By Bryson Foster | Oct. 16, 2025
Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) Chaplain Ken Cross wears many hats in his ministry work. For CEDE Sports, Cross serves as the coordinator of churches, which allows him to cultivate his passion for helping others grow.
"My spiritual gift is exhortation, which is a speaking gift," said Cross. "That gift enables me to come alongside people, encourage them and also provide guidance on how they can continue to develop."
Cross said the church connection is essential to the work CEDE Sports does.
"Church sports serve as a bridge to reach unbelieving families and bring their children onto the campus, while also acting as a discipleship ministry that recruits and equips people within the church," said Cross.
Navigating loss and life
Cross grew up in Birmingham, Ala., and was raised by his mother with his three siblings. Cross' father died when he was six, which was a pivotal moment in his life.
"My mom ended up going to work, and she was gone every day," said Cross. "We had to mature earlier. Thankfully, my mom did a great job. I learned to cook, I could clean the house and do laundry."
The death of his father led to feelings of resentment towards God. When Cross was 19, a visit to a youth group started his spiritual walk.
"We went on a retreat in December, and our youth pastor shared the Gospel. It was as if I had wax buildup in my ears," said Cross. "I'd never heard of the resurrection. When I heard the Gospel about a living Jesus who could change you from the inside out, that gave me hope. I realized he's a father to the fatherless."
Cross came to Christ shortly after and felt an immediate change in his life.
"The gifts God gave me changed me. I avoided classes in high school that had a public speaking aspect in them, and now I've preached all these decades," said Cross.
Cross took the next step of attending Southeastern Bible College in Birmingham to get his Bachelor of Arts in Bible and Pastoral Theory.
Six months into his junior year, he relocated to California to serve as an assistant pastor at a church. Cross finished college in California in 1981 and enrolled at the Reformed Theological Seminary just four years later to pursue his Master of Divinity.
A journey in ministry
Cross obtained his degree and held multiple positions, including senior pastor, church planter and chaplain, from 1988 to the present. He is considered a man who wears many hats.
"Having been in the ministry for a long time, I learned what I enjoy and what I'm good at, and I'm a people person," said Cross. "Working with people is energizing for me. As a pastor, I've always worked with others to help them know how to communicate with their senior pastors."
Currently, Cross holds positions with the Sports Outreach Group as its vice president and with the Sports Chaplains Network as its director of training. He also served as a volunteer chaplain for the University of North Carolina at Charlotte women's basketball team and the Queens University of Charlotte men's Basketball team from 2012 to 2020.
CEDE Sports and JGR
In 2016, Cross joined CEDE Sports as a staff member. A connection with Bob Dyar led to Cross becoming a member of the JGR chaplains team.
"When I started doing chaplaincy work, Bob encouraged me to pursue it," said Cross. "Bob said, 'Ken, I want you to be a chaplain here, reach out to these people.' That was a no-brainer, and it's just been delightful since I've been here."
Cross knew that CEDE was the right fit for him at the start.
"Fundamentally, some of the things that Bob holds dear are fundamental to who I am. He wants to build up the body of Christ," said Cross. "I've told the leaders the last couple of weeks that my definition of a growing Christian is someone who's using their spiritual gifts and enjoying it."
Cross, a seasoned veteran, has discovered how to help churches take the next step in their sports ministries.
"I have learned concepts on how to help churches. Every time you interact with somebody, you're learning new things and finding better ways to approach certain situations and meet people where they are," said Cross.
Life philosophy
Cross said that when ministering, we need to deal with everyone individually.
"I've always felt that applying Scripture is essential. When I was preaching all the time, I would think about the retiree and the 7-year-old boy. I'd think about the high school girl. I'd think about the single mother. I'd consider the various individuals present and how this passage would apply to them," said Cross.
Cross said that what keeps him going is the impact he has on others through God's presence.
"I hope that my legacy will be that I end well, and that the things God has used me for in other people's lives will be multiplied in the lives of others," said Cross.
Cross's lifelong commitment to ministry reflects a deep passion for encouraging others, equipping the church and leaving a legacy rooted in faith and service.