FROM US TO YOU
WRITTEN BY RICHARD GAMMILL
Welcome to the Christmas 2024 issue of the Crossroads Chronicles. This edition follows the traditional weekly advent topics; Hope, Love, Joy and Peace. The stories within this issue correlate with the advent devotional booklet Changed In The Waiting distributed to all of our people. Each advent topic features powerful personal stories that bring meaning and clarity to our celebration of the season. Read and rejoice in God’s redemptive work.
Noel is on the lips and in the hearts of millions of carolers and worshipers during this season, make sure to read this edition of “How Our Hearts Sing” , where Pastor Andy Marrufo enlightens and inspires your experience of one song featured in the upcoming Christmas musical. Don’t miss “One Chaotic Still Night” on Saturday, December 14th.
Joy is in a medical doctor’s kit when he takes his healing skills where wars, poverty, and pestilence have wrought tragic displacement and illness. Dr. Andy Villa brings positive change to the underserved places where God leads him.
Joy is something quite different from happiness as Eduardo Reyes has discovered. He describes his journey in discovering true Joy; permanent, enduring, and rooted in God’s love.
Hope sustained Harlan Harbison through the intense difficulties of his high school years. How does a soccer player deal with injuries that threaten to end his athletic career?
Hope enabled Olivia Gully to make a tough move from her hometown in Michigan and find new excitement in her journey with Jesus. When she feels lost in her new environment, her renewed faith connection guides her.
Love has lifted up Clem and Gail Schmidt, a couple whose long journey has been marked with heartbreak and painful trials. They have experienced God’s enduring Love through others and through one another in the most incredible ways.
Peace permeated the heart of a young Korean woman, Yun Song Yi, whose childhood was scarred by the travails of war. Her life took an unexpected turn when she encountered God and fell in love with Jeff Neuenfeldt. Despite challenges of language and customs, God became Yun’s peaceful refuge in a foreign land.
Peace ruled in the heart of a young American soldier even when he crossed a battle line that held little hope of survival. Peace sustained Darrell and Diana Donnelly even through the loss of their two sons.
Honey In the Rock
‘Tis the season for Recipes! Roll up your sleeves and join in on a seasonal family tradition with the Reyes family as they share their Tamale Christmas recipe. For dessert, simple is sweet but delicious when you whip up these Pumpkin Cookies from Stephanie and Andy Marrufo’s family kitchen.
Zoomers
Check out the video interview of Hanna Parker discussing the realities and challenges of youth ministry in this video edition of Zoomers. Listen in as she describes her youth journey and how it has influenced her ministry with the youth and young adults here at Crossroads.
People Behind the Scenes
Crossroads Ministries may appear to run like a well-oiled machine, but leading from behind are key individuals orchestrating all the details. This segment highlights who they are and how the spirit moves them to “show absolutely everyone that “God is Good”. This issue features Kathy Lehnerz and Dennis Holden, find out about the important role each one plays here in the Crossroads Community.
