We exist to make the name of Jesus Christ known by equipping, training, and raising the Next Generation of Global Marketplace Leaders. At Crossroads Global Initiative we are dedicated to communicating the Good News of Jesus Christ in everything we do.
Victor R Moran, President | Crossroads Global Initiative, Inc.
“My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge.” Psalm 71:15
This weekend two key Crossroads Ministry colleagues will join me in Minden, Germany as we lead out in teaching the basics of baseball and sharing the message of redemption in Christ Jesus to several hundred youth at a week-long baseball camp. Dr. David Upchurch leads this missional opportunity and Sampie Brown, our ministry colleague who is presently on mission in the Basque region of Spain, along with his two daughters will be part of the ministry team. Three Texas churches, Champion Forest Baptist Church – Houston, Texas, First Baptist Church – Weatherford, Texas and Vansickle Baptist Church – Greenville, Texas have joined us on this trip. A total of 19 participants will be part of the Crossroads Global Initiative team and includes three ministry residents from the O. Damon Shook Residency Program at Champion Forest Baptist Church in Houston.
Pray that many of the young people we come in contact this week commit their lives to Christ and that every moment be to God’s Glory.
I will be posting our daily activities on Facebook and Instagram. We are thankful for your prayer and financial support.
Many have asked me numerous times to identify specific opportunities for financial support.
I am highlighting two initiatives for consideration by our financial partners.
1. Intercultural Student Trip
The first initiative is the opportunity to partially sponsor a Basque region student on this summer’s cohort to Texas. Mandy and Sampie Brown are leading a cohort of high school age students from Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain to Texas. They will be in Texas from July 5 – July 26, 2023. Host families will house the students and each student will experience the warmth of God’s love. This trip allows the Browns to build deeper relationships with the community they serve as they reach, teach and disciple. As part of the trip, the cohort will visit the NASA Space Center, attend a Space Cowboys baseball game in Sugarland, Texas and have a sit- down meal with new friends.
2. Germany Baseball Camp
Our second initiative for sponsor consideration is the Germany Baseball Camp. The in-country host is the Minden, Germany Evangelical Free Church. Camp dates are June 23 – July 1, 2023. Pastor David Upchurch leads the missional cohort to Minden, Germany. The cohort members teach baseball basics and share the message of Christ’s redemptive love.
The four sponsorship opportunities identified are below.
Donostia Student Cohort: Sponsor a Donostia-San Sebastian Student @ $125.00 per student which underwrites the cost of 1 ticket to Houston’s NASA Space Center, 1 ticket to Sugarland’s Space Cowboys Baseball Game and 1 sit down meal;
Minden 1: Sponsor MacGregor or Rawlings RIF baseballs for 10 teams; 6 dozen baseballs are required @ $85.00 per dozen;
Minden 2: Sponsor 12-inch Wilson A400 model or Rawlings Pro-lite model Baseball gloves; 24 gloves @ $60.00 each;
Minden 3: Sponsor Field in a Bag for games every afternoon; 2 bags are required @ $45.00 each.
Sponsorships can be made via the donate page of the Crossroads Global website at www.crossroadsgi.org and contributing to the General Fund. You can designate Donostia Student, Minden 1, Minden 2 or Minden 3 by entering the designation under Company Name.
We are thankful for your participation and financial support.
As a ministry and education organization with international reach we appreciate the dedicated cohort of prayer warriors and financial partners who sacrificially underpin the ministries of Crossroads Global Initiative, Inc.
Crossroads is in its 21st year of offering ministry and educational opportunities with its U.S. based and international global partners, equipping and training the Next Generation of Global Marketplace Leaders.
Calendar year 2022 was a year of advancement in ministry for the Crossroads team as we moved beyond the impact of COVD-19. Our ministry associates in Europe were able to reengage their national communities and experience a sense of normalcy in their daily ministry and outreach.
Our stateside teams were able to travel to points of national and international ministry not visited in 2020 and 2021. One of our volunteer teams traveled to Europe the summer of 2022 holding the annual Baseball Camp in Germany and sharing the Good News of the Gospel with hundreds of participating youth.
In the latter part of 2022, Crossroads expanded its international outreach to Colombia, Guatemala and Nicaragua through partnerships with indigenous ministries who are effectively reaching the communities they serve with the Good News of the Gospel.
Crossroads committed time and financial resources investing in the leadership development of senior leaders in life redemption ministries and church planting organizations in the U.S. cities of Chicago and Houston.
Calendar year 2023 will see expansion with Crossroads partners that align with its global mission equipping, training, and raising Next Gen Leadership and communicating the Good News of Jesus Christ in everything we do.
Our prayer and financial partners are critical to the advancement of the Crossroads mission and to the expansion of our colleagues’ impact across the U.S. and international venues. We are grateful for each gift of designated and general fund support and covet your continued prayer support. Your partnership and support have eternal significance!
“The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful — for he cannot deny himself.” 2 Timothy 2:11-13, English Standard Version
Life Point: Rejoice in the wonderful news of God’s faithfulness towards us. May you experience God’s Peace and Joy. Christ Jesus is always faithful!
DAY 2:
“The Father loves the Son extravagantly. He turned everything over to him so he could give it away—a lavish distribution of gifts. That is why whoever accepts and trusts the Son gets in on everything, life complete and forever! ” John 3:36, The Message Bible
Life Point: The abundant life, life complete, is found only through acceptance and trust in the Son of God – Christ Jesus! May you experience life abundant this Christmas Season!
DAY 3:
“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again.” John 3:16-17, The Message Bible
Life Point: It is through Christ Jesus alone that we may have whole and lasting life. By placing our full weight of trust and belief in Him we can have a whole and lasting life!
DAY 4:
“The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, he one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.” John 1:14, The Message Bible
Life Point: The Good News of this Season begins with the reality that God came as man – Jesus Christ, Our Lord! Believe in Him, Turn to Him and Walk with Him!
DAY 5:
“Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!” Philippians 4:4-5, The Message Bible
Life Point: When we come to understand that Christ, Our Lord, is ever present we experience indescribable Peace and Joy! Pray that this Christmas Season you and those you hold close to your heart may experience the Peace and Joy that only Christ can give!
DAY 6:
“But there’s far more to life for us. We’re citizens of high heaven! We’re waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He’ll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him.” Philippians 3:20-21, The Message Bible
Life Point: Even if we lived beyond the ripe age of 100 years on this earth, we are but an asterisk in the awesome story of the Risen Savior. Give Christ, Our King and Lord, all Honor, Glory and Praise. Through Him we are citizens of His Kingdom!
DAY 7:
“I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.” Philippians 3:12-14, The Message Bible
Life Point: Press On! Calendar Year 2022 is coming to a close and 2023 is before us. Always remember – God is not limited by the Calendar!
“He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.’” John 21:17 (ESV)
The Gospel of John records Christ’s conversation calling on the Apostle Peter to “feed His Sheep.” Christ Jesus called on Peter to tend the flock. He challenged Him to selflessly serve those Christ Jesus loved, leading and investing his life into Christ’s own.
Peter was very aware of his own denial of Christ Jesus. Christ gave Peter the mantle of leadership responsibility for those Christ loved. Peter was ready, cognizant of his accountability to Christ.
In leading our families, our communities, and organizations, we will find ourselves failing to meet our own expectations of leadership. Leaders are not immune from failure. We drive to excellence, as we address our personal weaknesses, develop as leaders and strengthen in personal character.
As leaders we must hold ourselves accountable to others. We must consistently engage in our responsibility for the welfare of those we serve, driving them to excellence beyond failure. As leaders we tend the flock, care, guard and selflessly serve those beyond our own.
Address your weaknesses, pivot from your strengths, be accountable to others. Look beyond your leadership failures and take on the mantle of leadership responsibility. Tend the flock.
“Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.” Philippians 3:17 (ESV)
In his writing to the Christ followers at Philippi, the Apostle Paul challenged his audience to imitate him and keep focus on those in harmony with his life’s example.
What eternal values and life disciplines would you challenge your audience to imitate? Which personal qualities or weaknesses are worthy of imitation?
Irrespective of your sense of self, you are a person of impact. Strength and weaknesses do not define you. The personal values and life principles which you breath daily are the driving force of your existence. Do these values and principles have eternal significance? Identify these values and principles. Sharpen these values and principles. Share these values and principles by being a living example of what is best in you and worthy of imitation.
Our global society yearns for leadership which places deep value on the interest of others above self-interest.
Challenge your immediate circle of influence to imitate you and walk according to the example of your life.
Never allow mediocrity to imitate your best as mediocrity will dilute excellence. Consistently give your best to those committed to the higher calling of leading by example. Your best given in service of others is a quality worthy of imitation – lead by example. _____________________________________________________________________________
Any inquiries regarding the customized Crossroads Global Initiative leadership and organizational development services should be directed to contact@crossroadsgi.org
“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” The words of the Apostle Paul, 1 Corinthians 11:1
In his first letter to the assembly of Christ followers in the city of Corinth, the Apostle Paul challenged his audience to imitate him as he imitated Christ Jesus. His challenge is bold. By his statement, Paul asserts that he is living, breathing, walking, and reflecting the very essence of Christ.
As a Christ follower and societal leader, the Apostle Paul challenged his audience to imitate him.
Beyond his engagement to a missional purpose, the Apostle Paul’s commitment was to the person of Christ Jesus. With reckless abandon the Apostle Paul followed, and he challenged his audience to imitate his living example.
Society yearns for those who will lead with selflessness considering others above self. Your family and your community look for the one they can imitate. They look for the Greatest of All Time, their “G.O.A.T.”
Who is your Greatest of All Time? Whose essence do you follow? Who can you challenge to imitate you? What character qualities or personal attributes would you pass down to others?
Like the Apostle Paul, all Leaders must address the question of our followership. Who are we imitating? Is the one we follow worthy of imitation?
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Gospel of Mark 10:45
Every family, organization or community seeks the person or persons committed to serving the role of principal, shepherd, guardian, or steward. The group confers titles and roles on individuals. Collectively we seek the ones who will serve placing others before self. We seek a faithful leader.
Throughout history, global society has labored with countless actors granting them the role of leadership and having those actors fail their duty of faithful service. The words of Christ challenge the practitioners of the art and science of leadership. Christ redefined his followers’ view of a Leader.
During our lifetime we are all confronted to discharge the role of leadership. The challenge comes as we serve our families, businesses, and communities. Do you possess the attributes to meet the challenge? What leadership attributes require sharpening?
The first principle of leadership is simple. We must see others as God’s special gift and serve them with a spirit of selflessness. In the spirit of selflessness, you might find it necessary to lay down your life for another but for most of us it is simply just placing the needs of another ahead of our personal preference. Faithful leaders are among us, look around, and see who has been placing your needs ahead of their personal interest.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” Gospel of Matthew 5:14 (ESV)
As first quarter 2022 comes to a close, we look back on a prior year of great challenge. Generations before us have faced famine, disease, war and insurmountable economic stress, yet history has paved the way for the road forward. As individuals, a family unit, or community you have faced challenges that brought turmoil and chaos into your daily life. You looked deep within yourself to give hope to others and deliver effective leadership to friends, your family or community.
Serving others is impractical without understanding the limitations of the self. The Book of Acts, Chapter 9, gives the experience account of Saul of Tarsus as he approached Damascus. “Suddenly a light from heaven shone around him … and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing.”
Do you have a desire to serve others? Do you have a sense or pull on your heart and soul to prepare to lead others? Are you leading others today and sense that you are running on empty? Uncertainty is the true global pandemic. In his crisis, Saul of Tarsus developed as a leader amid chaos. Before he could be light, he had to experience the loss of the most precious gift of daily living – not sight, but light.
Join me on an exploratory journey. Periodically I will post life principals and practical markers on the road to spiritual formation and leadership development. Come along, join me and learn specific principles of leadership and service.
