Pastor
Joe was led to a personal relationship with the Lord in 1975, by the quiet witness
of his wife Pam, who was his secretary at the time. Pam had a peace and joy
that Joe had never found... despite what the world would deem a very successful
life as a lawyer, member and officer of several community organizations. Very
involved in the church of his birth, ethnicity and Catholicism seeming to be
inseparable. He had never heard the truth of the gospel nor read the bible.
After reading books Pam recommended, and visiting her church... to hear an actual
biblical teaching from the pulpit, Joe accepted the Lord as his personal Lord
and Saviour while flying at 30,000 feet in his capacity as a navigator of a
C-130 in the California Air National Guard. (Joe is looking forward to meeting
the Lord at altitude again in the Rapture, but this time without the aircraft).
So excited by his new relationship, Joe took a nine day period off and fasted
while he read the Bible through for the first time. Joe and Pam were married
in 1979 by Pastor Don McClure of Calvary Chapel Lake Arrowhead. They were actively
involved with Calvary Chapel West Covina, later Diamond Bar. They were part
of a core group who initially joined Pastor Xavier Ries as he started Calvary
Chapel Alhambra, which later moved to Pasadena.
For many years Joe and Pam rented their mountain home in Twin Peaks CA to students
attending the Calvary Chapel Bible College. In 1992 Joe was called by the Lord,
who confirmed it by speaking to Pam's heart, to leave the practice of law and
retire militarily so as devote full time to preparation for ministry. Joe was
graduated from Calvary Chapel Bible College and was ordained by Pastor Raul
Ries in January 1995.
After serving an internship under Pastor Raul and his assisting pastor Dale,
Joe answered God's call to come to New Hampshire in October 1995. Joe, a native
Rhode Islander, had no intention of returning to New England and his only experience
with New Hampshire was two one week vacations as a child in 1944 and 1945 and
a two week military tour at Pease AFB in 1981.
Pastor Joe is always impressed by God's delightful knowledge as He exchanges
our plans for His. Joe originally started a home fellowship in Litchfield, NH,
not in Manchester where God has now placed the church.
