Using their talents

Band
Originally uploaded by Cross and Crown.

The fourth Sunday "belongs" to the Quail Springs Church of Christ youth group. Volunteers who get to serve at Cross & Crown get slightly possessive (in a gentle way) about "their" week because it is such a privilege and a blessing to be able to participate in this ministry.

For many people who can't visit during the week, Sunday nights are a great time to come and see what is happening and how God is working at Cross & Crown.

This month, these high schoolers did an outstanding job in leading worship, straight from their hearts.

They led several contemporary worship songs like All in All and Open the Eyes of My Heart ... but still, nothing seems to move the members of the audience like Amazing Grace, as it did again tonight.

When it's led, everyone sings, and the deep tones of the men in the audience, some who live near the river in a camp, some who are drunk and want help, rise up above the music.

...how sweet the sound.

An extra blessing during worship on Sunday night

Amazing Grace
Originally uploaded by Cross and Crown.

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

When we've been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we'd first begun.

Let's call her Kayla

Everyone has a story. Some stories break your heart. Some encourage and inspire you. Some send you to your knees in prayer.

We'll call this the yet-to-be-finished story of "Kayla."

She recently moved and changed schools. She's in seventh grade at one of the largest middle schools in the city - a school known for gangs, overcrowding and a leaky roof (but also great test scores).

Sometimes she walks home after school - more than two miles - to avoid the bus trouble.

A tear-stained face and a red welp on her cheek is how she arrived at the mission after school on Thursday.

After hugs and assurances, she began to talk. She wept about the girl who hit her on the bus. She wept about the girls who harass her continually at school. She wept about the boys at school who call her ugly and stupid.

But through her tears, her voice was strong as she said, "I tell them that I am not at that school for boyfriends. I am there for my education!"

Please pray for this precious child who is beautiful inside and out. God knows her real name and has plans to give her hope and a future. Pray for her to keep her resolve about her education and to know how special she is to God! Pray for her safety if she does walk home over heavily-trafficked streets in not so safe neighborhoods. Pray for her home life so that she is safe there, and pray for her siblings and her young mother.

Thanks.

Give

Give
Originally uploaded by Cross and Crown.

What do you do at the intersection when a person is standing there holding a sign?
"help"
"will work for food"
"stranded"
"homeless"

The thoughts hit us. Do we give money? What if they are only going to use the money to buy drugs or alcohol? How much have they made today? Should I give them a ride? Can I ignore them? How much money should I give? What should I say? Do they know that God loves them?

WILL THE LIGHT TURN GREEN!?

Liz Adams is not asking those questions. She is giving.

Her parents encouraged her to give some money each month and she chose to help the needy.

She designed and ordered business cards that she plans to give out when someone asks her for money. The signs are for the mission and say

Cross and Crown Mission
Helping People Get a Fresh Start
Our services to you (please stop by to check our schedule)
Medical Attention
Food and Clothing
Spiritual Encouragement

She also directs persons to the City Rescue Mission (where someone could stay the night).

And, Liz (who is a very busy 16-year-old high school student) is buying McDonalds money cards to hand out along with those cards.

Liz didn't wait around to get her idea approved. She didn't wonder whether it was the right thing to do. She isn't going to be bothered with wondering whether those people are telling the truth. It's not for her to know. It's God's business.

The holy spirit moved her and she obeyed, and she is blessing people in the process.

Heart of Hearts

Heart of Hearts
Originally uploaded by Cross and Crown.

Jesus is at the center of Travis' heart.

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Happy

Cousins
Originally uploaded by Cross and Crown.

Jesus said: "Let the little children come to Me, and don't stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." Luke 18:16