Experiencing Community!!!!

This last Saturday was our annual Pizza and Bowling Event, and there was approximately 60 people in attendance, plus volunteers. I am often times just amazed at the love that they have for one another, the willingness that they all have to assist each other, and the community that they just enjoy experiencing. All of this often times just leaves me in awe, and wondering just how much we could really learn from all of them. Their happiness, their joy, and all of their smiles, I believe just speaks for itself. And truly, I have yet to meet a person who comes to volunteer, who doesn't actually leave feeling more blessed, than they did when they first arrived.

The Launch of R.I.S.E.

What an exciting week this has been for our disAbilities Ministry here at Crossroads. This past Monday was our launch of the Monday Warriors Bible Study Group, who was also able to experience worship with the Generate Junior High Group as well. And now today is the official launch of R.I.S.E. , which is actually happening right now!!!! We have 3 individuals, along with 1 job coach, who arrived promptly at the church this morning at 9:30 to volunteer 2 hours of their time helping with various tasks around campus. They are scheduled to be on church grounds volunteering every Thursday and Friday morning for two hours each. The overall purpose of this is to provide volunteer opportunities for individuals who have varying forms of disabilities, that is centered upon their ability, while also sharing with them the love of Christ. So if you happen to pass by any one of them, please be sure to say hello, and give them a warm Crossroads welcome!!!

A Step of Faith

One area of our ministry that many may not even realize we have is our Deaf Ministry. The Deaf Ministry began its journey about 3 years ago with a beginning ASL Class. Today the growth that the ministry has experienced is a true blessing. One person from the ministry I would like to take a moment and highlight is Reyna. Reyna joined the Deaf Ministry about a year ago through one of the beginning ASL Classes that was being offered. Her commitment to Christ and to the Ministry has been amazing, and to watch her skill level grow with learning ASL has been a privilege, which made today even sweeter. The picture above I believe really truly says it all. Today was Reyna's first time up on stage signing worship, and although her nerves were restless, she trusted God, and took a step of faith in order to be the voice of worship for the deaf. We are so blessed to be here at such a time as this. To not only share with others, but to be able to experience the growth in the lives of others as well is truly a blessing from God.

R.I.S.E.

One of the most exciting things that I just love about the God that we serve, is the many doors that he just seems to continuously open for us. Since I have been involved here, our focus has been based upon the abilities of the people we serve and not their disability. Well, the ministry of R.I.S.E. within the disAbilities Ministry is stepping out in faith and trusting that God will take this to an entirely new level. R.I.S.E. is a Community Outreach Ministry and stands for, Reaching, Inspiring, and Spiritually Embracing those with disAbilities. Its primary purpose is to provide volunteer opportunities for individuals with varying forms of disabilities in order to increase self-esteem, enhance social skills, and share the love Christ. I am really excited about this area of our ministry. For the last month we have already had one person volunteering in the office about three times a week helping with various tasks, and this next week we are officially launching R.I.S.E. and adding 3 more who will be volunteering two days a week for two hours each. WOW!!!!! God is so Good and I just can't wait to see where He takes us from here . . .

Kung Fu Christians

One of the many events that we are so privileged to be able to do is camp. Once a year we have a day camp and once a year we have a three day camp. Well, this last Day Camp was off the hook amazing and based upon the initial preparations for our 3 Day Camp coming up in October, I honestly know and believe in my heart that the 3 Day Camp is going to be off the charts amazing as well. The theme for this years 3 Day Camp is "Kung Fu Christians and the Search for Truth", and the scriptural theme will be from Micah 6:8, which says, "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God". We serve an Awesome God and this years 3 day camp He is going to show up in an Amazing way. We are going to learn not just about his truth, but also about key disciplines that will enable us to put his truth into action within the lives of each person who attends. So be on the look out for flyers with all the info, and registration and consent forms. Spots will be limited!!!!!

Adding a Little Spice

Sometimes adding a little spice to a dish can enhance the whole meal, therefore, taking it to a brand new level that would have otherwise never been possible. That my friends is what is happening within the disABILITY Ministry at Crossroads. First, I hope you all like the new face of my blog. I believe it was definitely in need of a little spicing up. Second, the Tuesday Night Friendship Club has been going on for years, but because of some changes happening around us, it too needed a little bit of spice added to it. Therefore, June 15th will be the last day of Tuesday Night Friendship Club in order to roll out the red carpet for the Monday Warriors Group that will begin on June 21st from 6:30 - 8 pm. This new group will be based upon Ephesians 6:10-18 and putting on the Full Armor of God as we begin each week. I am real excited about these changes and look forward to seeing how God continues to move within the lives of all of those involved within the ministry. This is an exciting time for us!!!!!!

The Melting Pot

For the last couple months it has been requested that we begin a Parent/Guardian/Care-Provider Support group for those who have adolescents and/or adult children with a disability. Well, we all began praying about this and the direction God would have us go with putting it into motion. But one thing was certain, we knew that in general, we can all feel at times as though we are drowning, which is why we chose the name, The Melting Pot. But another thing that we knew, was that we would need to have a person who would be willing to not only facilitate the group, but would also be able to relate to the people coming in a very personal way. Well, I am excited to share with you all, God answered our prayers in a very clear way - He brought a person would has not only the willingness, but an over surmounting amount of experience with all of the different challenges that one faces when not only having a child with a disability, but the challenges that are presented as the child grows up, and eventually lands in the adolescent and adult years of life. We are so blessed and I just know from the bottom of my heart that what the people will receive out of this new group is Love, Support, Fellowship, Community, and Encouragement. It is scheduled to begin the last Friday of July and will continue the last Friday of each month after. So if you or anyone you may know has an adolescent or adult child with any form of disability and are looking for a safe place to be able to share with and learn from others, this is the place. For more information about this group or anything else that the disABILILIES Ministry offers, please feel free to contact me directly at jenniferf@crossroadschurch.com.

Beyond the Eyes and the Ears, God Speaks to the Heart!!!!

God moved in such an amazing way this last weekend - but then again, really, would we expect any less from GOD!!!!! So many times without even realizing it, many us probably take so much for granted. Things like being able to pick up a fork in order to eat, scratch our nose, watch tv, or listen to our favorite song on the radio. But in reality, there are thousands and thousands of people who are faced with these kinds of challenges and many more each and every day. That is why I just thank God for the people that He has equipped and sent in order to display and communicate His love specifically for them. For His LOVE is not any less for them than it is for any one of us. It just needs to be communicated in a different kind of way, and that is what makes the Deaf Ministry here at Crossroads such an amazing ministry. This ministry is filled with signers and interpreters who love God, love Jesus, and desire to communicate HIS Message of Love and Salvation to the people within the Deaf Community, so that they too may hear His Message in their own language and be saved. And what made this last Sunday so special, was as Pastor Chuck was delivering the invitation for people who would like to accept Christ, which he does every week, a woman who was also deaf, went forward and accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior. Seeing this moment was so special. She was crying, the signers were crying, as they all walked forward. In addition to that, as if that wasn't enough, during the evening service, a lady who was also blind made a decision to accept Jesus as her Lord and Savior. I mean really, God is so good, and His Message of Love and Salvation is not one that is only meant to be audible or visual, but so much more, for HIS MESSAGE truly does reach to the core of who we are, and speaks to the heart!!!!!!