“By far the most effective, the most costly and even perhaps the most biblical kind of evangelism is found in the person or groups who look at the people around them, those with whom their own life naturally intersects, and then begin to cultivate friendships and to love them.  When churches start to reach out to their neighborhoods through small groups, or whatever format works for them, the impact can be overwhelming.”

- Rebecca Manley Pippert, “Out of the Saltshaker”

OUR DESIRE

Encountering Jesus means coming face to face with who he is and coming to terms with our need for his salvation.  When we encounter Jesus, he begins to put our lives and relationships back together by his grace and reign over us. Sin has corrupted our hearts, disordered our loves, disoriented our lives, and fractured our relationships. All this is being healed in Jesus who reconciles us to God, who renews our hearts, who reorders our loves, who reorients our lives, and who heals our relationships by the power of his Holy Spirit. We desire to give as many men, women, and children the repeated opportunity to encounter Jesus, to hear and respond to the saving message of his gospel. As lives are renewed by that encounter, we know that places are transformed. We desire to see the gospel bring renewal to our communities, neighborhoods, nations, vocational domains, education, the arts, and every circle of influence God entrusts to us.

THE IDEA

Church at the Cross wants to make limited financial resources available to our members and/or regular attenders who are willing to engage in strategic, local missions.  These dollars are to be used to help you intentionally engage your neighbors, co-workers, employees, sports teams, classmates, etc. as missionaries seeking to bring people and places to an encounter with Jesus. Individuals, families, life groups, and discipleship groups will devise plans to love and engage those in their sphere of influence with the gospel. After the initial engagement, there are a number of opportunities to invite these friends into a broader gospel setting including:

1. Worship gatherings (on-campus or via live stream in your home)

2. Life Group gatherings (virtual or in-person groups of 10 or less)

3. Our Fall 2020 Alpha Film Series

4. Small group bible studies

5. Your Discipleship Group

6. More ideas in the SUGGESTIONS/THOUGHT STARTERS at bottom of this email

THE GUIDLINES

Create and submit an intentional plan to love and to serve your neighbors with the hopes of eventually engaging them in gospel conversations..  (Each plan should adhere to current COVID safe, responsible, and socially-distanced guidelines.)

Who May Apply:

Covenant Members & Families, Life Groups, Discipleship Groups, Student Life Groups

How To Apply:

Complete the application by clicking the button below.

THOUGHT STARTERS

• Neighborhood Snow Cone Truck - Host Kona Ice (etc) to meet families on your block

• Brisket and Bibles - Men’s/Women’s home-based Bible Study with BBQ provided

• Adopt YOUR School Nurse - bless a nurse/nurse’s aide at your local school

• Donuts & Dads/Muffins & Moms - Saturday morning neighborhood park gatherings

• H2O on the Run - Cold water bottle distribution along the neighborhood running trails

• Pops for Peeps - Hip Pops or Steel City Pops for neighborhood/park gatherings

• Adopt YOUR Teacher/Classroom - meet classroom needs of supplies, etc., for a teacher

• Bless Your Block - gift or host a meal for the five neighbors closest to you

• Turkey with Love - share Thanksgiving meal with neighbors home alone this season

• Christmas is Covered - provide Christmas this year for a family in need