COMMUNITY CENTER by Philip Abode Please join us in restoring our community through your gift to the Capital Campaign!
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still have a hard time believing that the dream to build a in one central location. Currently, we are spread out over four community center in north Tulsa began 15 years ago. Fifteen different locations. years later the dream still lives and is now closer to becoming Imagine with me what it will be like for an elementary student a reality than it has ever been! “Why dream about a community in the Crossover Kids Program to come to the Crossover Comcenter?” That’s a good question. It originally started with wantmunity Center each day after school to be tutored by one of our ing to build a facility that did not sit empty most of the week StreetLeaders. After the program, he hangs around for basketand a desire to build a facility that would serve as the hub of our ball practice in the gym. During practice, his parents attend our community. However, just three years later, I saw clearly that the Faith and Finance class in preparation to buy a house that the dream for a community center was so much more. Crossover Development Company just finished rehabbing. And It all started when I coached a third-grade youth football team. even though the middle school years are usually when organizaI had never coached before, and honestly, I was not really looktions start losing touch with the kids that they worked with in eling forward to coaching elementaementary, that will not be the case for ry-age kids. This experience changed Crossover. For starters, this youngster my life and helped me see how Crossand his family are patients at Crossoover could be a part of seeing tangible ver Health Services that is located next We are so close to raising door. On top of that, he will have the change in our community through the power of the gospel. Because of the opportunity to attend Crossover Prep all of the funds for the life struggles that our third graders middle and high school. And this Crossover Community Center, in faced, we started after-school tutorwill all be in the same building! Who for the First time in Cross- knows, his family might even choose ing on the days we had practice and started focusing on character develto make Crossover Bible Church their over’s history, all of the opment. I became more of a mentor family and join us for worship elements of our comprehen- church than a coach. The relationships that I at the community center each Sunbuilt through that experience set the sive approach will be in one day. And to top it all off, imagine if this foundation for what would later beyoung man, who started with us in central location. come Crossover Community Impact. elementary school, decides to return In 2012, we started Crossover Comto north Tulsa after he finishes college -Philip A. munity Impact to help us more comand decides to make north Tulsa the prehensively serve north Tulsa. We place that he calls home and where he started it with a second-grade footchooses to raise his family while workball team. Now Crossover Community ing to restore our community. Impact allows us to serve our community through youth sports Hopefully you can see the kind of IMPACT that a facility like (Crossover Sports Association), health care (Crossover Health this could have in north Tulsa. My prayer is that if you can see Services), education (Crossover Kids After-School & Summer this, that you will help it become a reality by partnering with us Programs, the StreetLeader Program, and Crossover Preparatoto reach our $1 Million Challenge Grant Goal in time to have ry Academy), and housing and economic development (Crossothose funds matched in August. Even though this dream has ver Development Company). I cannot say that 15 years ago I saw been 15 years in the making, I truly believe that the Crossover Crossover serving our community in all of these ways. Community Center will have an IMPACT on north Tulsa that will We are so close to raising all of the funds for the Crossover span decades and last for generations to come. Community Center, meaning for the first time in Crossover’s history, all of the elements of our comprehensive approach will be
