As we reflect on the past year, we are reminded of God's unwavering faithfulness and perfect timing. Despite moments of uncertainty, we have witnessed His hand guiding our church through significant transitions and challenges.
Have you ever felt that God has spoken to you about something that is to happen, so you begin to prepare yourself for what He is going to do, and then after some time, you begin to wonder whether you heard Him correctly? In times like these, we need to trust that God has everything in place for what He is doing and planning, and that we need to wait patiently on Him. We are reminded of this in Isaiah 40:31, “They that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
Over the past year, we’ve seen different things take place. Initially, our search committee was actively looking for a new senior pastor. However, a quick turn of events occurred when Pastor Dan asked to stay on for up to an additional two years, feeling he was not yet done with his work. The Board agreed to keep Pastor Dan on and put the search committee's efforts on hold.
Additionally, the Board has been working on restructuring our lead team, expanding it from just Pastor Dan Cochrane and Pastor Jordan Polson to include Pastor Jordan Cavanaugh and Kendra Berniko. This has led to great conversations, broader thinking, and growth within the team.
Last year, the water tanks for our fire suppression system began to leak. Upon further inspection, it was clear the tanks had deteriorated and needed to be removed and replaced. Although this was an unexpected cost, God remained faithful, and we had funds available from our building fund.
We were also able to fill a couple of vacant board member seats with Dwayne Holland and Bernie Tenhove. These two have been a great addition to our Elder Board, bringing additional insight to the group.
As a Board, we have also created some subcommittees that report back to us. These include:
- The Finance Committee: This group reviews the church's finances, monitors activities in this area, and makes recommendations to the Board.
- Central Alberta Outreach Committee: This committee was set up when we began phase 4 of the building, and we set aside 10% of funds that come into the building fund to give to other groups in Central Alberta. These funds are in place to help other local charities do things they may not have funds for and to support the vision of having those in Central Alberta hear about Jesus and give the opportunity to have a relationship with Him.
- Senior Pastor Search Committee: This group did a tremendous amount of work looking at different churches and potential candidates to fill the position of Senior Pastor and what God has next for Crossroads Church. This committee is currently on hold.
- Governance Committee: This group will review our governing documents, such as the Bylaws of the Church and other governance documents, and recommend necessary changes. Additionally, this group will assist the Board with self-evaluation and evaluation of our Lead Team.
In February, Pastor Jordan Polson submitted his resignation to the Board, feeling it was time to retire from his role as Executive Pastor and seek God for what is next for him and his family. While this is a positive step for Jordan and his family, it required our Board to find a replacement of similar high caliber. We felt led by God to Dwayne Holland. God's pre-planning was evident as Dwayne had joined the Board prior to this transition, gaining valuable experience and understanding of how our church operates. Additionally, his time spent during the pandemic in our Communications department, and more recently again in an interim position, has further prepared him for this role. We are excited as a Board to present Dwayne for your affirmation as Executive Pastor at the Summer General Meeting and to see what God has in store for Crossroads Church.
In closing, we give thanks to God for His guidance and provision throughout this year. We look forward with anticipation to the coming year, trusting that the Lord will continue to lead and bless Crossroads Church in every endeavor.
Faithfully yours in Christ,
Brad Vonkeman
Church Board Chair
