09 Jan Mill Crossing – Beyond a Building

Mill Crossing UB Church (Cambridge, Ontario) is one of three Ontario churches featured in an article by TheRecord.com titled, “Building a Church Bigger than a Building.” It’s about unconventional evangelical churches arising not in traditional church buildings, but in other locations–a hotel, a community center, and, in the case of Mill Crossing, a former warehouse. Here’s the part about Mill Crossing.

At Mill Crossing, reaching out to others in their Hespeler community is central to their mission.

Co-pastors Neil and Elizabeth Cudney (right) describe Mill Crossing in Cambridge as a journey where members try to be more like Christ, showing mercy, grace, and gentleness.

“How do we help the community around us experience that?” Neil Cudney asked.

He said Mill Crossing has connected with Popcorn House, serving Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners and supporting the group’s breakfast club.

Mill Crossing started in Cambridge in 2005, meeting at the Best Western, and moved into its current home in a renovated warehouse on Queen Street next to Len’s Mill last April.

Mill Crossing stems from the United Brethren Church, the denomination of Orville and Wilbur Wright, who built the first airplane. Their father was Bishop Milton Wright. The denomination came to Canada in the 1800s.

“We are an old denomination but no one has heard of us,” Elizabeth Cudney said.

Mill Crossing’s mother church is Parkwood Gardens in Guelph. Mill Crossing has been financially self-sufficient for two years, relying on offerings and tithes from members to pay its costs.

About 80 people call the church home, many of them young families.

“We are the oldies in the group,” chuckles Elizabeth Cudney, 50.

She said a church community is important during times of economic uncertainty.

“We need each other especially in these crazy times,” she said. “I really don’t understand why people don’t flock to churches. We really need each other.”

“You can never realize true community until we are in community with God,” said Neil, who is the director of pastoral ministries at Christian Horizons.

Elizabeth said some members may have difficulty with organized churches.

“We are careful about earning trust. We want to be honest and real and not push money in their face,” she said.

The Cudneys, like most Christian evangelicals, believe that salvation is found only through Jesus.

“I believe that to be the truth. I live my life in accordance with that,” said Neil Cudney.

But for those who have another point of view, Neil says “it does not change my value placed on understanding you or working with you. It’s God that holds the door.”

Although these three groups may be attracting similar followers, they say there’s room for all of them.

Elizabeth Cudney said she’s thrilled other similar groups exist in the region. “We want to see God’s kingdom expand.”