Page Two InRoads February 2016 February 2016 InRoads Page Three

How about some good news for a change? This study just came out this past week (01-20-16) from the Barna Research Group. Of the top “2016 Bible-Minded Cities” in the USA, the Tri-Cities of Tennessee ranks number 5! Is that great or what?!

So, just what is a Bible-Minded City? According to the Barna Group, in research conducted over a 10-year period, 65,000 adults were interviewed as to whether or not they agreed the Bible is accurate and its principles apply to today’s culture. Thus the rankings reflect an overall openness or resistance to the Bible in various U.S. market cities.

Boiled down...what it means is...what percentage of people living in a given area agree with the teachings of the Bible. The top city, which was Chattanooga, received a ranking of 52%...while the Tri-Cities received 47%. As you might have suspected, all the top ranking cities were from the South, while those at the bottom were from the North. In case you were wondering who was at the bottom; three cities tied at 10%...all from New York: Albany, Troy and Schenectady. Boston, Massachusetts was ranked at 11% and Providence, Rhode Island at 12%.

As I read the report, a few things occurred to me...1. The first is, this is good news when it comes to inviting people to church in this area. When we extend an invitation...there is a 50% (or 47% to be exact) chance they will accept the invitation as normal and acceptable...even if they don’t take us up on it! So...get inviting! Statistics say another 25% of the folks out there will not react negatively...even if they aren’t interested in attending church! That means there is a 3 out of 4 possibility of, at least a neutral, if not positive response to an invitation! So don’t be afraid to ask someone to church!2. The second thing that occurred to me is, this is bad news. Bad news because ...if a full 47% of the people agree with the Bible...then where are they on Sunday morning? I wish that when Barna wrote up this survey, he included the stats or percentages of people in each area who actually attend church. I’m willing to bet that most of those who responded positively to the Bible...did so because of the way they were raised...not because of the way they are living. If my assumption is correct, this does not bode well for the future, because the youngest generation is not being raised in church...and therefore will not view the Bible as truth...much less that it ought to be applied to society. 3. The third thing I thought about when I read about this survey...was all the stuff Andy McNeely shared with us about Baltimore. If you recall, he told us Baltimore was one of the most un-reached cities in the US. Barna’s survey seems to undergird that, even if he doesn’t mention Baltimore by name. It’s still up North...and sadly, it’s the northern cities that have the least faith. So, my point is, I am glad Andy was called to minister in Baltimore...and I’m exceptionally thrilled we are partnering with him in that endeavor. May God bless Andy and his family as they reach Baltimore for Christ!

So...what’s the bottom line? Only this...47% is no reason to break our arms patting ourselves on the back. There is still another 53% that we need to focus on. I’ll end by asking, Who are you going to invite to church this month?

Crossroads Christian Church477-2229

www.crossroadsgray.org

Larry Albrecht, Adult Discipleship Minister483-5503

Clinton Andrews, Senior Minister791-1234

Amy Aubrey, Student Minister647-3425

Rob Aubrey, Campus Minister791-2719

Tempa Bader, Music Minister676-5870

Curtis Booher, Associate Minister543-7989

Kit Dotson, Student Minister791-5779

Nathan Hall, Worship Minister782-9633

Katy Woodward, Children’s Minister502-4183

Robin Johnson, Secretary477-2229

SUNDAY STATISTICS

January 3, 2016Morning Worship 596General Offering $27,493.90Debt Reduction $200.00

January 10, 2016Morning Worship 532Student Ministry - TCTC 67General Offering $16,000.24Debt Reduction $500.00

January 17, 2016Morning Worship 551General Offering $16,795.51Debt Reduction $360.00

January 24, 2016Morning Worship 329General Offering $10,913.26Debt Reduction $350.00

Please note: The 2016 General Fund budget requires an average weekly offering of $18,510.00.

General offering 2016 YTD weekly average is $17,800.73.

Eleanore L. Campbell Ladies Conference

Featuring Liz Curtis Higgs

Saturday, Feb. 20, 20169 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Milligan College Liz Curtis Higgs has one goal: to help women embrace the grace of God with joy and abandon. Her messages are biblical, encouraging, down-to-earth, and profoundly funny, helping both sisters and seekers celebrate the truth of God’s love for them.

She is the author of more than 30 books. Liz has also presented more than 1,700 inspirational programs in all 50 United States and 14 foreign countries.

The Eleanore L. Campbell Ladies Conference is a day for women of all ages to be spiritually fed and recharged through biblical teaching, uplifting music and fellowship with other women from throughout the region. All proceeds raised will benefit the ALM Endowment which permanently provides student scholarships at Milligan.

Brochures and registration forms are available in the Lobby or you can register online at www.milligan.edu/alm

     No  matter  if  you  have  called  Crossroads            “home”  for  many  years  or  if  you  are  just        getting    to  know  our  community,  we  are        called  to  serve  in  some  way.  Volunteers        are  the    heartbeat  of  our  community        here  at  Crossroads.    Volunteering  at  the        church  can  take  many  forms  from  our  

Sunday  morning  gatherings  to  mission  work  around  the  world.  We  are  all  called  to  spread  the  Good  News  of  Jesus,  and  this  is  one  way  that  we  can  continue  our  worship  through  service.  Serving  allows  your  walk  with  Christ  to  take  action  and  not  just  be  an  observer.  Here  are  some  ways  that  you  can  serve  RIGHT  NOW!  We  have  teams  that  YOU  can  be  a  part  of  right  now  and  impact  the  kingdom  in  tangible  ways!  

• Chair  Team-­‐  our  chair  teams  set  up  all  the  chairs  for  our  Sunday  morning  gatherings.  This  is  a  vital  role  and  without  these  volunteers  we  would  be  setting  out  our  chairs  when  we  get  to  church.  Contact  Alan  Lewis  (jalan.lewis@siemens.com)  and  he  will  get  you  plugged  in  right  away!  

• Parking  Lot-You  are  the  Pirst  face  people  see  when  they  drive  onto  our  campus  for  the  Pirst  time.  Finding  a  parking  place  quickly  and  knowing  where  to  go  is  crucial  for  new  folks  because  it  sets  the  tone  for  them  getting  to  know  us  and  the  Good  News  of  Christ.  Contact  Scott  Shannon  (scottshannon@rj-products.com)  if  you  are  interested.

• Crossroads  Kids-  Kids  and  families  are  extremely  important  to  our  community!  Contact  Katy  (katy@crossroadsgray.org)  if  you  want  to  have  the  time  of  your  life  teaching  kids  about  Jesus!  

• Adult  Choir-If  you  love  to  sing,  Choir  is  the  place  for  you!    This  ministry  assists  in  the  worship  of  our  church  in  many  ways  and  has  a  great  community  that  comes  with  those  experiences.  Contact  Tempa  if  you  are  interested  (tempa@crossroadsgray.org)

• Greeter-­‐  This  is  more  than  just  handing  out  a  bulletin,  it  is  a  ministry  role.  Being  able  to  communicate  and  welcome  people  into  our  campus  is  vital  for  their  worship  experience.  Contact  Scott  Smith  (shmuddiver@yahoo.com)  for  more  information!  

• Worship/Tech  Teams-­‐if  you  play  an  instrument,  sing,  or  have  a  passion  for  technical  arts  or  digital  media,  contact  Nathan  (nathan@crossroadsgray.org)  for  more  information.  

“Welcome to Crossroads” Luncheon Are you wondering what the next step for you and/or your family may be here at Crossroads? Maybe you have just started attending, or maybe you have been attending for a while now, but you’re just not sure what is next. Let us help. On Sunday, Feb. 21st, we will be hosting a luncheon that will include some very informal discussion that we hope can help you answer some questions that you may have. A number of our staff as well as other members of our church will be attending and will make themselves available to help you find out about our core values, the areas of service that we have available, some of the activities that take place beyond our regular meeting times, and any questions that you might have. If you are interested in attending this FREE event, please contact the church office (477-2229) and let us know so that we can plan accordingly. The meal will be served soon after our morning services in The Greenhouse, which is our Student Ministry area, located in the building closest to the Natural History Museum.

By Clint Andrews

How great is the love theFather has lavished on us,

that we should be called children of God.

1 John 3:1

1300 Suncrest Drive Gray, TN 37615

Contact us by telephone at:423-477-2229

Visit us on the web at:www.crossroadsgray.org

CROSSROADS STUDENT MINISTRYSmall Groups Schedule for February: - February 7- No Small Groups: That Really Big Football Game Party at 6:00 pm - February 14- Small Groups from 5:45-7:15 pm - February 21- No Small Groups (Teen Choir Monster Practice from 2-8 pm) - February 28- Small Groups from 5:45-7:15 pm

Teen Choir Practice schedule for February: - February 7- 5:00-6:00 pm (leading up to That Really Big Football Game

Party) - February 14- 4:00 pm - February 21- Teen Choir Monster Practice from 2:00-8:00 pm - February 28- 4:00 pm

That Really Big Football Game Party: Sunday, February 7th, we will have the annual party that celebrates the championship of professional

football (we are not supposed to use their name or the name of the event). It will go from 6:00 pm until the game is over at the Trujillo’s

House. • 7th & 8th Grade: Bring Chip-like stuff: Chips, Pretzels, salsa, Cheetos, etc.• 9th & 10th Grade: Bring Sweet/Dessert Stuff: Brownies, Cookies, pie, cake, etc.• 11th & 12th Grade: Bring a couple of drinks each: Soft drinks, tea, lemonade, etc.

High School Mission Trip Dates: June 5-11, 2016. We are going back to Appalachia with Crossroads Missions. More info (including cost) will be coming very soon.

February 2016

At Crossroads, we have a lot of reasons to celebrate. Now, starting March 1st, every

Tuesday night from 7 to 9, there will be one more reason for celebration. Celebrate Recovery is a ministry coming to Crossroads for any who have or are currently dealing with the hurts, habits and hang-ups life throws our way. Hurts, habits and hang-ups describe just about any struggle or situation many of us find ourselves in—from divorce, abuse, co-dependency, or depression, feeling overwhelmed and anxious, to addictions both chemical and other, to any hurt

that we just can’t handle on our own. But at CR, we’re not going to dwell on these pains. Instead, we’re going to work through them, together, side-by-side, using scripture, testimony and study, in a safe, confidential environment surrounded by prayer and worship. What do we need from you? First of all, prayer. Please pray that God uses our leaders in a way that points others to the healing hand of the Father. Secondly, serve. If you have a heart for Jesus and your life isn’t perfect, you’ll fit right in. And third, show up for one Tuesday night of worship and fellowship with those who are willing to admit that life alone is not what God intended for any of us. We’ll be kickingoff CR on March 1st at 7 p.m. The night will start with worship and a word of encouragement in a large, but confidential, group setting. Then, we will split into smaller, more issue-specific groups to get to know one another in humility and borrowed strength. CR is not designed to fix anyone. It’s about celebrating the freedom and healing Christ offers through recovery with one another. It’s about speaking Gospel Truth into the lives of the people we sit next to week by week. It’s about rest and safety and accountability. It’s about healing. The beginning of our recovery is telling the truth in fellowship. The beginning of our new identity starts with one another.If this sounds like something you’re interested in, contact Larry Albrecht at larry@crossroadsgray.org or Sarah Colson at SLColson@my.milligan.edu.

Join our parent group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crossroadskidsgray/

CM  2015-­‐2016  Calendar  

February  21  -­‐  Young  Disciples  Lunch  &  Training,  12:30-­‐2:00  p.m.

March  4  -­‐  Elementary  Wise  Guy  Party  #3,  6:30-­‐8:30pm  (10  Points  must  be  earned  by  February  21)

May  27  -­‐  Elementary  Wise  Guy  Party  #4,  6:30-­‐8:30pm  (10  Points  must  be  earned  by  May  15)

February 2016

Early Childhood (2’s-5”s) Elementary (K-6th)

Who does Jesus love? COOPERATION - working togetherJesus loves EVERYONE. to do more than you can do alone.

“Love each other as I have loved you.” “Two people are better than one. They canJohn 15:12 help each other in everything they do.”

Ecclesiastes 4:9February 7 [JOHN 4:1-30] Jesus meets a Extreme Makeover: Tabernacle Edition

woman at a well and loves her [EXODUS 25, 35, 39] even though she has made bad BOTTOM LINE: We can work together to get God’s choices. work done.

February 14 [LUKE 19:1-10] Zacchaeus hears The Biggest Losers [EXODUS 17:8-13] that Jesus is coming so he climbs a BOTTOM LINE: We can work together to help tree to see Him. Jesus shows someone else succeed. Zacchaeus love even though he

has done wrong things.February 21 [JOHN 8:2-11] Jesus shows love Yes, I Think I Can Dance! [LUKE 5:17-26]

and forgiveness to a woman who has BOTTOM LINE: We can work together to change made bad choices and had no friends. someone’s life.

February 28 [MATTHEW 28:16-20] Jesus tells Flip this Church [ACTS 2:42-47] the disciples to go and tell everyone BOTTOM LINE: Working together can point that He loves everyone. people to Jesus.

DECISIONS

Membership

November 29, 2015 - Chris Addams

December 13, 2015 - Art & Sandy Abrams

Baptism

December 13, 2015 - Braxton Wood

January 17, 2016 - Kara Stateson

Rededication

January 3, 2016 - Katie Stoots

FUNDRAISER FOR HONDURAS MISSION TEAMThe Honduras Mission Team is selling "Kissing Kuzins Kandles" to raise money for their mission trip that will take place May 26-June 3. A variety of scents are available for $7 each.  These high quality candles can be purchased at the table in the Church Lobby on January 31, February 7 and February 14.  You can also purchase candles bycontacting Tina Head (292-7773) or Tempa Bader (676-5870). These candles would be great Valentine gifts, but most importantly will enable the team to minister in Honduras! 

Baby Bottle Fundraiser - This is one of the main projects through which Agape Women’s Services raises funds for their ministry. Crossroads has participated in this effort for many years and last year turned in 70 bottles that contained a total of $2,224.00!!!  That amount is a great

testimony to the generosity of our Faith Family! We are participating again this year! PLEASE PICK UP YOUR BOTTLE on Sunday at a table in the back of the auditorium.  Follow the instructions inside and return it to the church by February 21.