I would like to share what Crossroads has meant to me and my family. We started visiting 6 or 7 months ago and are currently taking the class for membership. During our ten years of marriage, Casey and I have attended two other churches for 4-5 years each as well as visited some others. God was letting us know that there was a very special place to worship that he wanted us to experience.

          We live in Zebulon, about 25 minutes away from Crossroads, and after visiting the first time I liked what I experienced but thought we couldn't possibly start attending every Sunday because of the distance. We probably pass 30 churches on the way to Crossroads. After several more visits it was becoming more and more clear that this is where God has led my wife and I during our spiritual journey together.

          We have been treated with such acceptance and love from everybody we have come in contact with. Suddenly the distance we had to drive was no longer an issue and we not only attend every Sunday but are also involved with a small group and attend every Wednesday night. This is something we didn't do before, when we lived five minutes from our previous church.
 
          Our children absolutely love their classes on Sunday morning and Wednesday nights. We all joyfully look forward to coming and feel so very comfortable when we are at Crossroads. There is something about this church that draws us in and I am very thankful for what God has done in our lives to lead us here.

          There have been many sermons that Chuck has delivered in the past six months that touched my heart and that I could personally relate to. I couldn't ask for a better pastor and his style of delivering a message is exactly what we needed. I can honestly say that there have been 2 or 3 sermons that have made profound changes in my wife's life. She has struggled for years with bad childhood memories and has been deeply affected by Chuck's incredible God-given ability to deliver a message in the exact right way, at the exact right time. Praise God! We are so happy with our new church home and church family and look forward to many years of fellowship and plugging in to get involved at Crossroads Fellowship. 

          --- Tony Baine

          I just wanted to let you know how Sunday's message was directed to me. I have been working with the STAR program, for about a year, and just recently have been working with the Adult group. When we started we had maybe four coming and it was great -- I was learning a great deal from them and the leaders.

          At the first of the year, I did the evaluation again and I asked God if working with the adults is what He wanted me to do. The truth of the matter was, I wanted to hear the Lord’s voice say, "YES, MY SON, THIS IS WHERE I WANT YOU!"  Much like Moses. During Christmas, I asked the people if they would like to sing some Christmas songs. Every one of them screamed out "YES!" -- smiling, their eyes wide open and clapping their hands. So I went with the flow! I asked them if anyone had a special song, to come up and lead the group. I would have them raise their hands and I would call them up like on the Price is Right ("Lisa, come on down"). They all had a special song including "Grandma got run over by a reindeer."  That time was so special for me as I looked at the class, my eyes filled up and I heard God say to me through these men and women, “THIS IS WHERE I WANT YOU.”  

          During January, I was praying and reading the Bible and found out that every tribe of Israel had musicians. The musicians were the ones who lead the tribes into worship. I began to ask the Lord to help me because I can’t even play the Kazoo. Well, I found out that Mike H. and Zack Hubert can play the flute and guitar and one of the helpers can also play keyboards. Sunday we brought the keyboard into the room for service and started singing. I was smiling from ear to ear because we all sounded so bad -- no harmony or rhythm -- but I know God loved it. We have a person, Ricky, who is mentally-challenged and has never done anything in the class except sit and shake. We have activity time and some of the group started playing the keyboard and all of a sudden Ricky stood up and went over to it and looked at it. He didn’t say a word just looked at the keyboard. This was the first time Ricky had moved in the class or shown any interest in anything. I was shock as were his home leaders. I asked him if he would like to try it. He smiled and sat down and started to play the keyboard. Everyone in the room was shocked to see him doing anything. He can’t play the keyboard, but he likes the sounds. After he finished he got up and hugged his home leaders and smiled and for the first time I realized there is a real personality inside and we were able to touch it.

          After the class, the group home director asked if she could invite some other group homes and I agreed. She then said that is wonderful what we (Crossroads) are doing and gave me a hug. I went home and I get it now. This is where I am supposed to be and even though I don’t know everything the group needs -- God does. Just like Moses, I had a burning bush experience last Sunday. Anyway, thanks for listening to God and preaching what God wants us (me) to hear.

          --- Tim

          My experience at Crossroads Fellowship has been one of God’s intervention, healing, provision, and direction in my family’s life. I was invited to Crossroads by one of the staff members of the church who happens to be a client at the place where I work. After one visit to the church, my 9-year-old son and I simultaneously declared, ‘We found our church!’  My son is a handful and despite his behavior, he was patiently loved by the Children’s Ministry team.

          I found help and support for the ability to lovingly present an ‘intervention’ to my addicted spouse, who subsequently abandoned us in February 2010. In a panic, I attended the Financial Peace seminar last March, was assigned a mentor, and attended Financial Peace University. I can happily say that I am on an 80-10-10 budget and that both my tithes and savings have grown. I then found out about and attended DivorceCare and have been able to let go of much anger, fear and unforgiveness. My son has also greatly benefited from DC4K and a wise counselor that we were guided to by your ministry team. 

          In the short two years that we have attended, we have improved our lives relationally, spiritually, and financially. This week, I am opening my home for a neighborhood Women’s Bible study, something I haven’t done in over 12 years. I feel like my life is more closely aligned with God’s calling and purpose and that He used Crossroads to remind me that He is real, powerful, good and loving!

          --- Sincerely and with much thanks, Mary Lou