Cross Lane Community Church sits on Lafayette Avenue in northern Terre Haute, Indiana, and exists for one clear reason: bringing people to Jesus. With an average weekly attendance of about 450, this non-denominational church describes itself as a place where anyone, regardless of background, can encounter God through Scripture, worship, and authentic community. Two Sunday services, deep investment in children and students, a year-round rhythm of small groups, and a broad network of mission partners shape who Cross Lane is and how it serves the Wabash Valley.
Sunday Mornings at 9:00 and 10:30
Cross Lane meets in person and online for two Sunday services, at 9:00 and 10:30 a.m. Each gathering runs 60 to 75 minutes and includes contemporary worship music, announcements, communion, and a practical, Bible-based message. Visitors are invited to grab a free coffee on the way in and to stop by the Welcome Center afterward for a free gift and a chance to learn more about the church.
The dress code is intentionally relaxed. The church welcomes everyone to come as they are, whether in shorts and sandals or a full suit, so each person can feel comfortable. Because worship is an individual response to the Creator, attendees may stand, sit, raise their hands, or close their eyes in their own way.
Both services are livestreamed, and a sermon archive is available through the Cross Lane YouTube channel and the messages page.
CHRIST: Six Core Values
The church's six core values are arranged as the acrostic CHRIST.
- Compassion for the lost - a passion for bringing lost people to Jesus, rooted in Matthew 18:12-14 and 2 Corinthians 5:14-15.
- Humility - the pursuit of Christ-likeness through humility, drawn from Philippians 2:3-8.
- Real - openness about personal weakness as the stage for telling others about Jesus, based on 2 Corinthians 3:13, Ephesians 4:22-24, and Philippians 2:12-23.
- Incredible grace - salvation by God's grace alone, from Ephesians 2:8 and Galatians 2:20-21.
- Simplicity - making it as easy as possible to come to Jesus, from Acts 15:19, 1 Corinthians 2:1-2, and Matthew 11:28-30.
- Total acceptance - following Jesus' example by accepting people as they are, from Romans 5:8.
What Cross Lane Believes
Cross Lane's stated beliefs begin with the Bible as God's Holy Word, the final authority for every matter of faith and practice. All Scripture is described as God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).
The church affirms belief in one God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and that God's Spirit lives in believers (1 Corinthians 3:16; 2 Timothy 1:14). It teaches that in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, that Christ died for sins and was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that forgiveness of sins comes through faith in Him (1 Corinthians 15:3; Colossians 2:9-10).
Salvation is by grace through faith, not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-10), and those who have been justified have peace with God through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). The church also teaches that all who are baptized into Christ have clothed themselves with Christ (Galatians 3:27) and that a person who has placed faith in Christ and been forgiven will respond to Scripture's command to be immersed (Matthew 28:19-20).
Cross Lane also holds that elders are to exercise authority over the local congregation, that they serve as shepherds of God's flock, and that their authority is given by God (1 Peter 5:1-3).
Cross Lane Kids: From Nursery Through Fifth Grade
Cross Lane Kids meets during both Sunday services, with programs for children from birth through fifth grade. The nursery cares for children from birth to age 2 in a safe, nurturing space staffed by volunteers who love babies and toddlers. The 2's and 3's room explores big truths about God through songs, simple Bible stories, crafts, and sensory play. The 4's and 5's room uses storytelling, worship, activities, and small groups to help preschoolers know who God is and how they can trust Him.
For elementary-age students, the Blue Room serves kindergarten through second grade with energetic worship, Bible teaching, and small group time designed to help kids engage with Scripture and apply it to daily life. The Orange Room is built for third through fifth graders, using interactive games, discussion, and worship to explore more complex Bible truths and real-life situations and to help children begin to own their faith.
On Wednesday nights, Cross Lane Kids brings Sunday's lesson to life with crafts, science experiments, games, creative stories, and small group time for kindergarten through fifth grade, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Students: Believe, Belong, Become
Cross Lane's student ministry exists to help middle and high school students in grades 6-12 believe in Jesus, belong in community, and become part of God's story. Students meet in the Student Room during the 10:30 a.m. service for worship, games, and teaching, and gather again on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. during the school year for small groups, games, food, and surprises.
Beyond the weekly rhythm, the student ministry plans regular fellowship events including CIY MOVE/MIX, a fall retreat, mission trips, game nights, and summer midweek meet-ups. Resources for parents include Parent Cue, HomeWord, and the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding (CPYU).
Rooted: A Ten-Week Journey
Rooted is a ten-week experience designed to connect participants to God, to the church, and to their purpose. Each group meets in person and is led by a trained facilitator. Together, group members explore the Bible, engage in prayer and serve experiences, share stories, build community, and practice the rhythms essential to a healthy spiritual life. After Rooted, groups have the option to continue as Life Groups, since the church believes that discipleship happens best in relationship with other believers.
Life Groups, Men, and Women
Adults at Cross Lane connect through a number of ongoing groups. Life Groups meet regularly for 13-week sessions each spring and fall to share meals and grow together through prayer and study. A Young Adult Life Group serves those ages 18-29 on Tuesday evenings during the school year for fellowship, food, and study.
Men's ministry, called Every Man Up, provides opportunities to grow through fellowship, study, and service projects focused on single mothers and widows. The men also gather for an annual retreat at Wonder Valley Christian Camp that includes zip lining, hiking, shared meals, worship, and teaching.
Women's ministry includes Christian Women's Fellowship (CWF), which meets throughout the year for fellowship and service and supports missionaries, special community outreach projects, and the Kids Christmas Shop, and Third Thursdays, a monthly women's group that meets on the third Thursday of each month for fellowship and activities.
Serving at Cross Lane
Volunteers are the backbone of Cross Lane's ministries. Opportunities include the Worship Team, which welcomes musicians and vocalists; the Tech Team, with roles in computer, sound, and livestream; and the Grounds Crew and Maintenance, which maintains several acres of property during the warmer months and handles ongoing projects year-round. A Discovery booklet and a digital connect card help newcomers and regular attenders take their next step.
Local and Global Mission Partnerships
Cross Lane invests in the Wabash Valley and beyond through a wide network of ministry partners. Locally, the church works with The ARK Christian Ministries, a Bible-based, Christ-centered nonprofit serving the next generation that has been operating since 1948; Crossroads Care Clinic, which offers pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, STD and HIV testing, education, and mentoring; the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA); Harvest Prayer Ministries; Light House Mission, which ministers to the Least, the Last, and the Lost through guidance, counseling, education, job training, shelter, food, clothing, health care, and independent living communities; Team of Mercy, which assists survivors of suicide with biohazard cleanup and emotional support and hosts a survivor support group on the second Monday of each month; and Wonder Valley Christian Camp, a 125-acre camp near Salem, Indiana.
Globally, Cross Lane partners with Haitian Christian Outreach, which focuses on church planting, education, health care, and community development; Hippo Valley Christian Mission in Zimbabwe, a holistic ministry that touches the mind, body, and soul through church planting, education, children's homes, and medical clinics; North Burma Christian Mission, now serving in Thailand and reaching out to peoples of Asia with the message of reconciliation; Team Expansion, including Cory and Cassidy Fountain serving among the Turkish population in Enfield, United Kingdom; The Smiles Foundation, a Christian charity serving people in Romania; and World Vision, which Cross Lane supports through child sponsorship.
Each year the church takes at least one mission trip, with past trips reaching Arizona, Illinois, Kentucky, New York, West Virginia, Ohio, Honduras, Haiti, Thailand, Zimbabwe, Northern Ireland, Belize, Romania, and Israel.
The Place and the People
Cross Lane Community Church gathers at 2204 Lafayette Avenue in Terre Haute, Indiana, and can be reached at (812) 466-6766 or info@clcchurch.com. Online giving is available through the church's giving portal, and messages can be watched live or on demand through the messages page and the Cross Lane YouTube channel. A weekly email newsletter and a downloadable Discovery booklet help newcomers find their place in the life of the congregation, where Sunday worship, kids and student ministry, Rooted, life groups, and a global network of mission partners all serve the same purpose that defines the church: bringing people to Jesus.