At sixteen, while growing up on an Iowa farm, David read The Hiding Place, by Corrie Ten Boom. In this book, she recounted her experiences of helping Jews in the Netherlands during WWII, leading to incarceration in a German concentration camp. Through her story David learned about forgiveness and following God, even when it's hard or risky. David's extended family like the Ten Boom family stayed and helped the persecuted and vulnerable during WWII. They would tell him of the lives saved, the risk taken and the family members lost to the concentration camps.

In high school, he accepted God’s call to be a missionary and joined Youth With a Mission (YWAM) where he worked at orphanages across Central America, Mexico and Haiti, for several years, before meeting and marrying his wife of now 36 years.

David wanted to be able to offer more practical help to those in need, which led him to become a Registered Nurse (RN). David's nursing career spans over 30 years. He has served in hospitals, brain trauma units, and maximum-security prisons providing medical care to those in desperate need. His numerous awards include Employee of the Year and Clinician of the Year. He has received each of these honors on several occasions, at different hospitals.

David's humility is evident to all who know him. His life has been dedicated to serving others. He has always felt a specific calling to provide good healthcare to those who might not get it , if he did not follow God in ways that are hard and risky. This calling has led him to do medical clinics in destitute cities and remote villages in Honduras and Haiti, the two poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. More recently, he delivered crucial medications to war-torn Ukraine.

David’s favorite quote: ‘When you see your brother or sister suffering, you must not stay silent. Do not remain still. Go to their aid. Help them.’ (The Red Sea Diving Resort)

Michael has always had a desire to help people and defend those who are most vulnerable. This desire was born out his encounter with Christ at 12 years. Mike grew up listening to stories of hardship from his grandparents. His maternal grandfather left home at 14 because there was not enough food for the younger children. His paternal grandmother would tell stories of the hardships they endured during the great depression. 

Mike served faithfully in his local church and community in his teen years leading worship and teaching children's class. He was a student leader in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) at his school. 

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He grew up in a family where service was a way of life. His father and mother were Pastors at Family Church in Whitehall, AR.  They oversaw the small group ministry and the Celebrate Recovery Ministry.  His father also lead a chapter of Christian Business Men's Committee (CBMC) for many years. 

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He met David Van Gilst at the age of 17. David was the first young missionary he had ever met and this would have a profound impact on Mike. At 20 years old he went on his first mission trip to Mexico to help build temporary structures after an earthquake for those who had lost everything.  After coming home he wept over the families that were hurting and asking God how he could help.

In 2010 he had an opportunity to take a trip to provide clean water to a small village Peru where cholera had caused several deaths. Mike's family also joined him in served over the years.  In 2010 Mike and his family volunteered to support the families impacted by the Nashville flood and also the tornado of 2020. His daughter Anna took multiple trips to labor on behalf of the people of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.  His daughter-in-law spent her teen years with here family serving as missionaries in Laos and Cambodia.  Both ladies are now nurses and continue to help those in the community in their greatest hour of need.

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Mike earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from the University of Arkansas where he graduate Suma Cum Laude.  He had an extensive career in sales, marketing and business leadership in the field of industrial automation.  His career took him around the world building and leading companies working in Europe to Asia and the Americas.  After his corporate career he founded a company to serve the automation industry and a second company in commercial real estate. 

His greatest joy in life is found in serving people in their greatest hour of need. We invite you to join us in this amazing journey and experience true fulfillment and purpose in life.

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After all, we are all 1 tribe.  Join the mission!