From the Executive Director: April 2013

I confess that I don’t like it when someone makes plans for me.  I like to make my own plans.  It’s not that I like to be in control, although some would dispute that statement, it’s the fact that I don’t like to feel out of control.  Who hasn’t felt out of control when your doctor plans your diet, the dentist, your root canal, your boss, your project deadline or your spouse, your night out with people that you don’t know when you really would rather just stay home?  We like to make our own plans.

Then God comes and says to us planners, 

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, 
 plans to give you hope and a future. “ Jeremiah 29:11

God is saying two very important things to us.  First, I have plans for you.  Second, I, not you, am the one in control.  It goes against everything that we hold dear of being in charge and planning our own destiny. The good news is that God’s plans and promises are pure Grace for us.
 
God says to Crossways, “I have plans for you” and the plans are guaranteed because I am in charge.  God’s plans for Crossways are that he will prosper and not harm us. God plans are to give us hope and a future.  Do we fear the future that seems to be out of control, out of reach and out of our hands or do we honestly trust in the plans that God has for us?  Do we trust God enough to step out boldly to dream, revision and see this outdoor ministry that we love prosper as God promises it will?  We need to face our fears of being out of control and our lack of trust.  God has it all planned for us, we just need to let go of our fear.
 
The Camps of Crossways - Imago Dei Village, Pine Lake Camp, and Waypost Camp - were built and are sustained on the promises and the plans of God.  In a time when our old ways and our old plans seem to fail us, when our fear for the future and scarcity seem to hold court, and when we are frightened to dream big dreams, God says, “Don’t worry, I have plans for you.”  “Don’t worry I am in control.”
 
As we step boldly into the future of Crossways’ ministry, let’s never forget that God’s plan for Crossways is all about abundance, hope and a future. 
 
See you at camp!
Rev John Meachen, Executive Director