Michael's Story...
Hi guys! My name is Michael, and for those of you who are interested, I would like to share my story. I have grown up in the community of Chesapeake (OH) all of my life and have rarely been anywhere else except for my college experience. As a child I grew up in a very loving and supportive family.
My mom and dad sadly divorced when I was a pre-teen, and as a result I chose along with my brother to live with my dad. At the time of the divorce my dad was a Christian, but my mom was not. Around that time, in and out of church, at the age of ten I (along with my brother) heard the gospel and trusted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, of all places in the living room of my grandpa’s house.
Fast forward, at the age of 14, my brother and I suffered the loss of our dad to a tragic car accident. Oddly, following that event, I felt God’s loving compassion and presence in a way that drove me closer to Him. My mom at the time took my brother and me into her home and as a family we attended church faithfully. My mom soon believed
the message of the gospel and she too began a relationship with God through Jesus!
Throughout my years in high school I got involved in youth ministry and was provided opportunities to teach and lead. Unexpectedly, (just a bit shy) I felt God’s call on my life to the preaching ministry in the fall of 2006. With the support of my church and family I began preaching when given opportunity, and eventually found myself attending Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA following high school graduation.
In 2010, I married my best friend, formerly known as Sarah Brock. Sarah and I graduated from Liberty together and returned to make our home in South Point, OH. God immediately provided teaching jobs for us as well as a part-time youth ministry position for me at Big Branch Church. God has continually proved Himself faithful in our lives and has provided above and beyond what we have expected. He has chosen to lead me from a teaching job at Ironton Elementary School to a full-time position as the Assistant Pastor to Pastor Randy Henderson, and Youth Pastor of Big Branch Youth Ministry (BBYM).
To this day, I continue learning that Christianity is the real deal and it’s about one name: Jesus. I owe all my life to Jesus. I love Him, because He first loved me. With all of my life I want God to get glory, and it’s my hope that you too come to trust what Jesus did (not just for me) on the cross for your sins, and see that with Him is where life begins. This statement I find relentless in truth, “Jesus is always better than we thought.”