Crossroads - showing men the way

A little over five years ago God gave a vision to a small group of people to begin a Sunday afternoon worship service for those who were struggling with addiction and felt uneasy attending a typical church. Two years later that worship service expanded to include an in-house ministry to those desiring to be set free from their addiction. This was the birth of Crossroads Ministry, a local, faith-based recovery ministry for men.

Since then, Crossroads has not only helped numerous men overcome the monster of addiction, but marriages and families that were once fractured are getting put back together again. In our area where addiction to alcohol, meth, heroin, prescription medication, and any number of other drugs is rampant, men are being set free through Crossroads and the undeniable power of Jesus Christ.

Sharp

Today, Crossroads is directed by Jimi and LaDonna Waggoner working alongside a board of directors. At the heart is a six-month, structured program which includes Bible study every morning, work in the community during the day, and attending a faith-based group every evening. On Sundays, they attend a local church in the morning, then hold a worship service for the community at 4 p.m. which is currently held at the Moriah Conference Center behind Valley Plaza.

Men who are desiring help must attend the worship service on Sunday before being interviewed following the service.

“When they come for an interview, the men are usually pretty broken, desperate to get help to finally overcome their addiction they’ve been wrestling with for years,” says Jimi Waggoner. “Many have literally lost everything — their jobs, their family, their home, their dignity. In fact, we often buy individual men clothes so they have more than one shirt or pair of pants to wear.”

Crossroads Ministry, a local, faith-based recovery ministry for men is honored by the Poplar Bluff City Council in April.Photo provided

Crossroads is a regional ministry serving many counties and occasionally men have even come from other states. They often visit various churches and ministries to share their stories of how a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ has not only been essential in gaining their freedom from addiction, but the source of a brand-new life. As a reflection of that, many are now serving their community in a variety of ways out of a response of gratitude.

In the fourth month of the program, the Waggoners help them find jobs where they work during the day while continuing to stay at the house and participate in the other requirements. Over the last three years, many local businesses have hired Crossroads men because of the good work ethic they develop during the course of the program.

“Business owners like to hire our men because they’re hard, honest workers,” says LaDonna Waggoner, who is co-director with her husband. “Very rarely do we get a complaint. One of the things we try to teach them is that a Christian should be one of the hardest working, most honest employees in any business. This is important because we are to be a refection of Jesus in every area of life.”

Crossroads has recently completed a major renovation of the former Boys & Girls Club building, 416 South C Street in Poplar Bluff, their fourth location. They moved into the new facility in January of this year which is now the base of their ministry. This larger building includes living space for up to 25 men, kitchen and eating facilities, a library, and full-size gymnasium.

On Saturday there will be an open house from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The general public is cordially invited to come tour the newly-renovated facility, receive information and have questions answered. Hot dogs, drinks and other refreshments will be served.

At the present time most of the Crossroads ministry is supported financially by the income they receive working in the community through roofing, construction and other various means of physical labor, with the balance of their needs met through donations.

If you have questions or would simply like to know more about Crossroads, call (573) 712-0779, or visit their website, www.crossroadsget.help .

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Brian Sharp is a founding pastor at Grace Christian Fellowship in Poplar Bluff.