Hey Cross Church,
Our prayer for the past 15 years has been from 1 Kings 18:36; Father, let it be known today that you are God in Carlinville & Macoupin County and that we are Your servants and have done all these things by Your command. Answer us, O Lord, answer us, so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again! (1 Kings 18:36)
At Cross Church, we want to see God do things in such a way that most cynical person around us KNOWS that what just happened could only be have occurred by the power of the living God!
Churches filled with spectators and consumer thinking attenders will never consistently experience the power of the Holy Spirit carrying out the work of God in and through them. We need players wanting desperately to get on the field so than can make a difference, not just more spectators in the crowd eating popcorn and giving their commentary of "the game".
Many churches seek some definition of success; growth, buildings, mission trips, baptisms, recognition, having a lot of money in the bank, great teaching or programing, great music, etc. Being "successful" as a church is a dangerous place to be. It is a trap. Christ never called a church be successful by statistical standards, or any of the various human standards. We are called to make a difference that last for eternity. We are called to be the ambassadors of Christ as we carry God's message of hope, restoration, and reconciliation to those around us.
At Cross Church, we are not trying to be "successful". We careless about statistics for statistic purposes. Stats are merely like a scoreboard in a football game. But real "success" is about things like making a difference, surrender, selflessness, generosity, and life transformation. Good stats cannot replace life transformation, but IF life transformation is occurring, having good stats will take care of itself.
Cross Church is a place of hope & restoration. We are a culture of redemption. We WILL BE faithful to the redemptive potential that God has entrusted to us.
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