Cross Creek believes that the most effective way to fulfill the great
commission is to plant disciple making churches that will do the same.
Cross Creek believes that fulfilling the great commission is not to be a
marathon run by a few greats but a relay race that involves all believers.
Each believer must be sent or they must help send.
Cross Creek’s focus in world missions will therefore be primarily in the realm of training national pastors who are committed to discipleship and church planting. These churches should become self-supporting, self-governing, and self-propagating. Cross Creek further believes that these churches should be connected in such a way as to protect the peace and purity of the church.
One of the best ways to help a church become independent in impoverished communities is to help people find jobs so that they can support the ministry even as they work and provide for themselves. Therefore, Cross Creek believes in partnering with churches to help them create income producing jobs. We would rather “give a man a net than give him a fish”.
Since every believer – regardless of education – has God himself indwelling in them, we must resist underestimating the potential of the national who has been born again. We must be careful not to confuse a lack of education with a lack of intelligence. Missionaries must be in the habit of giving up control for the development of others. National leaders should be expected to identify the greatest needs and available assets and then assisted in determining best solutions.
The tools and techniques used by missionaries to train nationals and relieve suffering must be transferable, available, and affordable to indigenous believers.
Mercy in Missions: Cross Creek believes the love of Christ must be expressed in word and deed. Regarding the alleviation of suffering in the world, preference will be given to situations in which we can work with and through a local church. Enabling nationals to alleviate the suffering of their own people will open doors of evangelistic opportunity as they demonstrate the love of Christ.
In working with impoverished communities care will be taken to first identify whether the situation is relief, rehabilitation, or development. “Relief” help is emergency help (food, water, shelter given in response to a humanitarian crisis). “Rehabilitation” is working with a community to return to a quality of life known prior to the crisis. “Development” is the ongoing work of the gospel transforming lives and communities. Care must be taken not to give relief where rehabilitation or development is needed. Relief is often done for the people while rehabilitation and development is done with the people.
Cross Creek will exercise great caution not to create a cycles of dependency that debilitate the local church by encouraging a welfare or entitlement mentality.
When missionaries do for indigenous believers what they could do for themselves, we undermine the church and create feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, and worthlessness.
Cross Creek Church and members supports a variety of christian workers, ambassadors for Christ, who live and work in Foreign Countries, they include:
--Earl and Rosie Adams serve in Latin America through Mission to the World
--Spencer and Molly Boulter serve in Costa Rica through 6:8 Ministries
--Paul and Crystal Henry serve in Thailand through Mission to the World
--Don & Merril Mountain serves in Africa with Equipping Leaders International, Inc
--Linda Stegall serves in Ukranine through Mission to the World
--Clive & Hyacinth Stephenson will serve in Jamaica through Ministries In Action
For more information, email us at info@crosscreekchurch.us
