My family and I moved to North Alabama in 2004 to be near my wife’s parents who resided in Huntsville and were in poor health at the time. My wife, Becky is a native of Huntsville. I was born in Dothan, Al. graduated from high school in Prattville, Al. I served the Thomasville Baptist Church in southwest Alabama as Senior Pastor for 22 years. So, I am Alabama bred and Alabama raised, having spent different chapters of my life in south, central and north Alabama.

I am a graduate of Samford University in Birmingham, Al. and earned a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary with an emphasis in Biblical studies. I also have close ties with the University of Mobile having served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for a number of years while living in South Alabama. I have served as the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church Tanner since 2008 in a bi-vocational capacity. In 2004 the Lord opened a door for me to expand my ministry as the President and Senior Partner of Impact Stewardship Resources, based out of Franklin, Tennessee. In addition to my duties at FBC Tanner, I serve churches throughout the United States as a stewardship consultant and a Pastor coach.

God has blessed me with a Godly and competent Pastoral team to address the ministry and missional needs of our congregation. Our Associate Pastors complete and compliment a Pastoral team that share a remarkable oneness in convictions and theological persuasions.

My hobbies include reading American history, watching all types of sports, as well as hunting, fishing and golf. Although my lack of spare time, limits my ability to enjoy these activities, every moment is appreciated and enjoyable. My wife, Becky and I have been married for 40 years and we have a daughter, Bethany Nichols, who is married to a godly young man, Mitch Nichols, who serves our nation as an Army CW3 Blackhawk helicopter Pilot. They recently (9/23/19) blessed Becky and I with our first grandchild, Colt Wilder Nichols, the joy of our lives.

I enjoy preaching the Word and growing disciples of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. My favorite Bible verses are 1 Corinthians 15:58 and Psalm 84:11. My primary responsibilities as Pastor of FBC Tanner are preaching, casting the vision, and coaching the staff. I also have a Pastor’s heart and love ministering to people through challenging times in their lives.

Brother Michael was born and raised in Athens AL. He has been married to his wife, Teresa, since 1988. They have two children, Garrett who is married to Caila Norman, and Cora Elizabeth who is married to Geoffery Vick. They have two grandchildren. Oliver Henry Vick who is 3 years and Blake Lamar Browning who is 2 months as of November of 2023. 

In January of 1997, at the age of twenty-nine, Bro. Michael accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. In the year 2000, Michael and Teresa felt the call into full-time missions. In 2004 they were appointed by the International Mission Board as missionaries to Treinta y Tres, Uruguay, which is in South America. There they served as Church Planters. In 2009 they returned home to serve in their home church Clements Baptist Church as Minister of Administration and Missions. In 2015 they accepted a call to serve with Sardis Springs Baptist Church as Minister of Education and Administration. Brother Michael loves people and desires to make a difference in the lives of those that God puts in the path of this journey that God has him on. Brother Michael and Teresa’s life verse is Jude 22.

As of October 2023, they look forward to serving faithfully for many years with First Baptist Church Tanner. 

My wife, Amy, and I are natives of North Georgia. We have been married for 23 years. Amy serves on staff at Lindsay Lane Christian Academy (LLCA) as the Elementary Principal. God used the Army to move my family to the Athens area in 2009. We have a son and daughter that are actively involved at LLCA. After retiring from the United States Army after 26 years, I returned to in the Defense Industry in Huntsville, Alabama. I have an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from the United States Military Academy, a Master’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and a Master's Degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College.

While attending a county revival in South Alabama in 2001, God captured my heart and showed me my need for a Savior. I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior that night, and my life has never been the same since. Following several years of ministering on the streets of Huntsville and an evangelical mission trip to India, I surrendered to a call to preach the Gospel in 2013. Over the next five years, God opened opportunities to preach in multiple churches in North Alabama and North Georgia. I have been blessed to serve as the Family and Missions Pastor at FBC Tanner since January 2019.