Thank You, Lord!!!

Well, we’re off and running!  Our pledge total for our new building is well over $2,500,000!  Not only that, but many more will pledge in the coming weeks and months!  So… how do we measure up?  First off, our stewardship consultant said 1.5 to 2 times the previous year’s annual budget is a great pledge goal.  Our pledges SO FAR are MORE THAN TWICE last year’s budget! In other words, The Crossing family is sacrificing above the national average for a building stewardship campaign!  For all of you who contacted us saying you were still working out your pledge total- no problem.  You can put your card in an envelope and drop it in the offering or mail it to the church.  So… what’s next?  Pray for permits to come through.  Our plan is to break ground June 9 if everything is in order.  We’re starting a new Series of messages this week called “All Things New.”  We’ll begin by helping you identify your spiritual gifts, and then we’ll learn how to ‘live like there’s no tomorrow!”  You are the greatest church family in Alaska!  (Alright, I’m biased.)  See you next week! -Brad

M&M’s

We had another great week at The Crossing!  In fact, we had one of the most defining weeks in our history!  Our BRIDGE stewardship campaign culminates in our pledge Sunday this week, but a number of our leaders got together last week to make our pledges in advance.  We need $4 million dollars for our Bridge Training Facility, and 44 families already pledged in excess of $1.6 million!!!!!!  That’s nearly three times the largest pledge we’ve ever had at this church, and over 200 families are expected to pledge this week!  Pray that God will provide the funds we need!  How will it happen?  1) People face a crisis of faith (will I give $ sacrificially?) 2) People choose faith  3) People take a risk (will God still provide as I give generously?) 4) God blesses the giver! 5) God strengthens our faith!   This is the process that leads Christian men and women to the place of true generosity, and when we are most generous, we most closely resemble Christ!  Have a great week!  Pray for Sunday.  Remember to ask God this week, “Lord, what would you have me give?”  -Brad

Unity

I want to offer a HUGE thanks to our friends at Peters Creek Christian Center for spending Sunday morning and evening worshiping with us!  We had an incredible day!  As to the lesson: Debt- how to get out and stay out.  Remember the four keys- 1) Stop spending more than you earn; 2) Plan for the unexpected by creating a six month emergency fund; 3) Pay off your debt; and 4) Get education and/or training to increase your income.  I pray that each of you will put these principles into practice starting now!  God WILL bless you!!  We are rapidly approaching our commitment Sunday for the BRIDGE campaign.  I am requesting that each of you spend 30 minutes alone with God (with your spouse, if married), asking this: “God, what would you have me (us) give over the next three years to build your church?  I have every confidence that he will give you clear direction.  See you next week! -Brad

The BRIDGE

We had another awesome Sunday!  We are so excited about the BRIDGE!  If you are not up to date- BRIDGe is the name of our vision for building a large discipling space to be used as our preparation and ‘launch pad’ for ministry.  It will include new space and an indoor playground for preschool, completely renovated space for children with two stages, large space for both junior and senior high youth, and ministry space for adults.  Over a dozen classrooms, several offices, a large indoor ‘courtyard’ with a stage, bookstore and coffee counter, a new chapel, computer lab, locker rooms, an art studio, and a science lab for BCS.  We’ll have an elevator for full accessability, maintenance work area, and additional storage space.  In all, over 40,000 square feet of ministry space!  How will we get it done?  Simple- if every person will make small sacrifices, collectively we’ll raise the funds we need.  What’s a small sacrifice?  Let’s use half the PFD as our starting point.  The PFD is estimated be over $2,000 per year for the next three years.  If every person just gives half (still keeping $1,000+!!) of each family PFD we’ll have more than half the funds we need!!!  From that point just ask God what you can do.  $10 per week?  $25?  50?  100?  I don’t know… simply spend time with the Lord and ask God to reveal what he’d have you do.  We are the Crossing Team!  I have every confidence that God will provide all that we need.  Thanks for all you do!