A native of Stamford, Connecticut and Concord, New Hampshire, Pastor Peter DeBartolo began his ministry in Schoharie County in June 1984. He has been preaching and teaching since the age of 14 when he first gave his life to Christ. To many, he is Pastor DeBartolo, but to his church and many in the community he is affectionately known as Pastor “De”. He is a voice of wisdom, hope, encouragement.
Pastor “De” graduated from Keene State College, Keene, NH, with a Bachelor of Science in Education (Social Sciences) and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. He received his Master of Divinity from the former Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, PA in 1983. He interned in Juneau, AK. He received his ordination from the New England Synod of the Lutheran Church in America, and was called to Upstate New York to serve two parishes, then three, then back to two, and now serves only Evangelical Lutheran in Gallupville, NY. He also was supervisor to three interns during these years. He has extensive counseling and youth ministry training, as well as financial training which aids in family, elder, and youth counseling and teaching. He has thousands of hours of continuing education in other various areas of ministry and life-skills that help him help others. He’s also the founder of Fields of Grace Outreach, a youth development non-profit, which strives to inspire youth to grow in their God-given talents, to care for others, and give back to their communities. He’s an avid archer and teaches with local youth archery programs, a mission volunteer, and an active advocate for people of our communities.
Pastor Peter and his wife, Karen, are the proud parents of four married sons. They have four wonderful daughters-in-law and are loving Gramps and Nana to seven incredible grandkids.
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Have you seen the brokenness in the world around us?
You don’t have to look very hard to see the shattered relationships in our communities. It’s a story told repeatedly through Hatred, Greed, and Violence. And we feel the brokenness in ourselves through our worries, our pain, the trouble in our personal relationships, and even the knowledge of our own failures. We long for healing, knowing that there should be something or someone to right the wrongs, to restore peace and joy, and to show us a better way to live. What we ultimately seek is Love. It is Belonging. It is Identity. It is Justice. It is Truth.
At Evangelical, we do not claim to have all the answers or be able to provide everything your soul is longing for, but we are followers of the One who does claim to be “The Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6)… the One whom the Bible claims “holds all things together” (Colossians 1:17)… the One who said that His mission was to “seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10)… the One who told us that He is “making all things new” (Revelation 21:5). Jesus does not claim to offer you an easy life. But He does say that when your life is lived in Him and through Him that it will be the most fulfilling life possible. You will find a Savior. And in that Savior, you will find Love. Belonging. Identity. Justice. Truth.
If you are ready to see an authentic, Bible-based, Christ-centered, Mission Driven, Traditionally Grounded, approach to living out the Christian faith, please consider contacting us or visiting our worship gatherings.
To His Glory,
Pastor Peter DeBartolo, Sr.