Michael, his wife Nicole, and their four children, Leland (19), Eli (10), Abigail (6), and Margaret (3)—are grateful to join the community of Archangel Michael Orthodox Church. They live in the Akron area and are delighted to call the parish their new spiritual home.
Professionally, Michael serves as a Development & Communications Associate for the John Quincy Adams Society, a nonprofit promoting realism and restraint in American foreign policy. Nicole works as a Senior Administrative Assistant at CBIZ. Before stepping into their current roles, Michael spent 15 years as a Locomotive Electrician for Norfolk Southern, while Nicole served 13 years as a civilian Executive Officer in the Air Force Reserves at Youngstown Air Reserve Base.
Both Michael and Nicole have served in the Armed Forces. Michael began his enlisted military career on active duty in the United States Marine Corps as an Aviation Ordnance Technician from June 1999 to July 2003. During this time, he deployed in support of the Global War on Terror and the invasion of Iraq. After completing active duty, he continued his service in the Air Force Reserve as a C-130 Loadmaster from December 2006 to December 2012, with multiple deployments in support of Haiti earthquake relief and GWOT.
Nicole began her Air Force Reserves service in April 2003 as an enlisted C-130 Avionics Technician with multiple deployments in support of GWOT. In July 2014, she received her commission as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer and later retired in April 2023 as a Squadron Executive Officer.
Their children bring immense joy to their family. Leland, 19, has been working as a ranch hand in Montana for nearly a year and competes in rodeo events and bull riding. Eli, 10, enjoys playing and watching basketball, following the Premier League—especially Liverpool—Minecraft, and other building games. Abigail, 6, is a social and cheerful child who loves school, reading, coloring, riding her bike, and playing Minecraft with Eli. Margaret, 3, is the family’s adventurous spirit who loves Play-Doh, their saucer swing, riding her bike and scooter, and watching Paw Patrol.
As a family, the Culps share interests in basketball and the Premier League (with Michael and Nicole both supporting Liverpool), sci-fi movies and shows, reading, podcasts, hiking local parks, bike riding, and exploring natural and homeopathic remedies—a particular passion of Nicole’s. Michael also enjoys coaching youth basketball.
Their journey to Orthodoxy began in early 2025 when Michael began a deep self-study of the Orthodox faith through books, podcasts, and online videos. He was moved by the beauty of the Divine Liturgy, the teachings of the Church, and the wisdom of the Church Fathers. After two months of study, he attended his first Divine Liturgy at Archangel Michael in March 2025 with Eli and Abigail. The family had first encountered the parish online through streamed Liturgies and immediately felt drawn to the worship and warm community. Nicole and Margaret joined the following week, and the entire family has been attending ever since. They were recently received into the Church through chrismation and are deeply thankful to God for guiding them to this parish.
Looking ahead, the Culps hope to grow closer to Christ and one another through the traditions and rhythms of the Orthodox faith. Within parish life, they look forward to deepening friendships, serving wherever needed—including HALOS and other parish events—and supporting the parish’s growth. Their spiritual goals include deepening personal prayer, reading the lives of the saints, strengthening their fasting discipline, possibly making a pilgrimage someday, and living out a more intentional Orthodox Christian witness in their daily lives.
They feel humbled, grateful, and blessed to be members of Archangel Michael Orthodox Church and pray that God grants many years to all.
