W W W . T H E X . C H U R C H
THE BEST IS YET TO COME
CROSSROADS CHURCH IS NOW
WELCOME
“TOGETHER, I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL REACH THOUSANDS FOR CHRIST AND GIVE AWAY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO BRING REAL CHANGE TO CENTRAL OHIO.” Every year we put out this report to celebrate all
that God is doing in the life of our church. If we all would look back over the last year, we would find many things we could celebrate and surely a few things we want to forget. As I look back over this past year, it was a year that was emotionally difficult for me and our church, but also one that God used to do a deep work in us. Surely, we faced some challenges as a church, but the intent of this Annual Report is to make sure we don’t lose sight of what God still did in the midst of transition. The stories and numbers of this report are a reminder to us all that God is working in His church and that He can use anything in our lives to bring glory to His name. I am always humbled to consider that God would use you and me to change people’s eternities. Last year, we had the privilege of seeing 426 people commit to follow Jesus, and we baptized 162 people! I am always amazed that God can use broken, messed up people to bring hope to other broken, messed up people. Yet, sometimes we can’t even number the countless ways we have all grown spiritually together. Each year that passes, it is my hope and prayer that you will continue to take steps of faith to know and follow Jesus more than ever.
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One of the most significant breakthroughs we saw last year was in regard to our Build the House project in Canal Winchester. In the fall, we received our stamped Civil Permit for our property on Gender Road and were given the green light from The Solomon Foundation (our funding organization) to move forward. We had an incredible ground-breaking ceremony in October that reminded us that with God all things are possible. We hope to be in our new facility in the winter of 2020. Lorelei and I want to say how thankful we are for your continued faithfulness to our church community over this past year. So many of you stayed faithful to God’s call on your life to give and serve our church body. Thank you for being faithful to give financially so that we can continue to take the gospel further. As we begin a new year, we truly believe that God is bringing us into a new chapter in the life of our story. Not only are we excited about our new name, X Church, but we are even more excited about the direction God has given us for the future. We know that God is developing us for something greater. Together, I believe that we will Reach Thousands for Christ and Give Away Millions of dollars to bring real change to Central Ohio. WWW.THEX.CHURCH | ANNUAL REPORT 2018
WELCOME
The Lost are our Passion– Jesus would leave the 99 to find the one. We do everything with this person in mind.
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Excellence is our PresentationWe believe excellence honors God and inspires others.
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NUMBERS
NUMBERS
Decisions to follow Jesus 2018
426
Decisions since launch 2003
4747 6
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NUMBERS
Small Groups PEOPLE IN GROUPS
697
Servant Leaders SMALL GROUPS
60
PEOPLE SERVING ON A TEAM
367
FIRST-TIME GUESTS
SERVANT LEADERS
605
159
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162
BAPTISMS 2018
1585
BAPTISMS SINCE 2003
2517 EASTER ATTENDANCE 2018
CHRISTMAS ATTENDANCE 2018
People are our Purpose– We place a higher value on people over systems and programs. 14
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STORIES
STORIES
RUSS & STACIE ROTH
I received an email from our realtor at the end of January with a brand new listing. We had not been
My husband and I hadn’t been attending
preapproved for the mortgage yet, but something
Crossroads very long when we got word that we were
inside of me still said “go for it,” so I did. We called the
going to have to start the process to short sale our house to
mortgage broker that evening, and he took a look at our
avoid foreclosure. We were hurting and didn’t want anyone
credit and said, “I don’t know how this is possible in such a
to know. In March of 2012, we left our home of nine years
short amount of time, but you guys are there, we have the
and moved into an apartment in Canal Winchester.
preapproval, and it's at an awesome interest rate. You are good to make an offer if you want."
In March 2017, we took a leap of faith and decided to end our lease and move in with my parents. As a family of five, this was very difficult.
We quickly learned that they had accepted our offer, and we were officially in contract! I was so shocked and overwhelmed because everyone who knew we were
Shortly after moving in with my parents, Russ and
looking for a house had said “good luck with that” or “it’s
I contacted a mortgage broker who told us that we would
a terrible market, it will be impossible.” But my God took
not qualify for a mortgage due to our credit. He gave us
the impossible and made it possible.
a list of things to do to improve our scores, so we set out to pay off all our bad debts. After paying my parents for
On February 28, 2018, we officially closed on
rent and helping to provide financially for the household
our house. God's promise to us came to pass. To remind me
every month, we took our surplus and started paying off
that our house isn’t just for us, I had a sign commissioned
creditors, one by one. By September 2017, we only had
by a friend that quotes Joshua 24:15 - "As for me and my
our biggest debt of $3,500 remaining. We contacted that
house we will serve the Lord." My house, both my family
creditor to arrange a payment plan, and the customer ser-
and physical house, is meant to serve!
vice rep said that if we agreed to pay around $500 per month then they would be willing to forgive fifty percent of the debt! We were debt free in three months!
Because we were faithful with the tithe, God blessed us to an overflow that we could have never imagined. It isn't always the "miracle check in the mail,"
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We began to pray about our new home and the
but it's the little things. He was working behind the scenes
neighborhood where God wanted us to be. We began to
step by step, little thing after little thing to make it all come
pray for our future neighbors, our house, and what God
together. God didn't just "give" us a house either; we had
wanted us to do with our house once we got it, and it was
to work at it and stay faithful. I'm so thankful for the lessons
then that we felt like God was asking us to use our house
that He taught us through the entire process, and I know
and story for Him. Our house was meant to be used to
He's not done with our story. I'm looking forward to seeing
bring people closer to Him, and that meant it was time to
what God does and the lives He'll change as we continue
start leading a small group.
to serve.
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STORIES
JUSTIN & MANDY POST Our journey over the past two years has been
We chose the hard route: we went to counseling
rocky, to say the least, but after praying and feeling the
and stayed for every fight. It has not been easy, but
tug on our hearts, we have decided to tell our story. We
it’s been worth it. Through this journey, Justin has been
believe everyone has a story to tell that can help others
healed and freed, and his fight right now is not with
on their walk with Jesus, and we hope that our story can
porn or an affair. He has been the husband I’ve always
be just that: something to learn and build strength from
wanted and the father that our girls deserve. Justin’s
and something that will show God’s never ending love.
convictions didn’t stop at becoming a better husband; he wanted to be a better child of God, so he put his
My husband, Justin, was a nonbeliever when
money where his mouth was. He committed to giving
we first started coming to Crossroads over eight years
the tithe, he put others above himself, and he started
ago. I myself fell in love with Jesus and was baptized
praying with me every night. Sometimes you have to
at age twelve, but we first came to Crossroads when
almost lose it all to know what you have and how much
we were invited by our dear friends, the Carr’s. Justin
you want the life you’ve made. God was the only thing
fell in love with the church and ended up wanting what
that kept me with Justin and the only thing that helped
everyone else had: he invited Jesus into his heart and
me forgive him, and I am sure that God was the only
got baptized. But just as with all of us, once we begin
thing that gave him hope.
on our walk with God, we will stumble along the way. Sometimes we still hold on to our sins, and our sins hold on to us.
Our lives are not perfect, but choosing each other and God over ourselves was the only way to save our marriage. Sometimes when things like this happen,
I didn’t know that my husband struggled with a
we have to reevaluate our lives. I had always wanted to
porn addiction, or that his addiction would lead to an
go on a mission trip, and I ended up deciding to go on
affair. I ended up learning that many of the men I know
one this past summer; it was one of the best experiences
struggle with porn and that it is essentially a “gateway
of my life. We also sold our house and started building
drug” that leads to infidelity. Our story is messy, but it
a new one. We paid off thousands of dollars in debt
can help so many couples. We want to show others how
and are debt free for the first time ever. Life can be
to not give up on marriage and how to love each other
better on the other side of an affair and addiction, and
like Jesus loves us.
we just want to give others encouragement in finding hope in redemption, forgiveness, grace, and above all else, in Jesus.
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Servant Leadership is our Position–we believe that if you are too big to serve, you are too small to lead.
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OUTREACH
O U T R E AC H
George's Creek Apartments We served this community the entire week. We did everything from painting all the doors on the apartments and building a fence, to VBS. We also refurbished the playground area by painting the playground equipment, laying a new surface, and adding a concrete patio area. The week was capped off with a block party with bounce houses, face painting, hotdogs and lots of fun!
LifeLine Christian Mission – Meals for Haiti To kick off Impact Week, we started with an event that has global impact. We packed meals that will be distributed in Haiti. At this family friendly event we measured, mixed, sealed and packed enough meals to feed 28,000 people!
Popsicles at Slate Ridge Park Sometimes the smallest of things can have a huge impactlike a popsicle on a hot summer day. We spread the love of Jesus and some relief from the heat at a playground area at Slate Ridge Park. When a busload of pre-schoolers arrived we were ready to bless them with a sweet treat.
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O U T R E AC H
OUTREACH 2018 LOCAL AND GLOBAL
957
$5,000
PEOPLE SERVED DURING IMPACT WEEK
GIVING TREE TOTAL GIVEN TO LOCAL FAMILIES
3198
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HOURS SERVED DURING IMPACT WEEK
CHURCH FAMILIES BLESSED BY THE GIVING TREE
58
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NUMBER OF EVENTS DURING IMPACT WEEK
PEOPLE SENT ON MISSIONS TRIPS
130
$170,273
MEALS SERVED FOR TEACHER APPRECIATION
AMOUNT GIVEN OUTSIDE OUR WALLS FOR LOCAL AND GLOBAL OUTREACH
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O U T R E AC H
Disaster Relief Team Ja c k s o n v i l l e, N C
Working with coordinators from Samaritan’s Purse, this team helped many of the overwhelmed families
"I WILL SHOW YOU MY FAITH THROUGH MY DEEDS. " JAMES 2:18
with brush cleanup, debris removal, and the labor intensive task of “mudding out” their flooded homes. One such house was the home of a recently widowed mother of three whose husband had died unexpectedly less than six months prior to the storm.
Disaster relief allows us to become the
Her entire three bedroom home was flooded and all
literal hands and feet of Jesus Christ.
of the contents a total loss. Not being able to afford
It gives us the ability to have an active
contract help with the cleanup, she left the home and
part in delivering His faithfulness to
had not retuned until our arrival five weeks later.
others though our service. While the
Without hesitation, and based on her instruction,
work typically involves long hours and
our team emptied the entire contents of the home
hard labor, this pales in comparison
including all furniture, cabinets, countertops, carpet
to the blessing of seeing God’s work
and drywall in preparation for a rebuild.
lifting the hearts and spirits of those in need.
Upon returning to the home at the end of the day, the relief and gratitude for our service was
On September 14, 2018 Category
apparent. The widow professed that her faith in
one Hurricane Florence slammed into
God was not shaken by the storm or the sudden
the coast of North Carolina. Over
passing of her husband. His love and kindness were
30 inches of rain fell in the eastern
apparent in the team He had sent to help her when
parts of the state causing substantial
she needed it most.
flooding. In all it is estimated that 1.2 million households were affected by the storm. X Church assembled and dispatched a team of volunteers to provide much needed assistance to families in Jacksonville, North Carolina.
MISSIONS
A team of 14 traveled to Puerto Rico to aid in disaster relief efforts after the devastation of Hurricane Maria. They assisted in removing hundreds of pounds of debris that was left in the wake of the hurricane. As well as repairing the roof of a church that was damaged from hurricane force winds. They also assisted in meeting the physical and emotional needs of the people who attended the church by providing clothing, first aid supplies, counseling and prayer.
A team of 10 traveled to Ramón Santana, Dominican Republic to assist in the local Christian school, Freedom International Ministries. There they were able to make lasting connections with the children who live in the surrounding areas by teaching the English language. They did this through playing games, singing songs and showing love to each child they encountered. Additionally, the team participated in construction projects such as painting and laying concrete block to assist in the further building of the school facility.
For the fourth year, a team traveled to the western part of the Dominican Republic to the villages of El Jobo and Batey 7. There they were able to further their past efforts in providing clean water to families in need. The team installed 30 water filters in the homes of 30 families who otherwise would not have the opportunity to have clean water. Additionally, the team was able to assist in installing a new concrete floor in the home of a local church member as well as continued construction efforts on the building of the church.
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MISSIONS
TO LOVE AND SERVE. Although I loved the “idea” of going on a mission trip, the reality of it scared me. However, when I heard about a mission trip interest meeting during service one Sunday, I felt an undeniable push on my heart to go. After hearing about the 3 trips being offered, I decided to go on the Dominican Republic water trip where the main objective was to install water filters in homes where the families do not otherwise have access to clean water. Nothing could prepare me for how the trip would affect my little world. As we traveled through one of the villages, barefoot children played with sticks, old tires, and rocks. Their smiles were infectious. They didn’t need or expect anything more. We learned how to setup the water filters and with the help of translators showed families how to use and maintain them. It’s easy to take for granted our ability to wash our hands or drink a bottle of water. However, the families we served in the Dominican Republic were struggling to get enough clean water to cook a meal. It became obvious quickly that we weren’t just providing clean water. We were providing hope, health, and peace of mind. The families were not only ecstatic for their own benefit, they were eager to share the filter and help provide clean water to their family and neighbors. We went to the DR to be the hands and feet of Jesus for a week, but actually gave others the ability to do the same every day moving forward. Many that came on the trip were emotional leading up to the last day. They dreaded saying good bye to the families and kids with which we had spent the previous few days. I thought I was ready to leave and return to the comforts of home. However, on that last day, I found myself extremely emotional. I had come to love the families that we served and knew upon leaving that I would be back. This July, I will be going back to what has become my second home for the 5th year! I’m beyond proud to say that after this trip, all of the families in one of the villages that we visit will have a water filter and clean water for many years to come.
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The Gospel is our Priority– We will say "no" to many good things in order to do what's most important. 28
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E X PA N S I O N
10.21.18
CANAL WINCHESTER GROUND BREAKING
On Sunday, October 21, 2018, nearly 200 people gathered on our site to participate in our Groundbreaking Ceremony. Pastor Tim shared what this moment meant for our church and the future. We also had Russell Johnson, our partner through The Solomon Foundation, share a few words on behalf of the 5,000+ investors who are supporting this project. We worshiped and prayed over the land and then Pastor Tim inaugurated the project by sticking this shovel in the ground. It was exciting to see our Build the House project move forward! The Best is Yet to Come!
E X PA N S I O N
2018
18,358 89,951 98 3,902 868 16,164
new website users website pageviews countries visited website app media plays app downloads app launches
@theXchurch.co
@thex_church
@theX_church
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2018 SERMON SERIES E X PA N S I O N
877
views
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Generosity is our Privilege– Our response to God's irrational grace is a life of irrational generosity.
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FINANCIAL
FINANCIAL
Operations
$434,983
Administration, Kids Ministry, Youth Ministry, Groups Ministry, Creative Arts, People Development, Weekend Experience and all other Operational Expenses.
$1,302,931
Staffing
Full-time and Part-time Salaries + Benefits.
$730,136
Facilities
Expansion Needs, Rent, Facility Maintenance, Utilities, and other Facility Expenses.
Outreach
$170,273
Local and Global Outreach, Missions Support, Partner Donations and Local Reach Efforts.
Restricted
$121,523
Youth Camp and Missions Trips.
Total
$2,759,846
X Church utilizes an outside CPA firm, JC & Company to ensure all funds are being used with the utmost integrity. The board of directors, meets regularly and approves the projected annual budget. 36
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FINANCIAL
REVENUE BREAKDOWN $2,316,679
$159,875 EOY Offering
$117,944
$2,619,412
Offering
Miscellaneous (store, missions, youth)
$24,915 Interest & Grant
Thanks to your generosity, we were able to reach outside the walls of our church and into our community. Here are just some of the ways we have impacted our city during 2018.
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
IMPACT WEEK
HOLIDAY OUTREACH
OUTREACH RESERVES
$70,401
$21,734
$33,339
$77,337
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the X. church
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W W W . T H E X . C H U R C H
X CHURCH 1635 RIVER VALLEY CIRCLE S LANCASTER, OH 43105