His marriage was crumbling, his heart heavy with shame, and his future devoid of hope, until a divine intervention sparked a faith transformation, ultimately leading to overcoming addiction and a modern-day miracle.
The winter of 1994 found Michael van Zanten in a desolate place, trapped in the cycle of addiction and despair. In Peace River, Alberta, he teetered on the brink, planning to end his life in a hotel room.
On that fateful night, Michael’s world was collapsing.
“I was an alcoholic, abusive man,” he recalls, his voice raw in the interview. “I planned for two weeks to commit suicide.”
His wife had asked for a divorce, and after 11 months of failed attempts to recover, he saw no way out. Driving to a hotel in Peace River, he intended to free his family from his pain.
“I thought they’d be better off without me,” he shares, the weight of his past palpable.
Divine Intervention in a Quiet Church
God’s fingerprints were unmistakable.
As Michael drove aimlessly, he stopped outside a small Catholic church, its door inexplicably unlocked. Stepping inside, he felt the “weight of the world” pressing down. Alone before a crucifix, he heard a voice that shattered his darkness: “I died that you might live.”
“I fell on my face and wept for two hours,” he recounts, tears soaking the carpet.
In that sacred moment, Michael surrendered completely, praying, “Lord, I’ve made a mess of my life. You take the driver’s seat.”
Michael describes it as his “Damascus Road experience,” a pivot from death to divine purpose.
Michael’s transformation was fueled by relentless faith and communal support. He shared his experience with his wife, who stood by him, and later with a leadership team of six believers who prayed daily, confirming his divine callings. “I always take any word to my wife and then to these six,” he explains, emphasizing accountability.
His newfound faith propelled him into action.
It was in January 2022, that God called him to plant golden spikes and build altars across Canada, starting with a miraculous discovery in Derby Reach Park.
“I dug four inches and touched the spike. God said, ‘Build an altar of 12 stones.’” These acts, rooted in Joshua’s biblical altars, became markers of God’s power, with gold miraculously appearing on stones in Ottawa.
From Death to Adventure: Recovery and Faith Transformation
The church encounter was Michael’s resurrection. “I went from death to life,” he declares.
Where doctors or therapists offered no hope for his addiction, God’s voice sparked instant change. His suicidal plans dissolved, replaced by a life of obedience. By 2023, he was planting spikes in Israel, bypassing Tel Aviv’s stringent security with a divine miracle where a woman handed him a special pass to skip customs. It was a moment he calls “the Lord’s doing.”
He’s never been declared “officially cured” of his addictions, but Michael’s clarity is undeniable. “My life was over,” he says. “Now it’s bought and paid for by God.”
And while he’s now in control under God’s guiding hand, Michael’s journey hasn’t been without challenges.
International missions, like anointing the Temple Mount, carried risks where soldiers ran at him, suspecting a bomb. Yet, God’s protection prevailed; a flashlight blinded guards to his glistening altar.
His prophetic acts, like pouring wine to prepare for the third temple, each step a testament to trust.
The greatest miracle, however, was personal.
“My marriage was restored,” he shares, a bond once shattered now unbreakable. From an abusive husband, he became a missionary, caring for 450 children in Zimbabwe and Zambia. “Following God is an adventure,” he beams, a far cry from the man who saw no future.
Impact on Others
Michael’s story resonates beyond his family. In Jerusalem, a woman researching the red heifer sacrifice was stunned when he confirmed its exact location, guided by a random taxi driver.
“We’ve been searching for two years,” she told him, tears in her eyes.
Michael hopes his testimony inspires skeptics. “If God can turn my life around, He can do anything,” he urges, encouraging believers to listen for God’s voice and act boldly.
Today, Michael lives with purpose, his past a distant shadow. “I was dead,” he says. “Now I’m a kid of the King.” His story is a clarion call: No darkness is too deep for God’s light. “If you’re in a valley, God’s there,” he insists. “Surrender, and He’ll write your adventure.”
Watch the Miracle Unfold
Michael’s journey from a suicidal night to global missions is a testament to divine power. On Jan The Miracle Hunter’s YouTube channel, he shares:
- The moment he heard God’s voice in a silent church: “I died that you might live.”
- Gold appearing on stones in Ottawa, sparking awe on a Zoom call.
- A taxi driver’s random offer to guide him to the red heifer site.
- His heartfelt vow: “My life’s not mine, it’s God’s.”
Praise God! We give Him all honor and glory for this miracle!
