Archive for the 'School of Ministry' Category
Cross Church School of Ministry | Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
Today, RonnieFloyd.com welcomes guest writer, Dr. Jeff Crawford. Dr. Crawford is the President of Cross Church School of Ministry and a Teaching Pastor at Cross Church. Follow Dr. Jeff Crawford on Twitter.
A year and a half ago, the Cross Church School of Ministry was a vision and a dream between Dr. Ronnie Floyd and me; A vision of training next generation leaders for service in the Kingdom and a dream of what that could look like through Cross Church.
Nine months ago, the Cross Church School of Ministry was born. The vision and dream became reality as I said good-bye to my pastorate in Fort Smith, and joined Dr. Floyd to build a School of Ministry from the ground up.
Two and a half months ago, the Cross Church School of Ministry welcomed its first cohort of students. Eleven men from five states, called of God, seeking to serve the Kingdom in worship ministry, youth ministry, pastoral ministry, church planting, and international missions. A vision and dream come to fruition.
But the story of the Cross Church School of Ministry is not over. In fact, it is still in its infancy. And as we begin our third month with this first class of students and are just two weeks away from traveling with the School of Ministry to Venezuela to train pastors, I wanted to take the opportunity to reflect on what has been learned and project even further into the future.
What I am learning…
The future is bright. What an incredible joy to know these eleven men that God has sent to us for year one to the Cross Church School of Ministry. Ranging in age from 19 to 34, these men are the future of local church ministry and missions. They are enthusiastic. They love Jesus. They are committed to the Word of God. They understand the Great Commission. And they are hungry to learn. In so many ways, they remind me of myself at another season of life. Nothing is impossible to these men. They’ve not yet been told, “You can’t do it,” and so they are swept along by a God whose ways are higher than our ways and whose thoughts are higher than our thoughts.
What our church is learning…
Cross Church has always understood the value of investing in future leaders, but the Cross Church School of Ministry is pushing us to new territory and breaking old boundaries. These men are not just learning from us, they are also giving back. Cross Church is stronger as these men pour their raw enthusiasm and boundless energy into our body of believers. Whatever investment we have made into building the Cross Church School of Ministry, it is coming back to us ten fold. We can’t help but feel that we are developing a new model for how men and women called of God prepare for ministry.
What our students are learning…
These men are learning what ministry “in real time” looks like. The speed of the game is fast, the demands are high, the stakes are life and death, and they have a front row seat for the whole thing. Some are learning that they don’t know as much as they thought they knew. Some are learning what a strong work ethic truly looks like. All of them are learning how to walk with Jesus while leading others to do the same. The goal of the Cross Church School of Ministry is to prepare leaders for life, ministry, and Gospel advancement globally.
What all this means for the future…
All of this put together means the future is limitless. In the immediate future, the Cross Church School of Ministry will be traveling to Venezuela on mission. We covet your prayers for our trip November 13-21. After the holidays, we will travel to work with church plants in Portland, Maine, and Seattle, Washington. We are going coast-to-coast…literally. Already, we are preparing for year two, asking God to bring to us whom He wants. Prayerfully, we will have 20 God-called leaders for 2014-15. It is my personal prayer that our second cohort will include women and international leaders. And thinking even further down the road, the possibilities become very exciting. Could we have a second center located in another country? How about auxiliary “classes” for laypersons? Would God allow us to develop a Cross Church Network of leaders (former School of Ministry students and others) who return to Cross Church on an annual basis for fellowship, re-connection, and further training?
I was once told that the word “potential” just means you haven’t done it yet. For all we are doing with the Cross Church School of Ministry, the potential is even greater. But all that means is that we haven’t done it yet. But we will. Our God expects it. Our faith demands it. The Kingdom needs it. And a lost world deserves it.
Dr. Jeff Crawford
President, Cross Church School of Ministry
Teaching Pastor, Cross Church
Follow the Cross Church School of Ministry on Twitter or visit the website.
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
An Update on the Cross Church School of Ministry
Today, RonnieFloyd.com welcomes guest writer, Dr. Jeff Crawford. Dr. Crawford is the President of Cross Church School of Ministry and a Teaching Pastor at Cross Church.
The Cross Church School of Ministry (CCSM) is off to a God-touched start! Seven months ago, we were a vision and a strategy on a piece of paper. Today we are one month into a year-long ministry residency with 11 God-called men who have come to us from five states. In addition to these men serving in “real time” across the ministries of Cross Church, we are also deep into preparation for our mission trip to Venezuela. Every Cross Church School of Ministry student will advance the Gospel globally via one international mission experience and two North American mission experiences. The trip to Venezuela will put us on the front lines of mission work as we lead a training conference for over 150 church leaders from all over Venezuela. In addition, we will be doing church specific training in reaching Muslims for Christ. The churches of Venezuela have an open door to the Muslim countries of the world, whereas we do not as Americans. So we will provide the training and they will provide the “going!”
CCSM resident minister, Adrian Jordan, on our church planting track, has summed up his experience with the Cross Church School of Ministry this way, “This moment in my life is I believe the perfect place in time where God has uniquely equipped the leadership (of CCSM) to pour into the lives of men who feel His call on their lives. As I answer the calling to, ‘Go!’ I am so excited for this amazing adventure of faith where I know without a doubt this is only the beginning and I look forward to seeing the beauty unfold in God’s great masterpiece.”
A.J. Kirk is studying with CCSM on our student ministry track and has grasped the unique opportunity our school offers next generation leaders. Says A.J., “God made a way for me to be a part of this terrific opportunity, all I had to do was say yes, and that is exactly what I did. I am beyond thankful to everyone who has been a part of getting me here, and I am thankful most of all to serve a Savior who makes a way for His will to be done regardless of the circumstances.”
The story is not finished, though. In fact, it has only just begun. We are currently recruiting for our second cohort, which will begin with us in August of 2014. God is on the move and working even now in the hearts of men and women to join us at Cross Church. Listen to the words of current CCSM student and future church planter, James 
Forbis, “I have complete confidence and faith that God is already calling men and women to be a part of the next cohort of students for next year’s class, and I urge you to pray about and consider two things: ‘Am I called?’ and ‘What am I called to do?’. If you can discern those two things and know without a shadow of a doubt that your life is meant to glorify God through Kingdom work then join us at The Cross Church School of Ministry.”
If you would like to know more about the Cross Church School of Ministry check out our new website at: CrossChurchSchool.com or contact me directly: jeffc@crosschurch.com
Dr. Jeff Crawford
President, Cross Church School of Ministry
Teaching Pastor, Cross Church
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.