Michael Youssef Church of the Apostles, Atlanta

Michael Amerhom Youssef is an Arab-American pastor and televangelist. He is the senior pastor of the Church of the Apostles in Atlanta, Georgia and the executive president of Leading the Way.

Michael is fortunate to be alive. His mother, who was in poor health, was advised by the doctors to terminate the pregnancy. An abortion was scheduled. God intervened. Her pastor reassured her that God was involved in the pregnancy and not to be afraid. His parents accepted the pastor’s advice . Michael was born on 25th September 1948.
Aged 16 he surrendered his life to the Lord.

He was born in Egypt and lived in Lebanon and Australia before moving to the USA in 1977. While in Australia he studied at Moore Theological College in Sydney, was ordained a minister and met his wife Elizabeth.

For 10 years he worked for the Haggai Institute, where he rose to the position of managing Director. He travelling around the world teaching courses in evangelism and church leadership to church leaders.

The family settled in Atlanta, Georgia in 1984 and he became a U.S. citizen.

In 1987 he founded the Church of Apostles in Atlanta. He started with a congregation of 40 adults; it now has a congregation of over 3,000. The vision of the church is Reaching the Lost and Equipping the Saints for the Work of the Ministry.

In 1988 he founded Leading the Way The focus is on reaching Muslims in the Middle East. It began broadcasting on 2 local stations in 1989. Today the radio programme can be heard on 800 outlets around the USA, Canada, U.K., Australia and New Zealand. It also produces other resources including a devotional magazine (2002) to help Christians grow in their faith.

Michael has also written more than 35 books including Jesus, Jihad and Peace.

Michael and Elizabeth live in Atlanta and have 4 grownup children and 8 grand children.

The path he has walked has given him a thorough cross-cultural understanding and a firm grasp of Scripture. He preaches, teaches and exhorts with straightforward and uncompromising delivery, based on the authority of the inspired, Infallible Word of God.