This Week at Cross Church | Kick-Off Sunday was Kicking!
Kick-Off Sunday Was Kicking!
We are so thankful for every great and wonderful thing the Lord did this past Sunday, our official Fall Kick-Off Sunday at Cross Church. Our God is so great to extend so many blessings to our church. Thank you, Cross Church, for the incredible blessings you have extended to me as your pastor for these years we have been together. By the way, if you were not here Sunday, you must see my “Heisman Pose” in this short Cross Church Today video.
If You Missed the Message on Sunday, Please Watch it Here
This past Sunday, I spoke on “When You Have a Vision For Your Life.” Through this message, I interweaved the hand of God in how He has worked in our church this past year and what we see for this coming year, leading to what God is doing in your life today. You can watch it here, and I believe it will encourage you greatly. These are just a few praises to God for what He has done in and through Cross Church these past fifty-two weeks. Cross Church:
- Grew by 5% in weekly attendance
- Baptized 1,176 people
- Accomplished the Fayetteville Campus relocation successfully
- Eliminated $6 million of indebtedness, even with the relocation
- Planted 11 new churches in 8 cities across North America
- Partnered in 11 nations outside of America, planting 16 new churches
- Served 79,992 individuals with food needs here and across the world
- Given $1.2 million through our Southern Baptist Cooperative Program, which funds the missions work we do in partnership together
God has been so good to Cross Church. Over these last two decades, our church has planted 148 churches regionally, nationally, and globally. The Lord’s hand and power is upon our fellowship called Cross Church. Thank you, Lord!
Recognizing Dr. Jeff Crawford This Week
I am so grateful for Dr. Jeff Crawford, who serves on our staff team as Teaching Pastor and Lead Pastor of Ministries. He and Julie are such a blessing to our entire team. This Sunday, we will recognize Dr. Crawford’s five years of service with us since returning to begin our Cross Church School of Ministry, now serving in this great role on our team. I can assure you, Dr. Nick Floyd, Ben Mayes, and our entire church staff team are so glad Jeff is with us. Thank you, Jeff and Julie, for your continual influence upon our lives here at Cross Church.
Finish Strong in Giving Through Labor Day Sunday, September 2
Cross Church, we are nearing the conclusion of our 15-week Summer Program of Giving. Throughout all of June and July, we were ahead. Now we must finish well, as thus far, August has been challenging. It is time to re-engage and let’s finish well. Let’s reach our goal all the way through Labor Day Sunday, September 2. The ball is in your hands. We can do it together for God’s glory!
See you Sunday,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
How to Use Your iPad to Improve Your Prayer Life
Do you want to improve your prayer life? Most Christians do, but they do not know how.
While I have used various prayer plans since my collegiate days, the one I use in today’s technological world has helped improve my prayer life. Let me share with you how I do it.
Why I Use My iPad to Improve My Prayer Life
The iPad comes with an app called Notes, and I use it in my prayer life. If you have an iPhone, it will sync your lists, providing accessibility on either device no matter where you are. Android devices have a similar note-taking app.
Simplicity: The Notes app is very simple to use. Simplicity usually increases usability.
Change: It is simple to change a prayer list or the process you go through in prayer when you do it electronically. Flexibility will help you stay current.
Relevance: Being current in what is happening in your life or those you are praying for helps you to be relevant. With the Notes app, I can easily keep my prayer list current and relevant.
How I Use My iPad to Improve My Prayer Life
I will share with you a few practices I follow to improve my prayer life, but due to my own flexibility, what I share with you today may not be the same a week from now.
Please know that for me, nothing keeps me more focused, on task, and effective in prayer than a current, relevant prayer list. Not just a list relating to a process I may use, but a specific, current list of prayer needs. While this is not comprehensive, at least it lets you into some of my prayer life.
1. Preparing to Pray: In my early morning time with God, I begin with moments of praise for who God is and in moments of thanksgiving for what He has done in my life.
2. Evaluating My Life Spiritually: This time of personal evaluation always begins with confession of sin and acknowledging Jesus’ finished work on the cross for forgiveness of my sins. Knowing my complete insufficiency and dire weakness, I call upon the Holy Spirit to fill me and anoint me with His power needed for the day before me. I ask God to anoint me for living, preaching, teaching, leadership, decision making, vision, writing, relationships, and with His gladness.
3. Trusting God for His Protecting Armor to Cover Me and Each Member of My Family: I approach God daily, asking for His spiritual covering and armor upon my family, calling out the names of my family members, asking God to put His armor of protection upon each of us. I pray for protection as they travel in their own regions and beyond, as well as over the schools where each of them works or attends.
4. Asking God to Meet Specific Needs Relating to Each Member of Our Immediate Family: Yes, I talk to God daily about my wife, my two sons, our two daughters-in-law, and each of our seven grandchildren.
5. Believing God in Prayer Relating to My Staff Team and My Cross Church Family: Every day is a day of decision for me. Praying about my staff team and all things before our Cross Church Family is one my greatest blessings. This is one of my highest callings as a pastor.
6. Talking to God About America and My Present Responsibilities with the National Day of Prayer: Anyone who has followed me at all knows my love for and commitment to pray for America, especially for spiritual awakening. Our nation needs Jesus.
7. Interceding for Specific Persons and Their Needs: I have a running, ongoing, and ever-changing list of people who are walking through unique challenges in their life. I pray for these people specifically and daily.
8. Calling Out to God for the Gospel to be Advanced Across the World: I believe in the Great Commission and have committed the rest of my life to do everything I can so that each person in the world is told about Jesus Christ.
9. Specifically Praying About My Own Life Needs, Personal Ministry, and Future Opportunities: I want my life and my ministry to count. I want God to use me in any way He desires. As He extends me opportunities to lead, support, assist, or speak in the future, I pray through these.
Find Your Way to Pray Effectively
The most effective prayer plan is the one you will use..
Here is what I know: If you do not have a plan to pray, usually you will not pray consistently and effectively.
So, what is your prayer plan? If you do not have a plan that helps you stay current, on task, and specific, I suggest you consider creating one like this.
Now is the Time to Lead,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.