Born in Rochester, NY and the second oldest of 7 children, four sisters and two brothers.

At the age of eight, his family decided to visit a church located in Saratoga, Ny. That day the church played a movie about Hell, at which time he realized that he needed to get saved.

Two years later, at the age of ten, his parents got a divorce, and attending church came to a halt. It wasn’t long before he started running the streets and getting into trouble.

Throughout his High School years at Owen D. Young Central School, he was able to work in construction, teaching him the skills he would utilize later in life. After graduating from High School he went to Herkimer County Community College for Criminal Justice. Then at the age of 19, he decided to join the United States Marine Corps and is a decorated combat Veteran of the Persian Gulf War.

In September of 1990 he married his wife Shannon, a Navy Veteran, now celebrating their 30th Wedding Anniversary. After marriage he decided that it was time to go back to church and joined Lighthouse Baptist Church’s ministry in San Diego, CA. Growing in the Lord, graduating from Lighthouse Bible Institute, ministering to the San Diego & LA street gangs and becoming Chaplain at RJ Donovan prison in Otay Mesa, CA.

The Lord called him and his wife to move across the country to Utica, NY in 1995. Helping his father’s “Street Missions” ministry, reaching to the homeless and addicts. After a few months the Lord pressed upon Pastor Bannister’s heart to start a church. Lighthouse Baptist Church was established in May of 1996.

For the last 25 years, he has run a successful construction company while at the same time establishing Lighthouse Baptist Church.

He and his wife have three wonderful children, Jack, Savannah & Jasper.

He also (in his own words) has the best church family that anyone could ask for!