So Many Turtles on Fenceposts

Pastor Joe, the new senior pastor at Crossroads, says: "As Crossroads Community Church moves into its sixteenth year of existence, we look back at the people who have led us, the founding families and the Pastors Rick Miller, Kelly Voigt and Mark Freier, and say thanks for getting us here."

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Crossroads Community Church in South Lyons, Michigan, was started by the Wisconsin Synod, with the blessing of District Pope Robert Mueller and ever-vigilant Paul Kuske. The first pastors were all WELS - Rick Miller, Kelly Voigt, Mark Freier. The congregation openly followed the example of Willow Creek Community Church, where so many WELS pastors were trained at synod expense. Mueller, Kuske, Zehms, and Stolzenburg also started Pilgrim Community Church in Columbus. Attendance at Pilgrim was lower than a meeting of the LCR clergy.

Crossroads is no longer Lutheran-in-name-only, simply non-Lutheran. The original pastors, trained at the Sausage Factory in Mequon, are no longer Lutheran. These old quotations from Crossroads, below, remind me of what CrossWalk in Laveen (Phoenix) is now saying about itself. Notice the mention of boring services, just like CrossWalk. Cell groups, just like CrossWalk. Sneaker Services, just like CrossWalk. Cell groups, just like CrossWalk.

"Church music doesn't have to sound 'different.' It can sound just like the music people listen to every day. At Crossroads you won't find a pipe organ, but you will find great music appealing to a variety of tastes...Who says church has to be boring? In many of our services the Crossroads Drama Team makes us laugh or cry, and take a hard look at ourselves."
Crossroads Community Church,
Pastor Rick Miller (WELS). [GJ - I would definitely cry at these mockeries.]

"Would you be interested in a church that offers...Practical and Relevant Messages? Contemporary Music and Drama? Friendly People Who Are Interested in You? A Non-threatening Environment Where You Can Investigate a Relationship with God? Maybe Crossroads Is For You!...Targeted for September, '92, Sunday morning 'seeker' service designed to introduce Christianity in the most practical relevant way possible!"
Crossroads Community Church,
Pastor Rick Miller (WELS).

"You may not have noticed, but Crossroads has changed its name!...Why the change [from Crossroads Christian Church]? First, we were told that the original name implied a denominational affiliation. Also, we believe that the 'community' label identifies us more closely with the philosophy of ministry at Willow Creek Community Church. We want to begin referring to ourselves more and more as a 'community' of fully devoted followers of Jesus."
Pastor Rick Miller, (WELS),
Crossroads Community Church,
News and Information for January, 1992,
p. 1.

"Since several brothers have asked about the status of Rick Miller, I provide the following information. Rick has asked for a release from his call at Huron Valley Lutheran High School in order to serve a group of people as their pastor and to help organize them as an independent Christian congregation. The group is composed of some former members of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Plymouth, of some former members of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Livonia, and some people who have left LC-MS churches. The group has stated that it has a different philosophy and style of ministry, which includes drama, contemporary music and a thematic form of worship and liturgy, which allows for greater personal participation by its female members. The group has also stated that it would like to retain fellowship relations with our Wisconsin Synod.

As an independent group it does not plan to use the name 'Lutheran' in its title. It will be known as The Crossroads Christian Church...For the present, Rick Miller is still a pastoral member of the WELS...At that time [January 31, 1992, submission of a constitution] the fellowship question will be determined on the basis of the group's doctrinal statements and practices."
District President Robert Mueller,
President's Report to the Conferences,
Fall, 1991
p. 3.

"PHILOSOPHY OF MINISTRY AT CROSSROADS...Conduct seeker services... Provide small group leadership. At Crossroads, as people come to know Jesus they are encouraged to participate in groups of 8 to 10 people who meet weekly for 2 years of fellowship, holding one another accountable, discipleship training, encouragement and support. 1 Thess. 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up."
Pastor Rick Miller, (WELS),
Crossroads Community Church,
1 Thessalonians 5:11.

"Several churches have found a creative and effective way of maintaining an active membership from year to year. Basically, they ask their members--each year--if they wish to continue as members for the coming year...Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (Irvine, CA) also has a 'Covenant of Membership' card. On their 'Covenant Sunday' Pastor Jim Hale encourages persons to come forward in the service and place their card on the altar."
Win Arn,
Win Arn Growth Report, copyright, 1986
709 E Colorado Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91101
818-449-4400
Same plan at Crossroads Community Church.

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GJ - So, when so many turtles are on fenceposts, what should we conclude? Someone put them there. Yes, the covert network of false teachers in WELS (all trained at Fuller and Willow Creek) promoted these community churches. Missouri did the same and stil has a stealth network of Willow Creek Association churches (St. John, Ellisville, etc).

Young Calvinist - old Unitarian. The saying is true for individuals, congregations, and denominations. There was once a component of the United Church of Christ with some German Lutheran leanings, the Evangelisch of the E and R denomination. The Evangelisch merged with the German Reformed (R) and the E and R merged with the Congregationalists. Now the tiny mega-merged denomination, the United Church of Christ, accepts all religious books on an equal level with the Bible.

Man Wrapped in Bubble Paper

CrossWalk, Laveen, Arizona

A Brief Message from Luther

KJV Matthew 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

The bold font is verbatim from the WELS congregation in Laveen (Phoenix, Arizona), CrossWalk.

The words of Luther, from the Book of Concord, are in italics.

Studies show that many men—and more and more women too—will not even set foot inside a church today. Way too much of church is boring and irrelevant.

99] Likewise those fastidious spirits are to be reproved who, when they have heard a sermon or two, find it tedious and dull, thinking that they know all that well enough, and need no more instruction. For just that is the sin which has been hitherto reckoned among mortal sins, and is called ajkhdia, i.e., torpor or satiety, a malignant, dangerous plague with which the devil bewitches and deceives the hearts of many, that he may surprise us and secretly withdraw God's Word from us. Large Catechism

1] That Jesus Christ, our God and Lord, died for our sins, and was raised again for our justification, Rom. 4, 25.

2] And He alone is the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world, John 1, 29; and God has laid upon Him the iniquities of us all, Is. 53, 6.

3] Likewise: All have sinned and are justified without merit [freely, and without their own works or merits] by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, in His blood, Rom. 3, 23f

4] Now, since it is necessary to believe this, and it cannot be otherwise acquired or apprehended by any work, law, or merit, it is clear and certain that this faith alone justifies us as St. Paul says, Rom. 3, 28: For we conclude that a man is justified by faith, without the deeds of the Law. Likewise 3, 26: That He might be just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in Christ. Smalcald Articles.

Many of us feel like we don't have time. We don't want to be constantly asked for money. And frankly, many of us believe church is for wimps. Beyond all that, the number one reason most of us don't like to go to church is obvious—there are way too many hypocrites there!

We will now return to the Gospel, which not merely in one way gives us counsel and aid against sin; for God is superabundantly rich [and liberal] in His grace [and goodness]. First, through the spoken Word by which the forgiveness of sins is preached [He commands to be preached] in the whole world; which is the peculiar office of the Gospel. Secondly, through Baptism. Thirdly, through the holy Sacrament of the Altar. Fourthly, through the power of the keys, and also through the mutual conversation and consolation of brethren, Matt. 18, 20: Where two or three are gathered together, etc. Smalcald Articles.

If you hate going to church, CrossWalk was built with you in mind.

The Third Commandment.

Thou shalt sanctify the holy-day.

What does this mean?--Answer.

We should fear and love God that we may not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred, and gladly hear and learn it. Small Catechism.

At CrossWalk we're casual in our approach, yet what we have to communicate is extremely serious stuff. We strive to make every message and every service relevant and applicable to real life, as well as excellent in quality. At the same time, you can come to church in your jeans, or your shorts (or even in your jean shorts) and feel perfectly comfortable in one of our services. Grab a cup of coffee and a bagel on your way in and settle in for a high-octane hour of power-learning about God.

100] For let me tell you this, even though you know it perfectly and be already master in all things, still you are daily in the dominion of the devil, who ceases neither day nor night to steal unawares upon you, to kindle in your heart unbelief and wicked thoughts against the foregoing and all the commandments. Therefore you must always have God's Word in your heart, upon your lips, and in your ears. But where the heart is idle, and the Word does not sound, he breaks in and has done the damage before we are aware. 101] On the other hand, such is the efficacy of the Word, whenever it is seriously contemplated, heard, and used, that it is bound never to be without fruit, but always awakens new understanding, pleasure, and devoutness, and produces a pure heart and pure thoughts. For these words are not inoperative or dead, but creative, living words. 102] And even though no other interest or necessity impel us, yet this ought to urge every one thereunto, because thereby the devil is put to Right and driven away, and, besides, this commandment is fulfilled, and [this exercise in the Word] is more pleasing to God than any work of hypocrisy, however brilliant. Large Catechism.

KJV Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

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GJ - Our daily cross to bear - those who use cutesy cross titles for their organizations so they can preach a God without wrath sending His Son without a cross into a world without sin. And they call themselves Lutheran, albeit stealthily, covertly, furtively, whispering low in Jerusalem lest they be heard in the streets of Gath. 2 Samuel 1:20.

From the Social Director of the Love Boat

The Love Boat

If you hate going to church, we understand.

Studies show that many men—and more and more women too—will not even set foot inside a church today. Way too much of church is boring and irrelevant. Many of us feel like we don't have time. We don't want to be constantly asked for money. And frankly, many of us believe church is for wimps. Beyond all that, the number one reason most of us don't like to go to church is obvious—there are way too many hypocrites there!

If you hate going to church, CrossWalk was built with you in mind. At CrossWalk we're casual in our approach, yet what we have to communicate is extremely serious stuff. We strive to make every message and every service relevant and applicable to real life, as well as excellent in quality. At the same time, you can come to church in your jeans, or your shorts (or even in your jean shorts) and feel perfectly comfortable in one of our services. Grab a cup of coffee and a bagel on your way in and settle in for a high-octane hour of power-learning about God.

The early Christians were not lambs. They were lions—take-charge people who risked everything they had to serve God. They fought valiantly for their faith in God. They spoke their minds and stepped on toes, especially the toes of the religious establishment. They were true leaders—tough guys and gals who were both feared and respected in their communities. They weren't always "saintly," but they had an intense commitment to God and to his message. That's the kind of church CrossWalk is striving to become.

If you're looking for a church that will—

Meet you wherever you're at
Engage you where your soul meets real life
Teach you, not preach at you
Help you really deeply understand what's in the Bible
Challenge you to whole-hearted faith in God
And do all of that in a way that's not wimpy or hypocritical
—then, we challenge you to check out CrossWalk! You won't go away disappointed. That's our promise.


New Residents

Are you brand new to the Laveen and South Mountain Village communities?
CrossWalk is built for you. We have great people who can help you get plugged in and connect with your neighbors. We're a church that's passionate about our community. If you're new to Laveen and South Mountain Village, and trying to get your feet on the ground, join us this coming Sunday at CrossWalk. When you get here, just ask for Melody, our community resource guru, and she'll get you the info to find the services you're looking for.

If you can't wait until Sunday, and need information about your community today, call us at the CrossWalk office (602) 304-0072, and we'll help you find directions to what you need. Here are some great websites and phone numbers to help you get connected.

Community
Laveen Community Website - www.laveen.org
South Mountain - Laveen Chamber of Commerce - http://www.phoenixchamber.com/smlc/Index/

Schools
Arizona Lutheran Academy - Christian High School Education - www.alacoyotes.org, Ph: (602) 268-8686

Emmanuel Lutheran School - Christian Elementary School Education - http://www.elstempe.org, Ph: (480) 967-3991

Eagle College Prep - K-3 Elementary Charter School - www.eagleprep.org, Ph: (602) 672-2007

Laveen Elementary School District - K-8 Elementary Public Education http://www.laveeneld.org, Ph: (602) 237-7040
Roosevelt Elementary School District - K-8 Elementary Public Education http://www.rsd.k12.az.us, Ph: (602) 243-4800

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GJ - Why would anyone favor the incense of Eastern Orthodox worship over the community resource guru of CrossWalk?

Mrs. Ichabod is motioning to me.

"Felt needs," she says.

Now I remember. If a church (dare we call it that?) appeals to the felt needs of a community, then people will stay for the Gospel.

But, if the message on the website is so attenuated that the Word of God is hidden away, then when will the efficacious Gospel be allowed to work?

KJV 1 Corinthians 14:8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

Hate Going to Church? WELS - CrossWalk

Meet the author of the WELS CrossWalk website, quoted verbatim below.

Hate Going to Church?

If you hate going to church, we understand.

Studies show that many men—and more and more women too—will not even set foot inside a church today. Way too much of church is boring and irrelevant. Many of us feel like we don't have time. We don't want to be constantly asked for money. And frankly, many of us believe church is for wimps. Beyond all that, the number one reason most of us don't like to go to church is obvious—there are way too many hypocrites there!

If you hate going to church, CrossWalk was built with you in mind. At CrossWalk we're casual in our approach, yet what we have to communicate is extremely serious stuff. We strive to make every message and every service relevant and applicable to real life, as well as excellent in quality. At the same time, you can come to church in your jeans, or your shorts (or even in your jean shorts) and feel perfectly comfortable in one of our services. Grab a cup of coffee and a bagel on your way in and settle in for a high-octane hour of power-learning about God.

The early Christians were not lambs. They were lions—take-charge people who risked everything they had to serve God. They fought valiantly for their faith in God. They spoke their minds and stepped on toes, especially the toes of the religious establishment. They were true leaders—tough guys and gals who were both feared and respected in their communities. They weren't always "saintly," but they had an intense commitment to God and to his message. That's the kind of church CrossWalk is striving to become.

If you're looking for a church that will—

Meet you wherever you're at
Engage you where your soul meets real life
Teach you, not preach at you
Help you really deeply understand what's in the Bible
Challenge you to whole-hearted faith in God
And do all of that in a way that's not wimpy or hypocritical

Feel God's Awesome Power for You

Searching For Meaning
Sometimes life throws us a big, fat curve ball.
It may be just that we're on "overload." At other moments in life, we just feel dazed and deflated. Whatever it is you're feeling that's causing you to be searching for meaning and purpose in life, then CrossWalk is the church for you.

Every church is driven by something. For some churches its tradition, for others finances, programs, events or even personalities. At CrossWalk what drives us is the desire to reach out to people who are feeling lost, or who are hurting in life. We believe that God has a purpose and a mission in life for each and every person.

In fact, we don't just believe it. We know God has a purpose and a mission for you. We know this because God already sent his Son, Jesus Christ, for you. Now we want to help you discover God's awesome purpose for you. We want to assist you to get started on God's mission for your life.

If you're feeling disoriented about your direction in life, finding your decisions tough to make, or your next steps hard to take, check us out on a Sunday morning, or simply call the CrossWalk office at (602) 304-0072. We're here to help!

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Hate Going to Church? WELS - CrossWalk":

"They spoke their minds and stepped on toes, especially the toes of the religious establishment. They were true leaders—tough guys and gals who were both feared and respected in their communities."

Notice the in-your-face attitude that is displayed in their approach. I believe it is aimed directly at to anyone who has tried or dares to imply that there is somethineg that is drastically wrong with and happening to the Church today. Is is an encouragement to disown and dispise the p. 5 and 15 "religious establishment." They also forget that God is no respector of man so I am not sure what is up with the "They were true leaders—tough guys and gals who were both feared and respected in their communities." So we need man's approval?

"Way too much of church is boring and irrelevant." Here is a big old high-five to the Lord and Creator of all. To play down to people and give them a false reason for their lost condition and refusal to come to receive His Grace is a misuse of the Law. "Because church is boring" does this and it refuses to let them know that they are lost because of their sin and rejection of Christ's atoning work. This would be a funny statement if it were not so serious. If we can only make God's Word more fun! Wow. If we can only make people feel at home and be casual. Double wow!

WELS Question on Community Churches

Someone asked AnswerMan about the number of WELS congregations without Lutheran in their title. The matter was not published. I recall that AnswerMan said something like this:

1. Ask the congregation about it. They pick the name.
2. Very few have left out the name Lutheran.

Number 1 is always the response when WELS leaders are dodging their responsibilities. Guess what happens when someone is direct with a false teacher?
A. Denial.
B. Cover-up.
C. Retaliation.

The Love Shack has been covering for false teachers since the famous Theodore Hartwig case. Nothing was ever done. Harwig was chosen to promote the feminist creeds in their ELCA-clone hymnal. So far, no other Lutheran sect has corrupted the creed to have Jesus "fully human," a denial of the Two Natures united in One Person.

Getting back to the fact of dropping the name Lutheran - The simple fact remains that eliminating the name Lutheran is a key component of the Means-of-Grace-hating Church Growth leaders. Lyle Schaller, a liberal Methodist, advocating the elimination of denominational names. Robert Schuller chimed in a long time ago. Dutch Reformed, he named his congregation Garden Grove Community Church, which is not far from Fuller Seminary.

Robert Mueller gave his blessing for Crossroads in Detroit, started as a WELS mission and no longer Lutheran at all. His Ed McMahon, Paul Kuske, started Pilgrim Community Church in Columbus, with the sage advice of Floyd Stolzenburg and Roger Zehms. Prince of Peace in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, semi-kicked out of WELS (the pastor and church, but not the money) dropped WELS from its church sign. Mueller had no problem with that.

WELS has a Church Growth congregation in Chicago: Crossroads Christian Church. The name itself is deceptive, because the Disciples of Christ churches (where McGavran came from) are always called Christian Church with the denomination in parentheses, as in First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Finding out that Crossroads in Lutheran and affiliated with WELS is a chore. I found this:

In an age of anxiety, we believe that real peace comes from Jesus Christ.
In an age of confusion, we believe that the Bible is the word of God, without error.
In an age of doubt, we believe that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
In an age of guilt, we believe that Jesus died on the cross to remove the power of sin from our lives.
In an age of hopelessness, we believe that Jesus rose physically from death -- and so will we rise.
In an age of skepticism, we believe that God is at work in the sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion.
In an age of despair, we believe God's promises to heal and transform us.
In an age of violence, we believe that God calls us to embody his love in the world.
In an age of constant change, we believe in the unchanging Holy Trinity -- Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Crossroads is a Christian community with roots in the Lutheran tradition. We hold the three ecumenical creeds and the Lutheran Confessions to be faithful expressions of God's truth revealed to us in the Bible. Crossroads is affiliated with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.

The first part is adapted from my We Still Believe brochure, used all over Lutherandom, which amuses me no end. CLC congregations also use it. Too bad so few actually believe what they say.

CrossWalk in Phoenix does not offer Holy Communion, so how Lutheran are they? They are contagious, but not sacramental.

What AnswerMan avoided saying is this - WELS has increased its emphasis on stealth congregations in the hopes of fooling people into joining. They create third-rate Baptist congregations, denying their confessional heritage, in the hopes of making a splash.

PS - I missed Comedy Night at Crown of Life Church. Notice the web page does not call it a Lutheran church and the WELS affiliation is sublimated. You may recall the pastor is a big fan of Leonard Sweet, the hero of Church and Change. He was, until I pointed this out on Ichabod. Now his website and blog are unSweetened.

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M Schottey has left a new comment on your post "WELS Question on Community Churches":

My sister is a member of Crossroads in Chicago, and I myself have attended their services many times. In addition, I have sat down and talked to the pastor. Trust me when I say that the Gospel is preached there in its truth and purity and sacraments rightly administered.

GJ Question - So why are they ashamed of the name Lutheran?

Jeff Is Pumped - at CrossWalk

NEW SERMON SERIES

You’ve heard it. So have I. Church is boring. Church is for weak people who need a crutch. Church is for do-gooders. Church is a business. Churches just want to grow on your back, and worse, on your buck. If that’s what you’ve heard about church, come and experience our upcoming sermon series—Mythbusters. It’s not easy to separate fact from fiction, but beginning on Sunday, August 19th, we’ll tackle these myths about church head on. We’ll show you what’s real about church, and what’s not. Check out this challenging sermon series. You won’t regret it.

August 19 – Church is for Good People
August 26 – Church is a Crutch
September 2 – Churches—Bigger is Better!
September 9 – Church is Boring
September 16 – Church—Show Me the Money!
I'm really pumped to see all of you tomorrow for the conclusion to our Sermons from Hell series! The message is one everyone will want to hear. I guarantee it!

God bless!

Jeff

Jeff Gunn is pastor of CrossWalk Church. Jeff and his wife Julie have five children, Aaron, Abbie, Andrew, Audrey and Abel. Both Jeff and Julie grew up in Phoenix, but have also lived in South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Zambia. They returned to Arizona in 1996, and Jeff became the first pastor of CrossWalk in 2004.

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GJ - Would this be a Church Growth congregation of the Wisconsin Synod?

See more from CrossWalk below, which has yet to offer a Holy Communion service in three years.

***

God has a claim on you!

God has valid reasons for making that claim. He not only made us, he made us for himself. You and I have no other purpose of existing on earth than God's purpose. Our lives have no independent value. God refers to us as "the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise." We are called by God "the work of my hands, (created) for the display of my splendor." (Isaiah 43:21 and 60:21, NIV)

But there is something greater about God's claim on us. It's not simply that he created us. He also paid the ultimate price so that we could have life after death. That makes us doubly his, as he reminds us, "You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." (1 Corinthians 6:19,20, NIV)

God does not need your gift.

But, since who we are and everything we possess leads back to him, God asks us for a portion of our possessions as an expression of thanksgiving. Your gift is a way to thank God, and a way to exercise your faith in God.

In considering our offering of thanks to him, God asks us to apply spiritual yardsticks to our giving, not mathematical ones. Here are some of those yardsticks:

God asks for regular gifts. As often as he blesses us with income, he asks that we set aside a share for him.
God asks for first-fruits gifts; that is, we are to thank him from the first and best of our income and possessions.
God asks for proportionate gifts. That means God doesn't look at the size of the gift, he looks at the size of the income it came from.
God asks for joyful gifts, offerings that flow from a cheerful heart.
And finally, God asks for gifts that are considered prayerfully in dialogue with him.
It is our desire to honor God's trust in us.

As his followers, we want to use his resources wisely and for his purposes. We operate within his provision and recognize our responsibility to manage the resources he provides with joy, integrity and faithfulness.

HAVE MORE QUESTIONS? CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO READ WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT GOD AND OUR MANAGEMENT OF HIS GIFTS.

Christian Stewardship Is Taking God At His Word

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