Real Bio:

Yeah, I’ve had enough people asking me questions about my bio that I thought I’d better put up a real one.  The preceding blurb, in case you didn’t recognize it, is derived from the 80’s television show, the A-Team, which began with the following preamble:

            “In 1972 a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn't commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire the A-Team.”

            Apparently there are enough people out there that have never heard of the A-Team so as to make my little joke somewhat less than effective.  So for the humorless among us and for those born too late to have truly appreciated the A-Team, I offer this, my abbreviated bio, which I will write in the first person because it feels really goofy to be saying ‘Bert this’ and ‘Bert that’ when it’s really me writing it.

           I was born and raised in Staten Island and grew up Catholic.  I came to faith at the age of 13 through the ministry of a church in my neighborhood.  This church was part of a denomination called ‘The Church of the Lutheran Brethren.’  It was (and still is) an awesome place with a really active youth group. It was at this church’s youth group where I first met a young criminal-in-training named Mike Brennan.  But that is another story!!

            I got very involved with the youth group and when it came time for college, I stayed home so that I could become a youth leader.  I attended Wagner College and majored in English Lit, preparing to spend my life as a high school English teacher and a volunteer youth worker.

            Almost by accident, during my senior year of college, I landed a job as an intern reporter at Staten Island’s newspaper, The Advance. I really enjoyed the work and was pondering a new career direction when I began to feel called to full-time ministry.

            I attended the Lutheran Brethren Seminary in Fergus Falls, MN, for a year and then transferred to Alliance Theological Seminary in Nyack, NY, taking a job as youth pastor at Lafayette Federated Church, in northern New Jersey. 

            Shortly thereafter, I proposed to Jen and became the youth pastor at her home church, Our Savior Lutheran, in Centereach.

            I spent 10 awesome years at Our Savior, during which time I was blessed to be a part of a ministry called Hearts Afire.  ‘Hearts’ was a Sunday night service which was intended for the youth of the church.  But it grew quickly and within a few years, weekly attendance grew to more than 200.

            It was out of the Hearts Afire ministry that True North was born.  Many of the members of the leadership team and worship teams from Hearts were a part of our church’s launch team.  Happily, our departure was not the end for what God intended for Hearts Afire. The ministry continued under the leadership of my good friend Rodney Jackson, and is currently being directed by Dan The Man O'Leary (who is also a good friend).

            So, that pretty much brings us up to date.  At the time of this writing, I’m 34 years old, I have a beautiful wife, Jen; two daughters, Mackenzie, and Ryan; and a son, Timothy Daniel.

            I am seriously amazed that anyone is still reading this.  Honestly.  You now know more about me that most people do, and certainly more than will do you any good.  So stop reading and go to Best Buy.  There, you will find several seasons of the A-Team on DVD.  Do the right thing.

            Peace,