Archive for the 'This Week at Cross Church' Category
This Week at Cross Church | On My Heart: Several things I want to share with my Cross Church Family
Several things are on my heart that I want to share with you, my Cross Church Family. I do hope you will take the time to read these brief thoughts so we can walk through life together as Pastor and People. Together, we can make a difference for the Lord.
Sunday We Speak From Acts 9
This coming Sunday, we learn from Acts 9. It will be a powerful message on iNFLUENCE! We will look at one of the major personalities of the New Testament, Saul. What a story. I cannot wait to share it with you. Please take the time to read Acts 9 before Sunday, invite someone to join you, and let’s make Sunday a joyful explosion in the name of the Lord.
Cross Church School Of Ministry
This one-year residential ministry experience will prepare spiritual leaders for life, leadership, and Gospel advancement globally. Our number one need: Students! Whether we have one, five, 10 students or more, we are going forward and doing so with confidence that we are following God’s leadership. Yet, we need you to pray that God will send us students! This is an innovative initiative, fresh to the ears and eyes of ministry today; therefore, it will take time. Pray for Dr. Jeff Crawford as he continues to talk to prospective students.
Southern Baptist Convention
After I preach on Sunday morning, Jeana and I will fly to Houston, Texas, for the 2013 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting. I need your prayer support. Did you read that? I really need your prayer support. Why?
*Monday morning: I will speak at the Pastors’ Conference of our convention, serving in a roundtable discussion with two great men of God: Dr. Mark Dever of Washington D.C. and Dr. Tony Merida of Wake Forest, North Carolina. Dr. Gregg Matte, President of the 2013 Pastors’ Conference, will lead this roundtable discussion on the subject of preaching. Please pray that this practical, engaging, innovative approach will help thousands of pastors. I am honored to be a part of this roundtable.
*Monday afternoon: I will nominate Dr. Bruce Frank, Lead Pastor of the Biltmore Baptist Church in Asheville, North Carolina, to serve as President of the 2014 Pastors’ Conference of the Southern Baptist Convention, which will be meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. It is my prayer that God will raise up this incredible leader and preacher for this grand moment.
*Tuesday at noon: Life Action Ministries has asked me to join three other spiritual leaders over a major lunch meeting to talk about the subject of Spiritual Revival. I look forward to this engaging luncheon as hundreds of Pastors will gather for discussion around this theme. Pray for a mighty visitation from God.
*Tuesday afternoon: I will assist Dr. Eric Geiger and Dr. Thom Rainer in giving the Annual Report of Lifeway Christian Resources at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting. As many of you know, I am serving for three years as the General Editor of the Bible Studies For Life Curriculum Series — which is being used presently in over 30,000 churches by over 150,000 small groups, and over 1.5 million people weekly. They will interview me about my role and this new commitment we are making to help churches.
*Additionally: There are many other things I will be involved in Sunday night through Wednesday night. Pray for Jeana and I as we walk through these strategic days.
Let me make this clear: I already love what God will do during the days of the Southern Baptist Convention. I am so encouraged by so many things I am seeing and hearing. God is moving and we are so blessed. So, pray for our annual meeting next week in Houston, Texas.
Ministries of Cross Church
Nothing captures my imagination more than the ministries of Cross Church. I am thrilled with many things and at the same time have a few concerns about others. We must remain on task and refuse to be distracted! We are about reaching Northwest Arkansas, America, and the World for Jesus Christ!
Whether we are serving through our student and children’s camps, Vacation Bible Xtremes, Summer Freedom Celebration, or mission endeavors —locally, nationally, or globally — we must keep the vision ever before us and commit to evangelizing the lost, baptizing the new followers of Christ, and discipling all Christ-followers.
We must commit to call people to weekly worship, regardless of what the culture does to distract them from doing it! We must remind people of their need to be in a Small Group, even when they think their time is too limited! We must call people to be servants of Christ, doing something seasonally or weekly for the Lord through His church! We must call people to honor Christ with the first-tenth of all God has given them financially, even when they think we are out of touch! A Gospel life is a costly life. Jesus paid it all!
Therefore, we should be willing to count the cost and follow Christ unashamedly and unreservedly! Yes, we are the people of God committed to reaching Northwest Arkansas, America, and the World for Jesus Christ.
Yours for the Great Commission,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
This Week at Cross Church: The Arrival of Summertime at Cross Church
Cross Church family,
This past weekend we joyfully welcomed the arrival of summertime! Now lets prepare for the many events and activities that Cross Church has to offer our church family and community in the coming weeks.
Summer Camp
In the coming days and weeks Cross Church will be sending hundreds of elementary, middle school, and high school students off to summer camp. I believe that attending a Bible teaching, Christ-centered summer camp is an important part of childhood. Every summer our children’s and student ministry teams prepare unforgettable summer camp experiences, each geared toward sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for our church’s young people. Parents and grandparents, it is not too late to register the children and students in your family for camp. Click here for camp information and registration.
Additionally, many of our students will need some level of financial assistance to attend summer camp. If you feel led to grant a camp scholarship, please click here. Thank you to the many who have already contributed to our camp scholarship fund above their tithe.
Vacation Bible Xtreme
Our summer 2013 Vacation Bible Xtreme theme is “Turn It Up!” Our weeklong VBX will take your children and grandchildren on a journey through the Bible, ultimately giving these kids a context for God’s “big story.” VBX kids will discover how they can be a part of the story when they turn up the power of God’s love in their life. Register for VBX today!
The success of our annual vacation bible school is due largely in part to the army of volunteers that assist our children’s ministry teams. If you feel led to volunteer your time to this year’s VBX, click here. Your service is greatly appreciated.
Save the Date for our Summer Freedom Celebration
On Sunday, June 30, each of our campuses will host a Summer Freedom Celebration called, “Fear Not, America — There is Hope!” Invite your family, friends, and neighbors to Sunday morning services as we honor our heroes, celebrate our freedoms, and renew our dependence on our Heavenly Father.
Additionally, on the evening of June 30, our Pinnacle Hills campus will host “Fireworks at the Crosses,” a phenomenal time of fun, praise and worship, and the best fireworks display in Northwest Arkansas. This event is the perfect opportunity to invite guests to join you for an uplifting evening of Gospel-centered fellowship — I encourage you to invite, invite, invite!
Summer Program of Giving
The ministries of Cross Church continue even while many of our people are away on summer vacation; therefore, I ask that you prayerfully consider how you can remain consistent and faithful in your giving during the summertime. Our Summer Program of Giving goal is $4,665,000 — a thoughtfully considered figure that will fund daily church operations, Great Commission ministries, special events like VBX and summer camps, and additional ministries for our people and community. Be assured that your faithful summertime giving results in lives being changed and influenced for Jesus Christ.
Cross Church offers you five giving options: during Sunday worship, online, at our Giving Kiosks located at each of our campuses, through the mail, and through automated online giving. Please consider which giving method is best suited for your family and make a personal commitment to remain consistent in the giving of your tithes and offerings this summer.
Our Walk Through Acts
I hope you are enjoying and growing in your walk with the Lord through our church-wide study of the Book of Acts. There are so many powerful lessons to learn from this great book of the Bible.
Last Sunday we continued our walk through Acts with the launch of a new mini-series, “iNFLUENCE.” We studied the life and influence of Stephen, a great man of God that suffered well for his faith in Jesus Christ. This week make it a point to join us as we study the iNFLUENCE of Philip.
Yours for the Great Commission,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.