Dear Crossing Church Family,

2020 has been the most challenging year in ministry that I have personally ever faced. It has been a time when so many things we can normally depend on have been uncertain. We’ve experienced racial unrest, political strife, and huge medical and economic challenges, all against the backdrop of the global pandemic of COVID-19. We had a plan for 2020, a great plan, but all of that changed last March. From that point, our locations closed down from March 8 until Father’s Day weekend, around June 14.  

Our facilities being closed for three months was surreal to me. Our schools closed, as well as offices, restaurants, gyms… everything that was not considered “essential.” Weddings, funerals, hospital visits, and visits to long-term care facilities ended as people were forced to make unprecedented adjustments. Even after the “lockdown” relaxed somewhat, our behavior was forced to completely change. No hugging, shaking hands, gathering, sports, reunions…families isolating from one another, quarantining because of exposure, contact tracing, testing lines, and days of waiting for results became our new normal.  

The news was, and is, full of negativity. Our television screens were streaming protests, marches, riots, looting, refrigerated trucks for bodies, mobile hospitals, and a general loss of civility. It felt like we were coming apart at the seams. Our locations finally began reopening, some only to close again with fresh outbreaks. Camp was canceled, preschool shut down, men’s conference shuttered, small groups quit meeting, and many of our normal ministry functions ceased. Reopening was limited to 50% of capacity and strict rules of social distancing.  We had to take temperatures, create a reservation system, specially-packaged communion…the list of challenges and obstacles goes on and on.

While I don’t want to minimize the difficulty and depression of all of that, I want to say that God never once abandoned us. Like the children of Israel living in the land of Goshen and in the wilderness, God took care of His people…He took care of us!

He made provision for us to communicate the gospel. He prepared us by enabling us to create a great digital platform years ago that was already dialed in and going. He prepared us with great tech and media teams and all the physical technology in place to communicate virtually on weekends and throughout the week.

He made provision for us to continue to be faithful to our staff. God provided enough staff to keep us going. While some moved on, we did not have to lay staff off, make changes to compensation, or reduce benefits. Spending reduced substantially and, like the manna in the desert, there was always enough.

He made provision for us by protecting our health. In such a tragic time for so many, the active members of The Crossing have been largely spared. While we have had our share of infections, some pretty serious hospitalizations, and only recently 2 deaths, I give God glory for His overall protection. Allison and I had Covid in July but were spared from any serious illness.

He made provision for us by keeping us contributing. Even though our generosity initiative was upended by the pandemic, faithful people continued to give. They gave enough to keep us going, keeping our bills paid without incurring new debt, and showing us ways to save we hadn’t considered before. While no surplus was produced, up to this point we have always had enough for another week of ministry.

He made provision for us to fill countless needs across our region. We were able to use our food pantries and expand them for mass food distribution. At some locations, lines of cars drove up to receive help in times of need. We partnered with schools to distribute food and to provide our church spaces for the changes in school schedules.

He made provision for us by bringing a harvest of souls. The thing that amazes me most through this difficult time is that God has never stopped encouraging human hearts to find that intimate personal relationship with His Son Jesus. We have seen 543 baptisms this fiscal year. Last year, we had 712, and that included those in a prison (149 last year) that has been shut down to us since March. Even with a three-month lockdown, there was never a week without a baptism and that streak goes back to at least 2008! To me, this is the most miraculous thing of all!

At this writing, a new vaccine is being distributed in record time, the election is over, rioting is no longer in our streets, and people are taking a hard look at our social inequities. It feels like we are closing this dark and challenging chapter and consigning it now to history. But like every year, we have no idea what the future holds. What we do know and have been shown throughout 2020 is Who holds our future!

A close friend and mentor of mine, Ken Idleman, encouraged me that when this pandemic was over, have something to show for it. Our locations are in the best shape they’ve ever been in, our staff is excited and hopeful for our future, our attendance is back to over 50% of our 2019 average, our giving is strong and steady, and the darkest clouds of the storm seem to be behind us. Until our Lord says, “Peace, be still!”, we will keep our hands on the rudder, steering in the direction of the sunrise, and trusting in the merciful hand of God.

Jerry Harris
Senior Pastor