Biography of Dr. Robert Costa, Jr. CPA

Pastor, speaker, teacher, writer and mentor. . . . the roles and burden of Robert Costa are a road map to the ways in which God uses him in Michigan and to touch lives far beyond. 

It could be said that Robert Costa’s ministry was birthed out of the boardrooms of corporate America.  Costa graduated magna cum laude from Suffolk University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.  A Certified Public Accountant in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), Costa served as a senior tax consultant for two of the world’s largest public accounting firms (Arthur Andersen & Company and Ernst & Young, CPAs). 

He was later employed as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of a three hundred million dollar savings bank, and Vice President and Treasurer of another financial institution.  During this time, he uncovered significant financial impropriety in the bank and assisted government authorities in a criminal investigation. This accounts for much of his focus on ethics amongst professional groups and his powerful testimony showcased in the Biblical-based teaching series he authored entitled “God’s Economics” and “Master Your Money”.

Later serving as a Financial System Specialist for a computer consulting company in central Massachusetts, Costa has been a frequent speaker at Microsoft-sponsored computer conventions such as “Windows on New England” and “Connect98”.  He was recognized as “Teacher of the Year” by a tri-state chapter of the American Institute of Banking and is listed in numerous “Who’s Who” publications.

Concerned with the ever-increasing load of government regulation levied upon churches, Costa has created a firm (Clergy Consultants) whose only practice is assisting churches, ministry and laity in legal, accounting, tax and other financial matters.  This concern stems from the fact that Costa is himself a veteran ordained minister, tenured Pastor and General Overseer of an Apostolic Network (I.C.A.N.).

Clergy Consultants Capital and Stewardship Division has raised hundreds of millions of dollars for churches and ministries.  Capital campaigns have been integral to erecting houses of worship.  Costa has ministered in “pledge” services where as much as $1.4 million was raised in a single night.  Additionally, Clergy Consultants has been enormously successful in securing debt financing for large projects at below-market rates.

On a ministerial level, Costa served as senior pastor of growing churches in rural Connecticut and Worcester, Massachusetts for 13 years and has been preaching since 1983.  In 2000, he left New England to accept a position as staff pastor of a vibrant congregation in Sterling Heights, Michigan and, later, an elder/minister of The Apostolic Church of Auburn Hills, a multicultural church with more than 2,300 members. He has served as Executive Pastor and Treasurer of several large ministries in North America and is a sought after speaker in the area of church finance and stewardship. 

Costa is a professor of theology, church growth and administration for Destiny School of Ministry, a fully licensed and accredited Bible school and seminary in Roseville, Michigan.  The school is affiliated with C. Peter Wagner’s “Wagner Leadership Institute” in Colorado Springs and the ACEA (the Apostolic Council for Educational Accountability).  Costa holds a Doctor of Divinity from Destiny School. He is also dean of the "Christian Leadership and Financial Insitute", which is owned and operated by Destiny School.

 Beyond financial stewardship, Costa’s diverse background allows him to minister effectively in many other areas.  His compassion for the lost and emotionally wounded allows him to effectively transcend traditional boundaries, whether they are denominational or cultural.

Costa’s pulpit style blazes with Pentecostal fervor and intensity as he focuses on the subjects of marriage and the family, restoration, spiritual growth, faith and emotional & physical healing. His sermons are relevant with anointed insights and contemporary applications of the Bible’s timeless message.

Costa is a frequent crusade/conference speaker having ministered in 40 states, Canada and Western Europe. He frequently speaks at men's and family life conferences as well as camp meetings and crusades. Costa serves as Men’s Ministry President for a coalition of churches throughout the Hawaiian Islands. He has spoken in some of the nation’s most noted churches and conferences, including Abyssinia Christ Centered Ministries, who’s Bishop is Dr. Iona Locke.

Costa resides in Michigan with his wife and 17-year-old son and is grandfather to a beautiful, 14 month old grandson by his 24 year-old daughter.