FAQs

learn about the crossing

How do I find the livestream?

Our website makes it very easy to tune into our livestream on Sunday. If you’re on your phone, tap the menu in the upper righthand corner of the screen (represented by three horizontal lines) and select “Watch Livestream.” If you’re on a desktop computer, click the light blue button in the upper-righthand corner that says, “Livestream.”

Or simply click here to go to the livestream page.

You can also watch The Crossing’s live stream on our Facebook page or on one of our TV apps. Just search for “The Crossing, Columbia MO” and download the app. You can find us on Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Roku.

When are your services?

We have three services on Sunday mornings. They start at 8:30, 9:45 and 11:00 AM CT

What should I wear if I attend The Crossing?

When Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4, he proclaimed that true worshippers of the Father are to worship him “in spirit and in truth.” What he did not do is add a specific dress code. Along with many other biblical passages, that episode points to the fact that genuine worship is fundamentally a matter of the heart, not of outward appearances.

Most people who attend The Crossing dress in a fairly casual manner, and we invite you to feel the freedom to do the same.

What are your severe weather and fire safety plans?

Your safety while attending The Crossing is very important to us. We want you to know that we have procedures to help everyone on campus stay safe in case of severe weather or a fire.

If we do experience either of these emergencies on a Sunday morning, and you are in the auditorium, you will receive instruction from the stage on how to shelter or evacuate. If you are our guest and not in the auditorium, class leaders or other Crossing staff will give you instruction.

In case of severe weather, sirens will sound and we will take shelter until the threat has passed. Rooms throughout the campus are marked with a storm shelter sign. Staff will help you to the nearest storm shelter until given the all-clear. If you are here during the week for events or classes the leader in the room will guide you.

In the case of a fire, alarms will sound, and staff will help direct you outside. As you evacuate, look for your nearest EXIT sign. Once you’re outside, please move away from the building.

In case of either of these emergencies, Crossing Kids and Crossing Students have specific plans for their areas to keep your kids safe. The most helpful thing YOU can do is follow the instructions given to you. Rest assured, if you have kids in class, staff will help you connect with your child.

We’re so glad you are here. Our goal is to be well prepared and ensure your safety if we have emergencies like these. If you have questions, please email us at [email protected].

Why should I give to The Crossing?

Our financial giving is an act of worship where we acknowledge that all that we have is a gift from God and our whole life belongs to him. We don’t give to God because he needs the money. The God who created all things doesn’t depend on us for anything. We give to God because we need to declare that he is worthy of our devotion.

God gives us resources to live on and then calls us to be generous with the rest of what he’s given us to steward. But here’s where it gets so amazing that it’s hard to believe: God blesses us with resources to live on. Then when we are generous, he blesses us with the joy that comes from helping others. Finally, he blesses us with eternal treasure for giving to him a portion of what he gave to us.

The only way to miss out on God’s blessings is to fail to recognize that everything we have comes from God or failing to be generous with his resources.

Jesus promised to build his church and when you give your financial support to The Crossing you are supporting the church that encourages your faith, provides ministries for kids, helps the poor, and represents Jesus in your community. To fail to give is to weaken Jesus’s church while declaring your devotion to something other than Jesus and missing out on all the ways God wants to bless you.

How can I give to The Crossing?

To give to The Crossing, click here or text any amount to 573-535-6800.

How does The Crossing ensure financial integrity?

We believe that the church should adhere to the highest standards of financial integrity. That’s why we have established several internal financial controls to promote accountability among our staff. In addition, we have an external audit performed by the accounting firm of Capin Crouse at the end of each fiscal year.

Are my donations to The Crossing tax-deductible?

Yes, financial gifts to The Crossing are tax-deductible. The Crossing is a 501C3 Missouri non-profit. We take seriously our responsibility to document your financial gifts. We will acknowledge your first gift with a letter. Quarterly you will receive a giving statement for the calendar year, along with an update on how your gifts are changing lives. In January of each year, we send a giving statement for the previous calendar year. We follow important accounting principles that require gifts to be received online or onsite by December 31, for us to list the gift on a statement for that calendar year.

Another important note, if you are gifting stock to The Crossing, it sometimes takes several days for stock transfers to process. Be sure to initiate the stock transaction several days in advance of December 31. Please note that we only accept publicly traded stocks.

Use the following information to gift stock:
The Crossing – EPC of Columbia
LPL Financial
DTC #0075
Account Number 6084-0971

Click here for more information about giving.

Is The Crossing part of a denomination?

We’re glad to be associated with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church because we think there is real value in being connected to a larger body of Christians. In fact, we think it is the biblical model established in the New Testament (see, for example, Acts 15). Being a part of a denomination provides The Crossing with accountability, encouragement, and opportunities to minister together with like-minded churches.

Having said that, we realize some people may have a negative perception of denominations in general. They associate denominations with pettiness and division. Unfortunately, there is plenty of evidence to support that claim. That’s why both the EPC and The Crossing seek to hold firmly to biblical essentials while showing respect to those who have different views on less important matters. In this way, we hope to avoid unnecessary controversies.

Likewise, there are those who are suspicious of Presbyterians in particular. They associate the name with a willingness to compromise biblical truth and the necessity of trusting in Christ for salvation. We want to make clear, however, that neither the EPC nor The Crossing is willing to follow that path. If you’re interested in knowing more about what we believe, please take a moment to view our doctrinal essentials.

What is The Crossing’s view of baptism?

To sign up for baptism, contact Nicole Summerall.

The Crossing practices what we call “covenant baptism.” This means we believe Scripture teaches that baptism is a sign that points less to our own declaration of faith and more to God’s promises to his people in the gospel. While we recognize that the sacrament of baptism is an important means of grace instituted by Jesus himself, we don’t believe that it saves a person. Only Jesus can do that.

The Bible seems to clearly teach that there will be people in heaven who haven’t been baptized and, sadly, people in hell who have.

Baptism is a controversial topic that has unfortunately divided Christians for centuries. Because we don’t want those same divisions to affect The Crossing, there is plenty of room in this church for those who have a different view on this particular subject. For more information about the church’s beliefs on this important issue, please consider attending our Discovery Class.

Why isn’t there always a cross in the auditorium?

We understand that many people—particularly those who have grown up in the church—find it odd that the auditorium doesn’t contain a permanent cross. Certainly, the cross can be a powerful representation of the most momentous events in human history: the amazing life, atoning death, and miraculous resurrection of Jesus Christ. As a result, it can be a significant aid in worshipping the one to which it points.

But while a cross can have a very positive role in a church community, it can also carry some notable drawbacks. There are those who walk through our doors who, for various reasons, have not had positive experiences with churches or Christianity in general. For them, the cross doesn’t represent the gracious work of God in Christ. Instead, it can represent anything from unwarranted judgmentalism to empty religion. For these people—as ironic and regrettable as it may be—a cross can be a barrier to knowing and following Christ.

Added to this dynamic is the fact that the Bible nowhere mandates the use of a cross in a place of worship. In fact, the first communities of Christians often met in their own houses, meaning they probably lacked many of the elements we identify with church buildings today…including crosses.

So to be clear, we’re not opposed to church communities and individual Christians employing the cross as an aid in following Christ. Nor are we in any way ashamed of the fact that it represents the suffering and death that was necessary to pay for our sin. We’re simply trying to create an environment where the distinctiveness owes less to certain physical elements and more to the worship and service of those who demonstrate, however imperfectly, the fruit of genuine biblical faith.

How often do you celebrate the sacrament of communion?

The celebration of communion is an integral part of the life and worship of The Crossing. We typically celebrate communion once or twice a month, on what might be termed an “irregular” schedule, i.e., we don’t designate a particular Sunday or Sundays on which we regularly observe the sacrament.

We follow this practice mainly for two reasons. First, while the Bible certainly commands the church to include the Lord’s Supper as a regular aspect of its life and worship, it does not appear to mandate a specific frequency of observance. For that reason, churches should feel free to celebrate communion weekly, monthly, or on any number of other schedules.

Secondly, different frequencies and/or schedules of observance have their own advantages and disadvantages. The particular manner in which we celebrate communion is intended to help lessen the possibility of the sacrament becoming merely a routine part of worship—something that those who attend the church do almost as an afterthought. Though the Lord’s Supper is never out of place in a Christian worship service, a more irregular schedule allows us to practice its observance when the themes of the sermon, music, readings, etc., will help those worshipping grasp its significance in particularly vivid ways.

What’s the story behind the lake on The Crossing’s grounds?

The Crossing’s lake is in the watershed of one of the tributaries of the Hinkson Creek river system. As such, it serves the vital role of filtering runoff from the parking lot and surrounding area. The overflow from the lake then returns to the Hinkson Creek river system. Volunteers used native plants to develop the shore into a beautiful environment for local wildlife and members of the church to enjoy.

For more about how this project took place, check out this pdf on the ground's ecology.

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