Michael Steen
Ordained Minister in Merced, California
Why did you originally become an ordained minister online?
Here's the thing. It's all about what you do with it, you know? I never had a plan to make a business of it; I have a business, in fact, providing web support services for small to mid-sized businesses (https://mikerockstone.com). Besides, I think making this a full-time gig would be a pretty tough row to hoe.
So, that's not why I decided to become an ordained minister online. I've always had an erudite approach to Bible study, and I continue to be amazed by this book every day. It helps to have a good working knowledge of the Good Book when you're wearing a white collar, but that's not the reason I chose to be ordained.
Why, then? It has to come from the heart, you feel the Spirit, hear the call. Over the years, the most rewarding part has been helping the people who I couldn't otherwise reach. Eventually, I understood that fulfilling the role of being a minister rests largely within the social archetypes of our collective unconscious. There's just no room for Ego, here.
Where are you from?
Merced, County California
Religious Affiliations
Ahmadiyya, Aladura, Amish, Anglicanism, Asatru, Assemblies of God, Atheism, Baha'i Faith, Baptists, Bon, Buddhism, Candomble, Cao Dai, Cathari, Catholicism, Charismatic movement, Chinese Religion, Christadelphians, Christian Science, Christianity, Church of God, Church of God in Christ, Church of Satan, Confucianism, Conservative Judaism, Deism, Donatism, Dragon Rouge, Druidism, Eastern Orthodox Church, Eckankar, ELCA, Epicureanism, Evangelicalism, Falun Gong, Foursquare Church, Gnosticism, Greek Religion, Hare Krishna, Hasidism, Hellenic Reconstructionism, Hinduism, Illuminati, Intelligent Design, Islam, Jainism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Judaism, Kabbalah, Kemetic Reconstructionism, Lutheranism, Mahayana Buddhism, Mayan Religion, Methodism, Mithraism, Latter Day Saints, Nation of Islam, Neopaganism, Neoplatonism, New Age, New Thought, Nichiren, Norse Religion, Olmec Religion, Oneness Pentecostalism, Orthodox Judaism, Pentecostalism, Presbyterianism, Priory of Sion, Protestantism, Pure Land Buddhism, Quakers, Rastafarianism, Reform Judaism, Rinzai Zen Buddhism, Roman Religion, Satanism, Scientology, Seventh-Day Adventism, Shaivism, Shi'a Islam, Shinto, Sikhism, Soto Zen Buddhism, Spiritualism, Stoicism, Sufism, Sunni Islam, Taoism, Tendai Buddhism, Theravada Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, Typhonian Order, Umbanda, Unification Church, Unitarian Universalism, Universal Life Church, Vaishnavism, Vajrayana Buddhism, Vedanta, Vineyard Churches, Voodoo, Wicca, Worldwide Church of God, Yezidi, Zen, Zionism, Zoroastrianism, Other, None
Additional Information
I graduated from Sonoma State in the 90s, man. I've really seen it all at this point. I'd be impressed if you could shock me - and I don't mean with a cattle-prod, I moved away from SF for a reason.
What do you think makes your ceremonies special as a Merced, CA wedding officiant?
It's not about me, man. Right? I mean, this is YOUR wedding. We can do whatever you want to do.
Are there particular areas near you where you prefer to travel or have special experience?
Merced County, California native. Sonoma State alumni. That's about it, for now.
Types of Service Offered
Marriages, Same-Sex Marriages, Renewal of Vows, Funerals, House Blessings, Exorcisms, Spiritual Healing, Premarital Counseling, General Ministry, Spiritual Guidance
Additional Information
It's the kind of thing that you've heard a million times, and you think you get it but you've never really sat down to think about it. Johnny Cash sang a song about A Thing Called Love, wherein he profoundly declares "Ever since time, nothing's ever been found that's stronger than love".
We can agree that such a thing is true, but WHY is it true? Why? Because not even God in Heaven can force you to Love Him. This is why we have Free Will, so that we may Love truly. Amen?
