Podcasts Archive - ��ԭ��

S12E07 | Instilling a Biblical Worldview: Katie Schmoeckel

bbriddick — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 20:56:45 +0000

April 14, 2026 “History is a wonderful learning tool,” claims Katie Schmoeckel, associate history professor at ��ԭ��. Justifying history as a required subject, she links it with “dark sayings of old” in Psalm 78’s admonition to rehearse God’s works so that future generations might trust and obey Him. She desires students to be able to evaluate life through a scriptural framework, develop and apply discernment, and successfully articulate a biblical worldview for others. “It’s a life skill,” she says, and history is a testing ground. Katie and host Dr. Matt Davis examine how worldview has shaped the past. Dr. Davis highlights the disturbing percentage of evangelical teens unable to identify differences between their worldview and those of secular peers, emphasizing the vital role of institutions like ��ԭ��. They conclude by reflecting on the lasting influence of mentors. About our guest Katie Schmoeckel is an associate professor in ��ԭ��’s Department of Humanities. An alumna who completed both undergraduate and graduate work at ��ԭ��, she worked as a historical guide and taught high school history for twelve years before joining the faculty full-time. She enjoys traveling to historic sites and preparing food for the bus ministry children in the Raven Ministry at […]

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S12E06 | Tracing God’s Guidance : David Handyside

bbriddick — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 07:00:04 +0000

March 31, 2026 Dr. David Handyside, former dean of ��ԭ��’s School of Education, returns to the podcast to share how the Lord directed his life’s work through progressive stages—from youth Bible camp to Christian college to a long career in education. As his story develops, it intersects in Illinois with the life of host Dr. Matt Davis, creating points at which their perspectives naturally blend. Dr. Handyside reflects on the privilege of teaching Sunday school, starting with a small group of Hmong people, which eventually grew into a vibrant international class of nearly 60. He also recounts how, even in retirement and despite his initial reluctance, the Lord led him to accept a post on the Watertown School Board where, as Dr. Davis notes, he can be “a redeeming influence in our community.” About our guest Dr. David Handyside, retired dean of ��ԭ��’s School of Education, previously taught in both Christian and public schools and served as a school administrator. At ��ԭ��, he directed student teachers before becoming dean. He has faithfully served in his local church as a Sunday school teacher and deacon. In retirement, he serves on the Watertown School Board. He and his wife, Margaret, have been […]

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S12E05 | Christ Is Building His Church: Jon Crocker

bbriddick — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 07:00:25 +0000

March 3, 2026 Though he has not formulated a mission statement, guest Jon Crocker claims his would emphasize a guiding biblical theme: the centrality of Christ in everything. He and host Dr. Matt Davis trace that theme through Christ’s charge to Ananias in Acts 9, a preaching-assignment text which continues to resonate with Jon. The conversation then turns to the suffering linked to ministry and the inevitable conflict between the gospel’s nature and the world. Jon describes how Satan’s tactics differ regionally—sometimes blatant, sometimes covert. He briefly identifies “hot spots” where the gospel is visibly advancing, while stressing that Christ is building His church even when not clearly seen. The episode concludes with an evaluation of mission models and a reminder that missions are a universal commission, not merely an American endeavor. About our guest Jon Crocker is Executive Director of Gospel Fellowship Association Missions. He assumed the position in 2022 after having served for 10 years in church planting in Mexico City. Jon and his wife, Andrea, have five children.

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S12E04 | Prioritizing Christ, Others, and Excellence: Ben Coronado

bbriddick — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 08:00:15 +0000

March 3, 2026 “You use it everywhere … It’s at the heart of what it means to disciple,” claims guest Ben Coronado, lauding the relevance of ��ԭ��’s biblical counseling studies. The program was an interlude in his MDiv studies and is now the focus of his doctoral pursuit. Ben explains the practical integration of his life mission into his daily routine. After recounting his pastoral call, the dialogue shifts into a broader reflection on today’s unwillingness to promote vocational ministry among young men. In retrospect, Ben identifies ministry skills he acquired as student body president and from extension opportunities. Then, host Dr. Matt Davis contrasts Ben’s internship at Shalom Ministries with the growing trend of antisemitism among professed Christians, attributing the trend to misguided theology. About our guest Ben Coronado is the worship and discipleship pastor at Fairview Baptist Church in Decatur, Alabama, and is a chaplain with the Decatur Police Department. A ��ԭ�� alumnus, Ben served as student body president and in Guest Services. Upon graduation, he became a youth pastor at his home church and continued his studies, earning an MA in Biblical Counseling while pursuing an MDiv. Ben and his wife, Beth [‘16], have four children and […]

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S12E03 | Strength Training Physically and Spiritually: Jodi Faithfull

bbriddick — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 08:00:45 +0000

February 17, 2026 ��ԭ��’s Baseball Coach Jodi Faithfull joins the podcast in a lively discussion of how the Lord used talents, desires, and passions to guide him to his current position. Growing up in Canada, where hockey dominated sports, he desired to be a strength and conditioning coach in the NHL. An internship at a state university and experience in various organizations allowed him to see that the demanding schedule of such work was not conducive to supporting a strong family life. He and host Dr. Matt Davis examine aspects of the job as a strength and conditioning trainer, the influence coaches can have with athletes, and ways to broaden that influence from mere physical development to spiritual cultivation. They also delve into Coach Faithfull’s bioethics course and how we should respond to escalating incivility in our society. About our guest Jodi Faithfull, a Prince Edward Islander, is an associate professor in the Department of Applied Science who oversees ��ԭ��’s kinesiology program, exercise science practicums and internships, and serves as the head baseball coach. As an NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and an MASM Performance Enhancement Specialist, he works with athletes from ��ԭ��’s ten intercollegiate programs. He has served […]

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S12E02 | Step Back and See the Big Picture: Dwayne Morris

bbriddick — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 08:00:20 +0000

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S12E01 | A Joyful Participant: Craig Lawson

bbriddick — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 08:00:14 +0000

January 20, 2026 In this candid episode, Camp Program Director Craig Lawson and host Dr. Matt Davis discuss in depth the qualities of an effective mission statement. Assigned to write a mission statement while in college, Craig prepared a short-sighted, vocationally specific version. He and Dr. Davis agree that the best statements offer flexibility for varied applications but must “still provide enough guidance … to make prioritized decisions.” Craig’s improved edition hinges on the word “participate,” which launches them into a discussion of the freedom such a stance provides, the liberating relief of leaving results to the Lord while also acknowledging the responsibility of every believer to participate in some aspect of ministry. In the final analysis, Craig advises college students to prioritize church involvement during college and in future job searches. About our guest Craig Lawson [‘13] is the program director at Ironwood Christian Camp in Newberry Springs, California. Craig met and married his wife, Emily, while at ��ԭ�� and then worked at MBU for a year following graduation. Summer ministry at Ironwood led them to join the resident staff in 2015. The Lawsons have two children who, by camp tradition, are dubbed “desert pygmies.”

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S11E10 | Joy in the Student Life Office: Emily Haynes

bbriddick — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 08:00:54 +0000

December 9, 2025 The expression “famous last words” applies to guest Emily Haynes. “One day you will be dean of women,” an associate dorm supervisor once playfully predicted. Emily adamantly replied, “Absolutely not!” Yet the Lord steadily guided her from teaching piano into the conjectured dean of women position. She and host Dr. Matt Davis review that process. Joining the Student Life Office as a dorm supervisor in 2010, she learned the one surprising rule—every day you must laugh. Emily enjoys her work, which mainly entails counseling and discipleship, though it includes a modicum of discipline too. She explains varied aspects of the dual mentorship role of working with students and dorm supervisors. Naturally, she partners with parents as well, assuring them of attentive student care. ��ԭ��’s supportive environment “ought to be pretty reassuring to parents,” Dr. Davis observes, “once you describe all the different things we have in place to help their students thrive.” Now a 15-year veteran, Emily insists, “The rule still applies; there is laughter every day.” About our guest Emily Haynes became Dean of Women at ��ԭ�� in 2016. When her college closed during her senior year, Emily transferred to ��ԭ�� and, thus, is […]

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S11E09 | Talk About a Front-Row Seat! Phil Price

bbriddick — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 08:00:18 +0000

November 25, 2025 Athletics as ministry offers a great “classroom” with many teachable moments, as you will hear in this episode with guest Phil Price, MBU faculty member and assistant basketball coach. He claims to have had a “front-row seat,” spending all but seven years of his life on a Christian campus. Growing up shadowing his coaching father and later playing in multiple sports, he cherishes the personal privilege of having been mentored by Godly men. Among various topics, he and host Dr. Matt Davis review his sports involvement, the “relationship of math as a discipline and the concept of truth as a reality,” lessons of grace learned from a bicuspid aortic valve and death of his father, and transition into the role of “old guy” and mentor of a younger generation. About our guest Phil Price, an associate professor at ��ԭ��, teaches math and serves as assistant basketball coach. For 30 years he held the record as ��ԭ��’s baseball homerun leader, a record broken only recently. An MBU alumnus and son of MBU faculty members, Phil served as a Christian school teacher before joining ��ԭ�� faculty. His wife Kathleen and married son continue the alumni theme. Two other sons […]

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S11E08 | Wired to Enjoy Encouraging People: Peter Wright

bbriddick — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 08:00:07 +0000

November 11, 2025 Peter Wright’s interview in this episode runs the gamut from youth pastor to communications director to recruitment specialist and more. He explains to host Dr. Matt Davis that God has “wired” him to enjoy encouraging people, whether through playing the piano, driving a bus, flying airplanes, or mowing a lawn. Their conversation glides through Peter’s call to youth ministry (though trained in music) and flows on to his call to ��ԭ�� as communications director (overseeing things he disliked) and how the Lord eventually gave him his desire—ministry in music. Then their dialogue settles on recruitment. Peter answers such paramount questions as why he advocates Christian education, why students should attend college even if pursuing a trade, and why ��ԭ�� is a prime choice. They talk percentages—70-80% of Christians attending secular schools denouncing their faith, senior test scores placing MBU in the top 4% nationally with music students in the top 1%, and our CPA-track students making us number one in Wisconsin. Dr. Davis sites studies which validate that discipline trumps IQ, and Peter concludes the compelling analysis by enumerating college benefits beyond academics. About our guest Peter Wright is an MBU alumnus who served as a youth […]

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Podcasts Archive - ����ԭ��