Mike was welcomed into Earthlight in August of 2000 and was chosen again to fill the Bass position in August 2001. A long-time, southeastern Missouri native, Mike has had close to nine years of experience in the southern gospel music ministry field.

   

    At the age of 12, Mike began singing in local churches. At 14, he  joined in the position of bass singer for a local all male quartet known as "The Heartland Boys Quartet". He would later travel throughout southeastern Missouri with the quartet for 9 months before finances at the time would limit travel.

 

            Focusing more on a solo ministry, Mike would later form a few limited vocal duets with friends to perform at holiday oriented occasions, school events, and a few select churches. 

 

            In July of 1998, at the age of 16, Mike, now primarily singing lead, formed a musical duet with Carolyn Rector, a very talented woman with an incredible voice. It was during the time of this musical partnership that Mike and Carolyn were invited to appear on a local radio program titled, The Glory Train and also another program entitled, Homespun Gospel. Both the Glory Train and Homespun Gospel would become an association of which Mike has  joyfully been a part of for four years and continues to make guest appearances when schedule permits.

 

            Mike and Carolyn quickly rose on the charts of this local radio and television program and advanced to be featured as the most requested local artist in southeastern Missouri and would retain this position until regrettably, family and personal health complications forced Carolyn, a wife and devoted mother of three, to come off the road.

 

            Though the absence of Carolyn's wonderful personality and vocal excellence was greatly felt, Mike would continue to perform solo for another year before meeting Beth Richardson, who came to the Glory Train in the Fall of '99.

 

        In January of 2000, Beth and Mike would become very popular on the program and would advance to being the most requested vocal duet on the program until both decided to pursue a college education.

 

       Mike, in October of 1999, met University Vice President Dr. Ora Johnson at a revival where Mike was singing, a night which would forever change his life. Dr. Johnson told him about a university funded southern gospel group named Earthlight, which would if he was received into the group, fund the majority of his college.

 

           

       To be a part of a youthful southern gospel ministry in such a format as Earthlight offered was a lifelong prayer that had been finally answered. Enlisting the interest of Beth also to attend Oakland City University due to the prospect of Earthlight, the two enrolled in the fall semester of 2000. Shortly after the first week was over and auditions held, they received the good news of being accepted to this prestigious group in which they would remain as members for a year and a half until the resignation of Earthlight manager, B.J. Crowder in December 2001, afforded them the position of co-managers of Earthlight, a position of which is currently held by both.