Not your average pastor. Not your average church.
“Most pastors don’t start their bio with “I’ve been divorced, broke, unemployed, and raising three kids alone.”
But then again, Pastor Michael isn’t most pastors.”
I wasn’t born with a collar or a seminary nameplate. I was born to a teenage mother, adopted twice, lived in foster care, and spent time in a children’s shelter.
I’ve been unemployed. I’ve been on welfare. I’ve raised three kids on my own. I’ve gone through a divorce. I know what it’s like to fight for custody, to choose between groceries and gas, and to cry behind a closed door so the kids wouldn’t see.
I’ve also started over. Worked three jobs. Built a business. And through it all, God has been building me.
That’s why I lead with empathy—because I’ve been there. That’s why our church welcomes people exactly as they are—because there were times I wasn’t sure if I belonged in church either.
Jesus didn’t start with a building. He started with a conversation.
I didn’t start Community Center Church because I had it all figured out. I started it because I didn’t.
Jesus didn’t start with a building. He started with a conversation.
After years of being told I didn’t fit the mold—too divorced, too poor, too outspoken—I realized the mold was the problem. So we built something different.
CCC isn’t built on performance. It’s not about how you dress, who you voted for, or whether you know all the books of the Bible. It’s about being real, being together, and being transformed.
I preach from the Old Testament, but I live in the present. Our theology is deep—but our words are plain. We’re not here to entertain you. We’re here to build you up, break chains, and create space for honest conversation and spiritual growth.
We meet online. We minister in person. We don’t just go to church—we are the Church.
Meet Pastor Michael
| 📍 Based in | Jonesboro / Lovejoy |
| 👨👩👧👦 Family | 5 kids, 8 grandkids |
| 🛠️ Side Hustles | PMP, business owner (Paul Springfield Products), Actor, Notary Public, Photographer |
| 🏡 Housing | Rehabbing a home since 2020 |
| 🐶 Animal Crew | 3 Rescue dogs + 2 parrots |
| 💍 Marriage | Husband & caregiver to Melody (transplant & dialysis warrior) |
| 🤝 Passion | Breaking walls of classism, racism, and “church-ism” |
| 🧠 Theology | Bonhoeffer, Thurman, and the red letters of Jesus |
I didn’t just stumble into ministry—I’ve wrestled with it.
I’m shaped by Howard Thurman’s “religion of Jesus”, by Bonhoeffer’s costly grace, and by the uncomfortable truth that Jesus wouldn’t be welcome in a lot of churches today.
I believe the gospel should lift the low, confront power, and build bridges, not walls.
That’s why I speak openly about racism, classism, and church hurt—because I’ve lived it. And because I know Jesus didn’t come to create another empire. He came to build a Kingdom.
“We’re not building brands. We’re building bridges.”
I’m not here to impress you—I’m here to walk with you.
If you’ve been hurt by church, you’re not alone. If you’ve ever felt like you don’t belong in “Christian spaces,” this might be the space you’ve been looking for.
I’m Pastor Michael. I’m not perfect. But I’m committed. To people. To healing. To Jesus.
And if that sounds like something worth showing up for… I’d love to meet you.