“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener… Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.” — John 15:1-5 (NLT)
A Message from the Lead Pastor
Dear Crossroads Family,
We are grateful for an exceptionally fruitful year. Our vision is clear—to help spiritually lost people get found and learn to live free in Jesus—and in 2025, we witnessed a stunning harvest as this vision was realized right here in Napoleon.
The numbers you will read below are not just data; they are evidence of life change. From a 43% growth in our community to a 240% increase in freedom ministry appointments, we are seeing God move in unprecedented ways.
This significant growth presents a challenge: when a healthy vine bears much fruit, its supporting structure—the trellis or “frame”—must be reinforced.
Our theme for the coming year is Framing for Fruit.
The 2026 budget and strategic plan are designed to “catch up” to the harvest God has already sent. We are making strategic investments in staffing and structure to ensure that every person who walks through our doors can be connected, matured, and partnered with.
Thank you for your faith and partnership.
In Christ,
2025 Metrics: The Story of the Fruit
Our mission is to equip people to Connect, Mature, and Partner. Here is the tangible evidence of that mission in action during 2025.
1. Connect at a Heart Level: People finding their place in the family.
| Metric | 2025 Total | Growth (vs 2024) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active People in Database | 1,456 | +43% | This represents everyone engaged at some level within the last year. It is the true measure of our relational influence in Henry County. |
| Average Attendance | 357 | +23% | Consistent growth in our weekly worship gatherings. |
| Connect/Youth Group Involvement | 274 | +25% | People moving from rows to circles! And we know, Church life happens better in circles rather than rows! |
2. Mature in Jesus: People growing deep in their walk with Christ.
| Metric | 2025 Total | Growth (vs 2024) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fully Engaged Disciples | 489 | +34% | Defined as those serving and/or in a group. |
| Freedom Ministry Appts | 17 | +240% | Individual appointments for deep inner healing and deliverance! |
| Baptisms | 19 | N/A | Public declarations of faith. |
💡 Insight: Why are there more “Partners” (489) than “Average Attenders” (357)?
You might notice our number of committed Partners is higher than our average Sunday attendance. This was a surprise to some, but it is actually great news! It means our “Church Family” is much larger than who sits in the seats on a single Sunday.
Since the average committed Christian in America attends church about 1.8 times a month, our “Average Attendance” is just a weekly snapshot. However, our “Partner” number proves our committed core is nearly 500 strong and growing. We are building for a family of 500+, not just the 357 present on a given week (Barna Study).
3. Partner with Him: People using their gifts to serve and give generously.
| Metric | 2025 Total | Growth (vs 2024) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Teams | 19 | +111% | New teams created to manage ministry load. |
| Active Servers | 234 | +35% | Individuals serving on a team. |
| Missions Supported | 6 | +100% | Doubled our external mission partners. |
Financial Summary: The 2025 Snapshot
2025 was a year of surplus. While our expenses grew to support ministry, the generosity of the church outpaced our spending.
2025 Operating Summary
- Total Giving (General Fund + Building Fund): $659,318.98
- Total Expenditures: $574,139.00
- Net Position: +$85,179.98 (Surplus)
Current Financial Position (Year End)
- Cash on Hand: $98,479.76
- Note: Our philosophy is to maintain approx. 2 months of operating expenses on hand. This balance is after a strategic, additional $30,000 principal payment was made on the mortgage in November.
- Total Debt Paid in 2025: $147,684.00
- Remaining Mortgage: $772,187.52
This healthy financial position allows us to approach the increased budget of 2026 with confidence and faith.
Framing for Fruit: The 2026 Budget
To sustain our momentum, we are proposing a $692,769.35 budget for 2026.
This represents a 22.05% increase over the 2025 budget, driven by two strategic structural changes.
1. Strategic Investment in People (Staffing)
Personnel Budget: $395,169.78 (57% of Total)
Ministry happens through people, not programs. In mid-2025, we made critical staff additions to organize our Connect Groups, Youth and Children’s Ministries, and Service Teams. This budget annualizes those roles, ensuring every new person has a leader to guide and resource them.
2. Simplifying Our Stewardship (Debt Consolidation)
Mortgage Payment: $120,156.00
To streamline our financial reporting, the debt from the former construction loan has been converted to a standard mortgage and integrated into the General Fund. Consequently, the General Fund now accurately reflects the comprehensive cost of ministry operations combined with the facilities mortgage.
The Building Fund will continue to operate, serving to help service the mortgage and as a dedicated savings vehicle for future capital expenditures once the mortgage is eliminated.
While the current schedule projects the mortgage elimination in eight years, our Management team is aggressively focused on reducing debt. Lord willing, we aim to shorten this payoff timeline to five or six years, as surplus funds permit.
2026 Proposed Budget Breakdown*
| Category | 2026 Budget | % of Budget | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operations & Facility | $73,028.00 | 10.54% | Utilities, Maintenance, Insurance, Tech. |
| Debt Service | $120,156.00 | 17.34% | Mortgage payments (Consolidated). |
| Personnel/Staffing | $395,169.78 | 57.04% | Wages, Benefits, Health Care, & Training for all staff. |
| Ministry Programming | $30,000.00 | 4.33% | Kids, Worship, Youth, Hospitality supplies. |
| Missions & Outreach | $74,415.58 | 10.74% | We strive to give at least a 10% “Tithe” to outside missions & local outreach, with hopes to grow this percentage as our budget grows! |
| TOTAL | $692,769.35 | 100% |
*Context: Is our Church Budget Healthy? For reference, Crossroads Church currently operates with an annual budget of approx. $700k, serving an estimated “active family” of 500 people. While our average weekly attendance is 357, our engaged ministry involvement is much higher (489 Partners). This budget aligns with healthy benchmarks for a church of our size and influence.
The Gap is Our Opportunity
Is this budget achievable? The data says yes!
We are building this budget on faith, but it is not blind faith. In 2025, you generously gave $659,318.98, showing incredible commitment to this family. However, the data reveals a powerful opportunity:
- Our Ministry Reach grew by +43%
- Our Average Attendance grew by +23%
- Our Giving grew by +9%
This gap isn’t a deficit; it’s an invitation and an opportunity!
We are building this budget on the faith that God will continue to mature the harvest He has sent us. As new attendees transition from “guests” to active “Gospel Partners,” we fully anticipate the necessary funding will follow the spiritual fruit, supporting the framework required for this next season.
Should you have any specific questions or comments about this report, please reach out to a staff member.
