Crosstown Covenant Church – Strategic Plan (October 2018)

BackgroundFor over 30 years, and for decades beforehand as Elim Covenant Church and Park Avenue Covenant Church, the community of believers at Crosstown Covenant Church has sought to follow Jesus Christ, learning from His Word, growing in His grace, and sharing His message with the world. This strategic plan continues that legacy of faithfulness, while also challenging the people of Crosstown to grow and serve in new ways.

This plan originated from a desire by Pastor John Jacobi and Crosstown’s Elders to reinvigorate and refine the spiritual life and missional outreach of our congregation. In early 2017, Pastor John and the Elders began a process that has culminated in this plan. By the middle of 2017, God had blessed Crosstown with new staff members gifted in envisioning new paths for ministry. In addition, He had blessed the congregation with substantial financial gifts, which both staff and Elders understood as God’s gifts to be used for His purposes. As had been clear for some time, it was obvious that Crosstown is located in a neighborhood of increasing ethnic and socioeconomic diversity at a time in which the people of our city and nation need to experience the barrier-breaking, justice-seeking love of Christ. Finally, both staff and Elders desired that they and the congregation would grow closer to the Lord, and become more motivated to share the Gospel. Pastor John began reading extensively on strategic planning, participating in an evangelism cohort with fellow pastors, brainstorming ideas with Crosstown’s staff, and seeking counsel from pastoral mentors. Elders engaged in monthly prayer and conversations about why and how to commence the project. Throughout these conversations, both staff and Elders felt nudged by the Holy Spirit to pursue a formal strategic plan.

As part of the information-gathering necessary to create a strategic direction, Crosstown members, attenders, and staff prayed over and participated in the “REVEAL for Church: Spiritual Life Survey” in November of 2017. Eighty-six Crosstown adults, a healthy sample of our normal adult worship attenders, completed the online survey. Following the survey, the Elders invited the Crosstown community (adults and youth, members and attenders) to engage in face-to-face listening sessions to clarify the results of the online survey. Ninety people joined in the listening session conversations. The results of the REVEAL survey and the listening sessions confirmed the sense of Pastor John, Crosstown staff, and Elders that a strategic vision was necessary. Several results were particularly striking:

1. One of Crosstown’s core values is Life-Changing Relationship with Jesus, and the survey indicated that many members of Crosstown desire more growth in that relationship than they are currently experiencing. When compared to the people of the 2500+ congregations that have completed the REVEAL survey, the people of Crosstown are much more likely than average to say that they are spiritually stalled, less likely than average to say that their congregation provides a clear pathway to guide their spiritual growth, and less likely than average to say that their congregation is helping them to develop a meaningful prayer life.

2. Two of Crosstown’s core values are Multi-Generational Community and Personal Caring. The survey indicated a congregational desire for deeper connection of these values with Life-Changing Relationship with Jesus. The people of Crosstown were

less likely than average to say that our church helps them to develop relationships with spiritual accountability, and less likely than average to say that our church provides opportunities to grow spiritually through relationship with others. In listening sessions, people explained that our congregation’s small group opportunities are inconsistently offered, poorly communicated, and not always well suited to people’s felt spiritual needs.

3. One of Crosstown’s core values is Heartfelt Worship, and the survey indicated that many members of Crosstown desire more deeply heartfelt worship on Sunday mornings. The people of Crosstown expressed less satisfaction than average with the Sunday worship service. In listening sessions, a substantial number of Crosstown attenders expressed a desire to see more people involved in worship leadership (various actions have been taken on this point; for example, more people have been involved in leading congregational prayer).

4. One of Crosstown’s core values is Compelling Mission, and the survey indicated that many members of Crosstown desire a greater sense of involvement in God’s mission. Compared to the people of other congregations, the people of Crosstown are less likely than average to say that our church empowers them to make a significant impact on the lives of others, and less likely than average to say that Crosstown provides them opportunities to serve those in need.

5. Finally, after reviewing our full congregational results, the REVEAL for Church analysts explained that Crosstown’s results qualify us as an “introverted church.” Although Crosstown and other “introverted churches” have a “strength of character…found in…deeply rooted faith,” a solid understanding of life as “a journey to develop a relationship with Christ,” and a good connection to the Scriptures and the core beliefs expressed in them, we have a clear need to share Christ with more people around us.1 In a sobering result, Crosstown is the only REVEAL-survey church (of more than 2500) in which not a single survey respondent indicated that he or she was “exploring Christ” rather than already being an established believer. This survey question and other REVEAL data seem to indicate that compared to other congregations, Crosstown is presently a church of established believers who have not been effective in bringing non-believers into the life of the congregation.

Congregational survey results that qualify us as an “introverted church” have caused discomfort and unease for Crosstown’s leaders. However, the results of the survey and listening sessions have been extremely helpful in confirming our sense that the Holy Spirit wants us to have a reinvigorated relationship with Jesus and a renewed connection to the lost and suffering. The REVEAL analysts gave us great hope that a strategic plan could help us to pursue these needs. They explained that they have seen “introverted churches” use specific plans to become thriving, vibrant congregations. Specifically, “introverted churches” become more vibrant when their leaders make decisions to “find ways to make spiritual growth come to life” and “vigorously encourage personal spiritual practices.”2 1 Cally Parkinson with Nancy Scammacca Lewis, Rise: Bold Strategies to Transform your Church, NavPress/Tyndale House, 2015, pp. 77-78. 2 Parkinson and Scammacca Lewis, Rise: Bold Strategies to Transform your Church, pp. 85-91.

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To conclude, the prompting of the Holy Spirit, the leadership of our lead pastor and staff, the convictions of our Elders, the feedback of our congregation, and the counsel of people dedicated to helping congregations have all led us to the creation of this strategic plan.

CROSSTOWN COVENANT CHURCH STRATEGIC INITIATIVES: 2018-2023The specific initiatives included in this strategic plan grow from several sources. First, they are centered in the Scriptures, through which God persistently calls us to grow personally and communally in relationship with Him, and to share the love of the Gospel in real ways with all people. Second, they are rooted in Crosstown’s mission statement, which is to invite and equip all people to experience a life-changing, ever-growing relationship with Jesus Christ. At the January 2018 Crosstown Leadership Retreat, the Holy Spirit led Crosstown’s leaders to new appreciation of this powerful statement, and new insights into how it could inform this plan. Third, the initiatives of this plan stem from the specific results of the REVEAL survey and follow-up, responding to specific areas in which we need reinvigoration and renewal. Finally, the initiatives come as a result of the Elders’ discerning process, carried out from the middle of 2017 to the fall of 2018.

INITIATIVE 1 – INVITE: BUILD AN INVITATIONAL CULTUREQuestion to Ponder: What are we doing to creatively and consistently invite persons to follow Jesus?

In Luke 19:10, Jesus said, “The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” It is clear from the Scriptures that God desires – and commands – his people to participate actively in his work of redeeming all those who are lost without knowledge and acceptance of his saving grace. This is directly in line with Crosstown’s mission statement, and as noted above, the REVEAL survey indicated that Crosstown must change and grow in how we invite more people into relationship with Jesus.3 In addition, it is clear that Crosstown has been placed in a neighborhood where there is great opportunity for Christ to work through us to share the Gospel with the lost, serve the hungry, empower the poor, bring justice to the oppressed, and reconcile divided communities. In 2017-2018, the Crosstown Council read, discussed, and prayed about Kevin Harney’s Organic Outreach for Churches: Infusing Evangelistic Passion in your Local Congregation. Harney exhorts churches to find ways to more purposefully and actively direct existing church ministries toward people outside the Christian community. After discussion, the Council decided that several 3 The survey indicated that many members of Crosstown desire a greater sense of involvement in God’s mission. Compared to the people of other congregations, the people of Crosstown are less likely than average to say that our church empowers them to make a significant impact on the lives of others, and less likely than average to say that Crosstown provides them opportunities to serve those in need. After reviewing our full congregational results, the REVEAL for Church analysts explained that Crosstown’s results qualify us as an “introverted church.” Although Crosstown and other “introverted churches” have a “deep strength of character…found in…deeply rooted faith,” a solid understanding of life as “a journey to develop a relationships with Christ,” and a good connection to the Scriptures and the core beliefs expressed in them, we have a clear need to share Christ with more people around us. Crosstown is the only REVEAL-survey church (of more than 2500) in which not a single survey respondent indicated that he or she was “exploring Christ” rather than already being an established believer. This survey question and other REVEAL data seem to indicate that compared to other congregations, Crosstown is presently a church of established believers who have not been effective in bringing non-believers into the life of the congregation.

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Organic Outreach principles would be fruitful avenues for renewing Crosstown’s outreach to all people. Initiative 1 is therefore to work through Crosstown’s leadership to build invitation into all ministry areas of the congregation.

Invite – Critical Success Factor 1: Build Organic Outreach Principles into MinistriesBeginning in the fall of 2018, Crosstown leaders will work to help all members of the congregation to understand Organic Outreach principles, and Crosstown’s ministry commissions will begin incorporating Organic Outreach principles into their commission planning processes. The purpose of this is to help all of the people involved in the work of each commission to become more engaged in inviting more people into the life of Crosstown, and ultimately into relationship with Jesus. While deacons, commissions, and staff are encouraged to think beyond this list, incorporation of Organic Outreach principles should at minimum include:

1. Each deacon and commission will set aside one full meeting each year (regularly scheduled or separately scheduled) to discuss the following questions and make plans based on the discussion: In the year ahead, how will our commission minister to (invite, serve, etc.) more people who are currently outside the Crosstown community? In the year ahead, how can our commission take the ministry that we are already doing and orient it more to people currently outside the Crosstown community?

2. All staff and commissions involved in the planning and carrying out of the annual Living Nativity event will discuss the following questions and make plans based on the conversation: How will we make the next Living Nativity minister to more people who are currently outside the Crosstown community, and especially outside the churched community?

3. Each deacon and commission (including the cross-commission Living Nativity team) will regularly evaluate how well they are implementing the commission’s plans for orienting its ministries toward people outside the Crosstown community.

4. Starting in January of 2019, as part of the report to be included in the Crosstown annual report, each deacon will include a report on how successful the commission was in orienting ministry toward people outside Crosstown.

5. Starting in the fall of 2018, Elders will include discussion and evaluation of outreach ministry in each staff member’s annual review.

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Invite – Critical Success Factor 2: Build Organic Outreach Principles into the Crosstown CouncilBeginning in the summer of 2018, the Lead Pastor, Pastor of Discipleship & Outreach, and Church Chair will begin incorporating Organic Outreach principles into the operation of the Crosstown Council. The purpose of this is to further orient the ministry of Crosstown toward the seeking and saving of the lost (see Luke 19:10). Incorporation of Organic Outreach principles will include:

1. Lead Pastor and Chair will build review of Organic Outreach principles into the orientation and training of all new staff members, elders, and deacons. They will provide each new member of the staff or Council with a copy of Organic Outreach and engage in discussion with the new leaders about the most important principles.

2. Chair and Lead Pastor will regularly dedicate time at Council meetings to the coordination of outreach ministry. This could include time in which deacons share about outreach ministry in their areas, time during which Council members pray for each other’s outreach efforts, time during which deacons and elders discuss how they could support outreach happening in other ministry areas, or discussion of whole-church outreach initiatives.

3. Chair and Lead Pastor will periodically review ways in which Crosstown’s Council structure and norms might be adjusted to create better encouragement and coordination of congregational outreach.

Invite – Critical Success Factor 3: Draw More of All People into the Life of CrosstownIt is important that a reinvigoration of our congregational outreach lead to more people, particularly those who do not yet follow Christ, participating in the life of the Church at Crosstown. Beginning in the fall of 2018, the Lead Pastor will lead Crosstown staff in a semi-annual (likely fall and spring) review of how many people are attending regular Crosstown ministries who are likely not believers or who probably qualify as “Exploring Christ.”4 Regular Crosstown ministries will be defined as:

1. Sunday Worship and/or Equip Hour.2. Wednesday All-Church Night (community meal and age-group ministries). 3. Spiritual Life Pathway small groups.4. Any newly created or existing ministry that meets on a frequent basis during a

significant portion of the year (e.g. GriefShare, Clothed with Love, Sheridan Story, Refugee Welcome Team, summer women’s Bible study).

Knowing whether attenders are unbelievers or “exploring Christ” will be humanly impossible, so staff should conduct their review with as much wisdom and discernment as God provides.

4 “Exploring Christ” is a category in the REVEAL for Church spiritual continuum. It refers to people who would define their faith life by saying, “I believe in God, but I am not sure about Christ. My faith is not a significant part of my life.” According to the 2017 survey results, Crosstown is the only REVEAL-survey church (of more than 2500) in which not a single survey respondent indicated that he or she was “exploring Christ” rather than already being an established believer. This survey question and other REVEAL data seem to indicate that compared to other congregations, Crosstown is presently a church of established believers who have not been effective in bringing non-believers into the life of the congregation.

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Staff should evaluate who is attending regular Crosstown ministries for the following reason: Our goal is that by 2023, 10% of the people attending regular Crosstown ministries be people who are not yet followers of Christ.

This success factor will have been achieved in part if by 2023, Crosstown staff can report that they believe 10% of the people attending regular Crosstown ministries are likely not yet followers of Christ. In addition, Crosstown will again complete the REVEAL for Church spiritual life survey in 2020 and 2023. This success factor will have been in part achieved if at each application of the survey, Crosstown sees growth in the number of participants who are “exploring Christ.”

Invite – Critical Success Factor 4: Engage People in Sharing the Gospel More OftenCrosstown will again complete the REVEAL for Church spiritual life survey in 2020 and 2023. In 2017, the percentage of adults who answered “Yes” to this question was below the mean for REVEAL churches and qualified Crosstown as an “Average” church:

“Did you have 6+ spiritual conversations with non-Christians in the past year?”

This success factor will have been achieved if the percentage of adults answering “Yes” in 2020 increases from 2017, and if by 2023 our responses qualify Crosstown as “Above Average.”

INITIATIVE 2 – EQUIP: DEVELOP SPIRITUAL LIFE PATHWAYQuestion to Ponder: Is Crosstown making real disciples? Or, is everyone just busy?(Simple Church, p. 7)

In Ephesians 4:11-13, the apostle Paul writes, “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” It is clear from the Scriptures that God wants his people to grow in maturity and giftedness so as to become more completely equipped to love and serve the world. This is directly in line with Crosstown’s mission statement, and as noted above, the REVEAL survey and listening sessions signaled that the people of Crosstown desire and need greater direction in being equipped for service and attaining maturity in Christ.5 5 The survey indicated that many members of Crosstown desire more growth in their relationship with Christ than they are currently experiencing. When compared to the people of the 2500+ congregations that have completed the REVEAL survey, the people of Crosstown are much more likely than average to say that they are spiritually stalled, less likely than average to say that their congregation provides a clear pathway to guide their spiritual growth, and less likely than average to say that their congregation is helping them to develop a meaningful prayer life. The people of Crosstown were less likely than average to say that our church helps them to develop relationships with spiritual accountability, and less likely than average to say that our church provides opportunities to grow spiritually through relationship with others. In listening sessions, people explained that our congregation’s small group opportunities are inconsistently offered, poorly communicated, and not always well suited to people’s felt spiritual needs. The survey also indicated that many members of Crosstown desire a greater sense of involvement in God’s mission. Compared to the people of other congregations, the people of Crosstown are less likely than average to say that our church empowers them to make a significant impact on the lives of others, and less likely than average to say that Crosstown provides them opportunities to serve those in need.

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Initiative 2 is to develop and communicate a Spiritual Life Pathway through which the people of Crosstown can become better equipped to do the work of Christ.

Equip – Critical Success Factor 1: Build a Stronger Spiritual Life PathwayBeginning in the fall of 2018, the Pastor of Discipleship & Outreach and the Congregational Life & Mission Commission will create a set of adult ministry options that will more regularly and meaningfully equip the adults of Crosstown for works of service (see Ephesians 4:11-13). In particular, this set of adult ministry options will reformulate and reinvigorate Crosstown’s adult small groups. The renewed spiritual growth options for adults should focus on ways in which the people of Crosstown can grow in:

1. Inviting – requesting and welcoming the presence and participation of the people of God.

2. Equipping – preparing and resourcing the people of God for Kingdom work.3. Investing – devoting our resources to the flourishing of our neighbors.

The new set of adult ministry options should include small groups dedicated in distinct ways to Bible study, Spiritual Direction, fellowship, prayer, service, and spiritual conversations for people who want to know more about the faith. Small group leaders will need to be identified, recruited, and resourced. The Pastor and Commission will use these different small groups to create pathways for people who need to grow spiritually in different ways. Distinct opportunities must be made available for those who need to grow in the study of the Scriptures, or in prayer, or in spiritual discernment, or in fellowship, or in service to others. This process through which the people of Crosstown can grow is not envisioned or designed as a linear progression, but rather a reinforcing set of opportunities that encourage all of us to grow continually in different ways. On at least an annual basis, the Pastor and Commission should reevaluate and reformulate the menu of small groups in light of the spiritual needs of the people of Crosstown.

Equip – Critical Success Factor 2: Clearly Communicate Spiritual Life PathwayBeginning in the fall of 2018, Crosstown staff and Elders will work with a church communication consultant to envision a communication plan for the Spiritual Life Pathway. The communication plan should result in the following:

1. Clear, consistent language to describe the Spiritual Pathway, and the small groups that can help believers travel along the pathways.

2. An attractive visual identity to help people see and understand the Spiritual Pathway and accompanying small groups.

3. Along with a broader evaluation and update of Crosstown’s narthex and main-floor gathering areas (see Initiative 4), a communication center in the church narthex, where members and attenders can readily find information about why, how, and when to join small groups.

Beginning in the fall of 2018, Crosstown staff, Elders, and the Congregational Life & Mission Commission should work to refine the communication plan so that the members, attenders, and guests of Crosstown can easily find out how to join groups that will help them to grow in understanding of the Bible, prayer, community, or service. This success factor will have

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been achieved if a new Spiritual Life Pathway communications center is completed during 2018-2019.

Equip – Critical Success Factor 3: Draw More People into the Spiritual Life PathwayIt is important that the renewal of our small groups should encourage the people of Crosstown to commit themselves to regular attendance of small groups that will help them to grow spiritually. Beginning in the fall of 2018, the Pastor of Discipleship & Outreach and the Congregational Life & Mission Commission should work with small group leaders to create a sign-up process through which members, attenders, and guests can commit to a specific small group. There must be a process through which our small group leaders can report how many people have signed up for a small group, and how many people regularly attended the group over its designated course of study (e.g. 3 months, 9 months, 2 years). The Commission should be able to report each year how many people are signed up for adult small groups and how many people regularly attended adult small groups.

Small group leaders and the Commission should keep track of this information for the following reason: Our goal is that for each year from 2018-2023, a higher percentage of Crosstown’s average adult worshipping attendance is committed to growth on the Spiritual Pathway. This success factor will have been achieved if a higher percentage of adults are regularly involved in a small group for each successive year.

Equip – Critical Success Factor 4: Increase Excitement about Spiritual GrowthCrosstown will again complete the REVEAL for Church spiritual life survey in 2020 and 2023. This success factor will have been in part achieved if a higher percentage of adults answer “Yes” in 2023 than they did in 2017 to the following questions:

“Does my church challenge me to grow and take next steps spiritually?”“Does my church provide a clear pathway that helps guide my spiritual growth?”“Does my church help me understand the Bible in greater depth?”“Does my church help me develop relationships that encourage accountability?”“Does my church provide opportunities to grow spiritually through relationships with others?”“Does my church help me to develop a prayer life that connects me with God regularly?”“Does my church set clear expectations about what it means to be part of the church?”“Does my church provide opportunities for me to serve those in need?”“Do I attend a small group 1-2 times per month?”“Am I extremely or very satisfied with my small group?”

This success factor will have been in part achieved if a lower percentage of adults answer “Yes” in 2023 than they did in 2017 to the following questions:

“Am I dissatisfied with my church’s role in spiritual growth?”“Am I spiritually stalled?”

INITIATIVE 3 – INVEST: PRACTICE RADICAL GENEROSITY WITH OUR NEIGHBORSQuestion to Ponder: “How is the Holy Spirit calling Crosstown to leverage our “season of plenty” in a generous and sacrificial manner that advances Jesus’ kingdom?”

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“The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” With these words from Psalm 24, we learn that our Creator is the owner of all! Leading up to 2018, God blessed Crosstown with over $700,000 in financial resources, which Elders and staff have understood to be God’s gifts to be used for His purposes. We believe that God and their human givers entrusted these funds to Crosstown for the purpose of advancing Jesus’ Kingdom. We are wary of using these funds to supplement regular giving shortfalls and of allowing them to “sit in the bank” for an extended period of time, recognizing that these funds were not intended as a fallback for shortfalls, but for “over and above” projects that will share Jesus with more people and make our building more inviting to others.

Initiative 3 is to invest $150,000 in the spread of the Gospel through new partnerships with Northwest Conference ministries in under-resourced communities in the Twin Cities, and $50,000 in the public school communities of the Nokomis East neighborhood.

In Matthew 6:21, Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” The author of Hebrews stated in chapter 13:1-3, “Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” In Acts 20:35, Jesus said through Paul, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” It is clear from the Scriptures that God wants our hearts to be deeply connected to the plight of others, and that He desires – and commands – that we devote the financial resources that He has given us to the welfare of others and the growth of his Kingdom. This, too, is connected to our mission statement, as financial resources can be used effectively to invite more people into relationship with Jesus.

Invest – Critical Success Factor 1: Create an Invest TaskforceThe investment of financial resources in ministries and neighborhood schools is a bold idea that will require ongoing prayer, wisdom, and guidance by the Holy Spirit. To lead us in seeking those things, Crosstown will need servants committed to this work. In the fall of 2018, the Elders will seek Crosstown members to serve on an Invest Taskforce, which will be part of the Finance Commission, with the Elder liaison to the Finance Commission as point person for the team. The purposes of this team will be to gather ideas for where and how to invest money in Northwest Conference ministries and in Nokomis neighborhood schools, to select areas of investment to be approved by the Elders and congregation, and to regularly communicate the decisions and results to the congregation. It is intended that members of this team commit to serving on a one year renewable basis. This success factor will have been achieved if, by the time of the Crosstown annual meeting in January 2019, a team has been formed that can wisely and enthusiastically lead Crosstown in sharing the financial blessings that God has provided for us to do ministry in our city.

Invest – Critical Success Factor 2: Generate Ideas for Investing in Ministry and Community Elders, staff, and the Invest Taskforce will immediately begin gathering ideas for how Crosstown could generously invest in Covenant ministries and our neighborhood schools. A Covenant ministry to be considered should meet the following criteria:

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1. It is affiliated with the Evangelical Covenant Church.2. It is located in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.3. It is under-resourced (ministering in a population or situation where gathering

needed funds is difficult).4. It is involved in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with people who Crosstown

would have difficulty reaching directly on our own. 5. It has a specific plan for how it would use additional funds.

In 2019, for example, Crosstown will invest some of the available funds in the ministry of Epiphany Covenant Church. Epiphany is a church plant in the Phillips neighborhood of Minneapolis and is intentionally multi-ethnic. Because Epiphany is affiliated with the ECC, is located in the city of Minneapolis, is under-resourced (due to its status as a new church and its location in a low-income area), has specific ways to spend money during its start-up phase, and is sharing the Gospel in a part of the community that Crosstown is less able to reach, it meets these criteria.

A neighborhood school initiative to be considered should meet the following criteria:1. It is connected to a public school in the Nokomis neighborhood.2. It meets a financial need that will not be met by Minneapolis Public Schools without

assistance by Crosstown.3. It has a specific plan for how it would use additional funds.4. It will meet an important need for students or school staff.

For example, Crosstown could invest some of the available funds in the expansion of the Sheridan Story to the Wenonah campus of Lake Nokomis Community School. Because the Sheridan Story directly helps meet a need for students, will not be funded by Minneapolis Public Schools, has a clear dollar amount attached to each meal provided, and would occur in the LNCS, it would meet these criteria.Elders, staff, and the Invest Taskforce will invite members of the congregation to approach them with ideas for ways in which we could generously invest in the lives of people in our community. This success factor will have been met if, over the course of five years, Crosstown has learned of and evaluated a numerous and varied set of ministry and school needs in our community.

Invest – Critical Success Factor 3: Share $150,000 with Covenant Ministries and $50,000 with Neighborhood SchoolsDuring each of the years 2019-2023, Crosstown will invest some of the $150,000 dedicated to under-resourced Covenant ministries in the Twin Cities metro area, and some of the $50,000 dedicated to our neighborhood schools. It is not intended that the same amount of money be given to ministry in each year, but simply that some substantial giving occur during each of the next five years. The Elders, in consultation with the Invest Taskforce and Finance Commission, will include a dollar amount dedicated to Twin Cities Covenant ministries in each annual budget proposed to the congregation, as well as a dollar amount dedicated to neighborhood schools. This success factor will have been met if Crosstown has shared $200,000 by the end of 2023.

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Invest – Critical Success Factor 4: Educate the Congregation about Generosity and Gospel MissionThe most important purpose of this initiative is to build up ministries that will invite more people into relationship with Jesus and serve the welfare of our community. A second purpose is to encourage the people of Crosstown to put our hearts in a place of generosity and evangelism. As Jesus says in Matthew 6:21 notes, our hearts tend to follow where we have put our money. As noted in the Reveal survey, many members of Crosstown desire to more significantly serve others through participation in God’s mission.6 This initiative is an opportunity to further orient or reorient our hearts toward generous service to others and sharing of the Gospel.

However, one potential weakness of this initiative is that it could be accomplished with only a few people making the decisions and only a few people knowing of their results. If that happens, then the initiative will be unlikely to help the whole congregation experience the joy that generous participation in mission brings. Another weakness is that this initiative could be accomplished in a way that does not help the people of Crosstown to learn from the believers with whom we will partner.

Our hope and intention is that this initiative will forge relationships of mutual blessing and participation. Therefore, the Invest Taskforce must communicate regularly to the congregation about the progress of this initiative. At least six times per year, the team should communicate to the whole congregation (in Sunday worship or at a congregational meeting) about what God has been doing through the initiative. The communication could come from a team member, from a leader in one of our partner ministries (e.g. Epiphany Covenant), or from a member of Crosstown who has experienced the joy of giving through this initiative (e.g. a participant in the Sheridan Story). Stories can focus on benefits to others, or on what God has taught us through the initiative. The communication could (and should) also occur in the form of public prayer for the relevant ministry or school. This success factor will have been achieved in part if the congregation receives six verbal updates or faith stories each year from 2019-2023.

In addition, the Lead Pastor and Invest Taskforce must seek opportunities for our partner ministries to share the wisdom gathered in their mission work with the people of Crosstown. For example, this sharing could come in the form of a guest sermon on church planting, a special seminar on needs in our local community, or a joint gathering between congregational leaders to discuss organic outreach in various contexts. This success factor will have been achieved in part if the Crosstown congregation and/or leadership participates in education led by a partner ministry at least one time each year from 2019-2023.

INITIATIVE 4 – WELCOME: ENHANCE OUR BUILDING TO BETTER INVITE AND EQUIPQuestion to Ponder?

6 The survey indicated that many members of Crosstown desire a greater sense of involvement in God’s mission. Compared to the people of other congregations, the people of Crosstown are less likely than average to say that our church empowers them to make a significant impact on the lives of others, and less likely than average to say that Crosstown provides them opportunities to serve those in need.

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How can we enhance our building to invite and equip persons to follow Jesus?

In response to the call of Jesus “to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10) and God’s desire “to equip his people for works of serve, so that the body of Christ may be built up” (Ephesians 4:11-13), Initiatives 1 and 2 seek to equip the people of Crosstown to better invite people into life-changing, ever-growing relationship with Christ. To further the equipping of God’s people and invitation of all at Crosstown, Initiative 4 is to invest $200,000 in making Crosstown’s physical plant more welcoming and inviting, and more conducive to good ministry in general.

In each annual budget presented for the years 2019-2023, the Elders will include a dollar amount dedicated to making the Crosstown building more welcoming and conducive to ministry, as well as specific ideas for how that money might be spent in the upcoming year. After approval of the annual budget by the Council and congregation, the Elder Team will be responsible for final approval and implementation of specific renovation projects.

Welcome – Critical Success Factor 1: Renovate Gathering AreaBeginning in the fall of 2018, Crosstown staff and Elders will work with design consultants to refresh and renovate the Crosstown’s gathering space, or narthex. The gathering space is the first part of the building that any guest or member of the congregation encounters, and the area of the building through which any guest or member moves most frequently. Its role in communicating welcome and facilitating ministry is therefore very important. Staff and Elders, in cooperation with design consultants, are responsible for renovating the gathering space so that it

1. Communicates welcome and invitation to guests of Crosstown.2. Communicates welcome and invitation to members of Crosstown. 3. Provides clear navigational information for people unfamiliar with Crosstown’s

building.4. Communicates Crosstown’s values and “brand” (e.g. logo, mission statement, vision

statement, core values). 5. Provides information to guests and Crosstown members about growth and ministry

opportunities (including the Spiritual Life Pathway; see Initiative 2).6. Is able to be cleaned and maintained effectively and efficiently.

The renovation of the gathering space may include new paint, carpet, signage, furniture, and decoration. The project will require substantial funds to complete. One potential weakness of this initiative is that it could be completed with work done by a few people, using funds that seem to have given by a few people. It is important that the entire congregation be given the opportunity to participate in the project. Therefore, the Lead Pastor, Elders, and Finance Commission will plan a “giving Sunday” in early 2019 as a chance for the people of Crosstown to give “above and beyond” offerings as a form of financial sacrifice and participation in this important project.

This success factor will have been achieved in part if Crosstown’s gathering space has been renovated to be more welcoming and informative by the end of 2019. This success factor

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will also have been achieved in part if there is a “giving Sunday” to support the project in the first half of 2019.

Welcome – Critical Success Factor 2: Generate and Carry Out Ideas for Other UpdatesThroughout the period 2018-2023, it is important the the people and leaders of Crosstown have opportunity to offer ideas about how the building could be made more welcoming to all and more conducive to ministry. The Church Chair and Lead Pastor will lead the process of involving the Crosstown Council and staff in generating ideas for important updates to the building. Each year, the Chair will offer the Council opportunities to propose ideas for building renovations, and will lead the Council and subsequently the Elders in discussion of potential projects. The Lead Pastor will provide staff with opportunities to propose ideas for building renovations, and will lead the staff and subsequently the Elders in discussion of potential projects. Members of the congregation not part of the Council or staff teams are encouraged to discuss potential renovations with members of staff and lay leadership. This success factor will have been achieved in part if the Crosstown Council and staff have at least one formal discussion per year of potential building renovations that could help Crosstown’s building to be more welcoming and conducive to good ministry.

Elders will be responsible for finalizing proposals to be included in each annual budget that goes to the congregation for approval, and for carrying out building renovations. This success factor will have been achieved in part if projects are wisely chosen and carried out such that $200,000 is spent to improve the Crosstown building by 2023.

Welcome – Critical Success Factor 3: Explore Creating an ADA-Accessible RestroomAs part of the process of making the building more welcoming to all, it is important that Crosstown consider how to make our space inclusive of the many people who need ADA-accessible facilities. Of particular importance may be adding an easily reached ADA-accessible restroom, which Crosstown currently lacks. While it is unclear what form such a project might take, it is important that Crosstown leaders pursue such a possibility. The Deacon of Properties and the Properties Commission will take the lead in exploring options for an ADA-accessible restroom on Crosstown’s main floor. This success factor will have been achieved if the Properties Commission has generated a report on restroom possibilities by the end of 2019.

Welcome – Critical Success Factor 4: Provide Congregation with Giving OpportunitiesAs noted in Critical Success Factor 1 and supported in the introduction to Initiative 3, it is important that the entire congregation be given the opportunity to participate in giving financially to support Initiative 4. Therefore, the Lead Pastor, Elders, and Finance Commission will create a significant opportunity for the people of Crosstown to financially partner in building renovations starting in the year 2020. This opportunity may be a sustained giving campaign, or it may take the form of individual opportunities to financially support individual projects (such as the “giving Sunday” for the gathering space renovation). This success factor will have been achieved if in 2020, the Elders, Finance Commission, and Lead Pastor have created and begun to carry out a specific plan for the people of Crosstown to give as God leads them.

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In conclusion, we pray that God would use the plans that we believe He has laid on our hearts to accomplish His work in our city and in our hearts. To God be the glory!

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