By David Dawson
ddawson@tnbaptist.org
FRANKLIN — Although “Crossover Nashville” will operate slightly differently than some of its forerunners, it still can make an impact on Music City, said Roc Collins, director of strategic objectives for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.
“Crossover is an opportunity to share Jesus prior to the meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention, thus revealing to the city of Nashville that Southern Baptists are most interested in the gospel of Jesus Christ,” said Collins. “It has made an eternal impact on countless lives and numerous cities through the years, and can do so again this year.”
The evangelistic event — held each year in the SBC’s host city for the past 30 years — will take place June 7-13 in the Nashville area. Due to COVID-19 protocols and precautions, some of the activities have been tweaked, but churches are still being encouraged to host gospel-sharing events during that week, with a special emphasis being put on the weekend of June 12-13.
Several organizations, including SBC, NAMB, TBMB, and the local associations, partner together to host the event.
Mark Miller
“Crossover promotes the opportunities for churches to partner together to impact their Jerusalem for the gospel,” said Mark Miller, baptism and discipleship team leader and Sunday School specialist for the TBMB.
“Our hope for Crossover Weekend is to flood the Nashville area with the good news of Jesus. Pastors and members are encouraged to pray, connect, invite, share, serve, and engage lost friends and neighbors,” he said.
Churches interested in participating in Crossover, or learning more about the event, can do so here.
Numerous churches have registered, and are planning to host events such as block parties, prayerwalking, door-to-door visitation, ice cream socials and “family movie nights.”
One church is building a batting cage at the local park, and several other churches are planning to hold “Who’s Your One” rallies. Many churches are also focusing on the “Who’s Your One” theme during their Sunday worship services on the weekend before the convention begins.
Roc Collins
“Every church is being asked to designate June 12-13 as Crossover Weekend with evangelistic events on Saturday and on Sunday, pastors will preach an evangelistic message and give an evangelistic invitation,” noted Miller.
Training events for Crossover have been held at various sites and churches over the past several weeks. All six Southern Baptist seminaries were invited to send seminary students for a week-long evangelism seminar that included morning training sessions and door-to-door gospel sharing. The students will be doing hands-on training at 10-15 churches in the afternoon.
Also, as part of Crossover, NAMB will be setting up the Send Relief Medical teams — providing free medical and dental checkups — on the Judson Baptist Church campus. B&R
