Michael is Pastor of the English-speaking congregation at North Shore Baptist Church in Chicago; the church also includes Spanish-speaking, Japanese-speaking, and Karen-speaking congregations. Previously, Michael was Pastor of Webster Baptist Church in upstate New York, which allowed him to take a sabbatical to South Africa and engage in mission activities around Cape Town. Michael grew up in the church and was an adult youth group leader for several years in New York State and nationally through the American Baptist Churches, USA. This work led him to enter seminary at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, where he earned a Master of Divinity degree.