Paul says, “For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers.”
Many emerging Christian leaders have come to spiritual leadership having little experience or practical ministry training. In many cases, their formal training is completely secular, and their home life had little spiritual grounding. They need exposure to someone who has proven ministry experience—a mentor, a spiritual father to share experience, critical skills, and inspiration for the mission they are facing.
Their call is real, but success is not guaranteed.
My mission is to impart to you what God has given me so you can accomplish more than I ever have.
Mike Cavanaugh
Founder
Coming soon!
Preaching & Speaking
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6-Week Preaching Class
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“Mike is a leader of leaders. It has been said that a mark of a great leader is not one who identifies problems, but one who solves problems. Rarely have I found anyone who has the kind of thinking it takes to become a problem-solver like Michael Cavanaugh.”
“Having him as a leadership coach and mentor has changed my life and the trajectory of my ministry. Being able to closely observe his character, family dynamics, boardroom decisions, Biblical teaching and ministerial leadership, I can assure you that his presence will bring a catalyst for growth in your life and organization!”
“Many of the principles I learned and experiences I had as a young leader from Mike impact my life and ministry today and every day that I serve. Words cannot express my gratitude for the life of this father in the faith.”
“Mike has a unique gift to propel people from neutral to 90 mph in pursuit of God’s call and destiny. His ability to break complex problems into manageable, doable steps, has taught me that no challenge is too large.”
“The lessons learned from Mike about fatherhood, marriage, goal setting, and more were fundamental in our family’s development. I don’t think there has been anything more transformative for me than being in his mentorship group at that critical time in my life.”
“Second only to my father, Mike Cavanaugh has easily had the greatest influence on my life than any other man. Mike’s ability to listen and share direction, wisdom, and feedback will leave you digesting his words for the rest of your life.”
“Pastor Mike’s impact on our church and my leadership is immeasurable. From offering advice on structure, teams, doctrine, leadership, or church culture, Pastor Mike has been a voice of wisdom and encouragement to our church and to me personally. If you have the opportunity to benefit from his counsel and coaching, draw from him all that you can absorb.”
“When I faced a personal crisis, Mike came alongside of me and helped to walk me back to spiritual and ministerial health. Others rightfully know Mike as a great leader and preacher. To me he is a life saver!”
“The main ideas Mike shared with me also had a strong influence not only on my preaching style, but also on a Homiletics course I teach, which was filmed separately by two international ministries and is currently being used in over one hundred countries and dozens of languages.”
“Through my time spent with him professionally, Mike not only increased my potential as a leader, but also was the direct influence on my capacity to think and believe for things I never dreamed of. He saw more in me than I knew was there and found ways to bring it out and I am forever grateful.”
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My Story Part 4: The Story Behind Not Many Fathers
In May 2020 I stepped down as the president of the college and began to evaluate what God’s next steps were for me. The first thing I did was try to identify what I felt about this next season of ministry. I concluded that my purpose was to fulfill my ministry by imparting to others what God has given me encouraging them to accomplish more than I ever have. From this I founded Not Many Fathers. Through this ministry I mentor emerging Christian leaders in how to make wise decisions, preach dynamically, and boldly initiate their visions so they can reach their God-given potential. As one young leader expressed to me, “Something that keeps sticking out to me concerning my generation is that they have ‘endless information but little wisdom’. We have been left with Google as our guide but virtually no mentors.”
November 24, 2020 -
My Story Part 3: The Building Years
In 1980 we moved back to Lima, NY where I made the Elim campus the BASIC headquarters. During that season I began to be burdened by God for the single adult population. Out of this burden a new ministry was born called Mobilized to Serve. This ministry exploded and for 8 years I traveled around the world, speaking in hundreds of churches, with a message for single adults. I also wrote a book called God’s Call to the Single Adult that sold over 100,000 copies and is still published today under the title The Power and Purpose of Singleness.
November 16, 2020 -
My Story Part 2: My Life and Ministry Foundations
When I graduated from high school I decided to attend Elim Bible Institute. The church I attended was pastored by an Elim graduate and many high school students I helped lead to Christ and church volunteers I knew also eventually attended EBI. My time at EBI served as a season of spiritual formation. My first 18 months were all about me dying to myself. I wanted to give up every week. I felt like a mess who could never get anything right. Then during a Week of Prayer event at the school God met me and gave me a life changing revelation of His Grace. It was like I got saved again. I gave up on my effort and found that Jesus was enough, and that God would finish what He had started in me. I will always be deeply in debt to the people at Elim who believed in me.
November 9, 2020 -
My Story Part 1: How I Got Started
I am amazed at who God picks to do outstanding things for Him. Just look at the guys Jesus selected as his disciples! In fact, if you look closely at the men and women He used throughout the Bible and church history you’ll discover a bunch of people who were insecure and broken, often with a crazy childhood. I suspect your story isn’t much different, after all He chose you too. Neither is mine.
November 2, 2020
