Anthony Campisi: Anthony is now 22, still single, and currently lives in Miami, Florida, where he is a musical theatre coach. He was a Crosswalker for two years, and he shares his favorite memories as follows: “There are two in particular that I remember. One being a fun memory. We went to Chicago and we got to go into Wrigley Field and watch the Chicago Cubs play the Atlanta Braves!!! The second would have to be the first year I went I remember every show at the end when I was talking to my "daughter" and her picture was all messed up and I being the "father" took the picture and erased all the bad things off and gave the daughter back the "perfect picture." You always heard a gasp, and I will always remember seeing the faces of people when they realized what we were saying--that Jesus could take any little detail that you messed up or anything bad or wrong that we have done...and he can just erase it and make us pure again. It was the best feeling to know that a little thing like that changed kids’ lives forever.” Anthony says that being a part of Crosswalk made a lasting impression on his life. Going with Crosswalk into these facilities “ made me realize that we are no different than they are. They just made a DIFFERENT mistake than we did. But the fact that it could be me and to know that I was doing something even if it was just a little thing to talk to these kids and help them understand that their lives could be better and how Jesus was waiting to help them completely made an impression on me. God uses us in ways we can't imagine, and Crosswalk just helped me realize that the small things make a huge difference. I thank God for allowing me to have those summers of experience and allowing me to serve him. But in return for my service he has changed my life because of it. Crosswalk is an organization that I love and am thoroughly excited for the expansion and I know God will bless it. He already has!!!” Anthony currently attends Christ Fellowship in Miami. You may email him at... acampisi02@gmail.com

Brett Parker: At age 22, Brett currently is a performer on a cruise ship. He says he would love to work on Broadway someday, but he is just happy to be making a living as a performer right now. Brett only went on Crosswalk for one summer, but he says it absolutely changed his life. “It was the first mission that actually took me out of my comfort zone. I went back to my church after Crosswalk and everything there felt lukewarm. I realized I was not growing in that atmosphere. Crosswalk taught me to never get settled.” He shares the following as his favorite Crosswalk memory: “A pen pal of mine stands out. She quietly sat in the back and I did not take much notice of her. Then when we returned home, I received a letter from her. She asked me questions and advice, but most of all I think she just wanted a friend. It is amazing how our witness can affect people, even when we don't think anyone is paying attention.” You may email Brett at brettparkernyc@hotmail.com...

Debra Davis, who was one of the adult leaders in Crosswalk for several years, now is a teacher in Clayton County, living in Griffin, Georgia. Debra has 3 sons, 2 of which were a part of Crosswalk for several years. She is becoming a grandmother for the first time this fall. In a few years she hopes to do what her parents did when they retired. They have spent almost 20 years traveling the world spreading God’s word. Debra attends McDonough Christian Church, and she uses the horses that God has blessed her with as an outreach vehicle. “Many people come to ride and in the process, I get a chance to share God’s power. I have also written a book sharing the spiritual experiences I have had with my special horse, Dakota. It is an amazing opportunity.” She says it was her work with Crosswalk that eventually led her to teach at the alternative school for 7 years, trying to provide that continual contact with God to maintain a spiritual focus. Not many of those kids had contact with Crosswalk, but a few did. On a couple of occasions when we did local trips, there would be a familiar face in the crowd. Any encouragement helps those kids, and “I was blessed to be able to offer that encouragement for a few.” Her favorite Crosswalk memories include those that are “very precious” to her such as “the guys in a Texas facility who all raised their hands during the ending song.” In that particular facility there was a strong Christian influence through a chaplain and his staff, but in many of them Crosswalk is the ONLY touchpoint. We hope to change that in many facilities and mobilize volunteers nationwide to bring a spiritual element into these often empty places. Debra’s email address is... litehorse54@peoplepc.com

She’d love to hear from you!

Jeremy Fike, now 24, lives with his bride of 5 months Adrienne in Spring, Texas, where he currently works for Chevron Phillips Chemical Company and attends
Northside Christian Church. They will be moving to Dallas in July where Jeremy will enroll in Baylor College of Dentistry. He went on Crosswalk for two summers during high school. He says the most striking memory would have to be “the faces of the juvenile offenders that we had the opportunity to play music for and meet. I was most struck by how similar their faces were to mine. Though we had numerous differences, I was most struck by our similarities. I often wondered about what my life would have been like if I had been in their shoes.” During college Jeremy did mission work with homeless teens in Denver, Colorado, and on a Boys’ Ranch for orphaned boys in Long Island, New York. He says he was definitely affected by his involvement in Crosswalk. “ I learned so much about God's love during Crosswalk. Crosswalk sparked an interest in me to work with hurting people. I would love to have the opportunity to work with troubled teenagers in the future. Crosswalk played a very big part in shaping me into the person who I am now. ” You may email Jeremy at... jeremy_fike2@yahoo.com

Elisabeth McWilliams Fuller, Now 27 and married to her high school sweetheart Josh, Elisabeth lives in Covington where she works for an association management company and is a part-time yoga instructor. She only went on Crosswalk one year, the California trip in 1998, but she remembers it vividly. Some silly memories stand out like Jeff & Thomas getting lost in the Grand Canyon and eating lots of fish sandwiches from McDonalds. But on a serious note she says she remembers meeting “lots of kids who were searching for hope, for something to give their lives meaning. We were able to have lots of good conversations and share the gospel with lots of kids.” Elisabeth and Josh now attend Rockdale Community Church in Conyers where they work in the children’s ministry. Josh is currently in seminary preparing to teach religion and philosophy on the college level. Elisabeth hopes to be a stay-at-home mom when they are blessed with children of their own. She says that Crosswalk absolutely made an impact on her life as it helped her get out of her “perfect world.” She continues, “ I saw heartache and desperation up close and personal. It helped me understand how much people need the true gospel of Jesus Christ. I wish I could go back to those places and be more real with those kids and share with them who God really is and what he has done in my life.” Elisabeth would love to hear from you at...
elisa.fuller@gmail.com

Matthew Dudley, now 22 years old, is a 5th year senior majoring in English at Valdosta State University ("Yeah, I love it that much!"). He is a resident assistant to 38 freshmen guys in a 5-story building with the bottom floor being the guys and the other 4 floors being freshmen girls. "Studley Dudley" as we called him toured with Crosswalk for 3 years, and he says the memory that stands out the most for him was being in Stockton, California, on the 4th of July in 2005. Stockton is quite high in crime and not many ministries visit those kids. "Crosswalk, however, in its boldness went to where God has called us to go: youth detention centers, and it was on the stage there in Stockton that I was really touched. Most people would call me crazy for spending July 4 in a YDC, but not me. Even though we were in the worst facility, I felt right at home with my friends, both on the stage and in the audience. You can call me crazy or whatever you want, but those guys were themselves and were grateful that someone came to them to spend the holiday with them." Matthew is not married, but he has an awesome girlfriend that will be graduating in spring 08 from Johnson Bible College. His future plans right now include grad school at the University of Tennessee but he knows that "with plans come God’s hand so right now I am listening and playing it by ear." He still attends Berea Christian Church in Hampton when he is home, and while he is at school he goes to Cross Pointe Christian Church. Of his experience with Crosswalk Matt explains how it affected his life: "Crosswalk made me step out on faith and realize what my abilities are. I think Crosswalk is a great ministry and I see it flourishing with help from you who are reading this. While on Crosswalk I made great friends that I still keep in touch with. Although some are distant, I still hold them dear to me for struggling for the Gospel. I hope that with a simple change of heart, you too can help. Crosswalk can be associated with Matthew 25: 34-40. Even if you think you cannot help, you can pray. And believe me the devil knows that prayer is a powerful weapon. Pray on brothers and sisters; see you at the finish line." The last thing Dudley wanted to include here (for anyone who doesn't know this already) is the following statement: "Gina Moore and Bill Ward are the craziest adults I know."

Thomas Davis: Thomas is now 27 years old and lives in Hallandale Florida, where he and his wife Mary moved to start a church in South Beach. Recently however, he has accepted a position at Midway Macedonia Baptist Church in Villa Rica, Georgia, as Creative Minister, so they are currently in the process of moving. He and Mary are expecting their first child in September. Thomas went on Crosswalk for four consecutive summers. He says the following about his most significant memories: “I guess it was talking to the kids and getting a little perspective. I have no idea what it is like to go through what some of these kids went through. I am thankful that, through a ministry like this, these kids are able to see the mercy and power of God that forgives and changes things. For some of them this is the only hopeful thing that they have ever heard. I appreciated being the one to carry that news.” Thomas says that Crosswalk absolutely helped make him the person he is today. He says, “I still remember those experiences like it was yesterday. I was molded into a follower of Christ and not just a witness. What I mean is actually doing something that required sacrifice made it so real to me. Before I went, it was easy to just go to church and be a witness to what was happening.” You may contact Thomas at...
tdavis.mail@gmail.com
 

Nathan Juergens: Nathan, now age 20, was our bass player on the 2005 trip to California. He currently lives in Houston, Texas, where he is a waiter in a small Italian restaurant and a landscaper. He is still single, but says he has a wonderful girlfriend whom he met by giving her bass lessons. His future plan is to become a firefighter in Houston. He attends College Park Baptist Church, and although he has not done any more mission work since Crosswalk, he says he hopes to in the future. Of his memories of Crosswalk Nathan shares the following: “The memory that stands out is just the whole trip it was the greatest summer of my life. It not only made me a better bass player but also a stronger Christian. I know now that God gave me this gift to play. Crosswalk made a huge change in my life and it will be the summer I never forget.” You may reach Nathan at njuergens@sbcglobal.net...

Ginny Moore: Ginny, now 24, went on the Crosswalk tour for 8 consecutive summers, from 1995 when she was only 12, till 2002 when she was a sophomore in college. She currently lives in New York City where she is an assistant designer in the lingerie division of Vera Wang. She says her future plans are “living in New York until I'm sick of it, then holing up in a big house where I can cook, create, garden, sew, knit, ride horses, and generally roll around in the mud and make a big mess.” Of her Crosswalk experiences she shares the following: “There are so many memories not all are spiritual and positive. I remember walking into some (most) facilities and feeling like a piece of meat, I can recall hiding in vans (long story), being strip searched, and being in the car so long with the same people you want to scream. But I also remember meeting some amazing people who are just like me who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. I remember hearing stories of abusive parents, of growing up on the wrong side of the tracks, being raped by multiple gang members, having your brother's brains fall in your lap during a drive by, and watching gang members skin someone alive. I remember thinking that I would be locked away if I had had the same experiences in my life, and thank God for the life that I do have.” Ginny did mission work with a church in Savannah while she was in college there. The group went to Scotland to help a church get things off the ground and work extensively with the community outside the church doors. She says it was “an amazing experience that shows how God's love does not just stay within the borders of your country and the walls of your church.” She also worked with middle schoolers at the church in Savannah when she was a senior at SCAD. This gave them “someone to look up to, someone they could talk to and not feel judged.” She says she knows Crosswalk helped to shape her life. “I don't see how it can NOT shape your life, your point of view, your impression of people. I can talk to anyone; I learned to exit the comfort zone. I have a more open mind. I learned to take people where they are RIGHT NOW.” Ginny may be reached at ginmoore32@aol.com...

Ben Fike, soon to be 22 years old, is a graduate student at Abilene Christian University, working on his Master’s of Divinity in order to become a preacher someday. He currently attends New Life Church of Christ in Abilene, Texas. He was a Crosswalker for 2 years, playing percussion most of the time with occasional vocals and guitar thrown in. He still plays quite frequently, and says if anyone is interested in his latest musical ventures, they can check out the following websites:

www.myspace.com/benfike
www.myspace.com/streetsofsimonlee

He has done mission work in Atlanta, Houston, New York, Catacamas, Olancho, Honduras, and Juarez since his Crosswalk trips. Ben’s most memorable moments were “Jeremy and Jesse learning ‘Carry On My Wayward Son’ lick for lick; meeting a fellow drummer at a facility in Montana who air-drummed the whole performance; and every moment with Bill on stage, especially the shows where he went nuts.” He says Crosswalk made a lasting impact on his life for several reasons: “One was the opportunity to do ministry with my brother, uncle, and cousins. It is rare to participate in an opportunity with family. Or that my family is talented enough to do something like that! Another was the ability to play music almost every single day. Maybe that is a bit of a selfish thing, but I am forever grateful for the opportunity. Finally, it impressed in me the reality of many lives and walks of life outside my own. You start to realize that the differences between yourself and the kids at the facilities is not as great as you’d like to believe. Sometimes it is just the accident of birth, or one wrong decision, or a series of wrong decisions. The reality that Christ died for all, and that we are all equally in need of him was made real for me on Crosswalk and it’s never been the same since.” Ben welcomes your emails at... blf02a@acu.edu

Nikki (Hazelrigs) Caballero, Crosswalk 1996 & 1997, is now 27 years old and lives in Auburn, Alabama, where she is a wife, mother, realtor, and personal trainer. Her sons are ages 4 and 2. Nikki plans to open her own real estate office in the near
future. She says she has many wonderful memories of the Crosswalk trips, but what she really treasures are “the letters we exchanged with these young kids after the tours were over. For a lot of these kids, our visits may not have meant much to them.
But for some, it meant so much they wrote to us hungry for us to share more about God. They truly wanted to change their lives. I still have these letters, and will sit down to read them and pray over them every so often.” Nikki says that Crosswalk definitely
made a lasting impression on her. “As a kid, we always think our lives are so hard, and our parents are so tough on us. Going on Crosswalk and listening to what these kids had been through and were still going through really puts your life in perspective.
I realized just how fortunate I was to have so many people who love me, and care what happens to me.” Nikki would love to get an email from you.

nikki.caballero@yahoo.com

Emily Avery, now 26, still lives in Savannah where we first found her as a student at Savannah College of Art and Design. She now works as a graphic designer, photographer and window washer. She is also highly involved with the worship ministry of Calvary Chapel in Savannah along with her fiance, Mark. As part of the
church ministry for the past 7 years, she has been involved in neighborhood outreach and ministered in nursing homes frequently. She and Mark plan to be married in the spring of 2008. They have lots of dreams and are trusting in the Lord to guide their steps for the future. Emily was part of the Crosswalk team for 4 years, and she describes what stands out the most to her: “One of the things that stands out the most to me was the look of wonder on kids' faces to find out that we came as far as
we did to tell them that we and Jesus loved them.” She says that Crosswalk definitely made a lasting impression on her and helped to shape her life. “First, it has given me even more of a burden for the outcasts of society: the incarcerated, the elderly, the
sick, the homeless etc. Second, it has given me the confidence to step out and know that I can make a difference for the Lord. I can use my gifts and talents to win people to Christ. Third, it also gave me a greater picture of the body of Christ. All over the
country there are people who are walking with the Lord who are completely different from me, and it is a beautiful thing to see the way the Lord works to unite His body.” You can contact Emily by email at:

emilyravery@yahoo.com