Missional Discipleship

Pastor Larry Merino has volunteered to provide pastoral leadership and oversight to all outreach efforts of Holy Cross. Also volunteering to serve as Director of Missional Discipleship is our partner Jon Crabill. I am thankful for the servant leadership provided by Judy Kiess and Deaconess Melissa Harrington since Pastor Merino's 2017 retirement. God be praised for the missionary hearts of Pastor Merino and Jon who have chosen to (re)engage in this effort. Holy Cross will be recognizing both Pastor Merino and Jon Crabill in both the Saturday and Sunday worship services on June 15-16 with a reception following.

Holy Cross has been Jon Crabill's home church since he was a 6th grader. He attended Concordia Lutheran High School, where he met his wife Meredith, who was a 4th grade teacher and is currently a preschool teacher at Holy Cross. They have three kids, Willow who just completed her freshman year at CLHS, Brooklynn will be a 7th grader and Hudson will be in 3rd, both at Holy Cross. Jon currently serves as the Director of Pharmacy Services at Cameron Hospital in Angola. While not attending basketball, volleyball, track, and various other events he enjoys summers at the lake pulling his kids tubing and wakeboarding, cars, and Purdue sports. Throughout Jon's time at Holy Cross, he has served on the Board of Lay Leaders and worked with Gypsy Mission Outreach. Jon is very excited to serve in a new way.

Pastor Larry Merino served as an assistant pastor of Holy Cross for 10 years from 2007-2017. He led several mission trips to Slovakia to assist in Gypsy outreach and several partners were able to go on those trips. Before ministry at Holy Cross, Pastor Merino was the founding pastor and missionary of New Life Lutheran Church. His heart for outreach and life’s work is to effectively share the Gospel with others