Crossways Connections
August 2018
An Update from the Interim Executive Director, Laurie Wilkinson

August greetings!

Many of you know that I was selected by the board of directors to serve as the interim (half-time) executive director beginning in January of this year. This change was the result of Jake Czarnik-Niemeyer wanting to direct his time and energy to leading Crossways’ Capital Campaign, a critical and exciting need for the organization. 

Since beginning this role earlier this year, my time has been filled with excitement, anticipation, and opportunities.

Excitement – to be able to serve a ministry that has meant so much to me and my family; Anticipation – working with the board of directors to identify ways to best serve Crossways and use my skills and abilities to help prepare the organization for its next leader; Opportunities – as I have come to know the organization even more intimately, I continue to be in awe of God’s spirit at work in our midst and lead the organization in ways faithful to God’s calling during this time of transition.

The board of directors is working diligently through the process of establishing a search/call committee and identifying the skills and abilities needed by the next leader for our organization. They are excited about potential candidates that God might lead to Crossways but also cognizant of the work that is needed to be done in preparation for the search process.

Please feel free to contact me if you have questions during this time of transition. 

Yours in Christ ,
Laurie Wilkinson
Interim Executive Director
The Spirit of Transition:
Staff Changes at Crossways
We have both exciting and bittersweet news regarding some staff transitions at Crossways this time of year! We're thrilled to see what God does with the gifts of these beloved staff members as they are called to serve in new places. Join us in lifting up prayers of thanksgiving for their time here at Crossways, as well as prayers of discernment as we enter into the hiring process to move forward. The Spirit is moving, friends!

If you'd like to give a financial gift in honor of these staff members' ministry here at Crossways, visit  www.crosswayscamps.org/donate  - gifts for our Servant Leader Internship program, the hiring of international summer staff, and family camp scholarships would be most appreciated as these programs are near and dear to the hearts of our outgoing staff.
We've Moved!
The Crossways Administrative Office is now located
at the Parish House on the Zion Lutheran (Appleton) Campus
corner of N. Oneida and Commercial St.
We are loving our new administrative office space on the Zion campus. We moved around the block and are now all settled into the parish house on the corner of N. Oneida and Commercial St. (Our previous space was in the old parish school building off Winnebago St.)

Our mailing address and phone number remain the same:
912 N. Oneida St., Appleton, WI 54911 / 920-882-0023

Please come and visit us soon! Parking is available on N. Oneida and Commercial streets, as well as in the Zion Lutheran Church parking lot off Winnebago St. Our front entrance is located off the courtyard on N. Oneida St. We can't wait to see you!
Summer 2018 Program Partnership Highlight:
SIMBA/SIMSA ~ Rescue, Release, Restore
The summer camp season has ended - hard to believe another summer has already come and gone! Our staff were busy providing the best camp experience for all our campers, both in our programmed sessions and in private, contracted groups! We know you know what our programs look like, but wanted to highlight one of our private groups that comes each summer to Waypost Camp: the SIMSA and SIMBA programs of Rescue, Release, Restore.

Here is what Waypost Camp Director Adam Brandt has to share about this amazing group:
We were honored to have hosted the SIMBA and SIMSA camp programs at Waypost for the 3rd year in a row this summer.  SIMBA (Safe In My Brothers' Arms) and SIMSA (Safe In My Sisters' Arms) are rights-of-passage camp programs for at-risk, African American youth from ages 8-17. These programs are run by Rescue, Release, and Restore , an ELCA organization based in Chicago. These amazing camps are faith-centered and work to empower and transform the self-worth of these youth through leadership training, artistic expression and mentorship. The unique programs are complimented by their powerful blend of cultures and spirituality including Christian Bible studies, African traditions and Native American sweat lodge rituals.  They bring all their own staff who work tirelessly to accomplish these goals and provide an amazing, safe experience for the youth. Waypost staff thoroughly enjoy partnering with their staff to provide program and background support and joining in on the fun throughout their time at camp.  

Please take time to visit Rescue, Release, and Restore's website ( rescuereleaserestore.org ) and their Facebook page to learn more about this ministry and its camp programs.  We are honored that RRR considers Waypost one of its Partner Camps as it carries out its powerful and important ministry.
Do you love escaping to camp for a weekend retreat? So do we! Our 2018-2019 programmed retreat schedules are up on our website! We have retreats coming up for youth in grades 3-8 as well as our Couples Retreat and TWO Women's Wellness Retreats! Of course we have crafting retreats for quilters, scrapbookers, knitters, and more.

Do you have ideas for a new retreat or program partnership? Let us know! We'd love to hear about it.

Registration for our 2018-2019 ADULT and YOUTH retreats is now open!

Visit www.crosswayscamps.org/adult-retreats or www.crosswayscamps.org/youth-retreats to learn more or to register. (Adult retreat registration is both online and via paper mail-in form. Youth retreat registration is currently done via church group with paper registration forms. Call 920-882-0023 or email liz@crosswayscamps.org for assistance with retreat registration!)
Save the date for our 2018 Harvest Gala:
Saturday, October 27 ~ Liberty Hall, Kimberly WI
Administrative Office
Business Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00am-4:00pm
912 N. Oneida St. Appleton, WI 54911
phone: (920) 882-0023 | fax: (920) 882-9474