Jeffrey D. Sutherland Project

Jeffrey D. Sutherland’s Story

The Jeffrey D. Sutherland Project is a financial plan committed to expanding care under the non-profit Cross Cultural Impact (CCI) for our immigrant friends here in Florence by providing access to a certified Christian psychologist. This endeavor is the work of Jill Cain who is a board member of CCI.

You may be wondering, “Who is Jeffrey Sutherland?” Jeffrey (Jeff) was my younger brother who suffered from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This devastating disorder had such a hold on him it caused him to live in a constant mental state of rigid rules, routine, and rituals. There was even a ritual for our phone conversations: I would call him and he would let it ring and go to voice mail. Then somewhere between 4-6 days later he would call back, but never more than 7. He knew that after 7 days I would worry. In August of 2022 it had been 9 days and I knew something was wrong. I promptly alerted the authorities. I was notified shortly after that my suspicions were correct and my brother had tragically passed. On Jeff’s death certificate cause of death is “arteriosclerosis”, more commonly known as hardening of the arteries, but I knew his mental health had been a huge contributing factor in his death. The OCD had heavily interfered with his life skills such as personal hygiene and healthcare during the latter years of his life. However, it comforts me to remember the many good years he had. Jeff gave four years to service in the Air Force before going back to college to earn an Electrical Engineering degree. He had a good job for many years with the federal government before taking early retirement and experiencing further decline of his mental health. He had managed and invested his money wisely. As administrator of his estate, I knew I wanted to set aside a significant portion of his savings for mental health assistance as a way of honoring him and creating a legacy. This came to pass as I became involved with Cross Cultural Educational Impact, now just CCI. 

While meeting for prayer to seek God’s guidance for the ministry of CCI, I became aware of the significant rise in our community of people who were having various struggles pertaining to mental health. One of our Board members, Annette Diaz, shared about her nephew in Monterrey, Mexico, who has his degree in psychology and has followed God’s call to be a mental health missionary. Sergio Handal is a young man who is passionate about serving others in the way of Christ. He is affiliated with the international church “Great Commission Latin America” and speaks fluent English and Spanish. He sees clients in person there in Monterrey, many who have journeyed from various parts of Central America fleeing horrendous circumstances. He has also taken time to counsel immigrants from our community via Zoom. Donations made to CCI will allow continuation of his counseling services for our immigrant friends here in Florence, SC. (Note: A system is in place in both Monterrey and Florence to refer people to physicians for further evaluation and necessary prescription medications.) I have faith that this gift from my brother will help someone else living with the constraints of OCD, or perhaps a weary immigrant can find help and peace after leaving what they know behind.

Perhaps you have a burden for mental health solutions…or for the plight of people seeking refuge here in our safe community…or have wanted to find a way to remember a friend or loved one who has experienced the misfortune of a mental health crisis. Please consider making a gift to CCI and know that your kindness will allow HOPE to reign in the lives of many as you demonstrate God’s word to His people in Leviticus 19:33-34: “When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”