WHo We ARE

Our Mission

"Cross & Crown Church is a gospel-centered community committed to making disciples who love Jesus Christ and love others in Jesus' name."

Unity is very important to us because we believe it is important to God. Paul prayed in Romans 15:5-6 that the church at Rome would be “…of the same mind with one another…so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (emphasis ours). Our desire is that we as a church would be of the same mind so that we might glorify God with one united, harmonious voice. This oneness of mind will be nurtured and enhanced by a clear statement of our common mission and our core commitments. Let us begin then, and see what it is that God has called us as a church to be and to do.

Statement of Faith & Confessions Affirmed

What a church believes is foundational to its health and spiritual vitality. Without sound doctrine, a church may be many things but it will not be healthy. Here you will find a number of helpful statements and historic confessions explaining what we believe and teach as a church.

EFCA Statement of Faith 

This statement summarizes well the central beliefs of our church and of the Evangelical Free Church of America of which we are a part. Agreement with the EFCA Statement of Faith is required of all those who want to become members of Cross & Crown Church.

What We Teach

This statement significantly expands upon our Statement of Faith and explains more fully the doctrines that our elders, leaders, and teachers affirm.

The Apostles' Creed

The Apostles' Creed is a historic confession of the Christian faith that all of our elders and pastors wholeheartedly affirm.

The Nicene Creed

The Nicene Creed was a result of the Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325. The creed emphasizes the doctrine of the Trinity and clearly articulates the divinity of Jesus Christ. All elders and pastors affirm this creed.

Cambridge Declaration

The Cambridge Declaration summarizes key principles of the protestant reformation and is affirmed by all of our elders and pastors.

Danvers Statement

The Danvers Statement on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood outlines the biblical similarities and differences between men and women and their roles within the church. It is affirmed by all of our elders and pastors.

Chicago Statement

The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy is affirmed by all of our elders and pastors as a faithful articulation of the doctrine of Biblical inerrancy.

Our Pastors

LANCE GENTRY

Senior Pastor | Elder
Lance grew up in Indiana, trusted in Jesus Christ at an early age,  and has served as pastor of Cross & Crown since 1997. He is a graduate of Cedarville University (1994) and The Master’s Seminary (1997). His wife, Leigh Ann, grew up in San Jose, California and along with being a pastor's wife she is also a nurse and a real estate agent. Together they have four children, Ethan, Kate, Tess, and Luke. Lance enjoys being with his family,  reading theology and history, watching films and documentaries, listening to the blues, and all things weather-related. Check out his personal weather station here.

ROB ZIETLOW

Senior Associate Pastor | Elder
Rob has been on the pastoral staff since 2001 and is a graduate of both The Master’s College (1994) and The Master’s Seminary (1998). He oversees Men’s Ministry, Sunday School, Counseling and Christian Education. Rob and his wife Sharon have three children, Mackenzie (and son-in-law Nate, granddaughter Raelyn), Makayla (and son-in-law Brandt), and Brayden.

JON GILMORE

Pastor of Music Ministry | Elder
Jon has served at Cross & Crown  since 2015, overseeing music, media and facilities. He studied at Puget Sound Christian College (B.A.) before returning to his native home in Colorado Springs. His wife, Erin, is a small business owner and a full-time mother of their two children, Olivia & Jack. The son of two drill-sergeants, Jon is a life-long pluviophile, estate-pipe restorer, hymnbook collector, and apiarist.

MICAH SPANSEL

Pastor of Student Ministry
Micah began serving at Cross & Crown in 2023. He grew up in southern California and Cleveland Ohio, then moved to Louisville Kentucky where he has been pursuing a B.A. in Biblical Studies and a MDiv. at Boyce College and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He met his wonderful-in-every-way wife Morgan during his freshman year though they took a while to get to each other (ask them about their story--they love talking about it). Morgan grew up in beautiful western Michigan on the lake and recently graduated from Boyce College with a B.A. in Global Studies. Micah and Morgan are expecting their first baby Spansel in June 2023 and dream of having a big family and of serving the Lord overseas in Bible translation to unengaged peoples one day.

Our Elders

PEPE ALICEA

Pepe Alicea has been at Cross & Crown since 1995. In addition to serving as an elder, he leads a LifeGroup, the Walking in the Truth men’s bible study, and occasionally teaches an ABF class. Pepe manages a large facilities portfolio for an aerospace and defense company. Pepe and his family enjoy trout fishing in Colorado’s high country. He and his wife Marta have two adult children and one grandson.

BRENT BUTLER

Brent Butler has been at Cross & Crown since 2007. In addition to serving as an elder, he enjoys teaching basic doctrine and evangelism studies, discipling, hosting a LifeGroup, and is currently on staff as our Renovation & Relocation Project Manager. Brent has served in various capacities with churches and faith-based organizations, including leading an operations group for an international non-profit. He and his wife Lori have been married since 1999 and have three sons.

BRYAN LEE

Bryan Lee has attended Cross & Crown since 2009 and serves as an elder, in Student Ministry, co-leads a LifeGroup, and as a substitute Sunday School teacher. He is the President at Oscium, a tech company he co-founded. He and his wife Bridget have four children.

DAN MELLEMA

Dan Mellema has been at Cross & Crown since 1983. In addition to serving as an elder, he co-leads a LifeGroup and serves on the Welcome Team. Dan is the CFO at Focus on the Family and he and his wife Sue have three adult children and nine grandchildren.

JEFF STEBBINS

Jeff Stebbins has attended Cross & Crown since 2012. In addition to serving as an elder, he enjoys teaching an Adult Bible Fellowship class, leading a men's Bible study and serving on the Missions Team. Jeff and his wife Beth are both teachers of English. They have two adult daughters and a son-in-law.

ERIK VAN OS

Erik Van Os and his wife Nancy have attended Cross & Crown since 2018. In addition to serving as an elder, he enjoys co-leading a LifeGroup and serving on the Missions Team. Erik is a physician and regularly serves as a medical missionary in Africa. Erik and Nancy have three adult children and enjoy the outdoors.

DAVE YUSCHALK

Dave Yuschalk has been at Cross & Crown since 2005. In addition to serving as an elder, he enjoys leading a LifeGroup, discipling men, and getting outdoors. Dave is a middle school math teacher and has an MTS in Biblical Counseling through Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife Melissa have three children.

Our Deacons

CHASE BARRETT

Chase Barrett has been at Cross & Crown since 2001. In addition to serving as a deacon, he is a welcoming usher on Sunday morning and assists in Student Ministry. Chase is a software engineer by trade. He and his wife Stacey have ten children and one grandchild.

GREGG ELMENDORF

Gregg Elmendorf has been at Cross & Crown Church since 2005. In addition to serving as a deacon, Gregg also enjoys serving on the Security Team. Gregg is responsible for International Security & Crisis Management for a non-profit organization. He and his wife Julie have two grown children.

TIM GUNSOLLEY

Tim Gunsolley has attended Cross & Crown since 2013. He serves as the President/CEO of Elevation Growth Partners, a consulting firm dedicated to helping faith-based non-profits achieve their mission. He and his wife Beth have two adult children and one grandchild.

MIKE HESTERMANN

Mike Hestermann has attended Cross & Crown since 2012. He does consulting work for non-profit organizations. His wife Cindy serves as the church Nursery & Early Childhood Director. They have two adult children and eight grandchildren.

CURT SAWYER

Curt Sawyer has been at Cross & Crown since 2018. In addition to serving as a deacon, he co-leads a LifeGroup and serves on the Welcome and Usher Teams. Curt is a servant-leader at Focus on the Family and he and his wife Lisa have three children.

DAYMEN TIFFANY

Daymen Tiffany has been at Cross & Crown since 2018. In addition to serving as a deacon, he enjoys assisting in Student Ministry. After retiring from the Air Force in 2018, he and his wife Heather became local business owners serving the Colorado Springs community and together they have five children.

STEVE WOODFORD

Steve Woodford has been at Cross & Crown since 2008. In addition to serving as a deacon, he leads a LifeGroup and previously taught a small group that was focused on relational wisdom from a Biblical perspective (RW360). Steve grew up in the Colorado Springs area, but moved away for college and career. He returned home in 2003 in order to take over the family manufacturing business from his father. He and his wife Kristin have nine children.

MEMBERSHIP

We believe being a committed part of a local church is central to God’s plan for every christian. This commitment includes covenanting with other believers for their good and submitting to the shepherding care of spiritual leaders.

The first step to becoming a member is to attend our next Discovering Cross & Crown class.

Our History

Cross & Crown Church was started with the help of First Evangelical Free Church of Colorado Springs and consisted of twelve families. It was to be a new church serving the area of “Northeast Colorado Springs.” Originally named Austin Bluffs Evangelical Free Church, the first service was held on Sunday Morning July 16, 1972. In those early days, worship services were held in Longfellow Elementary School which is just down the street from our former location on Maizeland Road. Within the first year, attendance was averaging 80 people.

Property on Maizeland Road was purchased and construction soon began on phase one which was to be a Multi-Purpose facility. The first service in the new building was on February 15, 1976.  An auditorium and educational wing were later constructed and dedicated in October of 1984.  

Pastor Lance Gentry was called by the church to serve as  Associate Pastor beginning in 1997 and then in 1999 the church called him to become the fifth Senior Pastor  to serve our church.  For the first fifty years of our existence, the building on Maizeland Road was our home. Over the years, God allowed our church to grow and it became evident that we would need to relocate to a larger facility that would better meet our needs.

In 2022 the Maizeland campus was sold and a larger building on Arrowswest Drive was purchased and remodeled. In that same year the church name was changed from Austin Bluffs Evangelical Free Church to Cross & Crown Church. Our last Sunday service at Maizeland was on Christmas Day 2022 and our first Sunday service at Arrowswest was on New Years Day 2023. We give thanks to God for His faithfulness to our church throughout its first 50 years and we look to Him to lead and guide us in the years to come.

We have been a member of the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA) since our founding.