We all want to have a “Good Life.” We aren’t even sure what “good” really means, but we wear ourselves out and make complicated systems and beliefs to achieve it. In reality, The Good Life is much simpler than we think.
TREATS MUSIC FRIENDS UPLIFTING Sunday, February 28 4:30-5:30pm Your RSVP means the world to us! And to show our thanks we’ll enter you to win a $40 ACME Cafe gift card*! Woot! Loading… WHAT TO EXPECT: When you arrive, you’ll receive a kids’ packet...
It’s easy to love those who love you. But if we really want to change the world (and our lives) we need to learn to love those who choose to be actively against us. It’s illogical, but it’s the most powerful love the world has ever known.
Family. We love them, but we don’t always like them. They are our favorite people but some of the hardest to get along with. Is there a way to enjoy a healthy family dynamic no matter what stage of life we find ourselves in? There is… but it’s illogical.
Impossibly Happy Marriages -- Together #forSalem (Ep 47)
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Everyone goes into marriage expecting happiness and contentment. Sadly the outcome is often quite different. But it doesn’t have to be. There is a simple practice we can do to improve and enjoy not only our marriage, but all of our other relationships as well.
We all agree we need love. We all agree the world needs love. But we all have our own definitions of what love really is. Not too surprisingly Jesus gave us a definition of real love. Though his definition seems illogical at first… it is actually the most powerful and effective form of love we can experience.
Many foster kids don’t have anything to put their personal items in when they travel from home to home, and sometimes have to use trash bags. We collected FIFTY pieces of new or gently used luggage in February of 2021 as a part of our #forSalem Challenge! THANK...
Believe the Impossible -- Together #forSalem (Ep 45)
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Death. Impossible to avoid, escape, or prevent. Yet, we still try. Why? Maybe because something tells us this is not how things are supposed to be. Maybe we weren’t created for death? Jesus offers life that even death can’t end. Impossible, right? You’re invited to come and see.
Trust the Impossible -- Together #forSalem (Ep 44)
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When impossible situations come into our lives, our lack of control and power creates a fear that can be overwhelming. To make things worse, it often seems like God doesn’t care to do anything about what we are facing. Jesus, however, did the impossible to show us the depths of his power and care.
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.
Meet Aaron
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.
Meet Jon
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.
Meet Patrick
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.
Meet Laurie
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.
Meet Luke
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.”
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Meet Liz
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.