September 22, 2026 by

When you arrive at Cedarville, you will be met with an extensive amount of extracurriculars to get involved in. Whether that be student orgs, academic clubs, intramural teams, or ministry teams, there are dozens upon dozens of ways to get involved in the campus community. It can be very easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer number of options you have. 

At least I know that’s how I felt. I remember arriving on campus with big hopes and dreams of all the teams and ministries I wanted to get involved in. With these big goals, I ventured out to the Involvement Fair, only to be shocked by the number of ministries and orgs that I had no idea I would be interested in. 

It was there that I first heard of a Global Outreach local ministry team called Crossroad Ministries. I got involved immediately and am now starting my fourth year of serving in this ministry.  

If you are a Cedarville student looking for a way to serve the community alongside your peers, let me tell you about my experience with this amazing ministry.  

Who Does This Ministry Serve?   

Crossroad Ministries participates in weekly service opportunities at a local nursing home. Located just a few miles down the road from Cedarville’s campus, residents at this nursing home come from a variety of backgrounds and personal histories. In this facility, residents face a number of different conditions and situations.  

It is a diverse population of individuals, and every one of them experiences physical, mental, social, and spiritual challenges. The Crossroad Ministries team seeks to meet each of these residents where they are, providing them with not only the sweetness of community and companionship but, even more pressingly, the hope and joy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  

 

Image of a female college student showing a construction paper craft to an elderly man in a wheelchair. Another female student is listening to their conversation.

What Does This Ministry Do? 

Once a week, the visiting team for Crossroad meets in the evening to drive over to the nursing home. Upon arrival, students gather to pray for the visits that are about to take place and for the residents they are about to visit. Students then split up into groups to visit different parts of the nursing home.  

As the groups move through the facilities, each of them generally returns to the same part of the nursing home every week so that they can really build intentional relationships with the residents in that area. Each group takes its time visiting with each of the residents within its designated area. 

Students will sing hymns and songs with the residents, sometimes even playing an instrument. Other times, groups will spend the time just listening to a resident. These individuals tend to feel alone at times and just need someone to listen to them. 

Before the conclusion of each visit, the group or pair of students will ask to pray with the resident. This is a great opportunity for team members to demonstrate a genuine care and compassion for the resident as well as present them with the Gospel — two goals that go hand in hand.  

Some residents will want longer visits than others, so students ultimately have to be wise and discerning with their time as they seek to steward the hour they have to reach all the residents who are willing.  

Another team Crossroad offers is the craft team. One night a week, students gather on campus to craft little decorations for the visiting team to take in to residents. These crafts prove to be an amazing tool for the initiation of Gospel conversations.  

Over the last several years, I have seen the crafts used to reach residents who normally would never accept a visit but who do want a pretty, handcrafted doorhanger to display on their otherwise blank door. A lot of these crafts also proclaim sweet Gospel reminders, as they are covered with verses or scriptural truths.  

Both of these teams work together to demonstrate authentic love and care for each of the residents and the staff members who work at the nursing home.  

How Can You Get Involved? 

There are many ways that a Cedarville student can get involved with this ministry. The visiting team is always looking for students to join in the efforts of loving the commonly overlooked in the community. Likewise, the craft group is always overjoyed to have more help making the crafts and decorations for the residents and staff members.  

If you are not in a position to serve with this ministry through direct participation in visits or craftmaking, then I ask that you partner with Crossroad Ministries in prayer: 

  • Pray that God would open doors for the Gospel to go forth and that the hearts of residents, staff members, and family members would be receptive to His call. 
  • Pray that God would provide the right members for both the visiting team and the craft team and that each team member would remain focused on the ultimate goal of this ministry: the glory of God and obedience to the Great Commission of Matthew 28.  
  • Pray that His will would be done and that the love of Christ would be extended faithfully to each individual serving and being served.  

Image of a group of six college girls sitting around a table making construction paper crafts.

Crossroad Ministries is a ministry that is near and dear to my heart, and over my years serving, I have witnessed the transforming power of the Gospel within this ministry as well as in my heart as I served. Through all the highs and lows that this ministry has undergone, God is faithful, and He will be glorified. 

I pray that you, reader, will take advantage of the opportunities God has placed in your life to witness and testify to His glory on display as you love and serve those in your community. I’ve shared with you one of the ways God has given me to serve and take part in His mission. Here’s my question for you: How will you go? 

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