Recently, as a Community Life team, we have been so encouraged by the amount of new faces that we are seeing step through our doors. We’re seeing people longing for connection and a desire to be part of a community where they can be known personally. Ultimately, our hope is that CrossRoads Church would feel like home. This past month I had the privilege of sitting down with an individual who lit up when they began to share about the peace, the joy, and the sense of belonging they experienced here on their first day. I even heard about how this same individual was impacted as they sat alone and someone took the time to introduce themselves and invited them to sit together. We love hearing stories like this about members of our church taking time to welcome guests into our church family! What a gift it is to be present with the people around us.
In an effort to provide our guests with some community building tools, we regularly run a variety of different connecting events throughout the year. Most notable of which is Soup’s On! It excites us when we see the atmosphere after taking time out of our Sundays to gather together and share a meal as a community. If you’re like me it always feels a bit chaotic, but it doesn’t seem like anybody minds because we’re all together enjoying each other’s company. We see you embracing this culture of invitation and we want you to know this encourages us greatly. Keep it up!
To further develop a sense of community, this past year we also kickstarted three different connecting events; Young Families Feast, Taste Of Nations, and a Newcomer’s Lunch. As a church, we regularly use this phrase; “As we get bigger, we need to get smaller.” Which is exactly what we hope to accomplish with our connecting events. Our aim is to create space for guests to take some time to make connections. We want to help guests make the shift from being 1 of 100, to being 1 of 8 as they sit across the table from other people who want to be personally known by name.
TWO MORE MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS:
Men’s Retreat
This past fall we brought back our annual men’s retreat, called Basecamp. During this retreat one night, after a full day together, two gentlemen sat down at a table to talk. As they did, an older gentleman shared that he had no idea the amount of challenges some of the younger men were facing. As he shared his eyes filled with tears about how honoured he was that the men would share with him, but also the burden he felt for them. The retreat revealed to him that God still had plans for him to be a help and encouragement to others. We look forward to taking more time for building deep connections with one another and for opportunities to encourage one another.
Basecamp 2024: From October 4th - 6th we’ll be gathering at Rivers Edge Camp & Retreat Centre. Join us as we step out of the busyness of life for the purpose of creating memories, building community and deepening our faith together. Check the Connect Weekly for updates on Basecamp, as well as Basecamp Sessions (one-day events held on-site during the year).
Alpha 
Alpha is a course that isn’t new here by any means. In fact, as a church this past year marks 25 years of running Alpha! While it isn’t a new program, the Lord is constantly doing new things in the hearts of those who attend. We find people from various ages and stages taking time to explore faith together and we love watching people take one step closer to Jesus! If you haven’t heard the story about one of our Alpha participants named JoEllen, listen to her story of transformation on our YouTube channel.
For those who may not be familiar with Alpha, Alpha is a place to explore the Christian faith in a relaxed, community setting where any question goes. Each session includes connecting over a meal, watching a video together and then taking time to discuss your thoughts and questions. Head over to crossroadschurch.ca/alpha to discover more. The next session of Alpha begins in September.
Creating Community
In a world more connected than ever, the reality is that we’re also more disconnected than ever. Many people come through our doors seeking connection and community. As a church, we want to help them find connection and create an atmosphere that resembles the joyful chaos of a family reunion, rather than your Friday afternoon trip to Costco (although who doesn’t like $1.50 hotdogs?). One of the ways we can continue to accomplish this for ourselves and for others is by taking time to make connections with those around us. Community-building is a slow process, but we encourage you to keep taking time to be present with the people around you. This is your church and as it gets bigger, let’s all partner together and take the time to make it smaller.
We believe people find hope and grow in their faith when they are connected into community. Stay connected by joining a small group or taking a course in one of our mid-sized communities.
To explore our groups catalogue, visit crossroadschurch.ca/groups or download the Church Center app on your iOS or Android device.
We believe another way to get connected is to get involved with a team who comes together to serve our community. If you want to be part of something bigger than yourself, check out crossroadschurch.ca/serve. Not sure where to start? Let us know you’re interested in serving by filling out the serve application or the ‘Help Me Find a Place to Serve’ form and we’ll connect with you. We would love to take time to grab coffee with you and help you find a place to serve!
Pastor Jordan
