Mysterious Benefactor Joins Bowling Green Church

In September 2012, Mission Ohio featured an article about a mysterious benefactor who gifted the Bowling Green church with a check for $3,020. The church and their pastor, Patrick Mazani, were puzzled. “Who was this man?” many asked.

Story by Heidi Shoemaker, Ohio Conference

During the next few years, this enigmatic man occasionally brought checks to the church, only to disappear again. Members were grateful for the stranger’s generosity and prayed to learn his identity. Finally, after praying and fasting, God answered the congregation’s prayers and Pastor Mazani met the mysterious benefactor, Michael Burrows.

Burrows grew up in a family who accepted God. But, as he matured, he recognized that the church he was attending didn’t adhere to biblical principles. After a personal study of Scripture, Burrows realized the importance of the seventh-day Sabbath and began attending a Church of God (7th Day). But, he found teachings
that “were not adding up,” he says. Unable to find a Christian church following the Bible completely, he began smoking and doing drugs.

In 1999 Burrows started a new job. Though not attending a church, he asked management for Saturdays off and enjoyed this time away from work. Believing he needed to give offerings to God, Burrows began putting money aside in a container every Saturday. He soon became aware of another church in town that met on Saturdays. Feeling impressed this was where he should take the money, Burrows went to the Bowling Green church with his first check for $3,020.

Earlier this year, Pastor Mazani was near the exterior door when Burrows came hurriedly to drop off his envelope of money. Mazani would not let him go, and quickly ascertained this was the same mysterious benefactor who had been making regular donations to the church. He invited Burrows inside and introduced him to church members attending potluck. Burrows quickly became active and faithful in attending church with his new church family.

Burrows recently joined the church through baptism. Several family members attended the celebration, including his mother, Eleanor, and sister and
brother-in-law, Peggy and David Stout.

“Mike is on fire, and his hope is to reach out to many who are out there in the darkness,” says Mazani

Feature photo: Mike Burrows (seated) enjoys the support of his mother, Eleanor, and sister and brother-in-law, David and Peggy Stout (back), on the day of his baptism.