Building up the next generation of diverse leaders
The Leader Scholars Program seeks to equip the next generation of diverse leaders in the Church, from staff to the workplace, in families and small groups, serving locally and abroad. We do this by bringing together passionate young followers of Christ and maximize personal, spiritual and professional growth in communities from Columbus to Central Kentucky and Anywhere.
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“For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
- Ephesians 2:10
This one-year leadership development program takes a multidisciplinary approach to build up the next generation of diverse leaders.
Here's the breakdown:
Our Content
We start by considering our Passion and Perseverance, followed by Personal Change and ending the year with Building a Well-Lived Joyful Life. Each component is inspired by the below materials respectively.
Time Commitment
Kicking off in late August and going through early May with occasional holiday breaks throughout. Every week, there are five basic hours expected from Scholars:
Off and on time commitments include:
We’re big on rapid-prototyping so all this said, time commitment and content is subject to change.
A graduate of Miami University, Heidi continues to live in Oxford with her husband, Ross, their two daughters, Harper & Myla, and their dog, Harley. Heidi's role has shifted over the years from mentor to leading and caring for the Oxford Scholars plus coaching our facilitator and the mentors of the program. A former teacher, Heidi now stays home with their two girls, enjoying long walks around Oxford, curling up with a good book, and trying out new recipes in the kitchen.
A proud college drop out, Jason lives in Lexington, with his three amazing kids, and average wife. In his role, Jason drives his hub’s community in an engaging, fun and challenging way. Addicted to coffee, can’t lose in Verdansk, or as his daughter describes him, “He loves taking naps, and hanging out with God.”
Also a proud college drop out, Maddie lives in Clifton with her twelve, yes twelve, college roommates, including a small lizard named Harley. Not to be confused with Heidi’s dog, Harley. 2020-21 was her first year involved with the Scholars Program helping build up the next generation of leaders at Crossroads Uptown. Other than that, you can find her at almost any coffee shop around Cincinnati or hanging on Eden Avenue with her friends.
A graduate from the University of Cincinnati and the Scholars program, Thomas is passionate about walking with young adults into a closer relationship with Jesus. Thomas leads all of the training around these parts. He also enjoys a good round of karaoke, not playing sports, and getting coffee with his wonderful wife, Olivia.
A proud Scholar Alum herself, Kit lives in Clifton with her husband, Danny and doggo, Nitro. In the program, she manages our team and the program components outside of the weekly meetings and mentorship. Otherwise, she’s down to toss a frisbee, bake something epic, or grab a coffee around town.
A few constants with Daniel are his genuine encouragement, positive energy, and grounded perspective. It’s how he leads our team and the National ReachOut team here at Crossroads. Outside of his job, he models Christ’s love as a great husband, father and neighbor to the community of College Hill and across Cincinnati. While coffee shops are fun, Daniel’s always on the hunt for the best tacos around.
August 2021 to May 2022
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Do you qualify? Well, are you...
“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.”
- Revelation 7:9
Email Us
leaderscholars@crossroads.net
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How’d it all start?
In 2016, Kathy Beechum, a strong leader and advocate in Crossroads, felt convicted to establish a pipeline program for diverse young leaders in ministry. With the funding in place, she gave full authority to an original Crossroads founders and current Crossroads Spiritual Board member, Brian Wells. After extensive research and content creation, Brian and his wife, Nancy, launched the Uptown and Oxford hubs in the fall of 2017. Ross and Heidi Mallaley stepped up locally in Oxford and have been caring well for that crew over the years.
What’s the timeline for the application through the rest of the program?
Is everyone accepted into the program?
The short answer is no. Really, we take the admission process and our discernment very seriously. This program requires maturity, discipline, availability and a personal relationship with Christ. We want to set Scholars up for success in this demanding program. We also encourage individuals to reapply in future years with feedback.
How many scholars are enrolled in the program?
Around thirty but that’s all up to God.
What is the attendance policy for Scholars?
We work hard to support every scholar and collaborate for optimal time management. However, more than two unexcused absences is grounds for dismissal from the program.
Can I invite my friend to be part of Scholars?
Great question, you absolutely can! Please first consider a couple things. Do they fit the criteria listed? Would you personally go to bat for them?
How can I help support this amazing program?
So glad you asked! Please contact us at leaderscholars@crossroads.net- our needs vary from season to season but we always welcome the support!
Is Scholars a Crossroads thing?
Yes, Scholars is a part of Crossroads Church, submits to its leadership and serves as a pipeline for young leaders to staff.
Do you have to attend Crossroads to apply for Scholars?
Not to apply. All are welcome to apply. We ask folks new to Crossroads to explore who we are and check out the Seven Hills We Die On before applying. If you like what you see, great! Please apply and then during the interview, we will dig into the commitment to the program and engaging with Crossroads during it.
Are there scholarships available?
We strive to eliminate financial barriers for potential leaders. If you have concerns, please still apply and express this in the Financial Need section of the application. We will be able to explore what support could look like in the course of the interview.