Iowa Churches Forge Partnership on Behalf of Area Youth

“We must make heaven crowded with teenagers,” says Dan Bittinger, who along with his wife Jinger, pastors Crosspointe Church in Sioux City, Iowa. Their congregation numbers around 65 people and sits among a citywide population of around 90,000. More than 14,000 of that number are under 18 years old.

Crosspointe’s resources seemed limited in regard to reaching out to the area’s many youth, something that grieved Bittinger, 44, including for his own three children. He remembered his own spiritually formative youth group experiences growing up in Ohio and yearned for his kids and others to experience the same. Something had to be done, and Bittinger was ready to take unconventional steps to do it.

“The goal is to see as many kids encounter Jesus as we can,” he says.

KINGDOM-MINDED COLLABORATION

When the Bittingers came to Crosspointe as associate pastors in 2014, the church had a small youth group being led solely by volunteers. Traditional activities, such as Bible teachings and summer camp attendance, were occurring. New youth were coming. Yet when the existing volunteers were ready to step away, no one else was ready to step up. No one else had a passion for reaching the youth, Bittinger recalls.

When in 2019 Bittinger became lead pastor, he knew something had to be done. He looked around the area, taking special note of Sioux City First Assembly, pastored by his long-time friend Josh Potter. A congregation of around 120, Sioux City First had a burgeoning youth ministry.

“I wanted to see Crosspointe youth be discipled, including outside of Sunday morning,” Bittinger says. “Sioux City First was doing good things, and I also wanted to promote Kingdom-mindedness and collaboration. So, I asked Pastor Josh, ‘how about if our youth come over there?’”

Potter agreed, and a beneficial partnership for the Kingdom of Jesus was forged.

“We want to see all Sioux City youth know Jesus,” Bittinger says. “Until that happens, we need to create a place where they can learn about Christ, be discipled, build relationships, and be transformed. This isn’t the time to worry about our own individual churches.”

COMBINED GIFTS AND ASSETS

From the initial days of their partnership until the present, Bittinger and Potter regularly assess individual and combined gifts and assets and how they can best be leveraged to benefit Sioux City youth and the cause of Christ.

For example, Bittinger — who is also one of five elected county supervisors and the chairman of the board of Woodbury County, Iowa — has a background in maintenance work. He led the youth in prepping a three-car garage on Sioux City First’s property to be made over into a youth facility, leading them in installing trim, painting, etc. He explains that the goal was not only to give the youth their own space, but also opportunity to help and take pride in its creation.

Crosspointe and Sioux City First youth visit each other’s church campuses to help spring clean, move furniture, do maintenance projects, and more. The two pastors also combine financial resources, with Crosspointe assisting in the cost of youth events.

“The Kingdom of God must work together,” Bittinger says. “We want to model to all the churches that we are better together.”

In 2022, Sioux City First was able to hire full time youth pastors — Tyler and Grace Mau. Bittinger and Potter rejoice that youth are being more and more discipled under the Maus’ leadership, and their experiences more enriched.

Bittinger recalls one young man who, having finally accepted the persistent invitation of a Crosspointe friend to attend youth group, got saved, and grew well in his faith. When his family prepared to move two hours away, they immediately inquired of the pastors about a good church to plug into in their new area.

EMPOWERED BY UNITY

Bittinger estimates that of the 90,000 inhabitants of Sioux City, around 20,000 attend church. “A lot of people — and a lot of youth — need Jesus.”

In the last five years of the collaboration between Crosspointe and Sioux City First, there has been a natural deepening of friendship, trust, and a unified effort to reach all Sioux City.

Iowa Ministry Network superintendent Jonathan Barthalow says, “The story of Crosspointe and Sioux City First reminds us why we do what we do. It is not about who gets credit for it; it's about reaching the next generation for Christ. Pastor Dan and Pastor Josh's leadership, marked by resourcefulness and a true servant's heart, is a powerful example of what can happen when we put the Kingdom first. This is an inspiration to us all.”

In 2021, Bittinger and Potter also began a joint adult Bible study. Bittinger, who spent several years as a resident director at Southeastern University and had expected to spend most of his ministry in higher education, enjoys co-teaching the group with Potter.

Crosspointe and Sioux City First also partner in various ways with other AG churches in their area, including holding an annual snow tubing outreach with Restoration Church, the largest AG congregation in Sioux City.

Bittinger concludes, “There are many Bible-believing, Holy Spirit-empowered believers here and they are growing in faith, strength, and missions-mindedness. They are getting a fire in their bones to work with other churches living by the Scripture, and this is leading to greater strength and unity in the community. I hope to encourage others not to despise that perhaps you don’t have certain resources. Look around for other strong, Bible-believing churches that might be able to help you unlock great potential.”