About Our Church
The
Mission
Our Mission
Crossroads Church exists to glorify God by being an international family of followers and worshippers of Jesus. We believe that this family of faith is mandated by God to make disciples out of all the nations that reside in Vienna and to worship Him by bringing spiritual sacrifices and being involved in various ministries. The Family of God is a community of disciple-makers and New Covenant priests.
We envision a church where we serve the new generation of internationals in Vienna toward conforming a step further to the image of Jesus. Crossroads is a church for people at a crossroads of their life. The values we want to cultivate among us are: a welcoming spirit, commitment to Jesus, lifestyle evangelism, and empowered membership.
Our History
In 2021 the leadership teams of Be One International Church and Grace International Church started to meet to know each other better and to explore ways to work together in a partnership for the Gospel. After a few discussions we realized that the differences between us were minor, and that it is not wise to do the same thing 5 minutes away from each other. We decided to merge in order to increase the impact of the Gospel in Vienna. Working together is better than working alone.
We concluded that an amalgamation is better than a merger, so in September 2023 we decided to have funeral services for both churches. The plan was to "bury" both churches and to start something new with the people willing to go forward. After an interesting process, from +60 names for the new church that we wanted to plant, we reduced it to only one: Crossroads. Finally, our dream to start something new received a proper name.
On May 26, 2024, our launching service was a celebration of God’s favour on, with, through and for us. The uniqueness of both churches was dissolved, and a new reality took place: Crossroads. Crossroads Church is that Something New we dreamed of and now the dream has come true. Praise God for His guidance!
Our Leadership
Pastor Cristian Pana
Although during the amalgamation process the Steering Team had a vital role in giving direction and influencing both communities, Crossroads is led by a Leadership Team. The Leadership Team continues the work in directing and influencing the new community of believers toward the vision we have and according to our mission statement. We dream that in two years we will be able to have elders and deacons who will continue this ministry, taking it to a new level.
Currently, our pastor is Cristian Pana, who also acts as our elder until we will have a team of elders. Together with him in the Leadership Team we have: Henry Bronkhorst, Philip Bartuska, Phil Marsak, and Timotei Pana.
Our Creed
“Crossroads Church Vienna” is an officially recognized church and religious organization, a member of the “Association of Evangelical Churches” (Bund Evangelikaler Gemeinden, BEG) and a member of the “Free churches in Austria” (Freikirchen in Österreich, FKÖ).
01
The Holy Bible
We believe that – while retaining the human identity of each author – the entire Holy Bible (without the Apocrypha) in its source texts is the inspired and inerrant Word of God. It was given to us by God to serve as the utmost authority in all issues concerning faith, thoughts, and actions. (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:21; Heb. 4:12).
02
God
We believe that there is only one true God who reveals himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is Spirit, yet a person; eternal, omnipresent, almighty, and omniscient; he is completely holy, good, and just; a God of judgement as well as of love, mercy, and grace. (Gen. 1:1; Deut. 6:4; John 10:30; John 4:24; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14; Heb. 4:14; Psalm 139:1-10; Jer. 23:23-24; Psalm 99:9; Psalm 106:1; Deut. 32:4; 1 John 4:8; Exodus 34:6)
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We believe in God the Father: The creator, author, and sustainer of all things, including his plan of redemption for mankind. (Gen. 1:1; Rom. 8:28; 1 Cor. 8:6; John 3:16; Psalm 54:4; Psalm 55:22)
We believe in God the Son: Through him the world was created and who, by conception through the Holy Spirit, became fully man while remaining fully God at the same time. He died a substitutionary death on the cross for the guilt of man to redeem him from sin and everlasting separation from God. His resurrection from the dead was a bodily one, and he ascended into the heavens, where he personally represents the believers before the Father. (John 1:1-18; Matt 1:18-21; Luke 24:39; Rom. 3: 23-25; John 5:18; Heb. 1:1-9; 1 John 5:20; 1 Tim. 2:5; Luke 24:51; 1 Cor. 15:1-4; 1 John 2:1-2)
We believe in God the Holy Spirit: He was sent from the Father and from the Son to glorify Christ and convict man about God’s way of salvation. He indwells every believer; he seals, strengthens, guides, teaches, and sanctifies the believer and provides him/her with spiritual gifts for ministry in the church. As we submit all areas of life to Christ, he can fulfil us more and more. (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13-15; Eph. 1:13; Rom. 8:13-16; 2 Cor. 1:22; Rom. 15:19; Acts 1:8; 2:38; 8:29; Gal. 5:18; Titus 3:5; 1 Cor. 6:19-20; 1 Cor. 12:11)
03
Man
We believe that God created man in his image and has given him reason, feelings, and a free will so that he can live responsibly before God and rule over creation. Man and woman are equal before God, but are entrusted with different roles in family, church, and society.
We believe that man fell into sin because of disobedience, and therefore all mankind was completely and eternally separated from God. Man’s nature, mind and deeds are now marked by sin. Due to the Fall, hardship, sickness, and death came into the world. (Gen. 1:26-30; Rom. 3:23; 1 Cor. 11:8-12; Rom. 1:18-22; Eph. 5:22-24)
04
Redemption
We believe that mankind can only be saved through God’s grace by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. He alone is our mediator, who completely took our penalty on himself. Everyone who – having been convicted by God’s Word and the Holy Spirit – acknowledges their sinfulness before God, willfully submits to Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice and accepts Jesus as their Lord will be born again to new life and have assurance of eternal salvation. The believer experiences spiritual growth through fellowship with the Lord, obedience to God’s Word, as well as prayer and fellowship with other Christians. The believer will remain subject to physical and emotional suffering; however, it is in God’s hands to respond to the believer’s prayer and grant healing, strengthening and growth amid suffering. (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; John 1:29; Acts 13:38-39; Rom. 4:5, 5:1, 10:9-10; John 3:16; Eph. 2:8-9, 1:4-5; Heb. 10:10,14; Eph. 5:26-27; Rom. 8:11; 1 Cor. 6:11; 1 John 5:13; John 10:27-30, 17:1, 6:37; 2 Tim 1:12; James 1:2-3; 1 Pet. 2:20-21, 3:14, 4:12-19; 2 Cor. 4:7-12; Phil. 4:6-7; John 14:13-14; Rom. 5:3-5)
05
The Church
We believe that the church is a spiritual body, with Christ as the head and all members being born-again believers.
We believe that the local church is a gathering of believers in Jesus Christ whose purpose is to worship and adore God, to proclaim the gospel in all the world, to practice biblical instruction (teaching), to give counsel in spiritual matters, to carry out social welfare deeds, to pray in supplication and intercession. The church must maintain the visible signs of redemption: believer’s baptism and communion. Every single local church, and primarily its elders and deacons, is directly responsible to the Lord Jesus Christ. All church members are called to follow the example set by the leadership and serve each other according to everyone’s spiritual maturity, character, and gifting.
We believe in the independence and self-reliance of the local church. An autonomous church is still expected to have common ground with the umbrella organization where teaching and practice are concerned.
We recognize and support the governmental authorities in their God-given role as long as none of God’s laws are being violated. (Eph. 1:22-23, 4:15-16; Acts 2:42-47, 14:23; 1 Cor. 11:23-27, 12:19-20, 27-28; Matt. 28:19; 1 Pet. 5:1-5; Titus 1:5)
06
Eschatology (The final things)
We believe in Christ’s visible return after times of trial, temptation, and God’s judgment. Christ is then going to pass final judgment on the living and the dead. In the end, God will create a New Heaven and a New Earth which will be filled with absolute righteousness. The redeemed will spend eternity in God’s presence, but the unredeemed in separation from God. (Titus 2:13; 1 Thess. 1:10, 4:13-18, 5:4-10; John 14:1-3; Matt. 24:8-31, 25:31-46; Rev. 21:1-8).