Michelle Austin           

Ministry Advisor

Husband: Steve

Children: Eli &  Ellie

More about: the Austin Family

I was born in Knoxville, TN the youngest in a set of identical twins.  My twin sister and I grew up in church and were there every time the doors were open from the age of 2 weeks old. I first accepted Jesus at the age of 6 years old and my Dad, a Baptist preacher, baptized me at the age of 8 years old.  Because of my Godly heritage and being in church so much, I have always prided my self in knowing all the right “Sunday School answers”. However, after many years of trying to become all that Christ has created me to be and feeling like I never measured up, I found myself living with the wrong perspective of myself and God. I found that all of this head knowledge was only leading me to experience fleeting moments and short lived episodes of real joy, freedom, change and abundant life.

From the age of 6, I have always longed to be a passionate Christ follower.  Jesus knew the desire of my heart and He heard my cry and revealed Himself and His true life changing love to me on February 17, 2006.  This is when my perspective of myself and God was radically changed and my real journey with my Savior began.  God had finally spoken to a place in my heart that had never been spoken to before and transformation instantly took place. The Lord has been so gracious to me that, “it is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous wonders that the Most High God had performed for me.  How great are His signs and mighty wonders.  His Kingdom is eternal and His dominion endures from generation to generation.” (Daniel 4:2-3)

My favorite scriptures:

(The cry of my heart for 10 years)

“Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth;

give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. 

I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all of my heart;

I will glorify your name forever.

For great is your love toward me.”

Psalm 86:10-13

“I took you from the ends of the earth;

from its furthest corners I called you.  I said, you are my servant;

I have chosen you and have not rejected you. 

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed,

for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:9-10 

My personal purpose statement:

The Lord has “called me in righteousness

to be a light to the lost, to open eyes that are blind,

to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon

those who sit in darkness” (Isaiah 42:6-7). 

So, just as Steve is passionate and called to minister

to the addict, I am just as passionate and called to minister

to the one who attends church every time

the doors are open but knows there is more…

the one who doesn’t even realize they are in bondage.

You won’t see me up front a lot but know

that I am behind the scenes mentoring and discipling people one on one and helping to bring freedom to the captives

sitting alongside me in the church pew each week.

My personal mission statement:

To declare the beauty of the Lord to all who are longing

desperately to fall in love with Jesus.

My personal philosophy in life:

You don’t have to change so God will love you but because He loves you then you will change.