December 20

The people walking in darkness

    have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of deep darkness

    a light has dawned. Isaiah 9:2

5 Days until Christmas!
And 5 Christmas Eve Services!!

5PM & 7PM Westminster 12/23

3PM Hampstead 12/24

5PM & 7PM Westminster 12/24

After months of preparation and prayers the celebration of the birth of Christ is here. I hope God will give you an opportunity to be a light to someone walking in darkness this week. 

In case you missed it we made the front page! Here's the Carroll County Times story on the flashmob from Friday night.  CCTIMES VIDEO

Share your stories below!

December 13

As a young man marries a young woman, so will your Builder marry you;

as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you. Isaiah 62:5

Thank you to EVERYONE who made the Live Nativity such a huge success! I've heard some great stories already (I love the one about Kevin's Clydesdale sticking his head into the Lexus and then sneezing on the leather seats - and the driver!) i'm sure you have more spiritual stories to tell.  Please share your experiences with all of us in the comments section below. Then check back throughout the week to share in the testimony of God's Spirit at work.

Last week we ran a Facebook ad for the first time ever. The ad was announcing the opening of our Hampstead campus and was targeted to people who lived within a 3 mile radius of NCHS. It was really well received and as of tonight over 150 people have clicked on the ad to visit our website or our Facebook page. This week we are going to run another ad highlighting our Christmas Eve service in Hampstead. you can multiply the effectiveness of our ad by clicking here https://www.facebook.com/events/1530389653940120/  and indicating you are going. 

With just over 2 weeks left in December we have the opportunity to lead by example for our congregation. I do not have any results from today but I at the end of last week we had 151 givers to the NEXT offering. Yay God! That number includes about half of our staff and leadership teams. For those of you who have given, THANK YOU! If you have not yet given would you consider participating this week? I'd love for us to lead by example - regardless of the amount - and have 100% of our staff and leadership participating. 

December 6

And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord,

    in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.

And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great

    to the ends of the earth.

And he shall be their peace. Micah 5:4-5

So much happened before the shepherds stopped by...

And so much happens before every weekend service and every story of life change. I was reminded this morning of how many people serve in so many ways - even ways that most of us are unaware of - and how crucial every person is to the ministry of Crossroads. Thanks for playing your part!

Here are two stories of God moments...

After the Men of Standard presentation last month the Mayor of Union Bridge recognized the men from the recovery house walking through town and stopped them to share how encouraged he was at their story he heard at Crossroads.  He went on to ask them if they would sing at the Christmas tree lighting in Union Bridge! This is not the tree lighting but a shot of the men and Everett putting up their own tree in the house.

After receiving new members at the 11am service in Westminster we celebrated tonight with a dinner. It was so encouraging to hear their stories and enjoy fellowship with our new partners in ministry. 

PLEASE share your stories in the comments below.

November 29

The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly. Joshua 14:9

Happy Thanksgiving!

What a great way to end the NEXT series! Lots of people shared how they were going to embrace what God had next for them. From going back to school to opening a memory care assisted living facility, people were challenged and encouraged to move from here to there. Let's keep praying for the NEXT offering as we move into December and the end of the year.

Here's a story from this morning...
I met Connor after the 11am service in Westminster.  But I didn't meet him in the Sanctuary or in the Foyer but in Chipotle! He came up and introduced himself and shared that he had attended off and on with his parents and was currently a Sophomore at Loyola University. He shared how he thought he was a Christ follower his whole life but recently "found his way back" to God and was so excited to embrace what God had next for him. I was so encouraged by his story and so thankful that God allowed me to run into him at Chipotle.

Share your stories below!

November 22

Then the LORD said to Joshua, "See I have given Jericho into your hands..." Joshua 6:2

What a great encouraging morning worshiping at both campuses! I am so thankful for ALL our volunteers that make it happen. 

Here's a fun story that culminated this morning...

Michelle is a 20 something new Capernaum leader who is from a deaf family but who has cochlear implants that allow her to hear. She has been signing at our monthly club meetings and last week asked if it would be possible for her to interpret for her deaf sister who was open to coming to church for the first time this Sunday. Of course I said yes. 

Michelle shared this Tuesday night and asked others in our group to pray for her meanwhile, Janet (another member of our group) was working at the front desk on Wednesday afternoon and answered the phone and was asked by the caller if Crossroads had any deaf interpreted services! Well she explained we normally did not but it just so happened that we would this Sunday at 9:30 in Westminster. How cool is that?

November 15

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

NEXT off to a great start! As we began to focus on what's next for Crossroads I want to highlight a few things for everyone on our team.  Over the next 2 weeks I will continue to challenge our congregation to embrace what's next for Crossroads by serving and giving. Our NEXT offering will begin on November 29 and continue through the ed of the year. Our goal that I will continue to communicate from the stage is 100% and $100,000. I would ask that you join me in praying specifically for those goals. Be strong and courageous!

This is one story from this morning from Michelle (A 20 something who serves with us in Capernaum) she wrote to Elizabeth...
...the coolest thing is right before service I saw Lori in the lobby and we were talking and somehow she was led to ask me if I'd be interested serving in children's ministry and funny thing was a few days ago God brought that to my heart but I kept putting it aside BC of fear.   Well I said yes and got an application and then I heard the sermon and it fit so well that being courageous is being afraid but doing it anyway... I always let fear get in the way but at the same time if I'm really still and listen to His whisper - look for opportunity then joy happens! I'm super excited to see what God is going to do at Crossroads! 

Please share your stories below!

November 8

But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. Luke 15:32

What a great celebration of life!  Thank you to everyone who participated in the baptism services this morning.  We had such a diverse mix of people of all ages and backgrounds. I know the Hampstead campus was with us in spirit and I can't wait until we have out first baptisms there. Maybe some folks who came for the first time today will be those people!

Please share your stories from this week in the comments below!

November 1

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him." Luke 15:20

At the end of a week where we were without power for 2 days the Spirit's power was unmistakably present this morning! As people at each service in Westminster walked up and placed the broken pieces into the pot I could just see the love of the Father becoming more real to each of them. 

Here are a couple of stories...

A young man named Andrew came up after the service and told me he and his wife had moved back to Westminster specifically to reach out to her family who were not Christ followers. He shared through tears how his Father in law had come this morning for the first time!

Gary Hibbs shared with me how the Starting Point topic for this morning was brokenness.  We couldn't have planned that any better if we tried- which we didn't! I love it when God takes our plans and weaves them together better than we could have ever hoped. 

PLEASE share your stories!

October 25

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:26

"I saw flat Reid earlier today..." This one of the comments I heard from someone in the Chipotle parking lot today. As I was at Westminster at 8am and Hampstead at 9:30 and 11:00 it was a really powerful picture of the way God is at work!

Thank you to all of those who led groups and participated at both campuses today. Please share your stories of how you saw God at work in the comments section below.

October 18

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret... 2 Cor 10:7

Such a powerful opportunity this morning to share in the process of  people turning back to God! Thank you for playing your part.  Whether you were on stage, in the warehouse, in the cafeteria or not even in either building you should know we could not do what we do each Sunday without YOU!

I had several leaders tell me about new people who were coming for the first time this morning, especially in Hampstead.  I was excited during the message to picture them sitting in the auditorium.

One conversation I had this morning after the 9:30 service was with the Mother of a single Mom who has been coming off and on for several months. She wanted her Mother to meet me and Elizabeth (probably mostly Elizabeth). The Mother shared how she had lost both of her parents and an uncle in the past 6 months.  Then she said I really needed to be here this morning and hear I can turn to God. Amen!

PLEASE share your experiences below in the comments section. And don't forget to check back during the week to read other comments.