Legacy

Twenty years.
Six summer days.
Over 5,000 students and leaders.
Eternal impact.

For over 20 years teenagers and their leaders have gathered each summer for CrossWalk, a week of camp in New England. Themes and Bible studies developed and written with New England students in mind. No fluff, but rather tackling subjects like the Holy Spirit, global missions, and sacrificial discipleship, all based in the redemptive Gospel story.

The Krumrey Family

The spiritual anchor of CrossWalk has been a pastor from western Massachusetts. Robert Krumrey and his family arrived in New England to plant MERCYhouse as the BCNE began their own youth camp. The college pastor first served as Bible study leader for high school graduates, then moved into the role of camp pastor. Most of those twenty years Robert served as camp pastor. 

Over those years, over 5,000 students and leaders heard the redemption story. Krumrey used creative methods to tell the Gospel story and point countless students to salvation. Numerous students and leaders experienced this annual pilgrimage for multiple years.

It was also a family affair. Robert’s wife, Melanie, and children joined him on campus most of the 20 years. All three children eventually became campers themselves. Melanie then joined Robert as Bible study leader for the female chaperones and curriculum writer. 

CrossWalk attendees have been called to salvation, servant leadership, local ministry, and global missions. 

The Moore Family

Legacy.

Here’s one story. One of those CrossWalk students was a kid from Massachusetts. 

Tommy Moore attended all six years as a student with his church, First Baptist Church of Sudbury. When he was a camper, he met Jesus through the Bible studies, evening worship services, and Bible teaching times. His life was completely transformed.

Tommy participated in Quest, the BCNE’s servant leadership development experience for high school juniors, and traveled on mission to the Dominican Republic. After high school, he enrolled at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, where Krumrey pastored MERCYhouse. Moore participated in a church plant for a season before returning to MERCYhouse.

While he was a student, Tommy joined the CrossWalk staff in training and the next year as a Bible study leader.  He and his fiancé, Kaitlyn, served the summer before their wedding and returned the next year as a new family. Now parents of two daughters, Tommy and Kaitlyn continue to serve at CrossWalk as a family like the Krumreys.

Taking up the CrossWalk mantle

This year Kaitlyn served as a Bible study leader and Tommy stepped into the role of CrossWalk camp pastor. In Tommy’s own words, “If you told me when I was at CrossWalk for the first time in 7th grade that I’d be preaching at CrossWalk someday, I would have laughed in your face and went back out onto the rec field.” Twenty years later, it seems God is having the last laugh. 

Tommy now serves on staff at MERCYhouse. He and Kaitlyn (and their girls) serve on CrossWalk staff and Tommy has traveled to multiple global destinations as Quest faculty.

The Krumreys are completing their time of ministry in New England this month. The time is bittersweet for those who have shared this phase of their ministry journey for 20+ years. The evidence of spiritual imprints can be seen in thousands of lives. The apostle Paul said, “Follow me as I follow Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). Robert and Melanie have lived in this manner and Tommy and Kaitlyn are two who have followed and now continue the disciple-making process.

Paul to Timothy, Robert to Tommy this is God’s design for leadership development. CrossWalk has been blessed beyond measure and celebrates the continued journey.

Allyson Clark serves as Next Generation Co-Director of Youth Ministries at the Baptist Convention of New England.