CrossPoint Newsletter

Twenty Ninth Edition 9/1/2025

Summer is giving way to the rhythms of school, work, and sports. Calendars are filling up, and routines are finding their place again. What a natural time for us as God’s people to embrace this moment in our culture and remind the people in our communities: you belong.

That’s the heartbeat of Everybody Weekend (September 20-21). We want to lean into the momentum in our culture, with some unified energy and focus to create space for more people to engage with the Good News of Christ, that God doesn’t just save us from our sin and brokenness but He saves us into His family. Everybody who trusts in Christ belongs in God’s family.

For through [Christ] we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. Ephesians 2:18-19

It is the joy of those who have freely received to freely give to those around them. As those who have been welcomed into God’s family, how can we not extend that invitation to others? And just like you would make sure you have an open chair for the friend you invited over for dinner, we want to do the same for Everybody Weekend. We want to make room at the table, to intentionally prepare so that when new people walk through the doors, they know without a doubt: we were expecting you.

This means investing in people before they arrive and making sure we are ready when they do. It means stepping up to serve and show hospitality to our guests. It means praying for people by name and being ready to help them take their next step with Christ. It means asking God to draw people to Himself and to use us as His instruments. It means being Everyday Missionaries in the places we live, work, learn, and play. 

This is why we talk about Invest and Invite. As one church in many places, we want to be united in praying for specific people who need the gospel and taking bold steps to invite them. Imagine what could happen if hundreds of us took this seriously. If every family invited neighbors. If every student reached out to friends and classmates. If every one of us chose to make room at the table. 

So here’s the call: Pray with expectation for God to work. Invest in neighbors, co-workers, and classmates. Invite those God puts on your heart. Let’s make room and be ready to welcome everybody to the table, believing that together God will use us in a powerful way to remind everybody in our communities: you belong.

Jason Waller

Lead Pastor

Wow! What a summer we’ve had in Concordia! We are praising the Lord for His faithfulness. Not only did we see steady attendance through the summer, but we also celebrated the completion of our new coffee area. God is moving and things are growing and changing so quickly it has our heads spinning—in the best way!

One of our biggest transitions came as our Worship Team leaders and their family followed the Lord’s call to a new area. While we miss them deeply, we are so thankful for Shad and Amber Clark, who have stepped in to fill some very big shoes with grace and enthusiasm. 

As we look ahead, we are excited to continue reaching our community for Christ. Please join us in prayer as we seek leaders to launch both our college and teen ministries. We also ask for your prayers as we prepare for our annual fall parade and softball tournament, two wonderful opportunities to shine the light of Jesus in our community. And believe it or not, it’s already time to begin practices for our big Christmas play!

We can’t wait to see all that God has in store for the months ahead. Thank you for being a vital part of the journey!

Brett Denham

Location Pastor

“We love it!”, “I have read the Bible a lot but this is first time I have read the New Testament all the way through!”, “I have never been this consistent in reading the Bible”, “I feel like the structure has been great for helping me stay disciplined this summer”, “The accountability is great!”. 

These are a few comments people have said about our church-wide Bible Reading Plan! Personally, I have enjoyed the camaraderie of reading the same passages each day, knowing that many in our church family are as well. Talking about these passages and holding each other accountable in my Multiplier Group is icing on the cake (shameless plug for Multiplier Groups!). 

As we transition from the sporadic and spontaneous nature of summer to the school year many have one word in mind; consistency. Summer is a great time to reset. The fall is a great time to reestablish healthy and consistent rhythms. Whether it’s eating dinner as a family, finding consistent bed times, or solidifying daily routines, it all finds a new rhythm in the fall. 

Speaking of rhythms. How would you characterize your current Bible study rhythm? Consistent? Inconsistent? Nonexistent? This is the perfect time to establish a Bible study rhythm. It’s never too late to pick up a good habit! Currently, our Reading Plan format is to read 1 chapter a day for 5 days a week. That gives you 2 days to catch up in case you miss a day or two. Included in our Reading Plan is our monthly memory verse. These verses are simple, practical, and timely as you hide God’s Word in your heart, it will come in handy time and time again. This year we are reading through the New Testament (Spoiler alert: we are reading through the Old Testament next year.). You can find our Reading Plan on the free CrossPoint App or pick up a physical copy at your local Connect Center.

With any good plan it’s helpful to have some tips. Here are a few:

#1 Find your people. Consider reading with a friend, spouse, kids, or another accountability partner. This will help you stay on track and might be the jump start they need as well!

#2 Pick a place/time. Consistency starts with the details. Find a place that you can focus for a few minutes each day. Avoid areas that are too comfy, high traffic, or hard to access. Pick a time. If you don’t pick a specific time you might struggle to push off your time with the Lord until the end of the day. This makes the gift of devotion feel like a weight on your shoulders. Avoid this by knowing when and where you will study the Word. 

#3 Embrace Discipline & Give Grace. We have all been there before. The land of good intentions is filled with a lack of discipline. Whether it’s our diet, exercise, or let’s be honest ANY area of life that requires discipline, we have all fallen short. It’s okay. It’s going to happen. Give yourself grace. Your devotional life is not pass/fail. It’s not a report card. It’s not a box to check on a to-do list. It’s a blessing. It’s an opportunity to rest in Jesus. God knows you aren’t perfect. That’s exactly why He gives us His perfect grace. Enjoy it because we all need it! 

As you commit yourself to the Lord, just watch and see what He will do. This fall has the potential to be the best one yet!

Ryan Booth

Lead Pastor