Alfred James Perna, Sr

Alfred James 'Al' Perna was born on 25 May 1915, the son of Giuseppe and Amino DiTomaso Perna.

He was educated to year 7 level in High School before having to go to work to support his family - when he went into the ministry in 1938-1939, he was often called 'the boy preacher': he would seek to make up for the knowledge requirements by attending night bible courses at Eastern Bible Institute. He was formally ordained in April 1949 after the formation of the Italian Branch. Shortly afterwards, he was sent as a minister to Italy where he would do missionary work until 1952. From June 1954, he took up ministry at First Italian Pentecostal Church, Camden, New Jersey, and residence in Woodlynne (304 Chestnut Ave).

In 1959, he resigned the Camden church, and was sent to Italy as AGUSA representative, supervising the production and distribution of literature out of the publishing/ printing house set up by Piraino in association with the ADI. In 1961, he succeeded Anthony Piraino as Field Secretary for Italian Branch missions in Rome, and was elected chairman of the European Committee of Assemblies of God representatives, living first in Rome, and then from 1970 in Padova (Via Tre Garofani 47). He would later return to Rome, then to Bellinzona, Switzerland. In 1962, he returned to the USA to do delegation work and fundraising - people were encouraged to come out to "Hear the thrilling story of the great protestant awakening in Italy, a story that has come out of great persecution and mighty demonstrations of the power of God". (Broken Arrow Ledger 4 Oct 1962: 5) His particular focus for years to come was to expand the availability of Italian language gospel materials in print. "The Iiterature program has contributed much to the vibrant revival spreading throughout Italy. Thousands of Gospels of St.John, along with millions of of tracts, have already been ditrubuted." (Albany Democrat-Herald, 14 Dec 1962: 6) These materials would be used in Italian pentecostal churches all over the world. In 1972-73, during a period when he was not just Field representative for the AGUSA but the National Sunday School Director in Italy, he toured churches in the USA raising funds for churches in Aquila and Tunis (Africa). By 1982, the need for more readily available ministry training sent the Pernas back to Italy as national directors of the International Correspondence Institute (ICI), a distance education program run out of the AGUSA's headquarters in Springfield MO. Perna formally retired in 1986, though remaining active in teaching and preaching in Italy through to 1993, giving his address as Maple Shade or Cherry Hill (where there was an extensive community of relatives and friends).

The Pernas were well integrated into the families which made up the core of the Italian Branch of the AGUSA. Al Perna's sister married Agostino 'Gus' Genca (Steve Genca's uncle, would marry Anita Foti - see Foti, Anthony, q.v.). The Gencas were among the earliest members of what would become Kingsway Assembly of God Church 2701 Chapel Ave. Cherry Hill, NJ. Another sister, Bambi, married into the DiAvico family.

His brother, E. Joseph Perna (b. 11 Nov 1926, Philadelphia, PA - d. 2 December 2008, John Muir Hospital Walnut Creek, CA) was a 1945 graduate of Mastbaum Tech High School of Philadelphia, PA, a 1948 graduate of Eastern Bible College and he received his Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies from Southwestern College Oklahoma City, OK in 1971. He pastored churches in Hanover, PA and South Philadelphia, PA and Walnut Creek, CA until retiring in 1990. He was also an associate pastor in Richmond, CA. He was a member of Calvary Temple Concord, CA. He was married to G. VIrginia Perna, with whom he had sons Daryl J. Perna (Auburn, CA)'; Robert D. Perna (Antelope, CA). Joseph's grandchildren included Joe Perna (Auburn, CA); and Lexi Perna (Auburn, CA).

His wife, Theresa Perna, died on 9 January 2003. Al Perna Sr, aged 90, died in 2006 only 9 days after he preached his last sermon, while visiting his missionary son Alfred Jr, in Germany. He was buried in Arlington Cemetery, Drexel.

His son, Alfred Jr., also entered the ministry, training at Central Bible College, Springfield, and serving with his wife Emmanuela as missionaries in Europe, pastoring national and international churches, teaching in Bible schools and directing Europe Teen Challenge with 1,500 workers in over 30 countries. He met his wife in Padova, Italy. At the time of writing, they were on staff at Capital Hill Assembly of God, 2400 SW 74th Street, Oklahoma City, OK.

Sources:

Ancestry.com

Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center, Deceased Ministers' Files. [with special thanks to Glenn Gohr and Darrin Rodgers].

newspapers.com

Obituary, Agostino 'Gus' Genca, https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/courierpostonline/name/agostino-genca-obituary?pid=130976657