Pastor Angelo

Pastor Angelo

      Tonight we spoke with a pastor from the innercity of Reading, PA. Born in the Bronx Angelo, whose grandparents were first generation Italians, lived in the city until he was four and a half and then moved about fifty miles north of the city. He met his wife Terry in high school and started dating in college. While in music college in Boston Angelo questioned believing in God , but after living life without God he began crying out to God and at that point God started moving in his life he said “ God if your real you have to show up in my life”. Shorlty after marrying Terry they both got saved in 1981. The sacification process was difficult for him Angelo said but after a bad night he fell on his knees and asked for God’s help. He also spoke about how he and his wife being baptized change there lives. At that time Angelo said he was working in a supermarket where he continued to work for twenty years. Angelo was brought up catholic. He noted that while attending a catholic church that something changed after getting saved. He noticed the Holy Spirit beginning to move. During his time there a man named Greg Hubbard who was a traveling evangelist and after hearing a sermon on the “cities of refuge” Greg had preached he felt called to evangelism. Angelo said he prayed for clarity on his calling and while waiting for Greg to meet him and his wife for lunch he saw a big sign that said Reading, he took it as a sign from God. The eight plus years he spent pastoring in Reading he said he learned that longevity and consistency need to be seen in us by other people. We need to be genuine and open to hurting people. Now his church is moving into a new phase ,they are working with a pastor from Pittsburg, PA, named Brian Boltz, who is helping them start a men and hopfully soon a womens home that will be connected with the church. Trusting in God is essential, Tom mentioned and that flexibility is key. Angelo finally said that when you think you can’t take it no more that’s when the breakthrough comes and resilience is the key to innercity ministry. This was interesting and educational from perspective since I feel the Lord is drawing my heart to the innercities also.