Crossroads Church senior pastor, John Smith recently announced his intention to transition out of the role of senior pastor, effective September 1, 2018. John and Phyllis Smith co-founded Crossroads in 1996, and John will have served as senior pastor for 23 years. “It will always be with overwhelming joy that I remember my time as Crossroads’ senior pastor,” Smith says. “I am amazed by the creative ways we worked together to create a church that is diverse; that welcomes, includes and loves all people and does all we can to further God’s kingdom here on earth.” Under his leadership, Crossroads grew to be a large, diverse, multi-generational church family serving northern Colorado. John most recently led the church through a financial and spiritual growth campaign called Daring Faith, which resulted in the addition of a Fort Collins campus and the development of the PEACE Plan for local and global compassion and justice ministries. “John has always taught and lived on the joy side of the Gospel,” says Pastor Dennis Anderson. “And thousands have responded to John’s humor, his practical insight and the invitation to get in on this Good News. People know that when John is preaching they’re going to go away feeling better than when they came.” Council member and treasurer, Jim Sturgis recalls, “My 1st time in Crossroads was Christmas Eve 2005. I hadn’t been to church for over 20 years. I professed to be an agnostic. John Smith at that service changed my life. My growth as a Christ Follower has been because of John and Crossroads. Thank you John and Phyllis for starting this amazing church. You both will be in my heart forever. Good luck and Godspeed in the next season of your lives.” In his message to the church, Pastor Smith said, “I am sad that this season is coming to a close, and at the same time I am happy to know that I will be able to devote more time to being with and caring for Phyllis as she continues her courageous battle with cancer… I plan to work part-time through the end of 2018 in a role to be determined by the Council and a new senior pastor.” A Council-selected, Member-affirmed Pastoral Search Team (PST) will begin work later this month. According to the Crossroads Church Constitution and Bylaws, the PST is tasked with conducting the search and selection process for a senior pastor and recommending one candidate to the membership of Crossroads Church. Smith concluded his announcement saying, “I have always felt God’s hand was on Crossroads in a special way… I have always believed God would do great things through this church. That has not changed—I still believe that. So, I am excited for the future of Crossroads and for what is next for Phyllis and me.” Pastor John Smith’s full announcement can be found here. Everyone is invited to attend a 10-minute meeting, immediately following each weekend service, July 21-22, 2018. Crossroads’ Council will introduce and recommend a Pastoral Search Team to oversee the hiring process for the next senior pastor of Crossroads Church. Members of Crossroads will vote to affirm the recommended search team. Search team bios can be found here. For questions and comments, please email [email protected].