Biography

Born in Chicago, IL, I was raised in Chicago and Mexico City. My mother was born in Madrid, Spain and as a child survived the Spanish Civil War while my dad was born in the U.S. to Polish immigrants. I was raised Catholic and had the benefit of a Catholic education but never had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. God was distant and not relevant in my life. At the age of 28, just before I married my wife Susan, I accepted Jesus as my Savior. Looking back I can see how God continually pursued me through circumstances and people. Life since has been in many ways similar to life before I was saved - painful and joyous. The big difference though is that I have the confidence and assurance of Christ inside of me that is the result of developing a personal relationship with Jesus. No matter the struggles of life I know that God is in control, He has a purpose for me and He can use any situation or circumstance for His glory. God has been and will be by my side every step of the way. As I deepen my relationship with Jesus I am challenged to surrender more and more of my desires and my will to Him. As I do God has been faithful. He challenges me each and every day to become more like Jesus. I know that God loves me and that as I live my life He will be there guide me giving me opportunities to use the gifts He has blessed me with.

I’ve loved music my entire life but never pursued this passion. Wrapped up in the world and the pursuit of success until God got my attention and redirected my life. I was first invited to sing in a church choir in 1992 and now spend many Sundays helping to lead worship at my church as part of the praise band. I attended several Promise Keeper gatherings with our church men’s group. It was after one of these gatherings that I felt God encouraging me to begin writing songs. I resisted for a while because I had no musical training whatsoever. I never had voice lessons, could not play an instrument and could not read music. So why would I be able to write songs? Well, because God wanted me to write songs. His strength is perfected in our weakness. So in 1997 I began to write. I remember sharing my first song, Brothers in Christ, with my men’s group. Though I’m sure it was not very good I was encouraged by my brothers to pursue writing. From that encouragement came Men of Promise which John Tharnstrom took the time to co-write and produce. Again, God put people in my life to encourage me to pursue this gift, song writing. Every time I doubted whether I should be writing and creating music God put "encouragers" like Susan, my accountability brothers, the men’s group and others, along side me to help me whenever I doubted my ability and calling.

So be encouraged that God will use other believers to confirm and affirm your spiritual gifts. When you doubt that you are able or qualified to do the work God is telling you to do take comfort in knowing that God will give you whatever it is you need to do His will because in our weakness His love and glory is perfected. Though I do not play an instrument nor do I read music, God prompted me to create songs by writing and singing lyrics into a Dictaphone. These songs are a witness to God’s awesome power and His ability to take a broken vessel such as me and use me to glorify Himself.

It is my prayer that one or more of these songs touches your heart for Jesus and leads you closer to God. May all honor, glory and power be Yours Father, in Jesus name.

Mike