Reverend Dr Leonard Santucci, the pastor of Vernon Temple AME Church, has recently added author to his repertoire with the publication of three books.

The first, Do You Want to be Blessed?, is an “eight-chapter, in-depth study” on Christian stewardship and faith.

“It’s basically dealing with the issue of tithes and offering and Christian stewardship from a discipleship perspective,” Dr Santucci said.

“In 2018 I preached an eight-sermon series on this topic. At the completion of the series, I was impressed by the Lord to take the same material and put it into a book format.”

Dr Santucci enrolled in Brooklyn Knight’s writing course, 16 Weeks to Published. With her assistance, he was able to complete it in just under six weeks.

“In the process of publishing Do You Want to be Blessed? I stumbled across the original manuscripts for a series of three books I had started to write several years ago. It was a three-part 101 Things People Need to Know series.”

The unexpected discovery included two completed manuscripts – one for church leaders and the other for young people.

In January, Dr Santucci was able to publish Do You Want to be Blessed? as well as both manuscripts – 101 Things Young People Need to Know and 101 Things Church Leaders Need to Know.

He is at work on the third in the 101 Things People Need to Know series, which will be for men and women in general.

“Believe it or not, the 101 series was started about ten years ago,” he said. “Shortly after completing the first two, I moved from New Jersey back to Bermuda and the manuscripts were laid to the side. I had every intention on competing the third, but with the move they were no longer a part of my primary focus and remained unattended to until I found them in January.”

In addition to pastoring at Vernon Temple, Dr Santucci is a full-time counsellor at the Berkeley Institute and serves on several committees. He previously served in the Senate under the United Bermuda Party and remains active in community organisations.

Having lived a “rich and diverse life”, Dr Santucci drew on his varied experiences to bring insight and encouragement to others through his writing.

“I have been blessed to not only serve as a pastor for 31 years but to also serve in education and political office. As a result, I’ve been privileged to see and discover things from a multiplicity of perspectives. My hope is that I can take some of this insight and give back for the benefit of others who are coming behind me.

“I believe that the service I render is the rent I pay for the privilege of life. It is not uncommon for me to be involved in a host of different things. I count it a privilege to serve.”

He hopes that readers will be encouraged and enlightened through the books, which aim to simplify Christian principles and enable believers to utilise the word of God in meaningful ways throughout their daily life.

“I am big on the concept of revelation and application – revelation meaning getting the message that God has for you. But it becomes problematic when people get the message but do not act on it.

“It is incumbent upon all of us in the body of Christ to look at how we can better serve God and how we can use our service as a means of making a difference in the world we are living in. These books are a part of my personal Christian service and journey with the Lord.”

• Do You Want to be Blessed?, 101 Things Young People Need to Know and 101 Things Church Leaders Need to Know are available at Brown and Co