The Cross Church 2022-23 Annual Report

Cross Bearers, What an amazing year 2023 has been! God is so faithful. This has been an epic and record setting year in the life of The Cross Church. I often wonder what our founding members in 1870 would think about our faith family now! They would have had no idea how their seeds of faith would grow into such a robust harvest well beyond their lifetime. When I get to Heaven, I am going to look them up and simply say, “Thank you”. Their example has served us well down through the ages. This faith family has always wanted to go where the people are and spread His fame.

I recently came across a stat that only 25% of churches are growing in America today. While this is a sad reality in general, here at The Cross Church, we are living our most robust days. God is always moved by faith and your faith has made the difference. This year, we dedicated our new entrance on Highway 78, through RAISE THE CROSS. As over 40,000 cars a day pass in front of our campus, they all see the instrument of death that brings forth life to all the world! As well, at night, when the cross is illuminated, they see the light of Christ on full display.

It is beautiful, stunning and a wonderful testimony to our Lord. All people are welcomed to Christ’s cross. As Paul said in Galatians 6:14, “But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world”, might we boast only in His cross.

As a result of RAISE THE CROSS, we have seen a tangible impact was well. This year we have had more first-time guests, membership requests and baptisms in our history. We have had record-setting worship numbers weekly and specifically our largest Easter and Christmas services ever. But numbers do not tell the story alone. Behind the numbers are faces of the people, people whom Jesus knows and loves. I always say outside of the Savior the best part about The Cross Church is the people. What is amazing about this faith family is that it is radically diverse and multi-generational. We see life change at every level.

Further, I want to say thank you to so many of you who have heard the call to serve and said, “Yes!” One area of need we have had this year was in serving all our Next Generation Ministries (preschool, kids and students). This was one of the last areas of The Cross Church that had not rebounded since the Covid-19 pandemic. While we can always use more people serving in Next Gen, many of you have helped us make major strides in this area. For me personally, the next decade is committed to securing the future of the church for the next generation through discipleship and leadership development. The church is only as viable as the Gospel gets to and through the next generation.

As we move into 2024, I want you to know that the best is yet to come! I would remind you that when God gives you a new name, He gives you a new assignment. We have become a church that has 5 different counties and over 30 different cities represented every week. God has done this!

What began as one church in one community, we pray we will become one church in many communities. Early next year, we will unveil plans to expand into other communities. I pray many of you will help us in this next faith step. Stay tuned in January! In the meantime, let’s finish this year strong, making much of Him! Because of Jesus,

OUR MISSION

OUR PATH

THE GOSPEL

Starts e in th Heart

LEADERSHIP EXECUTIVE TEAM

ALLEN STROUD

Senior Associate Pastor allen@thecross.com

KRIS SEGREST

THERESA EVETTS

Lead Pastor kris@thecross.com

Executive Minister theresa@thecross.com

CHURCH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL ALLEN STROUD ANDREW ORTIZ CHERIANA BOWEN DAN RAINEY

DARIN REEVES GREG FIELD KRIS SEGREST

RICK DIRKSE SCOTT WINN THERESA EVETTS

CLC@THECROSS.COM

FINANCE TEAM ALEX KLAGER ALLISON WILSON ANDREW ORTIZ

AUSTIN BRATTON CONNIE DAVIDSON DARYL LARSON

SHARON DEAN TERRY BUSHA WARREN KLINE

FINANCETEAM@THECROSS.COM

PERSONNEL TEAM ALAN ROSE BRENDA BYBOTH BRIAN CHEEK

DAN RAINEY ELVIN SHARP EMIL BALLIET

GLEN WHEELUS JIM CLARKE ROSIE GEBHART

PERSONNEL@THECROSS.COM

PASTORS | MINISTERS | DIRECTORS CHET SOWELL

CHRISTINA PORTER

DAN MARENGO

DEAH TURNER

DEREK SMITS

GINA COOPER

JON BAILEY

JORDAN GREGORY

KIRK MCDOWELL

ROBERT WATSON

SAM DRAPER

SCOTT FINCH

SHAFER HUNT

WILL HEATH

Worship Pastor chet@thecross.com

Communications Director dan@thecross.com

Spanish Pastor dsmits@thecross.com

Hope for the Cities Pastor jon@thecross.com

Campus & Technology Director kirk@thecross.com

Student Pastor sam@thecross.com

Kids Pastor shafer@thecross.com

Preschool Minister christina@thecross.com

Human Resources Director deah@thecross.com

Worship & Women’s Minister gina@thecross.com

Production and Teaching Pastor jordan@thecross.com

Grow Pastor robert@thecross.com

Creative Arts Pastor scott@thecross.com

Go Pastor will@thecross.com

WHO WE ARE

The Cross Church has been impacting Wylie, surrounding towns, and places around the world for 153 years. It began when a small group of rural residents started a church. As a voluntary band of baptized believers in Jesus Christ who affirm the Bible as the inspired, infallible word of God, everything we do is about Spreading God’s Fame by Making Disciples of All People. To accomplish our mission we GATHER for worship, GROW in groups, GO on mission and GIVE to what matters of our time, talent and treasure.

As you review our 2022-2023 Annual Report, see all that the Lord has done and be encouraged! These numbers represent names and faces Jesus knows and loves. God has blessed His church amazingly more than we could ever have asked or imagined. To Him be all the glory!

A LARGER COMMUNITY 1,440

OUT OF THE HOUSEHOLDS WHO REGULARLY ATTEND THE CROSS CHURCH, ONLY 803 OF THEM LIVE IN WYLIE. OUR CHURCH IS MORE THAN JUST A LOCAL CHURCH – WE HAVE BECOME A REGIONAL CHURCH WITH A GLOBAL IMPACT. OTHER COMMUNITIES NOT SHOWN

BONHAM HOLLY LAKE RANCH SAVOY SHERMAN WHITEWRIGHT

GOSPEL

STARTS IN THE HEART

209 BAPTISMS

ROMANS 6:23

IMPACT

155

346

PROFESSIONS OF FAITH

49

NEW MEMBERS

REDEDICATIONS AND OTHER DECISIONS

294

209

BAPTISM REQUESTS

235

BAPTISMS COMPLETED MEMBERSHIP PATHWAY

NEW MEMBERS

83%

BAPTIZED MEMBERSHIP CLASS ATTENDED CONTRIBUTES FINANCIALLY GROWTH GROUP INVOLVEMENT

21%

SERVES/ GONE ON MISSION

36%

56% 56%

SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT FOLLOWERS

23%

FOLLOWERS

24%

916,442 PEOPLE

327.6%

78,822 PEOPLE

937%

60,586 PEOPLE

121.8%

11,256 PEOPLE

77.8%

SAW OUR FACEBOOK POSTS

VISITED OUR FACEBOOK PAGE

656.7k NUMBER OF MINUTES VIEWED*

788.9k REELS PLAYED*

13.5k

POST REACTIONS, COMMENTS AND SHARES*

SAW OUR INSTAGRAM POSTS

VISITED OUR INSTAGRAM PAGE

*ALL DATA COLLECTED STARTING FROM DECEMBER 15, 2022

GATHER

FOR WORSHIP

EXCELLENCE HONORS GOD

AND DRAWS PEOPLE HEBREWS 10:24-25

WORSHIP SERVICE ATTENDANCE

208 SATURDAY NIGHTS*

2,039

WEEKEND AVERAGE

1,268 SUNDAY MORNINGS*

2,387

I LOVE MY CHURCH WEEKEND

3,721

CHRISTMAS SERVICES

4,733

CHRISTMAS SERVICES

MEMBERSHIP

2,879 6,173

25%

FAMILIES

INDIVIDUALS

OF FIRST-TIME VISITORS BECAME MEMBERS.

352 NEXT GENERATION* 134 SPANISH* 104 TRADITIONAL* 1,241 ONLINE GUESTS* 1,388 FIRST-TIME GUESTS *WEEKEND AVERAGES

15%

AVERAGE WORSHIP SERVICE ATTENDANCE INCREASED BY: EVERY WEEKEND

7 SERVICES 4 VENUES 3 WORSHIP STYLES 2 LANGUAGES

MEMBERSHIPMATTERS

RAISE THE CROSS

CHRISTMAS2023

EASTER2023

ESPAÑOL

RODEO2023

FAME SPREADER GALA2023

GROW

IN A GROUP GROUPS AVERAGE ATTENDANCE EACH WEEK

AS WE MAKE DISCIPLES,

WE ARE MADE INTO DISCIPLES. LUKE 2:52

1,399

962 WEEKENDS 437 WEEKDAYS

752

ADULTS

633

NEXT GENERATION

PRESCHOOL | ELEMENTARY | PRETEEN | STUDENTS

10

NEW GROUPS LAUNCHED

2,524

ENGAGED IN A GROW MINISTRY EACH MONTH 1,076 VISITED A GROUP 107 JOINED A GROUP

145 STUDENTS 65+ VOLUNTEERS

8 DECISIONS 6 BAPTISMS

784 STUDENTS 360 VOLUNTEERS

87 DECISIONS

MOTHER/SON NERF WAR2023

ELA THANKSGIVING

VBS2023

REFUEL2023

MINICAMP2023

PRETEENCAMP

THE CARNIVAL2023

VENTURECAMP

GIVE

TO WHAT MATTERS

TIME | TALENT 400

Average number of people who gave their time and talents to a ministry of The Cross Church each week.

YOU CAN’T OUTGIVE GOD 2 CORINTHIANS 9:6-7

32,000+ HOURS

were spent Spreading God’s Fame through a ministry of The Cross Church last year.

TREASURE 39%

APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE ANNUAL BUDGET THIS YEAR

309

FIRST-TIME GENERAL TITHE AND OFFERING CONTRIBUTORS

620

AVERAGE NUMBER OF CONTRIBUTORS EACH MONTH

$893 $91

AMOUNT GIVEN PER CONTRIBUTOR EACH MONTH

GIVING PER CAPITA

CONTRIBUTIONS BUDGET

PER WEEK

YEAR-TO-DATE

$115,385

$6,000,000

THIS YEAR

$130,479

$6,784,900

LAST YEAR

$124,878

$6,493,700

OVER ( UNDER ) BUDGET

$15,094

$784,900

OVER ( UNDER ) LAST YEAR

$5,601

$291,200

General Tithes and Offerings totaled $6.8 million for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2023, exceeding the budget by 13% and last year by 4%. Total revenue, including designated offerings, program revenue, and other revenue is $9 million. The contribution surplus was used for debt reduction, capital improvements and ministry expansion.

EXPENSES

PER WEEK

YEAR-TO-DATE

BUDGET

$121,137

$5,996,000

THIS YEAR

$128,292

$6,671,000

LAST YEAR

$113,356

$5,894,000

OVER ( UNDER ) BUDGET

$7,155

$675,000

OVER ( UNDER ) LAST YEAR

$14,936

$777,000

Unrestricted expenditures, net of program revenue and depreciation totaled $6.6 million. While expenses exceed the budget by 11%, the timing of the August 31/September 1 payday caused a 27th payroll period at the end of the fiscal year. Typically, each fiscal year includes 26 payroll periods. Additionally, this has been the most significant year of growth in the history of The Cross Church. Other budget overages were investments in our growing and expanding ministries.

FINANCIAL POSITION CASH

TOTAL ASSETS LONG-TERM DEBT BEGINNING BALANCE

$998,000 $28,300,000 $6,614,000

REGULAR PRINCIPLE PAYMENTS

$517,200

RAISE THE CROSS PAYMENTS

$392,000

RAISE THE CROSS DRAWS

$1,292,000

LONG-TERM DEBT ENDING BALANCE

$6,996,800

DEBT RATIO

25%

DEBT-TO-INCOME RATIO

0.8

Cash declined 26% from last fiscal year. The use of cash was for a 27th payroll period and debt reduction. In addition, while Revenue, Attendance and Impact (measured by number of decisions for Christ and next steps) are strong, the cost of doing ministry and cash are impacted by the economy and our increased reach of young believers and traditionally “unchurched” attenders.

EARLYLEARNING

ACADEMY

SENIORS

With heartfelt gratitude, thank you for stepping into the more than 2,000 opportunities to serve through a ministry of The Cross Church this year. Whether you were part of a team that makes the weekends happen, mowed yards, delivered food boxes, slept outside the comforts of home on a mission trip or at a camp, invested in the next generation through Refuel and Vacation Bible School or ministered to one another in countless other ways, you made an eternally significant difference! Heaven is bigger because of your generosity and love for God’s people, and we can’t wait to see what He will accomplish through you next. The Best is Yet to Come!

THERESA EVETTS, EXECUTIVE MINISTER

777,362

MEALS SERVED SINCE INCEPTION

180,119

MEALS SERVED THIS YEAR

420 230 6,700 $206,000 $312,000 $706,000

FAMILIES SERVED THIS YEAR FOOD BOXES DELIVERED EACH WEEK VOLUNTEER HOURS THIS YEAR

75+

VOLUNTEERS EACH WEEK

FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS THIS YEAR

DONATIONS IN-KIND THIS YEAR

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

COMMUNITY INVESTMENT THIS YEAR

Wylie ISD, Community ISD, Collin College Wylie Campus, City of Wylie, Wylie PD, Wylie FD, Wylie Community Christian Care Center, Amazing Grace Food Pantry, St. Vincent De Paul Wylie, 5 Loaves Food Pantry, His Gracious Hands, Tackle Hunger, Collin County Homeless Coalition, Bed Start, Assistance Center of Collin County, Salvation Army, Unite Dallas, Hopes Door New Beginning Center, New Hope Christian Church, Waterbrook Bible Fellowship, Collin County Homeless Coalition, Habitat for Humanity Collin County, Agape Resource and Assistance Center, Rock the Socks, Texas Workforce Solutions, Wylie Children’s Medical Clinic, Wylie News, Raymond James Wylie, Farmers Electric Cooperative

300 FAMILIES SERVED DURING THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY!

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS!

Lonestar Search and Rescue is a volunteer K-9 Search and Rescue team celebrating 10 years as a mission of The Cross Church.

The Cross Church gave 1,128 individual boxes to Operation Christmas Child last year, and we received 23,840 as the collection center for Collin County South!

GO

CHANGE THE WORLD

GO. INVEST. PRAY. DOMESTIC PARTNERS Graceworks - Alaska LA Dream Center - California First Baptist Cuba - New Mexico City Relief - New York Covenant Mercy Mission - New York Life Church - Texas Disciples for Christ - Texas His Gracious Hands - Texas Our Calling - Texas Southern Baptist Convention of Texas - Texas Texas Baptists - Texas INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS One Challenge - Asia Amazon Vida - Brazil Wild Grace - Colombia Perez Zeledon - Costa Rica Landmark Baptist Mission - Dominican Republic Raiz Ministry - Dominican Republic Happiness Foundation - Ecuador Rurashun Foundation - Ecuador The Angel Church - England East West Ministries - Europe Global Scholars - Europe Open Door Baptist Church - Hungary Heart of India - India The Nazareth Trust - Israel ELAM - Middle East World Venture - Japan MANNA Worldwide - Philippines J-Life - South Africa

TRAVELED ENOUGH MILES TO CIRCLE THE EARTH NEARLY 54 TIMES

HOURS SPENT ON MISSION EQUIVALENT TO JUST OVER 1 YEAR

GOOD WORKS WITHOUT

GOOD NEWS IS NO GOOD. MATTHEW 28:18-20

TRAVELED ENOUGH MILES TO GO TO THE MOON AND BACK NEARLY 3 TIMES

14 198 1,336,834 TRIPS

PARTICIPANTS

138 10,354

DECISIONS

ESTIMATED MILES TRAVELED

ESTIMATED HOURS SERVED

$213,000

$225,000

SENT TO SUPPORT MISSION PARTNERS

SPENT TO GO ON MISSION

NEW MEXICO2023

NEW YORK2023

SAN ANTONIO2023

LA DREAM CENTER2023

NEW YORK2023

ALASKA2023

NEW YORK2023

NEW YORKRELIEF

COSTA RICA2023

HUNGARY2023

ISRAEL2023

ENGLAND2023

WORSHIP SERVICES CONTEMPORARY TRADITIONAL ESPAÑOL

SATURDAY | 6 pm SUNDAY | 9:30 AND 11 am SUNDAY | 9:30 AND 11 am SUNDAY | 11 am MAIN CAMPUS

100 NORTH FIRST ST WYLIE, TX 75098 EVENT CENTER

200 NORTH BALLARD AVE WYLIE, TX 75098 facebook.com/thecrosschurch1870 instagram.com/thecrosschurch1870 INFO@THECROSS.COM | 972.442.2261

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