CrossBridge Family Ministries is a living, breathing example of being Jesus' hands and feet to those who need Him desperately. The stories of the families and children that CrossBridge and its loving volunteers have cared for are sweet and inspirational. Needs are met that are tangible and also go way beyond.
We HIGHLY recommend Crossbridge Family Ministries. They helped my family with housing when our baby was born with a congenital heart defect at MUSC in June 2010 and had to have open heart surgery at 5 days old. They provided meals, emotional and spiritual support as well as the take the weight off of our shoulders about how we would pay for housing by providing that too. Our son ended up staying in the hospital for 4 months that time and it would have financially crippled us. Melissa, Walter and Julie have a special place in my heart for all of their help during this incredibly stressfull time in our lives.
Crossbridge helped our family again with housing, meals, and support in Feb 2011, when our son had his 2nd open heart surgery at MUSC. He was hospitalized for 7 weeks this time. The financial burden of housing is lifted off of us with Crossbridge Family Ministries help. We have nothing but positive feeling towards all of the Crossbridge Volunteers. Without them our family would have had a major financial hardship. They are all like family to us and we love them all very much!! :)
The Fain's
Our daughter was hospitalized off and on for a Congenital Heart Defect. Watching your child suffer is heart breaking and is emotionally and physically draining. CrossBridge Ministries was with us every step of the way to offer support in any way that they could. Whether it was offering to pray with us, bring meals for us or help us financially, they were always there by our side.
When our daughter passed away at 10 months of age, CrossBridge yet again stepped up and helped us. We didn't know where to go to make arrangements and they connected us with a wonderful man. On top of arranging everything for us, the funeral home only charged us what it cost them which was minimal. He also took the blanket that our daughter was wrapped in home and washed it for us. That touched us so deeply that a perfect stranger would go to the trouble of doing that for us. He was so genuine and sincere and we are grateful for CrossBridge leading us to him.
CrossBridge offered to send us to counseling when we needed it after we lost our baby girl. It was a tremendous blessing and helped us with the healing process.
CrossBridge has helped us in so many ways and has helped so many of our new hospital friends in so many ways. From helping purchase centrifuges to spin the fat out of breast milk so that the heart babies can have it, to assisting families that have had to uproot their lives to move to Charleston, they are an amazing group.
CrossBridge is an extension of the heart of God as they shower love and support on those who are struggling through the darkest times of their lives. Without the assistance of CB many families and children would be without hope and comfort.
While visiting Charleston, SC for a quick three day business trip for my wife's company, a dramatic medical emergency sent my wife, in her seventh month of pregnancy, to the Medical University of South Carolina intensive care unit. Prior to going on this trip, her doctors in New Jersey cleared her for travel, so this emergency was totally unexpected.
Here we were, twelve hours from home, and being told that if all goes well, she would be in the hospital on bed rest until our son was born, minimally 3-5 weeks. Having packed for three days and with our four year old daughter still in New Jersey, we were overwhelmed.
The first person to visit us in the hospital was Melissa Altman, the founder of Cross Bridge Family Ministries. I am not exactly sure how she found us but I am certainly thrilled that she did. She provided the calm we needed amongst the chaos. Cross Bridge helped coordinate and assit financing of accomodations, provided daycare for my daughter who flew down with my mother, and meal tickets to offset the cost of eating at the hospital.
My wife gave birth to a beautiful baby boy after three weeks of bedrest at MUSC. Cross Bridge was a blessing for our family and we were truely humbled by the experience. We were so impressed by the people that we met through Cross Bridge that we relocated our family to South Carolina where we currently live.
Although, I currently live in Tulsa, OK I am originally from Charleston, SC. So, usually I follow CrossBridge Family Ministries from afar, as many do. I have watched in awe and amazement as God blesses all of us so richly through the lives of the Children and the families touched by the LOVE of God through the selfless work of CrossBridge Family Ministries.
While I was home in Charleston for Christmas, I was able to work with Melissa and Kathryn to serve God's people. I was so blessed. I have a greater understanding of God’s character from my very first opportunity to physically be a part of CrossBridge Family Ministries and serve God’s people while working with these powerful women of God.
As a busy hospital buzzed along, I saw miracles happen before me. That was amazing and so exciting. I wanted to shout “Stop, look, wait, you are missing this miracle!!” But, if you are looking for God’s glory, miracles, signs, and wonders, you need only be still because they are happening right now.
As we visited patients and met the families of CrossBridge, Proverbs 3:5 kept coming to mind. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” As I looked that Scripture up today to quote it correctly in this post, I was AMAZED at what I saw!!
Proverbs 3:5-10 (New King James Version)
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
8 It will be health to your flesh,
And strength to your bones.
9 Honor the LORD with your possessions,
And with the first fruits of all your increase;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine.
In that scripture God speaks loudly to me. It is time for me to make an offering.
Thank you Melissa and Kathryn for this opportunity to be so blessed.
Our daughter was born in June 2009 with a complex congenital heart defect and a rare genetic disorder. She has had two open heart surgeries so far, along with several minor surgeries, heart catheterizations and other procedures.
Cross Bridge Family Ministries has provided for our family each and every time we have had to travel more than 4 hours from our home to the hospital that is equipped to deal with our daughter's medical needs. We have been provided with lodging - for weeks at a time! - with no questions asked. We have also been provided meals during our stays away from home.
The most important benefit of Cross Bridge, however, is the personal interest that each of the members takes in the families they serve. We frequently receive emails, phone calls or facebook messages to check up on our family and to see how our daughter is doing. And without fail, each time we are reminded that the members of Cross Bridge loves and cares about our family. That makes all the difference in the world to those who are walking through a medical crisis. Thank you, Cross Bridge!
