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Obituary for Rev. Michael Birks
Rev. Michael Birks, a faithful servant to the God of the Bible, went Home on Wednesday, November 21, 2012. Pastor Mike was born on March 9, 1958 in San Rafael, California, to Robert and Marilyn (Petrie) Birks. After graduating from high school he went on to graduate from Christian Heritage College, then Western Conservative Baptist Seminary. His ministry has taken him to Eastern Europe at age 21; Washougal, Washington; Vancouver, Washington; Dayton, Oregon; Wando, South Korea; and then finally to Brookings. He felt very strongly that being a minister was his calling and truly believed that if God calls you to preach the Gospel, there is nothing else you will be able to do. Times of visitation were very important to him; spending 1-on-1 time with his congregation and others in the community, serving the Lord. Through the nine years after being diagnosed with Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis he continued to be a testimony of God’s grace, always desiring the Lord’s will in his life. Mike met and married Nancy Asquith on January 5, 1991 while he was a pastor in Dayton. They later traveled to South Korea to teach English. This included teaching English Sunday School songs to young children at the church they attended in Wando. He also preached a sermon at the church, with an interpreter. In July 1999 they decided to start their family through adoption; their beautiful daughter, Stephanie, was born April 12, 2000 in China and they went to China to bring her home to Brookings in April 2001. He loved her very much and was very proud of her. Pastor Mike has been a volunteer chaplain for Clark County jail as well as Clark County, Washington and Dayton, Oregon fire departments. While in Brookings he was a member of Kiwanis, did devotional time at the Outreach Gospel Mission, and also led Sunday Services at Good Samaritan. Rev. Birks loved music and woodworking. He made several pieces of furniture for their home, including Stephanie’s crib. Pastor Mike spent the last 6 months of his life as a resident of Good Samaritan Skilled Nursing Center and was loved and cared for so very well by the staff. He still had his wit at times and made jokes often. Pastor Mike was preceded in death by his mother, Marilyn, in 2011. Survivors include his wife, Nancy; daughter, Stephanie; father, Robert; sister, Anna and her husband, Mike; brother, Doug; brother Todd and his wife, Allison; Uncle Vernon; Aunt Nita and husband Uncle Bill; nieces Sarah and Kyra; nephews Jacob, Ben, Andy, and Miles; and cousins Millie, Pam, Mo, and Brad. A celebration memorial will be held at 3 pm, Sunday, December 16, 2012 at Calvary Assembly of God Church, 518 Fir Street, Brookings, Oregon. Pastor Ken Whitted (First Baptist Community Church) will officiate. Refreshments will follow the service at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to the AWANA program at First Baptist Community Church, PO Box 4159, Brookings, OR 97415.
