Sharing Christ on the Diamond

Victor Moran on June 23, 2023

Victor R Moran, President | Crossroads Global Initiative, Inc.

“My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge.” Psalm 71:15

This weekend two key Crossroads Ministry colleagues will join me in Minden, Germany as we lead out in teaching the basics of baseball and sharing the message of redemption in Christ Jesus to several hundred youth at a week-long baseball camp.  Dr. David Upchurch leads this missional opportunity and Sampie Brown, our ministry colleague who is presently on mission in the Basque region of Spain, along with his two daughters will be part of the ministry team.  Three Texas churches, Champion Forest Baptist Church – Houston, Texas, First Baptist Church – Weatherford, Texas and Vansickle Baptist Church – Greenville, Texas have joined us on this trip. A total of 19 participants will be part of the Crossroads Global Initiative team and includes three ministry residents from the O. Damon Shook Residency Program at Champion Forest Baptist Church in Houston.

Pray that many of the young people we come in contact this week commit their lives to Christ and that every moment be to God’s Glory.

I will be posting our daily activities on Facebook and Instagram.  We are thankful for your prayer and financial support.

LETTER TO CROSSROADS PRAYER & FINANCIAL PARTNERS

Victor Moran on February 10, 2023

Victor R. Moran | President & CEO

As a ministry and education organization with international reach we appreciate the dedicated cohort of prayer warriors and financial partners who sacrificially underpin the ministries of Crossroads Global Initiative, Inc.

Crossroads is in its 21st year of offering ministry and educational opportunities with its U.S. based and international global partners, equipping and training the Next Generation of Global Marketplace Leaders.

Calendar year 2022 was a year of advancement in ministry for the Crossroads team as we moved beyond the impact of COVD-19.  Our ministry associates in Europe were able to reengage their national communities and experience a sense of normalcy in their daily ministry and outreach.

Our stateside teams were able to travel to points of national and international ministry not visited in 2020 and 2021. One of our volunteer teams traveled to Europe the summer of 2022 holding the annual Baseball Camp in Germany and sharing the Good News of the Gospel with hundreds of participating youth.

In the latter part of 2022, Crossroads expanded its international outreach to Colombia, Guatemala and Nicaragua through partnerships with indigenous ministries who are effectively reaching the communities they serve with the Good News of the Gospel. 

Crossroads committed time and financial resources investing in the leadership development of senior leaders in life redemption ministries and church planting organizations in the U.S. cities of Chicago and Houston.

Calendar year 2023 will see expansion with Crossroads partners that align with its global mission equipping, training, and raising Next Gen Leadership and communicating the Good News of Jesus Christ in everything we do.

Our prayer and financial partners are critical to the advancement of the Crossroads mission and to the expansion of our colleagues’ impact across the U.S. and international venues. We are grateful for each gift of designated and general fund support and covet your continued prayer support. Your partnership and support have eternal significance!

Called to Lead

Victor Moran on July 11, 2022

“He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.’” John 21:17 (ESV)

The Gospel of John records Christ’s conversation calling on the Apostle Peter to “feed His Sheep.” Christ Jesus called on Peter to tend the flock. He challenged Him to selflessly serve those Christ Jesus loved, leading and investing his life into Christ’s own.

Peter was very aware of his own denial of Christ Jesus. Christ gave Peter the mantle of leadership responsibility for those Christ loved. Peter was ready, cognizant of his accountability to Christ.

In leading our families, our communities, and organizations, we will find ourselves failing to meet our own expectations of leadership. Leaders are not immune from failure. We drive to excellence, as we address our personal weaknesses, develop as leaders and strengthen in personal character.

As leaders we must hold ourselves accountable to others. We must consistently engage in our responsibility for the welfare of those we serve, driving them to excellence beyond failure. As leaders we tend the flock, care, guard and selflessly serve those beyond our own.

Address your weaknesses, pivot from your strengths, be accountable to others. Look beyond your leadership failures and take on the mantle of leadership responsibility. Tend the flock.

Answer the Call to Lead.

Leadership by Example

Victor Moran on June 25, 2022

“Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.” Philippians 3:17 (ESV)

In his writing to the Christ followers at Philippi, the Apostle Paul challenged his audience to imitate him and keep focus on those in harmony with his life’s example.

What eternal values and life disciplines would you challenge your audience to imitate? Which personal qualities or weaknesses are worthy of imitation?

Irrespective of your sense of self, you are a person of impact.  Strength and weaknesses do not define you. The personal values and life principles which you breath daily are the driving force of your existence. Do these values and principles have eternal significance? Identify these values and principles. Sharpen these values and principles.  Share these values and principles by being a living example of what is best in you and worthy of imitation.

Our global society yearns for leadership which places deep value on the interest of others above self-interest.

Challenge your immediate circle of influence to imitate you and walk according to the example of your life.

Never allow mediocrity to imitate your best as mediocrity will dilute excellence. Consistently give your best to those committed to the higher calling of leading by example. Your best given in service of others is a quality worthy of imitation – lead by example. _____________________________________________________________________________

Any inquiries regarding the customized Crossroads Global Initiative leadership and organizational development services should be directed to contact@crossroadsgi.org

Who is Your GOAT?

Victor Moran on June 12, 2022

“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” The words of the Apostle Paul, 1 Corinthians 11:1

In his first letter to the assembly of Christ followers in the city of Corinth, the Apostle Paul challenged his audience to imitate him as he imitated Christ Jesus. His challenge is bold. By his statement, Paul asserts that he is living, breathing, walking, and reflecting the very essence of Christ.

As a Christ follower and societal leader, the Apostle Paul challenged his audience to imitate him.

Beyond his engagement to a missional purpose, the Apostle Paul’s commitment was to the person of Christ Jesus. With reckless abandon the Apostle Paul followed, and he challenged his audience to imitate his living example.

Society yearns for those who will lead with selflessness considering others above self.  Your family and your community look for the one they can imitate. They look for the Greatest of All Time, their “G.O.A.T.”

Who is your Greatest of All Time? Whose essence do you follow? Who can you challenge to imitate you? What character qualities or personal attributes would you pass down to others?

Like the Apostle Paul, all Leaders must address the question of our followership.  Who are we imitating? Is the one we follow worthy of imitation?

Who is Your Goat?

A Faithful Leader

Victor Moran on May 26, 2022

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Gospel of Mark 10:45

Every family, organization or community seeks the person or persons committed to serving the role of principal, shepherd, guardian, or steward. The group confers titles and roles on individuals. Collectively we seek the ones who will serve placing others before self. We seek a faithful leader.

Throughout history, global society has labored with countless actors granting them the role of leadership and having those actors fail their duty of faithful service. The words of Christ challenge the practitioners of the art and science of leadership. Christ redefined his followers’ view of a Leader.  

During our lifetime we are all confronted to discharge the role of leadership.  The challenge comes as we serve our families, businesses, and communities. Do you possess the attributes to meet the challenge?  What leadership attributes require sharpening?

The first principle of leadership is simple. We must see others as God’s special gift and serve them with a spirit of selflessness. In the spirit of selflessness, you might find it necessary to lay down your life for another but for most of us it is simply just placing the needs of another ahead of our personal preference. Faithful leaders are among us, look around, and see who has been placing your needs ahead of their personal interest.

Leading Amid Chaos

Victor Moran on March 31, 2022

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” Gospel of Matthew 5:14 (ESV)

As first quarter 2022 comes to a close, we look back on a prior year of great challenge. Generations before us have faced famine, disease, war and insurmountable economic stress, yet history has paved the way for the road forward. As individuals, a family unit, or community you have faced challenges that brought turmoil and chaos into your daily life. You looked deep within yourself to give hope to others and deliver effective leadership to friends, your family or community.

Serving others is impractical without understanding the limitations of the self. The Book of Acts, Chapter 9, gives the experience account of Saul of Tarsus as he approached Damascus. “Suddenly a light from heaven shone around him … and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing.”

Do you have a desire to serve others? Do you have a sense or pull on your heart and soul to prepare to lead others? Are you leading others today and sense that you are running on empty? Uncertainty is the true global pandemic. In his crisis, Saul of Tarsus developed as a leader amid chaos. Before he could be light, he had to experience the loss of the most precious gift of daily living – not sight, but light.

Join me on an exploratory journey. Periodically I will post life principals and practical markers on the road to spiritual formation and leadership development. Come along, join me and learn specific principles of leadership and service.