A Letter to Group Leaders

“...and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation, but as it is written, ‘Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand."
Romans 15:20-21

We honor and thank you for dedicating your lives to helping the next generation embrace the gospel, kill sin, find joy in Christ, and labor for God’s glory—you are our partners in the Apostle Paul’s godly ambition.

Funny as it may sound coming from event planners, we are convinced lasting fruit comes not from single events, but from patient, faithful, often unseen, week-after-week discipleship in the local church. The slow work of teaching, praying, and loving is how God trains enduring followers.

So, where does CROSS CON fit?

We exist to serve the local church, not compete. We aim only to be a kindling that spreads the fire God is already starting through faithful congregations. We aren't seeking innovation; the gospel doesn't need it. But we believe God uses concentrated moments, set apart from our routines, to press familiar truths deeper into the heart.

For some, CROSS CON means hearing the gospel clearly over three days. For others, it reminds them that their faith is shared by thousands of peers. Group leaders repeatedly tell us the Lord uses these gatherings to confirm truth, awaken seriousness, and give language to convictions formed in their home church.

We are not aiming for a spiritual high that fades. Our simpler, more durable hope is that 18–25 year olds return with clearer sight of Christ, deeper love for His church, and a larger, more biblical vision for God’s heart for the nations—a vision that shapes how they spend their lives for God’s purposes.

Everything at CROSS CON—the preaching, singing, breakouts, and logistics—is shaped by this godly ambition.

What follows explains what we are trying to do and why, helping you discern if CROSS CON is a helpful tool for your ministry.

Your brothers,
Matt Schmucker & Shawn LaCount
Directors

The Big Picture

Gospel. Church. Missions.

These three words guide everything we do at CROSS CON; they’re boundaries that we’ve purposely set up to help us stay focused and keep us from wandering from our mission.

Gospel

We want every person to hear the gospel clearly and repeatedly—that God saves sinners by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. We are not aiming at motivation, but proclamation. We don’t assume the gospel; we explain it plainly and press it home with conviction, praying that some will believe for the first time and many others will be freshly assured of Christ’s finished work.

Church

We want each person to leave CROSS more convinced that the Christian life is meant to be lived in the local church. God has not designed His people to grow in isolation; He uses ordinary means—faithful preaching, patient shepherding, corporate worship, discipline, and encouragement—to preserve and mature them. That’s why we speak often about the church, emphasizing a life rightly lived in Christ is a life lived in a local church. Even when we talk about missions, the church remains central—there is no biblical vision for reaching the nations that bypasses the local church.

Missions

Missions is not a side interest reserved for especially enthusiastic Christians; it lies at the heart of God’s purposes from Genesis to Revelation and is a work He has entrusted to His church. From God’s promise to Abraham to the vision of redeemed worshipers from every tribe and language, God’s heart for the nations runs through all of Scripture. Our hope is that everyone who attends CROSS CON would see this clearly—that God’s concern for the nations is not optional—and begin asking how their life might fit into His purposes, whether by going, sending, or staying to strengthen local churches. We believe every Christian has a role to play.

Speaker Selection

Character

Faithfulness is our first step in vetting speakers. Sound doctrine separated from godly character is a contradiction. We look for men and women who are known, accountable, and serving faithfully in their local churches. Some are people we know personally; others are recommended by leaders we trust. In every case—especially when we do not know a potential speaker well—we rely heavily on the judgment and affirmation of their local church and its leadership, believing the church is best positioned to know and judge a person’s character, faithfulness, and fruit.

Competency

God gives teachers to His church, and we labor to honor that gift. We look for speakers who can open the Bible clearly and carefully.

Doctrinal Unity

All speakers must share deep agreement with our statement of faith and core convictions. Unity around truth isn’t restrictive—it’s freeing. It allows us to speak clearly, without confusion.

Note:

Character, competency, and doctrinal unity are requirements when we select speakers. That said, we view diversity as a gift to Christ’s global church and aim to reflect it in our gatherings. Why? We want each person who attends CROSS CON to see the beautiful reality that the one true God gathers worshipers from every background and generation. Some in suits, others in jeans. Some older, some younger. Some from the U.S., others from around the world. The gospel does not belong to any one culture or style. We rejoice to display that Christ is exalted through a wide range of faithful voices, all united around the same truth.

Conference Elements

Currently, each CROSS CON includes five main sessions, two breakout blocks, a bookstore and an exhibit Hall each designed to serve a distinct purpose within the overall flow of the event.

Main Sessions

We host five main sessions, each of which includes the following elements:

• Main Talks

• Conversations

• Singing

• Prayer

• Scripture Readings

• Testimonials

• Announcements

Main Talks

Main talks are typically expositions of scripture  and ordinarily given by pastors. We set a theme and ask speakers to select a passage of Scripture and explain it carefully to the gathered audience. At times, a main session may also address a pressing cultural or theological issue.

Because these sessions involve the authoritative teaching of Scripture for the conference, we reserve these talks for men who are elder qualified. This practice is not a statement about gifting or value, but an effort to align our conference with the patterns of teaching authority we see in Scripture. Even though CROSS is not a church, we believe it is wise to reflect the church’s teaching order in moments that function most like preaching, so that our work strengthens—rather than competes with—the ministry of the local church.

Conversations

These sessions are more dialog-oriented and typically come later in a session, allowing listeners to unpack and further understand earlier teaching. They are designed to help us think carefully through specific questions, challenges, and topics together.

Conversation topics generally:

• Reinforce our convictions about the gospel, the church, and missions

• Expand on the theme of the year

• Address issues group leaders tell us their people are facing

Prayer

We understand that no amount of preparation or excellence can produce spiritual fruit apart from the work of the Holy Spirit. If He does not move, our efforts are in vain. 

So we pray! We pray before, during, and after, pleading with the Lord to do what He loves to do: open blind eyes, strengthen faith, and send laborers into His harvest.

We also want to model a life of intercession for others, and at CROSS CON that includes a particular focus on the nations. Throughout the conference, we pray together for God’s work around the world, and each morning, prior to the start of the session, we offer 30–60 minutes of guided prayer for the nations for all who wish to join.

Testimonials

Throughout the conference, we include testimonies from young adults who have believed the gospel, committed to local churches, or taken steps toward the nations as a means of reinforcing God’s work in the lives of young people who look and sound like those in the room. 

Singing

We don’t entertain, we worship. We don’t perform, we sing together. For that reason, we sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, led by musicians whose aim is to unite our voices as one. Musical arrangements may vary, but singing together remains central to who CROSS CON is.

Breakout Sessions

In addition to the main sessions, we host two breakout blocks, typically allowing each attendee to choose up to six breakouts to attend across the conference.

Breakout sessions are topically focused and interactive, usually featuring a short talk followed by a time of open Q&A. They serve a wide range of attendees—from those exploring Christianity to those wrestling with sin, seeking guidance in evangelism, or preparing for missions—so each person can find instruction and encouragement where they need it most.

Though there exists differing opinions on where to draw the line, we, as a conference, have chosen to see our main session talks more akin to preaching and only given by elder-qualified men, and breakout sessions as instruction where  both men and women are able to teach. During Q&A, speakers are encouraged to ground their answers in God’s Word, helping attendees see that the Bible is sufficient and trustworthy for the questions they bring.

Exhibitors & Sponsors

If CROSS CON is designed to motivate, then our exhibitors and sponsors often serve our mission by helping to mobilize. We see each organization in our exhibit hall as a partner. You’ll find colleges, seminaries, missions agencies, content producers and even those who help young people to overcome sexual addiction. All are there because in some way they support the purposes of CROSS CON.

We do our best to carefully vet every organization represented in the exhibit hall. While we know no organization is perfect and that every ministry is made up of imperfect people, we aim to partner only with groups we can commend.

Bookstore & Book Giveaways

We also host a bookstore with 3,000+ carefully curated titles. Like our exhibitors, we do our best to vet all of the titles for theological faithfulness and only include books that support the conference’s mission. Additionally, we give away multiple books during the conference. We love books because they tend to stick around. They may sit on a shelf for months or even years, but when they’re finally opened, God often uses them in quiet, lasting ways.

We’ve seen again and again how good books can bring clarity, strengthen faith, and help people keep going over the long haul. We think of them as one small way to help attendees put down deep roots—roots that support a lifetime of growth, perseverance, and faithfulness.

Logistics

We pursue excellence in logistics not as an end in itself, but as a way of removing unnecessary distractions so that attention can be given to God’s Word and His people. While we understand not every year we will achieve this in every area, we aim to improve year over year on areas we missed the mark the previous year.

Practically, this means we aim for:

• Fast, simple check-in
  

• Clear signage and intuitive flow
  

• Minimal waiting and unnecessary lines
  

• Accessible, visible help for on-site needs
  

Communication

Throughout the year, we aim to communicate simply, clearly, and sparingly. We resist the urge to fill inboxes or create noise. Instead, we send messages only when we have something useful, timely, and relevant to say.

Our goal is that group leaders and attendees can trust our communication—knowing that when we reach out, it matters.

Our Invitation

If what you’ve read here resonates with what you long to see in the lives of the young adults you serve, we would be glad to serve you.

Over the years, we’ve often heard group leaders say something like, “I’ve been teaching these same things all along—but at CROSS, it’s as if they heard it afresh, and something clicked.” That is essentially what we’re offering—Lord willing, nothing new, but the same gospel truths framed and pressed in a way God often uses to clarify, confirm, and strengthen what is already being taught in the local church.

Our hope is not that CROSS becomes an isolated high point, but that it serves as a helpful moment along the way—reinforcing your faithful labor and sending young adults home more anchored in Christ, more committed to His church, and more thoughtful about how God may use their lives.

We would be honored to partner with you. Please reach out if you have questions or would like to talk further.