In the early 1990s, a young pastor in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, asked God a bold question: “How can I reach the unreached in the West Hills of Pittsburgh?”
God’s answer was just as bold: “Plant a church.”
That pastor was Steve Cordle and, with a handful of people and a lot of faith, Crossroads Church was born in 1991. They were outward-focused from day one. From the very beginning, the church has carried a radical conviction: We exist for those who are not yet here.
As the church grew, Steve discovered global movements of churches multiplying disciples through the cell group model of ministry. By 2000, Crossroads had embraced a major shift: they wouldn’t just have groups – they would be a church of groups.
This distinction changed everything. Groups became the vehicle for evangelism, disciple-making, and multiplication. When Steve prayed and asked God another bold question – “Will it work here the way it’s working around the world?” – the answer came back: “No, but do it anyway.”
And they did.
Over the decades, Crossroads became a movement: an early adopter of multi-site, a place of countless professions of faith, baptisms, disciple-making groups, church plants, and a robust equipping track that can take someone from a brand-new follower of Jesus to a church planter or pastor. The church that began in a bar and restaurant had left a lasting mark.
A Leadership Transition
On March 28, 2024, I stepped into the role of Lead Pastor, succeeding Founding Pastor Steve Cordle. By then, I had been part of the church for nearly a decade. Yet, stepping into leadership after Steve’s decades of fruitful ministry was both humbling and weighty.
As we celebrated his tenure, I reflected on the impact he had made – countless disciples formed, groups launched, campuses established, and churches planted – and I thought to myself, “I have big shoes to fill.”
In that moment, God impressed on my heart: “You have different shoes to fill.”
That insight shaped my first year of leadership, which proved to be a season of both whirlwind change and strategic refocusing. One of the most visible shifts was renaming the church from Crossroads Church to The Table Church. But this wasn’t about rebranding – it was about returning to our DNA. We are still asking bold questions: “What’s it going to take to reach the Pittsburgh Region and Ohio Valley?”
This move raised eyebrows. A group of pastors I meet with, all committed to reaching Pennsylvania for Jesus, leaned in when I shared what we were doing.
One quipped, “I guess you didn’t get the memo not to change anything in your first year as Lead Pastor.”
I answered, “I got the memo, but pace matters.”
There is a lost and broken world waiting for people to obey Matthew 28:19: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” I feel a certain conviction that the people we shepherd don’t need a year to warm up to the idea of obeying Jesus.
Returning to Our DNA
Over the previous five years, several challenges had caused drift. Our disaffiliation from the United Methodist Church and affiliation with the Global Methodist Church required significant energy. The disruption of Covid reshaped rhythms of ministry. And like many churches, we began leaning heavily on the weekend experience. Even our small groups – once the heartbeat of disciple-making – were increasingly meeting inside the church building rather than where everyday life happens.
The name change became a rallying point to re-anchor us in our calling. We are not a church that exists for ourselves; we exist for those who are not yet with us. Our mission is to make disciples who live and lead like Jesus by multiplying groups – what we now call Tables.
A Bold Vision
Through prayer and discernment, God gave us a bold vision for the next decade: From living rooms to lunch breaks, we aim to multiply 10,000 disciple-making Tables.
We are pursuing this vision by focusing on several essential priorities:
- Multiplying groups wherever life happens. We don’t expect lost people to be the missionaries; instead, we will equip and send our people to be everyday missionaries.
- Launching new ministry expressions that serve the unseen, such as our latest initiative in Pittsburgh, Steel City Table.
- Partnering with mission-minded churches to catalyze disciple-making movements beyond our own congregation.
- Investing in the next generation by equipping children and youth to reach their friends and lead groups of their own. We are already seeing God at work through students who are hungry for Him and deeply burdened for their friends.
- Building a culture of extraordinary prayer as the foundation for all multiplication.
This vision is not simply about organizational growth. It is about obeying the command of Christ to go and make disciples and reclaiming a disciple-making culture – one that places mission at the center and keeps the church rooted in practices that can multiply anywhere, with anyone, at any age.
Answering Questions of Doubt
As we began to share this vision, some responded with enthusiasm, while others expressed skepticism. Even respected pastors advised me, “Don’t lead with the 10,000 Tables idea.”
Their caution stirred questions in my own heart: Is this truly what God is asking of us? Did I hear Him correctly? Is this vision unrealistic? Am I being arrogant to believe such a thing is possible? Are we too small?
In prayer, God drew me to Numbers 13, where 12 men were sent to scout the land God had promised Israel. They confirmed the land was good and abundant, yet 10 returned with a fearful report: “The people there are powerful, the cities are fortified, and giants live among them.” Their fear spread quickly, and the people wept and longed to return to Egypt. Only Caleb stood firm, declaring, “Let’s go at once to take the land. We can certainly conquer it!” (v. 30).
That account confronted me. Why would I not lead with the vision God had given? Was I hesitant because of genuine wisdom, or because it felt safer to remain cautious? Was I protecting my reputation rather than pursuing God’s calling?
After much prayer, the answers became clear:
- God is not displeased with zeal to reach lost people.
- The only reason to soften the vision would be to avoid risk.
- Playing it safe protects me – not the mission.
With that, I resolved the matter in my heart. I would rather give my life to something that seems impossible and trust God with the outcome than choose the comfort of safety. I would rather be thought foolish for pursuing God’s vision than neglect to act on what He has entrusted to us.
Bold vision will always attract some and repel others – and that is as it should be. My prayer became: “Lord, give me courage and help my unbelief.” He continues to build my faith and courage daily.
If a vision does not require reliance on God to accomplish, perhaps it is not yet large enough. We must dare to pray and pursue what only God can do.
Looking forward, I believe the greatest stories of our church are still ahead – not because of new branding or strategies, but because God is faithful to honor the bold prayers of people who choose obedience.
Leadership Lessons from The Table Church
- Ask bold questions.
If I’ve learned anything from my time working with Steve Cordle, it is that movement often begins with a leader who dares to ask God a question bigger than themselves. Don’t shy away from bold prayers – they create space for God’s outrageous answers.
- Clarify your identity.
A church’s name, systems, and strategies must flow from its core DNA. When drift happens, leaders must be willing to recalibrate – even in visible ways – to stay aligned with mission. Clarifying your identity is essential work that helps guide you in the direction God is calling you to go.
- Distinguish between having groups and being a church of groups.
Assimilation strategies close the back door; disciple-making strategies open the front door. Multiplication happens when groups move from optional to essential. New campuses, churches, and ministry expressions will result from multiplying groups.
- Lead through transition with clarity and courage.
Successors don’t need to wear their predecessor’s shoes. God calls every leader to fill the shoes He has given them. Once you hear from God, move forward with conviction. Leadership takes nerves of steel, but more importantly, a clear call from God and the conviction to obey.
- Invest in the next generation.
Sustainable multiplication requires children and youth who don’t just attend church but lead, disciple, and reach their friends through groups. I see fire when our young people are gathered together. And it’s not just here at The Table Church. God is moving in the next generation; let’s work to empower those where God is at work.
- Build a culture of extraordinary prayer.
Movements aren’t engineered; they’re birthed in prayer. We can study best practices, but the best practice is to seek Jesus and do what He says. Strategy matters, but prayer is the multiplier. Prayer is the fuel of movement.
A Call to Action
No matter the size of your church, the mission is the same: make disciples who make disciples. You don’t need a big budget, a polished building, or the latest strategy – you need a table and a willingness to invite others to it. Good things happen around tables! So here’s the invitation: Set a table. Invite a few. Pray boldly. Multiply faithfully. And watch God do more than you could ask or imagine.
