Mike Vipperman, 32

In 1982, Mike Vipperman was born in Mansfield, Ohio, the youngest of four brothers.

As a young person, he enjoyed football, basketball, and soccer. Mike was also involved in his church's choir and drama programs and youth outreach team. He was an active member of his local FCA group.

After his 2000 graduation from Ashland High School, he continued his football and basketball career playing at Ashland University.

Eventually, he transferred to Graceland University in Iowa, and there his life changed when he met the woman who would eventually become his wife, Becky Embry, in 2003.

He was studying secondary education with a concentration in math and history.

After marrying, Mike and Becky transferred to Southeast Missouri State University and in 2008, he completed his bachelor of science degree.

The couple now have two children, daughter Mikalyn who is in second grade, and son Maverick who is still in daycare.

The year he graduated, Mike began teaching history and P.E.at Pemiscot RIII. The next year, he began teaching seventh grade math and coaching middle school basketball and football in the Dexter School District. There he remained for four years.

In 2012, he completed a master's degree in secondary administration from William Woods University.

In 2013, Mike accepted a position with the Malden School District and has taught Algebra I, been assistant basketball coach, and head coach for the high school golf team.

Though Mike has consistently worked toward advancing his career- it has not necessarily been his primary focus.

When Mike was 24, he gave his heart to the Lord.

"A lot of change took place in my life. God totally transformed me," Mike explained.

Having grown up attending church faithfully, Mike never felt specifically called toward ministry. That began to change, however.

In 2008, he took the role as youth director at Malden's First Assembly of God. He remembers that as he became involved with youth ministry, he felt a stronger drawing toward it. He also explained that working with the youth of the church went hand in hand with teaching- being around young people.

When the family moved to Dexter for work, they also began attending nearby Lighthouse Christian Center. While there, he explains that he was still growing in the Lord.

"That's when there was a tremendous call to step out- a passion to reach the lost for Christ."

Mike also remembers that he had a specific burden for broken homes. Working within the school systems, he far too often saw broken homes and what he calls an "attack on the family".

After Mike began teaching at Malden School, he also took a youth director position at Bethany General Baptist Church.

"God opened that door. I wanted to be used by Him," said Mike.

He served there nearly 10 months, but, all along, the burden to start a church was building.

For several months, he and his family began preparing for the upcoming transition.

In January 2015, ReVive Church launched.

Mike says that what really birthed the ministry was the hope to revive the people back to a place where they turn back to God. He had noticed a generational gap in churches- when grandparents were taking the grandkids to church instead of the parents.

He says the mission of ReVive is to love people right where they are because that is what Christ does. Mike says that Jesus was very clear about not worrying about the outside, but instead to focus on the inside.

"If you're broken- you're welcomed. If you're put together- you're welcomed. Your last name doesn't matter, your race doesn't matter. God sent His son to die on the cross for everyone," he believes.

Mike has the goal to this year reach 500 people for Christ, hoping to make a significant impact in the Kingdom of God.

ReVive has recently moved to North Douglass Street from their prior location on Narvel Felts Boulevard.

Initially, a core group of 15-20 people worked to help open the church and pray diligently toward the mission. This past Easter, 208 people were in attendance. He considers the growth overwhelming but believes that society is currently in a season when God is going to show Himself in a mighty way for the sole purpose of turning the nation back to Him.

Mike said that the Bible verse "Will You not revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You." --Psalm 85:6, is the inspiration for ReVive.

Someone who personally inspired Mike was his paternal grandfather, William Vipperman, who is now 93. He says that his grandfather is a man of principal who led by example, faithful in everything he did- whether church or family, always providing. Mike explains that his grandfather set the framework for what a leader within a family should be like.

Mike has some personal goals. Though all their extra time and attention is focused on the church and ministry, Becky will soon be completing her master's degree.

Mike plans to soon start a master's of divinity degree.

In addition to church, the Vipperman family is involved in sporting events, enjoys going fishing, and family cook outs. Mike has, since he married into Becky's family, began deer and duck hunting.

For his children, he hopes, above all else, they live their passion.