about us

Joe Centineo

phone: 817.460.0962

I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York., and grew up as a nominal Italian Catholic, attending church once or twice a year. My life revolved around sports, girls, and money. I believed that these were the most important things in life for a young man. At the age of 22, I began to question this philosophy, searching for some meaning in life. I had my own business, a new car, my own apartment, and a live-in girlfriend. I always thought that these were the kinds of things that would bring me fulfillment. But I found myself to be empty and lacking purpose or direction for my life. When the relationship came to an end, I lost all desire to live. It was then that I cried out to God, asking that if He were real, He would give me His help. He touched my heart, and though I wasn’t yet saved, I knew He was what I was searching for. I forgave my girlfriend, and ended the relationship, telling her that I had to “find God”. One week later I was invited to an evangelical church on Staten Island, NY called Gateway Cathedral. I attended for 3 weeks without listening to a word the pastor preached. I only watched the people, and by the fourth week, I was sure that these people had what I was searching for. That fourth Sunday I not only listened to the pastor, but I responded to the invitation and asked Christ to come into my life. That day God began a wonderful work of salvation and transformation.

I soon got involved in ministry at Gateway as a volunteer youthworker. Four years later in 1984 I was off to Word of Life Bible Institute for a year of training. Upon graduation I became a youth intern at Gateway Cathedral while continuing my education at Northeastern Bible College. Six months later, the youth pastor resigned, and I became the youth pastor. I enjoyed 7 years of ministry during which God allowed me to discover and use my gifts by serving students and their families. During that time, I met and married a young woman named Toni. He blessed us with two children, Christopher and Brianna. In 1991, God directed us to work at Skyline Wesleyan Church in San Diego, CA. After 3 years of fruitful ministry, God directed us to Pantego Bible Church in Arlington, TX. Just after arriving, our third child, Joseph (better known as JoJo) was born, thus completing our family. I had the privilege of spending more than seven years at Pantego Bible Church. God helped me to develop an internship program that enabled me to mentor and develop youth pastors. He also helped us to reach hundreds of students. My years at Pantego were a joy and a blessing.

Youth ministry became so much a part of me that I thought it was something I would do for the rest of my life. But God had another plan for me, and at just the right time He began to unfold it. In May of 2001, I realized that God was asking me to let go of youth ministry. I followed His lead, stepping down as Pastor of Student Ministries at Pantego. During a 3-month sabbatical, the Lord called me to plant a church. After a 3 month move to New Jersey during which the Lord further prepared me for our present work, God directed our family back to the Arlington, Texas area. We have recently planted CrossRoads of Arlington Church.

CrossRoads of Arlington Church started in October of 2002. We began with about 30 people gathering for 3 Tuesday evening planning meetings. During this planning time, God provided the Dottie Lynn Rec Center as the venue for our Sunday morning Gatherings. We concluded our 3rd planning meeting with a prayer walk around the Rec Center in which we thanked God for His provision and asked Him to use CrossRoads to touch people’s lives. We had our first Sunday Morning Gathering on November 3, 2002. We had about 100 people in attendance on that first Sunday, but of course those numbers leveled off in the following weeks. We were a solid group of what seemed to be about 75 people in those first few months.

The Rec Center served us well. Though it was a challenge to set up and break down the every Sunday, we enjoyed meeting in this facility. We grew to about 150 people in weekly attendance, 200 or so who called CrossRoads their church. In the Spring of 2005, God miraculously led us to a facility of our own. He first helped us to know it was time to move out of the Rec Center, and then quickly directed us to the place that would become the new CrossRoads. In the summer of 2005, we came to an agreement with the owners of 3221 West Pioneer Parkway. We signed a 6 year lease to occupy 13,087 square feet. By October of 2005, the renovations were completed. Without assuming any debt, CrossRoads of Arlington now had it’s own beautiful facility.

Having our own home has been a wonderful blessing. Our church has continued to grow, and we presently have about 275 people in weekly attendance, 350 who call CrossRoads their home. We are grateful to God for the way He has led and provided for us. We look to the future with anticipation and hope, knowing that His hand will continue to guide and direct we, His church. We believe that our best days are before us, and we will walk by faith, seeking to become all He wants us to be!!!

The planting of CrossRoads has been one of the most challenging things I have ever done. Without the help of other people and churches, I don’t believe it would have been possible for CrossRoads to be established. I strongly desire to “give back” and help others who have been called to church planting. My involvement in SquareOne is my way of doing this. I look forward to coaching and mentoring men who have been called to church planting and who God brings my way!!!!