Dear Crossing Church Family,

Last year I reflected with you about how challenging the year had been with all the uncertainty brought on from COVID-19. It catalyzed so many things that we continue to feel the effects of a year later. COVID still persists with multiple variants, and polarization continues politically, racially, and economically. I think we had hoped that the tensions would find some resolution, but instead, we are beginning to realize some of the deeper effects of the trauma we’ve experienced.

These realities are certainly discouraging, but for those of us in Christ, it is eclipsed by the power we find in knowing and following Jesus. We have seen His faithfulness and provision continue as 2021 repeated many of the challenges 2020 brought. Once again, God has overwhelmed us with His mighty blessings. 

God has empowered our church to deliver the gospel. Our in-person attendance has recovered back to 80+% of our pre-COVID numbers. Our ministry is opening back up to the incarcerated, thousands continue to join with us via our online platforms, and we continue to have baptisms every week!  God has provided all of our necessary funds through the faithful stewardship of His people.

God has protected us. We definitely had some difficult challenges. We experienced a COVID outbreak at one of our summer camps and simultaneously at our Uncommon men’s conference. We were a negative headline on every national news organization for weeks and were incorrectly described by health departments. The untold story was that almost all cases were asymptomatic and only a few experienced serious illnesses, with no fatalities. In fact, our camp and conferences had a profound spiritual impact and God’s faithfulness was clear. We give Him all the glory for His watchful care over us.

God blessed us to be a blessing. In September, we were approached with the idea of engaging in a gift/leaseback with five of our 11 properties. The purpose of this was to leverage our equity to help in the funding of 81 churches, eliminating all of our church debt, and providing financially for the future of the Crossing. After a process of investigation, our elders unanimously agreed to move forward in this way. Today, the Crossing is debt-free and fully ready to engage the future to build the Kingdom, not alone but with 81 additional opportunities!

God has provided for our future. On Thanksgiving, I shared the culmination of an eight-year process in succession, with Clayton Hentzel transitioning to the lead role. I will continue to be at a senior level on staff, but this critical move, which begins January 1, 2022, is key to the future of the church, and I couldn’t be more excited and encouraged by what God continues to do.

As I shared last year, we do not know what the future holds, but we do know Who holds the future! Allison and I want to thank you for the honor and privilege of leading this wonderful church for the last 23 and a half years, being willing to take big faith-filled risks reaching outward and downward in innovative ways, raising up leaders, and growing in unity as we help people to find an intimate personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Dear Crossing Church Family,

Last year I reflected with you about how challenging the year had been with all the uncertainty brought on from COVID-19. It catalyzed so many things that we continue to feel the effects of a year later. COVID still persists with multiple variants, and polarization continues politically, racially, and economically. I think we had hoped that the tensions would find some resolution, but instead, we are beginning to realize some of the deeper effects of the trauma we’ve experienced.

These realities are certainly discouraging, but for those of us in Christ, it is eclipsed by the power we find in knowing and following Jesus. We have seen His faithfulness and provision continue as 2021 repeated many of the challenges 2020 brought. Once again, God has overwhelmed us with His mighty blessings. 

God has empowered our church to deliver the gospel. Our in-person attendance has recovered back to 80+% of our pre-COVID numbers. Our ministry is opening back up to the incarcerated, thousands continue to join with us via our online platforms, and we continue to have baptisms every week!  God has provided all of our necessary funds through the faithful stewardship of His people.

God has protected us. We definitely had some difficult challenges. We experienced a COVID outbreak at one of our summer camps and simultaneously at our Uncommon men’s conference. We were a negative headline on every national news organization for weeks and were incorrectly described by health departments. The untold story was that almost all cases were asymptomatic and only a few experienced serious illnesses, with no fatalities. In fact, our camp and conferences had a profound spiritual impact and God’s faithfulness was clear. We give Him all the glory for His watchful care over us.

God blessed us to be a blessing. In September, we were approached with the idea of engaging in a gift/leaseback with five of our 11 properties. The purpose of this was to leverage our equity to help in the funding of 81 churches, eliminating all of our church debt, and providing financially for the future of the Crossing. After a process of investigation, our elders unanimously agreed to move forward in this way. Today, the Crossing is debt-free and fully ready to engage the future to build the Kingdom, not alone but with 81 additional opportunities!

God has provided for our future. On Thanksgiving, I shared the culmination of an eight-year process in succession, with Clayton Hentzel transitioning to the lead role. I will continue to be at a senior level on staff, but this critical move, which begins January 1, 2022, is key to the future of the church, and I couldn’t be more excited and encouraged by what God continues to do.

As I shared last year, we do not know what the future holds, but we do know Who holds the future! Allison and I want to thank you for the honor and privilege of leading this wonderful church for the last 23 and a half years, being willing to take big faith-filled risks reaching outward and downward in innovative ways, raising up leaders, and growing in unity as we help people to find an intimate personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Jerry Harris