Place of birth: Cape Town, South Africa / Székelyudvarhely - Odorheiu Secuiescm, Romania
Job description: Worship leader, CD Producer / Translator, Mother of two
Favourite verses: “Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4) / “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
Favorite hobby: Playing the guitar, playing basketball, watching American football / Making cards, writing articles
Golgota Radio interview with Mike (in Hungarian): Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
You’re a family sojourning in this world. Tell us about your backgrounds...?
Mike was born and raised in Sun Valley, South Africa, right at the tip of the continent. He moved with his parents to America in 1983 and lived in Colorado for 7 years before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. He spent 6 years with the Marines before God called him to Hungary as a worship leader. Here he met Marika, who is from Romania.
Actually, Marika is from Transylvania. Her hometown is on the slopes of the Carpathian mountains. Its 90% Hungarian, rich in hospitality and culture. She was saved in 1989 just after the revolution while traveling in Hungary with a music group.
How did you meet?
It was in 1996, we both became part of a Romanian/Hungarian music group called “A Newsong”. The group traveled together all over Hungary and Romania, putting on concerts and ministering to the different churches in Eastern Europe. Mike played keyboard, guitar and sang tenor and Marika sang soprano. We really started to talk with each other when we were sitting together on the front seat of the tour bus (it was a really long bus ride)!
We were married October 11th, 1997 in Colorado while on a coast to coast music tour of America.
What happened after “A Newsong”?
Our first son, James, was born, so we resigned from “A Newsong” and concentrated on the worship ministry at Calvary Chapel Debrecen, Hungary. There's never seemed to be a dull moment in our lives.
Mike was an assistant pastor in Debrecen for 5 years, teaching the English bible study on Monday nights and leading the worship with Marika. Mike also led the Hungarian worship services with the help of an outstanding worship team. Marika was involved with the children’s ministry, teaching and translating.
Beginning in September 2001, as a family we moved to Budapest to take over the worship ministry. Here in Budapest, we want to do whatever the Lord calls us to do.
So what do your days look like?
Marika works in a kindergarten. She also does translations for the church, as well as leading worship at the women's Bible studies. Mike does worship on Wednesdays and Sundays with the worship team – which has grown to 30 members. He also works in the sound studio in the basement of the church. In 2006 we were able to go to Afghanistan, sang songs to the soldiers there, and sometimes we do concerts with the same team here in Hungary. Sometimes Mike also gets invited to teach or do worship in various other churches in Hungary, and these occasions are always a privilege for us.
