Pastor Mike
Faith, Innovation and a Heart for People
For as long as I can remember, I’ve believed faith isn’t something that just happens on Sunday mornings—it’s something that meets us in the middle of everyday life. Whether online, in our neighborhoods, or in the quiet moments when we’re trying to figure out what’s next, I’ve made it my life’s work to help people see how God is already at work in their story.
For nearly thirty years, I’ve had the privilege of serving in ministry across several denominations—including the Church of God (Anderson, IN), the Evangelical Covenant Church, and the Presbyterian Church. Those experiences shaped me deeply. Those years taught me something priceless: people everywhere are searching for connection, meaning, and a way to live out their faith in a world that’s constantly changing.
Meeting People Where They Are
A Vision for Ministry That Meets the Moment
My passion for meeting people where they are is what led me into digital ministry. Long before it became a trend, I noticed that people were spending more and more of their time online. I began asking, “If this is where people are, why isn’t the church here too?”
That question changed everything for me.
In the early 2000s, I started using data and community insights to help churches understand the people they were trying to reach. By 2006, when social media opened to the public, I saw it as an opportunity—not just for marketing—but for ministry. I began experimenting with ways to share the Gospel, build community, and disciple people online. Those early steps laid the foundation for what would later become Next Ministries.
When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted everything, those years of experience proved invaluable. I worked together with pastors and churches across the country and the world to help people stay connected with God and grow in their faith. What I saw confirmed what I’ve always believed: the Church isn’t defined by buildings—it’s defined by people following Jesus together, wherever they are.
Leading Next Ministries
Today, I serve as the founding pastor of Next Ministries, a vibrant and growing faith community based in Chicago.
We connect with people both locally and globally—through online worship, daily text prayers, digital outreach, and in-person gatherings. Monthly, Next Ministries has engaged up to 100,000 people seeking to explore faith, grow spiritually, and share life together.
Our mission is simple: to help people take their next step with God.
Through initiatives like our Food Pantry partnership, which provides groceries to families in need, and our annual Christmas Shop, where parents can purchase toys at affordable prices for their children, we live out our belief that faith should make a real difference in people’s lives.
Equipping Churches and Leaders
Beyond my work with Next Ministries, I’ve had the opportunity to coach pastors, consult with denominations, and guide churches through transitions into digital and hybrid ministry models.
I’ve served as:
New Church Development Coach for the Presbyterian Church
Contributor and reviewer for Barna Research’s The State of the Black Church in North America
Member of church planting and missionary networks including New Thing, The Chicago Partnership, and TheChurch.Digital
I also founded the Next Ministries Network, a growing community that equips pastors, churches, and ministry leaders to use technology for discipleship, outreach, and community building. Through training, collaboration, and shared innovation, we’re helping the Church connect with people in meaningful ways in a digital world.
Faith That Shows Up in the Community
For me, faith has always been something you live.
That belief has guided my commitment to social justice and community empowerment. I spent seven years as president of 18th & Wabash Corp, a nonprofit that provides housing and support for formerly homeless individuals in Chicago’s South Loop. I’ve also helped introduce Faith-Rooted Organizing to Chicago alongside Alexia Salvatierra, empowering communities to stand up against injustice with both faith and action.
A Bit More About Me
I’m a graduate of DePaul University, where I earned a B.A. in Communication Studies with a focus in Marketing and Advertising, and I hold a Master of Divinity from North Park Theological Seminary.
I’ve been married to my amazing wife, Jalaimya, for 29 years, and together we have two wonderful children, Madison and Mason.
At the heart of it all, I’m just passionate about helping people experience God in real and personal ways—both online and in person. My hope is that as you explore Next Ministries, you’ll discover that faith isn’t just something you believe—it’s something you live every single day.