SUPPLEMENTING PASTORAL CARE

"Cross Connections has been an indispensable, valuable partner in me pastoring people through all different kinds of life situations. I've had addiction situations, pre-marriage, complex marriage, family dynamics...all sorts of scenarios that reach beyond the training and expertise of the average pastor – certainly beyond me. I can work with them on law and gospel, sin and grace, but when it comes to some of the more professional needs, I don't have that training, so Cross Connections has been a valuable partner.

"I track this stuff, the feedback that I try to get from people that I send over there. It's near 100% satisfaction rate. Cross Connections has a great reputation. They're highly thought of in the professional realm and in the customer realm if you will. They're meeting people's needs."

Rev. Kevin Wendt – Concordia Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne

DEALING WITH TRAGEDY

"We had a really tragic situation of an unexpected and very emotional death in our congregation in the middle of the night. I was able to go and minister there with the family and right away was able to call Cross Connections first thing in the morning. One of the counselors there dropped everything that she was doing and came and sat with me and the family in a real time of crisis. I can't get that anywhere else in Fort Wayne or anywhere else that I know of, that kind of care where people can just show up. It was just an incredible support."

Rev. Matt Switzer – St. Michael Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne

WORKING THROUGH INFIDELITY

"One couple in our congregation went in for marriage counseling. I met with them afterwards and that probably was instrumental in saving their relationship. There had been some adultery and the counseling was very good in them working through some issues and being able to come to some healing and reconciliation. It was probably that help from Cross Connections that kept the marriage together. And they're still together."

Rev. David Maki – Southwest Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne

HEALING RELATIONSHIPS

"There's a young woman in my congregation who, early on in her marriage, began dealing with the trials of young marriage and the changes that it placed in her life.

"As she was dealing with those, she was really finding herself struggling with adjustment and depression and communication with her spouse. Through her relationship with us and through Cross Connections she has really come to find some more contentment and happiness and fulfillment in who she is now as a wife and who she is even as an individual in the midst of that relationship.

"That's really come through the things that she's learned – and grown an understanding about herself – through her work with Cross Connections."

Rev. Stacy Downing – Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, Fort Wayne