Crossover had a God sized vision to comprehensively address disparities in education, housing, health, and other fruits of systemic injustice along with Bible study that I thought would be effective.Īs a board member of CCI (Crossover Community Impact), I saw the Lord blessing the work of Crossover over and over again. I witnessed firsthand that despite the efforts of my roommate and I to have Bible study and mentor young men, the daily realities of their lives were more than we could handle in a few hours a week. At the time, I was already living in the Hawthorne neighborhood with a roommate, and my eyes were being opened to some of the areas of restoration needed in our community. We started attending Crossover Bible Church after some of our residency colleagues told us about it. I was newly engaged to Rebecca, a young woman that grew up in an urban church that intentionally sought to address issues of race and injustice in Chicago. Justin holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tulsa and a Master of Urban Planning from Harvard University where he focused on community development and housing.My involvement with Crossover first began as a church member during my Family Medicine Residency Training with In His Image, in early 2011. After Justin and Leah began attending Crossover, Justin met with Pastor Philip and found out that he too had been impacted by the CCDA and had plans for what would eventually become Crossover Community Impact. In the beginning of 2010, a mutual friend introduced Justin to Philip Abode, Pastor of Crossover Bible Church. Gardening was still a challenge due to a gang that operated on the block, but through the consistent presence of neighbors, and vigilant calling of the police, eventually the gang moved out.Īs Justin, Leah, and their children continued to develop relationships with their neighbors, they longed to have a church in the community where they could invite neighbors and work alongside them. As a result, they began a community garden in Brady Heights on an abandoned lot where the City had recently torn down a burned-out house.

Through a common interest in community gardening, the Pickards met Rufus and Demalda Newsome of Newsome Community Farms and began to learn about the health and food disparities in north Tulsa. They began to open their home on Saturday morning to pray for north Tulsa and share a neighborhood breakfast. After graduating from the University of Tulsa in 2005, Justin and Leah decided to put Perkins’ 3rs (Relocation, Reconciliation, and Redistribution) into practice. Along the way, they were introduced to the writings of John Perkins, a civil rights leader, pastor, and founder of the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA). Justin Pickard and his wife, Leah, were both impacted in high school by short-term mission trips to a Christian Community Development organization in inner city St. Philip and Rondalyn are both excited to be a part of CCI’s effort to serve its community educationally through Crossover Preparatory Academy. CCI serves its community through youth sports (Crossover Sports Association), health care (Crossover Health Services), housing and economic development (Crossover Development Company). That experience led to the formation of Crossover Community Impact, Inc. This eye-opening experience transformed Philip’s perspective on what it would take to truly make an impact in his community. Being able to connect with the families and help the kids deal with areas of need in their lives opened Philip’s eyes to the huge access that youth sports gave him into families’ lives in his community. Philip began to see how that might become a reality the first season he coached a 3rd grade tackle football team in 2008. Philip always wanted to serve at a church whose impact in the community went beyond Sunday mornings.

Shortly after graduating with a degree in Applied Mathematics, Philip moved to Dallas, TX with Rondalyn to attend Dallas Theological Seminary in preparation for helping start Crossover Bible Church where he has served as Lead Pastor since 2009.Īfter Philip completed a Masters in Christian Education, he and Rondalyn moved to north Tulsa to start the work that God had called them to. Pastor Philip Abode and his wife, Rondalyn, have been passionate about helping people grow in their relationship with the Lord ever since they committed their lives to Him during their college years at the University of Tulsa.

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