About us
Crossroads Chapel (Legal Name Lucerne Valley Foursquare Church) is a intergenerational church whose mission is to make Jesus known and reverence Him through worship, trust, obedience, and service. We are a charter member of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel (ICFG) since 1991. The ICFG was founded in Los Angeles, California, by Aimee Semple McPherson in 1923 amidst the revival days of the early 1900’s. Our founders were determined to proclaim the solid scriptural core of Pentecostal Renewal. They also desired to avoid the extremes of fanaticism on the one hand, while combating materialism on the other. There was also a strong commitment to inter-denominational world evangelism. God, in His grace, has allowed ICFG to grow from the one local fellowship to over 1,865 U.S. churches; globally, The Foursquare Church has more than 64,000 churches and meeting places in 141 countries.
The Foursquare denomination is a member of the National Association of Evangelicals (NEA) and, as a Pentecostal Church, is affiliated with the Pentecostal Fellowship of North America (PFNA). One of our founder’s favorite sayings was, “In the essentials we need unity. In the non-essentials we need charity”. It is in that same spirit of partnership with all believers that today we strive to have open arms and hearts to all who proclaim His Great Name. The term “Foursquare” stands for the four-fold ministry of Jesus Christ as the Savior (Romans 10:9), Baptizer with the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:16), Healer (1 Peter 2:24) and soon coming King (Acts 1:11). “Foursquare” was also a term used in construction that meant a structure was absolutely plumb and square. In the early 1900’s, the term “Foursquare” was a common colloquialism meaning “right on!”
Our pastors
Pastors Gary and Michelle Merriman have been married since 1999 and have three boys. One went to be with Jesus 56 days after his birth; one is grown and on his own, and the youngest is a young teenager still at home. Both Gary and Michelle grew up in pastors’ homes and were involved in ministry since they were teenagers. Officially, they received their Foursquare Pastor’s License (1997/1998) and Ordination (2001) after graduating from Life Pacific University (formally Life Bible College). Pastor Gary went on to earn two graduate degrees - a Master in Biblical Studies at Biola University (2001) and a Master in Library and Information Science (MLIS) at San Jose State University (2013).
Pastors Gary and Michelle have been involved in various roles of ministry, always with the goal to love God and to love people. They have a passion to teach the Word of God, to see people of all ages grow in their faith and walk with the Lord, to help develop healthy godly families, and to help support missions on a local and international level. They enjoy serving with others as a team.
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