Ronnie Floyd

September 24th, 2014

The Next Generation of Ministry Preparation | The Cross Church School of Ministry: Year 2

JeffC-Blog

Today, I am co-writing with Dr. Jeff Crawford. Dr. Crawford is the President of Cross Church School of Ministry and a Teaching Pastor at Cross Church.

Cross Church has a long history of raising up young leaders and sending them out for global kingdom impact. Through the years, we have invested in emerging leaders on our staff team, summer internships, and beyond in many ways.

Several years ago, we began to explore the question: What if we became very intentional about what God was doing organically among us? What if we put systems and strategy into raising up and sending out next generation leaders?

On February 1 of 2013, the Cross Church School of Ministry was born. Intense work began over the course of the next six months to develop partnerships with academic institutions, write curriculum, orient our ministry staff, renovate physical space, and in short, build the foundation for the mission of the Cross Church School of Ministry – A One Year Residential Experience preparing leaders for life, ministry, and Gospel advancement globally.

In August of 2013, God gave us ten young men. Ten God-called, next generation leaders. They came on faith. Lived and worked among our staff team, exposed to the highest levels of ministry practice. They traveled the world with us logging thousands of miles on two North American mission trips and one international mission experience. We poured the best of Cross Church into them and then…we sent them out.

This August, the process began all over again. This year, God has once again brought to us His called servants; An amazing collection of 18 emerging leaders. As word of the unique experience of the Cross Church School of Ministry has spread far and wide, so the diversity of our second class has expanded.

We have single adults and married folks with us. Ages range from 19 to 45 years of life. Some have only a high school diploma and some a masters degree from seminary. They come from five states and for the first time, two foreign countries – Iran and Spain. And we are thrilled for the first time to have with us three women that God has laid His hand upon. To say that we are thrilled with this second class of School of Ministry students is a gross understatement. The potential for the future and the Kingdom of God is tremendous.

As you look below at the individuals that make up this collection of next generation leaders, notice the variety of ministry tracking they have chosen to study and practice with us. Notice the sheer diversity. And ask yourself this question: Is God calling me to join the next class of the Cross Church School of Ministry?

We are recruiting now. You can apply online today. Has God called you to join us? I hope so!

Ronnie W. Floyd Dr. Jeff Crawford

Senior Pastor, Cross Church President, Cross Church School of Ministry
President, Southern Baptist Convention Teaching Pastor, Cross Church