We are starting a new phase in our life together as a congregation. This is planning for the long term! The elders have decided to use a process called Natural Church Development (NCD) to help assess the strengths and weaknesses of Crossroads as we enter the next phase of our journey as a congregation. The purpose of NCD is to help foster spiritual growth of the body.

Why NCD?
• NCD is based on comprehensive, extensive research on over 1,000 congregations of various denominations in 32 countries.
• NCD helps us identify key areas to focus on – to pinpoint our efforts.
• NCD helps us create action plans to progress spiritually
• NCD gives us a way to measure progress and adjust as appropriate

NCD is not a one-time event. Neither is it a program to attempt to bolster giving or attendance numbers. NCD is a long-term process that will allow us to build upon what we have already completed in the strategic planning process and help us take some concrete steps forward. The initial process will take about one year and it will affect Crossroads for many years to come.

In 1 Corinthians 3:6, the apostle Paul writes this about the church in Corinth: “I planted the seed, Apollos watered, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” We must recognize that we cannot lean on NCD for “the answer.” We must consistently trust God for the growth, both spiritual and numerical.

Colin Dunn, Will Hailstone, Kimberly Haney, Fritz Thornton, Gordon Waugh, Barbara Willsher, and myself have volunteered to form the NCD Church Health Team. We’ll have some help from Pastor Dave Wasemann, who works with CoachNet in Pennsylvania. Dave can provide an objective look at our strengths, weaknesses, and action plans. (Read more on NCD at
www.ncd-international.org)

Let’s start praying that God would be glorified by all of us throughout this process. Let us “love one another deeply” (1 Peter 1:22) as we work together in the months ahead.