When I was sixteen, my dad taught me how to keep my 1972 Pontiac Tempest running. It wasn’t the prettiest car on the road, but it had character—and a lot of little problems.
Whenever it wouldn’t start, Dad would walk me through a simple diagnostic: Is it getting fuel? We’d smell the carburetor. Is it getting air? We’d check the intake. And then came the part I dreaded most: Is it getting spark? He’d hand me a screwdriver and say, “Hold this between the spark plug and the wire while I crank the engine. You’ll see if it’s firing.”
That was terrifying for a teenager. I had visions of being launched across the driveway. But he’d say the same thing every time: “Usually, that’s the problem. The engine needs a little spark.”
Decades later, that moment still sticks with me, not just because of the jolt I never actually received, but because of the wisdom in my dad’s words.
Sometimes, all you need is a spark.
That’s why Crossroads Fellowship exists—and why we’ve built our community around five core values that together form the acrostic SPARK:
- Shared Theology
- Professional Development
- Applicational Diversity
- Regular Interaction
- Kingdom Impact
These five principles are more than a checklist—they’re the spark that keeps the engine of our fellowship running. Without them, we stall. With them, we move forward in faith, purpose, and unity.
S – Shared Theology: Our Common Fuel
Every engine needs fuel. For us, it’s shared theology.
We believe in the authority of God’s Word, the exclusivity of Christ, salvation by grace through faith, believer’s baptism, and the essential doctrines that define our evangelical Baptist heritage. This is our common ground—the truth that unites us.
Paul urged Timothy to “guard the good deposit entrusted to you” (2 Timothy 1:14, ESV). That deposit wasn’t money or influence. It was doctrine. Theology matters—not as an abstract system, but as the foundation of faithful ministry.
Shared theology means we can trust each other. We’re not headed in different directions. We’re aligned in our understanding of the gospel and our mission to proclaim it.
P – Professional Development: Tuning the Engine
Engines need maintenance. So do pastors and leaders.
The second value in SPARK reminds us that growth is essential. Paul wrote, “Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress” (1 Timothy 4:15). Leaders should be growing, not just in knowledge, but in wisdom, character, and competence.
Professional development isn’t about climbing a ministry ladder. It’s about becoming more like Jesus as we serve His church. That’s why we invest in training, mentoring, and resourcing pastors at every stage of ministry—from the newly ordained to the nearly retired.
Because when leaders grow, the church grows.
A – Applicational Diversity: One Gospel, Many Roads
The same spark plugs fit in many engines, but they fire differently depending on the design.
That’s how we see the gospel: the same truth applied uniquely in different contexts. Paul said, “I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22). That’s applicational diversity.
Our fellowship includes a diverse range of churches, from urban to rural, incorporating both large congregations and small gatherings. We preach the same gospel, but we apply it differently—contextually, creatively, and faithfully.
We don’t confine everyone to one mold. We celebrate the uniqueness of each church while remaining unified in message. That’s not compromise—it’s wisdom.
R – Regular Interaction: Keeping the System Connected
Even a good engine needs regular starts—or it seizes up.
Ministry can be a lonely experience. That’s why regular interaction is essential. The early church “devoted themselves… to the fellowship” (Acts 2:42). Not just potlucks or polite handshakes, but koinonia—shared life.
At Crossroads, we believe in authentic relationships. That’s why we prioritize cohort gatherings, prayer huddles, retreats, and conferences. We check in with one another, share laughter, and sometimes cry together.
Isolation breeds burnout. Connection breeds endurance.
K – Kingdom Impact: Driving Toward Something Greater
The goal of a running engine isn’t just noise—it’s movement.
We exist not just for fellowship’s sake, but for the advancement of God’s Kingdom. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). That command wasn’t given to individual churches in isolation—it was given to a people on mission together.
Kingdom impact means we plant new churches, develop new leaders, revitalize declining congregations, and send workers into harvest fields both near and far. It means we rejoice when another church succeeds—even if it’s not ours—because we’re not building empires; we’re building the Kingdom.
We’re not just polishing chrome. We’re moving toward a mission.
Why SPARK Matters
Each of these values—shared theology, professional development, applicational diversity, regular interaction, and kingdom impact—plays a vital role. Together, they create the spark that ignites hope, courage, collaboration, and transformation in our fellowship.
They keep us from becoming stale or stalled. They pull us out of silos and into partnership. They remind us that what we do matters—and that we’re not doing it alone.
You may be leading a church that feels small. You may feel overwhelmed, under-resourced, or unseen. But the story isn’t over. As my dad would say:
“Sometimes all it takes is a spark.”
The Spark Is Here
If you are a member of Crossroads Fellowship, embrace these values. Allow them to influence how you lead, connect with others, and pray.
If you’re new or just exploring, know this: we aren’t a perfect fellowship. But we are a genuine one, bound by grace, truth, and a desire to see the name of Jesus lifted high in every corner of Indiana and beyond.
So, let’s keep the engine running, check for spark, and move forward—together—for the glory of God and the good of His church.
“Fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you…”
—2 Timothy 1:6
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