Crossroads Farm

Coaches

Courtney Baker

Hi, my name is Courtney and I’m a Hillsdale College student who loves to work with middle school girls and show them how God loves each of them. I may look like any other girl, but watch out! I’m one tough cookie!
Ken Barkey

Hi, my name is Ken, and this is my second year as a Coach on high school staff. You can usually find me out working in a combine, planter, or sprayer in some local field. I love John Deere anything and like to listen to some good ol’ Southern Gospel music with a high school kid and watch them squirm as if they were going to explode.
Andrea Bernard

I enjoy working with youth and families in Hillsdale county. I do this through my job as a social worker and through the ministry of Crossroads Farm. My favorite part is investing in the lives of students. However, I also really enjoy listening to Doug speak and the encouragement of working with a team of people who really love Jesus and live it out in their daily lives. One of my favorite fun moments as a staff member was taking students on the white water rafting adventure, especially when we went down the natural water slide.
Jerry Bernard

I am a teacher at the daVinci Institute in Jackson, MI were I mostly work with the alternative education program. It is quite a challenge but I’m all about positively influencing today’s youth to move toward Jesus Christ - both at work and Crossroads Farm. I also love my Rottweiler puppy Ruby, hunting, and construction. I’m serving at CRF together with my wife. We are in our 4th year.
Rich Carpenter

Dear Potential Fans, In order to be good fans you first need some stalking information. My name is Richard and I’m a returning volunteer staff working with high school students. I’ve lived in Hillsdale County for most of my life and have been with Crossroads Farm for almost ten years now and have seen God do things in students’ lives that make it worth every bit and more of the time, lack of sleep, energy, money and other sacrifices that it takes to reach a student for Christ. Some things I enjoy are traveling, coffee, graphic design, snowboarding, and hanging out with the guys.
Brad Deitzen

My name is Brad “Brown Sugar” Deitzen. I’m from Ann Arbor, MI and I am currently enrolled at Hillsdale College. I was introduced to Crossroads Farm late last year and was instantly hooked! I am excited to start a whole new year where I can be a part of all the cool activities! I am a big fan of music and play both the guitar and the violin. I love sports and I am a big University of Michigan fan. My family is originally from Hillsdale County so I am excited to give back and spread the light of God.
Jackie Dishon

My name is Jackie and this is my second year helping out as a Coach on middle school nights. I’m a student at Hillsdale College and I enjoy music and helping out with the worship band. Those middle school girls can really bust a groove while I’m on stage. I enjoy seeing them connect with the music I enjoy so much.
Katina Fellabaum

Hello to anyone reading this passage. My name is Katina and this is my first year @ CRF. I am so excited to see what amazing blessings God has in store for each of us this year. I am married with two beautiful girls, Shelby 10, and Jena 4. I love to play volleyball, and I am a huge sports nut! About 6 years ago God put a passion in my heart to work with the youth of our church. To this day that passion burns larger and brighter than ever, only now he has given me more of you to love. I look forward to meeting each and every face who knocks on the door of God’s kingdom.
Sarah Gillary

Hello! My name is Sarah--though I often go by Sarie. I am a Hillsdale College Senior and I am SO SAD that this is my last year serving as a CRF Coach. God has grown me in ways I could've never imagined in the past 3 years, and I cannot wait to see what He will do in my final year here. I am a History major and a Christian Studies minor, and I truly love both of these areas of study. God has blessed me with the most INCREDIBLE friends while at Hillsdale and also with a wonderful family to root me on from home :) My passion lies in doing ministry with young women; I yearn to see young girls grow into beautiful and strong women of God. For fun, I love love love the outdoors. I am in my happy place while in my hammock and in the wilderness--preferably next to a tent and my hiking boots :) God never fails to speak to me while I lay in waiting amidst His creation. If you're reading this, it's about time that you smile--because GOD IS SOOO GOOD!
Andy Gollnick

My name is Andy and I’m a Coach now for high school program, but I used to be one of the kids who regularly came to the program. I work with the Tech team in the sound booth and try to make sure that everything runs like it should come program nights.
Betsy Hill

To me, Crossroads is very special. I attended Crossroads as a student in High School and now I have the opportunity to give back to this great organization by volunteering to work with Senior High girls. There are not many places in Hillsdale County where a teenager can go where he/ she will feel loved, accepted, and have the opportunity to accept Christ as his/ her personal Savior. Crossroads is where I met my husband and where we will serve (Lord willing) for the rest of our lives.
Greg Hill

My name is Greg Hill and I have been on volunteer staff with Crossroads since the fall of 2002. My wife, Betsy, and I met at Crossroads in May of 2005 and we were married in July of 2006. I enjoy working with my wife as we serve Christ together. Feet sicken me and carts left in parking spaces annoy me. I am a Seinfeld buff, a Tech geek, and I love my wife more than chili cheese dogs.
Eric Joseph

I am a junior at Spring Arbor University and currently, I am studying to become an Instrumental Educator, but I’m also studying Clarinet Performance. I love music and I love to sing even more. I mentor kids everyday and it I get to Love them and Love God at the same time because i know that God wants me to be in their life somehow. I love what I do and would never trade it for anything else in the world. My passion is the Fine Arts: acting, singing, clarinet, and even dancing and these are things that I love to do to glorify the Lord and nothing more. Nothing can bring the Lord out of my ways of worship because I know without Him, I’m nothing.
Stephanie Kreuz

This is my first full year on staff, and I am excited to be working with middle school ministry again this school year! I am a sophomore at Hillsdale College, majoring in political science. I love political theory, politics, new media (time suckers also known as blogging, Facebook and Twitter), hanging out with good friends, and chocolate.
Andrew Meyer

Hi!! My name is Andrew Meyer. I sometimes think I am funny but quite often find myself laughing at my own jokes!! I go by the nickname Gus as I guess I bear a striking resemblance to the fat mouse from Cinderella…who knew?? I love working with the kids at CRF!! To me the staff and students are my physical and spiritual charge for the week! I also love to sing!! My favorite food is whatever is available as long as it is not healthy! Favorite pie is Pumpkin! Yum!!
Melinda Ortiz

Hi, I’m Melinda and I am a returning Coach from Hillsdale College. I play the violin in the worship band on Tuesday nights for middle school students. The girls are always so full of energy and I love that they seem to connect with me very quickly and watch for me to come through the doors on a Tuesday night. I can get crazy at times, but they are definitely worth it.
Mark Ploski

My name is Mark and I’m a student at Hillsdale College. I spent my summer learning to juggle and traveling with a circus. I figured it would come in handy working with middle schoolers. I am a bundle of energy and never EVER get lost. Check me out in action on Tuesday nights under the big top.
Kimberlee Poole

I’m a junior at Spring Arbor University. I was a student who used to go to Crossroads and loved the people and adults there. Now I get the opportunity as a Coach to love on girls who come through the doors and try and share some advice of when I was in their shoes not to long ago.
Mike Richardson

Hi my name is Mike, husband to Connie. Outside of work and CRF, my hobbies include running and fishing. My involvement with Crossroads started several years ago. I first become aware of CRF from my oldest child who attended program nights and special outreach activities. I believe God has placed Connie and me with CRF and can tell you that I feel blessed to be a part of the ministry. Not only am I able to assist in helping kids come to know Christ but find the ministry helps in my growth too. God has a way of connecting people together. I have had the good fortune of several great friendships with students, several of which I still keep in contact with long after they have graduated. CRF is a needed ministry in Hillsdale County and I am fortunate to be a part of it.
Connie Richardson

Hi, my name is Connie and I usually act my age…unless I’m at Crossroads on a Sunday night. My husband Mike and I are going on our 10th year of volunteering as Coaches here at the Farm. I love that I can invest in the lives of young girls and try to help them through the dangers that try and ensnare them from being what God desires for them to be. I laugh a LOT and am not afraid to make myself look just a little crazy to make others laugh.
Jared Wittenbach

My name is Jared and even though I have absolutely FABULOUS hair don’t be afraid to come talk to me. I may have the look of a super model but I’m just a regular Christian guy….with GREAT hair. I love music (both listening to it and singing it), technology, and being a Coach here at the Farm. My passion is to see God move in the lives of guys and for them to know what God has designed them to do.