Church of the Cross is a Reformed congregation on Dale Road in Modesto, with Sunday worship at 10:00 a.m. Its identity centers on gospel-centered worship and a three-part rhythm: Gather - Grow - Go. At 3936 Dale Road, the church brings people together for worship and fellowship, encourages personal growth under Christ's guidance, and carries a message of love and redemption into the community and beyond.
Gather - Grow - Go: Four Gospel-Centered Pillars
Its mission is to unite people in worship and fellowship under the guidance of Christ, foster personal growth to follow his teachings, and empower the community to share his message of love and redemption with the world. Four areas give that mission a practical shape: Gospel-Centered Worship, Gospel-Centered Community, Gospel-Centered Service, and Gospel-Centered Multiplication.
Together, the four areas connect what happens on Sunday with life in the congregation and the wider community. Worship is the center, while fellowship supports growth, service carries the church's faith into action, and multiplication extends a call to discipleship and leadership development.
Sunday Worship at 10:00 a.m.
The Sunday gathering takes place at 3936 Dale Road in Modesto. Worship is intentionally designed around the gospel, with music, prayer, and scripture centered on Jesus Christ. The particular emphasis is the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, with the stated aim of helping people live out his love and grace and carry the transformative power of the gospel into daily life.
Children of all ages are welcome in worship. Parents who would prefer their little ones to be cared for during the service can use Sonshine Nursery, which is open to children ages 0-7.
Word, Grace, and Faith: What Reformed Means Here
Church of the Cross says Reformed means adherence to the core principles of the Protestant Reformation, summarized under The Word Alone, The Grace Alone, and Faith Alone. It teaches that the Bible is God's Word to humankind and its ultimate guide, with the main message being God's grace in Jesus Christ. The church also says people have no merit to offer God and are totally dependent on God's free favor toward them in Jesus Christ. Faith is the appropriate response to that grace through trust in Jesus Christ.
The church identifies the Apostles' Creed, Nicene Creed, and Athanasian Creed as summaries of Christian teaching from the first centuries after Jesus' death and resurrection. Its Protestant tradition also includes the Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession, and the Canons of Dordt. Church of the Cross further names Our Song of Hope as a 20th-century expression of faith and the Confession of Belhar as a 21st-century statement adopted in response to the evil of racism.
Growing Together Through Small Groups and Service
The Gospel-Centered Community pillar places acceptance and support at the center. Activities such as small group meetings and service projects are designed to strengthen relationships and encourage mutual growth. People share their life journeys, uplift one another, and seek to live out the teachings of Jesus in daily interactions, creating the kind of community the church wants people to experience as they grow in faith and love.
Gospel-Centered Multiplication is rooted in the command to make disciples. The church seeks to empower each believer to share their faith and disciple others, encouraging participation in evangelism and leadership development. It presents this approach as expanding the Kingdom of God one life at a time through active participation rather than leaving the church's mission to a single generation or effort.
Children, Youth, Women, Men, and Preschool
Alongside nursery care and Sonshine Preschool, Church of the Cross maintains separate Children and Youth, Women, and Men ministries. These areas complement its Sunday worship and small groups by providing distinct ways for people across stages of life to gather, share their experiences, and grow in faith and fellowship.
Growing Produce Through the Community Garden
The church operates a Community Garden where fresh produce can be grown for a family or given away. Garden plots are available on a first-come, first-served basis for a nominal fee directed toward water and city trash removal. The church's administrative assistant handles inquiries about the garden.
The garden gives a practical form to the Gospel-Centered Service pillar, whose outreach and mission projects are intended to meet physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Producing food offers a direct way for people to participate in service, cultivate something together, and share the harvest with others.
Pastor Jon Reyes and Worship Director Marshall Jones III
Before joining Church of the Cross, Pastor Jon Reyes worked as a manager in the technology industry for Google in Sacramento. His church service began in youth ministry at First Baptist of Rancho Cordova, followed by El Camino Baptist Church. He served as a worship leader and core member in two church plants and later as interim pastor for a local Sacramento church. As Pastor, he is committed to helping people deepen their faith and engage in meaningful service.
Marshall Jones III serves as Director of Music/Worship, providing dedicated leadership for the musical dimension of the church's gatherings. The church describes music, prayer, and scripture as central to worship and emphasizes music as part of gospel-centered worship that keeps the message of Christ at the heart of every gathering.
A Church Centered on Dale Road
Church of the Cross holds Sunday worship at 10:00 a.m. and has its office and worship address at 3936 Dale Rd, Modesto, CA 95356. The office can be reached at (209) 545-1992 or office@cotconline.com. The Sunday gathering anchors a broader life of worship, fellowship, service, and discipleship. Around those commitments, the church continues to express its calling to love God, love people, and serve people in Modesto.