Equipping the Saints
One of the primary reasons pastors exist at CrossWay is “to equip the saints for the work of ministry” (Eph. 4:11). Yes, every pastor, like every other member, is to “do the work of an evangelist” (2Tim. 4:5), but our primarily role is a shepherding role.
Every Member Ministry
When it comes to our outward mission as a church, pastors exist to envision, equip, support, and mobilize every member of CrossWay to proclaim and demonstrate the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in their homes, communities and areas of work and service.
Evangelism
We especially want to encourage broad participation in evangelism at CrossWay. Our desire is for evangelism to be integrated into the life of the believer and done by every member of CrossWay. We long for evangelism motivated out of a love for Christ and neighbor, and fulfilled providentially through God-given relationships. To that end we propose the following long-term objectives.
1. Every member of CrossWay would be able to articulate the gospel in a clear, concise, compelling, and personal way.Mercy Ministries
2. Every member of CrossWay would deeply care about conversions, the lost, and the spread of the gospel through our local church.
3. Every member of CrossWay would earnestly and regularly pray for conversions, share their personal testimonies, and prioritize people coming to know God.
4. Every member of Crossway would own the responsibility for personal gospel witness in their homes, vocations, and communities.
5. Every member of CrossWay would be personally excited and in faith about the power of the gospel to transform lives.
Mercy ministry is the hands and feet of evangelism. Long before we open our mouths to speak of the love of Christ, we hope those we speak to experience the love of Christ through our actions. Just like evangelism is relationally driven out of a love for Christ, so too we see mercy ministries motivated out of a love for Christ. Here too we do not see CrossWay administering some major corporate mercy ministry initiative.
Our desire is to see mercy ministry emerging out of our relational networks, God-given burdens, and involvement in our community. As God cultivates a burden for mercy in each of our hearts, He will also give us eyes to see mercy ministry opportunities all around us. Mercy ministry should emerge in our families, communities, care groups, work places, and schools.
Church Planting
We see church planting as a priority in the New Testament. We especially have a heart to plant a church in the city of Kenosha to reach those who we would never otherwise reach. We recognize the barriers – distance, culture, transportation, ethnicity – that exist in reaching the city of Kenosha from Bristol. We also recognize that we have a wealth of CrossWay members who currently live in the city and who would make a great local church.
Pastor Training
We thank God for the number of men at CrossWay who sense some vocational call into pastoral ministry. We recognize the privilege and responsibility we have as a church to steward this rich resource that God has given to us. To fulfill our responsibility to identify, train, and deploy men into full-time vocational ministry we are committed to ministerial formation. This strategy will equip men to shepherd the church, it will train men to plant churches for CrossWay, and it will prepare men to serve in existing CrossWay churches.
CrossWay Exists
CrossWay exists to reach Kenosha County with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our local mission as a church is our first priority in our outward mission. We invite you to join arms with us in reaching our family, friends, neighborhoods, communities, work associates, and school mates with the gospel.
No longer regard people you see according to the flesh (2Cor. 5:16), but regard them as an object of God’s mercy and grace. Demonstrate the love of Christ and then tell them of all that God has done for them through Jesus Christ. Please pray for the advance of the gospel locally through the people of CrossWay.
Related Posts:
Conviction 1 – The Glory of God
Conviction 2 – The End of Human History
Conviction 3 – The Rejection of God
Conviction 4 – God’s Mission of Redemption
Conviction 5 – Redemption Through Jesus Christ
Conviction 6 – The Mission of God for the Church
Conviction 7 – The Church Exists for the Gospel
Conviction 8 – Humanity’s Response to the Gospel
Conviction 9 – God’s Mission is to All Nations
