Born and raised in Apache Junction, Arizona, Crystal accepted Christ as her personal Savior at the tender age of 6. Immediately, she trusted Jesus and knew He was good.
But her simple faith would be tested beyond her ability to hold it intact when she was groomed by a sex trafficking ring at 14 years of age.
Numb, traumatized and deeply uncertain of her future, she did her best to maintain status quo. She grew up in the church and knew how to look the part.
Through God's intervention she attended Bible college and married Chris, who felt called into full-time ministry. Somehow, Crystal shared this calling - although she was certain she must work hard to hide away her past or else face being shamed and kicked out of the church, along with her pastor husband.
In her early 30s, Jesus relentlessly chased her down with such unexpected tenderness and grace that she had no visible option other than surrender. Every other path led to more pain and suffering. Through surrender, she became desperate for God's wisdom and provision every step of her healing journey. And He showed up!! And continues to...
In this place of surrender, Jesus called her to write her story in her first book Cultivating Redemption: Finding Freedom Through the Darkness. The book is written as a humble invitation for others to also surrender the most broken parts of their story for Kingdom purposes.
Twenty years into marriage and ministry, and 3 kids later, God continues to gently lead Chris and Crystal into spaces they would never imagine venturing into on their own. Together they call the St. Louis area home and are discovering how to cultivate their spiritual gifts uniquely with their stories as a backdrop to His power over darkness.
Crystal invites you to journey together with her as she makes space for you to know personally of Jesus' redemptive power in the most challenging, traumatic, and dark moments of your story. Because you weren't created to do it alone.