My friend, Ron Ethridge has posted a blog about CrossPoint.  Click here to read it.

I sincerely appreciate Ron’s observations.  However, I think his opinion is skewed for two or three reasons.  One, Ron is a lifelong friend of mine, and I therefore believe he review is based more on his love for me than his serious critique of CrossPoint.  Two, Ron has only been our guest two or three times in the past five years, so his intimate knowledge of our church is lacking.  Three, I am confident there are many who would disagree with Ron, and they may have good reason for doing so.  With that said, however, I do appreciate Ron’s appraisal.  My prayer is that CrossPoint would someday embody each one of his glowing remarks.

Thank you, Ron.  You do know you are a CrossPointer at heart.  And, I trust you know how much our family of faith loves you.

Many of you know my lifelong friend, Ron Ethridge.  He has an affinity with CrossPoint, as do my other pastor friends, Buddy, John and Jimmy.

I am asking you to pray for Ron because he is currently searching for a church where he can serve as pastor.  Some of you may recall me recounting Ron’s story in a message last December.

In short, Ron followed a pastor who retired after two decades of service in the church.  As soon as Ron arrived, the church began growing and reaching many people for the Kingdom of God.  Just as soon as they turned the corner from the previous few years of stagnation, a small group of people decided they wanted to run Ron out of town.  The disgruntled few could not argue with his theology or his methodology.  Both were biblical.  Neither could they argue with his love for the people.  The small group just flat out did not want him to be their pastor.

John and I encouraged Ron to stick it out and fight the battle, if necessary.  Ron, on the other hand, was compelled by the Holy Spirit to resign and quietly walk away from the turmoil.  When I asked why he made the decision to leave, Ron said he did not want to impugn the character of Christ by saying or doing things that would have been unlike Christ.

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