Hey Cross Church,Â
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. Â 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! Â (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! Â Â
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. Â 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". Â Â Â
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. Â 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. Â We are called to make a difference that last for eternity. Â We are called to be the ambassadors of Christ as we carry God's message of hope, restoration, and reconciliation to those around us. Â Â Â Â
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. Â We WILL BE faithful to the redemptive potential that God has entrusted to us. Â Â