CrossPoint Newsletter

Fourteenth Edition 6/3/2024

CrossPoint Inside is our ministry inside the Hutchinson Correctional Facility. It started in 2018 with Rod Sims, Larry Hoover, and myself (Shawn Powell) attending the east unit with a DVD of the previous week’s sermon. The group started off small in one of the classrooms, but soon grew big enough to where we had to move locations to the visitation area. This ministry is currently going strong and is now under the leadership of Gary Whited.

Why would we do prison ministry? Good question. I think it is one of the most forgotten and neglected groups to take the gospel to. If we don’t share the good news with them, who will? One thing that is very evident with prison ministry is the cycle of brokenness. Many of these men have experienced traumatic and rough lives growing up. Many of them are fatherless. They’ve learned how to survive and provide from people who more than likely were not great influences on them. Now, does all of this excuse their behavior? Absolutely not. There are consequences for all our actions. But when Jesus looked at the crowd, his overwhelming emotion was not apathy or anger, “he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). In addition to compassion, it’s commanded to care for those in prison in Scripture (see Hebrews 13:3). As an act of compassion and obedience, we as Christians can look at prison ministry as a chance to see the gospel change lives.  

With the success of CrossPoint Inside in Hutchinson, we are targeting Ellsworth next. We have a few churches within an hour radius of Ellsworth that may be capable of producing volunteers to help. If anyone has been involved with the prison ministry in the past, you know it is all about getting volunteers to sign up and go through the required training. The next training for Ellsworth is Wednesday, July 17th. If you are interested, please reach out to your location pastor and let them know.

And whether you can volunteer or not, I would humbly ask that you pray for those in prison. A person’s decisions that result in prison time affects more than just that person. It affects multiple families and generations. Please pray that their eyes are opened to their sin, that they confess and repent of it, and that they put their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. He’s the only One that can transform the heart and bring newness of life.

Shawn Powell

CrossPoint Russell Pastor

God has been working at CrossPoint Salina! Specifically, our preschool (StartingPoint Preschool) has really made an impact in our community. With roughly 100 enrollees, StartingPoint seeks to introduce kids to the ABCs of academia and the ABCs of a relationship with Jesus! As we close out our 3rd year of school we have built many great relationships with families and seen several join the church. Only (roughly) 15% of the families at StartingPoint had a prior connection to the church so it truly has become a community outreach. With fresh faces in the fall, we look forward to continuing to share Jesus with our city through this much-needed and impactful ministry. 

Here are a few ways you can pray for us!

• Pray that CrossPoint Salina would continue to reach the lost through our various outreach ministries. Each of our 24 Grow Groups strives to reach out to our city as well as church-wide initiatives like the preschool, Heartland Early Education Center, CarePortal, etc. 
• Pray that we would see many people come to faith in Jesus and be baptized. Our heart is to see God’s Kingdom expand. Since the beginning of 2023 we have baptized over 30 people!
• Pray that God would continue to unify and mature His church. We want to grow in repentance, faith, obedience, and love for the Lord. Out of everything we could be known for in our city we want to be known for these things in the eyes of our city and God. 

Ryan Booth

CrossPoint Salina Pastor

1. God First

In Genesis 37-42, Joseph is a great example of a man who remained consistent in his relationship with God. Whether a slave managing a household, a prisoner working in jail, or a ruler helping to save a nation from starvation, Joseph always prioritized his relationship with God over everything else. This not only speaks to consistency, but also priorities. When I show my kids that I love God more than sports, sleeping in, or the television, it has a powerful impact on both my spiritual life and my kids.

2. Gives Up Right

When Abraham gives Lot first choice of the land in Genesis 13, the Lord blesses him and takes care of him. Abraham had the right to pick the best piece, but he valued his relationships more. Giving up my fatherly rights could be as innocuous, yet powerful, as offering the gooiest cinnamon roll or the thickest steak to my kids. It’s powerful when kids see their father choose them. As a dad, I am called to lead my family, but that’s different than demanding ‘it’s my way or the highway’. Taking opportunities to put my wife and kids above myself will remind them of God’s selfless love. 

3. Admits Failure

David famously (or infamously) made a tragic mistake with Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 11. The fact that David not only took rebuke but confessed and repented in chapter 12 shows the depths of humility David emulated before the entire kingdom. 

I don’t like to be wrong. Or to fail. I certainly don’t want others to know about it. However, there is rarely a more powerful moment than when I take advantage of the opportunity to apologize to my children. My kids also have the opportunity to practice the art of forgiveness when I allow confession and repentance to be a part of our relationship.

4. Models

I love the example Boaz gives us in the book of Ruth. He had fallen in love and wanted to marry Ruth, but given their customs and laws, there was another who had first dibs but didn’t know it. 

Boaz chose to model integrity by bringing the matter up to him and abiding by their laws. Even though this might have meant losing Ruth to the other man. It’s easy to tell kids how to behave. It’s harder to model a life of total integrity. 

Children are always watching. 

When someone cuts me off in traffic. When my order is wrong. When I am running late. When I’m tired. When I REALLY want something. They are watching how I act. They see what I am willing to do to get my way. They will follow what they see far more than what I say.

5. Fully Present

One of my favorite (and convicting) stories is Matthew 19:13-15. The disciples felt that Jesus would be bothered by the kids looking for his attention. However, Jesus’ response was to stop everything and spend time with the children. He recognized their value and gave them his time and attention. I should be following this example. I need to be FULLY PRESENT. In a society that tries to keep me busy and distracted every microsecond of the day, a quick glance up or a reply of ‘in a minute’ seem to be my go-to response with my kids. The most loving thing I can do for my children is to be there for them. FULLY PRESENT. To listen to them, to see them, to learn about them, to respond to them in the moment, to share time together. Kids are begging parents to look up from their phones and ‘watch me’ at the playground. To share their schoolwork or pictures that they bring home. The time has come to decide exactly what sort of father I want to be. A bare minimum, distracted dad, or a reflection of my Heavenly Father, ready to forsake all for the sake of my precious child.

Joel Reiss

CrossPoint Hutchinson Family Ministries Pastor