Who We Are
CrossWinds Church is a part of the Evangelical Free Church of America.
Our Mission
What does that look like? We Grow with Jesus through the application of scripture in our daily lives - in Life Groups, Bible Studies, and Growth Classes. We Go to Our Worlds by intentionally praying for and seeking opportunities to share Jesus with our relational worlds (Oikos) - a neighbor, coworker, or friend.
Our Beliefs
We believe in one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19) We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He died on the cross, a sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. Further, He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into Heaven, where, at the right hand of God, He is now our High Priest and Advocate. (John 1:1;1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Hebrews 10:12) We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and, during this age, to convict men of sin, regenerate the believing sinner, indwell, guide, instruct, and empower the believer for godly living and service. (John 16:7-14) We believe the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, to be the inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of man, and the divine and final authority for all Christian faith and life. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) We believe that man was created in the image of God, but fell into sin and is therefore lost, and only through regeneration by the Holy Spirit can salvation and spiritual life be obtained. Romans 3:23; 6:23) |
We believe that the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provide the only grounds for the justification and salvation of all who believe, and that only such as receive Jesus Christ by faith are born of the Holy Spirit, and thus become children of God. (Romans 5:1; 8:10; John 3:1-8) We believe that the true Church is composed of all such persons, who, through saving faith in Jesus Christ, have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are united together in the body of Christ, of which He is the Head. (Colossians 1:18; 24; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13) We believe that water baptism by immersion and the Lord’s supper are ordinances to be observed by the Church during the present age. They are, however, not to be regarded as means of salvation. We believe that water baptism, after accepting Christ as personal Savior, is a testimony of death to sin and resurrection to a new life, and that the Lord’s supper is a memorial service, setting forth in sacred and symbolic manner the death of the Lord Jesus Christ; in which only true believers should share, as prescribed in the Word of God. (Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-24) We believe in the personal, pre-millennial, and imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ, and that this “blessed hope” has a vital bearing on the person, life, and service of the believer. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:31; Revelation 20:1-7) We believe in the bodily resurrection of all the dead; of the believer to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord, and of the unbeliever to judgment and everlasting conscious punishment (hell). (John 5:24-29;2 Thessalonians 1:8-9;Luke 12:5; Revelation 22:1-5) |
Our Values
"Study it, Live it, Share it!"“When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty.” - Jeremiah 15:16
"Serving and Glorifying God"
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.”
” - Romans 12:1
"I'm there for you, no matter what!"
“They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”” - Acts 2:42
"Follow me as I follow Christ!"
“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” - I Corinthians 11:1
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." - Matthew 28:19-20
"Meeting people where they are-going to Your World!"
“Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.”
- I Corinthians 9:19 – 22
Our Leadership
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Willie Behrends
Senior Pastor Jackie and I are Moreno Valley ‘natives’. We grew up in the valley and graduated from Moreno Valley High School. I’ve been a follower of Jesus Christ since I was 19 years old. We married in 1979 and have three grown children. We were in Youth Ministry for 25 years and spent five years ministering around the world full-time with students on Summer Mission Trips. Since 2003, I’ve been the Pastor here at Crosswinds, where we’ve been ministering since 1990. My passion is to introduce people to Jesus Christ, see them grow in their walk with Him, and release them to share their gifts and excitement with others! |
Our History
1984
In February 1984, a group of eight families began meeting in homes with the eventual goal of becoming a church. By the Summer of 1984, the church had affiliated itself with the Evangelical Free Church of America.
In September of that year, we began to hold worship services at Sunnymead Elementary School. In December of that year, the church grew to 70 believers.
1994
1994
In July 1994, through a series of miracles, God moved us onto the current property we now enjoy. A generous Christian businessman leased our current land to us for $1.00 a year.
On this land was a large egg-processing facility which was planned to become our church building. On October 12, 1994, our future church building burned to the ground.
1996
We had recently taken out fire insurance on the building, but had not yet made a down payment on the premium. Our insurance company still honored the policy and upon hearing news about the fire, the property owner gave us the land and insurance money to rebuild. God also moved the city of Moreno Valley to waive some construction fees. Then, eighteen months after the fire, we moved into our new church building on Easter Sunday, April 7, 1996.
2002-2004
2002-2004
On January 27, 2002, we began to call ourselves CrossWinds Church and remained affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America.
In November of 2003, Willie Behrends became the Interim Pastor was was then voted in as Senior Pastor on September 12, 2004.
2005
Beginning in 2005 and continuing for the next few years, we began a process of assessing the health and effectiveness of our church and people. Asking difficult questions along the way and gleaning from what had been done well, we wanted to know where God was working and calling us, so that we could join HIM in the work He was doing.
2018 - Today
2018 - Today
Through this process, God refocused our commitment and vision - Grow & Go. As God blesses the ministry at CrossWinds Church, His influence is felt through the members... not only here in Moreno Valley, but throughout the entire world as we reach our world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We'd love to have you join us on this exciting journey!