Mike was born and raised in the winter wonderland of Michigan while his future wife, Julie was raised in the blue grass state of Kentucky.  He attended Michigan State University on a wrestling scholarship after high school where he double majored in Accounting and Hotel/Restaurant Mgmt. with a Minor in Religious Studies, while Julie also pursued a double major in Music and Bible Studies at Johnson Bible College in Knoxville, Tennessee.  After finishing his undergraduate degrees, Mike went on to attend Vanderbilt and Fuller Theological Seminaries.  Julie transferred from Johnson and finished her degree in Music at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee.

After seminary Mike joined Morning Star Ministries where he became a Campus Minister.  In August 1996 Julie embarked on a mission's trip to the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia that forever changed her life.  It was on this mission trip where Julie found a renewed love for all people and her gift for teaching which led her to begin working for Morning Star Ministries.

Mike and Julie met while at Morning Star in September of 1997 and were married in August of 1998.  Together they have served as Campus Ministers, Youth Pastors, and Associate Pastors.  In March 2007, Mike and Julie answered the call to start Gateway Life Chruch in Chandler, AZ.

Mike and Julie Gowans

Position: Senior Pastor
and Worship Leader

Hometowns: Detroit, MI
and Florence, KY

Favorite Shows: 24, Fox News, Divine Design

Hobbies: Golfing, Reading, Decorating, Scrapbooking

Married: August, 1998

Children: Isabella, Olivia, and Michael, Jr.