Mike Murrell--Our Founder
Mike has been in ministry since 1980. He founded and directed an international ministry called the Christ Patrol. Also, he founded and directed the national Calling Ministries. He has ministered on television, radio, and through numerous sources of writing. He spent 15 days in New York City with Pastor David Wilkerson's World Challenge Ministry, went through the Gathering of Pastors growth and leadership training with Pastor John Hagee in San Antonio, Texas, Billy Graham School of Evangelism in Toronto, Canada, and Creation College II in West Harrison, Indiana with Answers in Genesis. He is a graduate of the Evangelical Methodist Ministerial Course of Study Program as well as accomplishing numerous other training and educational studies. He is a graduate of the Long Ridge Writer's Course. He has written for such prestigious magazines as Celebrate Life, Bible Advocate Press, Evangel, and Express News. In 2007, his article Emily’s Story won national runner up at CareNet national ministry. Pastor Mike was ordained in the Evangelical Methodist Churches in Dallas, Texas in 2002. For over 20 years he has traveled in music ministry and revival preaching ministry, as well as founding a new church, and pastoring four churches in his ministry career. He has served in positions like county right to life president, county commissioners chaplain, and has played an active role, often joining hands with other ministries, to be a voice on many issues of the day. He has served in counseling ministry, nursing home ministry, youth ministry and has worked in ministry in all age levels. He has served as camp pastor and counselor for numerous camps. He also spent a year working for Juvenile Court in Delaware, Ohio receiving intensive training in family work as well as being a transport officer. He was decorated several times for his actions with the court. He also served as certified chaplain for Morgan County Jail and Sheriff’s Department and has served in prison ministry in several Ohio State Prisons. He has been pastor of the Martinsville Evangelical Methodist Church since September of 2002. In that time, the church has grown in all aspects of ministry.
|
Michael Faulkner--Cartoonist
 “Ebb Tide” and “It’s a Jungle” are but only two of the numerous comic strips created by the ever-prolific self-taught Michael Faulkner, who professionally is known only as “Michael.” Blessed with the passion to draw since earliest childhood, which was more years ago than he cares to remember, Michael has but only one main ambition in life: to acquire the “holy grail” of his profession; national syndication. “I’ve always wanted to work at home and be a lazy cartoonist,” he says.
"Ebb Tide" came about simply out of my love for the ocean and the seashore,” Michael says. “Doing the strip is just like going there to visit every day. The denizens of that little tropical island are based on people I’ve known and worked with over the years. But the central character, Harry, is probably the most like me. They belong to a species I completely made up out of my own little head and they live on an island that doesn’t exist, so I can enjoy the freedom of knowing anything at all can happen there, even the silly and bizarre, and knowing that my readers are laughing and sharing in the enjoyment. If only real life could be this much fun.”
A lifelong love of animals led to the creation of “It’s a Jungle,” one of several created by Michael over the years which have featured animal characters. The citizens of the Metro Zoo struggle to survive daily in the ever-challenging environment of modern society, with plenty of humans around to make comments about and laugh at. The strip has elements of other established strips such as “Over the Hedge”, “Sherman’s Lagoon”, and others. There is even a little bit of “Pogo” thrown in, and just enough Disney sentiment to keep it endearing to its readers. “Just goes to show what you can end up with when you put several of your favorite things all together into a single stew,” Michael says. “A complete mess.” But all kidding aside, “It’s a Jungle” hopes to continue to captivate and charm whatever audience is fortunate enough to discover it.
Michael lives in Marion, Ohio and describes himself quite modestly as a “wonderful nice guy anyone would love to have around.” He loves the beach, nature, animals and summer days, and hates winter with a passion. His favorite animals are lions and dolphins, and in addition to cartooning, he enjoys reading, bicycle rides in the country, and good Christian fellowship.
Destry Davis--Cartoonist
Humor can be found in nearly every aspect of our lives, even if we only see it in hindsight. I feel blessed to be able to see humor within the daily struggles of my own life, and in circumstances of just normal, every day living. I enjoy sharing this with others. It can be a powerful form of ministry. I have always had a love of drawing. At three years old, I drew my first “masterpiece” wall mural on our upstairs hallway wall. Armed with a fat, dark blue Crayola crayon, I drew a large “choo-choo” complete with three cars, a caboose and swirling line of smoke above the full length of the train. My mother, though frustrated at my need to decorate that empty wall, was impressed at the drawing ability of her toddler. She stood staring at what I had done. Somehow, I knew harsh tones and a spanking were my lot, and my eyes welled up with tears of anxiety over my due punishment. Yet, I will never forget the joy that overwhelmed me as mother scooped me up with kisses and hugs and sincerely exclaimed “Oh look at that! My baby boy is an artist!” That moment began my career. A few short years later, while on our family’s first fishing adventure together, we caught around one hundred large bluegills and sunfish. We kept a dozen of the biggest fish and cooked them on a campfire next to that large farm pond. In the excitement of that wonderful day, I was taken fatefully ill with a severe case of a disease known to many fishermen as “Fishing Fever”. It spawned a life-long obsession of fishing for me and has proven quite contagious as my wife and children are not immune to it. In 1983, the two great loves of my life inevitably came together and the “Fish Tales” comic strip was born! A fishing buddy of mine once described it as “Family Circus” meets “Bill Dance”. I must admit, that’s a pretty good analogy. Now, it may (or may not) be mere coincidence that the comic’s main character, Cooter Dees bears an uncanny likeness to me, the comic’s artist and creator. Cooter Dees has also shared many of my own life’s experiences, as seen, of course, from a comical angle. We continually explore the many aspects of an obsessed angler’s life from every point of view including the fish’s viewpoint. If even one Fish Tales comic makes you laugh and brightens your day, we have accomplished our ministry’s goal. God bless you all and good fishing to you!
|
|
|
|
|
