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In 1994, Pastor Corey and Beth Ann Jones moved to Texas to pursue graduate work and to plant a new church in a growing suburb of Fort Worth. But in 1996, as they neared the completion of their graduate work, God dramatically changed their plans.
Pastor Corey and Beth Ann began to feel a growing burden to reach out to needy and hopeless people in and around the inner city. So instead of starting a new church in the suburbs, God led them to the Meadowbrook area of East Fort Worth where a church building had been left vacant. The building was in serious disrepair, but they embraced God's call. They began with a small handful of people who shared their desire to reach out with Christ's love and give hope to hopeless people.
The first 3 years were marked by extreme hardships and difficulties. In spite of the challenges, God's unfolding vision had been birthed in this young church. During this time, God led Pastor Corey and Beth Ann Jones to begin reaching out to the hundreds of children in the surrounding apartments and in the Woodhaven area. The kid's outreaches in the apartments were called the "Peanut Butter and Jelly Kid's Club." A bus was purchased and was given the name, the "PB&J" Bus. Hundreds and even thousands of kids have been reached with the gospel through this ongoing ministry at Crossroads.
But by 1999, Pastor Corey and Beth Ann Jones were at a crossroad. More children were coming than adults. Many of the people who did come were battling addictions, strongholds and various problems associated with poverty. With so many hurting people coming and leaving without real change and with the church in constant financial trouble, Pastor Corey felt like giving up. God led Pastor Corey to visit Christ Tabernacle, in Queens, New York, the daughter church of the Brooklyn Tabernacle. At a Tuesday night prayer meeting in Queens, God birthed in Pastor Corey's heart a vision for what prayer could do. Pastor Corey returned and led the church to begin to cry out to God in prayer. In 1999, prayer became the foundation for everything that is done at Crossroads.
Today, Crossroads is a place where prayers are continually answered and miracles still happen. Ever since prayer became the foundation of the church, the wind of God's Spirit has been keenly felt. From a handful of people in 1996 to a houseful now in 2009, God has proved faithful. Today, people from every walk of life and from a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds call Crossroads home. In celebrating 12 years of God's faithfulness, we are reminded of the promise God gave Pastor Corey and Beth Ann at the very beginning:
"You will call out, and the Lord will answer. You will cry out, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’
Feed the hungry and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as day. You will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities. Then you will be known as the people who rebuild their walls and cities." (Isaiah 58:9-10,12)
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