It Started with Graffiti and an Openness to God’s Leading

In 1998, a vandalized retaining wall at a manufacturing plant in Illinois became the unlikely beginning of a movement that would reach thousands of children with the gospel.

The Beginning

Bern and Jeanne Bertsche owned Camcraft, a precision machining company in Hanover Park, Illinois. When graffiti appeared on their factory wall, a local police officer made an unexpected suggestion: instead of building higher fences, build bridges with the young people in the community.

Bern and Jeanne took it to heart.

An early photo from the founding of Crossroads Kids Club
Leaders building partnerships in the early years of Crossroads

Building Bridges

They partnered with nearby Parkwood Elementary School, inviting students to tour the factory, learn about high-tech manufacturing, and connect with caring adult mentors. The relationship flourished. Children from Parkwood still visit Camcraft today.

But Bern and Jeanne wanted to give the children something more than career exposure. They wanted to introduce them to Jesus.

The First Club

In the beginning, Crossroads was asking families to send them their children. It was waiting for them to come. But Jesus didn’t wait for people to come to him. He went to them.

There had to be a better way.

Children at one of the first Crossroads Kids Clubs
Adult mentors and children sit together around a classroom table.

The Paradigm Shift

By the fall of 1999, Crossroads realized that Christian clubs could meet legally inside of schools, after school. Instead of bussing children off campus to a local church, the local church could go to the children.

This was the breakthrough.

The gospel came to the children instead of asking the children to come to the gospel. This simple shift became the foundation of the Crossroads model and reflects the heart of the Great Commission:

We will go where the children are.

Going Where Children Are

What started at one school in one suburb has grown into a nationwide movement. Today, Crossroads Clubs meet in schools across America, led by local churches who’ve caught the same vision: go where children are with the Good News of Jesus.

The Lord has even extended our vision of going to the children beyond our borders, with clubs now meeting in eight countries in Latin America and Africa. But the heart remains the same.

Leaders walking into a school to reach children
Two children hold a Who Is Jesus poster while a leader guides the activity.

Our Mission Today

At every Crossroads Club, children journey through the Bible and discover what it means to follow Jesus. They experience the love of a caring community. They develop fruit-of-the-Spirit character. They connect with a local church family.

Established in 1998, we have decades of experience helping children discover life in Jesus.

But our work isn’t finished. Millions more children are waiting. We will go.

Will you go with us?

A leader teaches children seated on the floor of a classroom.