Our Story
Cross Creek Presbyterian Church (PCA) started in 1996 when a group of friends gathered around a shared vision to reach the growing community of Saint Johns with the good news of Jesus Christ. Cross Creek was then incorporated in the state of Florida on March 16, 1998. Throughout our life as a church, we have been driven by a desire to see people's lives forever changed through an encounter with God's radical grace in the gospel. You can read more about God's plan of salvation here.
We are a part of the Presbyterian Church of America (PCA), a group of churches that exists to glorify God by extending the kingdom of Jesus Christ over all individual lives through all areas of society and in all nations and cultures. Through the combined efforts and resources of all of the churches in our denomination, we are enabled to advance God’s Kingdom much more effectively.
The PCA is an Evangelical and Reformed Presbyterian denomination.
By Evangelical, we mean that we emphasize the gospel (good news of salvation) through faith in Jesus Christ.
By Reformed, we mean that we are rooted in the teachings of the historic church recovered by the Reformation, particularly as expressed in the Westminster Confession of Faith.
By Presbyterian, we refer to our representative form of church government – our church is governed by a “Session” of elders (presbyters) who are elected by the members of the congregation. Elders of local churches in a region form a “Presbytery.” Representatives of Presbyteries and local churches meet annually at a “General Assembly.”
Our Staff
Craig Williford
Associate Pastor
craig@crosscreek.us
Craig is an Orlando native and graduate of the University of North Florida and Reformed Theological Seminary. Youth ministry and campus ministers have had a huge impact on Craig's faith and he is excited by the opportunity to serve students in the local church. Craig has been a staff member at Cross Creek since 2016. He and his wife, Kathryn, had their first child in 2021. Craig was ordained in the PCA in December 2022.
Ashton Taylor
Director of Music Ministry
Ashton is a Jacksonville native and a University of North Florida grad. She has been leading worship for over eight years now and has been on staff at Cross Creek since 2018. Ashton and her husband Brian have three children and love spending time at their family lake house.
Renee Cook
Director of Children’s Ministry
Renee is from Saint Joseph, Michigan and is a graduate of Western Michigan University. She and her husband, Nathan, have been married since 2010 and have called the Jacksonville area home their home since 2011. They have two young children.
Alexa Mathis
Director of Communications
Alexa joined the Cross Creek staff in 2019. She graduated from the University of Florida in 2013 and then moved home to Jacksonville. She and her husband, Micah, have been married since 2015 and have two young daughters.
Our Elders
The elders are responsible for the spiritual oversight of the church.
Mike Coggins, Bill Koerner, Clint Larsen, Jim Mose, Joe Relyea, Craig Williford
Our Deacons & Mercy Team
The deacons minister to felt needs through deeds of mercy, and also assist with facilities and finances.
Deacons: Matthew Anderson, Eric Clardy, Stephen Datz, Derick Leonard, Chris Madden, Micah Mathis, Tim Miller, Frank Redway, Aaron Titus, Casey Wagner
Mercy Team: Chris Madden, Laurie Ballowe, Karen Hill, Jessica Titus