Crosswind is a board-led nonprofit outreach organization (parachurch) in Corinth, Mississippi. Board members voluntarily serve to hold fast the vision of the organization. The Community Ministries Director (Bobby Capps D-Div) is charged with implementing the vision, identity and values of Crosswind by handling all the day to day responsibilities and decisions of the ministry and by equipping and empowering those participating in our mission. Crosswind is located at 703 Tate Street in Corinth, Mississippi.

Beginnings

Crosswind had its humble beginnings as a bible study of 14 people and has since exploded into a vibrant outreach ministry. In the wake of hurricane Katrina in August of 2005, many people from the gulf coast were forced north into Mississippi and into our community. In a matter of days, our small bible study created a resource command center and fed over 150 people daily for over a month while they tried to put their lives back together. We aided in securing housing, clothes, and jobs for those who lost everything. This relief action showed us that there was a huge need for community outreach...and not only in a disaster situation...but also in everyday life struggles as well. In the early months of 2006, God brought together our core group of 20 adults and we cast the vision for Crosswind.

Identity

Crosswind is a nonprofit outreach ministry called to meet spiritual and physical needs in our community. Our vision is simple: Reach Up and Reach Out. We “Reach Up” to Christ with love and devotion through study and worship. We “Reach Out” to others in our community utilizing our individual call and giftedness in combination with the unlimited resources of the kingdom of God flowing in and around us. We want to provide practical opportunities for service by networking with other kingdom-minded organizations and publicizing their needs.

We believe the Scriptures teach that once someone begins to follow Jesus, he or she is now a minister. Therefore, all of us have a responsibility not simply to consume, but to partner with one another, own the mission together, and discover how we can utilize our time, gifts, and resources to strategically make the most significant impact possible. We are seeking, pursuing and praying for the well-being and prosperity of our city. Here you find the heart of Jesus beating within a gathering of externally focused people. This is the identity of Crosswind!

The Power Of Kindness

We have seen the power and impact of showing God's love in practical ways through simple acts of servant evangelism. Servant evangelism is a basic, straightforward approach to sharing God’s love in simple, practical ways. It wins the heart before it confronts the mind. A small act of kindness nudges a person closer to God, often in a profound way as it bypasses ones mental defenses. When the average Christ-follower is willing to do a simple act of kindness for a stranger, the high grace is seen in the typical reaction, "Oh, thank you! This is so nice!" And, "Why are you doing this?" Kindness builds a bridge for the person to receive a touch of love from God. It's simple, practical, effective, inexpensive and fun! We want to release the "regular" Christ-followers to live the Jesus-style life of noticing and responding to those around us with kindness, love and generosity.

Crosswind Target Groups

The Marginalized - We offer community to those who have no community… partnering with God who “sets the lonely in families”. (Duet 10:18, Ps 68:6)<br />
The City - We pursue the prosperity and welfare of our city for “its peace is our peace”.(Jer 29:7)

Core Values

We lead by example.<br />
We serve with humility and not presumption.<br />
We are pursuing social justice (care for the marginalized).<br />
We are pursuing relational unity (social, racial, denominational).<br />
We have learned what it means” to meet Jesus’ desire for mercy and not sacrifice.<br />
We define ministry as meeting someone else’s needs with the resources that God has entrusted to us.<br />
We value excellence, creativity, and ingenuity. We are artist and architects not just teachers and learners.<br />
We are cultural architects helping our community discover and mobilize new expressions of spiritual life in the community unbound by or to the traditional church.

Relationship to the church

We are servants to the “church” in Corinth, Mississippi.<br />
We facilitate the “whole” church bringing the “whole” gospel to the “whole” city.<br />
We are committed to partnering with the church (organizationally and relationally) for the purpose of community transformation.<br />
We are servant to the city of Corinth (its peace is our peace).<br />
We are a collaborative catalyst – relationship builders (i.e. we meet together to encourage one another and love one another).<br />

Relationship to the community

We identify, connect, resource and empower transformational leaders who facilitate holistic servant evangelism and the spiritual awakening and transformation of our city.<br />
We enlist, train, promote and send volunteer ministers to serve in the community. These volunteers are our neighbors enlisted from businesses, other churches and the community. Volunteers train in small groups, conference settings and “on the job”. We connect these volunteers with opportunities and help businesses, churches and nonprofits effectively engage volunteers to meet community needs.
We believe that outside each of our buildings is shared air and common ground. It is on that common ground that we will partner and serve and advance our Lord’s kingdom. Each and every person we come into contact with is someone for whom Jesus died!