Dear Family and Friends,
I am writing this to the sounds of helicopters flying around. They began early this morning, waking us up, again. This time it wasn’t the police, but rather the news helicopters. A major fire nearby destroyed some homes and abandoned factories.
I was out walking with each of the girls yesterday and Emma began commenting on how she liked the quiet of the country. We were walking under the “el” (elevated train line) along a busy shopping district, and it was loud. A day before Melanie had commented on how she liked Spring, the greening on the land, though I thought about how little green there is in the city.
It all brings to mind how you have to look just a little bit harder to see what is growing, and listen more intently to hear the beautiful sounds. And that is my job, in many ways, to listen and to look. I love what I do. I am convinced that it is the greatest job on the planet right now (I am having a good week). Listening and looking. So here is what I am seeing….
I am seeing churches grow, reaching unreached people. I don’t like bragging about what I do, but I know you want to hear that the people you support are actually doing something. One thing I am doing is helping churches to grow. In my “looking” I saw that churches were passionate and trying. In my “listening” I heard that they needed help. I was able to convince the Mustard Seed foundation to come and meet with a hand picked group of 10 churches, 7 of whom now have funding to reach more people. We expect to see around a quarter million dollars come through for this project. None of it comes to us, one of the reasons we are effective, no conflict of interest.
In “listening” we have heard a lot of talk about church planting. You could say it is a hot topic in Philadelphia right now with lots of enthusiasm. What I also heard was a lot of the same things being discussed, such as how to equip and train church planters, how to asses them, how to support them. What we saw was that there was not a lot of talk amongst the different groups. So we helped launch a meeting, a conversation with church planting groups. There are now 10 at the table; all discussing what things we can do better together, than apart. Those groups include the Christian Reformed Church, Southern Baptist, Acts29, Presbyterian Church of America, Simple Church Network, Calvary Chapel, and others. My role is a small one, to show where we may be able to work together, what the advantages are, and where some of the greatest needs in the city lie.
I have a few other places I go to “listen” and to “look”. I sit on the Executive Committee of the Harvest Crusade. We expect over 50,000 people to come out in October for the event. Now I am not a “crusade” kind of person, and I think the time for such large meetings may be dwindling, but in listening I heard a man with a passion and now over 250 pastors have become involved.
I am also acting President of the board of a health clinic in Camden, NJ that provides health care for the Homeless. I took the role as a short term favour for a good friend, as Camden is outside my community. Joyce has replaced me on the board of Esperanza Health Center and is doing very well in her role.
Of course these are the bigger things, the things that jump out to people. Most of my “listening” and “looking” is on a much smaller scale. It is hearing from a pastor that he needs a building to house his growing congregation, and connecting him with another church in his community that is struggling to fill the pews and pay the bills. It is hearing from many the struggles to gain an accredited degree and facilitating the startup of a graduate study program in the city under Bakke Graduate University (very self serving this one, as I am a student in the program). It is teaching a class to full-time and lay church leaders on how to understand your community, how it functions, why it functions after seeing that not many churches really understand the changing face of their communities, or when they do, how to adapt.
Sometimes I feel like Google (without the massive share growth). People call me to find out how to contact others, how to get invited to a certain meeting, to be introduced to certain people. I receive calls about events and happenings and questions about where to find certain things. This has always been a part of what I do. Way back in another time and place, I marveled at the questions people from the community would call the church to ask, ones such as, who to call for garbage collection, where to get a loan, how to buy a house. The questions have changed a little, but the undertone is the same. They flow from trust. After 15 years here the biggest asset Joyce and I bring is trust. I may not be any better at what I do, but I am trusted. In some circles I am probably not even liked very much, but I am trusted. People know that I will give an honest answer and that I will help them as best I can. They also know that I won’t give up and leave them in a moment.
So, that is what ministry looks like for us. Listening and Looking. God is doing amazing things through amazing people all across the city. My role is to let them know that others are out there, and encourage them to work together. Yes, besides the listening and looking I do some “speaking”. But my speaking flows out of the listening and looking. It is in response to what I see and hear that I speak.
The helicopters have now moved on to some other scene of tragedy. It is quiet, for the city. In the midst of the noise, you have to listen hard to hear, but when you do, you will hear that Philadelphia is growing and lives are changing. It is gray outside, though the few trees are starting to green a little. You have to look hard to see natural beauty in the city. But, when you do look, you will see a place of beauty, beauty in the people. God’s hand is here, shaping things, and it is beautiful.
Yes, I do have the greatest job in the world, looking and listening to what God is doing, and then telling others about it. If you have a moment to read 1 Corinthians 12 you will see why we do this, our belief that we are One Body, Many Parts. My job is to help people see that they cannot do this alone, that no church can do this alone, but that they need each other, need the rest of the Body. It is no coincidence, in my opinion, that our community has more than one church. They are there to work together, to pray for each other, to send people back and forth, and to send money to each other, as the needs arise. Churches in the same community rarely work together and as such are no where near as effective as they could be. So read 1 Corinthians 12, if you have time, and think about it. Then read the next chapter, 13, because it is beautiful.
The family is well. We are expecting our baby boy around August 4. Joyce is having some issues with very painful varicose veins. This pregnancy has been much harder than the two before and it is hard watching her in pain. The girls are all doing well in school. Melanie has taken up dog training as her weekly activity, Saiyeh and Mel were in gymnastics, and Emma needs to be in something soon as she is a bundle of energy. I am continuing my studies towards a Masters and am thankful that all the work fits in so well to my daily ministry.
Our support picked up around Christmas and has dropped a little since then. CityNet has been gracious not to charge us the usual ministry service fee, but that may soon be ending with some structural changes at CityNet. This means about $5000 a year we need to pay towards payroll and receipting expenses (fairly standard for mission’s agencies). We would also like to raise enough so we do not have to pay ministry expenses out of our personal account, and one day to have some retirement benefits. In dollar amounts, currently we are projecting to raise $45,000 this year. We would like to raise that up to $70,000, keeping our actual pay the same, the rest going to direct ministry expenses (office, travel, admin etc) and to benefits. If you would like to contribute to this, we would be grateful. Most of all I would encourage you to begin Listening and Looking and then to share what you see and what you hear. Tell others about the great things going on in your communities, so that together we will be more than we are apart.
Thursday 24 April 2008
Saturday 1 December 2007
November Newsletter
Dear Friends and Family,
You have had to put up with long letters and updates from us this past year so I am trying to keep this one short and to the point.
Girls….
They are all well. Emma is enjoying Kindergarten and is starting to use Spanish around the house. Saiyeh and Melanie participated in the Puerto Rican Day Parade with their school, and took first place for their dance performance.
Joyce…
Continues to stay very involved with the school, reaching out to other mothers (one has began coming to church, another has committed to coming). Joyce is continuing to work with women in the community and trying to discern where God wants her to focus.
CityNet…
Things are going well. Perhaps it is the honeymoon period or perhaps I haven’t fully figured out what I am doing, but I am feeling relaxed and confident in how things are developing. I spend most of my day talking to people in ministry, encouraging and challenging them with what God is doing. We are seeing connections made, relationships formed and resources being shared. There are many challenges in convincing churches that we need to work together, to stop being “tribal” and begin being “Kingdom”, but at the end of the day, most people want to work together, they just don’t know how. I spend quite a bit of time helping ministries think through local community ministry, understanding their neighborhoods, strategic planning etc.
Schooling…I (Coz) was accepted into Bakke Graduate University (BGU) to study in the Masters of Theological Studies (Thanks to Kris Rocke, Joel VanDyke, Bill Krispin and Mark Saracino). As I don’t have an undergraduate degree, I was accepted under special student status based upon my ministry experience and ministry development.
Travel…I just returned from a study trip to Guatemala. I had wanted to see what the VanDykes and Strategies for Transformation/Center for Transforming Missions were doing in Latin America, especially the work of the gang chaplains in the Guatemalan prisons. I could write about this for many pages, and hopefully will post something in the next few months, especially dealing with the issue of local (indigenous) leadership and outside leadership, my primary focus of study both in Guatemala and with BGU. The issue of leadership development is a key point to what I do for CityNet also, so hopefully it all ties together. I am expecting that we will help to develop further partnerships between ministries in Latin America and Philadelphia, for mutual encouraging, teaching and resourcing.
Coz with members of 18th St. gang in prison
Australia…We were blessed this summer to have two staff from Young Life Australia live with us. The goal was to expose them to a diverse cross section of ministries with an emphasis on working in poor communities. Bronny Logan runs a youth center in my home town of Armidale, working primarily with Aboriginal youth, whilst Sly (Anthony Sligar) now works outside Brisbane with multi-ethnic youth. We would like to continue having Australians who are in ministry come and stay with us, providing training and support services for them.
Finances…We always seem to put this last, perhaps because it is the last thing we want to deal with. I think, after all these years that I would be happy not to have to worry about support raising and our financial position ever again. It would seem that God is not on the same page with me at this point so we need to update you on our financial support. During the summer months we received some extra one time gifts and our paycheck was the same amount for about 3 months in a row, which was refreshing. Added to this was the blessing of a new roof (courtesy of Jeff Boeve and the Watermark men) and our adoption fees being completely paid off.
Since the summer our support has dropped considerably and at this point we are looking at raising only 50% of our target for the year. This target does not include any benefits (medical, retirement) and we do not have a separate expense account, so all ministry expenses come out of our personal pay. I struggle with the fact that those of you reading this have done so much for us in so many ways and you have deeply blessed us. Perhaps some of you may feel led to introduce us to your churches, friends, or family (rich Aunt’s?). Maybe you could host a dinner and invite some people who may be interested in hearing what we do and how God is moving in Philadelphia. We are open to suggestions in this area. Of course I wish I could write that if people don’t send in support we will have to sell the house and move out, or that our kids will go hungry or our heat shut off. However, you and I both know that our God is faithful and that His promises never change.
You have had to put up with long letters and updates from us this past year so I am trying to keep this one short and to the point.
Girls….
They are all well. Emma is enjoying Kindergarten and is starting to use Spanish around the house. Saiyeh and Melanie participated in the Puerto Rican Day Parade with their school, and took first place for their dance performance.
Joyce…
Continues to stay very involved with the school, reaching out to other mothers (one has began coming to church, another has committed to coming). Joyce is continuing to work with women in the community and trying to discern where God wants her to focus.
CityNet…
Things are going well. Perhaps it is the honeymoon period or perhaps I haven’t fully figured out what I am doing, but I am feeling relaxed and confident in how things are developing. I spend most of my day talking to people in ministry, encouraging and challenging them with what God is doing. We are seeing connections made, relationships formed and resources being shared. There are many challenges in convincing churches that we need to work together, to stop being “tribal” and begin being “Kingdom”, but at the end of the day, most people want to work together, they just don’t know how. I spend quite a bit of time helping ministries think through local community ministry, understanding their neighborhoods, strategic planning etc.
Schooling…I (Coz) was accepted into Bakke Graduate University (BGU) to study in the Masters of Theological Studies (Thanks to Kris Rocke, Joel VanDyke, Bill Krispin and Mark Saracino). As I don’t have an undergraduate degree, I was accepted under special student status based upon my ministry experience and ministry development.
Travel…I just returned from a study trip to Guatemala. I had wanted to see what the VanDykes and Strategies for Transformation/Center for Transforming Missions were doing in Latin America, especially the work of the gang chaplains in the Guatemalan prisons. I could write about this for many pages, and hopefully will post something in the next few months, especially dealing with the issue of local (indigenous) leadership and outside leadership, my primary focus of study both in Guatemala and with BGU. The issue of leadership development is a key point to what I do for CityNet also, so hopefully it all ties together. I am expecting that we will help to develop further partnerships between ministries in Latin America and Philadelphia, for mutual encouraging, teaching and resourcing.
Coz with members of 18th St. gang in prison
Australia…We were blessed this summer to have two staff from Young Life Australia live with us. The goal was to expose them to a diverse cross section of ministries with an emphasis on working in poor communities. Bronny Logan runs a youth center in my home town of Armidale, working primarily with Aboriginal youth, whilst Sly (Anthony Sligar) now works outside Brisbane with multi-ethnic youth. We would like to continue having Australians who are in ministry come and stay with us, providing training and support services for them.
Finances…We always seem to put this last, perhaps because it is the last thing we want to deal with. I think, after all these years that I would be happy not to have to worry about support raising and our financial position ever again. It would seem that God is not on the same page with me at this point so we need to update you on our financial support. During the summer months we received some extra one time gifts and our paycheck was the same amount for about 3 months in a row, which was refreshing. Added to this was the blessing of a new roof (courtesy of Jeff Boeve and the Watermark men) and our adoption fees being completely paid off.
Since the summer our support has dropped considerably and at this point we are looking at raising only 50% of our target for the year. This target does not include any benefits (medical, retirement) and we do not have a separate expense account, so all ministry expenses come out of our personal pay. I struggle with the fact that those of you reading this have done so much for us in so many ways and you have deeply blessed us. Perhaps some of you may feel led to introduce us to your churches, friends, or family (rich Aunt’s?). Maybe you could host a dinner and invite some people who may be interested in hearing what we do and how God is moving in Philadelphia. We are open to suggestions in this area. Of course I wish I could write that if people don’t send in support we will have to sell the house and move out, or that our kids will go hungry or our heat shut off. However, you and I both know that our God is faithful and that His promises never change.
Monday 29 October 2007
CityNet newsletter
You can view the latest CityNet newsletter by clicking on the CityNet link on the right column. Once in their website click on newsletter. This will give you an overview of the ministry on a whole. Enjoy!
Monday 9 July 2007
Letter from Bill Krispin
Dear Friends,
I would like to introduce myself to you and to officially welcome Coz and Joyce Crosscombe to our organization, CityNet Ministries. My name is Bill Krispin and I have been involved in ministry in the city of Philadelphia for over 40 years. During this time my service to the Lord has taken many forms including church planter, pastor and seminary founder and President. Mostly I have been a student of the city and a connector of people. I believe that together we can reach the city and that God has blessed the body as a whole with the gifts and resources necessary to do this work. These gifts and resources do not lie with one church alone, but with many who do His work. We must learn to do it together in fulfillment of Paul’s call to the church “one body, many parts, members together” (I Corinthians 12:12-27). With this in mind, CityNet was founded 6 years ago in order to strategically saturate Philadelphia with Christ focused churches, training people to do God’s work and to help people work together. In 6 years we have planted 6 churches and have assisted others in the planting of many more throughout the region. In addition, we have had more than 30 students in our ministry training program and conducted training in many churches. CityNet has 19 official member churches and have a relationship with a couple dozen more. As we have grown, we have struggled to develop ministry within certain sections of the city, especially the Latino community and some of the most economically disadvantaged areas. With this in mind Coz and Joyce were asked to join our team.
I first met Coz and Joyce many years ago as they served at Bethel Temple. They were two of the first people to complete CityNet deacons training and have had close ties with a number of our network churches. More than that they have been serving amongst Philadelphia poor for 15 years and are considers veterans of one of the nation’s toughest communities. Coz has a natural ability to understand communities, how they function and how churches work within those communities. He knows our target community in a way few others do and is known and respected by many throughout the area. Coz has been able to form strategic relationships throughout the years between people and churches in his community and those in the Philadelphia region, other parts of PA and especially in Michigan. We believe his ability to strategically form relationships is a huge asset to our organization and ministry in Philadelphia as a whole.
Although Joyce has no official position with our organization, we know her and Coz are an integral team and feel blessed to have her wisdom and devotion as a part of our mix. Joyce has been a real pioneer for women ministering in Philadelphia and brings passion to see women mentored in ministry as well to continue her service to women and children in crisis.
CityNet is a project funded organization and as such require Coz and Joyce to raise all their own support as they have in the past. CityNet believes those in ministry, like others should be provided for in a comprehensive way. The board set Coz’s salary and housing allowance as a combined total of $ 50,000. Coz and Joyce have never had been provided with medical or retirement benefits and we would like to see that changed. We are asking them to raise an additional $20,000 for benefits and ministry expenses. The total goal of $70,000 is significantly more than they previously raised ($40,000). We are trusting in the Lord that this will be achieved in the next year. If your have been a financial supporter of Coz and Joyce, we would encourage you to continue giving and consider increasing that amount. If you are not a financial supporter, I would like to ask you to pray and seek the Lord to see if He may be leading you in this direction.
As excited as we are about Coz and Joyce joining us, we know that it is also a blessing to receive you as a part of our team. We see the part that you have played in their ministry in Philadelphia as one of the things that have made their ministry so fruitful. Coz and Joyce often talk of how involved their supporters have been in their lives and what a blessing you have all been to them.
We look forward to our partnership with you, through Coz and Joyce, in order to impact the city of Philadelphia.
With gratitude for you and to our great God,
Bill Krispin
Executive Director
CityNet Ministries, Inc.
PS. Contributions toward Coz and Joyce’s support should be sent to CityNet Ministries, Inc.; P.O. Box 35189, Philadelphia, PA 19128. Include a note designated support to “Crosscombe support.”
I would like to introduce myself to you and to officially welcome Coz and Joyce Crosscombe to our organization, CityNet Ministries. My name is Bill Krispin and I have been involved in ministry in the city of Philadelphia for over 40 years. During this time my service to the Lord has taken many forms including church planter, pastor and seminary founder and President. Mostly I have been a student of the city and a connector of people. I believe that together we can reach the city and that God has blessed the body as a whole with the gifts and resources necessary to do this work. These gifts and resources do not lie with one church alone, but with many who do His work. We must learn to do it together in fulfillment of Paul’s call to the church “one body, many parts, members together” (I Corinthians 12:12-27). With this in mind, CityNet was founded 6 years ago in order to strategically saturate Philadelphia with Christ focused churches, training people to do God’s work and to help people work together. In 6 years we have planted 6 churches and have assisted others in the planting of many more throughout the region. In addition, we have had more than 30 students in our ministry training program and conducted training in many churches. CityNet has 19 official member churches and have a relationship with a couple dozen more. As we have grown, we have struggled to develop ministry within certain sections of the city, especially the Latino community and some of the most economically disadvantaged areas. With this in mind Coz and Joyce were asked to join our team.
I first met Coz and Joyce many years ago as they served at Bethel Temple. They were two of the first people to complete CityNet deacons training and have had close ties with a number of our network churches. More than that they have been serving amongst Philadelphia poor for 15 years and are considers veterans of one of the nation’s toughest communities. Coz has a natural ability to understand communities, how they function and how churches work within those communities. He knows our target community in a way few others do and is known and respected by many throughout the area. Coz has been able to form strategic relationships throughout the years between people and churches in his community and those in the Philadelphia region, other parts of PA and especially in Michigan. We believe his ability to strategically form relationships is a huge asset to our organization and ministry in Philadelphia as a whole.
Although Joyce has no official position with our organization, we know her and Coz are an integral team and feel blessed to have her wisdom and devotion as a part of our mix. Joyce has been a real pioneer for women ministering in Philadelphia and brings passion to see women mentored in ministry as well to continue her service to women and children in crisis.
CityNet is a project funded organization and as such require Coz and Joyce to raise all their own support as they have in the past. CityNet believes those in ministry, like others should be provided for in a comprehensive way. The board set Coz’s salary and housing allowance as a combined total of $ 50,000. Coz and Joyce have never had been provided with medical or retirement benefits and we would like to see that changed. We are asking them to raise an additional $20,000 for benefits and ministry expenses. The total goal of $70,000 is significantly more than they previously raised ($40,000). We are trusting in the Lord that this will be achieved in the next year. If your have been a financial supporter of Coz and Joyce, we would encourage you to continue giving and consider increasing that amount. If you are not a financial supporter, I would like to ask you to pray and seek the Lord to see if He may be leading you in this direction.
As excited as we are about Coz and Joyce joining us, we know that it is also a blessing to receive you as a part of our team. We see the part that you have played in their ministry in Philadelphia as one of the things that have made their ministry so fruitful. Coz and Joyce often talk of how involved their supporters have been in their lives and what a blessing you have all been to them.
We look forward to our partnership with you, through Coz and Joyce, in order to impact the city of Philadelphia.
With gratitude for you and to our great God,
Bill Krispin
Executive Director
CityNet Ministries, Inc.
PS. Contributions toward Coz and Joyce’s support should be sent to CityNet Ministries, Inc.; P.O. Box 35189, Philadelphia, PA 19128. Include a note designated support to “Crosscombe support.”
Monday 26 September 2005
Gulfport Mississippi
Like most of you, I watched the unfolding tragedy in New Orleans and along the Mississippi coast. I was sitting with a friend and we began to discuss what our response should be. Neither of us wanted to be hasty in our actions, yet haste seemed warranted. We decided to spend some time praying and waiting.
After almost a week, no answer seemed to come. I was telling God I was willing to respond, but there seemed no avenue. How could there be this scale of a disaster and no one asking us for help, except to send money, something we had very little of. Later that day, a week after the initial storm, I received a call from some friends at Central Wesleyan Church in Holland, Michigan. They were returning from Gulfport having been asked by World Hope International to do a damage assessment and to see what response was called for. They felt I had something to offer and asked would I head down there to help figure out what needed to be done.
I immediately said yes, feeling this was what I had been waiting for, and thought it best to assemble a team of 6-8 people, along with supplies. After a few calls we planned a departure for the following Monday, giving us 4 days to put it all together. The 6-8 people swelled to 10-12, then 16-18, and finally I closed things at 20. Somehow 4 others managed to sneak in, and on Monday 12th September we left with 5 vehicles, towing 2 trailers, over 4000 pounds of goods and 24 people from 8 nationalities representing 5 churches.
Gulfport is 1200 miles (2000 km) from Philadelphia and we drove straight through. Upon arrival we immediately set to work, breaking into 5 crews. These were tree cutting (later to become roofing), counseling, cooking/cleaning, distribution and admin. We found, as expected, things in a hectic state. Those who had preceded us were working tirelessly to help the community, through a local church, Little Rock Missionary Baptist. We were able to come alongside those there and begin to bring some order and cohesion to the work. The admin team focused on finding out everything possible about the community, available services, other relief in the area, and setting up the church to feed and house 80 people.
Other teams began arriving and we were joined by people who had come to Gulfport to help, with no idea where they would be helping, sleeping or eating. Each day we fed and housed not only the “official teams”, numbering about 70 by this time, but also 5-20 others.
The tree cutters moved through the community, cutting tress that had fallen on houses and cars. Few houses were spared. Later in the week they began patching the holes left in the roofs with tarps.
The counselors spent time out in the community, focusing on the projects and Red Cross shelters. Dispensing both food and love they had no shortage of people to speak with.
Our cooks and cleaners kept the rest of us fed and living in great conditions. Four showers were erected and the place began to take shape.
3 days each week a large tent was opened, full of everything a person might need to get by for a week. Over 300 people were served each time it was opened. Trucks would arrive from different parts of the country. No one seemed to know when the trucks would come, nor how they even knew about the work, but arrive they would. Everything from frozen chicken to chocolate to cleaning supplies would be on the trucks.
It is almost impossible to describe the devastation in parts of the town, so I won’t even try. I can say that our team was amazing, God blessed all they laid their hands to, and great things happened. I would ask that you pray especially for the police and military in the area. I was able to spend time with some officers and soldiers, praying with them, serving them coffee and chocolate. At some point they will have to stop and think about all they have seen, and I fear what will happen to them if no one is alongside them to “debrief”.
We are hoping to send at least one more team down this year, and probably continue a relationship with that community long term. At times it felt like the story of the star fish (let me know if you don’t know this old African tale) but I believe God will continue to do great things.
I would like to thank all those who gave items and money for the trip and especially those who up and left jobs and family at such short notice. I have never worked with such a self-less group of people, willing to do whatever, whenever.
Those who went were Nes, Emma, Bobbi Jo, Danny, Gracie, Tony, Jessie, Jonny, Jeff, Sylane, Robyn, Jack, Joel, Rose, George. Greg, Steve, Al, Amir, Wayne, Wanda, Jen and Maher. I must add that we returned with only 23. Jen Mori felt called to stay for the month. In my opinion she was by far the most valuable person to the work there, being a great administrator and leader of people.
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