Providing a healthy environment where our staff and community can grow in their faith and feel safe is incredibly important to Crossroads. We do everything in our power to protect and care for our community well. We also want to be transparent when problems arise.

With that in mind, I want to let you know about a situation at Crunch Fitness in Oakley that we were made aware of last night that has resulted in Next Gen Director Joel Firebaugh being removed from his position and Crossroads staff.

On Thursday, January 29, we received a call from Cincinnati Police related to Joel secretly filming women who were working out without their consent at Crunch Fitness yesterday afternoon. This behavior grossly violates biblical standards and expectations required of any individual on staff. As a result, he has been removed from staff.

An investigation is ongoing with the Cincinnati Police Department and we are fully cooperating with all parties involved. We’re grieved that this occurred and willing to offer any support to those who were harmed.

This is the first time anything like this has been reported relative to Joel. We have no additional knowledge of any additional incidents related to this sort of unbiblical behavior that would have impacted Crossroads community, staff or anything that has ever happened in a Crossroads building. We are conducting additional due diligence to ensure this is correct. If you have information you believe we should be aware of, please reply to this email or contact the Cincinnati Police Department.

I personally – and of course our staff – are grieved over this and are doing some processing and prayer of our own. Bad and sinful choices should never be concealed but brought into the light. Confession brings healing (James 5:16). Concealment only brings darkness.

We are working with others in Crossroads leadership to ensure this staffing change does not negatively impact the ministry of Next Gen or connected families. We also want to care for any of you who need space to process, pray, or ask questions. Please reply to this email or reach out to staff at your site to let us know how we can serve you well.

Sin is a real and destructive force which deludes us as to its heinous nature. Jesus says the thief wants to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). This is a good time for all of us to double down on having our hearts right before God, practicing repentance and serving others with a full and clean heart which only Jesus offers.

Let’s pray for God’s faithfulness and wisdom in the midst of our heartbreak.

In His Grip,
Brian Tome