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Mario Marchiò was born in Torino, Italy the 26th of March 1947.
The 28th June 1968 he accompanied his father in a trip to South Africa and, fallen in love with the country, decided to stay.
In April 1969 Mario met Celeste, his future wife, to whom he united in matrimony the 4th of September 1971.
After a lifetime intensely lived in business dealings at the edge of the law - and often beyond it, bi-monthly trips to the Middle East,
Europe and Africa, after having made and lost fortunes, dined with millionaires and Bedouins, priests and gangsters, spent innumerable
hours at poker and roulette tables, after having tasted euphoric elation and deep, deep depression and having finally arrived to the brink
of suicide (click on this link to see the photo of his 1981 death-face)
Mario, by divine appointment, was introduced to the God of the universe one Monday evening in a relatively small church service.
That very night, standing in front of his bathroom mirror in his house in Orchards, Johannesburg, Mario gave his life to the One Who was to
become his greatest friend and companion, the Lord Jesus Christ.
It was the 2nd day of February 1982.
After a year of practical learning from God’s Word and His daily presence in his life, he felt the calling of the Lord to a small coastal town
in the Cape region of South Africa - almost at the most southern point of the continent - called Hermanus. Mario and his family got there in
June 1983 and started Bosko Christian Camps and Ministries, a ministry dedicated to "feeding" His lambs.
The word "bosko" in the original Greek scripture of John 15:21 means, "To feed".
Two years later due to God’s call and the need in the local context, Bosko Christian Church was started with seven members. From the beginning
of Mario’s adventure in God’s fields of harvest, he’s had a "soft spot" for His "lambs" - both those who are "little" in age and those who are
"little" in spiritual maturity. That's why, according to Jesus’ instructions then, Mario began to minister the "food" of God’s love and Word to
children and grown-ups alike. More and more were the blessings of the Lord upon the ministry – and Bosko grew and grew and grew.
In 1987 Bosko Christian School was established with an initial intake of eight students.
Soon the school and congregation outgrew the rented facilities and in 1987 the first building of Bosko Christian Community Centre was opened to
the glory of God. Today the complex totals over 2000 sq mt of covered space in three separate buildings comprising school, administration building
and church auditorium cum indoor sporting complex, bookshop, crafts centre, dormitories, kitchen and youth centre.
The vision of Bosko Christian Community Church – is to touch thousands with God's love, both Hermanus residents and seasonal visitors.
Countless prophecies, for many years now, have been describing how the fires of revival will burn through Africa – and will begin at the
continent’s most southern point. In all humility and submission to God’s will, Bosko’s burning desire is to be right in the centre of that.
As senior pastor of Bosko's local congregation Mario is flanked by a pastoral team of able and faithful men and women whom God has lovingly
added to the vision. The members of Bosko's leadership team see themselves as friends well before work colleagues.
Mario Marchiò Ministries is the, "Go to the ends of the world" part of Bosko’s commission and, as such, Mario has been travelling extensively
to the nations since 1992. Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Ireland, England, Ukraine, Canada, the USA, Australia, most of southern Africa and
naturally, Italy are some of the "nations" where Mario has been ministering and "feeding". His uniquely simple yet profound, humorous yet
challenging, totally submitted to scripture yet absolutely life-applicable style has changed congregations wherever the Lord sent him.
The drive in Mario’s heart for many years has been to unite the different congregations in the area and form, "The Church in Hermanus", the
expression of God’s "dream" for a local body which is one in spirit and in faith. Mario definitely believes that you are a Christian not by
whose doctrine you favour but rather by whose blood flows through your heart!
This vision of unity in Hermanus is coming to pass right now! Glory to God.
Mario has written various books that have been also translated in Italian. Amongst these are, "The ideal family", "The Hole in the Hedge"
and "The 42nd step". He is presently working on "Shadowland", "While angels watch" and "The power of the blessing".
Mario believes in living what he preaches. He has been happily married for over thirty five years to Celeste and they have two beloved children,
Malko and Maruschka. His unswerving love for the Lord, devotion to his family and dedication to his calling are an example to all at Bosko and
wherever he finds himself "feeding" God’s lambs.
Mario's Motto:
"All the glory and the honour and the praise be unto Him Whom I serve and Whose I am, Jesus Christ my Saviour and my Lord."
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