My wife, Heather Pittman (93) Cappetta, and I moved to the Metro West suburbs in 1999 to help plant a Baptist church in one of the largest towns in the country, Framingham, MA. Despite a large population, the area had only a few gospel-preaching churches. For seven years, I received a well-rounded education in just about every church ministry as I worked alongside a seasoned pastor. Eventually, the church membership decreased as people moved out of the area to pursue jobs in other parts of the country. At this time, the other pastor decided to move to Ohio, and as hard as it was, we knew that God was bringing this ministry to a close. God re-birthed the original vision by leading us to merge with another local church, Crossroads Community Church. I became the Pastor of Family Life with responsibilities including pastoral counseling, small groups, and welcoming newcomers. I also oversee our outreach and recovery ministries.

In the past six years, our church of around 200 people experienced a taste of revival as we outgrew one worship service and added a second to accommodate those wanting to worship with us. We worked, prayed, and gave sacrificially to retire a more than $300,000 mortgage in less than a year. We are debt free and searching for ways to invest more into our local community with time, money, and our spiritual gifts. Very few churches in New England have a thriving mid-week meeting. Several years ago, we started a spiritual growth environment on Wednesday nights that we call “The Well.” We have dinner, an elementary-age program, nursery, and a teen program. The adults typically have their choice of five or six different group experiences-everything from marriage groups to inductive Bible studies. Over half of our Sunday attendance comes on Wednesday nights to be refreshed and grow deeper in our faith. Combined with our other small groups, there are periods of time when we have more people gathering in groups than we have on Sundays. The people are hungry for growth and community. Our Celebrate Recovery and DivorceCare ministries are reaching out to the lost and hurting and some of them are coming to Christ.

Before I settled in Massachusetts, a former Trinity professor, Charles Shafer, shook his boney finger at me and told me that I was supposed to be a counselor. I thought that odd since I had studied to be a pastor and had already been ministering in churches for four years. Once I figured out he was right, I attended a local community college to study counseling and moved from there to do a PhD. in Biblical Counseling. I am grateful for the educational foundation in my life that was laid by Trinity Baptist College and the guidance I received from the staff. I am still a pastor, but I have also started a counseling ministry helping over 60 people find the way through their problems to Christ’s strength and healing.

Prayer: Our former pastor left last summer to minister in Malawi, Africa. Our new pastor came in the fall of 2011. Please pray as we build on the foundation that has been laid. Pray that we will have in-roads into our local community to share the gospel.

P.S. Massachusetts is Pastor Messer’s old stomping grounds.

CrossroadsFramingham.com
 
Crossroads Community Church | 1341 Edgell Rd. Framingham, MA | 508.877.7733 x3