The History of Crossfire Youth Ministries

In early 1992, James Horning was driving dumpster truck for SonRise Handyman Service. One of the jobs was removing construction waste from a sports bar being built across from the F & M College in Lancaster PA. When the building was completed, James and a couple of friends went to check this facility. Inside they found a very lively atmosphere. College students were enjoying themselves with shooting games of pool, basket ball, air hockey, very loud music and a huge screen to watch sports games. The students were also indulging in the consumption of alcoholic beverages.

One the way home from this night the Lord impressed upon James the need for a facility like this for teens without the alcohol and a place where positive moral standards could be taught and an opportunity to share Jesus Christ with students. Thus the beginning of Crossfire Youth Ministries.

August 1992 the doors opened for the Smokestown Youth Center . The name later changed to Crossfire Youth Ministries. The first 12 years Crossfire rented the basement of the Smokestown Fire Hall outside of Denver PA.

Bus service was added in 1995. Providing door to door pickup of children needing transportation to and from activities.

In the year 2000, a Founding Board was created to start the process of incorporating Crossfire into a 501c(3) non profit organization.

In 2001 Crossfire realized its goal of the non profit status and a Board of Directors continue to provide direction.

In 2004, Crossfire moved from the Smokestown Fire Hall to its current location along Wabash Road in Ephrata PA. The move was a great necessity seeing an increase in numbers and the need for indoor activities such as basketball/volleyball. The number of nights also increased from 2 nights a week to seeing activity 7 nights a week.

On August 1^st of 2004, James became the first full-time employee of Crossfire leaving a 12 year position of Credit & Collections and Accounts Receivable  Manager at Four Seasons Produce.

On August 2004 saw the first involvement with the Ashland Youth Center Project in Ashland PA. (see Ashland Project from the home page)

The year 2006 has seen our involvement in foreign missions with two young men leaving the country for missions training through the YWAM base in Guadalajara Mexico.

In January 2007, we opened our 2^nd youth center located in the Simpson United Methodist Church of Gordon, PA. Every Tuesday evening a Team of volunteers leave from Ephrata, PA and travel the 65 miles north to provide this opportunity to the youth. Gordon is located 3 miles south of Ashland PA.

Also in 2007, a work Team traveled to Guadalajara, Mexico in February.
A 16 member team traveled to Magunga, Kenya to work with orphans doing VBS, crusades, building a swing set, and helped to feed the children. 

In November 2007, the Bethany E.C. Church in Ashland turned over the deed to the property for the youth center to Crossfire.