Carmine Azzato serves as the Outreach Pastor at Millwood where he focuses on sharing the Gospel, encouraging Team Members and helping extend Millwood’s mission beyond the walls of the workplace. Through outreach initiatives, ministry partnerships and personal discipleship, Carmine works to ensure that all who come in contact with Millwood clearly see the love of Christ in action. He also leads Hitting The Pavement Ministries alongside his wife Jules, helping individuals discover their identity in Christ and become true champions for Jesus.

Before stepping into full time ministry, Carmine devoted 23 years to professional wrestling under the name BLAST and later as one half of the tag team The NEW DEMOLITION. He achieved nine world championships and wrestled in arenas filled with tens of thousands of fans. Yet behind the spotlight he faced deep struggles with addiction, depression and identity. Fame and success could not fill the void he carried inside.

A life altering moment came after the events of September 11 when Carmine witnessed the tragedy from his mother’s rooftop in New York City. The experience forced him to confront eternal questions about life and purpose. Over the next 13 months, two coworkers, David and Luis, consistently shared their faith with him. Their persistence and compassion ultimately led Carmine to surrender his life to Christ in November 2002. What followed was healing, deliverance and a complete transformation. The platform that once promoted fame became a testimony of redemption.

Since that day Carmine has traveled the world not wrestling for titles but wrestling for souls. He often returns to the same arenas and cities where he once performed, now preaching the Gospel and sharing the hope he found in Jesus. He believes his story proves that no one is beyond God’s reach, and no circumstance is too broken for restoration.

At Millwood Carmine sees a company grounded in faith and committed to serving people with authenticity. He believes what sets Millwood apart is its willingness to boldly live out Christ centered values in the marketplace. His leadership is shaped by Scripture, servant leadership and the belief that identity is found not in performance but in Christ.

Carmine and Jules have been married for nine years and are proud parents of Meadow, Austin and Chandler. Outside of ministry he enjoys boating, fishing, traveling and spending time with family. He lives by the principle that while perfection may not be attainable, pursuing excellence honors God and inspires others to rise higher.