This Week at Cross Church | Looking Ahead
Fall Kick Off is Sunday, August 19
Plan now to ENGAGE again with Cross Church on Sunday, August 19. Summer activities place families all over the globe these days, and at times, it even causes us to be all over the map spiritually. That is why it is time now to plan to ENGAGE again with Cross Church. This ministry has been ongoing through each day of the summer season, so go forward with us by being here on Sunday, August 19, our Fall Kick Off Sunday!
Let’s Get This Done Together
Cross Church Family, let’s get this Summer Program of Giving goal accomplished by the end of Sunday, September 2. Our goal has been clear:
- Individually: Honor the Lord with at least the first tenth of all God has entrusted to you, and do so wherever you are located geographically.
- Together: When we reach the individual goal, we will reach our Summer Program of Giving goal of $6 million over these 15 weeks of the summer season beginning Memorial Day Sunday through Labor Day Sunday.
- Make Up: When we re-engage, we make up our giving for the Sundays we have missed, unless we have been giving through recurring giving or another way while we were away. Regardless, it is our goal to make up if any Sundays are missed.
Why is this important? It is not about reaching a goal, but it is about being all God has desired for us to be and live according to His plan for our lives. It is not about Cross Church, but it is about your life and your personal walk with Christ. Thank you for all you have done and now, let’s get this done together.
Mark Tuesday, September 11, on Your Calendar Now
Why is Tuesday, September 11, important? Every September 11 will be important until at least our generation of Americans is gone and history would be forgotten. Join me in praying for the SECURITY and PROTECTION of the United States of America on Tuesday, September 11. I do hope you will read this brief article I released on Monday and share it with a friend. Also, share the graphic—It is a simple message.
Are You Praying for the Nominee and Process for the Next Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court?
Praying for the nominee and the process for the next Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court is one of our three prayer priorities for America this month. Today or sometime over the next few days, be sure you pray for this specific prayer priority. Below are some ways I encourage us to pray:
GIVE COMPLETE CLARITY OF GOD’S WILL RELATING TO THE CONFIRMATION OF THE PRESIDENT’S NOMINEE, BRETT KAVANAUGH, AS THE NEXT ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES.
“Mankind, he has told each of you what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8
- Oh God, the United States Supreme Court is in deep need of any new member of the court to be a justice who believes in a strong accountability to God for their actions and to act justly, love faithfulness, and walk humbly with God personally.
- Sovereign Lord of Hosts, since You channel the hearts of leaders, we pray for God’s will relating to Brett Kavanaugh as the next Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Lord, if You have chosen Him for this role, may he be confirmed. If not, then raise up who You want.
- Lord, in this divisive political climate in America, we pray with confidence for You alone to work through the members of the United States Senate to make clear Your will relating to this nominee or others in the future. Furthermore, we ask You boldly Lord, to raise up justices for our Supreme Court as well as raise up other judges on the various levels of influence in our entire justice system who will believe in:
- Personal accountability to God
- Rule by the law, not by preference
- Administration of justice impartially and fairly
- Security of the dignity of every human life
- Protection of religious liberty given by God and additional liberties extended to Americans by our constitution
Thank you for all you are doing for Cross Church and beyond. Make a difference with your life. You have one shot with your life. Make it count!
Now is the Time to Lead,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
Developing Your Staff Team
There are many ways a leader can develop their staff team, but I have never found a better way than allocating time away from the office together. In fact, whether it be days or hours, the end will result in a much stronger team.
Jeana and I Just Led Our 31st Consecutive Staff Advance
Last Thursday, Jeana and I closed out our 31st consecutive Staff Advance for our Ministry Staff and their spouses here at Cross Church. This three and one-half-day investment into our team was tremendous. We are grateful for this opportunity.
Why do we do it? We do this because we believe in:
- Developing God-called leaders to lead
- Launching God-called leaders to lead
- Empowering God-called leaders to lead
- Investing in God-called leaders and their spouses
Here is what we have found again and again, and please read this carefully: Not one God-called leader will ever rise above their marital relationship with their spouse, nor will they rise above the engagement of their spouse in their own ministry. That is why, for thirty-one consecutive years, Jeana and I have led this staff advance.
What Was Small Years Ago Has Now Flourished Greatly
When I came here as a boy preacher from Texas, I had no idea how long I would be here, but I believed even then in the importance of developing our small staff team. So, I started something that has flourished beyond my imagination. God has been so good to us.
I am convinced that one of the reasons why Cross Church has grown and flourished over the years is this intentional, continual commitment to our Annual Staff Advance. For simplicity’s sake, we plan it for the same week each year, beginning the last Monday of July.
It can be tiring for Jeana and me to plan and lead, but the investment of time into the lives of people make it more than worth it all. Each of us always leave better individually and we always leave more unified.
The larger our church has grown and the more complex our organization has become makes these days more important than ever before.
Find Your Way To Develop Your Staff Team
Our way is not the only way, but it works for us. I cannot imagine leading this large, complex ministry without these few days together each year. It would make the days longer and the grind of ministry less enjoyable.
Here is what I have discovered: Your staff team does not need to be like you, nor do you all need be best friends, but you do need to enjoy working together.
Leadership is hard. Having a team that you enjoy working with and even enjoy personally makes leadership a joy.
My counsel to you today is simple: Find your way to develop your staff team.
Now is the Time to Lead,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.