Michael Tannous

One of my first mentors in ministry would regularly say, “Cheer up – you’re a lot more sinful, sick and a failure than you think. But cheer up even more – you are much more loved, forgiven and accepted than you ever dared dream.” Jack Miller

I was born and raised in Allentown, PA. I was the third in a family with nine children. We were Roman Catholic. I loved singing in the boys’ choir and being part of church. When I went to college, the rules-without-relationship Christianity did not keep me from rebellion. My conscience bothered me so that I tried to overcome my guilt conscience with a fierce pursuit of Catholic ritual. At some point I realized that I would have to die to make up for my guilt.

Then a Christian, involved with Fellowship of Christian Athletes, told me about Jesus dying in my place as my substitute. He told me how to get a hold of this good thing Jesus has done for me – simply trusting in Him. In October of 1978, I asked Jesus to forgive me and come into my life as Savior.

After graduating from college in 1980, I worked as an industrial microbiologist at Schaeffer/Stroh Brewery in Fogelsville, PA. I married in 1981. The church Mary and I were attending for three years asked me to consider going into ministry. So, in 1983, I enrolled in Biblical Theological Seminary and graduated in 1987.

I did not pursue ministry right away. I was working in construction (drywall finisher) when World Harvest Mission hired me as the first Personnel Director in January 1989. God blessed my ministry at World Harvest as a jack-of-all-trades organizer, manager, troubleshooter, and anything else that was needed to make the mission work.

In 1997 I took my first church as the Senior Pastor at Zion’s Spies Evangelical Reformed Church in Reading, PA. After ministering four years at this independent church, I was eager to find a ministry in a denomination. Rob Vaughn, a long-time friend, and prayer supporter of mine encouraged me to interview at Community BFC in Red Hill. My ministry at Community started in July 2001.

While pastoring at Community, I also served as the head swim coach of the boys and girls swim team at Upper Perkiomen Valley High School. Because of the success there, the local YMCA asked me to consider being their Executive Director. I took the job with the blessing and encouragement of my family and have been with the Y for 15 years.

Being a minister in the marketplace has allowed me to give testimony to God’s grace in the Gospel.

I’m ever in awe and love to emphasize what Tim Keller said: “We are so bad that God had to die for us. But we are so loved He wanted to die for us.”