Since 1999, the CROSS (Charlotte Regional Outreach Spirituality and Study) program has brought groups to MPPC from around the country for Christian service to over twenty different Charlotte agencies. In the summer of 1998, Reverend Peter Henry led 63 MPPC adults and youth on a mission trip to Portland, OR, to engage in urban ministry in the name of Jesus Christ. They worked under the auspices of the Portland Learning Outreach and Worship organization, sponsored by the Mennonite denomination and housed in a 110-member Mennonite church.

They returned committed and convinced that MPPC could initiate a similar program in Charlotte. On November 11, 1998, the MPPC Outreach Council approved “$50,000 for ‘PLOW in Charlotte,’ later to be renamed.” With Session approval, the CROSS program began and grew steadily, becoming fully self-supporting by the year 2004.

Today, weekend and week-long CROSS missions run a packed schedule all year, ordinarily with more than one group on campus at any given time. While taking advantage of the opportunity for ministry in several different urban situations, participants have found that their work for others brings them closer to Christ in surprising ways.