Born and raised in NYC, he has spent the past 51 years in pastoral ministry. He was ordained by the Assemblies of God in 1959.

As Senior Pastor of Evangel Church in New York City for 42 years, he has served the City in many ways, both cross-cultural and cross-denominational. Recently he served as Chairman of the Pastoral Committee for the NYC Billy Graham Crusade.  Presently, he serves in an advisory capacity to many churches, pastors, and leaders throughout the Metropolitan Area.  He is a consultant in leadership training and serves on the Board of several organizations and schools in the NYC area.

He and his wife, Jan, counselor for Evangel Christian School, reside in Whitestone, and have three married children and four grandchildren. His daughter, Carolyn Marko, is the Principal of Evangel Christian School; his son Brian serves as Executive Director of the Bowery Mission in NYC; and his son Stephen leads the music ministry at Missionary Alliance Church in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

EDUCATION:

2004 - Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Nyack College

1984 - MA, New York University in Religious Education

1962 - BA, Roberts Wesleyan College, North Chili, NY

1956 - Graduated Elim Bible Institute, Lima, NY

PRESENT POSITIONS:

• Senior Pastor: Evangel Church, Long Island City, NY
• Board Chairman: Evangel Christian School and High School
• President & Co-Founder: New York School of Urban Ministry (NYSUM)
• Board Member: Nyack College, Manhattan Campus
• Board Chairman: Concerts of Prayer, NY
• Board Member: Elim Bible Institute, Lima, NY
• Listed in Who’s Who

EXPERIENCE:

1965-to present - Senior Pastor of Evangel Church (formerly Community Gospel Church)

1960-1965 - Associate Pastor, Bethel Assembly, Rochester, New York

1955-1960 - Pastored two churches near Waverly, New York

Ministry at Evangel has included three major Building Programs, first at the 41^st Street location, which included the construction of a multi-purpose Education Building and adding two Sunday a.m. services in 1980.  In 1989, Evangel Church purchased and moved to its present location in the Queens Plaza area of Long Island City. Renovation by the congregation of an old public school building required two years of work and two million dollars. A third Sunday worship service was added. In the Spring of 1996, we broke ground for a ten million dollar facility to include a new sanctuary, gymnasium, fellowship hall, church offices, and staff housing. This construction was completed and dedicated in June of 1999.

Evangel Church, with a congregation of 1000, connects with the greater N.Y.C. area through ministry, leadership and resources. The church is committed to evangelism and discipleship.

A key element of church ministry is Evangel Christian School. With the enrollment of 500 students, it is the largest chartered evangelical Christian Elementary and High School in the city.