I am originally from Callahan, FL and moved to Michigan in November of 2000 to serve at Zion Baptist Church. Before serving in ministry, I was a trading analyst for Chase-Manhattan Mortgage (now JPMorgan-Chase).
I earned my M.Div. from Michigan Theological Seminary and am almost finsihed with my PhD in New Testament at the University of Chester (UK) where my research topic is Paul’s theology of suffering.
In addition to being a full-time pastor at Zion, I am also an Adjunct Professor in Bible & Theology and in Applied Theology at Moody Theological Seminary–Michigan and a Professor at Anchor Bible College in Ypsilanti..
I sit on the board of the Fish & Loaves Community Food Pantry based here in Taylor, and have long been actively involved in the Taylor community. I also served for several years as president of the Taylor Ministerial Fellowship.
I met my wife, Tondra, originally from the Atlanta area, in college in the late 80’s. We have two children, a son who serves in the US Army, and a daughter who is in college.
My hobbies are few but I enjoy them. I love going to the gym and reading, especially ancient and medieval history and science fiction. A lifelong Sherlock Holmes fan, I am a member of one of the oldest Sherlock Holmes societies in the US.
Find out more about me and my beliefs about the Bible, theology, and ministry by visiting my YouTube channel or by emailing me.
In case you’re curoius, here is a link to the church where I serve.
What Does the Text Say? 
What is your email address? I need a sample funeral sermon for an unbeliever.
Thanks
Joan:
Thanks for commenting. You may email me at pastor (at) ziontaylor (dot) org. Look forward to hearing from you.
My wife is from Kalamazoo and Alexandria VA. She still has relatives in western Michigan
Please friend me on Facebook
Kenneth Macari
GOD BLESS YOU and your ministry and GOD BLESS others through you! I read your review of the interview between Rob Bell and Andrew Wilson (after I had watched the interview myself). I have heard a lot about Rob Bell but have never actually read any of his writings or listened to him. So I was surprised by the lack of clarity he gave about where his position came from and his persistent refusal to answer the question. I was very impressed by Andrew Wilson (whom I too had not heard of before).
I saw you are doing a PhD in theology by research and that you like Science Fiction! I love science fiction and I like mysteries too and I am also thinking of doing a PhD in theology by research so I thought I would say hi and post something on your blog. We will have many differences since you are Reformed and I am Catholic, but you might be surprised by how much we agree on.
In Christ
Thanks for reading and commenting, Paul! Yes, we might very well agree on much and we can focus on that. I pray God’s blessings on you and wisdom for you as you decide about the PhD and I pray he makes you fruitful as you minister to others.
Grace and Peace to you,
Michael
Hai, Michael, Thanks for your article. Its sound great! God bless you and use you more.
Michael, so blessed how God works when I come across your blog, and then find out your in my home city Taylor, Mich. It’s probably so different now since when growing up there, through the 70’s and 80’s (note: timeline last lived there). Enjoy your teachings and articles, very informing and true to the truth of God’s Word. May God bless you and your family, your congregation, and ministry. Look forward to following you, take care and “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, (Ephesians 1:3).
Thank you for the kind words and the encouragement. Grace and peace to you.
Pastor Michael:
I read your post on how to preach a funeral sermon to a nonbeliever audience or for the deceased who was a non-believer. I found your guidance to be very helpful. I am an ordained minister who will be preaching my first funeral on Tuesday, March 22 for the deceased who I understand never confessed Christ. Can you send me a couple funeral sermons to my email mdb1194@yahoo.com.
Thank you.
Min Michael Bridges
Dear Michael: I have sent three sample funeral sermons to the email address you used to make this comment. Grace and peace to you.
Thank you very much Pastor Michael Jones for providing me with the sample funeral sermons.