Barbara is the middle of three sisters and was born and raised in Roanoke, VA. She is a kind, intelligent woman who enjoys serving others. She was raised in a Christian home, and is a former debate champion (which makes it’s tough for Mike to win an argument).
Mike is the oldest of four children and was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. He has a good sense of humor, enjoys seeing other people succeed, and wants to invest in the next generation of leaders. He decided to start following Jesus as a junior at Ohio University, through the influence of varsity baseball teammates and students at Ohio University.
Barbara and Mike met at graduate school at Ohio U. in 1981, were engaged and later married in August 1982, and they have been serving with Chi Alpha Campus Ministries since 1982.
Mike enjoys reading Sherlock Holmes mysteries, Spiderman comics, collects baseball cards, and enjoys watching old TV shows like Gunsmoke, The Rifleman, Columbo, and Star Trek: The Next Generation. He is active in sports such as golf, racquetball, and bicycling. Barbara enjoys reading, sewing, cooking, and maintains a disciplined exercise regimen, which is critical for her as a person with Parkinson’s disease.
While Mike has worked in local, state, regional, and national campus ministry settings, Barbara put her gifts and calling into practice in the marketplace as an accountant with OxFam, based in Boston, MA. She went on disability retirement in June of 2020 due to Parkinson’s disease.
Mike and Barbara have 2 kids – Sarah and Josh.
Our Story
August 28, 1982:
The adventure begins
1982-1990:
Directed Chi Alpha at Ohio University
1983:
Mike with his friend Richard from Taiwan – his first International Student Friendship Partner
1983:
Ohio University Chi Alpha chapter on Fall Retreat
December 2, 1984:
We welcomed our daughter Sarah into the world
1985-1993:
Served as the District Chi Alpha Director for Ohio
1986-1991:
Served as the Great Lakes Regional Rep for Chi Alpha
January 6, 1987:
We welcomed our son Josh into the world
1987:
Our family at Easter
1991:
The Olejarz family was the first Chi Alpha missionary family chosen to be on a Boys & Girls Missionary Crusade baseball card for the 1991 Assemblies of God General Council
1990-1995:
Served as the Eastern United States Field Director of Chi Alpha
1996-2011:
Served as the Boston Metro Chi Alpha Director, Chi Alpha Director at M.I.T., and District Director for the Southern New England District
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Pictured Here: Mike dressed up as Satan in the annual first-day-of-class outreach at M.I.T., where they gave out copies of C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters and invited students to a book discussion
2011-Present:
Since fall of 2011, Mike has served in Chi Alpha National Leadership based in Charlottesville, VA as a National Field Specialist
August 28, 2022:
40th Anniversary- The adventure continues
Mike & Barbara Olejarz 