By Ellie Wayner Crossroads Intern For most of his life, Forrest has been searching for freedom. It’s been a long, exhausting and destructive search, but it finally ended in prison where he found true freedom in Jesus. Growing up, Forrest’s mom owned a surf shop and...
Last year, I led a small Ash Wednesday service at my church. I placed ashes on foreheads as I spoke the words, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” I reminded everyone that the season of Lent invites us to slow down—to pray, fast, repent and be...
By Ellie Wayner Crossroads Intern Michael was trying to mask the hurt. He tried pornography, sex and alcohol to fill the void. After dropping out of high school and getting into deep trouble at home, Michael’s mom gave him two choices: move in with his dad or join the...
By Ellie Wayner Crossroads Intern Feeling alone, unloved and hurt, Lamarr turned to the streets. Even though, when he was a child, his mother took him to church each Sunday, at home he experienced abuse from a stepfather. What he searched for in family, he found in...
By Lisa Blystra President & CEO As I look back on 2020, many emotions come to mind. Anxiety, uncertainty, fear . . . but also gratitude and hope. Despite the many challenges we faced as a ministry in the year of the COVID-19 pandemic, God has moved in unexpected,...
