14. Alumni and Current Students - Mixed Focus Group

12/2, 9a
Conference Room
Dawn led, Amy took notes

M - female, married to D, started going in 1990 - a friend's sister had come here and got me started and I stuck with it. Fred married us
D - male, married to M, alumni - met Fred through Michelle, started coming when we started dating, joined the men's bible study
T - male, married to L, started coming here in 91 when I was going to school here, went to church off campus and came back
L- female, married to T, alumni met Fred five years ago when I started dating my husband, I was catholic, he was Baptist, and we joined here because this was in the middle. Fred married us four years ago
C - female, 1st year, started here last fall, came here with a friend whose Lutheran, I'm catholic but didn't agree with everything so I thought I would look around. So I've been here and so far it looks good.
K - male, 2nd year started coming this past March, had been going to Bethany Lutheran College (ELS) which was very different from how I grew up (ELCA) tried I church in town, but no one my age so I came here. Now I've graduated and work full time and still attend here.

FF: What personal impact has Crossroads Ministry had on you?

C - As a freshman you don't know anything or anyone and it was nice to come back and see familiar faces - the people here and Fred, the community.

K - Being able to go someplace where my opinions and views were more common. Up there I was looked down upon or ridiculed because of what I believe. Plus Fred has a way of getting down the root of issues and questions…

L - Fred is really active with the alumni - he always keeps in touch with us and we've made a lot of new friends here.

D - I have made friends through this ministry even though I didn't go to school here

T - Fred does a good job of getting people involved - show up one Sun and you're doing something the next Sunday

M - I grew up Presbyterian and it was good to see the same faces here every week, Fred was someone to talk to, warm and friendly

FF: Outreach into the community?

L - A lot of people know Fred. At the church we belong to now, we've gone through 6 pastors in 3 years, so a lot of people from our church have come up here. Plus Fred teaches and is around a lot.

FF: Do people know what this place is?

C - When I say I'm going to Crossroads the girls on my floor say "what's that?" But I've only been here three months

K - I never went to school here, so I wouldn't know. People at Wal-Mart (where he works) probably wouldn't know about it either.

T - Most of the ELCA churches in town work together so people know about it because of that.

M - If you said Crossroads they might not know, but if you said Fred Fritz they'd go "oh!"

FF: Genius?

T - Fred - he's so outgoing, jovial. It wouldn't be the same without him in front.

L - His Marty Party, BBQs (in the summer) he tries to get students involved, and the people who live here work to get students active too.

K - Whoever you have as the pastor has a big impact on the crowd you draw. In my home church the pastor just left after 14 years and people loved him. Now attendance is way down, so the pastor makes a difference.

M - Personality is important. If you come back a few times he tries to make you feel involved, and he'll invite you to do stuff.

C - I think the pastor is a big factor, but I want to think that people come to church because of their personal relationship with Jesus Christ. But Fred is probably the reason I'm still here.

FF: God at work?

T - When I was coming to school here we worshipped in the bar, and people would walk by and hear what was going on and come in. Good music would draw people in - same people might stop by for a few Sundays…

K - Mid-week Bible studies. Fred will pull out the chapter for the day and bring up some ideas about where the writer is coming from and then people from the group will chare their opinions and thoughts.

FF: You're learning from each other?

K - Yes.

FF: What is incredible about this place that people should know?

C - Fred opens the place up for not just church, but students come here to get away to study someplace quiet, Campus Crusade has used it for worship team practice - I think that's really generous, plus then people know what it is and where it is, which will get more people to come.

L - These two went to school here and helped build this building. And friends of ours were the first couple married here. Michelle went to SD with Fred (on a mission trip) - so people our age have memories here.

M - We did backpacking trips that were kind of fun. And those groups some of them were Crossroads people but others were family members. Like the first trip I got to be friends with a sister of a Crossroads member and I hadn't ever met them before. So we had bonding experiences - and I don't keep in touch but I just saw one guy at an alumni reunion, which was fun.

FF: Alumni reunion?

M - We've had two - the last one was during homecoming.

FF: So people come here during homecoming?

M- Yes

FF: How did being involved here change you college experience?

T - There wasn't a lot at my home church (Baptist) for people my age, but a friend got me singing again here, and doing bible studies and attending worship. It was a good place to be involved.

M - In high school we didn't have much of a youth program, so I went with a friend. I was in the choir and came every Sunday here at Crossroads, involved with worship things. It was a good place to keep me going in the church.

K - I came from a church in a small town, so we didn't have a youth group because we didn't have enough youth. I was in an interdenominational singing group that did contemporary music in high school and that was really good for me. After a year at college I was getting spiritually drained - chapel wasn't nourishing me - the message was straight bible, the music was chorale music, When I came here it was more open and nourishing - I found what I need.

FF: You first time away from home, you could have totally skipped church

C - I wasn't planning on skipping church, but when I went to the Newman center it didn't seem like going to God's house - it's just a house. So since my friends were coming here I came.

FF: Worship services -

L - There's an evening service - it's more camp like and at a nice time for kids who have been gone for the weekend and are back by 8pm on Sunday night.

K - I like the passing of the peace. Here everybody stands up and shakes hands with everybody else in the building. I also like how he presents his message - he walks around and makes eye contact with everybody - It's almost like one of those late night talk show guys.

L - Communion in a circle, when you do the "Our Father" you hold hands, Fred comes around to everybody individually.

M - The music. And I grew up Presbyterian so we had communion 4x a year - by doing it in a circle you feel like you have a bond with these people. It's more on a personal level - not getting in lines to come up.

FF: What your favorite thing about being a part of the community?

T - No matter how far back you were an active part you are always an active part. I can call anytime and say "Hi Fred, this is Tim" and he knows you and almost more about you than you do.

L - The first time I met Fred he said, "Hi, you must be Lorilee. I heard all about you." Plus the friends we've me here - there's four couples that we're really close with, and we know if something happens we'll be there for each other. Some friends in IL had a baby and we couldn't be there so we had a baby shower for them here and video taped it and then sent that to them with presents - it was great.

M- The people I keep in touch with from college are the friends I made at Crossroads.

K - I don't know if I have a favorite thing - everything we've talked about adds up to a total experience that's great.

C- (nodded in agreement)

FF: Describe the community here?

C - Very welcoming.

K- A caring group of people - like if I see someone at work that goes here we'll ask how each other is doing and what not.

FF: Kind of a place to get connected, meet people…?

K&C - both nod.

FF: Have you seen the community change over the years?

M - It's become more broad. When we came it was basically just college students, now that has broadened more, more people feel welcome.

T - More people consider this a church now and

D - Definitely after the building. When she first took me and we were meeting in the basement that was weird. For me it was getting back into the church after being from a divorced family - now with the sanctuary it feels like a church.

T - People think of this as a church rather than just a place that does things with college kids.

FF: So it's seems legitimate now?

T - Yes.

FF: Is Sunday worship the main thing that drew you all in?

General nods.

Comments/Quotables/Observations

• T - "Show up one Sunday and you're doing something the next Sunday." (People are drawn into activities)
• Used to be that the good music would draw people in when they worshipped in the bar, now they have to use different methods since they have their own facility.
• "People think of this as a church rather than just a place that does things with college kids" - it's a real church
• Atmosphere - open for more than just worship services, nourishing environment, welcoming, a caring group of people, church not just for MSU students.
• Tradition done non-traditionally
• Fred gets people involved, invites people in, knows a lot of people, and teaches and is around a lot.