We recently had the chance to connect with Mike Correll and have shared our conversation below.
Mike Correll, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What is a normal day like for you right now?
I have been a caretaker, land steward, and site host for a “ghost” camp (closed and for sale) in the Redwood mountains of Santa Cruz for ten months, so a normal day involves patrolling eighty-six acres. My dog, Lupe, and I typically check what we call the “key points” first, all of which are accessible along dirt roads that criss-cross the property. These roads are also easements, so we spend the first portion of the day ensuring that there are no unlawful “campers” along the roads, or anywhere on the property. The facilities are all off-grid, so while checking the key points I also perform maintenance and upkeep on the solar system, generators, springwater systems, yurts, house and cabin. I often say that “the day dictates itself” because unforseen problems are common, and you never know what kinds of situation you may find yourself in!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
nrg4GOD evolved out of its predecessor, NRG Creations, back in 2023 when my wife, Joy, and I were saved by our Lord Jesus Christ. I had previously been a life-long pagan and occultist, so coming to Christianity was a big shock for everyone who knew me! During those early stages I was convicted that my entire business needed to change in accordance with Christianity. This was a major overhaul for a company that had previously produced films like, “Chet Zar: I Like to Paint Monsters”, and the “Dark Art Society Podcast”. Out of this overhaul arose nrg4GOD and the “New Archaic Revival Podcast”, where we discuss and juxtapose modern living and “old-timey” traditions. As full-time RVer’s we are proponents of minimalism and “tiny living”, which we discuss on the podcast and related Patreon page, along with topics like animal husbandry and wildcrafting. The podcast has been said to promote “heroic faith”, and chronicles our lives as reborn Christians navigating a complicated and corrupt world.
Insofar as new projects are concerned, I have been working on a series of photo manipulations titled, “Rust”, which feature various abandoned vehicles that I have photographed during six years on the road. They might better be described as digital paintings because I use Adobe Fresco to apply digital paint to the photographs in order to simplify the backgrounds and draw attention to the detail of the dilapidated vehicles.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I don’t believe there was ever a time the world wasn’t telling me who I had to be. The same is true for everyone. From the moment we enter this world we are conformed by it. Perhaps in the womb we can say, at least, that the world wasn’t telling us who we had to be, however, we have no viable recollection of that. On the other hand, I can say when the world stopped having control over who I am, and that is when Jesus came into my life. He freed me from bondage to the world, and while I am still in the world I am no longer of the world, praise the Lord!
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I didn’t almost give up, I actually gave up! I had been living my life my own way for so long, and what I had made of it was a total mess. Left to my own devices I squandered my relationships, resources, and respect. I left a trail of disaster everywhere I went, and while I didn’t know it at the time, I was only serving evil. There was very little left of me when I encountered the Holy Bible one night, and a man read to me from it. What little was left summarily gave up its tenuous hold in order to be held by Jesus!
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Great question! I think they would say that what matters most to me is my wife. When I was dead in my trespasses I was a terrible husband, and I did not honor my wife as I should have. As a reborn Christian I seek to honor her in all that I do: body, mind, and spirit. I take my sacrificial role very seriously because I am to do as Jesus did, and He died first for us, His bride, therefore I also must die first for my bride. This sounds severe, though I don’t mean it that way, rather just that I would always be seeking what is best for her first, always, just as He did for us!
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
This may sound odd, but ten years sounds like a long time to me right now. When I think back ten years and all the unexpected things that have happened I have a hard time even envisioning ten years down the road. The reality is that we aren’t promised another minute, so I think the real question is: if this was your last minute alive what would you do? I would simply praise God for all He has done, and then tell everyone I could about His mighty work of salvation, that they too can be saved from sin and guilt through His Son Jesus!
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