Crossroads Church KC, Winter 2011 Update

[Crossroads Church Plant]

I wrote my last update in early fall of last year. Seeing that in
print, I am guilt-stricken, but my official excuse is that college
basketball started and life at Crossroads Church has kept us on our
toes.

In shotgun fashion, here is what’s been going on.

Our City group, the people who gather in our home for food, prayer,
and conversations about Jesus, outgrew our large brick house,
prompting us to fine tune what we’re doing and send out another group.
This second group, led by Steven and Abbey Dragan, will kick off in
February. We see these City groups as a primary way that our folks
stay encouraged and on mission. To keep this focus in front of us,
we’re centering our groups on five rhythms: Eat, Listen, Serve,
Celebrate, Rest. We’re excited to start fleshing this out in the
months ahead.

We began a new partnership with a non-profit on the east edge of the
Crossroads, Arts Tech. Arts Tech works with under-privileged students,
often from the court system, and mentors them as they develop art
abilities and technical skills. Some of these students go on to win
scholarships at universities and art institutes. As we keep looking
for ways to help restore and serve our community, partnerships like
this are great opportunities. Our first project with Arts Tech was to
help run a Breakfast with Santa fundraiser–a feat we accomplished
without anyone having to put on an elf costume.

Our Arts Incubator services took a break over Christmas and restarted
a couple weeks ago with a short series we’re calling Identity. Our
goal is to assume nothing and ask basic questions: Who are we as God’s
people? Why are we doing something as hard and risky as starting a
church downtown? How can we succeed in our mission? We want our folks
to know that we will be successful to the same degree that we trust
Jesus and emulate him, taking initiative as missionaries to love and
serve those around us. Our hope and healing become the hope and
healing of our friends.

Winter is typically a dormant time downtown, as residents freak out
over snow, hibernate after 5pm and leave their homes only to work and
buy necessities like beer, toilet paper, and artisan cheese.
Crossroads grew slowly and steadily over the summer and fall, but
we’re expecting a lull during the icy months. Despite this, we’ve seen
some new faces in recent weeks, which has been encouraging heading
into the new year.

On the home front, Lindsay and I are expecting our fourth boy on March
14. To get ready, and because I am slightly crazy, we’re starting a
wave of new demolition and remodeling in our home which will hopefully
be done before the little guy arrives. After a year and a half in the
brick house, our first floor is almost out of the construction phase
and we’ve started work on the second floor. Thanks to those of you who
have given us a hand.

That’s it for now. We’re prayerfully optimistic as we head into 2011,
looking to deepen our roots here in KC and continue showing off Jesus
with our words and actions. Thanks for your prayers and involvement!

Peace,

AJ, Lindsay, Aidan (4.75), Asher (3), Ezra (1) & Boy #4

http://CrossroadsChurchKC.com