The Crossing Church is now Free Grace United

Did you spot the name change over the weekend?  The Crossing Church is now Free Grace United.  The reason they are stating for the change:

In a nutshell, we are now a multi-congregational church vs a multi-site church. 

Each congregation of Free Grace United is a distinct local church. 
They vary in size, demographics, and cultural aesthetics. Each has its own story, its own pastors, 
and its own ministries. 

The Crossing was a name for a local church in Elk River, and we’ve expanded beyond that and plan to do more expansion in the future. 

That's cute.  It's also bullshit.  I've received numerous messages from people alerting me to the change (Oh I saw it!) and we all agree....the change is being made to try and distance themselves from their shitty cult reputation.  Are they no longer a cult?  Oh fuck no!  Everything is the same: Dykstras ruling with iron fists, huge push to give them money, submit.  

Stay aware, minions!! 

#FreeGraceUnited

New Locations for The Crossing Church Mean New Money

The Crossing Church will be opening four new locations in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Becker and Milaca.  Lofty goal.  Do we actually need more churches?  You can spit out your window right now and you'll hit a cool church in a Jr. High, movie theater, or some other rented space, with a rocking band, coffee and maybe even donuts (dare to dream!).  No, more churches certainly aren't needed.  So the assumption would then be that more Crossing churches are needed because what they are doing is unique, different and will help you awful sinners "cross the line of faith".  Same shit, same package with the only difference being the pastors up front that you are taught to worship.

There is certainly cost associated with opening new locations and I'm sure The Crossing's congregations are being expected and pushed to give more.  The emotional manipulation begins with the teaching that these people will burn in hell for eternity if you aren't giving so Pastor Eric & Pastor Kelly can "preach the word" and bring them to Jesus.  If you believe this, and really think hard on the thought of your family and friends being deep fried after they die, then you truly feel the weight of the world to give everything to save them.

Church giving is big business.  Look at who the Dykstra's associate with....Joel Osteen...one of the most profitable mega church preachers around.  They are taught from him and other thieves, how to say the right words to tug on your heart and get you to give for their benefit.  These churches are set up with elder boards of other mega church preachers so there is no accountability with their salaries and other perks they receive.  And since churches aren't taxed they don't have to provide an annual report so fraud is rampant.  Note this line in the tax code:

"Every organization exempt from federal income tax under IRS 501(a) must file an annual information return except: 1) A church .... "

Ask for the Dykstra's salaries, ask for an annual report, ask to see where this money is going and see what they give you.  Instead you will be shamed for asking and given the run around.   Once these new locations are up and running they will get weekly tithe money.  The Crossing pushes the tithe hard and preys on your fears and greed to sway you to give more.  They'll say if you tithe, especially over 10%, then you'll get the living fuck blessed out of you....better job, raise, bigger house, save your marriage, protect your children....giving to God equals having all your shit work out.  So whatever you perceive as wrong in your life, then giving to them becomes the answer you've been looking for.  Until you give, and give, and give....and all that happens is you have less money.  As I've said before, leaving church was the biggest pay raise of my life!

These new churches aren't needed.  These new churches are only to build The Crossing's empire.  And you are all pawns in their sick game.

The Crossing Church (Free Grace United) Wants Your Money

The Crossing Church Wants Your Money.  They'll tell you it's for helping people cross the line of faith, needed for new programs and to expand their locations so less people burn in hell.  But look closer. 

They add services and locations so they can get more offering.  Notice do they ever have any service without passing the plate?  This is why they added "cabin services" as money goes down in the summer months in Minnesota...they want your money. 

They go to conferences to specifically be taught how to "preach the tithe"....this is all about getting your money.  Look at who they hang out with...Joel Osteen is known far and wide for being all about the money and this is whose book they will be passing out at a future service.

They will continue to push you to give more and more and more.  They will play on your fears and your greed.  "God blesses those who give!"  They see dollar figures when you walk in that door.

I'm out....I got my 10% (actually much higher) raise 7 years ago when I left that cult.  Keep your eyes open, Crossing minions.  Look at the Dykstra's lifestyle (and watch it continue to increase).  Tell them you are giving to another charity and listen to their response. 

The Questions you continue to ask me about The Crossing Church (Free Grace United)

Crossing church people, and those trying to make sense of their nonsense, I see you and I hear you.  I see what posts you are looking at.  I see when there are spikes in views and how they correlate to what The Crossing is currently doing.  I hear your questions. I see your confusion as you try to fight me.  Well let me use this post to reiterate any points I've made previously.  Disagree with me?  Bring it on.  All comments are welcome, and though accused of it, I've never moderated or deleted anything.

Here is what you're looking at and asking about:

Money & Tithing - Where does your money go when you give to the Crossing?
Eric & Kelly's lifestyle is the first thing the comes into question.  The travel, the homes, the cars, the vacations.  It's all right there.  Ask for their salaries?  You will be shot down.

The Crossing Church wants your money right away!
The Crossing profits big from Pastor Kelly's Twirl event
The Crossing Church playing on Fear and Greed for cash
Subtle manipulation to get more money
A challenge for Kelly Dykstra
Where does my tithe money go? (Kelly takes a vacation)
The Crossing Church's 10% Advantage - I
The Crossing Church's 10% Advantage - II
The Crossing Church's 10% Advantage - III

The Crossing's affirmation (or lack of) for the LGBT community (short answer is you are not affirmed and they feel being gay is a sin)
The Crossing Church comes out of the closet
The Crossing Church's LGBT statement
Pride Weekend and The Crossing Church

You want to know what they care about and where their hearts are?  They show you all the time.

PRIDE Weekend and The Crossing Church

As those of us in the Twin Cities begin our celebration of the GLBT community, as both members and allies, lets not forgot how The Crossing Church of Elk River, Minnesota views these beautiful humans.

Lets first look at their history.  On Kelly Dykstra's blog in 2005, referencing the Elk River Ministerial Association meeting that there was "a woman minister with a gay agenda trying to get in.  Ick,"  Did you catch that?  "ICK"  Then in 2013 they had Hannah Parks speak where she preached against homosexuality from their stage. 


In October of 2016 I obtained their LGBT Statement which in short says "homosexuality is wrong in the eyes of God".  This was a comment about The Crossing from that blog post, "this is why I left the church as well. I had the Unfortunate interaction with a church members who went on to tell me I was abused sexually as a child and that is why I was gay. he belittled me and told me my only way to heaven was to be straight and throw myself into the church. Pastor Eric and his wife I had several conversations with about this and their teachings. telling someone they accept you then treat you like less than is not the way to be Christian in my mind. they are hypocrites that want your money and throw you away when they are done with you."  


Their sermon series this week even addresses this:
WEEK TWO: Can I be gay and be a Christian?
-Is God anti-gay?
-Are gay people condemned to hell?
-What does the Bible really say about LGBTQ issues?
-How should a church deal with such a touchy subject?

I promise you that you will not be accepted, affirmed or loved.  

For those of you who still profess to be Christian, and are being pummeled by The Crossing or other churches, I would highly encourage you to research Matthew Vines.  He has done much more extensive research than these bigots and may help give you the true acceptance you deserve.  

The Crossing wants your money (most of all), your time and your dedication.  But stop giving any of these and they will spit you out and forget you.  This is a blog of staff members who left a year ago.  Horrifying, sad and typical of their behavior.

My friends; go enjoy your PRIDE weekend and celebrate who you are!  Fuck trying to find a way to get in with these small minded jerks.  You are perfect as you are.

My Last Christmas at The Crossing Church

Author's Note: This post will be a bit more personal and not as many direct jabs at The Crossing Church (though there will be some).  I'm fully carb loaded, with wine in hand, and ready for the comments about how I'm so "bitter" and have "hardened my heart".  

My last Christmas as The Crossing Church was December of 2010.  It was a Christmas Eve service, candlelight I believe, and I was stressed as always.

Going to church The Crossing Church as a family was difficult.  First, there are people directing you in the parking lot.  This is nice and fine if you have a small vehicle.  My husband drives a large truck, and without fail there was some 15 year old forcibly directing my husband into a spot that would never fit the truck.  My husband would be mad, would ignore the direction (you are supposed to submit to their authority, even if they are idiots, so my nerves would go to high), and park where he wanted.  I would be praying the entire time for God, Jesus, someone to please give us a truck-sized spot so we could obey and not get in trouble.  Never.  Not once.

Next came the seating Nazis.  In accordance with Crossing policy (or rather copying what Elevation Church does), people would be seated front to back with no spaces in between.  This was to give a feeling of high energy and excitement.  Well fuck...my husband has a bad knee and needs to be on an end to straighten his leg.  He would ask the seating person kindly to seat him on an end, up front, in back, any end as long as he wasn't cramped in the middle.  They would begrudgingly do it but not without a shit ton of shame.  But then inevitably they would need to fill more seats and try to force us to the middle.  It was a fight every single week and this time was no exception.

I didn't want to obey them, I fully saw my husband's point, but I felt The Crossing was my last hope in trying to do the Christian thing, and felt compliance was the only way I could make it to the other side.  As we sat down I was arranging my coat, gloves and purse, and looked down to see the diamond had fallen out of my wedding ring.  My eyes welled with tears.  In any other place or situation I would have asked for help in looking for it.  I would have asked for the lights to be turned on, or asked that people search for it after the service.  But I didn't feel I could do that here.  We were supposed to be depopulating hell and not worried about material things.  I felt I'd be shamed to ask.

Now my diamond wasn't some massive full carat or anything special.  It was a chip at best.  My husband had proposed on Christmas Eve.  We were poor and he used all he had to buy me that ring.  It was my chip.  Now here we were on Christmas Eve again and it was gone forever.  I prayed, "Why?  Why?!  Am I really not allowed anything?  WHY!?!"  The silence permeated me.

That was to be the last Christmas Eve in a church for me.  I don't miss it.  I don't miss a thing.

Eric is Unshakable! Well not really....

The Crossing Church's latest sermon series "Unshakable" is out and {yawn} it's the same tired stuff we've heard for years and years.  Lets look at some highlights:

"I give even when I don't have any money!"   Really, Eric?  Tell us about the last time you didn't have money.  You are manipulating people at their lowest point, without money, to keep up your lifestyle.

"It seems like our culture is constantly telling women that beauty is found in the exterior....don't go out and be ugly...."  Is anyone else hearing Trump's voice?  (I digress.)  I don't see how you can dare preach on obsession with outward beauty when your wife uses half of her Instagram posts humble bragging for people to compliment her.  And "don't go out and be ugly"??  Fuck.

 "they are going to lie about you, twist the truth..."   And there we go!  This is the one we've been waiting for.  How many sermons, how many times a year, does Eric have to say that someone has been wrongly slamming on him?  For the facts, not lies, as to why people have made critical comments about Eric Dykstra and the Crossing Church; this post details them well with many links to sources.  

Eric, you were not "called out for your faith".  You were rightly talked about in negative terms because of your actions.  The audacity that instead of fully owning all the things you did as an abusive leader, but instead saying it's for God, is disgraceful and horrific.  

"For all of you that never get attacked for your faith, maybe you don't actually have any."  You are such an arrogant asshole!  I know many people of faith, true to their core faith, that do not get attacked. They aren't getting attacked because they aren't power hungry, manipulative, devious pricks!  

Same request, as always, please stop.

And remember Crossing minions; no commenting!  Eric's orders!