Pastor was born and raised a Roman Catholic in Brooklyn, New York.  At the age of nineteen he joined the U.S. Navy serving six years in Spain and two years in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.  It was during that time he accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and felt the call to full-time ministry. 

Shortly after the end of his Naval enlistment as a First Class Petty Officer, he was accepted to the U.S. Navy Officer Candidate School but chose instead to serve the Lord as a church pastor. He moved to Springfield, Missouri where he earned the following accredited degrees:

• Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies
• Bachelor of Science in Communications
• Master of Arts 
• Master of Divinity

Even with all that, Pastor still had a thirst for knowledge.  Although he considered several doctorate programs, he opted instead to spend two full years reading the New Testament about 25 times and going through it in the original Greek verse-by-verse.  A decision he has never regretted.

A spiritual turning point came when he attended the historic Brownsville Revival in Pensacola, Florida.  It was then the Lord radically changed his life in a most dramatic way.  He became totally sold-out and committed as never before.  It was then he decided to start Holy Rock Church - a church based on the power of prayer with the goal of getting all of our loved ones saved!    

What do others think?  Here are several comments...

• "He and his wife Mercedes are the most caring people I have ever met"
• Pastor Joe is a "hidden gem" in Springfield
• "Sitting under his ministry has made me re-learn much of what I 'thought I knew' for the past 30 years"
• "Prayer meetings are great - like the old-time Pentecostal meetings you just don't see anymore"

VIDEO UNDER CONSTRUCTION