Jenny Jaroneski grew up and lives in Macomb County, Mich. and is a member of Our Savior, Armada. She graduated from Oakland University with a major in Communications and is currently a deaconess student through Concordia Seminary in Ft. Wayne, Ind. Jenny and her husband Aaron have two sons, Jacob and Luke.
Jenny is passionate about vocational training. She grew up in a trades family—her father and brother are both pipe fitters who worked in heating and cooling, and her husband is an auto mechanic. When the opening for CrossPointe Launch and Outreach Coordinator came up, she knew it was meant for her: “I really truly know how this path can bless families, how it can really create a future and opportunity and it's something that a lot of people don't really know about. They don't know how it works, they don't know where to go, they don't know what to do. And this gives us an opportunity to share that with our community and our congregations.”
During our conversation, Jenny emphasized how a trade is not an “instead of” program. Rather, she said, “It is a program for people who were created to do something different. God has created us all for different things and some of us were created to do those hands-on skilled working positions … Not every student has a career path that requires college. They might have a career path that requires an apprenticeship and a trade and, as a Church, we want to be able to walk alongside them and make sure that they're successful.”
What differentiates CrossPointe Center for the Trades from other trade schools is the faith component. Jenny explains: “While they’re here forming the vocational piece, we as a District want to be able to form a community piece from a Christian perspective also. So we will be doing faith formation courses, devotions, and prayer.” CrossPointe will also provide a meal to the students, who most of the time come to school straight from work. According to Jenny, the meal “also creates an opportunity for fellowship where people can really form a network and get to know each other and have each other to support. You know, if something goes wrong they know, ‘Hey I've got this person in my CrossPointe class, maybe I can call them for a ride,’ or something like that. So it really gives us an opportunity to form a community as well.”
Alongside the professional training, CrossPointe will also offer soft skills training: communication, dealing with conflict, how to lead, how to make a resume, what to wear to an interview, etc. Jenny explains: “We have a whole curriculum of things to help form each of our students not just as a student, but as a person that has skills.”
But there’s more: CrossPointe also hopes to form a community of trades businesses who are hiring these apprentices and students. Jenny continues: “We want to be able to provide mentorship opportunities for them so that they too are prepared for Christians who are coming into their workforce. The key goal with the faith formation is that we can create disciples that go out in whatever work they have placed before them to share God's love with others. Whether it is electrical or in plumbing or HVAC or carpentry, whatever you can do, you can do with the love of God and you can share that.”
CrossPointe Center for the Trades is housed at SEMCA (Southeast Michigan Construction Academy) in Sterling Heights, a state-of-the-art building with amazing workshops, 11 classrooms, top-notch instructors, and great community space. There will be an open house on June 4 at 5:30 p.m. with presentations by the Michigan District and SEMCA until 6:15 and a tour of the facilities following. This event is free to attend. Registration is appreciated.
The goal for fall 2026 is to have 50 students enrolled at CrossPointe. Jenny would love to connect with congregations and schools and talk to potential students. You may reach her by email at jenny.jaroneski@michigandistrict.org or by phone at 586.522.5358. There’s also an interest form you can fill out on the District website. Anyone is welcome.
Important dates for CrossPointe:
Enrollment: May 4 through August 14
Open house: June 4 at SEMCA, 5:30 p.m.
Classes start: August 31
Photo by Adele Werner/Michigan District, LCMS
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