CrossPoint Newsletter

Tenth Edition 2/5/2024

I remember when they used to call me “Eagle Eye” Addis (for real, they used to call me that) when I was young. I could see detail at a distance and took it for granted, just like I did my hair.

Things started to get a little fuzzy, and in my 30s, I began to use some readers, leading to my 40s with progressive lenses and in my 50s… I am in mortal danger if I stray too far from the bed in the morning without putting on my glasses.

Vision is important.

Arguably, spiritual vision is just as important as your physical vision if for no other reason than that its results will last longer, an eternity longer.

The Prophet Habakkuk records the instructions he received from the Lord about vision, and I would like to remind each of us of those words: 

And the Lord answered me: 

“Write the vision;

make it plain on tablets,

so he may run who reads it.” (Habakkuk 2:2)

The vision God gave Habakkuk to give the children of Israel needed to be clear, not so that people could know it, but that they could run with it! 

Last year, we began something that will officially become an annual tradition when we do it again this February. It’s called Vision Weekend.

We received incredible feedback from those who enjoyed that weekend with us. Vision Weekend aims to declare boldly, clearly, and enthusiastically what our vision is and describe our most current efforts at fulfilling that vision.

Yes, we are to be the church where we are planted.

Yes, we are to be disciples who make disciples in a never-ending succession of eternity-changing discipleship.

Yes, we are to make sure we glorify and make known the glory of God.

But did you know that God has given our congregation a specific calling to reach 10% of every community where God has privileged us to be His church?

And did you know that we are honored to lead the country as a model for rural ministry and multisite duplication?

And did you know that we feel God’s assignment to be a CrossPoint Network of 20 churches by 2030?

And, yet most importantly, did you know that this is something you, as a CrossPointer, will have a role in; we’ll make it clear, and you get to run!

That’s what Vision Weekend is all about:

• An opportunity to dive deep into the details of our church’s mission and calling
• A chance to be energized concerning the privilege and responsibility that God has given each of us
• A time to unify and declare our hearts for being a part of the mission and vision of CrossPoint Church

I hope you will make plans to be a part of Vision Weekend 2024 on February 25.

CrossPoint staff are planning even now the words and content to make the vision clear and are praying you bring your running shoes.

Andy Addis

Lead Pastor

Matthew 9:37-38, “Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” 

This verse has been on my mind since we launched CrossPoint Russell in September of 2023. We launched our church very unconventionally. The traditional model of church planting is to plant a church in the place you live. You usually start a small group in someone’s home, invite people and pray that it grows from there. Once that small group grows big enough, you search for a building to meet in and continue to pray for the lost to be reached with the gospel and that discipleship would produce disciples.

CrossPoint Russell did the reverse order of this. We had a vacant building and remodeled it. We set a date to announce to the community that we were opening and prayed someone (anyone) would show up. Four of our five plant team families do not live in Russell, we live in Hutchinson. That’s a one hour and forty-five minute drive one-way. For my family, our typical Sunday begins at 5:00am and we hope to be back by 3:30pm.

So what is the result of this non-traditional church plant? We have a sanctuary that holds 91 seats and average between 45-65 in attendance each Sunday. We have vehicles parking on the grass. We have people surrendering their life to Christ. We have people ready to be baptized and we have others being discipled through small groups and bible study. We have a congregation that is drawn to truth and using their gifts to serve others.

God has taught me over the past 6 months that the harvest is plentiful and the laborers are few. Our results (good or bad) have little to do with any of us, but instead our results are directly tied to a promise found in scripture.  

God uses willing hearts to reach His people. We just praise Him for allowing us to be a small part of it.

Shawn Powell

CrossPoint Russell Pastor

It has been said that the days in which we live are marked by one common distinctive: division.

You don’t have to tune into any news channel very long before you have evidence of this. Whether republicans or democrats, liberals or conservatives, or the many divisions across the spectrum of sexual ethics, religious beliefs, or even technology and its use there are dividing lines, camps and a very clear “us versus you” mentality in almost every stream of life today. 

All of that division manifests itself in our lives on a continuum somewhere between fear to anger. Whether the division is in culture, family or online we are afraid to say what we believe, or take a stance because of the backlash we will undoubtedly receive. 

Or, maybe it's the anger that often bubbles over into rage because someone’s point of view is so offensive to you it feels destructive even existing out there in the ether.

Yes, we are divided. We are segmented. And, we are positioned to hate one another. 

But, I wonder if there isn’t something a little more insidious at play here.

Division makes it sound like we are all separated and against one another, but look around. It’s not people that are divided, it’s groups of people. And their groups are bonding together, becoming tight knit, focused, vocal and united in one thing… hatred of the other group.

Feels like the devil at work to me. The evil one is not separating us, so much as he is creating communities for us. But, the problem is these communities are centered around the affirmation of our brokenness and the exaltation of our sinfulness.

They are being told the church hates you, but we love you. The Bible corrects you, but we affirm you. The God of this universe is far away, but we are here.

Jesus clearly warns us that the devil is not there for our good. 

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. - John 10:10 (ESV)

The culture has found a new path to subvert the Good News of the Kingdom by creating their own little churches and faith systems. They are attempting to model mission through passionate causes, fellowship via membership and tolerance, and salvation in deconstructing our past (including the Gospel and faith) and reconstructing a new future (humanism and embracing lostness).

The world feels divided, but it’s actually being subdivided by worldly forces that are mimicking values and ethics in the form of idolatry to ideals and purposes far from God.

As the church of Jesus, we can’t play that game.

We have to be able to draw lines of right and wrong without calling those who disagree our enemies.

We must be able to empathize with those who struggle and truly feel wounded without condoning what God has condemned.

We must never write off any one because of their stance, posts, beliefs, statements, attitudes, or actions. 

We must do the hard things:

• Lead when others leave - we cannot abandon the word of God or shift our thinking to fit the times. God is the same yesterday, today and forever and His people must reflect that.
• Listen when others ignore - when the world attempts to shout each other down, Christians must listen with compassion and hope. Our ears need to hear before our mouth is allowed to speak.
• Love when others hate - we must never give in to the games this world plays of division, abuse and hatred. We do not have to agree, and we do not have to condone, but we do have to love.

This is a divisive world, but only because it reflects the author of the Fall. The devil is the one who has come to steal, kill and destroy, but there is another word of Scripture you must remember. 

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 (ESV)

Andy Addis

Lead Pastor