For those of you still wondering, CrossCulture is an event that happens twice a year that focuses on taking students down into the city of Hamilton and showing the love of God to the community in a variety of ways. More than that, CrossCulture is an opportunity to serve God by obeying his command to serve "the least of these." By engaging in CrossCulture, we are clearly able to communicate our love for God and the community in a tangible and visible way. These acts of service may take many forms. At CrossCulture, you may find yourself making lunch for people who can't afford to buy their own. Maybe you'll clean pews, clear out someone's garage or even just pick up trash in a public park. In a city such as Hamilton, there seems to be no shortage of kind deeds that we can do for the local community. CrossCulture also opens your eyes to organizations and people groups that are present in Hamilton that are sometimes overlooked. By lending a helping hand for the day, we are able to show these organizations that we love them and care for them and appreciate everything that they do within the community on a year-round schedule.
CrossCulture is also a time of corporate worship with fellow believers. Before embarking on your mission for the day, all of the participants meet at a church for breakfast and enjoy a nice meal and a great time of fellowship. Once our bellies are full, we have a time of worship and prayer where we ask God to work through us and in the hearts of the people that we are there to serve. After a speaker ministers to the crowd, we are broken up into groups to be sent to the locations that we will be serving at for the day. By splitting the group up, we are able to work effectively and efficiently in many different areas all around Hamilton. Lunch is spent at our work sites and is a time where we can discuss what we are learning and how we can use what we learn for the glory of God. After working for another little while after lunch, we return to the church and finish off our day with a time of praise and reflection on what amazing things God has done during the day.
CrossCulture is more than just a day-trip into Hamilton. It is hard work that is extremely rewarding both mentally and spiritually. Every time I engage in CrossCulture I feel as though God uses all of the pieces to speak to us each personally - teaching us and encouraging us to become more like Jesus.
So... if you have never done CrossCulture, don't miss out on what will be an amazing opportunity to serve and an incredible environment in which to grow. The theme for Fall 2013 is "Falling into Place: How Geography and Mission Collide." Sign up here today.
- Scott