Summary In this episode of the Urbana podcast, hosts Mark Matlock and Phoebe Jeske sit down with Andy Kim, Associate Conference Director and upcoming MC for Urbana 25. The conversation centers around Andy’s journey in Christian leadership, the profound impact Urbana has had on his life, and the surprising way he joined the Urbana leadership team. Andy shares how his first Urbana experience as a college sophomore in 2003 transformed his faith from “two-dimensional to three-dimensional,” giving hi...
Jun 26, 2025•45 min•Ep. 14
Summary In this episode of the Urbana podcast, hosts Mark Matlock and Phoebe Jeske are joined by Rev. Dr. Nicole Martin, Chief Operating Officer of Christianity Today, for an insightful discussion on the changing landscape of missions and the emerging generation’s role in the church. Nicole shares her personal experience attending Urbana as a college student and how it became a direction-setting event, deepening her sense of calling and introducing her to the broader context of global Christiani...
Jun 19, 2025•44 min•Ep. 13
Summary In this episode of the Urbana podcast, hosts Mark Matlock and Phoebe Jeske introduce listeners to the worship team for Urbana 25, featuring musician Tracy Stingley, Alexandria DeJesus, and James Paek. The discussion centers on the unique collaborative spirit and multicultural approach shaping this year’s worship experience. The team reflects on the profound impact of worship at Urbana, which includes singing in multiple languages and fostering a sense of global unity among attendees. The...
Jun 12, 2025•43 min•Ep. 12
Summary In this episode of the Urbana podcast, hosts Mark Matlock and Phoebe Jeske welcome Corey Greaves, leader of Mending Wings—a prominent Native youth ministry in the Yakama Nation. This conversation is not just an interview; it’s a powerful reimagining of what cross-cultural missions can and should be. Corey shares his personal journey as a Native follower of Jesus, emphasizing the tension between embracing the beauty of Indigenous culture and navigating the often Eurocentric frameworks of ...
Jun 06, 2025•43 min•Ep. 11
Summary In this episode of the Urbana podcast, hosts Mark Matlock and Phoebe Jeske welcome special guest Matthew Ellison, author of When Everything Is Missions , to explore what it truly means to live out the Great Commission. The conversation reflects on the shifting definition of “missions” within the church—from the traditional understanding of cross-cultural evangelism to a broader, sometimes diluted application of the term to any kind of Christian service. Matthew also shares insights from ...
May 29, 2025•40 min•Ep. 10
Summary In this episode of the Urbana podcast, hosts Mark Matlock and Phoebe Jeske sit down with Tom Lin, president and CEO of InterVarsity. The conversation explores Tom's deep connection to Urbana—the triennial missions conference that has been shaping college students and global missions since 1946. Tom reflects on his personal journey, beginning as a college student at Harvard attending Urbana '93, and how that formative experience led him into a life of campus ministry, overseas missions in...
May 22, 2025•46 min•Ep. 9
Summary In this episode of the Urbana podcast, hosts Mark Matlock and Phoebe Jeske are joined by Zach Meerkreebs, known for his connection to the Asbury outpouring—a significant spiritual revival that began at Asbury University in February 2023. Zach provides insight into his unexpected role as the chapel speaker during the initial outpouring, describing how he simply delivered a message on authentic love and humility and then watched in awe as the chapel service continued non-stop for sixteen d...
May 15, 2025•46 min•Ep. 8
Summary In this episode of the Urbana podcast, host Mark Matlock sits down with Olivia Benda and Ehud Lee, recent Biola University graduates and co-directors of the 2024 Biola Student Missionary Union (SMU) Conference. As leaders of the nation's longest-running student-led missions conference, Olivia and Ehud share their personal journeys into missions, discussing how their unique backgrounds and perspectives shaped the theme and programming for the event. The 2024 conference theme, “Unhindered,...
May 08, 2025•35 min•Ep. 7
Summary In this episode of the Urbana podcast, hosts Mark Matlock and Phoebe Jeske sit down with special guests Karen Rouggly from Azusa Pacific University (APU) and Jared Falkanger from Wheaton College. The episode centers on engaging college students and young adults with God’s global mission, particularly through participation in the Urbana conference. Mark introduces the podcast’s mission to empower Christian leaders on college campuses with tools and strategies to help students engage with ...
May 01, 2025•59 min•Ep. 6
Summary In this episode of the Urbana podcast, hosts Mark Matlock and Phoebe Jeske are joined by Lisa Fields, founder and CEO of the Jude 3 Project and author of When Faith Disappoints . The conversation opens with reflections on the challenges facing Gen Z—particularly rising rates of anxiety, depression, and loneliness on college campuses. Mark and Phoebe discuss how the overwhelming influx of information and societal pressures have shaped a generation searching for deeper purpose and directio...
Apr 24, 2025•46 min•Ep. 5
Summary In this episode of the Urbana podcast, hosts Mark Matlock and Phoebe Jeske sit down with Lisa Pak to discuss the intricacies of contemporary Christian missions. As a reverend doctor with a rich background straddling both Korean and Canadian cultures, Lisa brings a distinctive perspective to today's mission landscape. She emphasizes the importance of understanding missions beyond their colonial past, advocating for a more nuanced appreciation of the global church's evolving role. Highligh...
Apr 17, 2025•44 min•Ep. 4
Summary In this episode of the Urbana podcast, host Mark Matlock and co-host Phoebe Jeske embark on a thoughtful exploration of the evolving role of Generation Z in the Christian mission field. Opening with Phoebe’s awe-inspiring experience of witnessing a diverse congregation of five thousand worshipers, the episode serves as a heartfelt reflection on the global nature of contemporary Christianity. Mark and Phoebe dive into the unique characteristics of Gen Z, emphasizing their global connected...
Apr 17, 2025•29 min•Ep. 2
Summary In this episode of the Urbana podcast, hosts Mark Matlock and Phoebe Jeske engage in a compelling conversation with Dr. Ed Stetzer, Dean of the Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, about the vital role of North Americans in God's global mission. The episode delves into the historical significance of the Urbana conference and explores the evolving landscape of global missions. Dr. Stetzer shares insights from his personal journey, highlighting his early calling as a church plant...
Apr 17, 2025•54 min•Ep. 3
Urbana 2025 is a unique opportunity to see students that you lead grow in their faith, leadership skills and vision for God's global mission. Urbana not only equips students with a deeper understanding of the Great Commission, but it also provides a space where they can hear from global Christian leaders, participate in small group Bible studies, and engage in one-on-one coaching.
Apr 10, 2025•50 sec•Ep. 1
