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On Mission

On Mission

By: Matt Davis Maranatha Baptist University
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 On Mission is a podcast that explores personal mission in the lives of leaders in ministry, community, and business. Each episode features a leader dedicated to pursuing a life of excellence, service, and eternal significance.2025 Maranatha Baptist University Christianity Personal Development Personal Success Philosophy Social Sciences Spirituality
Episodes
  • S11 Ep 6 | Bob Griffin

    S11 Ep 6 | Bob Griffin
    Oct 14 2025
    This episode’s guest hails from Maranatha’s inception. In fact, he met the Brothers of the Holy Cross who sold the campus to MBU. Dr. Bob Griffin reflects on the early days—transferring from Pillsbury, meeting his wife (plus how a bowl of melted ice cream landed in his lap), and the quandary of what to do after graduation. Bob defines his mission as willingness to be a servant, and host Dr. Matt Davis prompts him to explain how the Lord employs desires, preparation, and counsel to direct His will. Bob mentions his US Navy chaplaincy that ended before it began and how an inner-city boy pastored a rural church with 13 members, six of whom died within a year. They discuss unexpected opportunities to advance his education, how the Lord sustained when Bob’s wife developed a terminal condition. Bob recounts poignant financial extremities and how the Lord surprised them, how his wife’s illness triggered new pursuits, and now how the Lord allows continued opportunities to serve despite a stroke. A servant has no will, Bob states. Humility is key, which results in peace.
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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • S11 Ep 5 | Jonathan Gilliam

    S11 Ep 5 | Jonathan Gilliam
    Sep 30 2025
    Delve into this episode as host Dr. Matt Davis and MBU graduate Jonathan Gilliam chat about a range of topics from cross-country running to marriage, from Jonathan’s current camp staff responsibilities to God’s calling. Tapping into his recent graduation, they address his college expectations and what aspects prepared him for life. Jonathan appreciates his extension involvement in a small church and highlights his internship, which challenged him to devote time daily in silent reflection. When Dr. Davis asks, “What would you tell your younger self as a student, if you had the chance,” Jonathan thoughtful responds, “How to interact with suffering.” Diagnosed with Chron’s disease as a teen and having had potentially fatal complications from it, he judiciously comments that he would not mourn those difficulties or seek immediate release because, he concludes, trials are often the means of growth and sanctification.
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    44 mins
  • S11 Ep 4 | Joel Mikkelson

    S11 Ep 4 | Joel Mikkelson
    Sep 16 2025
    In this engaging episode, host Dr. Matt Davis interviews fall meetings guest speaker Pastor Joel Mikkelson, asking why he chose to present messages on the attributes of God. Mentioning the apparent conflict between scarcity as the economic standard for determining value and God’s infinity, Dr. Davis asks the intriguing question, “Then what is God’s value?” They address God’s holiness and how it suggests “boundaries of scarcity.” Then the conversation shifts to Joel’s mission not only to serve faithfully, but also to enjoy serving. Dr. Davis notes that Pastor Mikkelson’s ministry is complex, requiring him to lead, not serve. They talk about the balance of delegating work while continuing to actively participate in it. They evaluate perspectives of ministry in the diverse, “almost hostile environment” of California and Santa Maria’s “de-churched, unchurched” culture and the faulty perception of size as a “benchmark” of faithfulness. About our guest Joel Mikkelson [‘01] is pastor of First Baptist Church of Santa Maria, California, and serves on Maranatha’s Board of Resource. Raised in a pastor’s family in Wisconsin, a home which engendered a desire for lifelong service, he attended Maranatha where he met his wife, Kelly. Upon graduation, they joined the staff of Kelly’s home church in Santa Maria where Kelly assumed responsibilities as the finance director and Joel began his “dream job” as children’s pastor. He served in that position for 14 years before becoming the lead pastor. The Mikkelsons have five children. One, a 2025 Maranatha graduate, works for the university, and another is currently a student.
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    49 mins
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