Israel was in a period of disobedience, looking at the nations around them trying to emulate these pagan nations. Then finally during leadership of Samuel, God started to work in the midst of his people and Israel repented & recommitted their hearts and minds to God. Samuel placed a large stone at the place where this restoration began. 

In 1 Samuel 7:12 it is written that “Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, ‘Till now the LORD has helped us.’”

He publicly dedicated it as a monument to God's help, God's faithfulness, God's eternal covenant. This was visible to all that would pass by that it was “Not me, but all God.” It was a reminder of God’s sovereign help in their journey.

We celebrate the 11^th anniversary for Crossway as well as our 6^th anniversary for the Irvine campus. Every wonderful story, picture & victory during these 11 years is an opportunity for us to recognize the Ebenezer stones in our Church journey, and to remember that God is the reason we are here today. God is the reason we can celebrate. He is good and he has done great things for us here at Crossway!

We celebrate by worshipping God and His faithfulness to us because we remember so many Ebenezer stone moments of God providing, guiding and helping us. So on this day of celebration at Crossway, we declare like the Psalmist in Psalm 126:3, “The Lord has done great things for us”!

Thank you God for 11 years of “Ebenezer stone moments” at Crossway. 

Pastor Jun Park

Irvine Campus Pastor