Imagine ten people gathering in a Tustin Ranch townhouse. This humble beginning marked the start of Crossroads Church in 1997. But the true genesis began earlier.
In 1994 Pastor Kevin Hayashida attended a church leadership conference. God began to cultivate a vision within him there. Kevin moved from the San Francisco Bay Area with his family in 1997. He shared God’s vision and assembled a team. They asked themselves key questions. What would a church look like if devoted to reaching those far from God? What if people were welcomed with hospitality? What if each member served God fully?
Crossroads Church faced challenges early on. They had no budget. They had no public meeting place. Yet they firmly believed God would lead and provide. Their vision was to reach Southern Orange County with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Crossroads Church held its first service at Trabuco Hills High School on Easter of 1998.
The first person baptized had not been to church in fifty years. She attended the first service after a friend’s invitation. In the early days everyone helped set up before service. They also stayed after to pack everything away. After almost every Sunday service, they shared lunch. It became a monthly tradition. They loved sharing life and food with new friends. People invited their friends. The church slowly grew. Rooted in the Bible adults and children matured in faith. In June 2003 Crossroads Church purchased its current facility in Mission Viejo.
Crossroads Church is more than buildings. It is about people. Throughout its history, Crossroads has faced many decisions and opportunities. God has been faithful, providing resourceful people. They established a loving community.
In 2018 Crossroads Church expanded to East County San Diego. They wanted to reach the people of East County. El Cajon has a densely-populated area. A large percentage of the population lives at or below the poverty level. Over half the people claimed “None” as their religion. Many felt hopeless. Crossroads Church felt called to reach them with the hope of Jesus.
Crossroads Church asked for help. They requested three-year commitments of monthly pledges to support their mission. They also asked for prayer partners to pray for God’s favor.
Crossroads Church is part of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. This includes hundreds of congregations throughout the United States and Canada. “Reformed” means they are part of the Protestant Reformation tradition. The CRC has over one thousand congregations across the United States and Canada. About 75 percent are in the United States. About 25 percent are in Canada.
Crossroads Church has a mission. Their mission is to be bold Jesus-proclaimers and active world-changers. Their vision is to build a Christ-centered community of grace. They want to make disciples and transform communities. Crossroads Church believes in one God. They believe in the Bible as God’s living Word. They believe the church is a diverse family of God. They also believe God calls the church to make disciples of all nations.
Crossroads Church invites you to join them on their journey. They don’t know where God will take them next. They trust God to lead them forward.