Rev. Michael Bingham was born and raised in the mountains of rural SE Tennessee. He graduated from the University of Memphis in 1989 with a BBA in Management. He worked in the steel industry until 1995 when he left to join the ministry. In 1998, Michael accepted his first appointment and began attending Erskine Theological Seminary full time. He graduated from Erskine in 2001 with a Master of Divinity and a Master of Theological Studies.
Michael has served 4 different SC appointments as a United Methodist Minister from 1998 to 2019. His last appointment before coming to Faith was at Aldersgate UMC in Greensville, SC from 2019 to 2024. In 2024, he moved to Jacksonville to serve at Faith, transitioning to the Global Methodist Church.
During his ministry, Michael has been blessed to serve with Salkehatchie Summer Service, United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM), and has travelled to Mexico, Malawi and various places in the United States.
As a result of the 9/11 attacks, Michael began serving as a Fire Department Chaplain serving with Western Laurens Volunteer Fire Department Station 26 (2001-2002), the Columbia Fire Department (2002-2010) and The South Carolina Emergency Response Task Force for Urban Search and Rescue (2005-2016). After more than 15 years of service, Michael stepped aside from this fun and exciting (but demanding) portion of his ministry.
Michael is married to Lucie, who is a preschool teacher for students with special needs. They have two children. Joshua is a software developer in Charlotte, and Margaret is a student at Valdosta State University. Michael spends his spare time reading, hiking, camping and cooking.
In each of these appointments, Michael has sought to faithfully preach and teach the Good News of Jesus Christ in ways that are winsome and appealing to people of strong faith, limited/flagging faith, as well as serious questions or doubts about their own faith or even the existence of any God. Michael has always sought to initiate new ministries as well as encouraging the Church to transition into new ways of serving, more in line with 21st Century culture. “If we keep doing what we’ve been doing, we’ll keep getting what we’ve been getting. It’s time to stop ‘doing’ church. We must BE the Church.”
Michael has served 4 different SC appointments as a United Methodist Minister from 1998 to 2019. His last appointment before coming to Faith was at Aldersgate UMC in Greensville, SC from 2019 to 2024. In 2024, he moved to Jacksonville to serve at Faith, transitioning to the Global Methodist Church.
During his ministry, Michael has been blessed to serve with Salkehatchie Summer Service, United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM), and has travelled to Mexico, Malawi and various places in the United States.
As a result of the 9/11 attacks, Michael began serving as a Fire Department Chaplain serving with Western Laurens Volunteer Fire Department Station 26 (2001-2002), the Columbia Fire Department (2002-2010) and The South Carolina Emergency Response Task Force for Urban Search and Rescue (2005-2016). After more than 15 years of service, Michael stepped aside from this fun and exciting (but demanding) portion of his ministry.
Michael is married to Lucie, who is a preschool teacher for students with special needs. They have two children. Joshua is a software developer in Charlotte, and Margaret is a student at Valdosta State University. Michael spends his spare time reading, hiking, camping and cooking.
In each of these appointments, Michael has sought to faithfully preach and teach the Good News of Jesus Christ in ways that are winsome and appealing to people of strong faith, limited/flagging faith, as well as serious questions or doubts about their own faith or even the existence of any God. Michael has always sought to initiate new ministries as well as encouraging the Church to transition into new ways of serving, more in line with 21st Century culture. “If we keep doing what we’ve been doing, we’ll keep getting what we’ve been getting. It’s time to stop ‘doing’ church. We must BE the Church.”