Born in Rochester, NY, Pastor Bannister is the second of seven kids and no stranger to life’s ups and downs. At just 8 years old, a church visit changed everything—he trusted Christ as his Savior. But by age 10, after his parents' divorce, he was drifting and running the streets.
High school sparked a love for construction, and college led to studying Criminal Justice. At 19, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps, serving honorably in the Persian Gulf War. In 1990, he married Shannon, a Navy vet, and together they’ve built a life of faith, family, and service.
After deepening his faith at Lighthouse Baptist in San Diego—ministering to gang members and serving as a prison chaplain—he moved to Utica, NY in 1995 to help with his dad’s homeless ministry. A year later, God called him to plant Lighthouse Baptist Church in May 1996.
Today, over 25 years later, Pastor Bannister still juggles church and construction—blessed with his wife, three amazing kids (Jack, Savannah, and Jasper), and what he calls “the best church family anyone could ever ask for.”
