News Blog

New Class of Covenant Partners Commissioned

Matt Konow — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT

"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:14-17

On March 11, 2012, twenty-four men and women from 17 churches were commissioned to serve as Covenant Partners through Cross Connections. These new volunteers recently completed eighteen months of rigorous training and are well prepared for their roles as lay counselors. They joined the ranks of twenty-four veteran Covenant Partners who counsel the hurting, helping them to bear their burdens through Christian compassion and with encouragement from God’s Word. Please see the Covenant Partner section of our website for the complete list of active Covenant Partners.

Welcome Susan Reusser!!

Matt Konow — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Cross Connections, Inc. is pleased to announce that Susan Reusser has been led to us by the Lord as our new Clinical Director. She will be replacing Kathy Eggold and Terrie Ensley, who have been sharing the job responsibilities since our ministry began. Kathy and Terrie will still be counseling part-time for us.

Susan is a licensed clincial social worker (LCSW) who has been providing social work services since 1986. She hs worked with individuals, families, and groups to assist them with life problems including substance abuse, homelessness, and physical and mental illness. She also has experience in working with military Veterans and their families.

Susan has a Master's degree in social work (MSW) form the University of Kansas. She completed her MSW internship in family therapy at the Menninger Foundation in Topeka, Kansas. She is currently enrolled in the Master's in Deaconess Studies program at Concordia Theological Seminary. She is a member of the North American Association of Christians in Social Work.

Susan and her family are members at Suburban Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne.

First Annual "It's a Spring Thing" Event a SMASH

Matt Konow — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The first annual Cross Connections "It's a Spring Thing" event was held on March 1 in the Grand Marquis ballroom at the Marriott on Washington Center Road. The evening was a tremendous success and raised more than $28,000 for the ministry!! Close to 270 people came out to enjoy an evening of fine dining and fellowship before Christian comedian Jeff Allen brought the house down with laughter!! Cross Connections would like to thank Grand Event Sponsor: Thrivent Financial for Lutherans - Greater Hoagland group; and Event Sponsors, A Party Apart, and Davon Bultemeier and Cindy Houser. We would also like to thank all of the wonderful people who made this evening a tremendous success!!

Cross Connections Honors Volunteers

Debbie Gotsch — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 05:00:00 GMT

Cross Connections hosted its bi-annual Volunteer Appreciation Banquet on Sunday, March 13 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne. Fifty-eight volunteers, staff and spouses enjoyed gathering music provided by Pastor Richard Koehneke while feasting on delicious appetizers prepared by Sonya Eggold. Dinner (also prepared by Sonya) was served by members of Emmanuel's senior high youth group.

The featured speaker for the banquet was Pastor Art Klausmeier, pastor emeritus of Emmanuel Lutheran Church and former Lutheran Foundation grant advisor. Pastor Klausmeier shared a message of Heartfelt Thanks to You from Philippians 1:3-5. He presented scripture rocks to all attending.

Cross Connections founders Terrie Ensley and Kathy Eggold along with Covenant Partner Supervisor Amy Rast recognized all volunteers who have contributed to the ministry in the last two years. We are thankful for all who serve this ministry!

Cross Connections Hosts Pastor Seminar

Debbie Gotsch — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 06:00:00 GMT

Several pastors from Cross Connections Network churches attended a luncheon seminar on the topic of pornography. Presenters Kathy Eggold, Terrie Ensley and Bob Brockmann shared statistics regarding this growing addiction, effects on individuals, couples and families, and provided resources for pastors to share with their congregations. To see photos of the luncheon seminar, click here.

Five New Churches Added!

Debbie Gotsch — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 06:00:00 GMT

Five churches have joined the network of Cross Connections in the last month, bringing the number of community churches to 39! The most recent additions include Bethany Lutheran Church, Emmanuel Lutheran Church (Soest), St. Jonh Lutheran Church Bingen (Decatur), Broadway Christian Church, and Zion Lutheran Church (Decatur). To see a complete listing of our network churches, click here. We thank and praise God for the continued growth of the Cross Connections community of churches!

Welcome Terri Brooks-Nelson

Debbie Gotsch — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 06:00:00 GMT

We are excited to welcome Terri Brooks-Nelson to our professional counseling staff. Terri has a bachelor's degree in business and a master's degree in social work from IUPUI. As part of her master's level preparation, she completed internships at Ward Alternative School and Crossroads. She previously worked at McGee-Lytle Counseling Agency, primarily with children, teens, and young adults. Terri has 2 teenage sons. She is a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church. She volunteers as a lunch buddy for FWCS and as a respite care worker for SCAN. Terri is currently enrolled in the Emotions focus track for Covenant Partner training. We are blessed to have her on staff at Cross Connections.

Churches added to the Community

Debbie Gotsch — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 06:00:00 GMT

Emanuel Lutheran Church and Martini Lutheran Church, both in New Haven, have joined the Cross Connections community of churches. With the addition of these two churches, there are now 34 churches in the Cross Connections network! Emanuel and Martini pastors will be able to refer clients to Cross Connections for a free professional counselor assessment and then will have access to reduced-fee professional counseling and no cost Covenant Partner counseling. Emanuel already has two Covenant Partners in training in our current class. "We praise God for these congregations and their pastors as they join our network," shares Executive Director Tom Eggold.

2nd Annual Golf Outing

Debbie Gotsch — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 03:29:56 GMT

Seventy-one golfers enjoyed a weather-challenging day of golf at Brookwood Golf Course on October 2. Our golfers ranged in age from 16-77! A big thank you to all who participated in the event and to all volunteers who helped in so many ways. A special thank you to Covenant Partners and volunteers Ron and Karen Perkins who spent most of the day on par 3 hole number 8 watching for that $10,000 hole in one prize shot. Unfortunately, there were no hole in one winners, but we congratulate these winners:

1st place team: Dave Thieme, Scott Thieme, Tim Hermann, Ellen Hermann

2nd place team: Allen Loechner, Jeff McCaulley and friends

Longest Drive Women: Jean Heffron

Longest Drive Men: Scott Thieme

Closest to the Pin Women: Susie Wright

Closest to the Pin Men: Rick Melton

Raffle winners were drawn for the 22 awesome raffle items after a delicious dinner and awards ceremony. Congratulations to our own Cross Connections counselor, Elizabeth Sherman, for winning the grand prize raffle item, "Experience Fort Wayne" basket!

To see photos from the golf outing, click here

Welcome Dawn and Vicki!

Debbie Gotsch — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 18:24:01 GMT

Dawn Rose joins Cross Connections as our office manager, replacing our retiring office manager, Jan Miller. Dawn has extensive experience in accounting and as an office manager for a local corporation. She is currently enrolled as a student at Indiana Tech majoring in human services. She is also a 2010 graduate of Covenant Partner training and serves in the area of emotions.

Vicki Graft is a welcome addition to our professional counseling staff. She most recently was an elementary school counselor in Huntington. She has done individual, group, family and classroom counseling. Vicki is a graduate of the first Covenant Partner training class and has been serving in the area of emotions. She will work with families and children as a professional counselor.

We thank God for providing these two new staff members at Cross Connections.

From the desk of our Executive Director

Debbie Gotsch — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 17:57:48 GMT

Spring 2010

Dear Friends of Cross Connections,

Greetings in the name of our Risen Savior who guides and empowers the counseling ministry of Cross Connections.

We praise Him for what clients are telling us:

“I was in a very dark place in my life when I came to Cross Connections. Now there is light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you for bringing Christ’s presence back into my life. May God bless your ministry!”

“With Cross Connections, it was the Word of God that was the difference for me.”

We praise HIm for 6 professional counselors who are currently serving over 150 clients, 17 Covenant Partners who have provided lay counseling to more than 80 clients, and 18 newly commissioned Covenant Partners, all providing Biblically-based guidance! The Holy Spirit is changing lives through the use of God’s Word in counseling. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, clients are choosing Christ-like living, families are being brought together, marriages are being healed, and all are gaining a greater understanding of God’s purpose for their lives.

We praise Him for the trust of pastors:

“I’ve referred many people to Cross Connections and never heard a bad word!”

“Having ready access to good Christian counseling has been invaluable.

Covenant Partner training has been helpful too. This has been a real gift to the church!”

And we praise Him for our future as we explore:

Providing Biblical counseling to pastors and their families online

Copyrighting Covenant Partner training materials

Expansion of professional counseling staff

Cross Connections is committed to providing affordable Christ-centered professional counseling and to equipping lay counselors, called Covenant Partners, to offer Biblical guidance to others. This is our mission statement!

In order to continue to carry out our mission, we need your support. Currently one-third of our operating budget of $180,000 comes from donors like you. Will you consider supporting God’s work through Cross Connections at this time? (Please see enclosed envelope for giving opportunities.) We thank God for you, our partners in this ministry and we celebrate with you the joy of the Lord’s Resurrection and the healing that He has given to so many through Cross Connections!

Your brother in Christ,

Pastor Tom Eggold

UPDATED MINISTRY WISH LIST

Debbie Gotsch — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 17:54:13 GMT

Check out the list below for items still needed by Cross Connections. New items are identified with an asterisk. Thank you for your in-kind or monetary donation to help support the ministry!

copier-$1000

fund to help those who can’t pay-

($35/session)

*5 standing floor lamps- $50-75

*small desk (gently used)

*6 upholstered client chairs (gently used)

CD player w/ 4 speakers-$250

printing of 500 client brochures-$250

3 whiteboards-$180

2 window air conditioning units-$400

4 boxes dry erase markers-$22

movable room divider-$1500

3 grounded extension cords-$20

name tags- $25

4 drawer locked file cabinet-$300

Covenant Partner Commissioning

Staff — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:47:38 GMT

Eighteen new Covenant Partners were commissioned at Southwest Lutheran Church on Sunday, March 14. The new Covenant Partners each received special blessings from their home church pastors. The 18 new Covenant Partners represented 7 member churches. Fourteen "seasoned" Covenant Partners also re-committed to serving for 2 more years as lay counselors. The service of celebration was led by Cross Connections Executive Director, Pastor Tom Eggold. The message was shared by Pastor David Maki of Southwest Lutheran Church. The Bethlehem Men's Chorus shared in song. A capacity crowd of family and friends attended the commissioning. Southwest Lutheran Church members provided a cookies and punch reception after the service. Congratulations to all the Covenant Partners who have committed to serving as lay counselors for Cross Connections!

For a list of all Covenant Partners, click here.

Pastors' Annual Meeting

Staff — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 04:10:15 GMT

The annual pastors' meeting for Cross Connections member churches was held on January 14 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Twenty-two churches were represented by pastors and church workers. Board members were elected, new bylaws were ratified and updates about the ministry were shared by staff members. To view photos from the meeting, click here.

New Training Class Begins in August 2010

Staff — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 18:20:20 GMT

A new training class will begin in the fall, with Track One starting Wednesday, August 25, 2010. If you are interested in Cross Connections Covenant Partner Training, talk to your pastor about submitting an application. The application deadline is August 1.

Cross Connections Awarded RSO Status

Staff — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:33:00 GMT

Cross Connections was recently granted Recognized Service Organization (RSO) status by the Board for Human Care Ministries of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. The designation will allow Cross Connections to extend calls to rostered LCMS workers, apply for LCMS grants, and also allow access to multiple LCMS resources. For more information about Human Care Ministries and RSO's, visit lcms.org/worldrelief/rso. Cross Connections is grateful for this new partnership!

CHURCHES ADDED TO THE COMMUNITY

Staff — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 01:55:03 GMT

Cross Connections continues to expand its ministry to Northeast Indiana, not only in the number of churches joining our community, but also in the sites where professional and Covenant Partner counseling are available.

Our community of churches has grown to twenty-five! The most recent churches to join are St. Paul Lutheran, Fort Wayne; Blackhawk Ministries, Fort Wayne; Harvest Fellowship, Leo, and Zion Lutheran, Fort Wayne.

Covenant Partner counseling will be available at Aboite Lutheran Church, beginning in December and at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, beginning in March 2010.

GOLF OUTING A SUCCESS

Staff — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:42:00 GMT

Forty-four golfers enjoyed an afternoon at Brookwood Golf Course on Saturday, September 26 to help raise funds for Cross Connections.

Click here to view a photo gallery of the day's events.

Over $7800 was raised through our sponsors, donors, and golfers!

GOLF WINNERS

1st Place: Lee Ann Berning, Mark Berning, William Berning, Sr., and Rita LeFavour
2nd Place: Bill Berning, Nancy Berning, Peggy Mungovan, Rick Harkelroad

Closest to the Pin (Men): Norm Lengacher
Closest to the Pin (Women): Peggy Mungovan (so close she was 3 feet from a $10,000 hole in one prize!)

Longest Drive (Men): Bill Berning
Longest Drive (Women): Joan Davis

Special thanks to the following sponsors:

Thrivent Financial Central Allen County Chapter Matching Gift

Platinum Level ($500):
Doc Dancer Heating and Air Conditioning

Gold Level ($250):
American Renovations, Inc.
Baker and Daniels, LLP
W.C. Borchelt and Sons, Inc.
Ben Davis Chevrolet
Paul Davis Restoration
Foudy and Hale CPA Group LLC
Larry and Carol Goeglein
Hockemeyer and Miller Funeral Home
Innovative Professional Services
Miracle Contracting
Oak Grove Church of God