Pastor John Michel, who for 54 years hosted the program “I Believe in Miracles” on KEYC-TV with his wife, Marilyn, has died, according to a post on the Grace Baptist Church Facebook page.
He died March 4 and was 90 years old.
“Pastor Michel has a new address, and it’s ‘Heaven,’” the post began. “He moved into his new home this morning (Wednesday). His cancer moved rapidly! Hospice started last Thursday. We will miss him, his wisdom, support, friendship, and prayers.”
Michel died in Ankeny, Iowa, where he and Marilyn, his wife since Aug. 11, 1956, had moved in 2019 to be near her family. Marilyn died in early 2024. In February, Michel’s health took a sudden downturn and he died soon after, surrounded by family.
According to his obituary, he received the gift of salvation at age 7 in a tent revival in Faribault. In addition to a lifetime of ministering, he and Marilyn traveled throughout Europe, South America and Israel encouraging missionaries.
In addition to 44 years of service at Grace Baptist Church in Mankato, he was best known in the area for his longtime television show.
“We started (the show) in 1961,” Michel told the Free Press in February 2015 upon the program’s end. “I had the desire to spread the message of God’s word, love and grace to a larger audience.”
Paid for by approaching churches for funding, “I Believe in Miracles” featured traditional gospel songs, hymns and a sermon by Michel, with his wife as organist. He was pastor at Grace Baptist, and the program was added to capture what was then a pretty captive audience, Michel said. “We were the only channel they could get.”
Sponsoring organizations had their churches’ names written on cue cards that were flashed across the screen at the end of the episodes.
Dennis Wahlstrom, who was general manager at KEYC for 38 years and much of the show’s run, remembers fun conversations they would have when Michel was at the studio to record episodes.
“I got to know Pastor Michel when he would stop in my office and chat,” Wahlstrom said. “Sometimes we’d chat about him not wanting me to increase the rate for his program. He was quite persuasive. We were both smiling.”
Wahlstrom noted that very few programs run for more than half a century. The program was broadcast live for many years before the advent of videotape.
“Pastor Michel was one of the finest people I have known. He had a warm soul and it showed,” Wahlstrom said.
The casket slate for his service includes his favorite verse, from Psalms 119:105 — “Your word is a lamp to my feet, a light to my path.”
He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Dan and Terri Michel, four grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
On March 19 a public burial will be 10:30 a.m. at Minneopa Cemetery. A memorial service is planned for 2 p.m. at Grace Baptist Church, 600 Lind St. (live-streamed on YouTube @gbcmankato).
Among the comments in response to the announcement of his death on the church’s Facebook page were many expressions of thanks for his work on earth and for his “walk with Jesus.” Said Jeanne Schoeppner: “The angels are rejoicing in heaven. They got a good one.”