Dr. Mike Olson
General Director, Village Light Project
Founder & President, Global Partnership Ministries
Mike Olson was saved in 1982 through the consistent Christian testimony of his wife, Lynn, who was saved three years earlier. Mike was baptized the same week as he was saved and began to grow in the Lord. In 1984, while serving as an officer in the US Army, Mike sensed the Lord leading him into full-time Christian service. In 1986, he resigned his commission and moved his family to Jacksonville, Florida where he enrolled at Trinity Baptist College to receive his training for the ministry.
Brother Mike is experienced as both a missionary and missions leader. He and his wife, Lynn, served for five years as a missionary team in the country of Germany working among American servicemen and women. During this time hundreds of souls were won to Christ. Many have completed their training for the ministry and are presently serving as pastors, missionaries, church staff and Christian educators.
In 1996, Mike assumed the position of Executive Assistant to the President, and Director of Pre-Field Ministries for a major Baptist mission board. His duties included directing recruitment, candidate training and pre-field ministries.
During his tenure, the missionary family of the organization increased by fifty percent. He also founded the Mission Possible Camp program which each summer introduces teenagers to missions. Since its inception in 1997, the ongoing program has influenced hundreds of teenagers for world missions. 
Dr. Mike & Lynn Olson
In May 2001, the Lord led Brother Mike to found Global Partnership Ministries, Inc., (GPM), an independent Baptist mission organization. The mission is an IRS recognized 501(c) 3 non-profit organization that is governed by an Executive Board of pastors, and Christian businessmen. GPM has grown to include eleven missionaries in three countries. Mike serves the organization as President and CEO.
As a missionary, Brother Mike’s personal foreign missionary work is focused upon the “Village Light Project”, (VLP). This ministry is a diversified and synergistic partnership established to accelerate the planting of Baptist churches and the training of national pastors with a special focus in the central Philippine Islands. There are 2000 rural villages in this region without a Bible preaching New Testament church.
VLP focuses on providing modular Bible training in evangelism, follow-up and discipleship for Filipino pastors and workers, and assisting them in planting Baptist churches in rural villages where no Bible preaching church exists. Eight Baptist churches have now been started and each one has a Biblically trained national pastor who received training through the Village Light Church Planting Institute.
Two Village Light Church Planting Institutes, (VLCPI), have been established on the island of Negros with an enrollment of over eighty pastors. Two additional training centers are being planned for the islands of Luzon and Mindanao.
During the Vietnam War, Brother Olson served his country in the United States Army Infantry. He was wounded in battle three times, and is a decorated combat veteran. Among his awards are three Purple Hearts, the Bronze Star Medal, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge.
Brother Mike is a 1990 graduate of Trinity Baptist College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Church Ministries, and in May 2009 the institution honored Mike with a Doctor of Divinity Degree. Lynn is a graduate of Seattle Pacific University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and has over twenty years of teaching experience in Christian education. Mike enjoys preaching and teaching, golf, and high school football. Lynn is an avid reader and loves working with children.
Mike and Lynn were married in 1973 and make their home in Shelton, Washington. They have three sons, and six grandchildren. They have been serving the Lord together in world-wide missions since 1990.