The only child of immigrant parents, and 35-year veteran of the US Postal Service, Rev.Paul Bertolino became a Christian when he was 27-years old at a Crusade for Christ event in 1963.  He had a strong desire to learn all he could about this new relationship with Christ, so he enrolled in the Boston Evening School of the Bible, sponsored by Park Street Church in Boston, and took as many courses as he could. The ministry that immediately caught his heart was working with the high school youth.

Starting with three young people in his youth group, the Fishermen Gospel Team was formed.  This team grew to more than 75 young people from all denominations, and they traveled all across New England and as far west as Chicago, sharing the good news of the gospel. The group was comprised of several teams, e.g. drama, skits, music, puppets, etc. This ministry allowed Pastor Bertolino to develop his teaching/preaching skills, train and mentor young people and adults and was a catalyst for his need to share the gospel with others.  

In the early 70s he was approached by a deacon from the Haverhill, Mass. Advent Christian Church to supply preach on a Sunday morning.  This was an inner-city church, surrounded by apartments housing drunks and drug addicts, that had dwindled in size and the church leadership was seriously considering a possible closure. They had already called 28 men and each one had declined for different reasons. When the latest candidate refused their offer, they asked if Rev. Bertolino would consider coming as their pastor. After prayer and godly counsel, his wife and he agreed to come with one stipulation:  he would not leave his postal position. When he left eight years later, the church had won a denominational contest for the fastest-growing Sunday school, had planted a new church, mentored several pastoral students from Gordon-Conwell Seminary who went on to become Advent Christian pastors and the church had developed seven staff members.

In the later 80s, he was asked to pastor a small Baptist church. This little country church had only six people attending when he arrived. Again, he connected with Gordon-Conwell to mentor pastoral students. He worked with some fine young men, two of whom have been Advent Christian pastors all of their years of service.  

In the 90s he retired from the USPS and went to serve at the Meredith, N.H. Advent Christian church. This was the first time he had only one job! In 2007, he found himself truly retired and living at Advent Christian Village. He pastored a small church nearby for more than three years.  When he arrived there were a handful of people, but the church peaked at more than 80. Pastor Bertolino also mentored a young pastor that serves as an Advent Christian pastor today. He is now ministering at the Village Church as an elder and a Sunday school teacher.