Cross Park Church (a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America) will open its doors for the first time Sunday, March 6 at Smithfield Elementary School in South Charlotte. Pastor Jeff Hardy, 36, is planting Cross Park as an offshoot of Uptown Church (PCA), which he has attended since 2001.

During the past 10 years, Jeff Hardy worked for Campus Crusade for Christ and attended Reformed Theological Seminary. He completed seminary in May and was ordained in August. He became Uptown Church’s assistant pastor for church planting, in addition to preaching and teaching Sunday School. Hardy is married with three daughters, ages 6, 2 and 1.

Uptown Church was planted by Christ Covenant Church in Matthews 16 years ago. Since then, Uptown Church has planted four churches. The planning for planting Cross Park Church began about three years ago.

While Uptown Church initially will assist Cross Park with finances and oversight, the goal is for the new church to grow, become independent and eventually plant another church…

“We have realized that church planting is the most effective way to reach a community,” said Hardy. “Reproducing multiple churches in different areas of town with different demographics of people is an incredibly effective way to, over time, reach a metro area or a culture.”

Allison Osman is a freelance writer for South Charlotte News.

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