Mr. Mike Hixson, Youth Director
"God was tremendously good to me growing up. He allowed me to be born into a family where my parents were Christians and did their best to raise me the way God wanted them to. That doesn't mean that I didn't face the same struggles other teens face. The world had a strong pull on me, just like it does for every teen. But I am thankful not only for my godly parents but also my church. Growing up here at Grace Church of Mentor, I was pretty involved in youth group, and those years being under the preaching of God's Word and serving here at Grace really showed me what real faith in Christ is. It's more than just storing up facts about the Bible in your head; it's a way of life - the only way to live: having a real, personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I saw firsthand how God could change lives in the outreach and missions trips that we did, and I saw the love that my Youth Pastor (now Senior Pastor!) had for the teens and seeing them grow in their faith.
"After graduating from college with a degree in Biology Education, I wanted to have that same impact for Christ that others had on me as a teen. I was blessed to do what I loved, but what made God's calling different was that I felt that God wanted me to be more than just a teacher. I was there as God's instrument to reach out to the spiritual needs of my students and their families. God has continued to lead me, moving out of education and into full-time work in reaching out to teens with the Gospel. The Gospel, God's Word that changes lives and my life, is what matters most. My desire is to continue to share the gift of salvation in Jesus Christ to the lost and to teach believing teens the Bible so that they will be prepared to do the same."
Mike was blessed by the Lord to be raised in a Christian home. His parents accepted Christ as their Savior when they were expecting him. Mike accepted the Lord through a Bible Club ministry that his mom held in their home. After attending a Mentor Christian School and graduating with a degree in Biology Education from a Christian college, he taught jr. high and high school Science. Through his classes Mike had many opportunities to minister one-on-one with teens as well as their parents, and the Lord gave him a real burden to reach beyond their academic needs to help minister to the greater spiritual needs of those families. He now feels that the Lord has called him to be a pastor and is pursuing a masters in theology.
Mike married his best friend (and classmate from 4th grade on!), Kelley in 2000. She also grew up at Grace, playing the piano for congregational hymns as a teen and being very active in the youth group. She graduated from a Christian college with a bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education. She continues to assist in the music at Grace and oversees the curriculum and policies in the childcare ministry. God has blessed them with two daughters: Julia and Claire.