How it all started...
The dream of Crossway Community Church (originally CrossWay Church of the Assemblies of God, then Crossway Community Church of Mars) began in the heart and mind of Pastor Jeff Leake of Allison Park Church in the early 1990’s. As he was crying out to God for situations in the life of his church, God spoke back to him. “You’re asking me to do something about your problem, but when are you going to do something about my problem?” Pastor Jeff knew what God meant, and he began working out the vision of planting 5 churches in 5 years. His first planting prospect was in the Cranberry Area of Butler County. He had a pastor that was willing to lead the church plant, so the process began.
After the process began, Pastor Pat Summers submitted to the call of the Lord when the planting pastor withdrew himself from the project. For six months, Pastor Pat and his wife, Pam, along with two other families, met for Friday morning prayer. This time of prayer eventually led them to go out into the community and start knocking on doors, meeting people in the area, and sharing their vision with people who did not regularly attend a church.
In 1996, Crossway began meeting in a house in Cranberry for a Bible study that consistently had an attendance of about 30 people. In November of that year, they began meeting for weekly Sunday services at Marshall Middle School, with an average attendance of 30-40. After about a year, Crossway had steadily outgrown their space, so they moved to the Haynes school, where they were able to grow to about 90 people. During the two years they worshipped at Haynes School, Pastor Pat began to hear the voice of God calling them to the 228 corridor, placing them in the heart of the Middlesex, Adams, Valencia, and Mars communities. So, they made the move to Mars High School on Route 228.
Through a miracle of miracles, in 1999, Crossway purchased the current location of 17 acres with $700 in the building fund. On the day of the meeting with the seller, a check for $15,000 came in the mail. The land was purchased in December 1999. Ground was broken in the spring of 2000, and Crossway held its first service in the new building on Father’s Day 2001. An addition was built in the summer of 2006.
In 2007, Pastor Pat and his wife Pam surrendered to the call of the Lord to resign as pastors of Crossway and began a new ministry, THINK MISSIONS, partnering with pastors and churches to plant and build churches overseas. In May 2008, God led Pastor Chris and Maria Gibbs to Crossway as the new senior pastors.
The spring of 2019 brought another time of transition for Crossway Community Church, when Pastor Chris and his family were called to serve the Lord as missionaries in Asia.
In August of 2020, Pastor Mike Santistevan was welcomed as lead pastor. Though he moved on in November of 2023, his time at Crossway helped change the lives of many people.
While the vision and goals, logos and slogans, leaders and pastors have changed throughout the years, the heart and mission of Crossway has always remained the same: Seek and save the lost.
From the inception of Crossway, God had a plan. And His plan continues to unfold to this day. Through the “mountains and valleys” God has always been faithful to those who love Him! Crossway is all about building authentic relationships with God, each other, and with the community and world beyond the walls of any building.
After the process began, Pastor Pat Summers submitted to the call of the Lord when the planting pastor withdrew himself from the project. For six months, Pastor Pat and his wife, Pam, along with two other families, met for Friday morning prayer. This time of prayer eventually led them to go out into the community and start knocking on doors, meeting people in the area, and sharing their vision with people who did not regularly attend a church.
In 1996, Crossway began meeting in a house in Cranberry for a Bible study that consistently had an attendance of about 30 people. In November of that year, they began meeting for weekly Sunday services at Marshall Middle School, with an average attendance of 30-40. After about a year, Crossway had steadily outgrown their space, so they moved to the Haynes school, where they were able to grow to about 90 people. During the two years they worshipped at Haynes School, Pastor Pat began to hear the voice of God calling them to the 228 corridor, placing them in the heart of the Middlesex, Adams, Valencia, and Mars communities. So, they made the move to Mars High School on Route 228.
Through a miracle of miracles, in 1999, Crossway purchased the current location of 17 acres with $700 in the building fund. On the day of the meeting with the seller, a check for $15,000 came in the mail. The land was purchased in December 1999. Ground was broken in the spring of 2000, and Crossway held its first service in the new building on Father’s Day 2001. An addition was built in the summer of 2006.
In 2007, Pastor Pat and his wife Pam surrendered to the call of the Lord to resign as pastors of Crossway and began a new ministry, THINK MISSIONS, partnering with pastors and churches to plant and build churches overseas. In May 2008, God led Pastor Chris and Maria Gibbs to Crossway as the new senior pastors.
The spring of 2019 brought another time of transition for Crossway Community Church, when Pastor Chris and his family were called to serve the Lord as missionaries in Asia.
In August of 2020, Pastor Mike Santistevan was welcomed as lead pastor. Though he moved on in November of 2023, his time at Crossway helped change the lives of many people.
While the vision and goals, logos and slogans, leaders and pastors have changed throughout the years, the heart and mission of Crossway has always remained the same: Seek and save the lost.
From the inception of Crossway, God had a plan. And His plan continues to unfold to this day. Through the “mountains and valleys” God has always been faithful to those who love Him! Crossway is all about building authentic relationships with God, each other, and with the community and world beyond the walls of any building.