Well, we are back in town! It was great to get away, but even better to come home. MaryAnne and I enjoyed the cruise. There were a few disappointments, but all in all as they say, "a good time was had by all!"
I understand that things were interesting in my absence. I hope everyone enjoyed the SCAMPS group and Loren's sermon. It was great to hear that two students were baptized in connection with the SNA, which was attended by over sixty (60) people. Seeing people getting connected to God is what Crossroads in really all about!
Monday, April 21, 2008
Monday, April 14, 2008
Getting Ready for Vacation....
MaryAnne and I are getting ready for vacation. It is a lot of work to prepare to not work. You need to make sure every one of your responsibilities is covered. You have to make sure all the details of your travel are right. Hopefully, you don't forget something important!
There is a lot going on while I am gone this weekend. Dave and Dawn will be doing their last SNA with the students. Tyler and Torie will be in town apartment hunting. SCAMPS will be leading worship in the INNOVATIONS service.
With all this stuff going on, it is easy to overlook how much God has blessed us. For last few months, Sherry Gick has been serving as our interim worship coordinator. She has done a tremendous job. I have enjoyed both working with her and the services she has planned. I believe one of the best services I have ever experience here at Crossroads was coordinated by her. Please let her know how much you appreciate her work.
There is a lot going on while I am gone this weekend. Dave and Dawn will be doing their last SNA with the students. Tyler and Torie will be in town apartment hunting. SCAMPS will be leading worship in the INNOVATIONS service.
With all this stuff going on, it is easy to overlook how much God has blessed us. For last few months, Sherry Gick has been serving as our interim worship coordinator. She has done a tremendous job. I have enjoyed both working with her and the services she has planned. I believe one of the best services I have ever experience here at Crossroads was coordinated by her. Please let her know how much you appreciate her work.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Lots and lots of Changes!
Unless you are totally out of the loop, you know that lots of things have been and are changing at Crossroads. Soon, Dave and Dawn Nance will be leaving us for Atlanta. I will really hate to see them go because I personally and professionally have been blessed by them both. Their involvement at Crossroads has truly been a blessing.
Dave has served us well as student minister. He, along with Dawn, have touched the lives of our young people in ways that have shaped them for the future. We could never have afforded someone of his quality, giftedness, and talent, let alone the sheer number of hours he invested in the ministry.
Dawn has also served in her own special way as well. Her work as worship coordinator and leader has given our congregation a better understanding and appreciation for worship. Besides worship, Dawn has filled roles in both student ministry and in our daycare ministry. She is truly multi-talented.
While they will be missed, I firmly believe they have positioned us well for our new student and worship minister, Tyler Brooks. He comes to us, fresh out of college. He and his wife, Torie, will be starting in June. I am excited to have someone to share both the ministry and the blessing of Crossroads with. Please keep them in prayer, that they will be able to find good housing here in Lafayette and that their move will go well.
Finally, I am aware that some people have expressed some reservations about both the process and the hiring of Tyler. Some of this is the result of being unfamiliar with our congregation's procedures. This is understandable because this is the first time we have hired a full-time staff member since the constitution and by-laws was rewritten. As always, I would be happy to sit down and explain both our process and the reasoning behind it.
Some of the reservations, I believe, are due in part to the fact that we are moving to a whole new level as a congregation. Hiring a second full-time staff member is a big step for a church financially. While Tyler's salary is not that much more than what we have been paying our two part-time people, it is a much bigger commitment. With part-time people, if you have to let them go, you know that you are not their main source of income. However, with a full-time person, your responsibility increases. It is a much greater commitment.
I am confident that God's hand has been and is continually involved in this congregation. He has provided us someone who meets our needs and can grow with us. We can do this with God's help and your support!
Dave has served us well as student minister. He, along with Dawn, have touched the lives of our young people in ways that have shaped them for the future. We could never have afforded someone of his quality, giftedness, and talent, let alone the sheer number of hours he invested in the ministry.
Dawn has also served in her own special way as well. Her work as worship coordinator and leader has given our congregation a better understanding and appreciation for worship. Besides worship, Dawn has filled roles in both student ministry and in our daycare ministry. She is truly multi-talented.
While they will be missed, I firmly believe they have positioned us well for our new student and worship minister, Tyler Brooks. He comes to us, fresh out of college. He and his wife, Torie, will be starting in June. I am excited to have someone to share both the ministry and the blessing of Crossroads with. Please keep them in prayer, that they will be able to find good housing here in Lafayette and that their move will go well.
Finally, I am aware that some people have expressed some reservations about both the process and the hiring of Tyler. Some of this is the result of being unfamiliar with our congregation's procedures. This is understandable because this is the first time we have hired a full-time staff member since the constitution and by-laws was rewritten. As always, I would be happy to sit down and explain both our process and the reasoning behind it.
Some of the reservations, I believe, are due in part to the fact that we are moving to a whole new level as a congregation. Hiring a second full-time staff member is a big step for a church financially. While Tyler's salary is not that much more than what we have been paying our two part-time people, it is a much bigger commitment. With part-time people, if you have to let them go, you know that you are not their main source of income. However, with a full-time person, your responsibility increases. It is a much greater commitment.
I am confident that God's hand has been and is continually involved in this congregation. He has provided us someone who meets our needs and can grow with us. We can do this with God's help and your support!
Friday, April 4, 2008
Why have a Blog?
With this being my first entry into the world of blogging, I thought I would start by sharing my reason for having a blog. I know that there are questions and concerns that Christian people have that they either do not take the time to ask or do not have the appropriate forum to ask. In the past I have had some excellent discussion with folks by way of email. This allows us to go back a read what we said, and how the other person responded. Often I have thought that others might have benefited from our conversation if they had seen it. Thus I have started this blog. It is my hope and prayer that we all will learn more, be encouraged more, and understand more about ourselves, others, and most importantly our God.
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