CrossoverPREP
We are committed to developing educated, godly young men who love north Tulsa.
Shalom to North Tulsa by Demarco Taylor
I began to coach football through our youth sports program. The coaching opportunity provided access to families who may not come to church on Sunday mornings, and the interactions with neighborhood youth remained vibrant and vivacious at every turn. Over the years, the same young men would approach me in the community and express gratitude for being there for them at such a young age. It was pivotal for them and intentional on the part of Crossover to be present in the community.
I
was first invited to Crossover Bible Church around 15 years ago by a long time mentor of mine. He had known both pastors from their time at Tulsa Bible Church, and since Crossover met near my childhood home, I obliged. During the sermon, the pastor said, “it was cool to be a Christian”. This was the first time I heard an African-American male declare a distinct delight in the Christian life. Three years passed and I met the same pastor again at a Flame concert. We had lunch and he laid out the gospel for me. He used scripture to clarify every misconception I had. I began attending Crossover Bible Church that same week and became a member in 2009. I began to serve right away, and
After serving as a football coach, I began to help with the Crossover Kids After-school program at Hawthorne Elementary School. There, I saw firsthand the reach of discipleship outside of the church. A few of my relatives were deeply impacted by the leadership and discipleship within the program. It gave me a great sense of joy to see the church reaching the community I grew up in, especially my own family! After these experiences, I decided to complete my college degree. I attended the University of Arkansas and studied history. Before leaving for college, I was included on the board for the upcoming all-boys school as a Community Liaison. While at the University of Arkansas, I developed big plans to go elsewhere and work in higher education. But through constant conversations, I felt the Lord calling me back to north Tulsa, though I knew it would be uncomfortable. The penultimate conversation was with a friend just before graduating. He asked, “If you had a million dollars what would you do with it?” I replied, “I’d give the bulk of it to my church back in Tulsa to complete the work
Crossover Community Impact
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