For several years I've known that there was a missing piece to the puzzle as it relates to our Lead Team here at Crossroads and what is necessary for us to go to the next level as a church. We have an incredible Lead Team, but one of the most important aspects of Church Growth is what we refer to as assimilation: The process of moving people from point A to point B. Specifically, seeing visitors becoming members and seeing first-time responders to the Gospel becoming full-fledged followers of Christ. These efforts really boil down to our spiritual growth classes, our small groups and our ministry teams. The management of these crucial areas have been handled by a couple of our Lead Team members, David Baudoin and Holane Davidson, who have done a great job, but have never been able to devote their entire attention to them.
Not long ago, I was meeting with these two Lead Team members and we were discussing how our practice has always been to hire from within, but there simply isn't anyone currently in our ranks that can bring what we need to the table for the management of these efforts. David Baudoin asked, "Isn't there anyone in your circle of friends who might be willing to leave his pastorate to come on board with our team?" I thought about it for a second and responded, "You know what we need is a Paul Burke." David immediately answered, "What we need is Paul Burke!" Initially, I thought there was no way I could ask my friend to leave the church he was pastoring, but I couldn't shake the strong leading to do so and so I gave him a call.
Paul and Cindy Burke are incredible leaders who took an extremely small rural church of twenty people and grew the church to over three hundred in weekly attendance. Even more remarkable is the fact that the church has over 70% of their adults in small groups and on ministry teams! Paul is uniquely gifted and experienced in the assimilation process and has accepted our invitation to join the lead team of Crossroads Church! We are so excited to welcome them onboard and to see this pivotal role now being carried out by the right person in the right place!
