Who We Are

Our Story

Crossroads Vineyard Church began as a new church plant in early 2000 as a small group of people who were looking to express their faith in God together. We began meeting with 9 adults and a few kids in the home of our Pastor, Randy & Christi Caperton. We wanted a place where we could worship God in a laid-back environment with music we like! We also wanted an atmosphere that is comfortable for people who are not accustomed to “church stuff.” This meant that everything we did had to be in a style that was understandable and meaningful to everyone.

Early on, we chose the name “Crossroads,” because we believe every one of us – several times in our lives – will find ourselves at a crossroads in life. It may be a crisis, an important decision, or a genuine spiritual experience. So, we desired to become a church that would point to the Lord during these significant encounters.

By early 2001, the small group in our home had grown to over 30 people. It was obvious that we were out-growing the home group. In our search for a suitable meeting location, we came across a very creative concept ... turn a warehouse into a comfortable and functional church. Over the years, we have developed this site into something that has been extremely practical – and in its own style, even beautiful - church facility. (You gotta see it to ‘get’ it!)

As our gatherings progressed, it became clear that we were forming into a “church family.” But what kind of church? Since worship music was a priority for us, we had already been connecting with the wonderful resources that Vineyard Music provided. Yet the real discovery was in the global association of churches called the Vineyard that this music came from. What we found was that the core values of this group of believers expressed who we were! So, we began the process of ‘adopting’ our group into the Vineyard movement. In 2002, we officially became a Vineyard Church.

What Is A Vineyard Church?

The idea to use the word “Vineyard” as a name for a church came out of the Gospel of John, in the passage where Jesus tells a story about a vineyard. He says, “I am the vine, you are the branches.” (John 15:5)

But what is a Vineyard church? What do these churches believe? What differences are there between a Vineyard church and other Christian churches?

Vineyard churches arose in the 1970’s from a desire to address the needs of people today in a relevant and practical manner. John Wimber was a founding leader of the Vineyard. His influence profoundly shaped the theology and practice of Vineyard churches from their earliest days until his death in November 1997. The Association of Vineyard Churches was incorporated in 1985 and today consists of over 600 U.S. churches and hundreds more worldwide.

We have chosen to be part of the Vineyard church network because we identify with the values which the Vineyard holds, and with the church lifestyle to which the Vineyard aspires. Vineyard Churches typically experience:

Our Priorities

This is what we do...

At Crossroads Vineyard, our priorities and values determine not only what we do, but how we go about doing it. And those priorities and values are guided by the Holy Spirit through prayer. In fact, we don’t want to do anything unless we know that God is at the center of it. So it is of highest importance that we are to be known and to act as a ‘House of Prayer.’

Our priorities describe how we spend our time, energy and money. These are the things we do. Our priorities are based on the Bible, which is the Word of God and is the standard for all what we do at Crossroads Vineyard.

The highest priority of God's people is to worship Him. Worship is giving to God what is rightly His, and the most important part of worship is giving God ourselves - surrendering all that we are to Him.

As the Holy Spirit empowers us, we want to minister to others with the mercy and compassion of our Lord. Basically, we want to continue the ministry of Jesus. We believe the Bible calls Christians to a commitment called discipleship. This is an unconditional surrender of our whole lives to Christ. God has not created us to follow Him all alone, but in community with one another.

We want to reach out to our community and to the Pittsburgh region in “love” them into a relationship with Jesus. Then, we will have the opportunity to help spread this message throughout the world.

We are a church with an ‘outward’ focus. Our goal is to reach the people of our area in fun culture-current ways. Our style is progressive and relevant. All kinds of people attend Crossroads Vineyard. We want to be known for our diverse culture and "come as you are" attitude. We aim to be a place where all people can come and be accepted and loved.