The Founder
Michael Cumming
Michael Cumming is a 22-year military veteran who served four years in the United States Marine Corps and 18 years in the United States Army with multiple combat deployments to Iraq. Following his retirement from military service, Michael founded Venture Vets as a small group within his church, driven by deep passion for serving fellow veterans and service members. Through his own experiences and years of ministry, he came to realize that true healing, restoration, and purpose can only be found through faith in Jesus Christ.
Recognizing the need for authentic community, and spiritual support among Veterans, Michael developed Venture Vets ministry around the foundational principles of faith, hope, purpose, and brotherhood. His heart is to help veterans and their families discover lasting healing while building meaningful relationships centered on Christ.
Michael holds a bachelor's degree in Adventure and Outdoor Programs from the University of Utah. He also attended the Beran School of the Bible and completed the seminary courses required to become an Ordained Minister through the Assemblies of God. He will be completing his Master of Divinity from Grand Canyon University in January 2027 and plans to pursue a Doctor of Ministry at that time.
Michael loves to read, attend concerts and sporting events, spend time in the mountains and desert, and is an avid baseball fan (especially the Seattle Mariners).
Paul Grant
Paul’s life mission is to advance the gospel by maturing believer’s faith and position in Christ. Venture Vets aligns with this calling through its vision of biblical teaching and community to reengage mission and purpose in veterans. The Church has been negligently absent to bring fully realized freedom to veterans. He believes we can no longer stand by and watch our veteran community suffer in isolation. Venture Vets fills that gap with a powerful, reproducible program, specifically designed for veterans, that can be implemented in any Church. Venture Vets can be the catalyst to spiritual, mental, emotional, and relational healing so that together we can see and proclaim that who the Son sets free, is free indeed.
Paul has an extensive work history that brings a practical and professional approach to his lawyering. His client-focused approach is unique in the industry––an unparalleled balance of work experience coupled with a specialized legal education makes Paul stand out among his profession. Paul practices estate planning, business law and planning, wealth transfer techniques, and property issues.
Christian Lindbeck
Christian Lindbeck is a United States Air Force veteran who believes deeply in the impact and inherent good of this ministry for veterans already part of the Venture community and for those who have yet to find a Christ-centered community.
Christian serves as Executive Pastor at Venture Church, a multi-location church based in the Pacific Northwest, where he leads the Kingdom Builders initiative and oversees Venture Locations, including their pastors and ministries. His work focuses on fostering global partnerships, developing future leaders, and strengthening healthy, thriving church communities.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Philosophy from Northwest University and earned a Master of Theology and a Master of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry in Strategic Leadership at Liberty University.
In his free time, Christian enjoys hiking, traveling, cooking, trying new restaurants, and reading.
Ty Hutton
Ty and his wife Mercedee live in Mill Creek with their two sons. Prior to being called into ministry, Ty served in combat across the Middle East starting in 2003, as both an enlisted soldier and then as an officer in the U.S. Army. He holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Colorado in Middle Eastern International Relations and Economics, and a Master of Divinity (MDiv) in Marketplace Ministry from Regent Univerisity.
Ty is the Faith and Works Pastor at Venture Church in Mill Creek and a Financial Advisor for Blue Trust. Ty is an avid skier, climber, book reader, and is always up for anything in the mountains. He also loves Ramen and is welcoming any recommendations for the next great Ramen joint!
How We Started
Venture Vets was born in 2022
Shortly after, Michael Cumming retired from military service following 22 years in uniform, four years in the Marine Corps, and eighteen years in the Army. What began as a simple, small group at Venture Church in Mill Creek quickly became something much bigger.
At first, the vision was straightforward: create a place where veterans could gather, connect, and encourage one another through faith and authentic community. But almost immediately, it became apparent that the need was far greater than anyone anticipated. Veterans were not just looking for another meeting or social event, they were searching for belonging, healing, and purpose.
As the group grew, it became clear that Venture Vets was evolving from a church small group into a full-fledged ministry. In response, Michael pursued ministerial credentials through the Assemblies of God and began developing a curriculum specifically designed to address the unique struggles veterans face.
Over time, the ministry expanded beyond weekly gatherings. Events, retreats, and mission trips created specifically for veterans became part of the vision. Through these experiences, one truth continued to rise to the surface; many veterans were battling a deep loss of community, hope, and purpose after military service. Venture Vets came to believe that these three needs sit at the heart of the suicide and mental health crisis affecting the veteran community.
The ministry also recognized something else, these wounds cannot ultimately be healed through programs alone. True restoration is found through faith in Jesus Christ. Venture Vets believes that when veterans rediscover genuine community, renewed hope, and God-given purpose through Christ, healing begins to take place from the inside out.
As the curriculum developed and the ministry continued to grow, it became increasingly obvious that this kind of ministry was needed far beyond one local church. Across the country, ministry specifically focused on veterans within the local church was largely nonexistent. Veterans often had organizations that addressed physical needs or provided service, but very few places were intentionally helping veterans reconnect spiritually and relationally.
That realization led to the decision to move toward becoming a nonprofit organization independent from Venture Church while still maintaining a close connection to its roots. The name Venture Vets remained for several important reasons.
First, it honors the place where the ministry was born: Venture Church.
The word "venture" represents a risky endeavor. Pursuing healing through community, hope, and purpose grounded in faith requires courage. For many veterans trusting others again, confronting pain, and opening their hearts to Christ can feel like stepping into the unknown. But it is a journey worth taking, and one no veteran should have to walk alone.
And third, quite simply, the name Venture Vets just fits. It captures both the mission and the spirit of the ministry.
Today, Venture Vets continues to grow with a vision to help veterans across the nation find healing, brotherhood, and lasting purpose through the hope of Jesus Christ.