Reverend Michael J Klassen
Although he didn’t move to Denver until he was four years old, Michael considers himself a Colorado native. He spent his formative years attending Redeemer Temple, a church immersed in the Jesus People movement. Childhood heroes included Barry McGuire, David Wilkerson, and most of all, Nicky Cruz.
Michael graduated from Lakewood High School in 1983 and enrolled at Oral Roberts University where he majored in Business Administration and minored in music. After serving as the youth pastor at Calvary Temple in Denver, he enrolled at Fuller Theological Seminary, graduating in 1994 with his Master of Divinity.
Through the years, Michael has served as a pastor in a variety of churches including independent charismatic, Foursquare, Mennonite, and Evangelical Presbyterian. Most recently, he was the Pastor of Congregational Life at Lookout Mountain Community Church in Golden (2001-2007).
Since 1997, he has also worked as a freelance writer in the Christian publishing market. He has ghostwritten eleven books and authored four including Prayers to Move Your Mountains (Thomas Nelson) and Strange Fire, Holy Fire: Exploring the Highs and Lows of Your Charismatic Experience (Bethany House) in addition to contributing to numerous other books. He has also worked on numerous adult and children’s Bibles as a contributing writer and theological reviewer.
Interests include working out, water-skiing at Lake Powell, rooting for the Denver Broncos, and playing his violin with the TNC worship team. This year, Michael celebrated his 23rd wedding anniversary with his wife Kelley, whom he met in college. Kelley is a social worker with the Douglas County Schools and in private counseling practice. They have three children: Anna (21 yrs) who attends Westmont College, Allie (14 yrs.) an aspiring singer, and Marina (14 yrs.) a horse enthusiast and animal whisperer.
