“It’s not who’s right, but what’s right,” asserts podcast guest Alex Rodriguez. The son of hardworking Cuban parents, Alex attended college on a baseball scholarship, hoping eventually to support his family. A torn rotator cuff abruptly cancelled the scholarship, forcing him to enroll in community college and get the job that began a 41-year relationship with Chick-fil-A. Regarding Chick-fil-A, Alex explains to host Dr. Matt Davis, “we don’t just serve a chicken sandwich; we serve people,” a mot...
May 06, 2025•50 min•Season 10Ep. 9
This episode’s guest, Mr. Randy Tanis, is closely linked with Maranatha and Watertown, having graduated from MBU and having served as youth pastor at Calvary Baptist Church for 21 years. Originally, Randy came to college to play football, but then “surrendered to stay.” Working with Neighborhood Bible Time for three summers, he was drawn into youth ministry. He and host Dr. Matt Davis reminisce about how that decision remains the platform for his life’s mission despite transitions in positions. ...
Apr 29, 2025•54 min•Season 10Ep. 8
Jamison Coppola, Government Relations Director for American Association of Christian Schools, and host Dr. Matt Davis unite in this informative episode of OnMission to probe a topic of obvious mutual concern—religious liberty, especially as it relates to Christian education and traditionally-held Christian principles. They explain the implausibility of legislators and staff predicting all ramifications of proposed bills, especially with unknown modifications in the amendment process, and why thi...
Apr 22, 2025•54 min•Season 10Ep. 7
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 in a backup ensemble for renowned Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. Marveling, Dr. Parker recalls the Lo...
Apr 15, 2025•48 min•Season 10Ep. 6
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 statement which he shares on the podcast. In reverse order, he and Dr. Davis look ahead at the proje...
Apr 08, 2025•47 min•Season 10Ep. 5
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 professionally, composed, and arranged music. Likewise, music was the reason he joined the U.S. Army ...
Apr 01, 2025•47 min•Season 10Ep. 4
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, to the multi-faceted ministry of a pastor. Dr. Herbster explains the influential relationship he f...
Mar 25, 2025•1 hr•Season 10Ep. 3
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 threaten affiliations. Dr. Davis outlines levels of relationships, and Mr. Brock asserts the importance of ...
Mar 18, 2025•51 min•Season 10Ep. 2
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 mission is “to encourage those in my circle of influence to do the same,” a sphere which now includes...
Mar 11, 2025•47 min•Season 10Ep. 1
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, “I just want to be Aaron. I just want to be Hur. I just want to hold up … heavy hands.” When asked h...
Feb 04, 2025•54 min•Season 9Ep. 10
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 his mission to preach. They explore what preaching is and isn’t, its essential components, how it para...
Dec 24, 2024•47 min•Season 9Ep. 10
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 director and women’s basketball coach. After high school, Paul’s goal was to become an accountant, work ...
Dec 17, 2024•51 min•Season 9Ep. 9
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 diabetes, an autoimmune disease which she personally controls with technology. “I think,” she comment...
Dec 10, 2024•43 min•Season 9Ep. 8
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 heart of San Francisco. Then, through a series of events, the steeple became home, and Dan became t...
Nov 19, 2024•50 min•Season 9Ep. 7
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 those who have undergone training for a specific purpose only to be guided in a different direction...
Oct 29, 2024•48 min•Season 9Ep. 6
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 Christ. Besides his career as a chaplain, he has been a pastor, husband of 35 years, and father of ...
Oct 22, 2024•53 min•Season 9Ep. 5
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 his current role at MBU. In each place, God had remarkable coaches to mentor him: Gary Garrison as a...
Oct 15, 2024•47 min•Season 9Ep. 4
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 many paths available to students after graduation, debunking the idea that nurses only work in hospital...
Oct 08, 2024•47 min•Season 9Ep. 3
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 focus on BWM’s criteria for candidates. Dr. Canedy and Dr. Davis then delve into the importance of be...
Sep 24, 2024•39 min•Season 9Ep. 2
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 how it has played a large role in how he and his family experience the burdens and joys of ministry. P...
Sep 17, 2024•56 min•Season 9Ep. 1
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 personal mission to please the Lord translates to mentoring young people on the investment side and is...
Jul 23, 2024•50 min•Season 8Ep. 8
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 his family’s travels and music ministry, and how he became committed to supporting missions—after one...
Jul 16, 2024•47 min•Season 8Ep. 7
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 multifaceted role at Maranatha, both as coach and the chair of the Department of Applied Science. Fo...
Jul 09, 2024•43 min•Season 8Ep. 6
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 live them out. Dr. Davis asks Chief Brower hard questions: Should Christians be involved in public s...
Jul 02, 2024•48 min•Season 8Ep. 5
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 life: as pastor of a rural church on a gravel road to traveling evangelist, to college administrator, ...
Jun 25, 2024•43 min•Season 8Ep. 4
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 sharing their experiences in building successful identities, and emphasizing the necessity of a cle...
Jun 18, 2024•48 min•Season 8Ep. 3
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 education. Host Dr. Matt Davis and Shevy discuss the innovative uses that personalize learning experienc...
Jun 11, 2024•50 min•Season 8Ep. 2
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 influencing buying decisions. In this episode, Dr. Matt Davis and Hoffeld discuss decision-making in ...
Jun 04, 2024•44 min•Season 8Ep. 1
Brendan and Sydney discuss their roles in law and accounting, and the joy they find in creating value for clients and colleagues, both through the technical minutiae of their expertise, and how it leads to opportunities for mentorship and ministry. They discuss work/life balance, and how invigorating it is to work with smart people—beginning with their “masterful” undergraduate professors at MBU, and continuing in careers that give incredible exposure to experienced colleagues. As the conversati...
May 28, 2024•42 min•Season 7Ep. 10
Mike Saunders, president of Marketing Huddle, is an authority positioning coach and author of the book, Authority Selling. Saunders sees his purpose as honoring and glorifying God in all aspects of life: personal, professional, and family. He discusses how a focus on teaching others leads to opportunities for service, and how an others-oriented mindset is not solely from personal kindness but for pointing others towards spiritual fulfillment. Dr. Davis and Mr. Saunders also discuss BAM (Business...
May 20, 2024•47 min•Season 7Ep. 9
