Michael Spitters
Lead Pastor

About Me

Michael was born October 9, 1961 to Frank and Nancy Spitters. He is the oldest of six children. Michael grew up in the beautiful lakeside town of Saint Joseph, Michigan. He graduated from high school in 1980. Michael earned a Bachelor of Arts degree (majoring in religion) from Hope College (a private liberal arts college affiliated with the Reformed Church in America).

Upon graduation in 1984, Michael spent a year serving the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan as a student missionary. He earned a Master of Divinity degree from Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University in 1989. In 2002 he earned his Doctor of Ministry degree from Chicago Theological Seminary.

While attending seminary in 1987, Michael served as the youth pastor of the 10,000 member First United Methodist Church in Ft. Worth, Texas, and subsequently served three Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) congregations in the state of Michigan.

The Spitters family includes: Michael's wife Danielle, his daughters Molly and Kate, and son Benjamin. The Spitters enjoy many outdoor sports. Michael competed in the Reed's Lake triathlon. He has finished the Chicago Marathon twice and looks forward to running in the San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon. All five of the Spitters are eager to learn to surf!

Both Danielle and Michael are thrilled to sense God's call to move to California. They have thoroughly enjoyed meeting with several lay leaders of the Torrey Pines Christian Church, and look forward to many years of loving and being loved, serving and being served, and knowing and being known by the TPCC members.

Email Michael

Faith Journey and Call to Ministry

I cannot remember a time that I did not believe in Jesus Christ. I love to learn and discover ways to apply Jesus' teachings in various contexts. I majored in religion and minored in biology at Hope College. That combination of study stretched and inspired me intellectually. Serving God at a young age deepened my faith. I played the guitar and led singing for the Fellowship of Christian Students in college. I also served as a camp counselor for an entire summer. My post-college experiences in Taiwan and subsequent service as a youth pastor prompted me to dig deeper into the Bible, pray more frequently and increasingly rely on the Holy Spirit for strength. My faith has grown and my call to ministry has been confirmed over and over again as I have had the privilege of witnessing significant transformation in the churches I have served. Nothing excites me more than partnering with God (and a committed church family) to touch people's lives, restore broken relationships, deepen people's faith and reach out to a hurting world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

There’s no question in my mind that God has a plan for our church to be more fruitful, more impactful, more of a blessing to our community and the world in 2008. In my experience, responding to God’s call to serve may bring joy, peace and prosperity, but it can just as easily bring a profound sense of dis-ease, dislocation and adversity. What if the Christian faith is not about us getting what we want from God, but rather, what happens in us when God gets what God wants from us?

I believe all Christian Churches ought to be in the life change business. God’s ultimate concern isn’t getting more buildings, bodies and bucks for TPCC. I’m not opposed to enhancing our buildings, seeing more bodies in the pews, and more bucks in the offering plate, but those are just means to an end... the end is transformation... the end goal is developing more, and more fully devoted, followers of Jesus Christ.

I can’t wait to see the transformation God has in store for our church family in 2008. This is going to be a very exciting year together. Thanks for the privilege of serving alongside you.

Blessings,
Michael