It’s been such a great weekend at all of our Cross Point campuses!
These are a few pictures from yesterday’s Serving Saturday event. Hundreds of volunteers served in so many different ways at all of our campuses and throughout our communities.
Thank you all so much for your time and investment! It makes me so proud to be a part of a community of believers that is committed to loving, serving and caring for others. You guys are amazing!
Thank you!
Hey Cross Point!
I’m very excited about this Sunday. Remember, our services at all campuses will meet regardless of weather conditions, so even if we get some snow we’ll be there.
Couple of things to note:
1) Have you signed up for Serving Saturday yet? All of our campuses will be serving their local community on February 27th. I hope you’ll make plans to join us. This is an amazing chance to give back to our communities!
2) This Sunday Pete will be speaking on Sexual Brokenness. Due to the PG-13 content in this message, parents are encouraged to take advantage of our Kidz World Ministry for children through 5th Grade.
I’m excited to announce that at the Nashville Campus, we will also have copies of Randy Elrod’s new book “Sex, Lies & Religion
It’s gonna be a great Valentine’s Day at Cross Point! I hope you’ll join us!
Cross Point, Missions, Sunday Highlights
Since I’m still in India and unable to hear Blake’s message today for the Pursuit series, I would love for you guys to give me Cross Point’s Sunday highlights!
Please leave your notes/comments/thoughts from today’s message in the comments section!
And just so you don’t think I’m taking the easy way out. Here are our Sunday highlights India style:
We’ll be home Tuesday evening. Keep us in your prayers!
Today we headed back to the Kalpur Slum to spend another day with the children and their families. Once again they showered us with greetings and smiles… and this beautiful flower.
I have to admit I’ve been a bit overwhelmed by all the attention. They are eager for you to look them in the eye, shake their hand or say their name.
I find myself wrestling with the tension of the attention.
I am no hero, celebrity or savior. I’m just one spoiled American who flies in on a fancy plane and leaves before it gets too difficult.
But, it’s not who I am.
It’s what I represent.
… And what I represent is HOPE.
Hope for an education, a hot meal, a chance to learn the arts. Hope for clean water, a steady job, a home that is their own.
From the children, to their parents, to the teachers and leaders at the school, our presence gives them renewed hope. They know that other people care for them and are praying for them from thousands of miles away. They know that a church in Nashville, TN is financially contributing to this project each month making their hope possible.
You know what? Being “hope” didn’t cost me much today, but being “hope” inspired these families in an immeasurable way!
Here’s a quick clip from our craft project today. Most of these kids have never done anything like this.
Can you see the hope in their eyes?
We made it!
After 32 hours of traveling with just pockets of sleep here and there, we arrived in Kolkata this morning.
We checked into the hotel, got a quick (cold) shower and our first taste of India cuisine before heading off to the slum where we’ll be spending the next few days.
As tired and exhausted as I was, I’m thankful that I didn’t miss the gift of this opportunity.
We arrived at the school to whoops and hollers and a pathway of flower petals. The children were excited and had prepared some of their best for us. We heard songs, poems and recitations that they had worked so hard on. (Ryan also taught them a song… funniest thing was watching the kids try to mimic his mannerisms and animated expressions!)
Then we fed them lunch. For most of them this is their ONLY meal for the day.
As much as I expected to serve and love them today, I never anticipated the honor they would bestow our team.
I am humbled.
Here’s a pic of some of the gifts they showered me with today:
But the most important gift to me was their smiles – their smiles in spite of their circumstances. These children live in a slum. They live in tents. They are surrounded by filth, waste, disease and turmoil every day. And yet they are smiling. They are celebrating. They are learning. And they are enjoying life.
I’m humbled… and I’m trying to smile too.
In just a few hours I’ll be on a plane to Kolkata, India.
Pete, Ryan and I are headed there to continue our work with the development of a school and feeding center in some of Kolkata’s poorest areas. Much of our trip will be centered around creating a plan and infrastructure to bring Cross Point teams back for mission trips in the future.
I’m so excited and yet I really don’t know exactly what to expect.
I hope to be able to blog more details as the trip progresses, so please stay tuned.
Would you be praying for us this week?
Pray for safe travels, good health, patience for the unknown, compassion and whatever else God may put on your heart.
Thank you!!
Cross Point, Missions, Purpose, Sunday Highlights
Matthew 6:25-30
Three things that I am praying for you this year:
1) That you’ll have a great faith
I’m praying that there is one area of your life that you’ll step out and trust God in a big way. That you’ll face something that completely terrifies you.
Our fears establish the limits of our life. (If you fear failure, you just won’t try. If you fear people, you’ll stay alone… etc.)
We have to combat our fears with faith.
Proverbs 3:5
Your problem isn’t fear, it’s a lack of faith.
Trust God for more this year. Trust Him in a way you’ve never trusted him before.
2) That you’ll have greater purpose
We spend a majority of our time on things that just don’t matter.
If you don’t live like you believe your life is meant to change the world, you’re missing the point of your salvation.
Acts 1:8
There is a big disconnect in the church between the hope of God and his purpose.
Missions is not a calling or program. It’s the whole purpose of the church.
We want to learn more without applying anything.
If you want to see God, take his light to some dark places and see the hope of God at work.
Fight and push-back against the ego-driven, self-centered desires that control your life.
3) That you’ll have greater wisdom
Ecclesiastes 2:10-11
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I’ll be praying for faith, purpose and wisdom for you too.
Is there something specific I can pray for you?
Cross Point, Missions, Purpose, Sunday Highlights, social justice
DNA – Week 3 “Acting” by Pete Wilson
** It was such a big day at Cross Point Nashville today. My notes don’t really do this message justice so be sure to go online and watch/listen once it’s posted.
Matthew 28:16-20
“Go and make disciples of all nations” – This statement is why we as a church can not stop trying to reach the world.
The idea of going to all the nations seems like a big overstatement because we’re not even reaching our own cul-de-sacs.
Mark 2:16-17
We’re growing as a church because of the influence you have with neighbors and friends and family.
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!
In 2010 we are launching Cross Point Bellevue!
Beginning Sept 13th all of our campuses will have live teaching via video.
Why don’t we do what normal churches do and build a big building?
There are 3 reasons why we feel like we are called to multi-site strategy
1) New churches reach new people
2) We can do this for a fraction of the cost
3) It gives people increased opportunity for leadership and service in ministry (the larger we grow the easier it is for people to hide out and not serve)
People are our most important resources.
Planting two new campuses in 6 months is going to provide plenty of opportunities for you to serve.
“The purpose of influence is to speak up for people who have no influence.” Rick Warren
Somebody has to be compassionate and courageous to help those without influence, those who have no voice.
Isaiah 1:17 “Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.”
God’s plan has always been YOU! It has always been the church.
How are we doing that?
We all have a tendency to invest our lives in temporary things.
The best this world has to offer is all temporary. You can invest your life in those things or you can invest in things that are eternal.
Eternal = love God, love people
Next steps:
1) Pray for all of our campuses
2) Keep inviting your unchurched friends
3) Serve – get involved
We partner together to create environments where only God can do what God can do.
I hope you’ll be a part of it!
Missions, Purpose, social justice, women in leadership
Recently I had the privilege to hear this young girl Katie share her story. Katie is a 20 year old girl from the Nashville area that fell in love with Uganda and has committed her life to making a difference in that country. Personally she has legally adopted 13 little girls who call her “momma” and cares for hundreds more through the ministry she started, Amazima Ministries International.
Katie’s story inspires me. Katie inspires me.
She is radically following her dreams.
She is facing her fears daily.
She is loving the unloved relentlessly.
She is defying conventional wisdom.
She is making a difference.
She is unashamed of her calling.
Not all of us are called to as radical a purpose as Katie. But how many of us are as unafraid, unashamed and persistent in pursuit of God’s calling on our lives?
I needed to hear Katie’s story to inspire me.
What or who has inspired you recently? I encourage you to find something that stirs your heart, challenges your sense of security and rocks your world of complacency. We all need a good dose of inspiration!
One of the things that I love about Cross Point is the third part of our mission statement which speaks to the importance of missions and outreach. Both of our campuses are committed to finding ways to serve our communities… and then some.
This Saturday our Dickson campus will be serving in various ways throughout the Dickson community – from painting at the high school, to delivering food to families in need, to a free car wash – we’ll be blanketing the Dickson community with the love of Christ. If you are interested in joining us email warren@crosspoint.tv for more information.
And for those of you in Nashville, mark your calendars for July 11th. We’ll be out in full force in West Nashville. Here’s Ryan to tell you all about it!
http://www.vimeo.com/5279318
Jenni Catron is the Executive Director of Cross Point Church, a multi-site church in the Nashville, TN area.
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