Michael Pitts (pastor)

Michael Pitts
Born Michael Stephen Pitts
(1964-08-31) August 31, 1964
Lima, Ohio, United States
Nationality American
Occupation Pastor
Religion Christianity
Spouse(s) Kathi Pitts
Website http://www.michaelpitts.com

Michael Pitts is an American pastor, preacher and author based in Toledo, Ohio. He is the founding pastor of Cornerstone Church and oversees the Cornerstone Global Network, a network of over 120 churches throughout the USA, Mexico, South Africa and the UK. He was consecrated as a bishop by the International Communion of Charismatic Churches in 2009.[1] He has authored several books, including Breaking Ungodly Soul Ties, Power Shifters, and Boundary Shifters.

Ministry beginnings

Michael Pitts was born in south Lima in 1964 to factory workers Eugene and Brenda Pitts. His parents were raised attending Church regularly, and filled with the Holy Ghost many years ago. Brenda played guitar and sung at Quickstep Pentecostal Holiness Church in Alger Ohio, with Eugene serving in various roles of Church Governance. From an early age, Michael struggled with the unwavering, unquestioning faith of his parent's Church. A young, ornery Pitts soon became frustrated with the world, as he lacked the ability to ask questions to the confusing things that didn't make sense.

By 14 years old he had a strong sense of God's presence, and made the decision to follow Christ during youth week at the Faith Gospel Tabernacle in Lima. Soon afterwards, he was attending Mount Olivet Church of God in Christ, where he was "baptized in the Holy Spirit, and started speaking in tongues". It was during these two distinct moments in his faith journey that he began to feel a distinct purpose, to preach to all who would hear.[2]

Pitts recounts of honing his preaching ability by preaching to "soda bottles" as props during a part time convenient store job, imagining they were people. He would spend much of his latter teenage years traveling from Church to Church requesting an opportunity to preach from local Pastors. It was during one of these Church meetings in 1984, at a tent-revival in Defiance Ohio that a young Kathi Gamble came to hear Pitts preach. The two met, started dating, then in 1985, Michael Pitts married Kathi Gamble in his hometown of Lima, Ohio.

In the June of 1987, with a $1000 gift from his parents, they moved to Toledo to start a non-denominational pentecostal church, named Cornerstone Church.[1][3] The Church opened with once-a-month Thursday evening meetings at what was then the Reynolds Road Holiday Inn. They advertised on the local Gospel radio station, and on the first night, 18 people came. There was no written plan, no outreach plan, and little external funding. The original vision from God for the Church, given in 1984 - years before the Church's formation - and still written on paper, states "The plan is simply for God to have a Church that is run on His divine order and inspiration. A Church where people of all races, ethnic groups, and religious backgrounds can come together to worship God. A place where sinners will find grace and acceptance, and where they will be challenged to grow. A place where those who need healing and deliverance will find God ever present to meet their needs. A growing place - A happy place. A lighthouse to the whole city. Ministering to the whole man".

After a few successful months of Thursday night meetings, they decided to start weekend services. The first Sunday drew 35 people to a small storefront building, and due to its rapid growth, moved twice in its first four years. First to an old insurance office at the Byrning Hill Plaza, where it started holding two Sunday morning services. The Church had to move due to rapid growth, to a remodeled warehouse on Airport Highway. At the age of 26, Pitts was now preaching to over 1000 weekly members.[4] In 1995 Pitts moved the Church to its present location, refurbishing "a sprawling former retail plaza". The Church had spent months remodeling what had been a "Bud's Deep Discount Store" into a 2500 seat sanctuary, also featuring state-of-the-art children's facilities for the more than 400 children to attend services each week.[5] As of 2005 it became the largest church in Northwest Ohio, with 4,000 members.[3] It was the first racially integrated Church in the region, and Pitts owes success to his preaching of "truth. Truth isn't cultural, its concrete. The Gospel transcends race...Stereotypically, the black Church has the spirit, and the white Church has the structure. My desire was to take the best of both Churches and combine them".

In 1998, Cornerstone Church purchased the WDMN-AM Radio Station, and sold it in 2012 after a successful decade of playing wholesome Gospel and contemporary Christian music. .[6]

Rather than attending seminary or theological college, he is unconventionally self taught from tapes, cds, books and other materials he has had available over the course of his Pastoring. In an interview response that questioned his qualifications, he answered "I went through the tapes one by one, with texts, which I managed to track down, at hand. I read Augustine and the Eastern church fathers that way. And I am still teaching myself today. What I love about travel is the chance to read. I carry my “Bible bag” with me on the plane. While others are watching movies or sleeping, I am devouring the latest in theological studies or preparing a sermon.[7]

Ministry

Pitts was consecrated as a bishop by the International Communion of Charismatic Churches in October 2009 for his oversight of the Cornerstone Global Network, an expanding network of more than 120 Churches around the globe.[1] By 2010 he had published seven books.[1]

Pitts has had three mentors during his time in ministry. The first was Lester Sumrall, who died in 1996. The next was Carlton Pearson, who Pitts parted ways with after Pearson started preaching a doctrine of inclusivity (that all go to heaven). His current mentor is Bishop T.D. Jakes, the founder and senior pastor of The Potter's House Church, Dallas.[1][3]

In 2015 he commenced monthly revival services in San Jose, California at a Church called Jubilee Christian Center. He has known Pastor Dick Bernal since first preaching at their Annual Conference "Thunder in the Bay" in 1998.[8] The reason he is going to California regularly, is the belief that the nation is both absorbing and reliving the 1960s, while having the desire to go to the geographic source of the drug and sexual revolution to help lead a Christian revival. There, as elsewhere, he is drawing big crowds.[7]

Philanthropy

Michael Pitts at WOWJAM 2014

Pitts is the founder of the "Heal The World" organization, a registered 501(c)3 non-profit. The name for the organization comes from his reading of a scripture in the Bible, Revelation 22:2. Its services range from covering the cost of soup kitchen Thanksgiving meals,[9] to collecting Bibles for US soldiers,[10] to partnering with Mercy Ministries,[11] to hosting the African Children's Choir,[12] supporting Dr Patricia Bailey-Jones who ministers with Master's Touch Ministry Global,[13] and leading a prison ministry that has reached thousands of men at the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio.

His approach to charity is "wholly pragmatic", finding good non profits locally and abroad, and backing their solid work, rather than reinventing the wheel and creating his own charitable organizations. This approach to the humanitarian sector allows for increased effectiveness, where a greater percentage of donations reach their end goal, rather than being spent on overhead.[7]

Over the past 20 years, Pitts has partnered with, and hosted annual WOWJAMs, a ministry started by Stephen and Linda Tavani aimed at reaching poorer communities around the city by utilizing music, games, dances, and prizes.[14][15] Over 10,000 people have attended these WOWJAMS over the years.

Pitts has traveled extensively for his philanthropic efforts in areas effected by natural disasters and in Africa. In 2010 a team travelled to Haiti in response to the devastating earthquake with the goal of assisting in rebuilding houses. Heal The World also funds the Cornerstone Academy, an award winning school in the village of Odokono N'kwanta, Ghana, and built the well that provides fresh water to the region.[16]

In December 2015 Pitts released the album Heal The World. This album was designed to promote a good message, into a world that seems to only promote its hurt and dysfunction. Bringing together many ministry friends for the project, the album contains songs co-written by Pitts that stretches several genres. Included on the project were six-time Grammy winner Israel Houghton, Sheryl Brady, The Katinas, Lucia Parker, Linda Green (of Peaches & Herb), Bryan Popin, and several others.[17]

As a result of meeting with the Mayor of Toledo Paula Hicks-Hudson in early 2016, Pitts learned that several city pools had remained closed throughout the three summers prior due to lack of city funding. This conversation coincided with the release of the city's annual budget for 2016, and confirmation that six pools would remain closed without the support and sponsorship from benevolent third parties. As a result, in the Spring of 2016, Pitts pledged $52,000 to open Navarre Pool, on the East Side of Toledo, on behalf of Cornerstone Church. The pool is blocks from the Eastwood Campus, in East Toledo.[18] In addition to opening the pool, Cornerstone provided the funding to open Savage Park Splash Pad in the inner city of Toledo. Both the pool and splash pad were opened with the intention of running Summer programs and activities, as well as adding additional sites to the Summer Meal Program partnership.[19]

Personal life

Family

Michael and Kathi Pitts

Michael is the second of four children to Eugene and Brenda Pitts. He and his siblings were born in Lima, Ohio. His wife Kathi is the younger of two children born to Jack and Janette Gamble. Kathi and her brother were born in Bryan, Ohio and spent several years in Colorado before returning to Ohio.

Michael and Kathi have two adult children, and one grandchild, born in 2015. His children were both born in the first few years of ministry at Cornerstone Church. Their first is named Meredith (married to Philip) and their second is named Stephen (married to Rosie Joy). Philip and Meredith both live in Toledo and are involved in Ministry at Cornerstone Church, and the parents to Theodore Brave. Stephen and Rosie live in Sydney, Australia where the couple met, and are pursuing careers in music.[20]

Legal Issues

In the late 1990's Pitts was arrested on allegations of indecent exposure and trespassing. His defense included numerous alibis, a statute of limitations expiration, as well as pleading no contest to the trespassing charge.

The events started September 18, 1997, when Pitts was arrested on charges of allegedly exposing himself to passing motorists near Oak Openings Metropark in Swanton, Ohio. In the months following, and after much media attention, additional sites in Wauseon, Toledo and Maumee were added. The public indecency charge was dropped on January 15, 1998 when Judge Francis Gorman of the Toledo Municipal Court ruled that the statute of limitations had expired for the event that allegedly occurred two years prior.

Soon after, the charges in Wauseon were dropped because Pitts had proven alibis. On April 3, 1998, the remaining eight public indecency charges were dropped due to "substantial evidentiary considerations", when Pitts' defense showed he was not in the country at the time the events were meant to have occurred. He pleaded "no contest" to two charges of criminal trespassing, which occurred while exercising in the Metropark outside of open hours, and paid a $500 fine and was sentenced to 14 days under house arrest.

Following the trial, Metroparks ranger Russell Maneval was suspended for 60 days by the Toledo Area Metroparks for falsifying information on police logs involved in the Toledo case.[21]

In August 2000 Pitts was pulled over by police, and subsequently charged with a DUI. He pleaded “no contest” to the charge of driving while intoxicated and was sentenced to three days in a DWI program for first-time offenders.[22][23] 6 years later, Pitts was stopped for a vehicle inspection. The trooper said he smelled alcohol and took Pitts into custody. The breathalyzer machine at the outpost was broken, so troopers say Pitts provided a urine sample that was sent to Columbus for analysis. The results confirmed he was legally over the limit. Pitts again pleaded "no contest" and the Judge sentenced him to 9 days in the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio, a fine of $300, and suspension of Pitts’ driving license for one year, starting April 2007.[24][25]

Bibliography

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Yonke, David (January 23, 2010). "Cornerstone's pastor elevated to higher rank". Toledoa Blade. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  2. ↑ Scott, Rebekah (02/09/1997). "A go-getter for God" (Toledo Magazine). Toledo Blade. Check date values in: |date= (help);
  3. 1 2 3 Editor, Religion (November 26, 2005). "Rev. Pitts, Wife Included Among Power Shifters". Toledo Blade. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  4. ↑ Tarjanyi, Judy (25 August 1991). "Growing strong: Four local churches where the congregations are rising to the heavens". Toledo Blade. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  5. ↑ Strayer, Don (03/05/1995). "Cornerstone group moves to new home". Toledo Blade. Check date values in: |date= (help);
  6. ↑ Editor, Religion. "Pastors Lament Loss of Access to WDMN-AM". Toledo Blade.
  7. 1 2 3 Burris, Keith. "Cornerstone Church and its leader are the real deal". Toledo Blade. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  8. ↑ Barger, TK. "Bishop Pitts: New period of awakening is coming to California". Toledo Blade. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  9. ↑ McKinnon, Julie. "Toledo charity lost its leader but not her spirit". Toledo Blade. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  10. ↑ Yonke, David. "Churches equip U.S. soldiers with over 5000 Bibles". Toledo Blade. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  11. ↑ "Cornerstone Toledo Youth Visit Mercy Ministries Today". Mercy Ministries. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  12. ↑ Sander, Logan. "Music for Life: African Children’s Choir to perform at Cornerstone Church on Dec. 12.". Toledo Free Press. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  13. ↑ Krolak, Karen. "Doing good to heal the world". First Local Toledo. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  14. ↑ "Local church to sponsor benefit for city's needy". Toledo Blade. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  15. ↑ Staff, Blade. "Cornerstone Brings Ministry Program". Toledo Blade. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  16. ↑ Krolak, Karen (March 2013). "Doing good to heal the world". First Local Toledo. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  17. ↑ Barger, TK (2016-02-20). "Heal The World". Toledo Blade. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  18. ↑ LINDSTROM AND ROSENKRANS, LAUREN AND NOLAN (March 26, 2016). "Church commits to funding Navarre Pool". The Toledo Blade. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  19. ↑ Hormann, Bill. "Pools to open despite being short money".
  20. ↑ "The Team".
  21. ↑ Toledo Blade, Aug 12 1998
  22. ↑ "Pitts Admits To Drinking Wine". Toledo Blade.
  23. ↑ Yonke, David. "Cornerstone pastor writes 2 books on handling crises". Toledo Blade.
  24. ↑ Baker, A. "Toledo Area Pastor Released from Jail after Serving Nine Days".
  25. ↑ Ryan, Carl. "Pastor Gets 9 Days In Jail". Toledo Blade.
  26. ↑ Toledo, Cornerstone. "Heal The World". Michael Pitts.
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