Cross Over Ministries in the News

Above: With temperatures below zero, Haven Home of Hope in Hillsboro opened its doors as a warming center January 12-14. Cross Over Ministries and staff assisted more than a dozen people in keeping warm from the freezing weather.

During the frigid weekend of January 12-14, Cross Over Ministries staff and volunteers hosted a warming center at Haven Home of Hope, located at 205 Pleasant Street in Hillsboro.

Approximately 14 people within the community took advantage of this service and were offered meals, showers, laundry and companionship. Spearheaded by Erica Petcher, program director for Haven Home of Hope and Amber Kite, certified recovery support specialist, the warming center event was also a segway to assist two people with inpatient rehab treatment.

Cross Over Ministries is a 501(c)(3) religious organization that is committed to helping Montgomery County residents with mental health and substance use challenges.

The organization opened Haven Home of Hope in August 2023 and to date has provided services to numerous people. The home is open Monday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to noon. Weekend and after hours by appointment.

For more information, contact Haven Home of Hope at 217-608-0266.

Other upcoming outreaches hosted by Cross Over Ministries will be QPR (Question Persuade and Refer) training, the showing of My Ascension movie at area schools and during Mental Health and Suicide Awareness months, Overdose Awareness Day event, as well as other community awareness activities.

Above: Jodi Reynolds of Cross Over Ministries offered QPR (question, persuade, refer) training at Nokomis High School on Thursday, January 4.

“The Nokomis School District wishes to thank Jodi Reynolds and Cross Over Ministries for their diligent and professional training on QPR for our faculty, staff, and students,” said Nokomis Superintendent, Dr. Scott Doerr. “As research has shown, mental health issues are on the rise among teenagers all over the country. Thus, this training has allowed us to provide a quicker response and research-based services to meet the needs of all students. This is just one of the many important tools we are using to manage the mental health crisis.”

QPR is an evidence-based training program that helps to reduce suicide. Reynolds, who serves on the Cross Over Ministries board, is a certified QPR facilitator and offered this class with the assistance of the Community Foundation Land of Lincoln grant that Cross Over Ministries received.

“On Thursday, Jan. 4, I had the priviledge of being a guest at the Nokomis school district, where I conducted a QPR training session for their administration,” Reynolds said. “It was heartening to see 57 individuals from the Nokomis school system become QPR gatekeepers, and I’ve had the honor of training many more in different sessions.”

Reynolds lost her son, Kaden Reynolds, to suicide in December 2019 when he was a student at Nokomis High School.

“This experience was particularly poignant for me as some of the participants were teachers who had once taught Kaden at the same school. I deeply appreciate their engagement and attentiveness during our sessions,” said Reyonolds.

For more information on QPR training, contact Cross Over Ministries by email at comnfp @ gmail.com

“Looking ahead, I am excited about the prospect of extending QPR training to other districts and groups in Montgomery County and beyond. If you’re interested in learning more about QPR or having me conduct a training session for your organization, please don’t hesitate to reach out,” Reynolds said. “Let's continue to spread awareness and empower communities to ask the question that can save a life!”

Please submit completed application (forms updated in October 2023) to Cross Over Ministries, P.O. Box 238, Hillsboro, IL 62049. If you have any questions, you may call us at 217-608-0266. We will return your call on the first day we are back in the office. (Hours are Tues, Weds, and Thurs from 1pm-6pm.)

Thank you for your interest in becoming a part of the Cross Over Ministries’ (COM) team. Serving in this capacity is an experience that will give you the opportunity to grow in your relationship with the Lord and with others. You will be actively involved in helping people with mental health conditions and/or substance use disorders discover their own recovery and wellness journey. You will also be contributing to the vision and mission of COM. Our Board will be relying upon you to give us advice regarding specific goals and the actions required to meet them.

We want you to have a clear understanding of the role you will play in shaping our Ministry and the personal commitment of time for training you will need to make if you become an intern/employee. We also want you to know of our commitment to you. That is why you may find it helpful to review our website (www.crossovernfp.com), this application, and our vision and mission statements.

Your application will be kept confidential and on file with our secretary. It will not be used for any other purpose than to identify and evaluate potential interns/employees/volunteers. All new interns/employees are voted on by our current Board Members and approved by a 2/3 majority vote.

We welcome any questions you may have prior to completing this application. We pray that the Lord will lead you as you make this important decision to apply to become a part of the Cross Over Ministries’ team.

In His Hope,

The Board of Cross Over Ministries

Above: A long held dream of Cross Over Ministries will come into actuality with the opening of the Haven of Hope Home, a resource for those in the midst of mental health and substance use crisis in Montgomery County. Above are members of the team that spearheaded opening Haven Home, (front, L-R) Dawn Young and Kim Noyes. (back, L-R) Ryan Gnaegy, Amber Kite, Erica Petcher and Bonnie Goodwin.

“I don’t think the community realizes how many people are struggling with mental health and substance use issues in Montgomery County. These are real people with real families and friends that love, pray and grieve for them. People that need a chance to change their lives. That change starts with stability. Our goal is for the Haven of Hope Home to provide a first step into wellness,” said Amber Kite, a Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) and Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) with Cross Over Ministries who has been at the helm of opening the Haven of Hope Home.

A long awaited vision that has finally come to fruition, the Haven of Hope Home aims to address the basic needs (a nice meal, clean clothing, a safe refuge) of some of the most marginalized residents of Montgomery County, those that are in the midst of mental health crisis and/or struggling with substance use, while also addressing the more complex needs of connecting them to resources for detox and treatment.

An outreach of Cross Over Ministries, Haven Home’s vision statement: “a home where people with lived experience are committed to supporting others experiencing a mental health or substance crisis through the biblical principles of compassion, empathy and authenticity,” will serve as a guiding light for both the people that run and the individuals that utilize the outreach. Focused on their mission of “whole person wellness and meeting their guests right where they are,” Haven Home will not require those seeking refuge to be in active recovery when they knock on the door, however guests must take steps to begin participating in a recovery program to continue to utilize services.

“We are people with real lived experience. We understand that not everything is black-and-white; there are no ideals when it comes to recovery,” explained Erica Petcher, a Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) and Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) with Cross Over Ministries, who has been an instrumental part of the Haven Home Team.

“If someone comes in off the street and tells us that they need to detox but has been placed on a waitlist to get into a treatment center and has no safe place to go we will help. Haven Home is a place to give people stability and a safety net while they start their recovery journey.”

Both Petcher and Kite have real lived experience with substance use, as well as first-hand knowledge that hope, stability and a trusted support system are imperative pieces in any successful recovery.

“The first step is always terrifying. Even admitting that you have a problem is terrifying,” said Petcher. “That is why having people with lived experience involved in creating a mission like Haven Home is so important. We have first hand experience what it is like to rebuild your life and all the fear, shame, pain and discouragement that comes with that. We also know what it is like to live in recovery and why it is worth the fight to get there.”

Guests will make their own meals, do their own laundry and contribute to the upkeep of the house and property. They will also be required to participate in a recovery program, based on the recommendation of their personal counselors or physicians. Each element of Haven Home is designed to give the home’s guests stable footing along the early stages of their individual recovery journey.

Working alongside the Montgomery County Mental Health and Drug Courts, those in need can utilize the outreach for things like a hot meal, shower, clean clothing and connections to treatment resources during set hours: Mondays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

After hours those in crisis are encouraged to first contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and if that fails to call the Cross Over number at 217-608-0266 or message the Haven Home profile on Facebook.

“We have been waiting for Haven Home for a long time. There was a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get to this point. A lot of losing faith, and getting faith back and losing faith again,” aaid Kite. “I still can’t believe that it is actually happening.”

“God has guided and provided for us at every step. The community really stepped up to make Haven Home possible. Every item in the house has been furnished by people in the community that felt called to help,” added Petcher. “We are beyond thankful to the community for having faith and believing in our vision.”

The community is invited to celebrate the opening of Haven Home, located at 205 Pleasant Street in Hillsboro, IL this Sunday, July 30, with a home blessing at 6 p.m. and a ribbon cuting at 6:30 p.m.

Those that would like to help the outreach are encouraged to send donations marked “Haven Home” to Cross Over Ministries, P.O. Box 238, Hillsboro, IL 62049. One-time or recurring donations can also be made online at crossovernfp.com. Haven Home is currently most in need of gift cards to local grocery stores and restaurants for those utilizing the home. They are also looking for a washer and dryer, and a few small dressers and plastic hangers.

What a beautiful day for golf!!! Thank you to our teams, sponsors, volunteers, and Indian Springs Golf Course for helping us reach our goals!! Cross Over Ministries had 14 teams for our first golfing fundraiser—“Driving Out The Darkness”—June 17th and made over $4,000 which will be used for Haven Home of Hope, our new crisis respite home in Montgomery County which will fully open August 1, 2023. The Haven will provide peer counseling with certified recovery support specialists who have lived experience and can help individuals navigate their journey to wellness and recovery for mental health and substance use disorders.

Members of Cross Over Ministries and Celebrate Recovery attended the Montgomery County Board meeting on May 9 in support of a proclamation for Mental Health Awareness Month in May. Pictured above, County Board Chairman Doug Donaldson presents the proclamation to Dawn Young and Dan Hough.

Pictured above, Professor Longhair (Randy Thompson) performs magic tricks while talking to the students at Beckemeyer Elementary School about creating an inclusive and welcoming environment during an anti-bullying program led by Cross Over Ministries on Wednesday, May 3.

The kindergarten through fifth grade students at Beckemeyer Elementary School heard messages on anti-bullying on Wednesday, May 3. Led by Cross Over Ministries, and funded through a grant from the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln (CFLL), the hour-long program centered around different forms of bullying and how to take an active stand against bullying.

Hillsboro High School students Sierra Compton, Morgan Jarrell, Anastasia Thompson, and Ryleigh Van Doren, all peer leaders in the Sources of Strength program, acted out skits for their elementary aged peers. Each of the scenes dealt with situations of bullying, after which the peer leaders asked the elementary students questions designed to make them think about how to have healthy interactions with one another. The high schoolers then spoke about the Sources of Strength program and how it has helped them grow in their own personal lives.

Professor Longhair then took center stage, performing magic tricks and talking to the students about working together and creating an inclusive and welcoming environment at their school.

Andra Ebert, owner of Heartland Mini Hoofs, talked to the little learners about the important roles her horses play as therapy animals. She spoke about being part of a herd and questioned the students about the many herds they are part of — family, class, grade levels, and school — and the role they all play in protecting and taking care of all of the members of their herd.

Following the anti-bullying program, the students were invited to pet Ebert’s mini-horses and were giving “Stand Up, Speak Out” armbands to remind them of the roles they play in making Beckemeyer an “anti-bully school.”

Through funding from the CFLL, Cross Over Ministries has held anti-bullying programs at all of the grade schools in Montgomery County. In recognition of May being Mental Health Awareness Month, Cross Over has several awareness events planned including an open house on Tuesday, May 9, from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m., at 102 N. Main St. in Hillsboro.

Cross Over Ministries has published our first Newsletter of 2023! We have been very busy at COM, with an estimated 3,000 people benefiting from our programs in one way or another in 2002. But the mental health and substance use challenges in Montgomery County are still here. Now we invite you to catch up on the “news” with our renewed vision, our reset resources to establish a HOME that will serve people desiring to live in recovery and wellness, and—most important—how community involvement is critical in moving our mission into reality.

Pictured above, Linda Liebscher, Cross Over Ministries president, guides a discussion on goals and opportunities during the non-profit’s retreat event.

Board members, Recovery Support Peers, and interns met at the home of executive director, Linda Liebscher on Friday evening and Saturday morning, February 24-25 for a retreat to get ready, reset and go forward with the vision and mission of Cross Over Ministries.

Friday evening started with a lasagna dinner prepared by Terry Liebscher along with a variety of delicious desserts made by the hosts. Natalie Fuller led worship then offered a devotional based Truth and Love. She encouraged COM members to stand firm on their beliefs and not apologize. The evening concluded with Pastor Jay Martin serving communion to all present.

Following a homemade breakfast on Saturday morning, Vice President Wayne Wedekind and Linda Liebscher led a brief devotion. All members participated in a team building exercise which included painting and decorating a bird house. All members participated in a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis, along with Short Term and Long Term Goals of the ministry. The team then assigned responsibilities of short term goals and opportunities. Board members were united in moving forward with a mental health recovery home. RSPs announced that the HOME committee finalized naming the recovery home which will be called Haven Home of Hope.

After concluding prayer, everyone left with a fresh sense of commitment and unity for mental health and substance use work in Montgomery County.

Pictured above, Decorated bird houses, part of COM team building and visualizing a recovery home, if only for small flighted residents this time.

Amber Kite, a Recovery Support Peer (RSP) with Cross Over Ministries, joins Recovery Uncensored in the studio to talk about everything recovery, but not before she gave a shout-out to her close friend, Ben, who tragically lost his life to suicide recently at the young age of 25. They discuss the importance of checking on our people and letting them know we love them. Remember, you can call 988 if you feel you are in a crisis and need someone to speak with. After her heartfelt memorialization to Ben, Amber takes Recovery Uncensored down a road of active addiction that seemed to grow after a long-time relationship of nearly seven years abruptly ended. Confessing the relationship had become toxic, and she was admittedly co-dependent, she descended into heavy drug use that led to her mother constantly worrying about her and having police contact, resulting in probation and attending Madison County, IL Drug Court under the Honorable Judge Napp; Amber was court-ordered to go to long-term treatment and was admitted to CRC, a long-term recovery home in Irving, Ill. (Montgomery County), a village of only 600. She stayed nearly two years, even during the strictest COVID-19 lockdowns. Today, she celebrates her family, friends, and working in the recovery field, helping others find a new way to live.