Going for the Gold

Dear Crosswalkers,

In London, the Olympic athletes are going for the gold. They are trying to be the best they can be. They are putting forth the very best effort to excel in their sport.  At Crosswalk, we also want to be the best we can be. We want to excel in the high calling of serving and honoring the Lord with our lives. God has blessed us with a healhy number of children and youth. Our Tru curriculum is helping us to be the best we can be in our children's ministry. In September we plan to have a "Children's Ministry Open House" so the entire church can get on board with what God is doing with our kids.  However, you may not have noticed, but these kids are getting older, not younger! "Dragons live forever, but not so little boys." Can you identify that quote? Kids grow up. That means we need to have a great ministry to our youth as well. At our pastoral staff meetings we've determined that the greatest single need at Crosswalk at the present time is a dedicated team to work with our youth. A ministry portfolio has been prepared, and we want to launch in September!  We need your help. First, will you pray over this vision for our youth and our church? Would you pray that God would be preparing people who love teenagers and want to work with our youth? I'm calling on us to have an all Church prayer focus and ask God to raise up a leadership team for our youth. Please join us in this endeavor! And then when you pray, listen for God's direction. Perhaps some of you will be the answer to your own prayers!! Wow, there's a thought! I'll say it again: MAYBE GOD WANTS YOU TO BE THE ANSWER TO YOUR OWN PRAYERS! If so, please contact pastor Linda Jackson by simply clicking HERE. We already have some dedicated parents who will stand behind and encourage anyone who wants to serve in this capacity.  Here is another way Crosswalk goes for the gold: We impact the world for Jesus! Please, when you have finished praying for our youth, pray for our Liberia team. They are due to arrive in Liberia on Wednesday morning. Please pray for the impact they will have in that country serving under the ministry of my friend and the executive director of AHEAD ministry, Oscar James. And then please pray for missionary Peter Pereira and myself as we train national pastors from the nation of Bhutan. Bhutan is largely unreached because it is closed to Christian missionaries. However, God has raised up his church in that small Buddhist nation! Slightly over 2% profess faith in Christ, but we all know how God delights in bringing great things out of small beginnings!  Love in Jesus, Pastor John Christie

Why Does God Allow Tragedy and Suffering?   I spoke about this a couple weeks ago after the movie theater shootings in Aurora, Colorado. However, I recently came across an excellent sermon by Lee Strobel that answers this question. Lee is one of the best apologists for the Christian faith today. He has written several books such as The Case for Christ and The Case for Faith. By the way, the word apologetics refers to the ministry of defending the Christian Faith. It comes from the Greek word apologia, which is translated "defense" in this verse: 1 Peter 3:15 (ESV) - "...But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect..." To read this great message, please click HERE.