Mike Rasmussen

“I grew up at a time where kids could be kids,” said Mike Rasmussen, who serves as an associate regional pastor and district pastor for GCI Church Administration and Development and is the senior pastor of GCI’s congregation in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. “I remember leaving in the morning on my bicycle and not coming home until it began to get dark. My friends and I would build forts and make ramps to jump our bikes. We would spend time making and setting off explosives. We’d spend the morning making the explosive devices and then spend the afternoon setting them off. Mind you, this was at a time when you wouldn’t be thrown in jail for such activities by Homeland Security. I would have told you I had a normal childhood, but as I have become an adult myself with two sons of my own, I realize it may not have been that ‘normal.’”

Mike’s family moved to Southern California when Mike was two years old so Mike’s dad could work in the Printing Department of WCG. “I grew up in Pasadena and attended our denomination’s elementary school, grades 1-7. When Imperial Schools closed, I attended a local high school. I wanted to be an architect and so after graduating from high school, I attended Pasadena City College. However, after spending a semester totally frustrated by the number of young adults who seemed to be more interested in challenging the professors’ authority than in actually learning, I decided to step out. My plan was to attend the University of California and continue my studies.”

As is often the case, our plans don’t coincide with God’s plans. Mike explains: “While I was between colleges, my mother began to nag me (love you Mom!) about applying to Ambassador College, our denomination’s college. I assured her that I had absolutely no interest in attending Ambassador, as I had no desire to be a pastor or anything even remotely like it. God sure has a sense of humor! Because of her persistence, I finally agreed I would apply and ‘when’ I was rejected, we wouldn’t talk about it again. She agreed. Several months later, I received a letter and much to my chagrin, I had been accepted. I spent the next three years doing all I could to ensure I would never be on any ‘future pastor list’ the College may have been putting together.”

Mike decided he wanted to be a salesman for 3M’s dental division during his junior year at Ambassador. “I found out where they were holding a meeting for some of their top executives and key salesmen in downtown Los Angeles. I put together a resume and sneaked into this closed-door meeting. I had researched who the National Sales Director was and waited in ambush for him outside the meeting room. When they went on break, I approached him and handed him my resume. I told him that if he hired me that in three years I would be one of his top ten salesmen and in five years, I would be his number one salesman. I was such an arrogant little jerk! He asked me if I had any sales experience or if I had taken any business classes. I told him no, but that I was getting my degree in liberal arts with a major in theology. He looked a little perplexed. He told me to take some business classes and to get a job that would build my sales experience. He then asked me how I got into this private meeting. I just smiled and shrugged my shoulders.”

Again, God had different plans for Mike. “At the beginning of my senior year, I was notified by my boss that Mr. Tkach Sr., the Director of Church Administration, wanted to see me in his office. I protested and assured my boss that nothing good could come out of such a meeting. As the day went on, I decided I better go ahead and show up for the meeting—I wasn’t completely stupid! While in the meeting, one of the first things Mr. Tkach asked me was ‘what are your plans after graduation?’ I was absolutely thrilled he asked. I exploded with all my plans to work for 3M and how I had it all arranged. He looked at me—in a way that only he could—and said, ‘Let me ask you one question Mike. What would you rather do—make money or serve God?’ I couldn’t believe it; how could he ask me such a question? I took a moment, which seemed like a lifetime, and I said, ‘Well if I have to make a choice between the two—I would have to say, serve God.’ He said ‘I am glad you said that—you start tomorrow morning!’ Did I mention that God has a sense of humor?

“I worked for Mr. Tkach Sr. for twelve years and then when he passed away I worked for his son Joe Tkach Jr. for several years. Joe Jr. didn’t have the same needs as his father, so in 1998 the decision was made that we would move to Oklahoma City to help pastor the congregation there. We have been pastoring there ever since and loving it!”

The “we” Mike is referring to is his wife Juli and their two sons, Grant and Kurt. “Six months after college graduation, I married the love of my life, Juli. We have been married now for 28 years. We have been blessed with two amazing sons. Grant our oldest, age 23, is currently at the University of Oklahoma and pursuing a degree in the medical field. Kurt, our youngest, age 21, is also at OU, now in his junior year. We do not have any grandchildren yet. We are looking forward to that phase of life, even though neither one of us looks old enough!”

Mike and Juli met in college while skydiving. “Now both of our boys are licensed skydivers as well. Grant is a skydiving instructor and tandem master, which means that he takes passengers who are attached to him. We enjoy the time together jumping and sharing the sport with others. During the summer, Grant took his mom on a tandem skydive and Kurt and I were able to join them on the plane and jump out. It was the first time the four of us were able to jump out of the same plane. Twenty or more of the members of our congregation have made one or more skydives. Interestingly enough, we have had a number of new members join our church family from the Drop Zone.”

Asked to elaborate on Juli, Mike shared the following: “Juli has a full-time job at a local Christian Daycare. She takes care of babies—newborn to one-year-old—and absolutely loves it. Anyone who knows Juli knows she is serving in her giftedness and passion. Even though she has a full-time job, she is active serving within our congregation, coordinating one of our praise teams, serving on the women’s ministry team, helping teach children’s church, directing our Crosswalk junior camp, helping clean the church, etc. etc. etc.”

When asked what he loves most about being a pastor and being part of GCI, Mike said, “I love sharing the good news of who God really is and who we are, as his dearly loved children. I enjoy the variety that comes with the job as well; no two days are exactly alike. Mike’s favorite pastoral moments? “Probably when I see the lights go on in someone’s thinking and they realize who they are in Christ. I also love being able to do camp ministry where you get to work with teens and young adults. They are so amazing and a blast to be around – at least most of the time.”

Speaking about GCI, Mike said, “I am thankful for the journey that God has taken us on. I wouldn’t want to go through it again, mind you, but I know God has used it to grow us and teach us who he is and who he isn’t. I also love that we have the freedom to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit. Also the fact that we have come to realize each congregation is unique, with different gifts and strengths. We also understand that each congregation has a unique way in which they have been called to serve their neighborhood and community.”

Mike said he feels closest to God when he skydives. “I feel closest when I am falling at 120 miles an hour or when I am wing suiting, which is when you wear a jumpsuit that’s like a flying squirrel. In free fall, you have a unique perspective of God’s creation and his blessings.” This ties in with Mike’s passion: “To be able to love on people and share the good news of Jesus Christ and also jump out of perfectly good airplanes.—I don’t think it gets any better than that!”