About
A Non-Profit Christian Ministry
Founder and President of Step Forward Global Ministries, Michel (pronounced "me-shell") Khalil, followed The Lord’s call in 2017 to build Step Forward. Michel wanted this Christian Non-Profit to directly minister to the suffering and persecuted churches in the Middle East.
Born and raised in Egypt, Michel came to Christ at the age of 6 when he heard a missionary preach the gospel. Michel is a graduate of Cairo University, where he earned bachelor’s degrees in Agribusiness Management, Marketing, and Agricultural Economy Cooperation. He later completed diplomas in communications, management, leadership, frontier missions, and evangelism from the University of the Nations.
In 2016, he earned a doctorate in Christian Leadership from Ohio Christian University to enhance his ability to train and equip Christian leaders effectively.
Throughout his career, Michel has worked in executive leadership roles with YWAM, Haggai Institute, and EQUIP Leadership a John C. Maxwell global non-profit organization. He speaks regularly to churches, Christian organizations, and missions in the United States and Canada on the current realities of the Middle East culture and the Islamic religion.
Through Step Forward Global Ministries, Michel leads a growing team of 25 staff and volunteers whose focus is To Empower Leaders to Serve Others.
Step Forward’s vision is to train and mobilize effective leaders and strong churches to impact their nations for Christ. Their mission is to empower the persecuted church through leadership seminars, evangelism courses, and discipleship training.
The ministry targets attendees who are high caliber leaders that can be empowered through the training to return home to make a difference in their communities. This strategy multiplies Step Forward’s efforts by starting at the top and working from within with nationals reaching nationals.
Step Forward is also changing lives by bringing hope to refugees. Michel Khalil positions Step Forward to work in unity with like-minded organizations, local churches, faith communities and passionate workers to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the lives of the Iraqis, Syrian, and Kurd refugees. Churches offer the best vehicle for assisting those who arrive in foreign communities seeking life’s basic necessities, but they need support to answer this enormous crisis. Step Forward is passionate about supporting these churches as they follow Biblical principles by caring for the refugees’ physical needs as an access to their spiritual need.
Michel is married to his wonderful wife and best friend, Roula Khalil. They live just outside of Atlanta in Duluth, Georgia with their two beautiful girls, Christie and Caitlyn.