Crossings Ministries Hires Rusty Ellison as Vice President for Development
April 30, 2018
For Immediate Release
#01
Crossings Ministries Hires Rusty Ellison as Vice President for Development
Louisville, KY — Crossings Ministries has hired Rusty Ellison to lead a new development effort. Rusty began his employment Monday, April 29, 2019. The development program will raise funds to build new staff housing at Cedarmore and to renovate the Cedar Crest facility in Bagdad, KY to expand camp capacity.
Rusty Ellison is known as the “grandfather” of Crossings, having served as the first president from 1997-2002. He oversaw the successful launch of Crossings at the Creek in 2000, where 1305 students attended. He and his wife Pam reside in Louisville, KY and he has just finished a transitional pastorate at Campbellsville Baptist Church in Campbellsville, KY. Rusty brings a wealth of pastoral experience and relationships from his tenure as pastor and interim at multiple Kentucky churches, including the historic Walnut Street Baptist in Louisville, KY.
Crossings’ new development program is a fundamental component in Crossings current efforts to expand their ministry. Crossings is currently preparing for over 16,000 students and adults to attend camp in 2019 and hear the gospel proclaimed. The record numbers means that the camps are at full capacity. Crossings started two new camp initiatives in 2019 to help grow capacity and provide the Crossings experience in more places. Crossings On Mission allows students to work with NAMB church planters in Chicago and Cincinnati. Crossings Day Camps in Louisville offers five-weeks of camps for 1stto 6thgraders, including three weeks of Urban Day Camps that charge only $15 a kid.
Crossings has high expectations that these new experiences will continue to grow. Nevertheless, Crossings wants to guarantee their two Kentucky camps keep up with the standard and expectations of today’s generation: “Students and adults are used to a different standard than they were even 15 years ago. They have so many summer options for their time you have to provide a particular standard of facilities and recreational options. If they can only do one thing this summer we want them to choose Crossings where they will hear the Gospel at everything they do,” said Lance Howerton, current president of Crossings.
When asked about the mission of Crossings and the need to accommodate the growth, Ellison said: “I don’t know why [God] uses camps for life change, but I know how. There is something about getting students away from their home routine and immersing them in a Christ-centered environment for a week of worship, prayer, Bible study and just plain fun! … We [want] to provide a camp experience that … appeal[s] to unchurched kids as well as churched.”
Ellison’s initial plans for the summer of 2019 are to invite anyone interested to come spend an afternoon and evening at camp with him at Cedarmore or Jonathan Creek: “I want them to feel the experience. I want them to sense the power of the Holy Spirit in our worship centers when hundreds of students offer their praise to God.”
Pastors, partners, or friends of Crossings who are interested in learning more about Crossings development program can contact Rusty Ellison at 502.671.9311 or [email protected]. Ellison is also available to preach in churches and associations across the state.
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Please send media inquiries to:
Randall Breland
Director of Communications
[email protected]
502-648-8903