Michael is originally from Long Island, New York along with his wife Elizabeth originally from São Paulo, Brazil, have written these songs in overflowing gratitude from the story of their lives. Their prayer is that God would use these songs in some small way, to touch a place in your heart that only He can know.
After high school Michael studied classical guitar and piano at Broward College being influenced by classic rock, and in particular the acoustic songwriters of the 70’s. He soon wrote and recorded a four song EP with a band he led called “City’s Children” that was in local record stores and enjoyed some local radio play. Elizabeth a former teacher and Artistic Design major works with Final Cut Pro doing video editing, overseeing Website design and keeping things organized!
Michael graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary and Moody Bible Institute has served as a Worship Pastor at Celebration Church in Brandon, FL and Crossroads Church of Long Island, NY. Michael and Elizabeth like to say that together each day they go "looking for God" in their lives. "You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." (Jer 29:13)
Why call the album "Ragamuffin Dreams?"
“The vision for the Lifesong 360 ministry began after hearing singer-songwriter Rich Mullins speak about a book called, "The Ragamuffin Gospel," by Brennan Manning. After reading several of his books we attended a spiritual retreat staying at a Franciscan Convent on the island of Jamaica. At the end of the retreat we were blessed getting to know Brennan a bit by spending the day together with him and Monsignor Albert going down in the slums of Kingston.
On the way back, we stopped at a secluded home where the Stella Maris Convent had a ministry to people with leprosy. As we were there worried about like not touching anything, we watched Brennan suddenly kneel down in front of a man with (seriously) no nose and only three fingers asking the man if he would lay hands on him for a blessing. We were blown away, it was just such an intense moment. We concluded this life-changing day with a relaxing dinner at a private home back near the Parish.
In his books Brennan Manning, although often Theologically imperfect (and aren't we all) shares both the shame of (often repeated) failure and the pure joy of coming home to the Abba Father whose radical grace will never turn us away. This "Ragamuffin" had a profound influence on our lives helping us to understand how God desperately wants us to receive this free gift of grace and then pass along His unworthy forgiveness. This above all provides us the freedom to never surrender what God wants to accomplish through us. "Just hold on to your Ragamuffin Dreams..."
Michael and Elizabeth