MICHAEL J. ERNST - has been involved in theater for over 40 years. In addition to a Theater/Speech degree from Truman University he has additional course work from Drake Univ., Ball State Univ., the University of Iowa and the University of Kansas. Michael taught Speech and Theater for over 30 years in high schools and community college. His theater work includes over 150 directing and onstage appearances.

From actor-in-residence at the Ice House Theater in Hannibal, Mo. to assistant director of the Tom Arnold Acting Workshop to, most recently, creator of the one-man Christian drama ministry, HIS MEN REVEALED MINISTRIES, theater has consumed his lifetime.

While working with church drama teams is a high priority and eagerly conducting Christian drama workshops, seminars and camps for teens and adults, he continues to perform, direct and write Christian influenced material.

His most recent onstage secular appearance was as Fagin in Oliver. Numerous onstage Christian portrayals of his own characterizations have included his highly regarded creation of John Adams (America: Did You Know?). His most recent directorial credits include Christian productions of Believe and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever - and a secular production of the Fantasticks.

Michael is a member of Christians in Theater Arts (CITA). He has performed in nine states with His Men Revealed in a variety of settings from churches to universities to prisons - for a variety of venues from church services to seminars to fund-raisers, and has performed and presented workshops at the CITA national conference in Orange County, California, as well as CITA regional conferences in Houston, Texas, Spring Arbor, Michigan and Huntington, Indiana.

He continues to write most of his own material. His original pieces include; America: Did You Know?, The Oldest Restaurant and John: The Last Apostle. Newer selections such as The President and the General, Never Met A Man, The Bug Act, The Innkeeper's Tale, Abraham Lincoln: This Is What He Said, and Christmas with Woody, are part of his ever-expanding material. He has authored an unpublished play, Suddenly Exceptional, a yet to be performed characterization Jonah: the Disobedient Prophet and a nearly completed imaginative view of God's possible responses to well-known Biblical episodes, Hear the Thunder.

He considers it a privilege, a blessing, and a thrill to be a "worker...in the harvest field" (Matthew 9:36) helping to advance the message of Jesus Christ via the arts.

Since retiring from teaching high school Michael lives with his wife Marcia in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa where he participates actively at his church, Faith Christian Outreach Church. Their children Bryan and Christy, both graduates of Oral Roberts University, remain an inspiration and their richest blessings.