A few years ago CrossPoint began the Shepherd Mentor Program for the kids living in a nearby government subsidized apartment complex.  Since then, a few mentors have moved away along with the person who organized and started the program.  This year, some of the current mentors and I have been trying to re-recruit and re-organize the program.   Last semester we revised our applications, logo, flyers, and training system.  We held an informational meeting and two training classes.  We now have a few new interested mentors and are waiting to receive mentee applications so they can be matched. The goal of this mentorship program is to build relationships that demonstrate Christ’s love, continually share and reflect the gospel, and set a Godly example for kids to follow.  Please pray that the Lord would provide great matches so that relationships can be built and kids can see the gospel reflected in our mentors’ lives.  Pray that the gospel will transform lives as a result of the mentoring program.

Posted by: Caroline Cole

Rags to Riches

"God chose what is low and despised in the world" 1Corinthians 1:28

Walk the streets by moonlight, if you dare, and you will see sinners then. Watch when the night is dark, and the wind is howling, and the picklock is grating in the door, and you will see sinners then. Go to yon jail, and walk through the wards, and mark the men with heavy over-hanging brows, men whom you would not like to meet at night, and there are sinners there. Go to the Reformatories, and note those who have betrayed a rampant juvenile depravity, and you will see sinners there. Go across the seas to the place where a man will gnaw a bone upon which is reeking human flesh, and there is a sinner there. Go where you will, you need not ransack earth to find sinners, for they are common enough; you may find them in every lane and street of every city, and town, and village, and hamlet. It is for such that Jesus died. If you will select me the grossest specimen of humanity, if he be but born of woman, I will have hope of him yet, because Jesus Christ is come to seek and to save sinners. Electing love has selected some of the worst to be made the best. Pebbles of the brook grace turns into jewels for the crown-royal. Worthless dross He transforms into pure gold. Redeeming love has set apart many of the worst of mankind to be the reward of the Saviour's passion. Effectual grace calls forth many of the vilest of the vile to sit at the table of mercy, and therefore let none despair.
Reader, by that love looking out of Jesus' tearful eyes, by that love streaming from those bleeding wounds, by that faithful love, that strong love, that pure, disinterested, and abiding love; by the heart and by the bowels of the Saviour's compassion, we conjure you turn not away as though it were nothing to you; but believe on Him and you shall be saved. Trust your soul with Him and He will bring you to His Father's right hand in glory everlasting.
—Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening

Praise be to Jesus that we who are sinners, who are dressed in the rags of our own despicable works, are redeemed by an Almighty Merciful God!  We are the sinners that Spurgeon speaks of, but we are also the saints that he speaks of too, because we have been purchased by the blood of a spotless lamb.  Our God shed his tears and his blood for us so that we who are low may be lifted high.  But can we merely rejoice in our own salvation and not cry over those who continue in their trespasses and sin?  No, of course not!  We should be moved in the same way our Savior is moved, because we share His Spirit.  We are constantly being transformed into the image of Christ, therefore what saddens him, saddens us, and what makes him joyful, makes us joyful.  We should cry over the lost, but we should also rejoice because we know that it is God who chooses that which is "low and despised in the world".  Praise be to Jesus the Christ!  And let our prayer be for those who do not know Him.  Pray that Christ would strip them of their rags and clothe them in the glorious riches of grace.

Soli Deo gloria,

Sean Alford

Remember the Poor

November 09, 2011

 "Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do." Galatians 2:10

The call to remember the poor did not fall on Paul as an unwanted duty but as an affirmation for the very thing he was eager to do!  How do we respond to the remembrance of the poor?  When the great multitude of five thousand men came to hear the words of Jesus did our God merely preach to them the good news and leave them to their hunger?  Of course not!  He fed them until they were satisfied.  In the very imitation of Christ, Paul did not dishonor the grace that was shown to him by merely preaching with his mouth, but he also ministered with his actions.  In the same way James teaches us if "a brother is without clothes and daily food" and we say to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," and we do nothing to supply for their needs our words are meaningless.  Jesus proclaimed both that the Kingdom of Heaven is near, and he sacrificed his life on the cross so that we could have an inheritance in Heaven. 

Have we forgotten that we were once poor and broken and that Christ redeemed us and raised us from the grave and into life?  Jesus pulled us out of despair and gave us joy, so praise, honor, and glory to his name!  Holy Spirit please continue to work in our hearts and let us see the joy in loving our neighbors well and supplying for those who are in need, because you God have provided for our needs.  By your power and for your glory God let us imitated our Savior.

It is easy to be blind to the needs of others; however there are many people in the Seneca, Central, and Clemson areas who are in need.  Crosspoint receives many phone calls a week from people who are in need.  If you wish to serve and minister to those in need, or would like more information regarding Benevolence and Mercy Ministries at Crosspoint please contact Sean Alford at salford@generation-link.org.

Soli Deo gloria,

Sean Alford

Hope for Clemson

October 31, 2011

"And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region."  Acts 13:49

Paul and Barnabas were not satisfied with merely sharing the gospel with one or two individuals but with entire regions.  They did not see the gospel as an interesting piece of news, but as being profitable for salvation.  They took this understand and with boldness went into cities proclaiming the name of Jesus and serving the people for his glory.  We also as Christians see the gospel as being more than gossip or an irrelevant fact, because we have experienced the redeeming and transforming power of God's words in our lives.  And we are commanded to take gospel to the entire world, from the Far East to our own backyards, so that the good news of Christ would impact and transform the world. 

Because of this calling Crosspoint Church has a vision to transform our communities for Christ.  One of the action steps for this vision is Hope for Clemson, which is an extended service partnership with various ministries and communities in the Clemson area.  Crosspoint's Connecting Point groups are leading these partnerships by linking their group with specific areas of service.  The goal is that each CP group would intentionally serve their partnership at least once a month for the remanding school year.  So far the CP groups have partnered up with various neighborhoods and dorms as well as many ministries such as Helping Hands and Haven of Rest.

We ask that you would please be in prayer for our CP groups as they go into the world to impact the culture, and if you would like to participate in or start a new Hope for Clemson partnership please contact Sean Alford at salford@generation-link.org. 

Soli Deo gloria,

Sean Alford