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Randy Snyder, Sr. Minister
My favorite dictionary is not Webster’s, it is one called the Doubleday Dictionary. Its definitions are just slightly different, a little more expressive that Webster’s. They define the word transition as “the passage from one place, condition, or stage to another”. That describes exactly what we are facing as a congregation. We are getting ready to move from one place to another place, from one condition to another condition and from one stage to another stage of growth as a church.
Our new building does not make us any different, but it does afford opportunities for change that are not possible without the building. We will have room for physical growth of the congregation. We will have the opportunity to reach new people that we have never reached before. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but there are scores of new faces here every week, particularly at the 11:00 service. The Lord is already directing people here. Each week I meet new families, new couples, new individuals who say, “We saw the building going up and decided to check out what’s going on at CrossView.”
Would you prepare, pray, and plan for the transition that the Lord just may have for your life. Maybe He has a “transition” plan for you personally and spiritually. Don’t believe that? Just wait and see!
Randy
Greg Cowger, Administrator
I was really moved by Kevan Duke’s message on February 17, entitled, “More Than A Building.” Moved so much in fact that I want to revisit that topic with you. You see, the church, as God planned it, is people. People caring and loving each other and people who don’t understand the importance of having a Savior in their life.
As we head into the final days of completion of our new Ministry Center, I have to wonder if enough people will volunteer an hour or two a week so that, that building becomes a church. There are many areas of ministry that will require additional “people power” to make them effective. God is blessing CrossView with many new faces each week. Our attendance has increased 50% since the beginning of the Ministry Center project! Statistically, our number of volunteers should also increase to insure we are reaching out and impacting lives. Are you involved in a ministry? Are you serving the King of kings with your talents or sitting in the building watching others? If we are the Body (of Christ) why aren’t our arms reaching, why aren’t our hands healing, why aren’t our words teaching? We need you to become a part of our church.
CrossView is more than a building. I challenge you to step out into the many opportunities it holds for those who are working together to grow and share their new life in Christ with others.
Greg
Randy Snyder, Sr. Minister
Today it is in vogue for churches to have contemporary sounding names. For instance, you will see names like “Greater Hope Church”, “Living Word Church”, “Abounding Joy Church” etc. My favorite was a church in central Ohio called, “New Beginnings Church”. To me, that captures where we are as a congregation. We are facing new beginnings in 2008. In a very real sense, when we move next door in March, CrossView Christian Church will become a new church. That can be difficult for many. From March onward, people will reference events, weddings, and funerals by saying, “old building” or “new building”. That’s certainly understandable. We will all do that!
The difficulty can be that the desire in all of us is to live in the past. Jethro Tull, a rock band of the 70’s, had a song called, “Living in the Past.” The last lines go like this:
“Let us close our eyes; outside their lives go much faster. Oh, we won’t give in; we’ll keep living in the past. We won’t give in; we’ll keep living in the past.”
That can happen to anyone. Paul told the Philippian Church, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal for which God has called me…” Paul wasn’t showing disrespect for the past, he was admonishing us to live today and anticipate what God will do in the future!
Let’s honor the past! God has blessed this church these past 167 years! We will forever be grateful for that. But God has called us to live in the today, and face the future with the One who is the same, yesterday, today, and tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8). His name is Jesus. To God be the Glory, great things He has done, is doing, and will do.
Randy
Greg Cowger, Administrator
If you only knew the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you
and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
2008 without a doubt will be a year of ‘new’ here at CrossView. New people, new Ministry Center, new staff, new challenges and new opportunities just to name a few. I want to help you focus on the opportunities that await us in 2008.
God is blessing CrossView in many ways, those obvious and the unobvious. One obvious way is in the new friendships that are being created with the numerous new families attending each weekend. The growth in attendees is a welcome sight that creates new opportunities in the ministries of CrossView. At the Welcome To CrossView Luncheons that are held, I make a statement to those attending that could be considered bold. I say, “if you really want to experience church, you need to become involved in the ministry of the church. In fact, we expect you to serve here at CrossView.”
I am not aware of any ministry team here that could not use the talents of others. God has gifted each of us with skills. Your skills need to be used here at CrossView to make a difference for the Kingdom of God. Remember our mission statement, “working together to grow and share our new life in Christ with others”? It will only become reality when everyone does their part. The new Ministry Center is going to require many new volunteers in order for us to utilize it to its fullest. More Guest Services personnel, an increased Nursery staff, Parking attendants, Worship Team members, Children’s Ministry helpers, Café servers, Maintenance people, Event hosts, Student Ministry leaders and the list goes on and on and on. If you only knew all the areas where you could be serving.
So, I challenge you to get out of your comfortable seat, get out of your comfort zone and get involved in the ministry of our Lord, Jesus Christ here at CrossView. Call me today and let’s get the new year off to a great start as we work together to grow and share our new life in Christ with others.
Greg
