It has been a really exciting season at Crossings Community. God is growing families in awesome ways and he is bringing new families to be the church with us. There is no greater joy than hearing stories of homes digging deeper into a relationship with Jesus and wrestling with all of the implications that growing relationship unwraps.
Our elders have felt God moving us to add to our staff team for some time. We shared this vision with the members of Crossings Community in March of 2011 and we have been praying and wrestling with it for some time. It is obvious that God has been preparing us for this time through all of the details he has orchestrated. Although we still don’t have all of the answers, we are extremely excited about how God is working.
Of course there are ministry tasks which include logistical and administrative objectives that need support. However, I want to give a glimpse into the primary vision behind our view of team leadership and shepherding at Crossings Community. Everything it takes to bring a Sunday worship gathering to fruition is a considerable task. Yet we believe that our worship gathering is only a small part of our mission to engage, equip, and empower homes for gospel transformation. We know that if homes are going to be authentically transformed, there will be real relationships as the catalyst for that transformation. Our elders are called to facilitate the intentional shepherding that is required to see those authentic relationships take shape. It is a unique balance between creating those relationships, and facilitating them through empowering the great leaders and families God has gathered to his church.
Unfortunately, this vision is not a very common idea among the 21st century western church. It is often times too focused on a business plan of moving a product to increase the bottom line. This reality shapes the way that pastors (which include elders) view their job description. This places our desire and vision as one that is not only counter-cultural amidst the world in which we live, but also amidst the church sub-culture.
What will be the greatest impact of a new addition to our staff team at Crossings Community? Yes, he will help our Sunday morning worship gathering immensely…. and yes he will help cover all of the details that leading any organization requires… but most of all he will allow us to move forward with our vision of engaging, equipping, and empowering families. He will give us the opportunity to remain faithful to the unique discipleship and community oriented vision that God has given us amidst the growing depth and breadth of his church.
As leaders we need your prayers! When you meet this person God is preparing, we would love for you to be able to say that you have been praying specifically for them even before you knew their name.
Matt