Hello Crossroads Family !
The Apostle Peter reminds us that believers in Jesus Christ should be growing !
“Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation” (1 Peter 2:2).
Are you growing as a Christian ? Can you name some specific ways (even if they seem small to you) where you feel like you’re growing ? Growth is an expectation God has of us ; it’s also a requirement if we’re to live a joyful, victorious life in Christ.
In Peter’s second letter, he tells us that God has put at our disposal everything we need in order to grow :
He “has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3).
Among the resources He has granted to us are promises which we can claim by faith, the Church where we find fellowship and help, and the Holy Spirit who lives in every true Christian.
This Sunday, we’ll talk about another key to spiritual growth : witnessing. A witness is someone who tells what he has seen and heard. As we witness of the Good News, and as we share with others our own experience of salvation — both with words and through loving relationships — we lead people to God and we grow and are changed !
I hope to see you this Sunday starting at 10 am ! We’ll have Children’s Church for 0-7 year-olds and a Bible Class for 8-13 year-olds whose parents would like for them to attend.
Some notes and reminders :
Immerse tonight, 7 pm. Tonight’s discussion will be on the Week 9 reading from the handout you received at the beginning of the semester. Come even if you’ve missed some sessions recently and even if you didn’t get the reading done ! You’ll benefit from the fellowship and discussion !
Men’s Recharge, tomorrow (Thursday) night, 6:30 pm. All men are invited for study, fellowship, and encouragement. Tomorrow’s subject will be “Reading the Bible : Practical ways to study the Scriptures,” led by Forrest. Hope you can join us, men. I look forward to better understanding ways to approach the Bible !
More …
We’ve scheduled a short reception at the conclusion of worship on Sunday, May 10, to honor our graduates : Shalea Dahmer, Jacob Dryer, Micah Lyons, Evan Rea, and Audrey Rives. I hope you’ll plan to hang around for a few extra minutes on Mothers Day.
The Women’s Breakfast & Bible Study has finished for this semester, but all women are invited through the summer to meet on the third Saturday of each month for breakfast and fellowship at 54 Cafe at 8 am. On May 16, the breakfast will be followed by a time to work on Bible decorating, led by Elizabeth Scheib. There are a number of fun activities for women planned for the coming summer months !
We’ve scheduled a 24-hour prayer vigil for June 30-July. More information coming, along with an opportunity to sign up for an hour of prayer during the 24-hour vigil !
Elders Meeting
Thanks for your support of, and prayers for, our Crossroads elders. We had good meeting last Sunday that surely broke the record for longest elders meeting ever at Crossroads. We followed it with lunch out together – one of the ways we hope to build up our team this year. Shane will share more details from the meeting at the conclusion of our worship service this Sunday. Here are a few highlights :
- We made plans for investing some of the financial surplus and monies that have been specifically designated for a building.
- We studied the financial report for January-March 2026. Thank you for your faithful giving, especially as we transition into taking me on as full-time pastor.
- We had some discussion in regard to property and building needs and options. We’ll be taking steps to try to create a visual of the kind of building we think Crossroads needs as we seek God’s provision of a permanent home of our own.
- We had several calendar items and proposed activities to discuss. We also discussed baptism preparation and follow-up / discipleship for those baptized.
- We discussed the possibility of a church phone that the elders would taking turns having possession of in order to receive calls for church needs and business.
- We participated in a study on Church Membership. What is Church Membership ? Is there a basis in the Bible for church membership as it’s practiced in many churches today ? In what ways is a church to be organized, and how is decision-making to take place in the church ? What are the expectations we have for one another as members of a church ?
- We prayed together.
Central District EFCA
A good email came to me today from the office of our EFCA Central District. If you’re interested in receiving the district’s news via email, you can sign up at their website, efcacentral.org.
The Annual District Conference is coming up April 27-28 in West Des Moines. I’ve been quite a few times to the conference in past years, going all the way back, probably, to 1990. It’s always a good time of fellowship, learning, speakers, excellent worship, and also a business session where decisions are made that affect the Central District. As I recall, Crossroads is entitled to have two delegates at the business session each year. Let’s plan to send some people next year. Our Hermann church used to send several people to the District Conference ; it was a bonding and growing time for those who went.
In today’s email, Superintendent Mike Shields writes about why some churches seem to thrive while others struggle. In fact, Mike says this is the question he’s most often asked in his role as District Superintendent. Here’s a list of things he has seen to be true about churches that thrive :
1. They hold to a high view of Scripture.
2. They set a Gospel agenda. (In other words, the Gospel drives their mission.)
3. They pursue the glory of Jesus.
4. They love people well.
5. They have compassion for the vulnerable.
6. They serve the community.
7. They pray for God’s presence and power.
Mike recognizes that there may be other qualities to add to the list. And he says some churches may appear to thrive for a time even though they don’t possess the qualities listed above. However, they will prosper only for a season if they don’t have a proper view of Scripture, a hunger for the glory of Jesus, and a humble dependency upon God in prayer.
Let’s keep growing individually and as a church ! I look forward to seeing you later this week and weekend !
— Tom
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