Dear CrossNet Ministries’ Supporters,

I am excited to provide you with an update from CrossNet Ministries (CrossNet). As I reflect on this past year, I am reminded of God’s continued goodness and faithfulness. We recently had a team meeting where one team member mentioned that this year was a year of God’s goodness to CrossNet and our community. I immediately thought of the song, “Goodness of God” and the following lyrics: 

“All my life you have been faithful. All my life you have been so, so good.

With every breath that I am able, I will sing of the goodness of God!”

When I think about this past year, I am reminded of how God used each partner, volunteer, and supporter to impact the life of another person. I am grateful for you. Thank you for being a part of God’s goodness to many individuals in the community.

I want to share with you some updates of God’s goodness and how He has worked through your support, partnership, and prayer in 2023. These updates make it possible to continue the mission at CrossNet: “to offer help and hope in the name of Jesus by empowering people in the ELANCO community.” 

1. November Match – Throughout the month of November, donations were doubled from an incredible matching gift of $150,000 with the goal of raising $300,000 for programs and the general operating budget. I am excited to share we surpassed this goal, raising over $314,000. Thank you for partnering with us to continue to offer help and hope in our community!
2. New Building Purchase – In 2022, we had a Capital Campaign to raise $3 million to purchase and renovate a large warehouse on Franklin Street to expand programs and the mission of CrossNet. In January 2023, we purchased this building! For the last 10 months, we have been partnering with Tono Group to create plans and next steps for the renovation process. Our prayer is to begin renovations in the second quarter of 2024. Thank you for your continued support and patience in this project. More information about the renovation process, progress, and plans will be shared in 2024!
3. Program Expansions – We are grateful that we can continue to expand programs in our community through each of our four Pillars:

Our transitional housing program, Pathways to Housing, is designed to help people experiencing homelessness build up their resources to be more self-sustainable. In 2023, three families graduated from the program and are now housed independently! We were able to renovate another unit at our 250-252 E Main Street property and a new family moved in this summer. We are grateful for the opportunities to walk alongside more families in our community through this program. Currently, there are six families in Pathways to Housing.

We are excited to continue to partner with the community for Youth Programs that help children and teens learn life skills and more about Jesus. This past year, we developed new materials for the 4^th and 5^th grade mentoring program, Cross Jr. The journal, that was created, is designed to help students learn about God’s love for them and how they can have a relationship with Him. We are excited about this program as it is at all three ELANCO elementary schools after school.

With food needs rising, we are grateful to have expanded several of our food programs. One of our weekend meal solution programs, CrossNet Meal Packs, is now available for everyone in our community. This program provides food for the weekend for families, children, and individuals and can be picked up every week! 

The Community Meal, in partnership with Garden Spot Village, has returned to in-person gatherings in 2023. It has been great to connect with many people each month while providing tangible resources including food, clothing, books, and more! 

Thank you for continuing to partner with CrossNet to offer help and hope in the name of Jesus! You have helped make these updates possible. Enclosed is a Stats & Stories Flyer that shows additional updates and the number of people who we have been able to serve in 2023. Behind each number is a person – a person who is building their resources and building safe relationships with Staff and volunteers.  Each person has been impacted in a unique way and has a story to tell. While there are hundreds of stories to share, I wanted to share with you the following story:

“A family (mom and son) in our Pathways to Housing Program recently graduated and moved into their own apartment! While it wasn’t easy, the mom spent time in the program building up her resources, including her financial income, and connections with a local church. With the ability to work more hours, fix her credit and pay off debt, this family is now housed and in their own apartment. We are grateful for the ability to walk alongside families as they build relationships and build up their resources!”

Thank you for making stories like this one possible. Your partnership with us continues to show and share the message of Jesus! As CrossNet looks to 2024, I am excited about what God is going to do in the ELANCO community!

CrossNet is prayerfully planning for 2024. Our 2023 Budget goal is $1,386,750, and I am grateful to share we have almost met our goal with your support and help through the November Match! We need $29,162 to reach our 2023 year-end goal. To continue to partner with us in the ministry and help us as we prepare for 2024, would you prayerfully consider making a year-end contribution? Please send your tax-deductible donation to CrossNet in the enclosed envelope. If you have any questions, you can reach me at meredith@elancocross.org or (717) 355-2454.

Finally, join me in thanking God for his goodness! And thank you for your impact! We are better together.

On behalf of the Board and Staff, Merry Christmas, and many thanks!

Meredith Dahl

Executive Director 

Click here to view our 2023 Statistics Flyer and Story Highlights!