Developing Next Generation Leaders
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.
I was called to the ministry when I was 14 years old. The year was 1986. Back then, the path to preparation was college and then seminary. I followed the path and I have no regrets. Oklahoma Baptist University, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and finally, the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary yielded three degrees that have served me like three keys opening multiple doors in the ministry. But this path also was incomplete in terms of a rounded preparation for my calling. My most valuable lessons and skillsets have been learned by doing and by sitting at the feet of great leaders.
In the last 20 years, there has been a shift. I have watched as more and more God-called men and women have deviated from the prescribed “path” and have instead sought the route of pure experience. This devaluing of the formal education process has yielded ministers of great skill, but lacking in theological, biblical, and missiological depth. The result is a shallow ministry practice that fails to serve God’s people.
There must be a better way. There is a better way.
For 26 years, Dr. Ronnie Floyd has led Cross Church, pouring into the lives of next generation leaders. Our common practice has been to seek out the sharpest, young, God-called men and women walking the path of a formal education, and culling them out into internships at Cross Church. This summer is no exception, as 18 of the best next gen leaders are with us during their summer break. We have also been skilled at identifying the sharpest graduates from college and seminary, and bringing them onto our staff team to serve our church while we develop them. In fact, I am a product of the Cross Church system. I served as an intern the summer of 1989 and then after graduating from seminary, served the Cross Church family for nine years through Shiloh Christian School and what was then the Church at Pinnacle Hills. The lessons of leadership and ministry I learned from Cross Church and Dr. Floyd have been invaluable, and coupled with my formal education, have shaped who I am today.
Enter the Cross Church School of Ministry. In just a few short weeks, we will be launching this unique ministry residency program that we believe will change the landscape of ministry preparation and next gen leadership development. Just this last week, I read a fascinating article by Tony Morgan where he recalls a conversation with Dave Travis, the managing director of Leadership Network. In discussing the development of future leaders, Travis explains that, “The question will not be ‘where did they go to school?’ but rather ‘where did they train?’” Dave Travis is correct. This trend is already in full swing. The Cross Church School of Ministry is the next step in the progression of leadership development for the future. We are not saying that the formal path of education is unimportant. To the contrary, we are saying it is critically important – just not all that there is to ministry preparation. The Cross Church School of Ministry capitalizes on the best of both worlds. We have developed partnerships with twelve schools and seminaries. This means that academic institutions are on board and see the value of residency training. The Cross Church School of Ministry also demonstrates a unique commitment to academia, while at the same time, elevating real-time training in ministry through a residency experience.
We are convinced that this will be the model for the future of next generation leadership development. And the result will be that the church and Kingdom are served at a greater and higher level than ever before!
Dr. Jeff Crawford
President, Cross Church School of Ministry and Teaching Pastor
To learn more about the Cross Church School of Ministry, check out our website: www.CrossChurchSchool.com
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
This Week at Cross Church: From Our Campus Pastors
Clint Smith, Springdale Campus
Cross Church Family,
What a phenomenal summer! Our children and student ministries have seen many come to know Christ and follow through with baptism. Our Sunday morning worship has been powerful, and we have seen God move in a mighty way among us. Praise God for what He is doing!
Getting Ready for Fall
In the next weeks, we will begin to ramp up for our annual fall Kick-Off Sunday. There are several events that will take place, and we need you here. In two weeks, August 11, at 5:30 pm, we are having our annual Leadership Launch. This is our biggest leadership meeting of the year. If you serve in any capacity in our church or would like to serve, please make plans to attend this time of training and vision casting! Dinner will be served and childcare is available, birth through 5th grade, by registering at www.crosschurch.com.
Then, Sunday, August 25, will be our fall Kick-Off Sunday. All children, birth through high school, will promote to their new classes. Make sure to wear your Razorback (or your favorite sports team) attire on this day. We will have the largest tailgate party in Springdale in the SEC gymnasium right after the 10:55 Small Group hour. It will be a great time to be together with the body of believers…to laugh, fellowship, and break bread together.
Kick Off the Fall in a Small Group
Our prayer is that each of you will also engage in worship and in a small group on this day. We have many small group options that you can choose from. These groups are designed so each of you can have a sense of community and connection to others. It gives an individual place for you to know and to be known, a place you can call home. There are new people each week, so it isn’t like you are going into a situation where everybody in the church has a long-standing relationship with each other. New small groups will begin on Kick-Off Sunday. Make plans now to try one out, and get plugged in with other believers. We look forward to you joining us as we kick off the new church year. We will see you there!
Thank You for Your Faithfulness
As we enter into August, please be mindful of our Summer Program of Giving. We praise God that we are on target to reach our goal. What you have given this summer, God has used in a tremendous way. Many have heard and responded to the gospel. Church, we still have much to do. Please make sure that you give your part in helping to reach our goal. Continue to be a part of Reaching Northwest Arkansas, America and the World for Jesus Christ.
We are here to help you and your family in any way that we can. Please contact our staff or church office if there is any way we can minister to you.
I love Cross Church and the people of Cross Church. And I love Northwest Arkansas. Let’s join together this fall to continue to make a difference in our community as we reach this region with the gospel of Christ.
Clint Smith
Buster Pray, Pinnacle Campus
Cross Church Family,
Volunteer Day, August 18
Cross Church Pinnacle Hills is ramping up for a great day of volunteerism on August 18. On this day, we are asking God for 100 new ministry volunteers. There are a myriad of available ministry opportunities in which you can serve. On this special day, our Gatheria will be transformed into an area with displays highlighting all of our ministry opportunities. We need volunteers for any length of service time. Some can only give a few hours while others can give much more. All are equally important. Don’t miss August 18. “Cross Church loves our city…and it all starts here!”
Discover Cross Church is August 4 and 11
Our next Discover Cross Church is scheduled for August 4 and 11, which gives us another level of momentum as we approach Cross Church Volunteer Day on August 18. This class allows all attendees an opportunity to discover their unique gifts and passions through the lens of the mission and vision of Cross Church. We clearly define the next steps by pointing people to connect in Small Groups and Volunteerism. These August classes will also offer the opportunity of being involved in our Volunteer Day on August 18 and Leadership Launch on August 25.
Summer Program of Giving
This summer has been a season of great ministry and many people confessing Jesus as Lord. Children’s activities, student camps and activities, Focus Team initiatives, Worship Services and special events…they are funded by our Ministry Budget, and our Summer Program of Giving is vitally important. Thank you for what you have done in giving for the cause of the gospel this summer, and I pray we keep our focus and remain faithful to finish strong. Together we can accomplish much for the Kingdom. I encourage many of you to join hundreds in our family of faith who give weekly via automated giving. You will not regret it, and God will honor your faithfulness.
Buster Pray
Nick Floyd, Fayetteville Campus
Cross Church Family,
I hope you have enjoyed your summer! We are quickly approaching the beginning of the fall semester together. Our construction of enlarging the worship center is almost finished. We look forward to opening up new space for you to bring your friends and neighbors to church with you this fall. On August 11, we will move back to our normal Sunday schedule of four services at 8:30am, 10:00am, 11:30am, and 5:30pm. We have three special ways to connect with your church family coming up in the month of August:
- August 7 – Family Cookout at Wilson Park
- August 14 – Naturals Game at Arvest (tickets available in the lobby on Sunday)
- August 21 – Leadership Launch (training for all leaders, volunteers, and new people who want to get involved)
We hope you’ll take advantage of these exciting opportunities to get to know others at Cross Church. I also want to thank you for your faithful giving this summer. God has continued moving in great ways throughout the summer and we are grateful for your support as we seek to reach our goal of Summer Program of Giving. As always, our pastoral staff is always here to minister to you and your family in any way possible. Have a great rest of your week and I look forward to seeing you this Sunday!
Nick Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.