Mick recalls that the first person he encountered when he arrived in Kirkland was a young man on a Honda motorcycle. Seeing Mick in a car packed full and looking somewhat lost, the fellow pulled along side and said, "Are you looking for Northwest College"? "Sure am", Mick replied. "Then follow me," the stranger said, pulling ahead and leading onto the campus and right into the men's dormitory parking lot. When Mick got out of the car, the motorcyclist introduced himself as Paul Wheeler, the ASB President. He walked Mick into C.C. Beatty Residence Hall and introduced him to " Mom & Dad" Van Patten, who would be his new dorm parents.
That first year in the School dorm was a memorable one. During the
next 5 years, Mick would be a full and part-time student, living on
campus and off as he worked his way through college. During his
first three years, he recalls great experiences singing
and traveling with the Concert Choir. He also reflects with
awe upon the powerful spiritual emphasis week with Dr. Linfield
Crowder, when the spiritual move resulted in the meetings being extended to a
second week.In the summer of 1965, while home in Oregon on summer break, Mick attended the Old Fashioned Camp Meeting at Brooks, Oregon. It was there, in the doorway of the old tabernacle, that Mick met Darlene Williams. That meeting resulted in Mick making many trips from Kirkland to Sweet Home, Oregon during his Junior year. On August 6, 1966, just before returning for his 4th year at NC, Mick and Darlene were married. The next two years he would be a part-time student. Due to a mix-up in scheduling, he was one class short of qualifying for his degree at the end of the 1968 school year. That June, they had a new baby and an invitation to join the pastoral staff with Mick's Uncle, Richard Martin, at the Woodburn, OR A/G Church. They accepted that invitation and Mick never did get back to Northwest to finish his degree.
They were a little over 2 years in Woodburn with Richard Martin and then
went on staff as youth ministers with Charles Parker at the Assembly in
Gladstone, Oregon. After another two years, they moved on to
Oregon City where they served with Pastor Ken Hammer for 6 years,
helping him through a church building program. From there they
accepted an invitation to assist L.D. Hall at Oak Grove Assembly of God
for 2 years. Then it was back to Oregon City, with Rev. Julius
Jepson for 6 more years. At the end of their service with Pastor
Jepson, Mick and Darlene accepted their first position as Senior
Pastor's in Willamina, Oregon, where they served for 6 years.
Their next pastorate was at the Assembly of God Church in Glide,
Oregon, near Roseburg. Mick and Darlene retired from full-time pastoral ministry in 1994. Mick worked in insurance and mobile home sales, until heart bypass surgery and other medical problems led to his retirement and medical disability in October 2005. In July of 2011 Mick and Darlene moved from Wilsonville, Oregon to Leavenworth, WA. Their move to Leavenworth allowed them to be near their daughter and son-in-law. Health and financial issues led to Mick's transition to a care center in Portland while Darlene remained in Levenworth, WA.
Mick and Darlene have two children, Lee and Kathlyne. Lee graduated from Bethany College and is married to Beth Forbes, who has an AA degree from NU. They have three children, David, Ryan and Allison. Kathlyne is married to NU grad, Bryan Anderson.
Article updated, photo added 10/27/21