Our Only Collection

Crossroads comes to the Lord’s Table (”Communion”) regularly on the first weekend of each month. That is also the time when we take up our only collection as a church - for our Benevolence Fund as a tangible response in remembrance of God’s great grace and mercy. The Benevolence Fund is used to minister to those in legitimate financial need both inside and outside our congregation. The fund is primarily managed by the pastors and elders guided by some simple policies developed over the years. 

Without being too specific your gifts have helped to provide food and clothing to numerous families and individuals. We’ve been able to provide needed supplies to some unwed mothers who chose life for their babies rather than abortion. We are able to assist members and attenders with expenses for needed medical or counseling in some cases where insurance is lacking. You have allowed us to aid widows, and even a few orphans. We have single parents with financial challenges. We have even been able to meet significant significant needs on the mission field and we have been able to partner with local churches and ministries in bringing help to areas hit by natural disasters (think New Orleans and Katrina).

We have begun to work through a partnership of local churches and ministries to assess and meet needs of the greater community, primarily through a local office of Love INC which helps assess individual needs and bring church resources to the situation in the name of Christ.

Currently there the benevolence fund has a very healthy balance. Of course the Lord may be preparing us for the challenges that appear to be coming to our economy.

FYI: Some other thoughts on giving to Crossroads are here.

A Little Summer Nostalgia

We are having our first heat-wave of the Summer here in the Northwest. Well over 90 degrees today! I found myself being thankful for the fact that we have air conditioning in our building - something we didn’t have in our old facility on NE 8th Street. (”it never gets that warm in Seattle”).  A Sunday like today would have been miserable for our bodies (though always sweet for the soul). So let’s be thankful for the small blessing that enhanced our worship this morning. Now if we could just turn the utility bill into something small…

“Consider”

Some events don’t fit into the neat categories of a church. Consider 2008 is one of those. Just over a year ago we greived with the Evanger family at the memorial service for Kimberly (Evanger) Raney who grew up at Crossroads. At that service, one word … “CONSIDER” … became significant and energizing to the family and their friends. Kim’s brother David shared his moving and comforting experience following her death and that message has now birthed this benefit event. You can read a bit more from David on my personal blog, or here.