From the Battlefield to the Mission Field | A Share Your Story Blog

As a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) Michael Wall is well defined as a man of discipline and service. Before Mike pledged allegiance to West Point’s motto of “Duty, Honor, Country,” he had at a young age dedicated his life to the Lord. Mike’s Christian philosophy of service to God and country guided his twenty-one years in the military, and it continues to steer his life at home, at work, and in his ministry to the Lord.

Mike was born in Georgia in 1973. Raised in a Christian home, He was five years old when he accepted Jesus as his personal savior. In high school, Mike’s hopes to play basketball or football in college were sidelined due to an injury. Looking back, he realized that God used the event to lead him to attend West Point. After graduating from the academy, Mike went on to serve in the United States Army as both an infantry officer and an intelligence officer. During the war on terrorism, his combat deployments included Iraq, Afghanistan, the Arabian Peninsula, and Africa. From the sports field to the battlefield to the mission field, Mike has faithfully followed God’s leading in his life.

“My faith has always been the central part of my life, and I try to keep God my number one priority at all times,” Mike shared. 

Mike and his wife, Heather, have been married for twenty-nine years. After retiring from the military in 2017, Mike accepted a position at General Dynamics in Sterling Heights. He and Heather had been attending Woodside Lake Orion since 2015, and two years later, the couple started hosting a Life Group in their home.

“We both recognized that we lacked and desired deeper personal relationships with other families in the church. After making the decision to lead a Life Group, we were amazed at how God organically formed our group and connected us with very special families who have become just that—family,” Mike said.

In the six years that the Walls have served as Life Group leaders, their walk with the Lord has been strengthened and enriched.

“While we host and facilitate discussion, we learn so much from the collective life experience and spiritual wisdom of the group,” Mike shared. “Over the past five years, our group has been through the absolute highs and lows of life. The shared love and support through these times has been remarkable and truly life changing. I strongly believe that sharing our personal testimonies with each other has been one of the most impactful things we’ve done as a group. As a result, we established deep trust with one another and [have] created strong bonds as brothers and sisters in Christ.”

For Mike, service involves discipleship. He fostered this practice as a military officer and all throughout his defense industry career. Mike believes that his military training and service prepared him for Christian ministry. While serving at the Central Intelligence Agency for eight years, his communication and interpersonal skills were developed and enhanced in the agency’s premier Human Intelligence training course.

“The same skillset I learned professionally is a process that can now be applied in ministry. Instead of recruiting people who may have information of value, I can use that same process in recruiting souls for Christ,” Mike said.

God’s steady leading in Mike’s life fuels his desire for a deeper relationship with Him. In 2024, two remarkable changes occurred in Mike’s life when God opened doors of service in his profession and personal ministry. First, Mike stepped away from a successful career in defense.

“With God’s guidance, I am now blessed to be part of Vanguard XXI, which specializes in providing leadership development and professional coaching to numerous companies and organizations across a variety of markets,” Mike says.

Secondly, Mike’s lifelong dream of working for Samaritan’s Purse was realized when he became a member of the Samaritan’s Purse international Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART).

“Even back in my Army days, I always admired Samaritan’s Purse, the work that they do globally, and their unwavering commitment to sharing the Gospel with people in need. Being part of Vanguard XXI and Samaritan’s Purse is a clear reminder to me that God is so good, and His plans are perfect! I know now that the stirring in my heart a few years back was God preparing me for a different type of mission in support of His Kingdom,” Mike said.

During this time, a close friend introduced Mike to the Journey discipleship program. After participating, Mike was enlisted to co-guide a group. One of the resources the group uses is the book, The Journey to the Inner Chamber, which Mike and Heather’s Life Group also used as a study last year.

“The stirring that I felt in my heart a few years ago was clearly the Holy Spirit nudging me towards continued Christian service. For me, that boils down to the daily opportunity to encourage other Christ followers when possible, while also striving to point unbelievers to Jesus. That said, I am humbly reminded of John 15:5 when Jesus says, ‘I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.’”

While Mike is participating in global ministry with Samaritan’s Purse, he remains mindful of the importance of the local church in his life and community. At Woodside’s Annual Celebration in May of 2025, Mike was officially welcomed as a church elder.

“I take the responsibility of being an elder very seriously and I want to honor and glorify God in this new role,” Mike said. “ To do so, I know I must abide in Christ daily, continually seek His wisdom, and always serve with humility. Simply put, I will strive to be an authentic servant leader who displays genuine care, concern, and love for others. Maintaining a personal relationship with Christ and helping expand His kingdom frames how I approach everything now. I am so thankful that my passion and purpose have come into alignment. That’s what amazes me. That’s a God thing!”

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” – Ephesians 3:20