What is it that drives, inspires, leads, or motivates people today to live a truly transformed life? Is it a church building, or a pastor, or fellowship on the Sabbath? It's only the inspired word of God itself that motivates us to live a transformed life as we allow that word to live in our hearts. From the beginning of God's word to the end, we have words of inspiration and hope that gives us the motivation to allow God to change us from the inside out. At baptism, we choose to allow our focus to shift from the things that motivated us in the past to the items that God wants to motivate us into the future. Jesus shared, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Matthew 6:33) What has become known as the "Beatitudes", in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, are mindsets or attitudes we choose to allow in our lives, thus, to motivate our lives.

Mike Phelps

Pastor, United Church of God

Michael Phelps and his wife Laura, and daughter Kelsey, attend the Ann Arbor, Detroit, and Flint Michigan congregations, where Michael serves as pastor.  Michael and Laura both grew up in the Church of God.  They attended Ambassador University in Big Sandy for two years (1994-96) then returned home to complete their Bachelor's Degrees.  Michael enjoys serving in the local congregations as well as with the pre-teen and teen camp programs.  He also enjoys spending time with his family, gardening, and running.