A Life of Purpose: From Ministry Beginnings in Colombia to Transforming Lives in North Tulsa
Growing up in ministry shaped my life in profound ways, helping me discover my calling at an early age. My journey began in Bogotá, Colombia, where my parents were deeply involved in church life. Some of my earliest memories are of being a “little helper” in Sunday school at just four years old—passing out craft materials and feeling like I was making a real difference.
In 2010, God placed a new pastoral calling on my parents’ hearts, leading us to Barranquilla, Colombia, to serve a community in need. It was a leap of faith. We didn’t know anyone in this new city, but that didn’t stop us. My dad would preach to my mom, and I taught Bible lessons to my younger brother. Despite it being just the four of us, we rented 30 chairs every Sunday and prayed for God to bring the people He wanted in our church. I still remember the excitement of being ten years old, walking into a Christian store to buy a Sunday school curriculum. I couldn’t wait to show my brother the activities I had planned! Even as a child, my heart was set on showing God’s love to others, especially kids.
That passion only grew stronger over the years. Ministry wasn’t confined to the four walls of our church—it extended into the community. I vividly recall visiting a neighborhood near the river, where my parents taught parenting lessons while I read Bible stories to the children. These moments taught me that ministry is about meeting people where they are and sharing God’s love in practical, meaningful ways.
One of the most transformative experiences came when we partnered with an orphanage. We ministered to children and teens who had been abused, abandoned, or rejected by their families. I’ll never forget the consecration ceremony we held for young girls who had never experienced God’s love. It was a privilege to show them love and speak God’s truth into their lives. Those moments solidified my belief in the importance of teaching children how much God loves them—it changes everything about how they see themselves and their future.
God planted a dream in my heart to start a nonprofit dedicated to serving His children. That dream led me to Oral Roberts University, where I majored in Global Ministry and the Marketplace with a minor in nonprofit business. As graduation approached, I wasn’t sure what my next step would be. Then, I saw the Crossover booth at a career fair, and everything clicked. Their mission aligned perfectly with the vision God had placed in my heart. After my interview, I called my parents with tears streaming down my face, because I knew I had found my place.
In July 2023, I began working as a site coordinator for Crossover, leading a free after-school program and summer camp for North Tulsa students. It has been an incredible joy to work with kids and teach them about God’s Word. Our program combines Bible-based lessons with activities in STEM, art, sports, reading, and social-emotional learning (SEL). Watching God work in the lives of our students has been nothing short of amazing.
One story that stands out is about a fifth-grade student who struggles with anger issues. At the start of the school year, we created an “anger wheel of choices” to help her identify calming strategies before an outburst. With one-on-one support, she’s learned to manage her emotions more effectively. Now, instead of reacting violently, she uses her wheel to choose activities like blowing up a balloon, playing with Legos, or drawing. It’s a beautiful reminder of how character development and guidance can transform a child’s life.
For the past two summers, I was thrilled to plan and implement our Crossover Kids Summer camp alongside an incredible team. We hosted it in our brand-new community center, allowing us to serve 100 kids from different schools. We were also able to expand the Crossover Kids after-school program to the Crossover Community Center, so that we could serve more students at Hawthorne Elementary School! This space gives us the freedom to create our own lessons and teach God’s word in ways that are impactful and fun.
Looking back, I see how every step of my journey has prepared me for this moment. From my early days in ministry to now, God has been faithful in shaping my path. I’m excited to see how He will continue to work through Crossover to transform the lives of children and families in our community.
In 2010, God placed a new pastoral calling on my parents’ hearts, leading us to Barranquilla, Colombia, to serve a community in need. It was a leap of faith. We didn’t know anyone in this new city, but that didn’t stop us. My dad would preach to my mom, and I taught Bible lessons to my younger brother. Despite it being just the four of us, we rented 30 chairs every Sunday and prayed for God to bring the people He wanted in our church. I still remember the excitement of being ten years old, walking into a Christian store to buy a Sunday school curriculum. I couldn’t wait to show my brother the activities I had planned! Even as a child, my heart was set on showing God’s love to others, especially kids.
That passion only grew stronger over the years. Ministry wasn’t confined to the four walls of our church—it extended into the community. I vividly recall visiting a neighborhood near the river, where my parents taught parenting lessons while I read Bible stories to the children. These moments taught me that ministry is about meeting people where they are and sharing God’s love in practical, meaningful ways.
One of the most transformative experiences came when we partnered with an orphanage. We ministered to children and teens who had been abused, abandoned, or rejected by their families. I’ll never forget the consecration ceremony we held for young girls who had never experienced God’s love. It was a privilege to show them love and speak God’s truth into their lives. Those moments solidified my belief in the importance of teaching children how much God loves them—it changes everything about how they see themselves and their future.
God planted a dream in my heart to start a nonprofit dedicated to serving His children. That dream led me to Oral Roberts University, where I majored in Global Ministry and the Marketplace with a minor in nonprofit business. As graduation approached, I wasn’t sure what my next step would be. Then, I saw the Crossover booth at a career fair, and everything clicked. Their mission aligned perfectly with the vision God had placed in my heart. After my interview, I called my parents with tears streaming down my face, because I knew I had found my place.
In July 2023, I began working as a site coordinator for Crossover, leading a free after-school program and summer camp for North Tulsa students. It has been an incredible joy to work with kids and teach them about God’s Word. Our program combines Bible-based lessons with activities in STEM, art, sports, reading, and social-emotional learning (SEL). Watching God work in the lives of our students has been nothing short of amazing.
One story that stands out is about a fifth-grade student who struggles with anger issues. At the start of the school year, we created an “anger wheel of choices” to help her identify calming strategies before an outburst. With one-on-one support, she’s learned to manage her emotions more effectively. Now, instead of reacting violently, she uses her wheel to choose activities like blowing up a balloon, playing with Legos, or drawing. It’s a beautiful reminder of how character development and guidance can transform a child’s life.
For the past two summers, I was thrilled to plan and implement our Crossover Kids Summer camp alongside an incredible team. We hosted it in our brand-new community center, allowing us to serve 100 kids from different schools. We were also able to expand the Crossover Kids after-school program to the Crossover Community Center, so that we could serve more students at Hawthorne Elementary School! This space gives us the freedom to create our own lessons and teach God’s word in ways that are impactful and fun.
Looking back, I see how every step of my journey has prepared me for this moment. From my early days in ministry to now, God has been faithful in shaping my path. I’m excited to see how He will continue to work through Crossover to transform the lives of children and families in our community.
