Michael O’Rear served in global roles such as Senior Associate for Information Technology for the Lausanne Movement. He also held key roles in the local community. At Covenant Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) in Colorado Springs he taught Sunday School and led a community within the church.

A research ministry has tragically lost its leader. According to GMI, on January 11, the ministry’s president and CEO Michael G. O’Rear suffered a sudden heart attack. After several days in intensive care, surrounded by family and friends, Mike died of complications Monday morning. He was 57.

“Mike’s death is a tragic loss for all of us who considered him a close friend–as well as a loss for GMI, the mission community in Colorado Springs, the U.S. and the entire world,” said GMI board chair Jane Overstreet.

O’Rear was married to Laura, his partner in life and in ministry for 28 years. She served alongside him at GMI. They have four adult children, one grandson, and a daughter-in-law expecting triplets later this year.

O’Rear was born in Andalusia, Alabama, in 1954. He attended Montana Institute of the Bible and Wheaton College, where he earned an MA in Communications in 1981. He joined the staff of the U.S. Center for World Mission in Pasadena, California, in 1983 and was introduced to the work of GMI (Global Mapping International) on that campus.

Mike led GMI since 1991, when he took the reins from GMI’s founder, Bob Waymire.
O’Rear set the tone and direction for GMI’s contributions to the evangelical mission community, including mapping, publishing, research services and information technology. He was largely responsible for defining and implementing GMI’s key values of excellence in research and partnership with all evangelical mission leaders, especially those in the Global South.

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