Michael grew up in southern Michigan and attended Hope College (Holland, MI), where he met his wife Laura. Since then, they have lived in Naperville, Ghana West Africa, Orlando, and now in Aurora, IL since October of 2010. Along they way they had five kids who now range in age from high school to young adult. There were many aspects that drew the VanHuis family to Redeemer in 2019, but specifically – the warmth of a welcoming congregation, the gospel-focused preaching of the word, and the practical care of shepherding people in our community and around the world. During the week, Michael serves as the Vice President of Missio Nexus which is the association of Great Commission-focused churches and mission agencies for the United States and Canada. Michael loves the outdoors, especially being in the mountains. He also loves reading, music, working with his hands, and spending time with his family.