Mega Mystery

This is a follow up to the blog where I bravely resisted the Super Mega-Church's Marketing Ploy to ensnare me with Kumbaya Coffee. I've always had an inquiring mind and enjoy reading what influences and molds people's visions. For example we know the influence Nietzsche had on Hitler and how Gandhi's non-violent demonstrations influenced Martin Luther King, Jr. Polar opposites to be sure, but each were influenced immensely by what fueled their vision and the same can be seen in the religious community. A Cincinnati Bible College student will have a vastly different perspective from a Church of England seminary graduate. So it's fair to assume that what you know decides how you grow. So, I pulled up Crossroads.net and to my surprise there wasn't one sentence about the leadership, who they are, or their qualifications. I saw a lot of hip feel good rhetoric, but I know from experience that corporations (and churches are incorporated) must disclose to the general public key officials, or fall guys, when the inevitable law suit occurs. The only exceptions to this are government contracted bids. Surely a "spiritual" institution is different than Halliburton even though they may employee the same amount of people?

Below are my investigative journalistic skills at work to uncover the plot by "The Man" to turn us into coffee drinking, musically gyrating "sheeple" that never question authority.

-----Original Message-----
From: Crossroads [mailto:postmaster@crossroads.net]
Sent: Monday, February 25, 2008 12:52 PM
To: generalmailbox
Subject: Message from Crossroads.net


Message regarding: General Questions

Message sent from: Don Franklin
Email Address: *&%$@yahoo.com
Message:
We visited for the first time this past Sunday and we liked what we saw. I find it odd that I can't find anything anywhere on the web page about the leadership. Am I missing something? It would be nice to know whom I'm entrusting my family's spiritual development to. Don


----- Original Message ----
From: "Russell, David"
To: *&%$@yahoo.com
Sent: Monday, March 3, 2008 2:34:00 PM
Subject: Response to a recent question you submitted to Crossroads

Hello Don,

We're glad that you and your family enjoy your experience at Crossroads.

In order to best answer your question, I'd love to know more about how you are defining leadership. Are you seeking to understand more about our Senior Pastor or something other than this? A huge foundational piece of Crossroads ties to the number of volunteers we have serving make everything happen here. In our Kids-- Club area, for example, the vast majority of folks we have teaching, engaging and caring for the kids are volunteers. I'd love to help you and ensure your questions are answered.

I'll also point you to the What We Believe piece we have at our Information Center and on the web. This can help provide some clarity about who we are and what we believe.

Excited to help. Have a great week.

David

David Russell
Director of First Impressions

-----Original Message-----
From: Don & Rosie Franklin [mailto:*&%$@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2008 12:22 AM
To: Russell, David
Subject: Re: Response to a recent question you submitted to Crossroads

Well, thanks. My question is still unanswered. Typically when you visit a church there are a number of ways to find out who's who. The web being an informative way to convey this, many churches use this catalyst as an opportunity to tell about their senior pastor, associate pastors and so on. Some sites even list the elders. This terminology may be too traditional for such a hip place but I found it odd that nothing is mentioned about anyone. That sends up a red flag to me. Why hide the major players? Perhaps I'm missing the innovative think tank Zen of "It's about the people, not us" type of contemporary enlightenment.

You may have an enormous amount of volunteers, as you mentioned, but every incorporated body has a single source of responsibility. As Reagan said, "Trust, but verify."

Thanks for the reply, I guess.

----- Original Message ----
From: "Russell, David"
To: Don & Rosie Franklin <*&%$@yahoo.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 4, 2008 4:16:44 PM
Subject: RE: Response to a recent question you submitted to Crossroads


Don,

Thank you for your response.

I'm sure you've discovered that we do very few things like a traditional church. This is intentional.

We've made intentional decisions to not promote individuals. As Brian said this weekend, we're all normal people who feel called to what God is going in our community.

We do have a Spiritual Board of Directors who has responsibility and ultimate authority over the strategic vision of Crossroads (akin to 'Elders').

Our Senior Pastor is in submission to this Board of Directors, as well.

There's nothing hidden here, if we highlighted all the major players at Crossroads, the content stream would be vast and varied and would probably include more volunteers than staff. That's just who we are and how we have moved over the past twelve years.

Thanks again for checking us out.


Blessings,

David
David Russell

Director of First Impressions
Phone: (513) 731-7400 x576

David was very kind in his responses, but suspiciously still vague. I still don't know shit from shinola about the leadership. The last time my questions were thwarted concerning a spiritual leader was when I was accosted by followers of this guy



Who knew when you questioned whether aliens in a volcano are really responsible for all bad things that you would be ostracized? Ah, Ron, but what might have been? Back to the issue at hand, thank goodness for the power of Google. I was able to secure a photo of the culprits responsible for the enjoyment of over 2,000 members during four services every Sunday.



Brian Tome Sr. (left), pastor of Community Crossroads Church, church ministry development director Cyndi King (center), and associate pastor Brian Wells. Not exactly the Axis of Evil, but rumor has it that Brian was a used car salesman from Cleveland. Can anything good come from Cleveland?


I decided to dig deeper and interview a former member with direct ties to the leadership in question. The individual shall remain anonymous, but Marty said it's the best Christian nightclub experience he's ever been a part of. He also said that you can take part in exotic mission trips to places like India where you can see poor starving people in their nature habitat and build hospitals that are shut down after the American volunteers leave for lack of funding.


This rained on my parade a little, but I won't be deterred from seeking spiritual development while enjoying premium free trade coffee and watching relevant movie clips like Jerry Maguire mixed with scripture. I never imagined a connection could be made from a minor prophet of Israel such as Malachi and a money hungry agent like Maguire, but apparently the message is the same, "Show Me the Money!"