Crossing Life Change

These Stories Will Rock Your Face Off.

We've been watching God change lives in miraculous ways since 2004. This site is just a small glimpse of how God's grace - through Jesus - works to bring freedom and life change to the people of The Crossing, their friends and their families. Here's where we share them with you!

Share your own life change story by using the Share Your Story! tab above.

Journey From Hurt to Hope | The Crossing Church, Elk River, MN

My Grandma that I called mom (because she and my Grandpa adopted me right when I was born) died when I was 12, and my Grandpa started to physically abuse me. Through a series of events, I was put in foster care. I went through many foster homes in less than two years. I was hospitalized three times for trying to kill myself. I didn't want to be alive if no one wanted me around.

The last foster home I went to was the home of a pastor. He made me start going to church. I really enjoyed it for a while, but at that point in my life I had relationship issues and did not trust anyone. So when I was 18, I moved out.

I was still dealing with my depression and anxiety and I lost my job for anger issues. After that, I was hospitalized four more times. I had become homeless five times because I could not get along with anyone. I just wanted to leave the world.

Finally when I thought I was ready to just die, someone gave me a chance. He and his mom let me live with them. [They invited me to church and] I remember wanting to go, but didn't think anything of it because I still wanted to die. I started taking more doses of my medications to numb the pain.

I finally went with them to The Crossing on Mother's Day of 2013. I attended and headed home again. I went off-and-on for about a month.

Then one day I walked into church and listened to Pastor Eric's talk. I had always listened to him, but this time I really listened. I don't remember what the series was, but it just tore my heart open. As the giving basket went by, I put my phone number in there to get more information about volunteering. I didn't know why, but something was telling me that I should volunteer just to get my mind off of things. And I did. I started volunteering. As I continued to volunteer, I started feeling hopeful. I started reading the Bible. I started praying a whole lot more.

I still have the scars on my arms from cutting so deep. Yes, I still have those memories, but God has entered my life, and changed it. I can look at those scars and move on. I still think about the past, but ever since I started going to The Crossing, my anxiety has almost completely gone. I do not worry as much. I have forgiven my Grandpa and we have a good relationship now.

Because of The Crossing and because of Jesus, I know that I am loved by God. I know that if I don't put myself first, great things will come my way. I am able to have faith in God because I know He has faith in me. I do not let the monsters overcome anymore. God is my leader and gives me the power to overcome anything that brings me down. Because of God, I'm not suicidal anymore and I have a bright future ahead of me. Thanks for helping me see that!

Shannon's Story | The Crossing Church, Elk River, MN

For the past six years I've been battling an eating disorder. I've been in and out of treatment centers too many times to count, trying to find a purpose in life and to overcome this deadly disease. Doctors told me I wouldn't make it another year if I didn't get better. I felt like my life was slowly but surely ending, even though I was only a teenager. I had absolutely no hope in life anymore. I started isolating myself from everyone I once had a relationship with. I dropped out of high school my sophomore year because I simply did not have energy to go. I also quit the sport that I had been doing my whole life (swimming). A couple years after, I gave up on going to treatment. I wasn't making any improvements and my health was decreasing day by day.

This was my life up until a year ago.

Last October I decided to give recovery another try. I started seeing a therapist again to start working on gaining my life back. During one of my sessions she suggested I should try going to church. I was hesitant about that idea, but I decided to give it a try. Little did I know that Sunday was going to be a life-changing experience.

I stepped foot into The Crossing and automatically felt hope. I had chills running down my spine throughout the whole service. It seemed like God was by my side the whole time. I can't really explain the feeling, but I knew that this was EXACTLY what I needed. After that service I decided to give my life to God and to get baptized.

I was starting to see why I was still alive.

I've been attending The Crossing ever since. I'm still seeing my therapist and I'm still in the recovery process, but God has given me a whole new outlook on life and what it means. Over the past year I've made incredible progress in recovery. I graduated high school, I'm currently in my second year of college, and I have a job. Even though I'm not fully recovered from my disease, I now have faith and hope that I can get better. The Crossing has changed my life for the better and I can't thank you guys enough.

I'm Shannon. I'm 19 years old, and this is my story.

Flushed Her Addiction Down The Toilet | The Crossing Church, Elk River, MN

I just wanted to thank everyone at The Crossing, especially Pastors Eric & Kelly. I started coming to church about two months ago. When I first started coming, I was addicted to pain meds and was a completely negative person who was afraid to do stuff because [of the way] people judge you. Since coming to The Crossing and hearing about Grace On Tap, Kingdom Come and now Ace Your Test, my life is completely changed. I am no longer addicted to pain meds. In fact, I just flushed everything I had down the toilet before sitting down to tell you my story. I never had the strength to do this before, and now I am strong in Christ.

I was baptized two weeks ago and life got really hard after. I was struggling with lust for men other than my fiancé, and just felt like a bad person. After tonight's sermon I am completely changed. I just really want to say thank you. You all have no idea how much I have changed. Everyone around me [has been asking] what's been different, and I tell them my story about finding faith and some of the supernatural things that have happened since.

I am trying out for the band to give back to God with the talent I have. I don't know where I would be at this point in my life if I didn't have this church helping me grow in my faith and strength in Christ. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. My 11-month old daughter also wants to thank you for helping her mom not lose herself to addiction. Thank you for teaching me about faith and grace and Christ. Because of this, I can be a better mom than I ever thought possible. Because of this, I am stronger. Because of this, I will never ever fail in life ever again. Because I have this church and, most importantly, because I now have Christ. Thank you again to everyone! Pastors Eric & Kelly, I hope this letter gets to you guys. You rock! I love seeing you every week. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

James' Story | The Crossing Church, Elk River, MN

"My name is James, and God's message of grace completely changed my life."

This is James' story.

 

This video was shown during week 1 of The Crossing's GRACE ON TAP series.

CLICK HERE for more info about Eric Dykstra's book Grace On Tap.

CLICK HERE to watch the whole talk.

CLICK HERE to contribute to Life Change at The Crossing.

God Provides In Unexpected Way!

My husband and I give each week - not because we have to but because it's on our hearts to give.  In the past, I used to question deep down if we should be giving more.  Then, after a recent weekend at The Crossing, the Holy Spirit spoke to me and my husband and we had a conversation about giving more.  We both thought that maybe we weren't giving as much as we should be.  

The next Monday, after Heroes of the House, my husband mentioned that he had given some money (this was Monday).  What he didn't realize was that the amount he gave was literally all that we had in our checking account!  It's been a stressful year financially, so while he only gave a little - it was all we had.  When he told me I was like, "Oh, crap!  That's all we have until Wednesday babe!"  We both decided to leave it up to God.  

He had been offered a new job, and on Tuesday he was planning on giving his notice to his current employer.  My husband had been praying that this would work out smoothly and mutually.  Before he could put in his notice, he was called into the office and informed that they were letting him go!  This is an awesome work of God!  God is so good!  

It may sound a little weird for someone to say that losing a job is great, because for most people in that situation it's not a good thing.  However, NOT ONLY did God give my husband a new job offer BUT he was told his current company (who just let him go) would be paying him for three more weeks and extending his insurance to the end of the month!  This was a HUGE blessing for us!  

My husband was able to start his new job today!  God always comes in and provides, and He ALWAYS comes in at the right time!  Through losing a job and being given a new one, we actually came out ahead financially!  We had planned on a certain amount of money, but I realize that it's not our plans that matter - it's God's plans that matter.  

Thank you for reading.  I really wanted to share this because if you had asked me about giving a year ago, I would have been in fear of not having 'enough'.  BUT I've seen the powerful work of God and He NEVER fails!  

Bri's Story | The Crossing Church, Elk River, MN

This is Bri's life change story.

 

CLICK HERE to contribute to Life Change at The Crossing.

 

My Baptism Journey

I've loved and sought after the Lord for 12 years, offering my life to him, my heart and my will.  I read by Bible all the time, and people nicknamed me "preach" in the past.  I have been married for 8 years and have one beautiful little girl.  

In 2010 I became sick with a a rare disease (endometriosis) and it caused me to cough blood.  In summber of 2012, The Crossing pastors laid hands on me and prayed for total healing for me.  A couple weeks later I found a specialist in Atlanta, GA who had worked wih women like me before.  In September 2012 I traveled with my family to Georgia.  I had 9 procedures and 6 surgeries (that included part of my lung being removed).  

It was a very, very hard recovery.  The depression and lost feelings that followed was somwhere I had never been, somewhere I never thought I'd be, and somewhere I was very embarrassed to be.  I suddenly doubt everything - even my own faith.  My body had been healed, the endometriosis was removed, but my soul was a complete mess.  

Here is my journal entry before Baptism (on 7/14):  "I feel like I can't go on too often lately... My only strength is you [God], my only salvation or love is because of and in you.  But being here stuck here on eath with these hard hard issues every day I can't heal from old ones because new ones don't stop coming... I'm scared and unclear of what's right or where to go.  I can't stand the assaulting stress and hurt day in and day out.  What am I to do Lord?  I am angry."  

I finally made it back to the House of God on 7/27/13 during the Heirs to the Throne series.  Pastor Eric talked about how we have strength in the Lord and how we can overcome the enemy.  I was invited to be baptized the next day.  

Journal entry after baptism (7/28): "I was baptized today.  I married my Lord Jesus.  My daughter was with me.  I am so at peace and in awe of His love."  

Journal entry a few days later (8/1): "Jesus, thank you so much for giving me "ears to hear."  Thank you so much for reviving me... Thank you for the price you paid and for not leaving us along.  How strange, I never really expected such a dramatic shift in consciousness as a result of baptism... There is a new fire in my spirit, Lord.  What once was uncontrolled, misdirected and misunderstood pain and anger has now [changed] into a warm blaze in my soul.  I see now my anger is at the enemy and not the person.  That God did not bring the hardships on my life, but the enemy.  And I see I can hurt the enemy and overcome it with love, and Your grace and compassion!"

I am now listening for the Holy Spirit and following Jesus in a way I never understood before.  I am so grateful and feel so privileged.  Before being baptized I would come to church randomly and would be so nervous and scared to tlak to anyone - constantly having doubtful and negative thoughts (which was odd because in the "world" I am a very social outgoing person, holding a management position in sales requiring me to reach out to new people!).  Now I see it was the enemy coming between me and the beautiful Body of Christ.  

Joel's Story

Joel shares his Life Change story: 

CLICK HERE to get more information about Crossing Recovery.  

Found Our Church Home!

I would like to say a HUGE thank you to Pastor Eric and the whole Crossing Team. I started going to your church about two months ago. It was right before the time capsules. I remember one of the questions being “Who would you talk to about God this year”. I put down my boyfriend.

My boyfriend was born and raised in a very strict Catholic home, while I grew up going to First Assemblies of God. We have been together for five years now, and I knew sooner or later the issue would come up as to what church we would be married in and what church we would choose to raise our children in. I tried for four years going to Catholic churches with his family but I never liked them. I have struggled to find a church that I liked as much as my old church back home, but after two Sundays at The Crossing, I knew I found the one.

The third Sunday at your church I invited my boyfriend to come with me and he did. He has continued to come with me every Sunday since. On Easter, we invited his parents to join us. While they were not fond of the style, he did not hesitate to openly tell them how much he loves The Crossing. Then on Friday night, I heard him tell all his friends that he was born and raised a Catholic, but is now a Christian and he invited them to come with us on Sundays too.

I can’t thank God and The Crossing enough for what you have done. I have no doubt in my mind that The Crossing will be our church and our children’s church. Thank you.

March 2013 Baptisms

In this previous post we talked about how many people were baptized over Easter at The Crossing.  223 PEOPLE!  That's huge!  

All of these baptisms were recorded, and all the baptism videos are available to watch on Pastor Eric's blog.  Click HERE to check them out and celebrate the life change that has taken place over the month of March!!