Mike became a disciple of Jesus Christ as a teenager due to an evangelical heart-warming experience and the authentic Christian witness of the laity in his home church. It was through the experience of genuine Christian community during his years at Asbury College and his studies of Wesleyan theology at Asbury Seminary that his call to full-time ministry as an ordained pastor in the United Methodist Church was confirmed. Particularly, John Wesley’s emphasis on the holiness of heart and life (sanctification), a catholic spirit (the church across the world), evangelism and mission (“the world is my parish”) and covenant relationships (intentional discipleship) formed his theological convictions and the pattern of his life ministry.

Over his 43 years of active service in local churches and connectional ministries, Mike pastored small, middle-size, and large congregations, led cross-cultural mission teams, and served as a district superintendent. He also has served as adjunct faculty at Asbury Theological Seminary and Lindsey Wilson College. He retired from the itinerant ministry of the United Methodist Church in June, 2017, and from director of Discipleship with the Francis Asbury Society in December, 2021.

Sherry, Mike’s wife of 44 years, is the Dean of the College of Education at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Kentucky. Jonathan, their son and oldest child, lives in Wilmore with his wife, Faith, and two daughters, Audrey and Elizabeth. Jonathan is on the faculty of Asbury Theological Seminary as Assistant Professor of Worship Studies. Their daughter Leah is a doctoral student and teaching assistant in the field of International Education at the University of Florida in Gainesville.