A b o u t C r o s s R o a d s C h u r c h
(formerly John Calvin Presbyterian Church)
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Mission
We believe that lives are changed forever when people experience God’s unconditional love. Our mission is to nurture and celebrate God-centered loving relationships in our increasingly diverse community. Vision We wish to become the destination congregation for anyone seeking to share the love of God more deeply through life-giving worship, Christ-centered preaching and teaching and nurturing care through all the seasons of life. What We Believe
We believe and proclaim the good news that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and Savior of the world. Our mission as a church is based on the conviction that lives are changed forever when people experience the unconditional love of God and we invite you to come experience that love here as part of this faith family. At its heart, the journey of faith is all about Jesus’ call to “Come, follow me” (Mark 1:17). His is a calling that both costs us everything and yet gives us everything because it is a gift of grace. Here at Cross Roads, we are all on this path together as we follow Jesus as imperfect, yet forgiven, disciples of Christ. We know as a faith family that following Christ takes us to surprising places and to surprising people, yet the greatest surprise is often our own process of transformation. Because of the Good News of Jesus Christ, we believe in second chances, the power of community, and the grace of radical welcome. We also believe that we do not do this faith journey alone, but by the power of the Holy Spirit poured into us. If you are looking for a place to grow and to belong, and a place where you can make a difference, there is a place for you here. What is a Presbyterian? The word "presbyterian" comes from the New Testament. The root word means "elder" and describes one of the models of church leadership in the Bible. In a Presbyterian church, it is elders - elected by the congregation - who provide spiritual oversite and governance. We are proud to be a part of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and to be rooted theologically in the rich heritage of the Reformed tradition. To learn more about what makes us unique in our history, beliefs, and practices as a denomination, click here. Our History Cross Roads Church, originally called John Calvin Presbyterian Church, was built by people with a purpose. They had a vision of the future and church with a purpose for them and their community. Over 50 years ago that vision became John Calvin Presbyterian. That spirit is still alive in this church. On Palm Sunday 1966, a group of interested Christians gathered in a temporary location in Windcrest known as the "bomb shelter." Rev. T.O. "Top" Perrin, Presbytery’s organizing evangelist, led the worship. By autumn of that year, attendance had grown to 100, and these dedicated believers petitioned Presbytery to organize their fledgling church. And so it came to pass on October 9, 1966, that John Calvin Presbyterian Church began ministry in this community. The following January, the church formally called Rev. Perrin as its first pastor. Presbytery donated five acres of land for the building, and ground was broken in December 1967. The new facility was dedicated in October 1968. The second pastor, Duke Kilgore, arrived in 1971, and subsequent growth made the existing building inadequate. The facilities were expanded in 1977, and a second service was added to relieve overcrowding. In 1987, the congregation called David Renwick, and the church began to look seriously at its future. There followed a Long Range Plan, adopted in 1988, with visionary recommendations. As John Calvin began its 25th year, the congregation entered an ambitious expansion program—a new sanctuary and a classroom building, dedicated in October 1993. With a continuing need for classroom space, however, the congregation voted again to "rise up and build," making plans for a Christian Education and Youth building. John Calvin’s next installed pastor, Malcolm McQueen, arrived in February 1996 and presided at the dedication of this new facility in October 1998. The upstairs Youth Center was completed in August 2001. With the departure of Malcolm McQueen in 2014, John Calvin Presbyterian began the “New Beginnings” process as it began its search for a new Pastor. Like its humble beginnings in 1966, the church still felt it had a vision for the future and for being a church with a purpose for the city of San Antonio. In the spring of 2016, John Calvin Presbyterian Church celebrated 50 years of mission and ministry together with God. Later in 2016 through prayer, discernment and by congregational vote with a bold plan, John Calvin Presbyterian Church became Cross Roads Church. In 2017, Cross Roads Church called its next installed pastor, Brian Diebold. Together they began a new phase of life and ministry with a renewed focus on bringing the community in. The church reorganized its campus in order to implement a visionary model of partnership ministry where other non-profit organizations and immigrant congregations share the space together in order to have a greater impact on the community. Another “Arise and Build” campaign was begun in order transform the interior and exterior of the campus to symbolically open the door to the church’s neighbors on both sides of Walzem Road. And a spirit of openness, vibrant worship, and close intergenerational relationships drives the congregation’s deepening call into life together in Christ. Many churches offer worship and programs, but the Cross Roads congregation has a unique gift for loving and caring for one another. Because of this, Cross Roads Church is here not only to stay, but to flourish as the destination for anyone seeking to experience the love of God more deeply in their life. |
M e e t t h e s t a F F:
Rev. Brian Diebold - Pastor. Pastor Brian joined Cross Roads Church in September, 2017. Originally from Ottumwa, Iowa, he received his BA from the University of Iowa, and his Master of Divinity from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Prior to arriving in San Antonio he served as the pastor of Verona Presbyterian Church just outside of Pittsburgh for 8 years.
Pastor Brian’s sense of call began from an early age where he felt that the best thing that he could do with his life was to serve God by serving other people. Since then he has developed that sense of call by serving in a variety of positions including working with children’s ministry, hospital chaplaincy, young adult ministry, and cross cultural ministry. Pastor Brian is passionate about sharing the love of Jesus Christ, creating space for the broken and broken hearted, and leading the church in the adventure of following the Holy Spirit. He believes that the Good News is all about extraordinary grace for ordinary people, and coming to know the God who loves us more than we could ever imagine. Brian particularly enjoys spending time with his wife and two children. Other interests include woodworking, following Steelers football, watching movies, telling bad puns, and seeing lives changed in response to God’s love. He also believes that life together as the church should be fun! Brian’s vision for the church is to see a campus community thriving and growing in answer to Christ’s call at the crossroads of Walzem and Midcrown while having a real world impact in our community for the Kingdom of God. 
Lisa Ringler - Office Manager. Lisa grew up in Omaha, Nebraska and when her husband, Gordon, retired from the military the family landed in San Antonio, Texas. She joined the ministry team of Cross Roads Church in 2006. Lisa grew up in a Lutheran church but has been a member of Presbyterian churches her entire adult life. She has a certificate in Theology & Ministry from Princeton Theological Seminary, is an ordained elder in the PCUSA, serves as a church community member on the Northeast Health Ministry Team and enjoys volunteering at SAMMinistries' Transitional Living & Learning Center. God has blessed Lisa & Gordon with three amazing children and two granddaughters.
Bev Spitznagel - Facilities & Events Coordinator. Beverly was born in CA into an Air Force family and grew up moving around the country, fostering a lifelong love of travel. She graduated from Texas A&M, with a Bachelor of Arts in Education and settled in The Woodlands with her first teaching job. After earning her Masters in Reading education from Stephen F. Austin she accepted an opportunity with the DoD to teach overseas. She met her husband, Rob, in the Philippines and spent the next 26 years in the Air Force in assignments around the world, raising 2 children and volunteering in multiple capacities. In 2010, the family moved to San Antonio and joined John Calvin Presbyterian Church, now Cross Roads Church. Beverly, a lifelong Presbyterian, has served in a variety of roles over the years, as a deacon, an elder, Sunday School teacher, and general volunteer. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling and hiking – all at the same time, if possible!
Amy Oxley - Choir Director. Amy Oxley grew up an "air force brat," and was privileged to have lived in many different places throughout the United States as a child. Eventually she and her family settled in Dayton, Ohio... so that's technically the place she calls "home." She attended Bowling Green State University, where she graduated cum laude with a degree in Music Education in 1995. After college, Amy took a leap of faith and moved to San Antonio, hoping and praying to get a job... and she hasn’t looked back since! Within months of her move, Amy found and became a member of John Calvin Presbyterian Church, now known as Cross Roads Church. She was an active participant in the music ministry, from singing soprano in the JCPC choir to playing hand bells and volunteering with the children’s music ministry. In 2000, she officially became a part of the music staff and has been serving ever since. In addition to leading music here at Cross Roads Church, Amy is a full time middle school teacher and teaches (what else?) choir. Amy is blessed with three amazing children… Brandon, Taylor and Samantha… and one really cute rescue puppy named Phoebe. In her spare time, she likes to sing (of course!), run and kick box.
Gordon W Ringler - Worship Leader. Growing up in Omaha with Lisa, Gordon began his musical training early. A trumpet and composition major at the University of Nebraska, Gordon gave up music for the Air Force. Along the way over the years, Gordon felt called back into music through worship. Now retired from the Air Force, Gordon runs a continuing medical education company here in San Antonio. Gordon co-leads the music ministry at Cross Roads with Amy Oxley and primarily leads the Contemporary Worship Praise Team. Gordon is also a Commissioned Ruling Elder - formerly known as a Commissioned Lay Pastor in the Presbyterian church. Gordon & Lisa enjoy cooking, serving and family.
Other Staff Members:
Perry Deckard - Accountant/Bookkeeper Edward Esparza II - Campus Technician Carol Groves - Treasurer Dan Guerrera - Bassist Jack Leonhardt - Assistant Treasurer Clark McChesney - Sound Engineer Nick Ringler - Drummer Stefan Wagar - Youth Director, Sound Engineer Linda Wilson - Pianist/Organist Caring Nannies - Nursery Care |
As a faith community that includes people of multiple races, ethnicities, and backgrounds, we as Cross Roads Church stand against racism. Scripture teaches us that at the time of creation, God breathed into the first human the breath of life (Genesis 2:7). Likewise, after his resurrection, Jesus breathed the new life of the Holy Spirit into his disciples (John 20:22). This sacred breath is the gift of life that God intends for all of humanity who are created in God’s image. We lament all the more, therefore, that so many of God’s children are currently crying out for justice with the words, “I can’t breathe.” We acknowledge the suffocating grip of living in a system and culture that systematically benefits white people at the expense of black, Hispanic, Asian, and Indigenous persons, and that all too often treats being a person of color as a cause for suspicion and fear. We grieve at the hurt caused especially to those who are black or brown by the unjust deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and too many others and we bear witness in gratitude to those who have spoken up collectively for justice and great change. This is not a statement on political polarization or politics in the United States, nor does it condone destruction of life or property, but is meant to speak directly to the sin of racism.
Racism is against the will of God who loves all of humanity, and who identifies most especially with the hurt and oppressed. We believe that racism dehumanizes not only the victim, but also the perpetrator, and stands contrary to the divine vision for humanity described in Revelation 7:9 that celebrates, rather than erases, our differences. In contrast, we confess that in our silence we have been complicit and that we as a people have not always been on the side of what is right, what is loving, and of what Jesus taught us to do. We have used neither our actions nor our voice to decry racism or inequality in all its forms and we struggle as to how best to love our neighbor, honor our history, and work for justice for all.
We are committed to doing the work of anti-racism: learning, growing, holding one another accountable, advocating for the unheard, supporting police officers who do live up to the high standard required by their position, and working for the reality of the “Beloved Community.” We have come a long way over the years – much too slowly – and we recognize that we have a long way to go, but we hold onto the hope set out for us in the reconciling and transforming work of Jesus Christ at work in us, through us, and around us. We stand against racism. Love demands it.
The Session & Congregation
of Cross Roads Church
June 17, 2020
Racism is against the will of God who loves all of humanity, and who identifies most especially with the hurt and oppressed. We believe that racism dehumanizes not only the victim, but also the perpetrator, and stands contrary to the divine vision for humanity described in Revelation 7:9 that celebrates, rather than erases, our differences. In contrast, we confess that in our silence we have been complicit and that we as a people have not always been on the side of what is right, what is loving, and of what Jesus taught us to do. We have used neither our actions nor our voice to decry racism or inequality in all its forms and we struggle as to how best to love our neighbor, honor our history, and work for justice for all.
We are committed to doing the work of anti-racism: learning, growing, holding one another accountable, advocating for the unheard, supporting police officers who do live up to the high standard required by their position, and working for the reality of the “Beloved Community.” We have come a long way over the years – much too slowly – and we recognize that we have a long way to go, but we hold onto the hope set out for us in the reconciling and transforming work of Jesus Christ at work in us, through us, and around us. We stand against racism. Love demands it.
The Session & Congregation
of Cross Roads Church
June 17, 2020