(Why we exist)
To Advance the Kingdom of God from house to house, city to city and nation to nation.
Matt 24:14 - And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations.(NIV)
Acts 28:30-31 - For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.(NIV)
(What we do)
Believe Big, Belong Strong, Build a Legacy
We believe the Bible to be God’s written Word that is without error and useful for teaching, correction, and inspiration to practice and live a godly life.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 - All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.(NLT)
We believe that God the Father sent His only Son, Jesus, to live, die and be raised from the dead in order to pay the penalty of our sin, so that by accepting Him as Savior and Lord we can live victoriously and be guaranteed eternal life.
John 3:16-17 - For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (NIV)
We believe that we must be “born again” by placing our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. This is a free gift of God not achieved by works, but given by grace. Upon believing, we encourage water baptism and Spirit baptism as steps of obedience.
John 3:4 -In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." (NIV)
Ephesians 2:8-9 -For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. (NIV)
Acts 2:38-Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (NIV)
We believe that God sent His Holy Spirit after Jesus left to accomplish the new birth process in us by making our relationship with God personal, producing within us the fruit of the Spirit and empowering us with gifts for ministry so that the love of Christ may be evident in every setting.
John 16:12-16 - I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you. In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me. (NIV)
We believe that prayer is a vital means (along with Bible study, worship, and fellowship) by which we develop a personal relationship with God and the basis from which all significant ministry flows out of the church.
Luke 11:1 - One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." (NIV)
Acts 2:42 - And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (NIV)
We believe that Jesus Christ is returning again to this earth to judge the living and the dead, receiving those who trusted Him into heaven and sending those who did not trust Him into eternal punishment.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 - For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. (NIV)
2 Timothy 4:1 - In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge.
We practice knowing God the Father through the example of His Son, Jesus Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
John 17:25-26 -Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.
Psalm 119:11 - I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Matthew 12:50 - For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.
John 10:14-16 - I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me - just as the Father knows me and I know the Father - and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. they too will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
We practice worship that breathes! Our goal in worship is to grow in our relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
John 4:23-24 - Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.
EXPRESSIONS IN WORSHIP WITH OUR VOICE:
Singing - Psalm 47:6; 105:2; Ephesians 5:19; Hebrews 2:12.
Shouting - Psalm 100:1; Isaiah 12:6; John 12:13; Revelation 19:1
EXPRESSIONS IN WORSHIP WITH OUR HANDS:
Clapping - Psalm 47:1; Isaiah 55:12; II Kings 11:12.
Raising Our Hands - Nehemiah 8:6; Psalm 141:2, I Timothy 2:8
EXPRESSIONS IN WORSHIP WITH OUR FEET:
Standing - I Chronicles 23:30; II Chronicles 20:9; Nehemiah 5:9; Luke 21:28.
Dancing - II Samuel 16:6; Psalm 149:3; Jeremiah 31:4; Luke 10:21.
We practice a commitment to spiritual families through small groups where we receive encouragement, nurture meaningful relationships, transform life values and exercise spiritual gifts as we build one another up.
Philippians 2:1-4 - If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same, love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
We practice that each member of God's family is considered a minister with spiritual gifts, a God-given motivation, and a distinct personality to contribute to the building of God's Kingdom.
1 Peter 4:8-11 - Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. (NIV)
We practice that every church member is to aspire to empower others toward their call in Christ. We expect our influence to impact the workplace to attract others to follow Jesus.
Ephesians 4:14-16 - Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different or because someone has cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth. Instead, we will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. (NLT)
II Corinthians 10:18 - For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.(NIV)
We practice biblical government in which the elders oversee the equipping of the Body and release of the five-fold gifts to administer God's grace. Servant leadership is essential for the greatest empowerment of others.
Ephesians 4:11-13 - He is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ, until we come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ.(NLT)
We practice the sacred covenant of marriage between a man and a woman and the importance of training children to develop godly character and discover their godly calling.
Mark 10:6-9 - But at the beginning of creation God "made them male and female." For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate. (NIV)
Ephesians 6:1-4 - Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first of the Ten Commandments that ends with a promise. And this is the promise: If you honor your father and mother, “you will live a long life, full of blessing.” And now a word to you fathers. Don’t make your children angry by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction approved by the Lord. (NLT)
We practice mentoring and releasing the next generation to fulfill the call of God upon their life. Multiplication is a principal of the kingdom to be practiced through church planting, supporting missionaries and sending out short-term teams.
I Timothy 4:12-13 - Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. (NIV)
We practice a biblical mindset of generosity in finances by the giving of first fruits, tithes, offerings and extravagant giving. Financial integrity is expected in personal, business and kingdom enterprises.
Matthew 6:33 - But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”(NKJV)
2 Corinthians 8:7 - But just as you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us — see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
Romans 14:12 - So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.(NIV)
We practice joining with other like-minded churches, ministries, and organizations that advance the Kingdom of God through reaching unreached peoples, give to those in poverty, and equip global five-fold ministers to complete the work of world evangelization.
Judges 20:11 - So all the men of Israel got together and united as one man against the city.
Ezra 3:1 - When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns, the people assembled as one man in Jerusalem.
Deuteronomy 32:30 - How could one man chase a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the Lord had given them up?
Crossroads Community Church is a partner church of D.O.V.E. International (DOVE) based out of Lititz, Pa. DOVE is a family of churches, currently in 21 countries and 6 continents around the world, who are committed to building the Kingdom of God through common values that link us together.
Spiritual Oversight from DOVE is first and foremost about relationship! DOVE defines giving oversight to a congregation as "looking out for another’s best interests while providing spiritual protection in prayer and offering insights into the local leadership when invited.” Spiritual Oversight is not control of the local leadership or the vision, but rather coming alongside the local church and supporting what God has placed in the heart of the primary vision carrier.
Specifically, DOVE provides pastoral care to the senior leader and then to the eldership of the local church. They help to solve problems and walk through difficult situations as the church matures. They strive to protect the vision of the senior leader and support the purpose for why the church exists. They provide an “outside court of appeals” for people within the church when the local leadership is unable to resolve differences.
When a church or ministry becomes a partner with DOVE this means accountability! The local leadership is asking spiritual overseers to speak into their lives from the foundation of relationship, shared values, and stated vision. While DOVE overseers concentrate most of their focus on the senior leader, they maintain a relationship with the local board of elders. They are also present within the congregation several times each year to provide encouragement and share stories of what God is doing in the DOVE family throughout the world. The overall goal of a DOVE overseer is to see the local church become a success in what the Lord has called them to accomplish!
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT D.O.V.E. AT WWW.DCFI.ORG