Senior Pastor
I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York., and grew up as a normal 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 in my life.
I soon got involved in ministry at Gateway as a volunteer youth worker. Four years later in Jan. of 1984 I was off to Word of Life Bible Institute for a year of training. Upon graduation I enrolled in Northeastern Bible College and became a youth intern at Gateway Cathedral, my home church.
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 me to work as Youth Pastor at Skyline Wesleyan Church in San Diego, CA. I had the privilege of working with John Maxwell, a gifted pastor who also had an international ministry teaching Leadership. After 3 years of learning and fruitful ministry, God directed me 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 spent more than seven years as the Youth Pastor at Pantego Bible Church. During this time, God helped me to develop an internship program that enabled me to mentor and develop youth pastors. He also helped us to reach many 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 that plan. 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.
In 2002 we planted CrossRoads of Arlington Church. It has been my joy to pastor this growing group of believers. We have seen an ever growing number of people becoming part of our spiritual family. The planting and pastoring of CrossRoads has been the most significant undertaking of my life. I look forward to the continuing joy of pastoring this church. I also look forward to His continued working in my life. My lifetime goal is to continue moving forward with the Lord, experiencing all He has for me and doing all He wants to do through me.
Please feel free to contact me at joe@crossroadsofarlington.org