New Crosswinds Church hosts gas giveaway event
The Monrovia/Harvest community will soon be home to a new United Methodist congregation. CrossWinds Church hopes to begin holding services early in 2008.
Michael and Suzanne Katschke currently are full-time associate pastors at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church.
"Assisting us in getting CrossWinds up and off the ground is a launch team of thirty families. They are amazing people who are very committed to our mission and vision," she said.
The mission statement of CrossWinds Church consists of two words: Get real. "We want people to experience real life, real people and real faith by understanding that God is a passionate God that desires for us to live lives of joy, hope and excitement," she said.
Michael and Suzanne felt a "call from God" to start a new congregation years ago. With the growth in the Monrovia and Harvest area, they wanted to start a contemporary, casual-dress church that would make a difference, and at the same time, serve the community.
The Katschkes have lived in this area for approximately 20 years. Michael was born in Las Vegas and moved to the Athens area after a tour of duty in the U.S. Air Force. He has been a pastor for six years.
Suzanne, a self-proclaimed "military brat," eventually settled in Alabama. She was an English teacher at Discovery Middle School in Madison for ten years prior to entering the ministry. She has been a pastor for three years.
They have one daughter, Savannah, currently a student at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
The Katschkes and members of the CrossWinds launch team held "The Great Gas Giveaway" Sept. 27. Approximately 150 people received $10 worth of free gas. Launch team members paid for the gas. "We wanted to show people the love of Christ in a real way," she said.
CrossWinds Church will hold monthly preview services Oct. 14, Nov. 11 and Dec 9. CrossWinds will host two services monthly in January, February, and March 2008.
The official launch date is Easter Sunday in 2008. Weekly services will begin at this time.
All services will be held in the fellowship hall of Good Shepherd United Methodist Church at 1481 Old Railroad Bed Road, at the intersection of Old Railroad Bed and Capshaw roads.
The organizing members have secured property for the future permanent home of CrossWinds Church. The 20-acre parcel of land is located at 8089 Wall Triana, one-mile north of the intersection of Nick Davis Road and Wall Triana.
For more information on CrossWinds Church, call 256-797-1914, send email to suzanne@crosswindschurch.net or michael@crosswindschurch.net or visit the Web site www.crosswindschurch.net.
