CONNECTING
in small groups
Loneliness isn’t about being alone…
It’s about not being known.
Our hope is that in these groups, you can know others and be known. You don’t need to be a Christian to be in a group.
in small groups
Our hope is that in these groups, you can know others and be known. You don’t need to be a Christian to be in a group.
Ken graduated from California State University in Long Beach in 1970 as a Physical Therapist. There he married his wife Diane. After graduating from Talbot Theological Seminary in 1978, Ken’s first ministry was as Pastor of Evangelism and Church Growth at Big Valley Grace Community Church in Modesto, CA. In 1985 he planted River Oak Grace Community Church in Oakdale, CA. In 2004, Ken earned his Doctor of Ministry degree from Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA and transitioned to the ministry of Evangelism Explosion International with which he had volunteered since the early 1980’s. Through this ministry, Ken has had the privilege of equipping thousands of pastors and laymen all over the world who continue to share their faith and train others to do the same.
Ken and Diane moved to South Salem in 2016. They are thrilled to be supporting their youngest son and their friends on this grand adventure called Crosscreek. Sometimes, Ken and Diane feel 25 again.
Aaron was born and raised in Wisconsin. It wasn’t until his early twenties, after graduating from Hamline University in St. Paul, MN, that he came to the Pacific Northwest. Landing a teaching job in Salem, he soon thereafter met his wife Monica. Aaron has received his Master’s in Teaching degree and has been a science teacher locally for over 20 years.
Aaron and his family recently moved to the south part of Salem to be nearer to Crosscreek & the neighborhoods surrounding, and he has loved “restoring” his mid-century modern home with vintage/thrift store finds. He also enjoys spending time with his two boys, dog, and wife in the outdoors. He has a passion for people connecting through small groups, walking/biking/running Minto Brown Park, baking pumpkin pies in the fall, stacking firewood, and playing his violin.
Jon grew up the son of a church-planting evangelist. One of his earliest memories is telling people that he wanted to be a pastor like his Dad when he grew up. But it wasn’t until 2010 that he accepted God’s call on his life to be a youth/worship pastor and moved to Salem, Oregon. During these years of pastoring youth and leading the worship team, God developed in Jon a deep love for the city and Salem, and began planting seeds in his heart to design a church for people who don’t normally go to (or even like) church. Little did he know that church would be Crosscreek.
Jon lives in South Salem and loves Venti’s beer and cheese soup, but not as much as his wife, Elizabeth and his three children.
Patrick was born and raised in upstate New York. He has been moving west his whole life. He attended Baldwin-Wallace College in Cleveland, Oh after getting a degree in business then he moved to Steamboat Springs, Co. There he became a ski instructor. After 4 years he moved to Oregon and became a real estate broker, got married, and had 3 wonderful children. After moving to Oregon, God led him back to college to become a chiropractor. After serving his patients for 31 wonderful years, he retired.
Patrick and Janet moved to Turner nearly 2 years ago. They enjoy skiing, scuba diving, camping, and their grandchildren. The most important job he has in his retirement is serving Jesus in many different ways.
You’ll always catch her behind the scenes at Crosscreek, and her roles are widespread: director of snacks, hospitality director, elementary small group leader and bookkeeper.
Add to those roles, her 24/7 “job” as mom to 4 amazing kids and wife to one… Laurie is also an accountant at Cherry City Electric. She can often be found on a Sunday brewing coffee and helping with setup and tear down. In her free time, Laurie also works in her long-standing Etsy shop and walks around her favorite lake in Keizer. She and her husband John are some of the kindest, hardest working people you’ll meet… And they truly have hearts for hospitality, being welcoming to everyone, and always doing it for Jesus first and foremost.
Luke grew up just 45 minutes from Salem. At the age of 13 he taught himself to play guitar and was soon leading worship for his youth group and chapel services at school until he left for college to pursue a degree in Religion. After marrying his wife, Gillian, in 2001 he joined the Army National Guard and a year later they returned home to Oregon. In 2003, Luke deployed to Kuwait, and Iraq with the first Army National Guard Unit from Oregon to deploy into combat since WWII. While deployed, Gillian moved them to McMinnville, where they eventually started their family and were active in music ministry at a local church. Luke has been a full-time soldier in the OR Nat’l Guard since 2006 and currently runs his favorite side hustle and creative passion, Agape Custom Shop.
Luke and his family moved to Silverton in 2013, and two and a half years later settled in South Salem. Music has always been a constant and a passion in the Summers family. With five children, loud music pumping through the house or silly songs at the dinner table are not uncommon. “My goal as Music Director is to help everyone that visits Crosscreek to discover who God is and what he’s done for us through songs that tell the story of God’s love for humanity and the people of Salem.”
Although Liz has lived most of her life in the Central Valley of CA, her true home easily became the PNW when she and Jon moved here in January of 2011.
Some of her favorite smells are pine trees and campfires. She loves keeping organized, being creative, and reading self-help books. Friends might describe her as reliable and caring, family would say she’s passionate and fiery. She devotes much of her time to Crosscreek Community Church but her full-time job is keeping alive her and Jon’s 3 tiny humans.