The Crosswalk Experience Podcast

Trusting God When the Plan Doesn’t Make Sense

What do you do when everything is working… and God asks you to walk away? In Episode 5, Wesley León shares his journey from building a successful production company in Costa Rica to stepping into an entirely new life in the United States—and ultimately becoming part of the foundation of Crosswalk Chattanooga. From starting a growing faith community in his own living room to leaving it all behind, this conversation explores the tension between momentum and obedience. This episode covers: * Building something meaningful from nothing * Wrestling with calling vs. comfort * Trusting God in seasons of uncertainty * How past experiences shape present purpose * The role of production and excellence in ministry Wesley’s story is a powerful reminder that sometimes the hardest decisions lead to the most meaningful outcomes. https://www.youtube.com/@thecrosswalkexperience

What Happens Before Church Starts Matters More Than You Think

In this episode of the Crosswalk Experience Podcast, we turn the mic around and sit down with our own Experience Director, Shastin Rains. From growing up as a pastor’s kid to helping launch ministries across the country, Shastin shares her journey into leadership—and how God led her into one of the most unique and impactful roles at Crosswalk. We talk about: * What “guest experience” really means (and why it starts in the parking lot) * Building a healthy, sustainable volunteer culture * Creating environments where people feel like they belong before they believe * Lessons learned from leading through uncertainty, growth, and post-COVID rebuilding If you’ve ever wondered why Crosswalk puts so much intention into what happens outside the auditorium, this conversation gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the heart, strategy, and people who make it happen. Referenced in this episode: Shastin shares part of her personal testimony and journey to Crosswalk. You can listen to the full message here: 👉 Campus Day - Shastin Rains [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_l1gphW3tHU&t=8s] 🎧 Listen now and discover how small details can lead to life-changing moments. A Lovewell Creative Podcast. 📍 Want to learn more about Crosswalk or get connected?Visit: crosswalkchattanooga.com [http://crosswalkchattanooga.com]

Why Church Identity Matters More Than Strategy

Most churches grow by habit. Some grow by personality.Crosswalk chose to grow by identity.In this episode, founding member and brand strategist Alysa Darmody shares how Crosswalk defined who it was before scaling, and why belonging, momentum, and experience became the guardrails that shaped every decision that followed.This is a conversation about intentional culture, clarity over chaos, and why naming who you are matters more than chasing growth.Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/crosswalkexperience

We Built a Church Around Belonging — And It Changed Everything

We built a church around belonging before we had a building, a budget, or a roadmap.This conversation traces Crosswalk’s origin…from living rooms to pop-ups…and why choosing people first changed everything that came next.A Lovewell Creative Podcast. Chapters00:00 Intro01:30 The moment something felt different05:10 Visiting Crosswalk Redlands10:45 Why starting with small groups mattered18:40 Moving forward without clarity27:15 Pop-ups, momentum, and early resistance36:20 When it became “real”44:10 Lessons from the early days52:30 What building community actually takesFollow us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/thecrosswalkexperienceBig thanks to our sponsor: White Oak Dental in Chattanooga, TN. Learn more here: https://www.whiteoakdds.com/#crosswalkchurch #crosswalkchattanooga

Why Churches Lose People (It’s Not Doctrine)

Pastor Tim Gillespie didn’t “grow” Crosswalk by accident, he rebuilt it on purpose. In 2014, Crosswalk was down to ~85 people and debating whether to shut its doors. Tim walked into his first board meeting and said: we’re not closing, we’re building. What followed was a decade-long rebuild anchored in three non-negotiables: excellence (no “good enough”), belonging (people first), and relevance (faith that speaks the language of real life). In this first episode, Tim takes us behind the decisions that upset people, scaled culture, and eventually multiplied into Crosswalk Chattanooga, plus the unexpected moment that told him it was time to leave. What you’ll hear: * The 5-page vision that became reality by year two * “You can’t suck on Saturday” (and the backlash) * Branding, merch, and the hidden power of consistency * Coffee as ministry—why a cup can feel like coming home * Chattanooga: pop-ups → community → church * The 3:30am “well done” moment that ended a 10-year run Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thecrosswalkexperiencepod Watch this podcast on video: https://www.youtube.com/@thecrosswalkexperience