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Wow! Crossroads people really knows how to serve people toward Jesus. Thank you to all who participated, managed and work so hard to make our SERVice Celebration such an amazing and God-honoring event on Sunday, August 29, 2010.

We had over 1,200 volunteers donating over 2,600 hours to our community. We helped to transform Danahy Park, Rotary Park, Northwest Open Space, the Northglenn Water Treatment Plant, and Village by the Park Apartments. 

A special and huge extended thank you to all of the Project and Site Managers who sacrificed many hours in the weeks before preparing for the day: Nico & Piar Adams, Chris Amdahl, Scot Aspromonte, Sherry Bethurum, Laura Broseghini, Chip Case, Ruth Davis, Dawna Dotson, Jason Faimon, Lori Farstad, Pam Faulkner, Ron Gerbrandt, Jay Hawes, Paul Hepner, Kelly & Troy Johnson, Abby Ketchum, Mark Kulinski, Matt Manning, Jim Martz, Donnie Overholt, Sharie Roqueni, Mark Rients, Doug Schmidt, Kim & Sheryl Skattum, Aspen Sorensen, Billy Sprague, Blake Stacey, Gordon Stevens, John Sittner, and Ryan Wurgler.

Also a special thanks to: City of Northglenn and Village By The Park employees for working on Sunday and having such a great attitude about embracing this project, Jim Mueller and his crews for working so hard to prepare the sites, and to Juli Bodell and Mike Moore.

Pastor Kim Skattum

One of our biggest concerns for the SERVice Celebration was transporting 1,200 people to the work sites on Sunday morning along with getting them to and from their cars parked at the old Albertsons lot.  Thanks to Jim Martz and his leadership we got that covered pretty well.  But a couple great things surfaced.  First Todd and Kellie Holland stepped up to help provide those two huge shuttle buses, THANK YOU. And: when I called Cornerstone Christian Academy to ask about using their big yellow school bus, not only did they say 'yes', but the principal himself, Larry Zimbleman, volunteered to drive it all morning long.  What a great transportation crew!

Donna Thayer

Six of us went to Village Apartments to walk and pray, one of which was a 13-year-old boy, Jeremy--what a joy it was to have this young man with us. We prayed outside the apartments before walking the grounds to pray. Then we prayed over all the projects we saw going on and greeted several people around the area living there wishing them God's blessings on their lives. We were overwhelmed by all the workers and prayed for their well being as they worked in the hot sun, even then they had smiles on their faces as they served others. While walking we met up with the Zimiks and prayed with them also. I was overwhelmed with all the workers there painting at the apartments and in the open spaces doing repairs with a nursery there for the young children as their parents participated. What a joy it was to be a part of the goSERVE project even if our hands didn't get dirty they were lifted high in prayer. 

Mary-Ruth Tracy

Today our bodies are hurting and our hearts are happy. My 16-year-old daughter was right there beside me and the others trying to dig the trench next to the pavilion. It was such hard work and just tore our bodies up. She helped me lift sheets of wood, trash, paint, and shovel dirt in and out of wheelbarrows all over the park. It was such a great thing to see husbands and wives working together. My husband said the most amazing sight was being up on the roof looking down at the kids painting 44 sheets of plywood for the pavilion. My 10-year old jumped in wherever she could help, with the painting and getting water for the workers. I saw God at work in our family, our friends and in our church and community. It was such a beautiful day of service to our King. We will defiantly sign up for years to come, that was amazing and we thank you all for such hard work in putting it together. We pray the ibuprofen kicks in for all of us.

Ruth Davis

There was only one youth that went walking and praying. I teamed him up with a couple of prayer walkers and WOW he was impressed! Hallelujah! He came to talk with me after he returned....and he was glowing! I praise God for a new beginning for one young lad. 

Doug Schmidt

• Around 10:15 a.m., I saw a squad car flying down Kennedy Drive, with full lights, sirens, and mega-phone, pulling over a car that was going too fast. I thought to myself, “Wow, we are well-protected.” Then later, when I saw Ruth Davis praying in the sanctuary, I felt the same way. Someone told me that the officer who pulled the speeder over was Paul Skattum, Kim’s son, and I thought “Ah, the son is protecting his Dad’s flock”  . . .  which made me think about how fiercely Jesus watches over and protects his Dad’s flock.   

• Among many grace-encounters, one guy got out of his car to give me a cup (well, a bottle) of cold water, and it made me think of two things: (1) he’s going to be commended by Christ on the Day of Judgment, and (2) I’m one of the “least of [Jesus’] brethren” (Matthew 25:31-40 ). That was some of the sweetest water I’ve ever tasted.  

• A little boy named Phillipe from Village By The Park came by after the event and asked for a t-shirt ~ and said he was willing to work. So Paul had him roll some of the empty trash cans to the gym and put liners in them. When he was done, Paul started the “negotiating” the terms of Phillipe’s return to church next week!

 • I struck up a conversation with a woman in a motorized wheelchair near the park. She said she came there every Sunday to watch the soccer games. Then she asked, “What’s up with the people in the colored t-shirts?” And I explained that Crossroads had cancelled church that weekend in order to work on these projects. And then I clarified that we didn’t really cancel church, we were just doing it a little differently that weekend. And she said . . . “Wow!” I think she’s going to come visit us next week.

Bradford Richardson, Musicianary

So Crossroads Church cancelled SIX services yesterday to send the congregation out to serve the community. My team went to the fellow's home to do yardwork. He is a 30 year Air Force Veteran who is now on oxygen and dealing respiratory illness. His wife had called area churches to try and find help with the large yard they have...9 of us trimmed bushes, pulled weeds, mowed, fertilized their lawn and shrubs and even used a chain saw (FUN!) on dead branches. He sat with his oxygen tank and watched us and thanked us repeatedly. When we finished we gathered round him and prayed for him and his family. What an honor to serve a church that exists to serve others. Awesome. 

Jenni Murphy

Thank you all so much for all of your prayers, vision, support, help and hard work in making the SERVice Celebration such a huge success!

The group that I led at the Water Treatment Plant worked so hard and accomplished more than we had planned! I had hoped to have the opportunity to thank all volunteers by visiting each project site but did speak with staff and they all were thrilled with the work that the volunteers completed!

Lori Farstad

What stands out... so much

• Seeing a young mom with a baby attached in the front baby carrier thing (you know what I mean) and a 3-year old by her side. What was she doing? Picking up trash.

• Observing a lady carring two heavy looking buckets. She put them down and started massaging her joints. I asked her if she was ok, gave her water etc. She said, "I'm fine. I have arthritis and fibermyolgia (sp?)" I said, "Oh I can put you on something not so strenuous." "No," she said, "I want to do this. I need to do this."

• Seeing the "older generation" working right along side the younger generation. 

• Seeing Kim's dad watching the roofers (I never would have thought 5 years ago we could shut down "church" for a day to do this) seeing that was amazing. 

• Watching 10, 11 year olds pushing wheelbarrows filled with mulch all morning long. Seeing the kids we taught in the 4-year old class and up in childrens' ministry working along side their parents, some now have grown and were on their own... pretty amazing.

• Talking with the city workers and seeing their gratitude and appreciation and somewhat amazement as they looked around. 

• Finally talking with joggers, walkers passerbyers, one asking, "What are you guys doing to my park?" when I explained what was going on; each time- we got a big thank you.

David Gragg

Thanks for making this happen. I know that it took a lot of work. From my perspective, it turned out pretty awesome.