The Loft- Crossroads Youth Room nearing completion
For those of you who are not familiar, Crossroads built a huge Children’s Ministry building called The Boulevard that opened Easter Sunday this year. The building for our kids is actually BIGGER than our current sanctuary. (that is a huge statement)
The one area that we were not able to complete in time was The Loft, which I am excited to say is getting really close to being finished!! (like in a week or so)
The Loft is a multipurpose room that has 4 Xbox gaming systems, couches, TV’s, a small stage and sound system and a small office area for the Youth Department staff…
It is an exciting, age appropriate room that will be used for 4th through 6th graders on Sunday Mornings, thus expanding our current Children’s Church reach on Sundays, it will be used on Thursday nights for Merge, our JR High Youth Group, it will be used on Monday nights for RPM, our SR High Youth Group and it will be used on Friday Nights for our College/Career Group called theMeet. (that is what I call, multipurpose!!)
However, it has come to my attention that some folks are not “excited” about what we have done with the room. Lodging complaints about the five 42″ flat screens and the four 32″ flat screens in the room. Apparently, there are thoughts that the money could have been used more responsibly “elsewhere.” To which my response is,
“REALLY??!! Are you serious???”
Are people really complaining about the fact that we bought 9 TV’s for a youth room? A room that is going to be used 4 days a week, by hundreds of different aged youth throughout the week? Are people really upset that we are trying to provide an environment that would attract young people who DON’T KNOW JESUS?? Are people really surprised that Crossroads would be doing something OUTSIDE THE BOX from a church culture standpoint to reach those that need JESUS??
If you are one of those with an eyebrow raised, I guess I have several responses to you….
1- I bet the mother of the 16 year old kid who hates church cause it is “boring” doesn’t think it is money wasted.
2- Seems to me, spending money on 9 Flat Screens in a room to be used 4 times a week makes a lot more sense than spending it on something for the ADULTS in the sanctuary that gets used ONCE a week.
3- So, what you’re telling me is that you don’t care about the church of tomorrow?
4- If ONE kid comes to know Christ by us purchasing 9 TV’s…..was it worth it?
5- In order to reach those who aren’t getting reached, CHURCHES will have to do things that other CHURCHES aren’t doing!!
6- Isn’t it time that churches began INVESTING in the youth department?
We opened this building to be a “Community Building”….to be a place that young people who don’t attend Crossroads and don’t know Jesus would want to come too….a place where they could get together and learn about Christ in an environment that they are familiar with….. The EXACT same thing we do for the adults on Sunday mornings….
Anyways, I am excited. I know the parents of the youth are excited…..and I would pray that EVERYONE would be excited about the opportunity to reach people for Christ. After all, that is what we were CALLED to do.
To that end, I am assembling some volunteers to help us finish up the last bit of painting, cleaning and decorating and whatnot for different times this week. So if you have some spare time, let me know.
Love you guys….
~jfm3~
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July 26th, 2010 at 1:41 pm
I stand firmly by the decisions those who were put in place by the people of crossroads. You put them their and they did exactly as promised, they made change…no bobby I’m not talking about president obama.. All jokes aside I’m a young adult who hated church with an up most anger. Crossroads brought me back to where the lord had wanted me all along, not by the money, sound systems, large screen projectors. But by the idea of being different and doing everything different. The money was a blessing from god, he knew what was planned for it way before any had the idea, so would have god blessed the church with it if not it wasn’t in his plan? The youth needs to be won, and by all means necessary, we live in a godless america because leaders of the church put their interest in the adults and none to the youth. Yeah they may have sunday school, but do you really think your children want to come to church if they are stuck in a room just coloring sheets of paper and learning a song that they might already know? Its time to get with the times, children are evolving much like the times, though the traditional is what it is, its not always the proper route. This it written in hopes that you who say the money should have been put towards other interest, relize that as a young adult who has a child see’s that our children are the future and if we don’t reach them now… There might not be a second chance. I got lucky and found crossroads.. Or maybe they found me. But not all kids might be as lucky. Sorry so long joe, when I read your blog I got a little heated lol. With all my love to every one at crossroads….- Jay. Hope to see everyone soon.
July 29th, 2010 at 6:43 am
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