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About CrossLink
CrossLink was developed in 1996 to use the power of the Internet to connect the people and ministries of the Restoration Movement.
The Idea
In 1995, founder Rick Bates was the lead programmer on a project to broker excess chemicals and materials on the Inernet.
This innovative work used an Oracle database to produce dynamic web pages and resulted in a demonstration before the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and
Transportation Committee. This project not only highlighted the commercial capabilities of this new medium, but also became the seed of
an idea to create an online directory for the Christian Churches/ Churches of Christ.
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The Beginning
Development began in the Fall of 1996 and by Christmas, the new site was ready for launch. The name chosen for this new ministry was ChurchLink, but
when the time came to purchase a domain, ChurchLink was not available. In a development that served to further cement the focus of this new ministry,
CrossLink was selected as the new name for this organization -- the Cross at the center linking churches, ministries, ministries, colleges, and missionaries.
On December 31, 1996 the new ministry came to life on the Internet as www.crosslink.org.
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Today
CrossLink quickly grew into one of the largest and
most viewed Christian sites on the Internet. In 1998, CrossLink became the parent ministry for the Ministry Employment Network, connecting propective ministers to ministry opportunities worldwide.
In 2000, CrossLink began to leverage its investment in web resources by offering a variety of web hosting and technical services.
In 2004, CrossLink opened its online Book and Music store and in 2008
CrossLink Publishing was launched to provide quality Christian books and study materials to the Christian community.
And in 2010, CrossLink partnered with iNetDog to launch its Email Newsletter Service bringing the industry's best features and pricing to churches.
With experience as the Director of eCommerce
Development for Gateway Computers and as a Group Engineering Manager for Intuit, Inc., Rick Bates continues to be the sole systems engineer and site developer.
CrossLink's business model is to provide world-class web services without relying on financial support from churches. That work continues today, and is always
enriched by the prayers and encouragement of God's people. God Bless.
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