TMG
Tom’s Midweek Greeting
Crossroads Community Church
Nevada MO
June 24, 2020
I heard someone say recently, “A little thing is a little thing. But faithfulness in a little thing is a big thing.”
That’s true whether it has to do with raising children, building a strong marriage, doing your job, or attending to your walk with the Lord. Faithfulness in a little thing becomes a big thing. It’s how God goes about accomplishing His work — through faithful people.
I’m very proud of how you have stuck together, reached out, and cared for each other during the pandemic. This has not been an easy time for people, for businesses, nor for churches! Thank you for being a body of people who have worked together, adapted, and loved during this time. We’ll need to continue doing so in the weeks to come.
I believe the summer is a time for us to get refreshed and recharged in anticipation of an exciting season of ministry ahead at Crossroads. You have grown in so many ways over the past five years, … and faithfulness has been at the heart of your growth. I see growth in you in four specific areas:
- You have become students of the Word. I do marvel at your attention to, and your increased love for, God’s Word. That’s a good sign about what’s going on in your lives! God says about His Word, “It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).
- You have grown as worshipers. Sunday morning is more than just doing music; the act of worship has become an offering you bring to the Lord through song, through prayer, and through interaction with the Word. This is very exciting. I have sensed, during the pandemic, your longing for worship … and your desire for fellowship!
- You have grown as disciple-makers. Church-planting is really, at its heart, about making disciples … which is the command Jesus gave to His original disciples when He left the earth. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:18-20).
- You have a growing understanding of – and desire for – using your gifts in serving God and others. There are so many outstanding gifts of the Spirit at Crossroads – service, leadership, music, compassion, prayer, and teaching gifts, among others. I look forward to renewing our ministry teams soon and, Lord willing, adding some new ones!
Churches grow in many different ways. Each one is like a plant with its own “bent” toward a certain kind of growth. Crossroads’ growth seems to be (at least for now) based on building strong friendships and encouraging others to experience the “abundant” life Jesus spoke of in John 10:10 when He said, “I have come that they might have life, and have it abundantly.”
I believe people who come to Crossroads find a haven of sorts – a church without drama, and a place for healing and support. It’s a place to grow spiritually and to learn to bring God into everyday life. I have more than once described it as a church where people see life as ministry.
That kind of growth is healthy growth, but it can be a relatively slow growth. The past five years have been a long, slow, wide turn of getting the church back on a good and healthy course. It reminds me again that faithfulness in little things turns out to be a big thing.
What does the future hold?
I think we have wonderful opportunities ahead to build on the foundation that has been laid. Even though we’re primarily a “life-is-ministry” church, there are also a number of regular ministry activities God is blessing at Crossroads:
- Both structured and informal kinds of discipleship happen throughout the week among us.
- There are faithful members of the church working with young people on a regular basis.
- We have a growing number of people capable of a dynamic Children’s Church ministry, once we’re able to start it up again.
- How do we build on our experiences with Young Life?
- Our worship team is becoming more defined and is growing in its ministry.
- Some of our young adults meet together for fellowship and encouragement. How do we continue to develop relationships with students at Cottey College and at Crowder College?
- Our elders are seeking God’s will in providing good leadership to the church.
- I’ve enjoyed Monday Night Bible Study, both as a teaching tool for us and as an outreach and support to some outside the Crossroads Family. We look forward to Home Group when it gets started again.
I look forward to visiting the building for sale on Washington Street with you on Sunday, July 5, at 5 pm. (Note the new time!). It may be God’s will for us to purchase our own home at this time … or it may be something He calls us to consider for a later time … or it may just be a chance to dream. As with any building, there will be pros and cons:
- It’s a clean, attractive, comfortable building that would fit a group about our size or a little bigger.
- The current owners are selling their chairs and equipment with the building.
- There is, however, no room on the property for growth.
- It would require significant financial sacrifice on the part of Crossroads’ people, … or some God-given outside gifts, in order for us to buy it.
- Upkeep of a building and property would be a new concern for us.
- Yet, it would also be great to finally have a place for people and groups within the church to meet outside of Sunday morning only.
I hope you’ll come on July 5th and have a look. What vision is God trying to create in us together?
I think we have a bright future ahead of us! Let’s make it a great year coming up! God is never early; He is never late; He is always right on time, and His plan for us is good! May He find us faithful!
Let’s continue to pray for those at Crossroads who are looking for work; and for others who need healing for themselves or for loved ones.
Coming Up
Worship Music this Saturday, 5 pm, on Facebook.
Worship Service this Sunday, 10 am, in the gym at the Osage Prairie YMCA.
This Sunday’s sermon, from Ephesians 5, will be posted on Facebook by Saturday evening for those not able to make it on Sunday.
Monday Night Bible Study, next Monday, 7 pm, on Facebook.
Or join a few others at my house, *contact us for address*.
Visit at 1409 N. Washington Street – Sunday, July 5, 5 pm.
Note the new time. We were not able to schedule a visit immediately after our worship service. The new time is 5:00 for those interested in seeing the building.
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4
And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good. 2 Thessalonians 3:13
See you Sunday!
— Tom
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