Testimonials
“It is with great pleasure Mike that I express to you my deep appreciation for your three exceptional presentations on “An Angel’s View” at the 2010 Spiritual Growth Workshop. Your rich research was evident and coupled with your unique background as a NASA engineer provided an insightful and inspirational view of the wonder and sovereignty of God through the biblical stories about angels. It was with considerable interest that each of your classes were so well received and attended. Thank you again for your contribution to the success of this year’s workshop.
Dr. Joe Roberts
Director, Spiritual Growth Workshop
We invited Mike O’Neal to present a three part lesson (Sunday morning Bible class, Sunday AM worship and Sunday PM worship) on “What Angels Teach Us”. The Sunday he spoke was our Harvest Sunday and the building was full of members and visitors to hear his lessons. Many congregations were represented, some from other states.
His presentations were informative, thought provoking and inspiring. His unique experiences with the Space Program at NASA combined with messages from God’s Word captured the attention of the audience in all three lessons. I would highly recommend these lessons and I look forward to reading and learning more about God and his Angels from Mike’s book “An Angel’s View”.
Mike Angley
Elder, Holly Hill church of Christ
“I first heard Mike speak at the Pepperdine Lectures, in May 2006, where Mike presented a lecture on what the angels have to teach us about the holiness of God. The classroom where Mike made his presentation was packed. Mike did a very good job during this lecture, leaving all in attendance wishing he had more to say on this subject
Some time later, I was privileged to hear Mike speak in chapel, at Harding University Graduate School of Religion. There, Mike presented an inspiring devotional based on his research at NASA concerning “spirituality and spaceflight.” Mike’s presentation that day left no eye dry—the word “moving” does not do it justice.
Through those presentations, and through conversations I had with Mike in the intervening years, I came to appreciate the passion with which Mike approached his studies and his work. And through the years, I have been excited to hear of Mike’s plans to turn his research on the subject of angels and on “spirituality and spaceflight” into first a book, and then a series of lectures.
So when I heard that a church in Idaho had invited Mike to make a presentation at a church retreat of this material, I contacted Mike and asked if he would be interested in prolonging his trip west in order to make a series of presentations at our church.
Mike enthusiastically agreed, and we began planning the event. From beginning to end, it was a pleasure to work through the planning process with Mike. Mike cares about details: he is organized, thorough, and thoroughly prepared.
Our church worked hard to prepare for Mike’s lesson series, which we called “a four-part conversation” since “conversation” is connotatively more appealing than “lecture.” We advertised locally and across the state. In the end, we had people come from all across the State of Montana, traveling as much as five hundred miles one way to attend Mike’s presentations.
Our small, small-town congregation was blessed to have a wonderful turnout to hear Mike; representatives from most of the other churches in town attended, making it a cross-denominational event.
Mike’s presentations were each inspiring and informative. Mike’s deep knowledge and detailed scholarship on the subject were apparent to everyone in attendance. He spoke with conviction and clarity. He handled the questions after his lectures with the same confidence and knowledge evident in his presentations, and questions that were challenging, Mike handled with grace. Everyone came away from Mike’s presentations feeling as though it had been worth their time and effort to attend. A recent survey we conducted in our congregation asked for feedback from the congregation on Mike’s presentation, and the feedback we received was unanimously positive. The same is true for feedback we received from those outside our congregation who attended. Our congregation believes this was one of the most successful events we have held in years.
I can give an unqualified recommendation to anyone considering having Mike come to make a presentation at their church, school, lectureship, or any other event. And knowing the type of scholarship Mike engages in, I look forward with anticipation the publication of Mike’s book.
Should you wish to speak with me more on this matter, please email me at our church, at threeforkschurch@hotmail.com, or phone me at 406-285-3780.”
David Ford
Minister, Church of Christ in Three Forks, Montana
“I first heard Mike O’Neal’s Spirituality and Spaceflight presentation during a short Chapel talk at Harding Graduate School of Religion. I was so moved by his presentation that I asked him if he had a full-length version and perhaps some further similar material suitable for a retreat. With his affirmative answer, I asked Mike to come to Sandpoint, Idaho for our church’s annual Labor Day Retreat, which he did in 2009. The entire congregation would agree with me that we were not disappointed. Mike’s presentations on both Spirituality and Spaceflight and What Angels Teach Us About God were moving, inspiring, and informative. His thirty years at NASA have given Mike a unique experience thorugh which to interpret and illustrate spiritual and Biblical truths. And with his personable and genuine demeanor Mike has special gift for communicating those truths to his audience. The two talks (Spaceflight, and Angels) are wholly unique. I doubt that anyone but Mike has studied the spiriutal lives of astronauts. And while angels have been spoken and written about by many, I have neither heard nor read any material that look at what angels teach us about God. And I am confident that the soon-to-be-published book will be a valuable addition to libraries of scholars and lay persons alike. I know he would be embarrased for me to say so, but I believe Mike is a gift from God to the Lord’s church, and I highly recommend that churches take advantage of this special gift.”
Randy Hohf
Pulpit Minister, Sandpoint Church of Christ, Idaho
“Michael O’Neal, Manager, Lunar Surface Systems Concepts at Kennedy Space Center was the keynote presenter for our annual Brevard County Chaplain’s Conference in 2008. Mike presented his moving research on the pronounced spirituality surrounding the individuals and institutions that have pioneered spaceflight in both the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Filled with graphic quotes and pictures, Mike shares the antidotal stories of innumerable astronauts and their missions both to the Moon and about Earth, our island home. From their own stories, it is apparent that their individual quest for God was a driving force, both personally and professionally, in our flight into space. Our conference participants were wowed and responded with a standing ovation to the pivotal place spirituality played in the lives of these pioneers in space flight.”
The Rev. Robert Bruckart, Ph.D., LMHC
Director of Pastoral Care at Health First, Inc.
“Retired NASA employee, Mike O’Neal, brings an interesting and stimulating insight into the spiritual dimension of the heroes (astronauts) of space. It is powerful, it is compelling, it has the actual photos and audio transmissions from past Apollo and Space Shuttle Missions, it is heart wrenching and it is a spiritually moving experience. “
Larry Kreider
President & CEO of the Gathering of Men
