CrossPoint Baptist Church, Trussville, is committed to going deeper in all facets of faith, including missions.
That commitment led the church to adopt a 13-project missions plan that kicked off in May with a medical missions trip to China. Other 2015 trips will send medical missionaries to Cambodia and Honduras, student missionaries to the Dominican Republic and South Carolina and church planting and discipleship teams to Iceland and Utah. Teams also will go to Tennessee, Uganda and India.
“Our church is really excited as some of the missions teams are returning with news of the great things God is doing through CrossPoint,” said James Sampley, minister of missions and senior adults. “This church has been energized during the past two years as more go and return with wonderful testimonies. Our people have an air of excitement and expectation.”
Missions goals
Sampley said CrossPoint has 170 people involved in the 2015 missions projects and the church is already working on projects for 2016.
Ambitious missions goals are not new to CrossPoint, said Pastor Ryan Whitley — rather it’s part of the church’s vision and passion for spreading the gospel.
“The goals have opened the doorway for our people to participate more freely in missions, and they have responded enthusiastically,” he said.
Whitley introduced the missions goals in fall 2014, challenging CrossPoint members to pray more, serve more and give more. Many Bible study groups began focusing on missions objectives immediately, and giving to missions increased by 30 percent in the first 90 days of 2015, Whitley said.
Brainstorming new ideas
Don Daniels’ class was one of those that jumped in quickly. His couples Bible study class brainstormed missions ideas and followed several new ideas to expand their missions service.
“It’s been an exciting time in our class and in our church,” Daniels said. “There’s been a lot more conversation and a lot more participation. Our folks are directly involved in going and doing, and those who are hampered in going are giving. They just amaze me.”
CrossPoint is working with the North American Mission Board to begin partnering to plant a church. This summer also brought a revamped Vacation Bible School (VBS) effort, named SMASH, to reach more children in the Trussville/Birmingham communities near the church.
Whether traveling to other countries, crocheting baby blankets or helping with SMASH, members of CrossPoint are simply excited about being involved in missions, Sampley said.
“I have never known such excitement for missions from the pastor and the people,” Sampley said. “In every respect the response has far exceeded our anticipation.”
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