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

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.

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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 !

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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

Hello, Crossroads Family !

I’ve enjoyed time spent with you over the course of the past week !  I hope you’ve also enjoyed some of the good fellowship God is fostering among us, … and that you’ll find a way to plug in for encouragement and support this week.

We had meaningful discussions at Immerse last Wednesday night, and I hope you can join us this Wednesday (tomorrow), for continued application of God’s word to us in Psalms and Lamentations.  Please feel free to come even if you missed last week !  7:00 pm at the church.

I had a great time with about fifteen others of you at our first Easter cantata practice.  There is something about singing with people that builds a unique bond !  I hope you’ll join us this Sunday at 12:30, after the fellowship meal.  You’re welcome to join even if you missed last Sunday !  The music is beautiful, and our first-ever Crossroads Church Choir is doing a great job !

I had an opportunity with a few others Sunday evening to practice for the Bible Quiz coming up on March 28.  There was plenty of learning and laughter as we tried to figure out what we know and don’t know about the Gospel of Luke.  March 28 will be the big night, starting at 6:30.  Location still to be determined.  Everyone is invited to join the fun, even if you’re not competing on a team.

Beyond these things, our women’s Breakfast & Bible Study got off to a great start last Saturday and will meet again this Saturday morning, 8:00 at the church.  All women are welcome !  Men’s Recharge starts this week on Thursday with a discussion about gifts of the Spirit.  How has God gifted each of us to serve Him and each other ?  Men, you’ll be glad you came !  This Thursday, 6:30 pm, at the church.

Three things to remember about this coming Sunday :

1. Our 8-13 year-old Bible Class will meet during the sermon.
2. If you took a baby bottle to raise support for Nevada Birthright, your filled baby bottle is due back this Sunday.  Thank you for blessing moms and babies !  If you didn’t take a baby bottle but would like to make a gift to Nevada Birthright, you may give a gift of any amount to Kim Reedy.
3. As you know, a fellowship meal is planned for after the worship service.  Bring something to share if you’re able, but even if you’re not able, plan to stay for food and fellowship !  There will be plenty to share !  

I’ll have a full day of show choir this Saturday with our own Nevada Classic taking place at Nevada High School.  There are around 30 choirs performing throughout the day, some high school choirs and some middle school choirs.  Come on out if you’d like — I’d love to see you !  Cost is $15 for adults, $5 for seniors over 65 and for students.  Our varsity choir will perform at 5:30 pm.  You can find the schedule at showchoir.com.

Other prayer requests include these :

• Please pray for Erlinda Reichard who is suffering from a severe bout of double vision.  May the Lord bring relief and also direct doctors to the root of the problem.
• Angi Dahmer will have surgery on her foot this week on Thursday and then will need some recovery time.  Let’s pray for strength and provision for Angi and Shane.
• David and Midge Prickett have been under the weather.  May the Lord encourage and bring healing to David and Midge, and to others in our church family who have not been feeling well.
• Alex Lewis travels to the St Louis area for a job interview this Thursday.
• Diane Ray asks that we pray for those working in the front office at the Sheriff’s Department, for their spouses and families.  Thanks, Diane, for keeping us up to date with prayer needs in the Sheriff’s office !

Finally …

I was encouraged this morning by reading David’s prayer in Psalm 17.  In it, he asks God to hear (v. 1), to look (v. 2), to answer (v. 6), to show lovingkindness (v. 7), to keep David, to hide David in God’s shadow (v. 8), to confront the wicked (v. 13), and to deliver David’s soul (v. 13).  What a great prayer !  So often it’s that last request (the deliverance of our soul through challenges) that we need !

I was especially struck in this psalm by the repeated use of “my …” and “Your …” :

my cry
my prayer
my judgment
Your presence
Your eyes
my heart
my mouth
Your lips
my steps
Your paths
my feet
Your ear
my speech
Your lovingkindness
Your right hand
Your wings
my deadly enemies
my soul
Your sword
Your hand
Your treasure
Your face
Your likeness

It’s very personal, isn’t it ?  David and God.  You and God.  It’s this kind of “Real Life” Christianity that I’m trying to emphasize on Sunday mornings.  I hope it will be more and more like that for all of us !

I look forward to seeing you sometime this week and, Lord willing, this coming Sunday !

Strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather healed.        — Hebrews 12:12

Tom

Hello, Crossroads Family !

Just a few notes as we reach the halfway point of this new week God has given us :

• There is a homeschool group using the church building this Friday evening.  Please try to avoid using the building this Friday evening.  Thank you !

• Both Immerse and our women’s Breakfast & Bible Study begin this week !  Immerse tonight, 7:00-8:15, at the church.  (Everyone welcome !)  Breakfast & Bible Study Saturday morning, 8:00-9:15, also at the church.  (All women welcome !)  If you have questions, reach out to Forrest for Immerse and Erin Townsend for BBS.

• We’ll begin our Easter cantata practices this Sunday afternoon, 12:30-1:30, at the church !  I hope you’ll consider joining us in helping to prepare a special Easter service !  We’ll have a lot of fun !  Practices will be on Sunday afternoons through the remainder of February and March.

• Clayson will have some details for us this Sunday morning about the Bible Quiz Night coming up in March.

• Men’s Recharge begins Thursday, February 19, 6:30-8:00 pm, at the church.  Men, we would love to have you join us for a good time of fellowship, food, and support as men who want to love and serve the Lord more !  We always have a great time.  

• Don’t forget that we’ll have a fellowship meal Sunday, February 22, following the worship service.  Sign up at the church this Sunday to bring some food to share !  Paper products will be provided.  This is a simple opportunity to have some extended fellowship and make connections we don’t always get to make on Sundays.  Hope you’ll plan to stay !  Cantata practice will follow for those interested.  Contact Bryan Townsend if you have a question about the meal.

• Baby bottle money for Nevada Birthright is due back to Kim Reedy by Sunday, February 22.  Thank you !  Also, the next 8-13 year-old Bible Class will be held Sunday, the 22nd, during the sermon.

• We had a good elders meeting last Sunday.  Bryan will give a short report this Sunday morning at the conclusion of worship.  We are in need of additional “helpers” for children’s church.  This is not someone who must prepare and give a lesson ; rather, we need someone who will be present, an extra set of hands, and who will love children !  Let Michaela know if you might be willing to serve in this way.  Thank you to all who serve !

• I’m so grateful that my granddaughter, Jazlyn, has been discharged from the hospital (after 110 days) and is now in her home with Betsy and Dan in Portland.  I’m grateful for your prayers !  We thank God that Linda Thompson underwent successful surgery yesterday.  Let’s pray for Linda as she heals, and for Kim, Dave, and family who are a support to her.

• Mark May 2 on your calendar, as we’re invited to the wedding reception for Konner Sisseck and Jaci Servos who will be married that day.  The reception is at 6:30 pm at 3 Cedars Event Center, 24327 East Old Town Road, in Nevada.  Please see the invitation at the church, as an RSVP is requested.

As some of you know, Jim Elliot is a missionary who was murdered in January 1956 (70 years ago) by the people he was trying to befriend with the Gospel in Ecuador.  One of the themes of his life was a statement he wrote while in college in 1949 :  “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”  That’s a statement that resembles Jesus’ question, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world yet lose his soul ?” (Mark 8:36), and also His command in Matthew 6:20 to store up treasure in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  May the Lord make us willing today to give up what we can’t keep anyway (our lives) in order to gain what can’t be lost (God’s purposes ; God’s work ; the salvation of souls as we live out and share the Gospel).

I hope to see you tonight for Immerse or else this Sunday morning !

— Tom

Hello, Crossroads Family,

Yesterday afternoon I enjoyed working on the lesson I’ll be teaching at the first men’s Recharge meeting for the year.  The lesson will be on spiritual gifts and, from a broader perspective, how spiritual gifts equip us for ministry.  (Men, I hope you’ll join us — February 19, 6:30-8:00 pm, at the church).  I’m re-working a lesson we did several years ago from Rick Warren’s Purpose-Driven Church.  I like these ten statements which are good reminders for all of us (men and women) concerning ministry :

1.  I’ve been created for ministry.            

2.  I’ve been saved for ministry.      

3.  I’ve been called to ministry.     My primary identity :  I am a minister / servant of Jesus Christ !

4.  I’ve been gifted for ministry.                                     

5.  I’ve been authorized for ministry.                            

6.  I’m commanded to minister.                                     

7.  I’m being equipped for ministry.                               

8.  The Church needs my ministry.                  

9.  I’m accountable for my ministry.                           

10.  I will be rewarded for my ministry.                         

All those statements are supported by Scripture which we’ll look at more closely on the 19th.  
“Ministry” is another way of saying “service.”  To minister is to serve.  God has equipped us to serve in different ways.  He has also given each of us a unique personality that affects the type of service / ministry we enjoy doing and do well.  

I think some of the best ministry in a church isn’t part of a church “program” but is organic service we initiate ourselves, either individually or with others.  You don’t have to wait to be asked to serve ; God is already calling you and giving you ideas !  

Recently, I was ministered to by someone shoveling the snow off my driveway (without my knowing it until it was done).  Three people from the church brought dinner to my house last Sunday evening, and we enjoyed a special time of fellowship.

One of the New Testament spiritual gifts is the gift of “exhortation” — what we might call “encouragement.”  It’s an important gift : we all need and enjoy encouragement !  Even if encouragement isn’t your gift, it’s easy to learn the habit of encouraging others.  After all, spiritual gifts are special abilities God gives some people to do especially well what all followers of Jesus should be doing anyway.  So even if encouragement isn’t your gift, it’s still something you can do as God prompts and helps you !  
I hope our worship service this Sunday morning will be an encouragement to you !  Mark Tice will preach in my place, as I will be arriving home late Saturday night or early Sunday morning from a show choir trip to Troy, Missouri.  Thanks for your prayers for Mark and for me.

Calendar(Don’t forget that you can access an up-to-date church calendar on the Crossroads website, http://www.nevadacrossroadschurch.org.)

Sunday, February 8

Worship at 10:00

Elders meeting following worship

Wednesday, February 11

Our first session of Immerse.  Everyone is welcome !  7:00-8:15 at the church.  Books and a reading schedule will be available at the church this Sunday.

Saturday, February 14

Breakfast & a Bible Study for all women !  There is a sign-up sheet at the church, or you may contact Erin Townsend to let her know you’re coming.  Saturday, the 14th, 8:00-9:15 am, at the church.

Sunday, February 15

Our first Easter cantata practice, 12:30-1:30 pm.  Grab a bite to eat, then join us for the start to this fun preparation for Easter !  Everyone is welcome who loves the Lord and loves to sing !  Contact Jessica if you have questions.  Practices will be 12:30-1:30 on Sunday afternoons through February and March.

Thursday, February 19

Men’s Recharge :  6:30-8:00 pm, at the church.  Come on out, men !  Always good fellowship, food, and spiritual nourishment !  Contact Cris Rodriguez if you have questions.  Thank you !

Sunday, February 22

Fellowship Meal following the worship service.  There is a sign-up sheet at the church for food to bring.  See Bryan Townsend for questions.  Thank you !

Sunday, February 22

Baby bottles with support money for Nevada Birthright are due back to Kim Reedy on the 22nd.  Thank you !

Don’t forget our Bible Quiz night on Saturday, March 28.  If you would like to sign up to be part of a team, there is a sign-up sheet at the church.  Or if you just want to know more, please contact Clayson !

Prayer & Praise

• Thank you for your prayers for Alex & Emily Lewis.  Continue to pray for healing for Alex and for God’s provision for job needs for the Lewises.  Thank you !
• Thank you for praying for Jaci Servos and Konner Sisseck as they prepare their wedding May 2.
• Please continue to pray for God’s healing and guidance for Austin Forkner, Julie’s son, who has recently been injured in motocross competitions.
• A friend of Diane Ray’s is asking us to pray for Jerry Janes and Jerry’s wife.  Jerry is in the hospital with Covid, pneumonia, and heart issues.  Though you may not know Jerry and his wife, thank you for praying !
• We give thanks to God for the news that Erica and Jesse McCallister are expecting a baby in May.  Also, their daughter Aubrey recently followed the Lord in water baptism.
• Let’s be in prayer for those at Crossroads who are expecting babies : two due in May !
• Thank you for praying for the beginning of our Spring semester activities.  May God cause them to bless and grow people in a deeper relationship with Him and with each other.  Please continue to pray for a permanent home for our church.  Thank you !

I like this prayer of the missionary Jim Elliot, written in his journal in the late 1940s :  “God, I pray Thee, light these idle sicks of my life and may I burn up for Thee.  Consume my life, my God, for it is Thine.  I seek not a long life but a full one, like you, Lord Jesus.”  May this be true of us at Crossroads Church !

Also this from Daniel Partner’s book All Things Are Possible :  “The Christian faith is the faith of sinners, of those who have sinned and in whom sin still dwells.  That is why Jesus said, ‘I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance’ (Luke 5:32).  This is why the Christian life is a life of continued repentance of sin.  Not only so, it is a life of continual faith in Christ, thankfulness for His redemptive death, love to God who sent Him, and joyful expectation of the glorious day of redemption, when believers will be fully acquitted and sin abolished forever.”

Have a great rest of the week, and I hope to see you this Sunday morning !

— Tom