Who We Are
Located in Waterloo, Iowa, Crossroads Community is a modern-styled church whose people wholeheartedly strive to live out a mission of loving God deeply and sharing the grace and unconditional love of Jesus Christ with everyone we meet in our daily lives. We firmly believe that a life firmly rooted in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is absolutely vital for truly meaningful living. As we continue to live and grow in our relationship with God, He empowers and enables us to positively impact the lives around us by sharing God's love in tangible ways.
We are a church that is wholeheartedly driven by the great commandment to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself.” As we faithfully fulfill the great commandment, we are naturally and joyfully called to love others deeply and openly share the powerful message of God’s love and forgiveness with our community and the world around us. We are a friendly, laid-back church community where everyone can feel welcome.
Our worship style is very upbeat and blended, and we believe people of all ages will feel comfortable and embraced here. You don’t need to worry at all about what you wear when you come to worship. God will be here with us regardless of how you are dressed. We happily welcome jeans, t-shirts, and flip-flops. No ties, suits, or fancy dresses are necessary — but you are always more than welcome to "dress up" if you prefer. Just try to be appropriately modest and respectful to others.
What is a Nazarene?
The Church of the Nazarene stands as the largest denomination within the classical Wesleyan-Holiness tradition. A key doctrine that uniquely distinguishes the Church of the Nazarene, along with other Wesleyan denominations, from most other Christian groups is the teaching of entire sanctification. Nazarenes hold the belief that God calls every Christian to pursue a life of holy living, which is characterized by a transformative act of God that cleanses the heart from original sin while simultaneously filling the individual with a profound love for both God and humankind.
Established in Pilot Point, Texas, in October 1908, the Church of the Nazarene has grown significantly and now embraces approximately 2.5 million members worshiping together in over 30,000 local congregations spanning 162 different world areas.
What do we believe?
Who is God?
We believe that there is one God, revealed as Father, as Son (Jesus Christ), and as Holy Spirit. We believe that He created everything that is in existence, including people. We believe that He loves people and that He wants people to live fulfilling lives, made possible by enjoying a personal relationship with Him, and with other people.
What is the Bible, and what is it for?
We believe that God inspired normal people, who enjoyed a vital relationship with God, to write the books of the Old and New Testaments. We believe the purpose of the Bible is to tell God's story, a story of His love, which is why it contains all truth necessary for faith and Christian living.
Why do we need God?
God wants authentic relationships with people, so he created them with the ability to choose to love him or not. This ability to choose allowed the first people to break their relationship with God. Since that time all people are born with a natural tendency toward wrongdoing (sin). People need a thriving relationship with God in order to enjoy thriving relationships with other people, in the way God designed us to live. Unfortunately, without some kind of intervention from God, sin makes it impossible for people to enjoy a relationship with God.
How can we "fix" the relationship problem?
Unfortunately, there is nothing a person can do to get a personal relationship with God - apart from God, that is. Because God is Holy, our sinful nature can only be fixed by death. However, since God loves us, He makes reconciliation possible through Jesus Christ who took our punishment (death) upon himself, in our place. Because of this, anyone who sincerely regrets their wrongdoing, believes in Jesus as the Forgiver, and asks for that forgiveness, will enjoy a restored relationship with God (salvation). The Holy Spirit is present and active before, during, and after this moment.
What happens after we let God restore the relationship?
We believe that forgiven people (believers) ought to strive to learn more about God and strengthen the relationship with Him. This process of growth will always be accompanied by deeper relationships with others. Through this growth process, we believe that a time will come when the Holy Spirit will cause a desire for a deeper, gracious work of cleansing (sanctification) - also made possible by Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is present and active before, during, and after this moment, helping us to continue to grow closer and closer to Him every day.
What is beyond this life?
We believe that God promises an eternal reward for those people who have faithfully and continuously engaged in a personal relationship with Him. Someday, Jesus Christ, who is now alive in Heaven, will come back to take believers (both alive and dead) to live with Him in Heaven, eternally.
