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Crossover Health Services

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Helping Hearts

by Kelly Holliday

Losing my 21-year-old son in Iraq while I was undergoing chemo for breast cancer completely interrupted my plans. I guess it’s important to describe my plans. God blessed my husband and me with the “Holliday Tribe,” seven sons and one daughter; I was a homeschooling mom who was not interested in working outside the home. Homeschooling was my vocation, and I had planned to do it until the last Holliday left the nest. God had other plans. I now have the distinct honor of serving as the Director of Spiritual Care at Crossover Health Services (CHS). Honestly, I do not particularly like the title “Director” and seldom use it. I see myself more as a spiritual caregiver and

counselor; God is the Director. CHS is a division of Crossover Bible Church (CBC) where my family and I have worshiped for the past 11+ years.

After the two major events that literally changed the trajectory of our family’s lives, I returned to school completing an undergraduate degree in Family Studies and Gerontology, then continued on to complete a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy (completion set for Fall 2018)! Being at CHS seemed to always be God’s plan for me; when it was only on paper as a “vision,” God was very clear that I would be serving there. The pull was so profound that I remember telling Pastor Philip

to “make sure there’s an office for me in the building design.”

Before I could work for Crossover, God needed to prepare and equip me. So, after completing my bachelors, I began working for Family and Children’s Services (FC&S) as a Family Support Representative; and wouldn’t you know it, God put me right in north Tulsa where I longed to be, so that I could develop relationships with the families in the area. Not even a year into this new role, I was encouraged to apply for an interim school counselor position at Hawthorne Elementary School. This was yet another step in God’s plan, because CBC partnered with Hawthorne and again I was able to develop relationships with

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families in the community, while attaining a great wealth of knowledge and experience.

Close to the end of the school year, I contacted Justin Pickard, Executive Director of Crossover Community Impact (CCI) and asked if there was something I could do during the summer for the IMPACT Kids program. His response showed me that God was ready to place me where He wanted me all along; “We were just talking about contacting you about working at CHS to pray with our patients, but we want to hire you to do that”. Only God can place you in a job where you get to do what you love and get paid to do it! That is better than a “win-win”, that’s a “God Thang”. Not only do I have an opportunity to do something that I love, but I am able to fulfill a profound role in the community. The Spiritual Care Director adds a mental health specialty to a family medical practice in the heart of the community!

CHS was originally the “last” phase of the Crossover Bible Church vision; but due to the blessing of the “land swap” it was propelled to one of the first businesses Crossover started. Dr. Kent Farish, who was on CCI’s board, was also in the process of retiring from his 30-year-long practice with Warren Clinic. He was very interested in getting CHS up and running and seeing it become viable its first few years. In its lifespan of three years, CHS grew each year thanks to his leadership and commitment which means that

healthcare access for our community is also doing better and better each year!

We believe God is pleased with what is happening at CHS for His glory. Praying with the patients is just one aspect of what I do at CHS, but it is the most important part! I try to maintain an awareness of the resources in our community so that if someone is in need of housing, clothing, food, financial help for utilities, I can direct them to those resources. I learned to be incredibly resourceful through my job at FC&S. Even though I have yet to complete my counseling credentials, I find myself doing a lot of “counseling” with the patients that desire it. I have met with several on a weekly basis for a period of time; some of whom still return for “refreshers” a few times a year.

Starting January 2018, I will begin an internship at CREOKS Behavioral Health Services where I will put into practice all that I have been learning as a Marriage and Family Therapist. My hope is to continue with CREOKS as I accumulate supervision hours so I am eligible to sit for the Oklahoma State licensure. Until that occurs, I will still be able to serve in the capacity of therapist/counselor under supervision and serve the north Tulsa community where the pull is greatest for me. To God be the Glory, great things He has done!

Not only do I have an opportunity to do something that I love, but I am able to fulFill a profound role in the community

-Kelly Holliday

Kelly Holliday has been married to John Holliday, Jr for 27 years. She is the proud mom to eight blessings (seven sons and one daughter); and she considers it an honor to serve as the director of spiritual care at Crossover Health Services (CHS) .

If you would like to learn more about Crossover Health Services, please go to http://www.crossoverhealthservices.

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