Archive for September, 2013
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.
Extraordinary prayer by the pastor and his church
Twelve years ago, the evil forces of this world attacked our nation. The events of September 11, 2001, moved our nation into a long and immediate pause. Each of us will remember until our death, the specifics of our own moment when we engaged, via television, the enemy attacks upon our country.
As much as we could on that day, we called our church to prayer. Many came to our worship center that night, calling upon the Lord for our nation. The following Sunday our church and most of America’s churches were filled and overflowing. People knew they needed God, the church, and each other. This crisis moved us into a season of extraordinary prayer.
Pastor, do you practice extraordinary prayer?
Most pastors I know believe in prayer. However, I am not sure if most pastors believe in the power of extraordinary prayer. Extraordinary prayer is prayer beyond the ordinary. Leaders of the past have called us to extraordinary prayer. Jonathan Edwards wrote about it and called for it among his peers.
I believe Jesus would expect us to rise early for prayer, even as He did in Mark 1:35,
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He
got up, went out, and made His way to a deserted
place. And He was praying there.
This was an ordinary practice of Jesus.
Rising early in the morning, even when it is still dark, and finding a private place to enter a session of prayer should be an ordinary practice in the life of a pastor. How could a pastor ever expect his people to do something he himself is not practicing and doing personally?
Therefore, extraordinary prayer would be something like this plus more. Perhaps it would be a special season of prayer, possibly including a time of prayer and fasting. Or, something else that the Holy Spirit would lead a pastor to do. All I know is that we all need to be practicing extraordinary prayer.
Pastor, we need to rise up and lead our people in the call to prayer. We need to model ordinary and extraordinary prayer. We need to pray. We need to pray extraordinarily. We need the filling of the Holy Spirit. We need the anointing of the Holy Spirit. We need the power of God. Extraordinary prayer is the key to the Spirit-empowered ministry of the pastor.
Pastor, are you leading your church to practice extraordinary prayer?
I have a major burden right now for my church to be stronger in the ministry of prayer. I am burdened that we seem to do many other things before we practice prayer.
I tell our team continually that if we are not careful we will diminish prayer even in a worship service. I love worship music, but it is not a substitute for prayer. I feel it is imperative that a pastor calls upon the Lord before his church weekly, modeling earnest, passionate, believing prayer. A pastor can mentor the people in prayer by practicing prayer in worship.
Then, there are moments for practicing extraordinary prayer. I have tried to lead our church to engage in extraordinary prayer through the years in many ways like:
*Special prayer meetings on Sunday night
*Special seasons of prayer on Sunday mornings
*Special seasons of prayer and fasting
*Special nights of prayer
*And many other ways
Right now, we are preparing to launch a special prayer ministry called, The Cross Church Circle. The Cross Church Circle prays for the ministry of Cross Church. This will be a web-based ministry for most, but we will make it available to those who are not users of technology. Monthly, I will develop a major prayer guide to send to our people. We are asking our people to follow this guide weekly for 30 minutes. The response has been extraordinary.
As of this time, we have 3,257 people, across all of our campuses, who have committed to pray for 30 minutes a week using this prayer guide. We launch this ministry on October 1. I will lead this ministry and I will prepare the prayer guide. I will manage it from my office — some things the pastor does not need to give away. Pastors must stop trying to delegate their anointing to others — YOU are anointed to lead the church — Lead It! Pastors MUST lead their churches to practice extraordinary prayer.
Can you imagine it?
Can you imagine what will happen to Cross Church when 3,257 or more people begin to pray for 30 minutes a week as part of the Cross Church Circle? As the people follow this prayer guide, they will become informed, inspired, and empowered to pray for this ministry. I believe this will result in them loving their church more and serving their Lord more than ever.
May God do extraordinary things in the lives of our people and our church as they begin to move into a time of practicing a lifestyle of extraordinary prayer. I cannot wait to see what God will do!
Yours For The Great Commission,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.