Cross Connection Youth Center was formed in 1988 by a group of individuals at Weaverland Mennonite Church. In 1995 Cross Connection became an incorporated non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors. Over the years, Cross Connection Youth Center was located in several places around New Holland until the ministry purchased its first building in 2006 on Franklin Street.

In 2010, Cross Connection Youth Center became Cross Connection Ministries (CCM) when it expanded its programs to include mentoring, tutoring, free summer lunch and emergency assistance. The Cross Connection Resource Center was opened in 2011. In 2014, the Board began to look for a larger facility for the Youth Center to support the growth of the program. In the 2017 the new Youth Center was opened.

ELANCO Social Services Network (ESSN) started in January of 2011 due to an increased need of services that were overwhelming to the local churches. The local Ministerium, working with the community, established ESSN to meet the needs of those in the ELANCO area.

While CCM and ESSN partnered together on an on-going basis, discussions in 2015 began between the Board of Directors of CCM and ESSN. Upon dialogue and evaluation, overlap of programs and services was discovered which was causing confusion among our participants. Participants were observed exerting much energy and effort going between CCM and ESSN to address the varied needs in their lives. Likewise, misunderstanding existed among the supporters of CCM and ESSN and the services each ministry provides to the community. After a year of prayer, discernment and careful study, the CCM and ESSN Board of Directors determined merging both organizations was in the best interests of the participants and community they served. They believed the benefits of the merge would strengthen both organizations and the community as a whole! The merge would allow increased program impact, eliminate confusion, ensure no duplications of services and show love to all clients in the name of Jesus Christ.

The merger became effective January 1, 2017.