Biographical Sketch of Mario Ciotola, Pastor, Oakbrook Community Church

At the age of 19 (born and raised in Naples, Italy), I received Christ as my Lord and Savior through the preaching of American evangelists who came to my city with a tent ministry. There I met my wife, Lori (born and raised in Wisconsin), while working with Christ is the Answer, a Christian Group, in Italy. I was involved in the music ministry, and Lori, serving the poor. Shortly thereafter, we were married, and together moved to the United States, working with Christ is the Answer in Illinois. This set into motion my pursuit of knowing God and developing a deep love for the Bible.

After the birth of our first two sons, Eric and Davis, we decided to move back to Europe where for several years, we worked with another international Christian Organization, Youth with a Mission, in Switzerland, England, and Italy. We were both involved in discipleship and teaching through different schools, in particular, The School of Biblical Studies. In Italy, our other two children were born, Bryan and Kimberly. While staying in northern Italy, I served as Pastor of three churches, two in Varese, Italy, and one just over the border in Lugano, Switzerland.

After 18 years in Europe, we decided to move back to the United States where I am now serving as Pastor at Oakbrook Community Church in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. For the first nine years, while serving as Pastor of this church, I also worked in a factory, to help support my family. In July 2007, the church was able to take me on as a full-time pastor.

I seek to maintain an intimate relationship with God through daily prayer and Bible study, and to make time with family and close friends a priority. As pastor, I envision Oakbrook Community Church to be a place where people are able to connect with God and others for a life-changing and life-giving experience.

I am a life-long learner; I enjoy reading and music, and delight in playing the guitar. One of my missions in life is to help people catch that ‘sparkling light’ of the Holy Spirit in the Word of God and to be devoted followers of Jesus Christ.

Mario and Lori completed three schools while involved in Youth with a Mission: Discipleship Training School, a School of Evangelism, and a School of Biblical Studies. Mario also graduated from London Bible College (now, London School of Theology) with a B.A. in Theology, and has completed an M.A. in Biblical Counseling though Trinity College and Theological Seminary. Mario carries duel citizenship; acquiring American citizenship in December 2005, while also retaining his Italian citizenship, of which he is very proud.