From the time Randy Hinshaw started attending Crossroads Church of Monticello, Illinois, five years ago, he knew the pastors and elders were praying about a church plant in neighboring Bement, a town of 1800 people. “Because I happen to live in Bement,” Randy says, “I thought I’d be the elder who would help the new guy launch the church—only that guy never showed up!” he laughs. Through a series of God-ordained events, Crossroads Bement is ready for launch this fall, with Randy at the helm. Armed with a strong launch team, great location, and tons of prayer, Randy sees God’s hand at work in every step, in everything from the launch team that’s already tithing toward the church plant, to the 1897 Ben Franklin Hardware Store that became available for an exclusive-use lease. And just as Crossroads will bring new life into an old building through contemporary worship, they are trusting God to revitalize people’s hearts and minds through hands-on ministry and relevant, Biblical teaching.
It’s already happening. Following up on a tip that a woman in Bement needed help getting back on her feet, Crossroads not only helped her secure the permits necessary to sell her baked goods at the local farmer’s market, but also advertised about her booth through social media as well. Selling out on her first day of business was just the boost she needed—in a big way. She later admitted that her situation was so desperate she was close to ending her life. Thanks to the outreach efforts of the new church plant, she now faithfully attends services—something she hasn’t done since she went to church as a little girl with the Grandma who taught her how to bake!
“What I’m hoping,” says Randy, “is that we can generate a successful model that can begin birthing smaller church plants.” After all, Crossroads Monticello itself is just a congregation of 300 people, proving you don’t have to be a big congregation to do great things for God. “I’m really excited about taking a small town and creating hubs of ministry around it,” says Randy. “It’s all part of reaching the lost and moving into all the world, small towns included!” To learn more, just give Randy a call at 217.714.6770.
