On Mission

Recent Artist Series soloist, master class instructor, and chapel speaker Dr. David Parker adds this episode of OnMission to the roster. Contrary to stereotypical expectations, Dr. Parker’s exuberant laugh and unpretentious demeanor convey genuine warmth and belie his professional expertise that has afforded him invitations to perform and teach nationally and abroad, including opportunity to sing...

Evangelist Glen Shank, whom former classmate and host Dr. Matt Davis knows as Shorty, served as a Maranatha representative for several years and as an assistant pastor for twelve. The Lord used both positions to gradually direct him into his present ministry. When asked his mission, he dedicated a week of intentional reflection, examining his life verse and “encapsulating” it into a comprehensive...

In this podcast interview, host Dr. Matt Davis and Dr. Charles Plummer, Maranatha’s Human Resources director, discover they share common experiences of bagging groceries and playing trombone, albeit their trombone explorations ended differently. Trombone performance and music were Dr. Plummer’s profession and passion. With a doctorate in musical arts in pedagogy and literature, he taught, played p...

Advancing as a manager with Martin Marietta Corporation after college, Dr. Carl Herbster became convicted of the need to invest his life in something of greater eternal merit. His mission became “to serve God and to help other people serve God.” Dr. Herbster and host Dr. Matt Davis review the varied ministries Dr. Herbster’s mission has included—from early days leading a fledgling Christian school...

Having defined his mission in an earlier podcast, Mr. Sam Brock, Executive director of Ironwood Christian Camp, returns with host Dr. Matt Davis to analyze parachurch ministries and their partnership with independent local churches. They clearly acknowledge the primacy of the church in God’s plan and the role of parachurch organizations to serve the church, but note the challenges that can threate...

MBU associate professor Janet Tschida, regales host Dr. Matt Davis with the story of her delayed music education and the setback that threatened it. She explains her mission saying, “I remember in college thinking … what does God want me to do … where … and with whom … I was missing the fundamental question … who does God want me to be.” Having established her God-intended identity, she says her m...

Dan Bjokne joined MBU as Director of Development in May 2024. In this lively interview, he explains to host Dr. Matt Davis how he can trace God’s hand in his life, from his first job in a reconditioned container factory to his “reconditioned” (reborn) soul as a public-school teacher, to his repurposed life serving in multiple ministries. Referencing Exodus 17, Dan describes his mission by saying,...

The scenario presented in this episode of On Mission is the following: a teen boy with no Christian background is saved while reading a gospel tract, immediately seeks a Bible-preaching church, and eventually becomes a preacher. Who would write that narrative? Only God. And that is guest Dr. Oliver’s story. Dr. Oliver, a pastor and Maranatha’s new board chair, discusses with host Dr. Matt Davis hi...

Are you a high school student worried about what to do next? Take heart. In this podcast episode Paul Brown explains steps the Lord used to guide him to an answer to that dilemma, an answer that surprised him, one that would take him from a business major in a community college to a physical education major in a small Christian college and then to his current position as Maranatha’s athletics dire...

Sometimes personal needs direct career choices, as MBU Assistant Professor Aria Saunders explains in this podcast episode. Aria pursued a master’s degree in science and biomedical engineering with an emphasis in assistive technologies and served as research coordinator in a lab specializing in developing medical equipment for people with disabilities. She focused her research primarily on type 1 d...

Ministry often includes the unexpected, as Pastor Dan Pelletier recounts in this episode of On Mission podcast. Having served from the East Coast of the United States to a tiny island in Micronesia, Dan’s heart is entrenched in youth and Christian camp ministries. However, when a conference center he directed closed, the Lord provided lodging in the steeple of Hamilton Square Baptist Church in the...

Dr. Matt Davis welcomes Jon Bladine, Director of Longview Camp in Arcade, New York, as his guest on this episode of On Mission. Jon discusses how the Lord guided him to camp ministry, the skills that have been beneficial, and those he had to acquire, as well as the challenge of revitalizing a struggling ministry. Out of college, Jon had plans to be a missionary pilot; his journey may resonate with...

Join Dr. Matt Davis as he talks with retired chaplain Lt. Col. Scott Nupson on this episode of On Mission. Mr. Nupson represents the Associated Gospel Churches Chaplaincy, a tool of the local church to endorse and send chaplains into limited access institutions (all branches of the military, Civil Air Patrol, Veterans Affairs, police, fire, federal prisons) in order to share the good news of Jesus...

In this episode of On Mission, Dr. Matt Davis gets to know 2010 graduate and MBU's new assistant athletic director and soccer coach, Jarid Lawson. In the fourteen years since graduating college, the Lord has kept the Lawson family on the move: from student teaching and meeting his wife in Missouri, to teaching, coaching and starting a family in Arizona, to Montana to be near family for a time, to...

Dr. Matt Davis talks with Maranatha’s own nursing faculty member, Dr. Sarah Urban, on this episode of On Mission. With years of experience as a nurse, Dr. Urban has dedicated herself to nursing education, driven by the goal of training nurse leaders. Dr. Urban talks about the satisfaction of teaching and the excitement of watching her students succeed in the healthcare field. She discusses the man...

In this episode of On Mission, Dr. Matt Davis sits down with Dr. David Canedy, Deputation Director of Baptist World Mission (BWM). A former accountant, Dr. Canedy’s professional skills and pastoral gifts have been faithfully utilized by God in his current position to assist local churches in sending out missionaries. He discusses the process of missionary deputizing and board appointment, with a f...

On this episode of On Mission, Dr. Matt Davis speaks with Pastor Ron Perry of Faith Baptist Church in Folsom, California. Pastor Perry shares poignant life lessons from his experience as a pastor, police chaplain, husband, and father. One key he shared is the involvement of his wife and their entire family in church ministry. Pastor Perry shares his unique gifting of relational shepherding, and ho...

In this episode of On Mission, Dr. Matt Davis speaks with Mark Cover, Co-CEO at Hines in Houston, Texas, where he has spent his career overseeing real estate acquisition, development and operations for Hines’ Southwest Region. Mr. Cover shares insights from working across cultures to build everything from community apartment complexes to billion-dollar stadiums; and how his unique skill set and pe...

In his second appearance in the On Mission podcast, Randell Gillespie, chief production officer for Thrive Mortgage and member of the Maranatha Board of Trustees, sits down with Dr. Matt Davis to talk about how his mission in life has evolved after parenting nine children, and the different ways the Lord has led as he and his wife plan for an empty nest. Gillespie shares heart-warming stories of h...

In the vibrant and dynamic world of sports, the role of a coach extends far beyond mere game tactics. Dr. Lane Hansel, also known as Dr. Coach in the soccer community, exemplifies a profound dedication to nurturing not only athletic skills but also a strong team spirit and personal discipline among his players. His affectionate moniker reflects the respect and admiration he has earned through his...

In this episode of On Mission, Dr. Matt Davis and Jonathan Sheeley host Watertown, Wisconsin police chief Dave Brower, a man tasked with the protection and safety of their own community. With over twenty years in law enforcement, Chief Brower shares his three-pronged approach to living life and being an effective workplace leader—integrity, hard work, and competence—and provides practical ways to...

In this episode of On Mission, Dr. Matt Davis and Pastor Bob Loggans, an MBU graduate and senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Watertown, Wisconsin, talk candidly about his lifetime of ministry, how he stays motivated by delighting in God’s will (Psalm 40:8), and his passion for mentoring young people. Pastor Loggans shares how it was possible to transition to various roles throughout his li...

Beckie Manley is the founder and Idea Chief at Fierce Strategy + Creative, a successful agency with expertise in strategy, branding, marketing, advertising, and media. Dr. Davis and Ms. Manley discuss their missional approach to life and work and how that alignment creates long-term success. They also discuss the importance of articulating a university's identity and mission through branding, each...

Dustin Shevy, an MBU graduate and library media specialist, has a front row seat to the impact technology is having in his school district, and is passionate about helping teachers and students adapt to technological advancements. In this episode, Shevy recounts his journey from college to public education, delving into the ethical and practical implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in educ...

David Hoffeld is the CEO and chief sales trainer of Hoffeld Group in Minneapolis, Minnesota, a Harvard Business School graduate, and author of The Science of Selling. He is passionate about serving God and giving Him glory through his ability to train and invest in people. His groundbreaking methods employ the latest scientific research to teach salespeople better and more transparent methods of i...