Cross Pointe Baptist Church

You don’t have to go around the world to be involved in mission work. It’s right outside your front door. Right here in Sioux Falls over 120 languages are spoken in the school system, but you don’t even need to cross the language barrier. Although many people consider themselves Christians, the sad fact is that in Sioux Falls less than 30% regularly attend a church service or are actively involved with a specific church. When you look at the multi-housing communities (apartments and mobile home courts), that number drops to around 5%. The fields are ripe for harvest right next door. That harvest is the focus of Next Door Ministries. Using principles of Christian community development, Next Door Ministries is all about going to the people, learning and understanding where they are at, working to meet their physical and spiritual needs, and leading them into a relationship with Jesus. This takes on many forms:

Multi-housing Outreach

Construction Activities

Helping people to get necessary repairs done to their homes, regardless of their ability to pay, so they can live with dignity in a safe home.

Kidz Clubs and Sports Camps

Reaching out to children who may have no church background or connections to introduce the living God in fun ways that they can relate to.

Block Parties

Providing a fun and non-threatening way to connect with the community, get to know a little about them, letting them get to know a little about us, and promoting the other activities that will be going on in their neighborhood.

Seminars

Many people are struggling to survive, both socially and economically. Many have been beaten down and may or may not have had any upbringing or mentoring to get them through the crises of life and no connection to the hope of Christ. We provide Bible based training on things like parenting, finance, and self-worth to try to help people through the tough times and introduce them to a God who cares.

Home Studies and Non-traditional Church Plants

The society we live in has changed. Many people have never been to a church outside of a wedding or funeral. Because they don’t have a church background and can’t relate to the traditional church, many of these people will never respond to an invitation to come to church. If we are to reach these people we have to go to them, develop trust and relationships, and create a new “church” that’s different from what we may have grown up in.

Multi-ethnic Outreach

English language education

Moving to a new place is hard enough, but when you don’t speak the language the challenges multiple and the opportunities to grow and advance are few. Cross Pointe provides English as a second language (ESL) classes free of charge to anyone who would like to learn English, with a focus on both learning English and preparing for citizenship.

Hispanic Soccer League

In order to connect with the Hispanic community, Cross Pointe helps sponsor a team in the local soccer league

Medical Outreach

Sioux Falls has a large medical community. Because sickness doesn’t stop for weekends, many people in the medical community don’t have the opportunity to attend a church service with any regularity. This limits their ability to be involved in a “traditional” church, and unfortunately often makes them feel disconnected from and overlooked by the church. Cross Pointe is currently working to develop a hospital-based alternative so that the medical community can worship and grow even if they can’t attend a traditional service.

Community Gardens

Another way of meeting a physical need while providing a non-threatening connection to the community is through community gardens. A portion of Cross Pointe’s grounds are set aside for community garden spots where people can come, enjoy the outdoors, and reap a harvest of fresh vegetables. At the same time it provides our people a chance to connect with the other gardeners and begin developing relationships that may eventually lead to reaping a spiritual harvest. Along with the on-site garden, Cross Pointe is also involved with gardens at both Lowell and Hayward Elementary schools.

What are you passionate about? Where do you feel God calling you? The people of Cross Pointe are involved in many other organizations and activities in the community. Is there something you are doing that fits into the church’s mission of pointing people to new life in Jesus Christ? Let us know what you’re doing and if there is something the church can be doing to help.