Mickey C. Rhodes, 30, of Phoenix, Arizona, passed away on October 21, 2007. Very few people who met Mickey Rhodes could help but come away impressed by his self-confidence, his quick wit and his charisma. From the moment he entered the world on June 9, 1977 and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, he immediately began to establish a pattern of triumphing over conventional wisdom and long odds. With his devoted family at his side, Mickey was determined to rise above physical restrictions and live life on his own terms. He absolutely did not perceive himself as "handicapped". He insisted that the only true limitations are the ones we place on ourselves, and he approached his life accordingly. In doing so, he inspired thousands of people and amassed a huge and loyal network of friends. At eight years old, Mickey began to feel a call toward Christian ministry. Confident that God had a plan for his life and "could use me exactly as I am", he began working toward the goal of becoming a pastor. After graduating from high school, he became a student at Berean Bible College, where he earned his associate's degree in Theology. On February 18, 2001, he was ordained at Good Friends Fellowship in Goodyear, AZ. Shortly after his ordination, Pastor Mickey founded Boundary Breakers Ministry in Phoenix, Arizona. The obstacles he had overcome in his own life provided him with a unique perspective from which to counsel others to accept God's help in overcoming their own challenges. Guided by the words of Isaiah 61:1-2, Mickey's ability to let go of himself and let the Lord speak through him gave him the courage to preach in the most difficult forums. Under the dear mentorship of Pastor Walt Rattray and in partnership with his ministry, Church on the Street, Mickey brought his message of hope to prisons and homeless shelters, with remarkable results. In recognition of the number of lives Mickey had inspired through the gospel during his prison visits and to facilitate his ongoing ministry work there, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio presented Mickey with a Sheriff's badge and appointed him to the role of Special Deputy, an honor shared by only 9 other individuals at the time. Boundary Breakers also organized and sponsored an annual Christmas party for homeless children through Church on the Street.
Mickey had a remarkable personal life. He was an avid sports fan, and he built an impressive collection of rare sports memorabilia. A season-ticket holder for his beloved Arizona Diamondbacks, he rarely missed a game. He was a connoisseur of classic television sitcoms and Star Trek. He'd met and befriended famous people, yet he never boasted about his adventures. He delighted in giving people unusual, unexpected nicknames. He could deliver a snappy comeback as deftly as a comedian. It was especially funny when he one-upped one of his brothers. Mickey's spirit lit up a room, drawing people in and charming them with humor and intelligence. He was a wonderful listener, with a keen curiosity about who people were and what made them tick. He didn't wear his heart on his sleeve - his heart shone in every part of Mickey.
Mickey passed away peacefully in his home on October 21, 2007. He is survived by a large, loving family, including his parents, Larry and Judy; his twin sister, Mandy Smith (Zac); his three brothers: Trey (Christine), Bill (Tracy), and Shawn (Lauren); his aunts and uncles, including Jeri & John Watson and Jim & Sharon White; his cousin Shane Watson (Chrystal); nephews and nieces Colin and Lawrence Rhodes, Stuart and Maxine Rhodes, and Elizabeth, Jake and Luke Smith; grandparents Mickey & Vince Kyfes and Jerry White. A visitation will be held from 9:00 A.M.-11:A.M., Thursday, October 25th at Shadow Mountain Mortuary, 2350 E. Greenway Rd. A funeral service will begin at 11:00 A.M. at Shadow Mountain Mortuary.
Published in The Arizona Republic on 10/25/2007