08/10/2014: CROSSOVER-UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Colossians 3:23
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men”

The message on Sunday kicked off our new series CROSSOVER-UNDER CONSTRUCTION. The major theme of the night was passion.  We looked at the above verse from the book of Colossians.  If you look at the Greek word for “heartily" it is soul.  This verse is encouraging us to be intentional with our actions and to carry out all tasks big or small with a passion that radiates from within our soul.  It has often been said that the current generation of youth is apathetic.  We have seen the potential within our students when the intent and action are fueled by passion. 

Our sincere hope is that our students will become increasingly more passionate about their faith.  There is a beautiful worship song by Jesus Culture that sums this up well.

“Set a fire down in my soul,
That I can’t contain and I can’t control,
I want more of You God, I want more of You God.”

We asked the students to reflect this week on their passions.  What are they passionate about? Is it a subject in school, a sport, a cause, an art form, etc.?  Once they have recognized their passions and gifts, we want to help them look at how they can use that passion in their everyday lives, in their school, and in their community. Ask yourself what are my passions? 

A Reflection on the Dominican Republic Mission Trip

I'm so excited to post this amazing reflection from one of our students Megan Pruitt (11th Grade Student).

I have a very big God. By my side, by my side.
Day three of our trip in the Dominican, we started running a sports camp at a local park. Our team had been split into different groups to run three-hour long stations, and I was with the crafts group. We had been planning this camp for weeks before we arrived in the DR, but the moment my group walked into the white room filled with twenty-something 8 to 10-year-old girls in plastic chairs, clapping, smiling, and staring at us as they awaited our instruction, our neatly prepared crafts agenda got thrown out the barred window, and the improvising began. After playing “pato, pato, ganso” and attempting to learn the girls’ names, we all gathered in the center of the room and started singing that song.

Tengo un Gran Dios. A mi lado, a mi lado.”
And those words pretty much sum up the trip.
No matter where we were or what we were doing, God was by our side and doing big things.
He was with me day one as I flew across the border and entered a bigger reality. Jesus was the answer as I lay in bed the second night, discouraged by the poverty I had seen and wondering the solution to it all.

God was the topic during devotional time with the kids at the sports camp. As Nadia and Angel met and spoke with women in the streets of Boca Chica. While my dad and Andy taught a bunch of young pastors about theology.

God was bigger than my insecurities when I had to use my three years of Spanish for something way more important than passing a class. He was by my side, letting me learn, when things were awkward and I didn't know what to say.

Jesus was the reason we handed out sandwiches to the window washers and armed guards and gas station workers from the street. Why we played in a dusty, trash-covered field with a group of little kids.

He was bigger than the stars I saw as I stood outside with my dad one night and tried to look for constellations.

He was with my team as we walked through the streets of the local villages, as we met so many people who recognized God as holy but didn’t realize what that made them. As I bought sandals from a lady who believed in the Gospel but didn’t think she was a Christian because the local church said Christians had to wear nice clothes. As we prayed with the Haitian refugee who lived in her house. As he, too, became a Christian.

God was in control as I stumbled over words while explaining what the colors of the beads on our bracelets meant to a circle of children. When I felt completely useless, God was still there.

He was listening as a group of us prayed with a man named Julio who lives in a village for Haitian refugees and uses a wheelchair.  As Julio prayed for us. “My needs are small,” he said, “but their needs are big.” Wow. That was humbling.

The biggest thing I learned in the DR is that God is huge, and powerful, and the only thing that can meet our needs. Jesus is the answer to everything and, I’ve got to say it, the freakin’ best thing that ever happened. The trip was amazing.

Here is a video recap she created using photos and video from the trip:

Power of Prayer

Thanks to all the students and leaders who came out tonight to pray over one another and the ministry. The evening was an awesome outpouring of love for our God and one another. Remember, next Sunday is our big back-to-school launch. Invite a friend and come enjoy the festivities as we all get ready for an exciting new year. We can't wait to see what God has in store for Crossover @ The Bridge Atlanta this year!

Next Meeting: Sunday, August 10th 6PM -- Back-to-School Launch!

Follow us on Twitter! @crossoverga

Next Post: Get some insight into our youth pastor, Andy Bedford. The next post will provide part of his testimony and his vision for the ministry.

In Christ,

The Crossover Leadership Team

Welcome to Crossover!

Hello All,

Welcome to Crossover's new blog. This our space to communicate with students, parents, and leaders about what's going on inside the ministry week in and week out.

For those who have been part of the Ignition ministry up until now, we will be holding a prayer session this upcoming Sunday at 6PM to prepare our hearts and minds for what God has planned for our ministry. This is an important family time to come together to truly lay ourselves at the feet of Jesus.

On Sunday, August 10th we'll have a our launch party for everyone including your friends for both the middle school and high school Crossover services! Feel free to invite friends as we'll be kicking of the new school year with some fun and games.

Remember! The new times for Crossover are Sundays @ 11am for middle school and Sundays @ 6pm for high school.

In Christ Love,
The Crossover Leadership Team