pastor apollo

Ephesians 2:1-5 (NIV)

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.“

speaking engagements

I preach at select events with one goal: to help people encounter Jesus, respond to the Gospel, and walk away changed.

Through biblical teaching, personal testimony, and Spirit-led ministry, I connect with audiences in a way that is honest, direct, and centered on Christ..

Conferences
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Youth Events
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Men’s Gatherings
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Camps & Retreats
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Outreach Events

Leadership Gatherings
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Staff Retreats
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School Assemblies
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Special Services
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Community Events

Apollo McCullough is the Lead Pastor of Port City Church McGraft in Muskegon, Michigan, where he is entering his fourth year of leading a thriving and growing church community. Together with his wife, Ashley, and their four children, Apollo is passionate about helping people encounter Jesus, experience authentic community, and discover the purpose God has for their lives.

Before serving as a lead pastor, Apollo spent six years in youth ministry, including several years at Life.Church, one of the largest and most innovative churches in the world. There he developed leaders, discipled students, and communicated God's Word while learning how creativity, technology, and biblical teaching can work together to reach people with the Gospel.

Apollo's preaching is both deeply biblical and intensely practical. He has a passion for making Scripture come alive, helping people understand not only what the Bible says, but why it matters in everyday life. Whether speaking to a church on Sunday, students at a camp, or leaders at a conference, his goal is always the same: to point people to Jesus with clarity, conviction, and hope.

What makes Apollo's ministry personal is his story. Jesus radically transformed his life, rescuing him from addiction, alcohol, and a past marked by brokenness. That redemption fuels everything he does. He believes no one is beyond the reach of God's grace, and that the Gospel still has the power to change lives.

When he's not preaching or investing in leaders, you'll usually find him spending time with his family, cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs, or enjoying a great cup of coffee while dreaming about what God wants to do next.

about

ask apollo

Honestly, I love the people. Every event brings together individuals with different stories, different questions, and different burdens, yet we all gather around the same unchanging Gospel. It is a privilege to step into those moments and simply be faithful to God's Word, trusting the Holy Spirit to do what only He can do.
Some of my favorite moments happen after the message is over. Praying with someone who's giving their life to Christ, hearing how God used a passage to speak directly into a situation, or watching someone leave with hope they didn't have when they walked in. Those conversations remind me that preaching is never just about delivering a message. It's about creating space for people to encounter the living God, and there is no greater joy than witnessing Him transform lives.
When I preach, I bring a ton of passion and energy. I want everyone to feel the excitement I have for the Word of God. Why? Because he reached down in the pits of hell to save my soul, and my whole life is now devoted to Him! I make sure to be relatable, so people can see themselves in the message. I’m driven to let the text speak for itself and show how it applies directly to their lives. It’s all about making the Bible come alive for them in a real, practical way.
There was this one time, my very first event, actually. There was a huge snowstorm that caused a bunch of churches to cancel, and honestly, I was super nervous and questioning if this was really what God wanted me to do. But the camp wasn’t canceled, and even though fewer students showed up, about 300 still made it.
Before my first event, I had this heavy question weighing on my heart, to the point of waking up feeling like the Lord was impressing it strongly on me: “What is the greatest kingdom impact I can have through you, Apollo?” During my third sermon on Saturday night, I gave an invitation to accept Christ or recommit their lives to Him, and 72 hands went up. That moment was insane. I was absolutely blown away by how God moved in that room and also in my own heart. Witnessing so many people being transformed from the inside out was an incredible experience. It was in that powerful moment that I knew without a doubt I was meant to dedicate my life to this calling, starting my own ministry to reach even more hearts with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ.
My life has been completely transformed by Jesus. I used to carry so much shame from my past, feeling unworthy and stuck in my sins. But when I accepted Jesus, everything changed. I felt the weight of that shame lifted off me, replaced by a sense of redemption and purpose. The blood of Jesus has redeemed me, and I no longer live in the shadow of my past. Now, I live in the light of His grace and love, and it’s that transformation that drives me to share His message with others, especially students. My goal is to communicate God’s Word with passion and zeal, inspiring people to discover their identity and purpose in Christ, experience His freedom and grace, and fully commit to His mission.

—Brian Bement

“I have been in pastoral ministry for over 20 years. Recently, I had the opportunity to attend Apollo's church in Muskegon. His passion for God's Word to impact the heart of God's people was deeply encouraging. He navigated the text with skill and care. He applied the Word with clarity and zeal. Excited to see how Apollo's gift of teaching is used in God's Kingdom!”
—Corey Breitmayer Productions and Retreats Manager | Springhill Camp

“We were thrilled to have Pastor Apollo speak at our Winter Teen Retreat! His talks were rooted in scripture and very digestible for the age group he was speaking to. Pastor Apollo has great understanding of how to connect with teens, keeping everyone engaged and interested. His talks were relevant and showcased his understand of todays youth and the problems they are facing. We will certainly have him back again!”
—Jadon Grifhorst | Program Director | Pine Ridge Bible Camp

Pastor Apollo spoke at our camp for a week, and I could not have asked for more. He hung out with campers to build relationships with them so that his messages had more impact, and he seemed to truly care about the campers and staff. His chapel messages were engaging and scripturally sound. He involved the teens by having them get up to read the scripture passage or pray, asked plenty of questions for the audience to reflect on, and gave opportunities for campers to repeat key words or phrases so they would be able to stay engaged and repeat those words to help them stick. It was clear to me that all of his messages were very well prepared and thought-out. Apollo was, additionally, a professional person to work with in the sense that he was punctual, prepared, and willing to be helpful even in ways beyond normal speaking duties. We are so grateful to have had him as our camp speaker!
—Sarah Giovanni | Assistant Partnership Ministries Manager | Grace Adventures

It was such a pleasure to work with Apollo! Due to a late speaker cancellation, we had reached out to him with some desperation! He was all for jumping into planning for our retreat and spending time with us on very short notice. Apollo’s intentionality went further than his teachings and into his interactions with the students, going above and beyond to involve himself in other programmed activities so that his relationships with the students would have a greater foundation for impact during his time with them. Each session’s teaching felt individually crafted for the students there, as the retreat we brought Apollo in to speak for was a much smaller number of students than what we’re sure Apollo was used to, yet it did not affect the quality of teaching and attention to detail throughout the weekend. Apollo was intentional with tying his message in with the worship, and providing appropriate times of reflection while offering thought-provoking questions to appropriately challenge the students in their small groups. Apollo’s passion for impacting youth was overwhelmingly apparent throughout the weekend through the way that he interacted with individual students and offered personal, encouraging words to our leaders and staff. Both leaders and students left the teaching times and conversations with Apollo feeling encouraged and rejuvenated.