under: Midweek Greeting

Tom’s Midweek Greeting – March 18, 2026

April 7, 2026 By Tom Rea Leave a Comment

Hello, Crossroads Family !

Here are a few reminders about what’s going on.  This week feels a little different due to Spring Break for some and also the work going on at our building on Highland Ave.

There is no Immerse tonight ; however, Men’s Recharge is happening tomorrow (Thursday), 6:30-8:00 pm.  Men, I hope you can be there.  It’s a good time of encouragement and male fellowship which is a unique kind of fellowship we need !  Hope you’ll be there.  Reach out to Cris Rodriguez if you have questions.  Immerse will pick back up next Wednesday night, and everyone is welcome !

There will be no women’s Breakfast & Bible Study this Saturday morning. This weekly study and fellowship for women will pick back up on Saturday, the 28th.  Contact Erin Townsend if you need to know more.

This Sunday morning we’ll worship as usual starting at 10:00.  In case our access to the bathrooms is limited due to the work being done on the floors in other parts of the building, we will have a port-a-potty in the parking lot.  Not ideal, we know, but we want everyone to feel they can be present for worship this Sunday !  We’ll also try to keep the service on the short side !  Keep your coffee intake low Sunday morning !

I am more and more amazed at how much the book of Psalms is about Jesus.  We read in the Gospel of Luke that Jesus explained to His disciples, on Resurrection Sunday, all the things written about Him in the Law, the Prophets, and in the Psalms !  David, the writer of many of the psalms (especially at the beginning of the book), is himself a picture of Jesus ; and parts of his psalms really do point to the coming Savior.  I was blessed this morning in reading Psalms 28-31.  Here are some things I saw that pointed me to Jesus :

Psalm 28:8 says, “The Lord is a saving defense to His anointed.”  Who is God’s anointed, except Jesus ?  Yes, David was the anointed king in his day, but the great anointed One is the person we anticipate in this psalm.

Psalm 28:9 — “Be their shepherd and carry them forever.”  Jesus is, of course, the good shepherd, so here we see Him again.

“The Lord sat as King at the flood ; the Lord sits as King forever” (Psalm 29:10).  Jesus is our king now, sitting at the right hand of the throne of God.

In Psalm 30:3, David, in his praying, says, “O Lord, You have brought up my soul from Sheol.”  “Sheol” is a word meaning “the grave.”  Of course, this statement is literally true of Jesus who was raised from the grave on the day we call Easter.

In Psalm 31:5, David says to God, “Into Your hand I commit my spirit.”  These are words Jesus spoke on the cross — His last words before dying.  

What a wonderful Savior we have !  And how good God is to point us to Him, early in the Bible and often !  

Bible, prayer, fellowship, witness, and obedience — these are the principles for growing and staying strong as a Christian.  Including these five disciplines in our lives, even a little bit each day, keeps us walking with the Lord and experiencing the life He has intended for us.  They seem like such small things — and how easy it is to drop them out of our daily habits — yet they are the key to abundant life in Christ.  They are like eating food ; few of us skip a meal, but we may not realize how often we are skipping these five essential practices of life.

Church attendance is also one of our necessary intakes for healthy life.  Again, on the surface it might not seem that way.  After all, maybe you don’t really like to sing (and singing seems to happen a lot at church) ; or maybe the idea of sitting and listening to a sermon seems old-fashioned and tedious … or even boring !  Don’t worry, sometimes my preaching bores me too ; but there’s always something I take away, and it’s an act by which, on a regular basis, I maintain connection with God (and with others who love Him).  There are only 52 Sundays in a year.  That’s not many.  When we miss, we whittle that number down quickly ; yet we may wonder why we’re not experiencing the joy, peace, love, and strength God has promised His children.

I will be out of town Thursday and Friday this week to visit my son Billy and daughter-in-law Hannah who live in Wichita.  But I look forward to seeing you Sunday morning !  Our sermon will be from 1 Corinthians 15 and John 18 and will be on the subject of life after death.  What happens to our body when we die ?  What is existence like for us at the point of our dying ?  What is God’s ultimate plan for our physical body ?  It will come to its end on the earth, but there is a plan to be reunited with it in a new way one day.  Come Sunday and find out more.

Some final reminders :

  • We will have Easter cantata practice this Sunday afternoon, 12:30-1:30.  We’ll learn one last piece, “The Hope of the Cross,” and try to schedule an extra rehearsal in order to be ready for Easter Sunday.  Thanks to all who are participating !  We’re going to have a wonderful, special Easter morning.
  • Don’t forget the Bible Quiz Night coming up on Saturday, March 28, 6 pm, at First Baptist Church in Nevada.  Some of you are competing on a team, but everyone is welcome to enjoy the fellowship with brothers and sisters from Crossroads and from other area churches.
  • The next 8-13 year-olds Bible Class will take place Sunday, March 29, during the sermon.
  • Easter worship is at 10:00 on Sunday, April 5.  We’re not planning a breakfast this year, but come early as I’m sure there will be food anyway, and we can have some extra fellowship that morning.  Our Easter worship will feature the cantata that is being prepared, “The Hope of the Cross.”  Invite your friends and family.  There will be an ad in the Nevada Daily Mail.
  • We’ve scheduled a baptismal service for Sunday, June 28, following our regular morning worship.  The baptisms will take place at the home of David and Heather Vestal, and we’ll plan to eat together that afternoon as well.  Please let me or one of the other elders know if you’re interested in being baptized.

Thanks to everyone who contributes to the life and ministry of Crossroads Church.  We often overlook the fact that we have a bulletin to guide and bless us each Sunday morning ; our rooms are cleaned by someone from the church each week ; food and drink are provided by kind, generous hearts ; lessons are lovingly prepared for children ; offerings are counted and deposited at the bank ; and now, soon, folks from the church family will be taking care of the yardwork once again around the building.  Thanks to everyone for what you do for the glory of God and for the beauty of His church !  

The Lord will give strength to His people.

The Lord will bless His people with peace.

Psalm 29:11

Filed Under: Midweek Greeting

Tom’s Midweek Greeting – March 4, 2026

April 7, 2026 By Tom Rea Leave a Comment

Hello, Crossroads Family !

An all-day music contest on Monday followed by two days sick at home has made this a strange and somewhat frustrating week.  Thanks for your prayers.  This seems to be only a major cold ; I trust I’ll be back to a more regular routine tomorrow.  I’m looking forward to our fellowship and worship this coming Sunday !  I’ll be preaching more on God’s design and plan for our bodies.  This Sunday we’ll consider the sexual nature of the body.  What are God’s purposes for human sexuality, and are His expectations reasonable ?  I’m trying to scratch out some work on this sermon now, despite the cold. Emoji We’ve touched on the subject more than once in the past, but it’s always good to be reminded of God’s good plans as recorded in His Word.  Given that our laws, our media, and our cultural standards have thrown off any and all guardrails surrounding human sexuality, it’s no wonder we struggle to understand God’s design or that we consider it somehow old-fashioned.  I hope you’ll join us Sunday !  It’s good to be part of a church where we can talk frankly about where our faith in Christ intersects with real life.  The Scripture will be from 1 Corinthians 5-7.

We can always trust God to give us, and to do for us, what is right and good, can’t we ?  I hope you’re in agreement with me on that.  It seems that one of our favorite songs recently at Crossroads is “All Things” which contains the line, “Lord, You will accomplish everything You promised, all things for Your glory and my good.”  Of course the idea for that lyric comes from Romans 8:28 which says we know God works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.  Someone recently pointed out to me that the “good” promised to us is specified more precisely in the following verse, Romans 8:29, which says we are being conformed into the image of Jesus.  So the “all things for my good” isn’t necessarily that things will always work out just the way I wanted them to ; the good God is accomplishing in us is growing us to be more like our Lord Jesus.  Amazing !

Reminders …

  • Immerse tonight at 7:00.  Everyone is welcome.
  • Women’s Breakfast & Bible Study this Saturday, 8:00-9:15 am.
  • Worship Sunday at 10:00.  Children’s church for those interested with children ages 0-7.
  • Elders meeting following worship.
  • Easter cantata practice Sunday, 12:30 – 1:30 pm.
  • Bible Quiz night is coming up March 28 at 6 pm.  We’ll meet at First Baptist Church in their fellowship hall.

Please pray for Ethan Rittmiller who is in Nebraska during the next few days for job interviews.  Ethan will finish at the Missouri Welding Institute in April.  Alex Lewis will begin his new job later this month in O’Fallon, Missouri.  Please pray for Alex and Emily and Dean during this transition period.  Pray for those expecting babies this spring — Cecilia and Sam, Erica and Miles.  Thanks for your ongoing prayers for our church family !

God’s Promises

Apparently a schoolteacher once took the time to record every promise made in the Bible, not just by God to people, but promises of all kinds.  Here’s what he found :

  • 7487 promises from God to people
  • 2 promises made by God the Father to God the Son
  • 991 promises made between people to each other
  • 290 promises made by people to God (such as Psalm 51:15, for example)
  • 28 promises made by angels
  • one promise made by a man to an angel
  • one promise made by an evil spirit to the Lord
  • 9 promises made by Satan, including his deceitful offer to deliver all the kingdoms of the world to Christ if He would worship the devil (Mattthew 4:8-9).

You can read about this man and his quest here, a short article that appeared in Time magazine in 1956.  

Here are some of the promises God has made us :

— He promises that whoever believes in Jesus will be saved.    (Rom 10:9, 11-13)

— He promises us comfort in time of need.      (2 Cor 1:3-4)

— He promises to meet all our needs.        (Philippians 4:19)

— He promises to provide wisdom.            (James 1:5)

— He promises peace.                                (Matt 11:28-29)

— He promises to complete He work in us.    (Philippians 1:6)

— He promises cleansing when we need it.    (1 John 1:9)

— He promises victory.                (Rom 8:37)

— He promises He will meet us in the air.        (1 Thess 4:16-17)

— He promises a future home for us.               (John 14:2-4)

These give us hope and encouragement to persevere in the race God has set out for us.  He is our loving God and Savior.  Have a great second half of the week !

— Tom

Filed Under: Midweek Greeting

Tom’s Midweek Greeting – February 26, 2026

April 7, 2026 By Tom Rea Leave a Comment

Hello, Crossroads Family !

These have been full days for me, as I’m sure they have been for you.  Several of us enjoyed a good time at Immerse last night, and I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible this Sunday morning for worship, fellowship, and a message from God’s Word.  As a part of our sermon series on “Real Life Christianity,” we’re going to consider what God says in the Bible about our physical bodies.  I’ll be following an outline I’ve borrowed from a book I’m reading on the subject :

  • The created body.
  • The gendered body.
  • The particular (i.e., individual) body.
  • The sexual body.
  • The sick and healing body.
  • The dead body (i.e., the future of our bodies).

This will take us up to Easter when we’ll celebrate the bodily resurrection of our Lord Jesus !  

We may be surprised to discover how much God has to say about these bodies of ours.  They are an important part of who we are !  It’s not that the “real” you is living inside a body you should hope to be free of some day ; your body is a part of the “real” you !  Understanding God’s design and plan for the body will help us understand ourselves !

Conversation at Immerse last night ranged from birthday cakes, to the challenge of waiting on God, to the timing of shoveling snow, to thankfulness.  Some shared how the psalms help them develop an attitude of thankfulness each morning :  “This is the day that the Lord has made ; I will rejoice and be glad in it” (from Psalm 118).  I’ve personally taken to praying from Psalm 40 in the morning : “I delight to do Your will.”  I had a conversation with two of you at Immerse about our shared love of popcorn.  I proceeded to go home and pop a bowl for myself.  However, as has happened more than once in the past, I forgot to put the lid on my oil-popped popcorn popper and discovered a few minutes later that I had popcorn and grease all over my kitchen !  A little late-night clean-up to add to my busy day.  

At Immerse last night the desire was expressed to have a deep relationship with God.  I made a mental note of that and was led to give thanks that this desire is present among so many at Crossroads.  Not only is the desire present, but I see many of you actually experiencing a deep relationship with God.  That’s an inspiration and help to me !  There are certainly struggles in our church, but if we will walk in God’s ways (which most of the time are different from the world’s ways, and different from our own faulty ways of thinking), we will persevere and ultimately prosper. (Psalm 1 tells us this.)

As for perseverance, yesterday was an anniversary day for our family — thirteen years since we took Diana up to the gates of heaven.  I also learned yesterday evening of the homegoing yesterday of a dear family friend.  Memories came to mind of fun times with these friends, trips to Macon, Missouri, where Millie lived, and there was the reminder of how fleeting life is — how close we all are to being with the Lord.  

Our time is likely shorter than we realize.  Let’s run with more endurance than ever before — with wisdom and with humility !  God has wisely and kindly laid out a course for us !  In the end, He will bring us through all the storms and challenges of life.   

The reading assignment for Immerse next Wednesday is the entire book of Song of Solomon, and Psalms 73-78.  (This is pp 78-87 and 181-194 in the Immerse Bible.)  This is not a difficult reading assignment, so I hope you’ll work on the assignment and join us next Wednesday night even if you’ve missed some in these first few weeks.   

Reminders

  • Women’s Breakfast & Bible Study this Saturday morning at 8:00. 
  • Worship this Sunday morning at 10:00.  There will soon be some work happening on the sidewalk and construction of a ramp outside the door to our meeting room.  Please be prepared and be careful when that work begins.
  • Easter cantata practice this Sunday following the worship service.
  • Thanks to everyone who contributed support money to Nevada Birthright through the Baby Bottle Boomerang program.
  • Our Bible Quiz Night will take place Saturday, March 28.  Please note that we have a new start time — 6 pm.  The location will be First Baptist Church, Nevada.  Looking forward to it !
  • Prayers for Colin, our missionary in France, who will be getting married in May.  Also for Konner and Jaci’s wedding this coming May 2.  Prayers for Julie Forkner’s dad, LJ ; for Angi (healing, strength) ; for Kiercy (important work assignment next week) ; Erlinda (tests and God’s healing) ; for our future church home.

May God give endurance and encouragement today !

Tom

Filed Under: Midweek Greeting

Tom’s Midweek Greeting – January 22, 2026

April 7, 2026 By Tom Rea Leave a Comment

Hello, Crossroads Family,

As we head into what appears to be a wintry weekend, I’m so thankful for the warm family we have at Crossroads Church.  It’s a blessing to be growing in an ever-deepening relationship with God and each other.

Thanks to everyone who took part in this week’s 24-Hour Prayer Vigil !  That was a blessed experience and an important part of God’s work among us at Crossroads !  I hope it will prompt us to pray for, and encourage, each other more !  Remember Paul’s message to the Ephesians :

“Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people” (Ephesians 6:18).

If you would like to share this Sunday morning a takeaway from your own personal experience as part of the Prayer Vigil, we’ll make time for that during the service.

**********************************

Please be aware that if there is a need to cancel our Sunday morning service, the elders will communicate that to you in two or three ways :

— If church is canceled, we’ll post that on the church website and on the Crossroads Facebook page no later than 7 am.  Our website address is http://www.nevadacrossroadschurch.org.

— We’ll send out a text message to everyone we can and will call those who don’t use a mobile phone.

— We’ll send out a mass email to those in the church whose email addresses we have.

Be sure to call or text one of us if you’re not sure.  Always use your own good judgment as to whether or not you should get out.  Thanks for your understanding, patience, and prayers !

**********************************

Please find below :

  • some calendar information
  • some additional news and prayer requests
  • a message from our Evangelical Free Church Central District Superintendent, Mike Shields.

Calendar

Below are the best ways currently to “plug in” at Crossroads, and most of these small groups are just getting started again in February.  We hope you’ll pick one or more to be a part of !

  • 8-13 year-olds Bible Class :  The next class is Sunday, February 1, during the sermon.  Contact person is Emily Lewis.
  • Immerse :  Immerse is a weekly Bible reading and small-group discussion program that begins Wednesday, February 11, 7-8:15 pm.  Sign up at the church or let Forrest Drury know so he can order an Immerse Bible for you.  
  • Women’s Breakfast & Bible Study :  Saturday mornings of fellowship and study in the book of Luke starting February 14, 8:00-9:15 am, and lasting for eight weeks.  Please sign up if you plan to be part of the group.  Erin Townsend is the contact person.
  • Men’s Recharge :  This is monthly fellowship, study, and encouragement for all men.  We’ll begin Thursday, February 19, 6:30-8:00 pm.  Our theme this semester is “Practice What You Preach.”  Cris Rodriguez is the contact person for Recharge.
  • Fellowship Dinner :  We’ll share a meal together at the church following worship on Sunday, February 22.  Bryan Townsend will have a sign-up sheet this Sunday for what you can bring for the meal.
  • Baby Bottle Boomerang :  Baby bottles and their money are due back to the church on February 22.  The money collected goes to bless mothers and babies through Birthright of Nevada.  Kim Reedy is our contact person if you have questions.
  • Bible Quiz Night :  Sign up at the church if you’d like to be on a team of three people taking part in the quiz competition on Saturday, March 28.  For questions or information, contact Clayson Lyons.  Even if you’re not on a team, plan to come and cheer on the Crossroads teams on 3/28 !
  • Easter Cantata :  Please let Jessica Baker know if you’d like to sing in an Easter cantata on Easter Sunday.  This would be a small choir singing around seven pieces we will prepare prior to Easter.  Don’t worry, we’ll find a practice time that will work for everyone !  The cantata we’ve chosen is called “The Hope of the Cross,” and you can listen to a sample of it here.  

More information & prayer needs

Beacon Christian School :  Beacon Christian School is now accepting applications for the 2026-2027 school year. If you might be interested in sending your student to Beacon, you may find out more information at this link.

Opportunity to help a sister E-Free Church

An Evangelical Free Church pastor in Northeast Arkansas, Phil Pinto, has a 120-acre summer Bible camp which was hit by tornadoes in 2024 and 2025 causing extensive damage.  A great deal of clean-up still needs to be done.  Our EFCA Central District Crisis Response team is organizing multiple trips to the property to help Phil, his wife, and others who are committed to the camp’s ministry.  They’re looking for people who could serve for a week this spring or summer.  The work will involve clean-up and some construction.  Take a look here, and thanks for praying for brothers and sisters like us in Arkansas !

Prayer Needs at Crossroads 

  • We praise God for a great 24-hours of prayer this week.  May we continue to live a life of prayer and be watching for His responses !  
  • Austin Forkner needs our prayers after a motocross crash last weekend.  Thanks for praying for Austin and for Julie,.
  • Tommie Ray’s 91-year-old brother-in-law passed away this past week.  Please keep Tommie and his extended family in your prayers.  Thank you !
  • Sam Vigue asks prayer for a friend from Cuba who has traveled to Dubai in search of work so he can support his family.  Thanks for praying for this friend, Jésus.

A Message from Central District Superintendent, Mike Shields

Mike Shields is our E-Free Central District Superintendent.  I hope you’ll have a chance to meet Mike sometime, along with others on our Central District staff.  The district offices are in Adel, Iowa (just west of Des Moines).  The annual district conference will be held this coming April 27-28 at Valley Church in West Des Moines.  It would be a great opportunity for some in leadership at Crossroads to be encouraged spiritually and to make some awesome connections !  Let me know if you’re interested.

Please be encouraged by Mike’s message here :

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”  James 4:10

Our God loves to answer the simple prayer, “Holy Spirit, I need you.”  A humble heart before God is commanded in Scripture and is vital to how God’s servants approach him and serve in his Church.

In ministry we tend to swing from one extreme to another.  When things are going well, we are tempted to think, “I’m pretty good at this.”  When things aren’t going well, we tend to self loathe, “I can’t do anything right.”  Neither of these self-centered approaches captures the essence of humility commanded in Scripture.  

Why is humility before God so vitally important in ministry ?  Shouldn’t I be confident and self-assured in my leadership ?  These questions originate from a faulty perspective.  The question must be “What does God require ?” not “What must I do ?”  It’s not a question of performance in ministry but one of surrender to Almighty God.  In humble surrender we find the peace and confidence to serve the Lord with boldness.

A quick heart check for leaders :

1.  Have I prayed about what God wants in this situation ?

2.  What does Scripture say about this issue ?

3.  Do I think I’m the smartest person in the room ?  If so, repentance and a change of heart is necessary.

4.  Have I consulted with other godly men and women ?

5.  Is there any sinful attitude in my heart regarding this situation ?

6.  When someone has sinned against me, am I open to reconciliation when there is repentance ?

7.  Can I say that I am leading as I’m called to lead, in the humility of Christ, described in Philippians 2 ?

Our 2026 EFCA Central Leadership Conference theme is “Gospel Humility.”  I’m inviting you to join us at Valley Church in West Des Moines IA on April 27-28 to dig deeper into this vital aspect of leadership in the local church.  Registration is available now.  Bring leaders from your staff and elder team.  See you there !

It is a joy serving Jesus with you,

Mike Shields

Filed Under: Midweek Greeting

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Coming Up at Crossroads

Sunday, May 17

Worship service                                  10:00 – 11:15am

Why Sin Stinks & Why Church Discipline Usually Fails                                                                               1 John 5    2 Corinthians 7

 

Thursday, May 21

Men’s Recharge 

6:30-8:00 pm

 

 

 

 

Immerse

Immerse begins study and discussion in the poetical books of the Bible on Wednesdays at 7:00pm.  This is a unique small-group experience in the Bible !

Connect with God; build community; and grow your faith are the three goals of Immerse.

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