If I Had to Do it Again...

Michael Groves, class of 2005, looks back at his time at Maranatha fondly and with deep respect. Some of his favorite memories were during his middle school Bible classes with Mrs. Larson: “We would always do praise and worship in the beginning, and every once in a while, [...] we would pray for people. That has stuck with me all these years—those experiences in middle school.” Michael believes these formative years between his Sundays at Living Word and weekdays at Maranatha really helped cement his faith in Christ. “Those experiences that we had that she (Mrs. Larson) gave room for the spirit to move definitely had a part to play in shaping who I am today. [...] Those memories are ingrained in my head, and I will never forget them.” 

Michael was involved in basketball and soccer during his time at Maranatha; however, what stuck out the most to him in his school career was the culture of Maranatha and how willing the entire staff was to give room for Jesus 24/7. This type of experience that Michael had growing up pushed him and his wife to put their children into Christian education. “As a father now, who has three children at a private school, I would do anything in my power to keep them in a Christian-educated building. [...] Christian education is the most valuable thing to my wife and I when it comes to our children.” 

Since graduating from Maranatha, Michael has been working full-time in the grounds maintenance industry. “I started my own lawn business, and it is what I am doing 20 years later.” Michael’s company, LawnSmart (lawnsmartmn.com), employs many full-time employees and does it all, no matter the season. “We do lawn care, landscaping, irrigation, and turf management.” Michael’s business also uses snow removal during the winter for multiple commercial properties and HOAs. 

Michael tried the college route, but it did not stick for him. He’s happy with where God took him, however, and it’s clear from the many blessings that surround him that he’s been following God’s will—learning to hear God’s voice goes all the way back to those middle school Bible classes with Mrs. Larson where God really became real to Michael.  “If I had to do it all over again, I would want to be at Maranatha.”