We could’t be more excited and grateful to God for yet another huge land mark in the life of Crossbridge here in the city! Crossbridge MIAMI SPRINGS is now a reality and on Sunday, May 19th at 10:30 AM we will have the second of many monthly “Preview Services” in the Springs up until our launch date (TBD). Thank you for your faithful commitment to partner and pray with us as we ignite a gospel centered movement. Meanwhile, spread the word to everyone you know in that part of town and let’s make it a great celebration that day!

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Rev. 21:4)

1) Can you give us a brief bio of yourself, and your life growing up?

 I was born in New Jersey, Jersey City, but my parents decided to move to Miami, Fl. when I was 4 years old and was raised here in Miami. I grew up in a home that was somewhat religious. My father was a non-practicing catholic, but my mother was a devout Mormon who was very involved in the church. My brother and I were baptized in the Catholic Church as infants and then baptized again under Mormonism at the age of 12.

Growing up there were a couple of traumatic events that impacted my life. The first occurred at the age of 7 when I heard multiple loud bangs that sounded like loud firecrackers right outside my home. When I looked through the living room window to see the fireworks, I didn’t see fireworks but instead I saw a man lying dead on the floor after being shot 10 times. My parents tried to keep me from looking out the window but curiosity sent me to my room to find another window to stare through. The second event occurred when I was about 12 years old when my parents got divorced. I was very close to my father growing up so when it happened it was confusing; it was surreal.

By the age of 15 I started experimenting with alcohol and drugs. I started missing school and getting into fights. I was angry that we didn’t have money like other families while having to experience several evictions. I was angry that we had to wear hand-me downs from my mother’s church while other kids would make fun of us at school. I was angry that my father wasn’t living with us yet my friend’s father’s lived with them. The consequences of my actions led to my expulsion from all of Miami-Dade County schools.

By the age of 18 my relationship with my father had grown apart to the point where he had lost all influence in my life. I had made friends with the older men in the neighborhood who had money, women, power, respect, etc.. and decided to join a gang who would be the family I longed for. My life went down a violent road that brought death knocking at my door several times.

2) Can you describe a time where your life’s been in danger as a result of gang activity?

There are several events that I can recall vividly but there are two that stand out the most. The first was the time I had a gun pointed to my face from 2 feet away but the rival gang member never pulled the trigger. The second was the night a rival gang member shot more than 7 shots at me from about 10 feet away. On the streets I was known as “Suicidal Crazy”… a name that was given to me because of the reckless way I lived life. I felt hopeless, feared nothing, and was angry at everything; especially God. I had made several enemies on the streets including local law enforcement officials. The result of this lifestyle led to several arrests including the last one where I was charged with 7 felonies and was facing a minimum of 15 years in prison.

In retrospect, I believe that during these difficult times of my life God was always with me, protecting me from imminent destruction although I deserved it. This isn’t only true of the times I stared down the barrel of a gun, or the times I was shot at and miraculously never hit, but also that day in the courtroom when my lawyer told me I had no hope of getting out of jail. My lawyer had advised me to prepare to have my bond revoked (which means that I would have to remain incarcerated until case went to trial or I accepted a plea bargain) and to be prepared to face prison time for my charges. Needless to say, I was allowed to get of jail on bond and also had some of my charges dropped to only facing 3 felonies where I received probation and not prison time. My due recompense should have been prison and death but God showed me great mercy and had a different plan for me.

 3) Are gangs still prominent in Miami today as it was when you were involved?

Yes, I believe they still are. As a matter of fact  just a couple of months ago, a friend of mine who works for the fire department, witnessed a gang member stab another gang member in the neck while he was helping a patient 10 feet away. Most people may be are not aware of this lifestyle because they’re unfamiliar with this reality. It’s very difficult for someone to see or look for something they’ve never been exposed to themselves.

4) How hard is it to exit that life once you’re entrenched in it? 

Exiting that lifestyle can be very difficult and even seem impossible. Trying to exit a gang can lead to retaliation from your own gang or even reprisals from rival gangs. In my case, it was extremely difficult not because I was threatened with retaliation, but because six of us had started to endeavor into the music industry. Six of us from within our gang had formed a group called “Pocalik” (when read backwards it spells “kil-a-cop”). We had actually been signed by a new and upcoming label and were in the works of receiving a distribution deal for the label. Therefore when God saved me, it was difficult to leave because I was taking the dreams, hopes and aspirations of the other 5 group members. The music was what we had placed our hope in for a future. There are times I do think about my past catching up to me today, but thank God he has been more than merciful and has kept me from that for over 11 years.

5) In your opinion, why do think kids today engage in such destructive behavior such as joining a gang?

Most kids engage in this lifestyle because they’re longing for a father figure, a sense of family, or a hope for a future. Unfortunately, once they’ve engaged in this lifestyle they are exposed to a world with no future hope. Therefore, they’re sucked into a false reality of living life for a family that will protect them and even die for them. They’re willing to lay down their lives for the gang and can’t see a future of money or success without them. When my father left, my family made me feel secluded because of my tattoos and the way I dressed. I found acceptance and a hope to get out of economic struggle within the gang. I also found father figures with the older neighborhood drug dealers.

6) How important do you think is a father’s relationship to a child?

Both parents I believe play important roles in the life of a child, but a father at least in my experience is detrimental. Not having my father there led me to seek that father and son relationship in other places. Today, I look at the relationship and influence I have with my children, especially my older son Ezekiel, who is 5 years old and literally imitates everything I do and say. All he wants to do and be is like dad. The opportunity I have with my son to teach him about God and life is in my hands and I believe it lies at the hands of every father. Ultimately, our job as father’s and leaders is to lead our homes and to teach our children in a Godly way, to set the example of that lifestyle, and to trust God to do the rest.

7) Where did the gospel meet you in your life and how is it propelling you now?

Well, I would have to say that even though my future looked promising in the music industry, I still felt a sense of dissatisfaction and emptiness. I questioned whether or not that life that I was placing all of my hope in would bring me the satisfaction I longed for. I began to question and search for answers even in the Bible I once scorned. During this time of my life I was still using drugs and partying, but there was something about a particular verse in scripture (Revelation 21:4) that captivated me because it spoke of the future hope I longed for. This verse was so hopeful to me that I ended up tattooing it on my forearm as a reminder of what God had for me in the future. I believe during this period of my life God was revealing the gospel to me. Even though I was not in church and wanted to have nothing to church, He was drawing me to Himself with the true hope that only the gospel offers. I lived my life reckless because I believed I had no future hope, I then placed my hope in music hoping that it would give me the future hope I was longing for, but when God revealed this verse to me it was the answer to all my questions and all that I had been searching for. Kids who live reckless have no hope; others place their hope on careers, money, love, etc… All are false hopes that lead to disappointments! There is only one true hope that is found in the gospel.

8) Where are you at in life right now?

I am currently married to Tracey Rosado. We’ve been married for 7 years, and have two beautiful children; Ezekiel and Zechariah. Our family right now has been undergoing some financial hardships especially due to the fact that I had an Achilles injury recently and can’t walk. My wife has had to take the burden of taking care of all 3 of us while also being the main provider of our home. Our current predicament however has given me the opportunity to spend a lot of quality time with our children. It’s the quality time I never had with my father growing up but now I’m able to have has a father with my children. I’ve learned not to take it for granted and to cherish every moment so much more. This predicament has also allowed us to experience the love of God through the community of the church. We’ve been overwhelmed as to how Crossbridge (even people we do not know) have gone out of their way to help us in whatever way possible. Truly we’ve been blessed and seen the goodness of God in this circumstance.

9) What’s next for the Rosado’s?

We simply have a passion to reach and lead others for Christ. There’s no greater joy than seeing people receive the peace and joy of the Lord when they receive and understand the gospel.

Saturday, May 4th from 10-12pm, Crossbridge is providing a training for awareness of sex trafficking of minors. We’re inviting two local non-profit organizations (Sharing One Love & BeLoved) to bring awareness of how this injustice is happening in our own city and what we can do as individuals and as a community to put an end to it. RSVP to this event with Pastor Sam.

Is there someone in your life that needs to know the message of the resurrection? Invite them and join us for our Easter services this year beginning on March 28th at 7pm for a meditative and meaningful Maundy Thursday service. Then join us on Easter morning at 10am & 11:30am in Pinecrest (6605 N Kendall Dr. Miami Fl, 33156) and also at 6pm at Brickell (1770 Brickell Ave. Miami Fl, 33133) as we joyously celebrate our risen Savior.

* Childcare will be provided for all services.

SHARE THE NEWS

FACEBOOK TIMELINE IMAGE

TWITTER/FACEBOOK/INSTAGRAM AVATAR

Where are you originally from?

I was born and raised in Colombia until the age of 18. My parents are American, and were missionaries there for over 20 years. I moved to North Carolina when I graduated from high school in order to study at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro.

What was it like growing up as a kid with parents who were missionaries?

In some ways it just felt like a “normal life.” I lived in the large city of Bogota, played sports after school, hung out at the mall, had internet at home…not what most people picture when they think of missionaries. Having been born there, I felt very Colombian and related to the culture there more than to American culture. The way our mission generally operated was that missionaries would spend 4 years in the field and then return to the US for 1 year in order to spend time with family and visit their sending churches. I spent my 4th grade year and my 9th grade year in the US. Those years were difficult for me because I considered Colombia my home and did not relate to American culture. People would ask me how it felt to be back “home” when I came to the US and I always thought, “I’ll let you know when I go back.” On the other hand, other Colombians would look at me and think of me as a foreigner. I was stuck in between two cultures, not fully belonging in either one.

Have you ever been overseas on any missionary endeavors other than Colombia? 

After I moved to the US when I was 18, I spent a year living with my aunt and uncle and attended a Southern Baptist church in North Carolina. I became very involved with the youth group at that church. In 2003 the youth group took a missions trip to Sudan, and I decided to join. We spent 10 days in a small town called Akot, renovated a clinic there, and did evangelism through story telling. Many African tribal cultures are very oral, and history is passed down through generations by storytelling. We prepared before we left and adapted the Bible into oral stories that we shared through interpreters at churches, schools, and neighborhoods in Sudan. I believe every young person should take a mission trip to a developing country! While being able to bless and encourage local missionaries and churches, it’s also such a learning experience for those who go. You’re reminded that the church is so much bigger than the walls and ceiling you worship in each Sunday. That across cultures and miles we are bound together by one God and one Spirit. You’re reminded of how blessed you are, and can learn so much from people of other cultures.

After spending that time in Africa, I always wanted to return. Throughout college and my involvement in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship I had become very passionate about serving the poor and oppressed. I never really knew why, but my heart was always drawn back to Africa. After college I had some credit card debt, so I started working. Once I paid off that debt, my desire to go to Africa was just as strong, and I no longer had anything holding me back. I had read about an organization called InnerCHANGE which is an order that serves among the poor all over the world. They do ministry incarnationally, which means they live in community among the people they serve. I found an InnerCHANGE team in South Africa, and applied to do a one year internship with them.

Just curious…were your parents supportive over your decision to go to South Africa? 

My parents were very supportive of me going and always encouraged me to follow God wherever He led. When people asked my parents whether it was safe for them to be in Colombia, my dad would say that we were always safer in the midst of a war zone within God’s will, than anywhere else outside of God’s will. Those words rang true as people often asked me whether it was safe for me to be living in a township, and I realized the huge blessings of being welcomed into the lives of my friends and neighbors there.

What was the biggest struggle for you while you were in South Africa?

There were several struggles, however, that surfaced as time went on and were sometimes very difficult to deal with. The difficulties of race relations were one large one. Being one of about 5 white people in a township of a million people meant that I was very watched and noticed. Sometimes it felt like it was difficult to get past the fact that I was white to real relationships with people. While in many ways I felt that I adjusted pretty easily to the culture there, one aspect that I really struggled with was the way women were treated. Women there worked a job, and then came home to do all the cooking, cleaning, and housework. It was pretty much accepted that men would have multiple girlfriends/mistresses, and I felt that women were not valued in that culture. Sometimes, people would walk in the house when I was cooking or washing dishes or cleaning, and exclaim, “makoti!” which means bride, or wife. It frustrated me that this seemed to be the definition of womanhood.

How do we share the gospel in a culture that’s not our own?

I think always when sharing the Gospel, it must be approached with great humility. It’s important to be aware that all cultures have aspects that glorify and honor God, and aspects that are contrary to God’s character. Being aware of those aspects in your own culture, and seeking and affirming the things that glorify God in a foreign culture are important in order to not come in thinking you are bringing all salvation and hope to people. If questioning cultural attitudes and values, it must be approached with a lot of prayer, humility, and a willingness to listen and understand. In the end, I feel that in loving dialogue and relationship, people can together explore what the Gospel means to them and how it translates into their lives in their cultural context.

How are you doing with living out the gospel in the context of neighborhood?

I have a hard time living on mission in my neighborhood. I feel like it was much easier to live intentionally when I was a missionary and it was my job to do so. Everything that my time was dedicated to in South Africa was leading toward the mission of living out and sharing the Gospel. In the “real world” there are more things requiring time and attention and sometimes it feels like there is little time left for engaging my neighbors. It’s easy to get apathetic about it and busy in other things. It’s definitely an area in which I need growth now.

Why do you think it’s difficult for believers in our culture to live out the gospel with those who are closest to them?

I think there are many aspects to this. American culture values individualism and independence. It makes it very easy for us to be isolated from one another as we pursue career, or care for our own family and friends. It’s counter cultural in many ways to seek to engage your neighbors, and can feel very difficult. Many Christians probably don’t feel that it is their job to do so. We believe that our responsibility extends as far as inviting them to church, and the pastor and the Spirit should do the rest. We look at missionaries going overseas to live out the Gospel and applaud and support them, yet we ignore the ways in which God calls us to do the same in our very own context.

What are you currently doing now?

I currently work at a non-profit organization that helps immigrants. I’m a paralegal and assist unaccompanied children who are detained by immigration with their legal cases. Many of these children are fleeing abuse, abandonment, gang violence, and extreme poverty in their home countries. When they get apprehended by immigration they are afraid and confused. Being able to assist them as they navigate through a complex legal system they don’t understand, offering some compassion and friendliness along the way, is very fulfilling to me.

How has the gospel shape your personal understanding on the issue of immigration?

Having been an immigrant and feeling the isolation of being a foreigner in several places, I feel particularly sympathetic to the plight of the immigrant. Wherever you stand politically, as a Christian the way you treat the foreigner, the powerless, and the needy in your midst should be guided and informed by God’s love and compassion foremost, and the zeal for justice that Scripture shows us.

What’s next for Julie Irvin?

Good question! I’m not sure where God is leading me for the long term, but for this time I feel led to stay in Miami and love the city. I’m blessed to have a job that allows me to live out my passions and values in this place. Crossbridge has provided a community for me to delve deeper into what it looks like to live out the Gospel in this context, and I’m excited to see where that can lead.

Where are you originally from? 

I was born in Ft. Lauderdale and have lived in South Florida my entire life. My twin brother, older sister and I were adopted by my uncle and aunt when I was 18 months old. All three of us lived with them until we went to college.

Have you ever wanted to know who your real parents are? 

I often wonder what my parents were like. I don’t have any memories of them; everything I know about them is something I’ve learned through a story or a photo. I really wish I could know things like the sound of their voices or the sound of their laughs. They died when I was 11 months old – a murder-suicide.

A murder suicide?

Yes, unfortunately my dad shot and killed my mom and then himself. ”[pause]”

How was your childhood growing up with your uncle and aunt along with your siblings?  

My family life looked “normal” growing up. The parents I had were the only parents I had ever known, and they worked really hard to provide and care for my brother, sister, and I. My mom stayed home while my dad worked two jobs; my tangible needs were always met and we were fortunate enough to have what we needed plus some. I’m so thankful I was able to stay in a family and grow up knowing and having a relationship with my siblings. My sister is one of my best friends and I’m really grateful I was given the opportunity to grow up with her and have such a close relationship with her to this day.

When did you first come to an understanding of the gospel? 

I was raised going to a Roman Catholic church with my family. Church was less of something that we did to worship and meet with God and, at least to me, more of something that we did because it was good to do and because we had always done it. I heard about God and could tell you a few things about him, but I didn’t come to know him until I was in high school. One of my teachers sponsored First Priority, a club on campus that met once a week and explored scripture. He, along with the youth pastor who led the meetings, encouraged me week by week; I kept coming back because I knew there was something different about what I was hearing. I can’t tell you what the leader talked about that one particular week, but I remember hearing the gospel and knowing that if Jesus really was who he claimed he was, I wanted to know and follow him. For the first time I saw that I didn’t have to keep working to earn approval from God – instead I saw Christ who lavished me with his grace and approval simply because of his love for me. I think that plays a big role in why I have a heart for youth and teen ministry — I see the value in outlets like First Priority where students can hear the gospel at their schools or in youth groups.

Have you ever been angry with God in light of the past?

I’ve never been angry with God for what happened, but I’ve been angry with him for not telling me why it happened. I think I almost feel entitled to an answer sometimes. I get caught up in thinking that I can’t trust God’s sovereignty and goodness until I know how he works things out for my good. A week before I began college at the University of Miami, my mom (aunt) died unexpectedly after an outpatient procedure. I remember being in the hospital room asking the Lord to graciously allow me to trust him despite the outcome – to be content in him and to seek him whether or not the situation turned out the way I wanted. Through the grieving God has shown me that He is the one who gives me peace, something that ultimately an answer or an explanation can’t do.

Has anyone in your family lost faith or ever asked, “How can you still believe in God in light of all the despair and suffering?”

My family hasn’t directly asked me that question, but I believe that has been the heart of some of their questions, especially in light of my mom’s (aunt) death almost 4 years ago. My family, for the most part, seems a bit skeptical and hesitant to talk about how my beliefs differ from theirs. God isn’t really someone we talk about at the dinner table – they’re “glad I’m happy” but keep the topic distanced if possible. They still love me, but they don’t share or understand my desire to live a life surrendered to the Lord.

How has the gospel and your relationship with God shape the understanding of these tragic experiences? 

My relationship with God continues to shape my understanding of tragedy and suffering – it’s by no means a topic I feel like I’ve firmly grasped or been able to move beyond. Grieving is exhausting and a much deeper process than I ever expect. One of the biggest areas I’ve grown in is trusting the truth that God is present in pain. I’m seeing clearer the God who is present in suffering, the God who suffers himself, and the God who meets people in their suffering rather than outside of it. So often I seek answers and justification for the pain that has caused fear and doubt in my life; God continues to teach me that information alone can’t heal my wounded heart. He continues to show me that he is the one who is perfectly redeeming and restoring my life, no matter what my circumstances look or feel like. God doesn’t minimize or moralize suffering – He himself comes to heal it.

What’s next on the horizon for Jessica? 

I’m student teaching right now during my last semester at UM before I graduate in May. I applied to intern with CRU at UM next year and hope to continue to be a part of the movement on campus. Also, I recently got engaged and I’ll have the joy of marrying my best friend Tyler Goodman this July right here at Crossbridge.

How did you and Tyler meet? 

Tyler and I met during high school through a mutual friend. He started to spend time with me and my other senior friends (he was a junior at the time) and we started to get to know each other better. Believe it or not I ended up asking him to my senior prom – he thought he was a pity date but I totally liked him. He played hard to get and finally realized that I liked him when one of our friends assured him I would say yes if he asked me out. He asked me out by singing me a song on a date to watch the sun rise and about 6 weeks ago he asked me to marry him – after singing me a song on a date to watch the sun set. I had no idea that when I asked him to my prom he would end up asking me to marry him four years later!

If you’d like to share your personal story contact Pastor Sam