By Sharon Mager

BOWIE, Md.  — On the morning of June 29, 2002, Cresthill Church, Bowie, Member Michael Callahan was on a subway train when he felt a call from God. That call, which impacted him enough to know the exact date, has resulted in an organization that ministers to people locally and around the world — all with the strategic purpose of sharing the gospel of Jesus. Callahan, who previously served 23 years with the U.S. Post Office, 14 years as a Bible teacher at a middle school, and many years ministering as a worship leader in various

Church attendees exit a service for widows and those who are blind.(Photo courtesy of BHM)

Maryland/Delaware churches, is the founder and executive director of Building Hope Ministries. He moved into a full-time position with the organization in September. The story of getting him there is fascinating and even involves the television show “The Amazing Race.”

“I was on my way to the Regent University extension center in Alexandria, VA, and sensed the spirit of God calling me. It was out of the blue. You know in word art how it can look like a banner or waves, or different shapes? The shape in my mind’s eye was a rainbow with colors and the name of a country was in the rainbow. I knew immediately that God wanted me to go. I fought against it. I was praying and questioning. Was this really from the Lord?”

God answered the question, confirming his call. Stepping into his auditorium-style class, Callahan couldn’t focus on the lecture. On the first break, he shared the “call” with his professor, the late Dr. Howard Foltz. “I gave him the cliff notes version, knowing he needed the break, and he said, ‘Well, Michael, you might want to pack your bags. We’re going to South Asia in three months!’” Though Callahan could not make that trip, looking back, he feels the “coincidence” was part of the ongoing confirmation.

Another strong confirmation was when Callahan met Pastor Van Bloss and his wife, Jane, from a Silver Spring church at a planting/missions seminar at Regent University in Virginia Beach, and the couple shared about their call to South Asia. A few years later, on Callahan’s first trip to South Asia, Van was the mission team leader.

At home, Callahan’s wife, Cindy, was not in favor of that first trip, as she was concerned about her husband’s safety and security. Michael said, “I didn’t want to go without my wife’s support.’ Interestingly, God used the show “The Amazing Race” as another confirmation.

On one particular evening, while the couple was watching the show, contestants ran through the major city where the South Asia mission team planned to be. Michael felt an immense burden for the souls of all the lost people in the city. Michael recalls, “I watched these people running through the streets and the marketplace, and I started weeping. My wife asked me what was wrong. In hindsight, she had a good reason to ask. No one died; nothing sad happened. I said, ‘It’s these people. It’s these people!’ It was an incident where God was drawing me closer to the people even before I left.”

Months later, the couple had an open conversation. Michael said, “I remember saying, ‘I need to make a decision. The team leader needs to know if I’m going. I know you don’t want me to, but will you support me?’” And Cindy said yes.

Michael Callahan said false Gods are seen throughout the country.

God continued to point him forward. While raising funds for that initial trip, donors provided twice the amount he needed. The team leader was amazed. Michael put the overage of the funds in an account for future trips to South Asia for either himself or another person.

When the team was finally on the ground at their destination, Michael and others were immersed in engaging people, providing food, ministering, and worshipping together. He experienced some extreme satanic attacks, and he saw demonic manifestations among the people, but the presence of God was intense. Michael said, “I can’t pinpoint a particular time in the entire experience that had such a significant impact, but I just left there a completely changed individual. I didn’t know when or if I would go back.”

But God had much more in mind for Michael. In 2007, he felt led to fast at the start of the year (not something he usually did). God impressed on Michael that He wanted him to further step into missions by building churches, schools and orphanages. “I said, ‘Lord, you don’t understand; I can’t build anything. The churches will fall on people.’” God impressed on Michael that others would build; he was to support what they would do. God even provided the name “Building Hope Ministries (BHM).” Michael said, “Not knowing what to do with that, I got together with three others (one is still with me, the others have moved on) to form a business and filed for 501c3 status. And they began to do what God asked. God provided funding and everything else they needed. Since that time, Michael has traveled to South Asia 18 times (He is preparing for his 19th trip in February). How many more are in the future? He doesn’t know.

Michael said, “Eighteen years later, and we’re just scratching the tip of the iceberg.“ He said that God has greatly expanded BHM. Internationally, the organization is involved in at least three countries, building and supporting churches, assisting schools, and supporting widows and victims of human trafficking, ministry to and with those who are blind, wells for villages in need of

Michael Callahan delivers supplies to a pastor who has a ministry to adults and children with AIDS.

clean drinking water, educational needs, Bible distribution, and more. Locally, BHM supports Night to Shine proms for those affected by disabilities, food distribution, disaster relief, and other ministries, all with the ultimate goal of sharing the gospel.

Jimmy Painter, the senior pastor of Cresthill Church is supportive of Michael. Painter said, “I’ve known Michael and his family for about 35 years. I have been on Missions Trips with him to Nicaragua and he led worship and I preached in a crusade in the city of Leone. He was on my staff as my worship leader before he stepped out to form BHM. Mike is my close friend, my

brother in Christ, and my partner in ministry. He is a living testimony to living a life of radical Christianity and living every day, as we like to call it at Cresthill, ”Being Jesus with skin on to others!”

Michael is unsure of the future, but he and Cindy plan to run this amazing race into eternity.

To learn more about the ministry or to partner, visit the website.

Sharon Mager serves as a communications specialist/and editor of BCM/D news & stories