The Crossroads Community Church, a Grace Brethren church in northeast Philadelphia, Pa., has completed the purchase of its first facility at 7721-31 Torresdale Avenue in the neighborhood of Holmesburg.
A dedication service is planned for 6 p.m., Sunday June 1, 2008. Friends are invited to join the congregation to praise the Lord and enjoy a time of fellowship. Kurt Miller, lead pastor at the Grace Brethren Church of Martinsburg, Pa., will be the speaker.
“The Lord worked through many believers committed to urban ministry,” says Jim Brown, director of MetroGrace Philadelphia and pastor of the church. He notes that the congregation (shown above) gave sacrificially, supportive friends shared graciously, and the Grace Brethren Investment Foundation provided a loan for the growing congregation.
For the two weeks following the April 21 purchase, the congregation prepared the building for use. A wall was demolished, repairs were made, new lighting was installed, everything got a fresh coat of paint, and carpet was laid. On Sunday May 4, Crossroads Northeast held its first service in the new building!
Crossroads Northeast is an urban church plant of MetroGrace Philadelphia. It is rooted in an effort to share the gospel in the northeast part of the city. About five years ago, MetroGrace sent a team of seven young adults into the area. They sponsored outreach events on community playgrounds, held Vacation Bible Schools at the local YMCA, and rented space in a strip of offices where they met for worship, fellowship, and growth. As they served, the Lord gathered a group of believers and a new church was born. Jim and his wife, Lisa, along with Dan and Angie Browning provide leadership for the growing church family.
“We’re eager to put down roots in this urban community,” says Jim. “Lord willing, this church will serve Holmesburg for generations to come—until Christ returns.”
Holmesburg is an urban neighborhood with more than 40,000 residents. Within in the few blocks of the Crossroads building are more than 11,000 people, including many young families. While Crossroads intends to serve children and their parents, many older residents live in the neighborhood, too. The church is looking for new opportunities to serve seniors in the name of Christ.
“American cities need to experience the gospel in word and deed to be transformed by the power of Christ.,” says Jim. “MetroGrace is committed to gathering, training, sending and coaching teams to develop urban churches like Crossroads Northeast in the neighborhoods of our cities.”