Mike Emmert

College Ministries
The Next Level

Mike hails from Mountain Lake, Minnesota, where for 17 years he has ministered to students. Mike and his wife, Marlene, are making the transition from rural Minnesota with their four children, Bailee, Tess, Allie and Walker.

Mike has for 10 years served as the youth pastor at the Christian Missionary Alliance Church in Mountain Lake where he shepherded students in grades seven through 12. He also served as executive director of Southwest Minnesota Youth For Christ for over five years and has been a popular speaker and a developer of evangelistic outreach events. Mike has led Small Groups and Bible studies, counseled youth in crisis situations, led mission trips, organized camps and ministered to families. He has also worked in the public schools as a high school football coach and special education teacher. Clearly, Mike knows young people!

Mike and the family are looking forward to ministering to college people and getting to know them. "In ministry," says Mike, "people need living models of men and women of God who are passionate about their faith. I want my passion for God to be contagious."  He continues, "My approach to ministry is very relational. I believe my strengths are listening and caring for people. I have a passion to see lost people find Jesus and believe this happens when people see you loving your family and caring for those around you."

Mike grew up in a strong Christian home and at the age of six knelt by his bed and asked Christ into his life. His dad is his hero, a loving dad, faithful husband and man of God who always walked the walk of a believer. His example became the foundation for Mike's life.

Mike holds a Bachelor of Science degree in English with a minor in special education from Mankato State University in Minnesota, and a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in sociology with minors in psychology and English literature from Bethel College in St. Paul.

"What I like best about being a youth pastor," says Mike, "is working with teenagers and seeing them grow up as years go by, doing their premarital counseling and their weddings. That's fulfilling - to marry kids you had in your junior high ministry!"

A well-rounded man who loves sports, Mike values imagination, listening and being with people. "I love being creative in ministry and I like to do new things. People always love a good story, so I enjoy finding ways to tell stories through drama, film clips and other innovative methods. I like planning worship and illustrating God's Word."

Some of his favorite reading material includes Oswald Chambers' "My Utmost For His Highest," A.W. Tozer's "The Pursuit Of God" and Erwin McManus' "The Barbarian Way." "My two favorite TV channels are ESPN and the Food Network!" he says. "I love to cook, and my wife and I enjoy cooking together. We have a lot of fun!" He points out that rural Minnesota lacks some exotic foods called for in today's cooking. "But I know," he says, "that I'll find all of them in Modesto!"