The year was 1986. I had a good education, came up in a good family. I had a good job, home in the suburbs, a fine wife and even religion. However, something was missing. Money, cars, boats, trailers and even sin couldn't satisfy the longing in my soul for answers about life and death. I met a man at my work place who had peace in his heart that I longed for. He radiated the love of God. He told me of the Saviour and showed me the truth of the Bible and that I could know where I was going when I died. I didn't have to 'hope so,' wonder, or 'hope for the best.' Having been raised Roman Catholic, I knew the story but never received it personally for me. If I were the only one in the world, Jesus still has to die for my sins. So, in May of 1986, I trusted Christ as my Saviour and what a journey it has been! My, what a ride! That man that told me of Christ's love turned out to be my co-pastor, Jay Folk, who is my best friend in the world. The Lord has blessed me with a fine wife and ninechildren. We marvel at His faithfulness to us and this ministry at Old Paths Bible Baptist Church. To God be the glory great things HE hath done.
Pastor Cammilleri serves as senior (co) pastor with Pastor Folk. You can contact him at jcammilleri@opbbc.org
One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. Once I was blind. In my blindness I searched for every comfort that could possibly bring peace to my soul; a good job, marriage, a new house, cars, a boat, toys, drugs, liquor, yoga, transcendental meditation, and anything else I could think of. Nothing satisfied; I was still left with a yearning for something deeper, something that would make lifemeaningful and explain man's existence on this earth. Then came the glorious day when my chains fell off and my heart was freed! At the age of 24, November 19, 1979, at the altar of First Bible Baptist Church in Rochester, NY, my eyes were opened and my burdens rolled away. When my wife got saved a week later, a new life opened before us – a life consecrated to the glory of our precious Savior that had redeemed us from all our iniquities and had purged us as white as snow. Three months later our first child was born. I also graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology with an Associates Degree in Business. These early years of my salvation were characterized by much Bible study and memorization. It seemed that I could not get enough. My search had ended for salvation; however, a new search began to know and love my Savior more. During this time, I served the Lord in many areas of the ministry - Sunday school, visitation, prayer meetings, ect. In 1988, the Lord burdened myself and Joe Cammilleri to begin a ministry in the inner-city by holding aweekly Bible study in a vacant lot. This Bible study soon grew into a church. Two years later, we had the privilege of handing the ministry over to a local pastor who was holding services in his home. The church is now called Rochester Bible Church. After this, I was led of the Lord to serve as the associate pastor in a small church in Hilton, NY. My family and I worked there for two years. They were the most difficult years I've experienced during my training; however, God used those difficulties to teach us many things about the ministry and myself. I was then asked to become the Junior-High Pastor at FBBC. There were over 100 junior-high students and approximately 25 workers. 'Rechabites of Junior-high' was born, and we saw many young people turn to the Lord. These two years were probably the most enjoyable I've had in the ministry. It was during this time that the Lord burdened us with the alarming number of Christian youth going the way of the world. Again, the Lord showed us that His Word is true. The Lord says many times that if we seek Him, He will be found. We began to seek Him around the issue of families, church and youth. The Lord began to show us little by little how the church of God has strayed from the basic principles of the Scriptures. In 1994, Joe Cammilleri and I, with our pastor’s blessing, began the Old Paths Bible Baptist Church. We asked ourselves many questions about why we do what we do and weighed the answers in light of the Scriptures.In 1996, I quit my job as a buyer at the Eastman Kodak Co., where I had been employed for the previous 23 years. The demands of my family and the ministry were growing leaps and bounds, and there was no room for the 8-5 days at Kodak. We have done some things well, and we have done some things very poorly. Thank God His mercies are new every day. If there is anything good in this work, it is only because of the mercy of God. To God be the glory, great things He hath done - and will do."
Pastor Folk serves as senior (co) pastor with Pastor Cammilleri. You can contact him at jfolk@opbbc.org
Assistant Pastor Charles Barkowski Jr.
I was saved on January 1, 1978. My wife, who has been married to me since 1977, led me to the Lord. Unlike others, the life I had lived was not filled with drugs or depression. I had thoughts that I was good enough to go to heaven. Once I was saved, it was a few years before I was baptized. It was then I began living a more separated life. I am fortunate to have a great wife, 5 wonderful children, a full-time job at the Monroe County Sheriff's Department, and also my position as a pastor, mainly in administrative and financial areas. OPBBC is a place where fathers are encouraged to take the lead in the family and become a Godly father and loving husband. In this day, we need dads who are willing to be responsible in those areas where many have already abdicated and given up. I am thankful for the ministry of OPBBC."
Pastor Barkowski serves as an Assistant Pastor. You can contact him at cb@opbbc.info
Assistant Pastor Charles Barkowski III
My life started in a wonderful way in that I was born into a Christian family. As a young child, I developed a great love and longing for the ministry. It all began when I was saved at the age of 4 on December 26, 1986. My salvation was no less miraculous than it was for my parents as I was still a sinner that was bound for hell because of my sins. However, God was gracious to me in allowing me to receive the upbringing that I had. When I was eight years old, I surrendered my life to God and was called to be a missionary. At the age of 16, I enrolled into Gulf Coast Bible Institute to begin my formal training for the ministry. I am blessed to have been a part of this church from the beginning and I was taken under the wings of Pastor Cammilleri and Folk as they trained me for the ministry. I was hired on the staff of OPBBC in May of 2003 and was ordained in March of 2004. I am working on other aspects of ministry which will take me out of the US, but I am following God's leading and His timing in that. "As for God, His way is perfect."
Pastor Barkowski serves as the Director of UBI and is the Missions Pastor. You can contact him at cbarkowski@opbbc.info
