Jodi Trusty

Story

With God, all things are possible. We just sow seeds; faithfully sow seeds.

Jodi Trusty

Hometown: Lindsey, Ohio
Key Facts: Wife; Mother; Owner of Sweet Floret Cakery.

With God, all things are possible. We just sow seeds; faithfully sow seeds.

I am a wife, a mother, the owner of Sweet Floret Cakery, and a volunteer at Crossover Mission. At Crossover, we hold many community service events throughout the year, ranging from helping the elderly, joining with other outreaches to help feed the hungry, and taking part in local property beautification projects. Above all, we hold events for the local youth to become strong leaders and disciples, while enjoying themselves in the process.

Setting an example as a holistic leader

When asked what it means to be a leader, Jodi says they should be, “a servant, dependable, loyal, trustworthy, sacrificial, a good listener, loving, and committed.” Each one of these adjectives could be used to describe Jodi herself. 

As a volunteer, Jodi regularly takes part in many youth-based activities, whether traveling, creating holiday dinners, or organizing game and movie nights, to name a few. It’s during this time that she exhibits the qualities that help build “good leaders by example, by prayer, and by God’s wisdom, grace, and love.” 

In her professional life, Jodi is an entrepreneur and owns a successful bakery. While she maintains that she doesn’t provide the youth with “any professional skills or insights,” the strength of her example as a businesswoman proves otherwise. Beyond her obvious work ethic and resourcefulness, Jodi demonstrates the importance of holistic leadership. For Jodi, there is no single standout quality of a leader. She understands that a good leader needs a broad skill set that’s rooted in God’s Word. 

This thinking shines through in her vision for the Crossover youth. Not only does she want them to know they are loved and have meaning, but she also hopes that they “will thrive on earth, spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally.” What’s more she believes this will be achieved through “faithful, methodical discipleship of God’s word” alongside “practical life teaching skills.” 

Most importantly of all, Jodi sets an important example through the strength of her love. “I do know that I love these kids,” she says. “I hope more than anything that is what they feel and know from me.” She goes on to highlight one of the rising leaders, Canavis, mentioning how Matt and Monica have been tremendous lights to him. It gives her great pride to see how he’s bloomed into a God-seeking and social individual. 

While the impact of her sacrifice may not be clear to her on a daily basis, it is evident to those around her in her commitment, her love, and (as Samuel will testify) in her cooking. The seeds she’s sowing are already bearing fruit—adding to the ongoing impact of the entire Crossover initiative.

Samuel Ramos

Age: 16
Favorite subject(s): English and Choir

With God, all things are possible. We just sow seeds; faithfully sow seeds.

I’m Samuel and I’m originally from Louisville, Kentucky but I moved to Florida a few years ago. My greatest ambition is to break into the music industry and I think that going to college to study music would help me achieve that. In my free time, I enjoy playing games and watching anime shows.

A people-oriented leader with a passion for music

With his sights firmly set on the future, Samuel understands the value of hard work, perseverance—and planning for multiple eventualities. He demonstrates this through his passion for music, which he hopes will lead to a career as a recording artist. But Samuel is not one to put all of his eggs in one basket. Like many leaders, he has a backup plan to become either a music teacher or a therapist. 

As an individual and in his work with Crossover, Samuel takes a people-oriented approach to leadership. Looking around his neighborhood, he sees areas for improvement and has a vision of his community as a place where people can feel safe and thrive. He believes that by talking to individuals and listening to why they feel unsafe, he can make an impact and take steps to protect them. It’s perhaps unsurprising then that he defines leadership as, “making good choices while also thinking of others.”

For Samuel, Crossover is somewhere he can feel safe himself, allowing him to unwind and grow in his faith. He describes it as, “a place you can come to to chill after a hard day but also where you can come if you really want to hear the Word.” Beyond enjoying the company at Crossover, Samuel firmly believes that the group is helping him to achieve his ambitions. In particular, he singles out the Influential Leaders Program, which teaches key social skills as well as how to step up as a leader when necessary. 

Samuel undoubtedly has a bright future ahead of him. Even at 16 years old, his vision, faith, and compassion-based mindset will undoubtedly set him apart from those around him. Until then, through a mixture of Bible-based learning, community support, and Miss Jodi’s excellent cooking, he’s gaining the skills needed to create a lasting impact. 

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