River of Life Christian Ministry Cathedral
Biography
On
The Right Reverend +Bishop Michael J. Springs, PhD, DMin
+Bishop Michael J. Springs is a native of Greensboro, North Carolina, where he received his early Christian education and training at Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church. At the age of 10-years-old he was saved and baptized. On March 23, 1980, he rededicated his life to the Lord Jesus Christ at Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Warner Robins, Georgia, while stationed as a Staff Sergeant at Robins Air Force Base. The sermon that brought him under Holy Ghost conviction was “Jesus Makes the Difference.” He is the Founder, Visionary, Senior Pastor, President, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Presiding Bishop for River of Life Christian Ministry, located in the heart of Northeast San Antonio, Texas. The Church was incorporated on March 6, 2002.
During his 30-year career in the United States Air Force, +Bishop Springs served in various Christian leadership capacities and conducted numerous Bible studies and training seminars at different denominational and non-denominational churches, as well as base chapels throughout the Continental United States, Italy, Germany, and the United Kingdom. He was ordained as a deacon in 1987 under Reverend Dr. Arthur Evans, Th.D., Senior Pastor of New Hope Baptist Church, Minot, North Dakota. He has served as Gospel Service Worship Committee Chairperson, leader of Jail Ministries, Men’s Ministries, Worship Leader, Neighborhood Outreach Visitation Committees, Nursing Home Ministries, Protestant Parish Council Representative, Protestant Parish Fund Council Vice President, Choirs, Senior Assistant to the Senior Protestant Chaplain, Counselor, Associate Pastor of Education and Training, Sunday School Superintendent, and a host of other ministries and programs in the Kingdom of God.
+Bishop Springs publicly accepted his call to the Gospel Ministry in October 1992. He was licensed on June 27, 1993, by the National Baptist Convention while living in Aviano, Italy. His sermon title was, “I Know Thy Works.” He was ordained on June 8, 2000, by The Most Reverend ++Archbishop David Michael Copeland, DMin, Senior Pastor of New Creation Christian Fellowship, San Antonio, Texas, and Presiding Prelate of Kingdom Council of Interdependent Churches and Ministries, and The Right Reverend +Bishop Trevor Dean Alexander, D.D., Senior Pastor of True Vine Church, San Antonio, Texas, at the annual Kingdom Council of Interdependent Christian Churches Ministries conference.
+Bishop Springs attended North Carolina public schools and graduated from James Benson Dudley Senior High School with Honors (National Spanish Honor Society) in June 1971. In the fall of that year he enrolled at the Historically Black College and University, North Carolina Central University, in Durham, North Carolina until he enlisted into the United States Air Force in January 1973. He earned an Associate in Applied Science in Communications Technology from the Community College of the Air Force in June 1985. In August 1999, after years of completing courses from various colleges and universities, he enrolled at the Wayland Baptist University, San Antonio, Texas campus. In November 2000, while on the President’s List, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Education with a Business Management emphasis. He earned a Master of Arts in Management and a Master of Arts in Human Resources Development in December 2001 from the Webster University (George Herbert Walker School of Business & Technology), San Antonio, Texas campus. He graduated Summa Cum Laude. +Bishop Springs received his seminary education and training from the Freedom Bible College and Seminary, in Rogers, Arkansas. In June 2004, he earned a Doctor of Ministry, with a Christian Leadership emphasis. He graduated Summa Cum Laude. His dissertation is titled, “Conflict Management and the 21st Century Local Church.” In October 2015, +Bishop Springs earned a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Business Administration, specializing in Organizational Leadership, from Northcentral University (School of Business & Technology Management), Prescott, Arizona. He graduated Summa Cum Laude. His dissertation is titled, “Examining Organizational Conflict Management Style Climate: Moderator of Job Satisfaction and Intent to Leave a Management Consulting Organization.” He is a distinguished member of both the Golden Key International Honor Society and Delta Mu Delta International Honor Society in Business. On December 3, 2020, he was nominated by Northcentral University to The National Society of Leadership and Success (Sigma Alpha Pi) .
+Bishop Springs' primary objective in the Gospel Ministry is to preach, teach, and deliver the uncompromising Word of God so that people are propelled to living the Word of God. His ecclesiastical covering is with Faith Association of Ministries International (FAMI), under the honorable leadership of Apostle John E, Fults, Sr. +Bishop Springs was consecrated as bishop on July 24, 2022, during the annual FAMI Convocation in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He is also affiliated with The Joint College of African American Pentecostal Bishops, under the Chairmanship of ++Archbishop David Michael Copeland.
+Bishop Springs was honorably retired at the highest enlisted Air Force rank of “Chief Master Sergeant” effective February 1, 2003. He is employed as a federal civil servant at Randolph AFB, San Antonio, Texas as the Air Force Personnel Center Agency Records Manager. He and his lovely wife, Evangelist Mary L. Springs (the wind beneath his wings), have been married for more than 41 years. They have one son, Tyrone, who lives in Minnesota.
Despite +Bishop Springs' many accomplishments, most importantly, he is saved, sanctified, Holy Ghost-filled, and loves the LORD God with his whole heart, mind, soul, and strength, and loves his neighbor as himself.
