After 25 Years, Church Ministry Is Soaring
By Rick Chromey
Nestled in the heart of southwestern Idaho is a church that’s spent a quarter century serving Treasure Valley communities, from Meridian to Emmett and Boise to Caldwell. The aptly named Eagle Christian Church has spread its wings in recent years, expanding in 2019 to three campuses in Surprise Valley (east Boise), central valley (Eagle), and west valley (Nampa/Caldwell). The church also built a new administration building last year to better accommodate staff offices and leadership meetings.
Founded in 1995 in Dr. Steve Crane’s living room, Eagle Christian Church started small but now averages almost 4,000 people at seven services every weekend. The church’s livestream attracts many additional followers to dynamic worship by Christian recording artist Scott Riggan and engaging expository messages by Crane. More than 250 people were immersed in 2019, including 73 at a late-summer river baptism celebration—an annual tradition. Crane also leads dozens from the church on an annual pilgrimage to the Holy Land, an experience that serves as an extended teaching opportunity.
It’s a church on the go . . . and the grow.
Bill Krause, minister of administration, enthusiastically shared how “people come to church for the preaching and worship but are funneled into small groups and ministry teams.” Krause’s passion for recovery work and expertise in leadership and Christian education has helped ECC to deepen discipleship and equipping. The church now has 120 life groups that meet in various locations, from private homes to restaurants to the church building.
“Every group is a life group at Eagle Christian Church,” explained Krause, who also developed the small-group practices at Jim Putman’s Real Life ministries in Post Falls, Idaho.
The ministries of Eagle Christian target all ages. Its mission is to reach with the gospel, teach for maturity, equip for ministry, and send into mission. With a professional staff of nearly 30 people and hundreds of volunteers, Eagle Christian Church features specialized ministries for the deaf, grieving, and addicted. More than 200 women attend a weekly ladies’ Bible study. Dozens of trained lay ministers serve in the Stephen Ministry. And the Starting Point ministry—featuring 101, 201, 301, and 401 classes that assimilate first-time guests into family—continues to grow.
Crane summarizes his church’s journey: “It has been a remarkable blessing to see what God has done over the last 25 years and I’m even more excited to see what God has in store for our future.”
Eagle Christian Church is flying high . . . and making a difference.
Dr. Rick Chromey is the founder and president of MANNA! Educational Services International. He has empowered leaders to lead, teachers to teach, and parents to parent for over three decades. He lives in Star, Idaho, with his wife, Linda. Website: www.mannasolutions.org.
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