MICHAEL A. CAPARRELLI, PhD
Dr. Michael Caparrelli first heard the gospel over three decades ago at 17 years old, incarcerated at a juvenile detention center in Providence, RI for a string of robberies. Upon his release, his life was transformed by the power of Jesus Christ at North Providence Assembly of God. He was mentored by Pasco Manzo, then pastor, now the President of New England and New Jersey Teen Challenge.
In 2004, he graduated from Zion Bible College with a Bachelors in Bible. He served for several years as an associate pastor of North Providence Assembly of God while working on his master's degree from Liberty University. In 2008, he graduated from Liberty University with a master's in education.
From 2009-2019, he founded and pastored Sacred Exchange Fellowship, a church planted just outside of Providence by his mother church. The church served as a hospital for the sick, growing from 15 people in a storefront to 300 people with its own property - 4.5 acres of land and a large building bankrolled by a local businessman with a zero-interest mortgage. The church was birthed out of the promise of God in Isaiah 61:3, Beauty for Ashes.
His pastoring experiences included counseling people in recovery from addictions, the mentally ill and inmates in prisons throughout Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York. Dr. Caparrelli has had the joy of watching God transform the worst offenders into devoted followers of Christ.
In 2021, he finished his 128-credit PhD program in Advanced Studies in Human Behavior from the school of Behavioral Science at Capella University. His doctoral dissertation is entitled, “The Impact of Involvement with the Evangelical Church upon the Recovery Journey of People with Chemical Addictions - A Qualitative Study". Dr. Caparrelli traveled for 16 months throughout the northeast to interview people in recovery from substance abuse to ask the question, “How has the evangelical church helped or hurt your recovery journey?”.
In June 2021, he opened for John Maxwell at the National Adult & Teen Challenge Convention in Orlando. He has lectured in 24 states and 3 nations over the last few years in churches, substance abuse centers, prisons and universities.
He authored five books that help the broken overcome - Surviving Feelings, Dr. Jesus, The Ox and the Ass, Pen Your Pain Into Parables and Monster Mirror. His books have been adapted into the curriculum of several Adult & Teen Challenge Centers as well as the Rhode Island Department of Corrections.
He is a professor of 6 psychology courses - General Psychology, Criminal Psychology, Social Psychology, Introduction to Counseling, Theories of Addiction Counseling, Abnormal Psychology and Human Growth and Development. He teaches at Northpoint Christian College and Manchester Community College.
That same year, he resigned after surviving two heart attacks to travel with a ministry known as UnMuted - a ministry that gives the oppressed their voices back. The ministry was inspired by Jesus healing a mute man in Mark 7 whose tongue was instantly loosened. Dr. Caparrelli believes in the healing power of narrative therapy - people’s tragedies transform into testimonies by telling the story of what God has done.
Dr. Caparrelli recently conducted a 100-hour, 34 session, analysis of David Berkowitz, formerly known as the son of Sam. The study sheds light on the mental health factors and demonic activity behind violence as well as Berkowitz’s miraculous conversion since 1988. The book, Monster Mirror, ranked #1 on Amazon in True Crime New Releases throughout October 2023. He has appeared on the 700 Club, Dr. Carolyn Leaf’s Podcast and Dr. Daniel Amen’s show. The book will be featured on a 5 part documentary series on Netflix in 2025.
Most notably, he is married to Alicia Ann with 4 children, 3 stepchildren and 3 grandchildren.