Hello, Crossroads Family!

I was startled this morning by two statements Moses made to the Israelites as they were preparing to cross the Jordan River and begin the conquest of Canaan (Deuteronomy 8).  There’s a lot of encouragement in those first chapters of Deuteronomy as Moses reviews God’s faithfulness during the Israelites’ journey from Egypt.  However, at one point, as he’s looking back, Moses says, “God let you be hungry” (Deut 8:3) ; and at another point he says, “God humbled you” (Deut 8:16).

Imagine that!  God let you be hungry.  And God humbled you.

To think that part of what God does as He grows us as people is to humble us is … well, humbling.  And mysterious.  And maybe a bit frustrating.  We don’t like to be humbled, even though most of us realize we need — often — to be kept humble.  

The idea that He let the Israelites be hungry is also startling.  “He let you be hungry, and then He fed you with manna which you did not know” (Deut 8:3).  Most of us are not experiencing hunger today, but many of us do have other needs or hungers.  We’re not hungry for food, but we’re hungry for other things.  Is it possible that sometimes God allows to remain hungry while intending to feed us with something we didn’t know about or weren’t expecting?  I hope we won’t be so stubborn that we refuse to see — or accept — the new, previously unknown, way by which He feeds us.

There’s a passage in the book of Isaiah where God talks about leading His people by a previously unknown way:  “I will lead the blind by ways they have not known; along unfamiliar paths I will guide them” (Isaiah 42:16).

Food we didn’t know and paths we didn’t know.  What an amazing God we serve!  What an interesting journey our lives are on when we follow Him.  

I’m grateful for the good, grace-filled congregational meeting we had last Sunday.  Thanks to all who were present and participated.  As we discussed future plans for Crossroads, it caused me to think that the path forward will likely be a new one for us all, no matter what our past experience has been in building or growing a church.  I’ve been involved in four church-plants.  I would be mistaken if I thought this one was going to look just like one or more of the past efforts.  Thank you for your flexibility, enthusiasm, sacrifice, faith, love, and prayers!  We are on a journey we haven’t known before and will likely be eating food we haven’t previously tried!  Let’s have eyes and minds that are wide open in faith and anticipation!

I hope two Sundays from now to preach a sermon that will follow up on some of our discussion from last Sunday’s meeting — things along these lines :

• What vision for our church ?
• What is a pastor ?  Why pay a pastor money ?
• What needs do we have moving forward ?
• What is tithing / giving ?  What are God’s expectations in this area ?

That sounds like a lot, but I’m excited that God is opening new ways for us to move forward.  Our journey forward will involve all of us and others God will add to our family along the way!

Calendar

Here’s at least a partial list of things going on at Crossroads in May and beyond :

• This Sunday, May 11 :  Worship at 10:00.  We’ll honor mothers and graduates with some prayer and refreshments at the conclusion of the worship service.

• Thursday, May 15 :  Men’s Recharge, 6:30-8:00, at the church building.  Let’s turn out, men, for a good time of encouragement and fellowship in studying the Ten Commandments :  “The Ten Greatest Struggles of Your Life.”

• Friday, May 16 :  Women’s “Bond Fire,” 6:30 pm, at Jessica Baker’s home, 320 N. Olive Street.  Bring a lawn chair and a snack to share.  S’mores, fellowship, and more!

• Saturday, May 17 :  Women’s Breakfast & Fellowship, 8 am, at 54 Cafe.  All women invited.

• Thursday, June 12 :  Crossroads serves at the Food Stand for Gospel Night on the square in Nevada, approximately 5:30 – 10:00 pm.  More information and sign-up times coming.

• Sunday, June 15 :  Baptisms following the worship service.  Please let me know if you’re interested in being baptized.

• Thursday, June 19 :  Men’s Recharge, 6:30 pm

• Friday, June 20 : “Drive-In” movie for the women’s Summer of Sisterhood, at Erin Reedy’s home in Metz.

• June 24-26 :  Tom attends EFCA One, the national conference of the Evangelical Free Church of America, in West Des Moines, Iowa.

• Sunday, July 20 :  Crossroads cooks and serves dinner for high school campers at Kamp Keirsey, near Miami.  More information to come.

There will be other events and opportunities.  I hope we can organize some midweek or Sunday evening small group study and fellowship for the summer.  Working on that now.

Please take a minute to sign up at the church if you can take a turn cleaning the church.  Sign up on one of the Fridays available (although you are free to clean any day, not just Friday).  Also, sign up on the calendar in an available Sunday slot if you can bring breakfast food or refreshments some Sunday coming up.  Thank you!

Prayers & Praise

Congratulations to Konner Sisseck and Jaci Servos who are engaged!  We’re excited for you!

Prayers for Cris and for Forrest as God brings healing and recuperation.

Prayers for elderly parents who need our care, attention, and love.

Prayers for those who grieve at the passing of Wendell Teagarden who devoted so much of his life to ministry to young people at Kamp Keirsey.

Prayers for a motocross friend of Austin Forkner recently paralyzed in an accident.  And for Julie’s parents, LJ and Judy, who lost their home in the recent tornado and incurred additional damage from a fire.

Hello, Crossroads Family !

Thank you for all the birthday wishes yesterday and today, for the new coffee mug, and for the card which I will treasure for a long time.  You’re very kind to care for me and about me.  We have a beautiful and growing church family.  I’m grateful for each one of you and what you add to the unique church that Crossroads is.  I think we have a great future ahead of us !

I’m glad yesterday’s sermon resonated with many of you.  I’ve had several comments and questions and am currently engaged in some conversation on the subject with two or three of you.  If you were not with us yesterday, you can listen to the sermon on the Crossroads Facebook page or on my personal Facebook page.

I want to send out a few reminders before the week gets too busy !  Here they are :

Congregational Meeting

We’ll have a congregational meeting immediately following the worship service this Sunday.  Everyone is invited to attend whether you are a member at Crossroads or not.  The agenda will look like this :

• Prayer
• Finance Report
• Update on elders’ plans for future building / pastor needs at Crossroads.
• Two proposed changes to the church by-laws.
• Ministry & Calendar Updates.  (If you have something to update us on in your area of ministry at Crossroads, please plan to share that at the meeting.  Thank you.)
• Closing Prayer (probably in a circle holding hands ).

Recognition of Grads & Moms

Typically, we have a short reception at the end of a morning worship service in May to honor those from Crossroads who are graduating.  We’re planning to do that on Sunday, May 11, which is also Mothers Day.  So we’ll honor grads and moms with a short time of refreshments at the conclusion of the worship service on the 11th.  Hope you can be there !  (Please let me know if you know of someone who is graduating from high school or any other program this spring.  We don’t want to leave anyone out !)

Baptisms

We’ll have a baptismal service at the close of worship on Sunday, June 15, at the home of David and Heather Vestal on the west side of Nevada.  There is one person who has expressed an interest in being baptized.  If you would also like to be baptized, please let me know so we can plan on that.  Thank you !  

May calendar

Most of our ordinary activities are continuing in May.  Only Immerse has finished for the semester.  (Hope to see you for more Immerse in the fall !)  We have several people in our church who are excellent at one-on-one Bible study and helping others grow in the faith.  Let me know if being paired up with someone like that would help meet a need in your life !

• 8-13 year-old Bible class this Sunday, May 4, during the sermon.
• Reception for grads & moms following worship on Sunday, May 11.
• All men are invited to Recharge on Thursday, May 15, 6:30-8:00 pm.
• All women are invited to a “Bond Fire” time of s’mores & fellowship at Jessica Baker’s home on Friday, May 16, at 6:30 pm.
• All women are invited out to breakfast together at 54 Cafe on Saturday, May 17, 8:00 am.

My schedule

Several of you have asked if things have begun to slow down for me at Nevada High School now that the show-choir competition season is over.  Well, yes and no.  Here’s a picture of what I’m doing within the Fine Arts Department at NHS this month :

• Choir pictures this afternoon followed by our “retirement” show this evening at 6 pm.  The retirement show is the final performance of this year’s two shows.  You’re invited to come out and watch at the Performing Arts Center at 6 pm if you’re free.  Nevada Middle School will also perform their show.

• This Thursday and Friday, I’ll be accompanying two of our soloists at State Music Contest in Columbia.  After the competition on Friday, I look forward to lunch with my mother-in-law.

• It feels like we’ve been having daily rehearsals for quite a long while for the high school’s spring musical.  We’re getting close to the performance dates which are May 8-10.  This Saturday is a “Super Saturday” rehearsal from 2-8:30 pm which I’ll be part of.  I hope you can come see the show ; it’s a modern-day high school adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma.

• Our combined choir will perform at Senior Sermon at the high school on Sunday evening, May 11, the kick-off to Senior Week.  We’ll also perform at graduation on Sunday, May 18.  Our Spring Concert and awards presentation is on Monday, the 12th, at 7 pm.  You are welcome to attend !  

God is good to assign us tasks to accomplish, to guide us in decision-making, and to give grace and strength for each day.  We know how much He loves us.  He will do all that is right for His glory and our good.

Have a great week !

— Tom

Hello, Crossroads Family !

I hope to see many of you tonight at Immerse at 7:00 as we finish up our discussion of the kings and kingdoms of Israel and Judah.  Everyone is invited !  You’ll find the discussion to be worthwhile whether you’ve completed this week’s reading or not.

There are, in the Bible, some psalms that give excellent summaries of the history of Israel we read about in other books of the Old Testament.  One of those is Psalm 78, written by a man named Asaph, a prominent musician appointed by King David.  In Psalm 78, Asaph writes an easy-to-understand summary of Israel’s history up to his day.  One of the themes is a theme we’ve observed at Immerse this semester :  No matter how good God was to the people of Israel, they continually did wrong and disobeyed Him !  (“They just don’t seem to learn,” is one way it was put in one of our discussion groups — which can, sadly, also describe ourselves at time !)

• “Yet they still continued to sin against Him, to rebel against the Most High …” (78:17).
• “In spite of all this they still sinned and did not believe in His wonderful works” (78:32).
• “Again and again they tempted God and pained the Holy One of Israel” (78:41).
• “Yet they tempted and rebelled against the Most High God and did not keep His testimonies” (78:56).

I think my favorite line in Psalm 78, however, is verse 65 :  “Then the Lord awoke as if from sleep.”  God, after allowing the Israelites to be drained of their strength and to receive punishment from their adversaries, seemed to “wake up” and make all things right again.  A part of that was His choice of David to be His servant and the nation’s king.

Do you feel like you’re waiting for God to “wake up” in some area of your life ?  Of course, God never sleeps nor even grows weary ; but sometimes it may seem to us like He’s asleep !  

At a point in the history of Israel, Asaph says God woke up and undertook much-needed action !  Will God do that in our lives ?  Yes, I believe He has and will again.  And, if He will do that, can we patiently wait for His right moment ?  Can we trust His timing ?  And — just as God seemed one day to “wake up” — in what ways do we as a church also need to wake up ?

The final line of Psalm 78 is also a good one.  Speaking of King David, it says,  “He shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart and with his skillful hands (78:72).”  I like these two qualities mentioned about David :  (1) the integrity of his heart — a man of integrity ; and (2) skillful in what He did.

It is possible to do things in the church skillfully and with excellence.  Sometimes a false humility (or, sometimes, spiritual laziness) causes us to think it’s acceptable in church to offer to God what’s less than our absolute best, or to cut corners (i.e., to miss David’s standard of integrity).  Sometimes there may also be a thought that ordinary churchgoers can never really be skilled in ministry  — in outreach, children’s ministry, music, teaching, discipleship, or prayer.  Actually, I think we can grow in the excellence of what we offer to God, and experience the joy of doing our very best for Him on a regular basis.  (I see this happening at Crossroads.)  Our Evangelical Free Church Central District is offering several evenings of training and encouragement for church ministry leaders in May (see below).  I hope someone from Crossroads will take advantage of one of these “workshops” and that we will all grow in integrity and skill in serving God … even as He “wakes up” and does something great among us !  

Notes & Dates

Thank you !

Thanks to everyone who made Easter Sunday morning such a good time of worship and celebration !  I suppose it was the largest attendance we’ve had in my memory at Crossroads, and we were missing several regular attenders who were ill or out of town.  May God show us how to welcome and include in our lives those who are new at Crossroads !

Helping Women in Pittsburg

Don’t forget to bring something this Sunday to help with the outreach Rachel DeWeese is organizing as part of a school project at Pitt State.  The box at the back of the church is available for your donations of personal hygiene products for women and will be used by the Wesley House in Pittsburg.  Thank you !

Calendar :

• Tonight :  Immerse, 7:00-8:15.

• This Sunday, April 27 :  Worship at 10:00.  Come early if you would like to pray with a few others.

• Sunday, May 4 :
  • 8-13 year-olds Bible class during the sermon
  • Congregational meeting following the worship service.  Everyone is welcome to attend.

• Thursday, May 15 :  Men’s Recharge, 6:30-8:00.  All men are invited.

• Friday, May 16 :  Women’s “Bond Fire,” 6:30-8:30 in Jessica’s back yard at 320 N. Olive Street in Nevada.  S’mores, snacks, and fellowship.  Bring a lawn chair and a snack to share.

• Saturday, May 17 :  Women’s Breakfast fellowship at 54 Cafe, 8 am.

***  Don’t forget that we’ll be serving food at Gospel Night during Bushwhacker Days on Thursday, June 12.  More details coming.

Training for all interested ministry leaders 

Our Central District EFC team is giving a series of one-night trainings for church ministry leaders throughout the district in May.  This training is open to pastors, elders, and lay leaders such as children’s ministry leaders, women’s ministry, men’s ministry, music, and youth leaders.  Here’s a description :

Every church leader plays a vital role in seeing their local church live out the Gospel in their community.  Life-giving churches have leaders who live and serve with Gospel Clarity, Gospel Boldness, Gospel Compassion, and Gospel Humility. Join us as Mike Shields unpacks the question, “What does a life-giving leader look like in the local church?”   Mike is our Central District Superintendent and will give an excellent training.

Would you like to be more of a life-giving leader in the church ?  The Bible says of Jesus, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4).  
The closest trainings for us are these :

• Monday, May 5, Siloam Springs.
• Tuesday, May 6, St Louis.
• Thursday, May 8, Jefferson City.

The evenings will last from 6:00-8:30 and will include light snacks.
If you’re interested in attending, you will need to register here.  You may also contact Mark Farran at the Central District office : mfarran@efcacentral.org.  Or you can call the office at 515-232-9005.
He shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them with his skillful hands (Psalm 78:72).
May God be at work in all of our lives this week !

— Tom

Hello, Crossroads Family !

Here’s a reminder of what’s going on at Crossroads, and a couple extra thoughts at the end :

This Week :

• Tonight :  Immerse, 7-8:15 pm.  Everyone invited !  Reading assignment is pp 210-242 in the Immerse Bible, or 1 Kings 17 – 2 Kings 10 in your own Bible.

• Thursday :  Men’s Recharge, 6:30-8:00 pm.  All men invited for encouragement and fellowship in an ongoing discussion of the Ten Commandments :  “The Ten Greatest Struggles of Your Life.”

• Saturday :  Women’s Fellowship & Breakfast at 54 Cafe, 8:00 am.  All women invited.

• Sunday :  Easter breakfast at 9:30 am, followed by worship at 10:00

More …

Helping Women in Pittsburg

Don’t forget there is a box available throughout the month of April for donations of hygiene products (shampoo, body wash, toothbrushes, feminine hygiene products, etc) for the Wesley House, an outreach to women in Pittsburg.  This is part of a school project of Rachel DeWeese who is a student at Pitt State.  If you have any questions, feel free to ask Rachel.  Thank you !

Congregational Meeting, May 4

Please mark your calendar for a congregational meeting following the worship service on Sunday, May 4.  Everyone is invited to attend.  We’ll discuss some of the goals we’re working on for the future of Crossroads ; we’ll have updates from ministry teams, discuss summer plans, and pray together.  We value your participation !  I’m grateful for each person at Crossroads !  We have an amazing blend of personalities, life experiences, and walks with the Lord !

Are you interested in baptism ?

Please let me know if you’re interested in being baptized this summer.  We have typically used David and Heather Vestal’s swimming pool for baptisms ; the month of June is best for them this summer, so if you’re interested, please let me know soon.  Thank you !

A great time of women’s fellowship & service last Sunday !

Thirty-three purses were packed last Sunday afternoon with women’s products for distribution to the Vernon County Sheriff’s office, Birthright, Moss House, and the Wesley house.  Fifteen smiling women came to the church to pack and help !  Thank you to Bobbie Barbour and Diane Ray for organizing, and to all the Crossroads women who helped !  It looked like a great time !  May God bless and encourage the women who will receive these gifts !

Looking ahead to celebrating Resurrection Day !

I’m looking forward to our celebration, worship, and fellowship this coming Sunday — one of the happiest days of the year.  We have a special Sunday planned, and I hope you’ll be there !  A few notes :

• As you know, we’re planning a light breakfast starting at 9:30.  Thank you to those who have signed up to bring food and drinks.  Please plan to come early and enjoy some fellowship prior to the worship service.  Be sure to invite a friend or family member to come with you.  If you have any questions about the breakfast, please contact Heather Vestal.

• Please make an effort to fill up seats in the front first.  Let’s try to leave the back rows for those with small children who need access to the Children’s Church room, and for our guests (rather than making them sit in the front !).  I know you understand, and thank you in advance !  The best seats are the ones in the front anyway.  

• A short Easter egg hunt is being planned for after the service, for anyone interested.

• Thank you for praying during the next few days that God would bless all that will take place this coming Sunday.

1. Christ the Lord is risen today : Alleluia !
   Sons of men and angels say, “Alleluia!”
   Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
   Sing, ye heav’ns, and earth, reply, Alleluia!
2. Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
   Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
   Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia!
   Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!
3. Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
   Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
   Death in vain forbids His rise, Alleluia!
   Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!
4. Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia!
   Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
   Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!
   Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

Hello, Crossroads Family !

These are good days at Crossroads — good outreach, joyful worship, new connections, opportunities to serve.  I always enjoy the Easter season, and I hope you do too.  All the same, when things go well we should be wary of some surprise attack from the Enemy.  Please be vigilant in prayer !  Thank you !  Thank you for keeping in mind some of the prayer needs at Crossroads and elsewhere :

• Julie Forkner’s parents, L.J. & Judy, who lost their home in the tornado last week.
• Those in Arkansas who are in trouble due to storms and floodwaters ; in particular, please pray for Dave & Midge Prickett’s friends in Hot Springs.
• Those in our church family who still battle the respiratory bug that has gone around this year : Dave & Midge, Mark Tice, Angi Dahmer, others.
• Healing for Forrest Drury.
• Job need and God’s supply for Heather Hall.
• Those in places of decision-making.
• Kourtnee Vestal preparing to serve again this summer with Centrikids camps.
• Wisdom in ministering to our growing number of children at Crossroads.  What a blessing !

I look forward to our worship service this Sunday.  Lord willing, we’ll have a short missions update as well as a short report from last week’s elders meeting.  (I’ve included some notes from that meeting at the end of this email.)

Here are a few reminders about what’s happening at Crossroads :

Tonight :  Immerse at 7:00, at the church.

Everyone welcome !

Worship :  Sunday morning, 10:00, at the church.

Come at 9:00 to pray with a few others.  The sermon will be on the question, “Is it true ?”

Women’s “Dignity in a Bag” service & fellowship : Sunday afternoon, 3:00, at the church.

All Crossroads women are invited for a time of putting together small gifts to bless women in our community who could be encouraged by a small gesture of love.  Join us at the church this afternoon !  For more information, please see Diane Ray or Bobbie Barbour.

Helping Women in Pittsburg

Rachel DeWeese is collecting hygiene products (shampoo, body wash, toothbrushes, feminine hygiene products, etc) as part of a school project at Pitt State to donate to the Wesley House, an outreach to women in Pittsburg.  If you can contribute, a box is available at the back of the church.  Drop something off any time this month.  Please speak with Rachel if you have any questions.  Thank you !

More …

• Men’s Recharge – Thursday, April 17, 6:30-8:00 pm
• Women’s Breakfast & Fellowship – Saturday, April 19, 8 am, at 54 Cafe
• Easter Fellowship & Breakfast – Sunday, April 20, 9:30 am

Easter breakfast sign-up, egg hunt

We’ll have a light, informal breakfast available Easter Sunday morning at 9:30.  Come early and enjoy some fellowship.  There will be a sign-up sheet available this Sunday if you can bring one or more breakfast items.  Thank you !  For questions, see Heather Vestal.  

Also, if you could contribute some plastic Easter eggs stuffed with some small prize or Bible verse for a short Easter egg hunt after the service, please bring those to Donna Rodriguez or Michaela Walker.  Thank you !

Elder Meeting Notes

• We reviewed the upcoming calendar and discussed some details for Easter Sunday morning.
• We scheduled a congregational meeting for Sunday, May 4, following the worship service.
• We discussed the possibility of increasing the pastor’s salary to a full-time salary as a next-step in Crossroads growth and planning for the future.  Timing and details to be shared at the May congregational meeting.
• We discussed two small proposals to the church by-laws :  One would allow for absentee voting at congregational meetings.  The second is a small change needed in the section on the Statement of Faith.  More details at the congregational meeting.
• We discussed information Tom has received on the start-up of a Christian school in Nevada.  We will make information available to the congregation.
• We discussed some current needs among the people of the church and prayed together. 

The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David !  Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord !  Hosanna in the highest !”     (Matthew 21:9)