On a mission

Church sends missionaries around the globe, By Jennifer Mosscrop HAMBURG — Crossroads Church may be tucked away on Edsall Street, but its humanitarian reach stretches around the globe. Lead by its pastor, Dr. Neil Chadwick, who came to Crossroads in 2000, the church currently helps support about 17 missionaries working overseas, some of whom are from Hamburg and the surrounding areas. Among those are Duane Danielson, who is involved with youth and children’s ministries and teaching in bible schools in Bangladesh; Patrick Collins, who is in Rwanda providing training seminars for children’s workers; and Chadwick’s son Teddy, who has been living in Jerusalem for five years as a Christian songwriter and ministering in 24-hour houses of worship. “Missions work has been part of the church’s identity for decades,” Chadwick said. “Most of the time, people give for themselves, but what is truly Christian is when you give without the expectation of a return. We have so much in America. I believe we should share and provide whatever we can to our brothers and sisters in needy areas.” Crossroads also helps support two missionaries in New Jersey and five independent ministries in New York and New Jersey. Chadwick and Crossroads Deacon Harry Payne have been involved with overseas missions work in various areas of the world including India, Cambodia, Vietnam, China and Africa, to name a few. “I had a trip booked for India two months after 9/11,” Payne recalled. “We were questioning whether we should still go [due to the increase in communal violence in India after the 9/11 attacks].” After much discussion, Payne and evangelist Jack Kinard hopped on an airplane and conducted five seminars. “People were impressed that we came despite such adversity.” Chadwick is the founder of the International Christian Partnership, an organization providing training and financial assistance to pastors and their families in India. He has ministered over 4,000 pastors through this program. How they fund A typical year brings in approximately $4,000, which is dispersed quarterly for missions work, according to Chadwick. However, the down economy has left Crossroads behind on its commitments for 2010. So far, there is only one potential mission trip to India for 2010. A yard sale in the church parking lot was scheduled for Oct. 17 in hopes of raising money, but weather canceled it. There are no plans to reschedule this year. “We don’t do a lot of fundraising,” Chadwick said. “But the church yard sale sparked a lot of interest.” “Proceeds [from the sales] and are divided up among a number of missionaries serving in various countries,” he said. “What is raised is added to what individual members of the congregation give in monthly missions offering.” The church keeps the congregation updated on the status of the missions. A bulletin board in the church hallway prominently displays photos and letters sent by various missionaries. “The missionaries are considered to be part of our staff,” Chadwick said. “They are our representatives.”