MARCH 26, 2025 — FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Springfield, MO – The Council of Churches of the Ozarks is proud to announce that, effective immediately, the organization will be known as Crosslines Community Outreach (CCO). This change better reflects the organization’s role as the area’s largest Christian provider of social services, as well as clarifies ample misconceptions associated with the organization’s previous name.
For over five decades, the Council of Churches of the Ozarks has served as a beacon of hope, compassion, and service in our community. Through its programs, the organization has fed the hungry, sheltered the homeless, supported the vulnerable, and united diverse faith communities in a common purpose.
“From its inception, Council of Churches has embodied ‘compassion in action.’ What united those early congregations under the name ‘Council’ was a commitment to service in the name of Jesus,” shares CEO Jaimie Trussell. “Area church leaders were our first board of directors, so the name made sense. Unfortunately, the name also came with unintended consequences. People assumed it was an affiliate of the World Council of Churches or that the organization was a legislative body, governing or speaking on behalf of the local Christian community. I can tell you, as CEO of the organization formerly known as Council of Churches, I am not qualified to speak on behalf of all churches or Christians living and working in our area. I can tell you that beautiful ministry is possible when people put aside their denominational differences and show the world what it looks like to love and serve in Jesus’ name, and I can think of no better way to highlight our capacity to ‘cross’ denominational, socio-economic, and generational ‘lines’ than to reflect it in our name.”
The first initiative of the organization founded by Rev. Dr. Dorsey Levell was the collective food pantry called “Crosslines”. The name was chosen because the work bridged denominational differences and the “lines of compassion and action intersect at the foot of the cross.” Over time, Crosslines grew from an emergency pantry into a comprehensive community resource center, providing an “easy button” for those in need and those looking to serve.
For more than 55 years, Crosslines has been the public face of the organization known as CCO, mobilizing thousands of volunteers annually and offering help and hope to tens of thousands of families in need each year. For many, it has been the open door through which all other programs and services offered may be accessed. The transition to the name Crosslines Community Outreach reflects this reality, emphasizing the mission to connect people with resources, support, and each other, while continuing as one of the area’s largest faith-based non-profits.
Why Crosslines Community Outreach?
- Recognition: “Crosslines” is a trusted and well-known name synonymous with compassionate service, making it a natural choice to represent the organization’s identity.
- Clarity: The new name better conveys the scope of programs and services while distancing the organization from the perception of being solely a ministerial alliance.
- Impact: The name embodies the spirit of unity and service, transcending denominational lines to foster a community united by compassion and action.
- Continuity: This change is not a departure from the organization’s roots but a step forward in its mission to serve more effectively.
Adopting the name Crosslines Community Outreach positions the organization to eliminate confusion, expand its reach, strengthen partnerships, and inspire broader support, all while honoring the legacy of the Council of Churches of the Ozarks and its founder Rev. Dr. Dorsey Levell, who began advocating for the change as early as 1990.
The Council of Churches of the Ozarks has always been a cornerstone of support in the community. Under its new DBA, Crosslines Community Outreach, will open more doors to compassion and connection while remaining committed to core values of the Christian faith: compassion, service, unity, and community.
For more information, contact Jaimie Trussell, 417-862-3586, [email protected].