I was born and raised in Rochester, NY into a wonderful family. I feel very blessed to have been part of a family that resembled as much of a real life “Leave it to Beaver” home as I have ever seen. At a young age I quickly developed a habit of wanting to quit every new thing I started. From Boy Scouts, to Little League baseball, to wrestling, to summer jobs, and finally wanting to quit the college of engineering, there was almost nothing that I started that I wanted to finish.  Quit, quit, quit, was my favorite word, BUT … I had a mother that would never allow me to quit anything! She encouraged me to see things through to the finish and told me that I left my signature on everything I put my hand to. She encouraged me until I achieved my Eagle Scout award, until I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in engineering, and many other things along life’s path. My Mom is the primary reason that I am where I am today. My Dad encouraged me by attending almost every event I ever participated in. He never thought of himself first. It was always about his family. When I say it was a “Leave it to Beaver” family, I’m not exaggerating. Mom was a homemaker raising her four children, while Dad provided.

After graduating college, I met my wife Pamela. She was a young Christian, who, when she tried sharing Christ with me, actually drove me further away rather than drawing me closer to Christ. There came a point in her life when she learned through the scriptures that she needed to “let go and let God” and submit to the husband she married. Through her submission, I recognized the love of Christ that enabled her to love the unlovable and I was eventually saved on February 12, 1984. I continued growing in Christ by becoming involved in the Teen ministry at Calvary Bible Baptist Church in Rochester, NY for the next seven years.

In 1993, I moved my family to the Nashville, TN area. After a year of teaching the Young Marrieds’ class at our church, I felt the Lord’s leading to go to Bible Seminary at Temple Baptist Seminary in Chattanooga, TN. After a year of witnessing that this school and its church no longer stood on the Authorized King James Bible like I was told by its administrators, I decided to move back to the Nashville area.

I was offered the position of Youth Pastor at my local church. I seemed to be making great headway with the teens in my class, but after a while I noticed them starting to drift away, like I wanted to do when younger. One day, when I expressed my discouragement over their recent lack of interest in church attendance to a friend, he asked me a very profound question. He said, “Who would you say has the most influence on these kids”? After thinking about it I said, “Those that have the most time with these kids”. He said “Exactly; their families”. He recommended that if I really wanted to change the lives of these kids, that I would have to help change the lives of their families. It hit me like a ton of bricks.

From that moment on I dedicated myself to starting such a church that focused on ministry to the family as a unit and founded King James Bible Baptist Church on Jan 31, 1996. I wanted to build a church that focused on rebuilding the traditional Christian family. Our slogan was “Rebuilding the heart of America one home at a time”. I designed a program entitled “The Seven Steps to Joy” which the Lord used to see over 1000 souls come to Christ, 95% of which said they were saved prior to this class, and to reunite husbands and wives, as well as children to their parents. In 2000 we changed the name of our church to New Beginnings Baptist church.

I pastored New Beginnings Baptist Church for ten years before facing the challenge of my life. My wife, Pamela, was diagnosed with cancer. I cared for her for two years until her eventual homegoing on June 18, 2008. At 48, she left three precious children, a husband, and a multitude of ladies worldwide which had been under her 10-year ministry of “Rise & Shine” daily devotions for women. One of the last things my wife prayed for at New Beginnings Baptist Church was that the Lord would quickly send me a helpmeet for my good, as well as for the benefit of her children and church family.

Shortly thereafter, the Lord answered Pamela’s prayer by introducing me to a wonderful Christian woman named Jennifer. Jennifer had the undaunting task of coming underneath the shadow of Miss Pam, however, she just trusted the Lord with who she was. She never tried to become the next “Miss Pam”. She left her home in Louisville, two of her grown children, her family, her church, her friends, and joined me in marriage. We have been married now for 10 years, and she is so loved by all who meet her. She has taught me the power of prayer. Together we have 6 children, and 14 grandchildren.

After 22 years of pastoring New Beginnings Baptist Church, the Lord led me to turn the church over to my son, and six-year Associate Pastor, Luke Iannello. No father could feel more fulfilled than I am in seeing the church which I founded and pastored being turned over to his very faithful son. He definitely has a double portion of my spirit.

I waited a year for the Lord to redirect my steps and did not want to impose my will over His. The Lord has finally revealed His new calling on my life into the ministry of evangelism. I cannot tell you in just a few words, just how excited we are that the Lord has chosen to use me in evangelism for His honor and glory. After my autobiography is it any wonder that I have chosen to name my ministry “Pressing On Ministries”? We pray the Lord uses us for His pleasure as we press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.