Meet Pastor Mike
Family
- A native Missourian, Pastor Mike and Becky attended the same high school (Parkview High School in Springfield, Missouri) but never met there. (Mike was a senior, Becky was a fresh-person). They actually met at the Baptist Student Union of Southwest Missouri State University (now Missouri State University) on Becky’s very first day of college, dated for 2 ½ years, and married after Pastor Mike’s first semester in seminary, on January 4, 1975.
- Becky
- Born and raised in Springfield, Missouri, is a gifted seamstress and served for thirteen years as a national educational consultant for the Pfaff and Viking Sewing Machine companies.
- Specializing in computerized machine embroidery, Becky’s award-winning work has appeared in national magazines, and her marvelously beautiful worship banners are a favorite with all who’ve seen them.
- She currently operates her own businesses, Picasso Pups (a private kennel for the breeding and healthy distribution of Miniature Australian Shepherds) and Dream Weaver Productions, where she designs and constructs a variety of items, primarily items associated with dog agility training and supplies.
- She is an avid rose grower with a green thumb, an active pet/animal trainer (probably helps in training Mike), a rabid Arizona Diamondbacks fan and an always-present and ever-ready support for Pastor Mike.
- A very humble and tender-hearted person, Becky served as the Youth Minister’s wife for the first fifteen years of her marriage and has served as the pastor’s wife for the past twenty (the same guy, of course!), is warm and caring, and dearly loved by all who get to know her.
- Pastor Mike and Becky are the proud parents of two grown children, along with a wonderful son-in-law and daughter-in-law, one beautiful granddaughter, Kyrstin (age 2), and a handsome and energetic grandson, Stefan (born in April, 2010).
- Kimberly Martinson
- Kim lives in Norman, Oklahoma, with her husband, Scott, and their two wonderful children, Kyrstin (quite simply the most beautiful grandbaby in the world), and Stefan (the beneficiary of a multitude of prayers and a constant grinner).
- Kim is a summa cum laude grad of the Honors College at A.S.U., where she graduated with a double major in English and Spanish.
- Kim received her Masters in English Composition at the University of Oklahoma, where she has served on the faculty as an instructor for freshman English students, and where she is pursuing her Ph.D.
- For the time being, Kim has stepped away from her professoral role in order to devote her time to raising two godly kids.
- Kim is also a gifted vocalist and songwriter, and has recently recorded her first c.d. of original music.
- Scott Martinson
- Scott recently completed his Masters degree in marriage and family counseling.
- Having served as a supervisor of parole officers for the State of Oklahoma, he has recently begun a pilot program for the state and serves as a state-certified counselor for inmates in Oklahoma's state prisons.
- Scott and Kim are actively involved in their church in Norman, Oklahoma, assisting in the Young Adult ministry and in the worship and music ministries together.
- Kyrstin Martinson
- Beautiful Kyrstin, born December 3, 2008, already has her grandpa wrapped around her tiny fingers, has captured his heart, and is quickly filling his wallet and computer with new pictures.
- Stefan Martinson
- Stefan, cute, cuddly, cheerful, was born in April of 2010 is being well taken care of by mom and dad, and big sister, Kyrstin.
- Jeff Gilbert
- Jeff lives in Phoenix with this new bride, Brianna, and works for Copenhagen Designs.
- A gifted musician, writer, and vocalist, Jeff’s band, “Riot For Romance" (formerly known as "This Daily Summer"), won the 2008 Arizona battle of the bands and has appeared with a variety of well-known national bands, playing such venues as the Celebrity Theater in Phoenix, the downtown Tempe New Year’s Eve celebration and many more.
- Jeff recently headlined in a number of concerts by Christian bands in a three week tour of Scotland, and several bands and artists have recorded and are performing songs Jeff has written.
- Brianna Vasquez Gilbert
- The newest addition to the Gilbert family, lovely Brianna and Jeff were married February 19, 2011.
- Brianna is a graduate of Xavier High School in Phoenix and Arizona State University, and her bubbly personality and her gracious and thinking-of-others nature make her a joy to be around (and help her keep Jeff in line...we hope).
- Kimberly Martinson
- Pastor Mike’s educational preparation includes…
- Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Missouri State University (Springfield, Missouri)
- Master of Religious Education degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (Fort Worth, Texas)
- Master of Divinity, equiv. from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary (Mill Valley, California)
- Ph.D. course work at Trinity Evangelical Seminary
- Doctor of Ministry course work at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary
- Pastor Mike is only one year away from completing his Doctor of Ministry from Golden Gate Seminary.
- Surrendering to God’s call to the vocational ministry during the summer of 1971, Pastor Mike has served in a wide variety of church staff and church-related staff positions, including Minister of Music, Minister to Youth, Minister of Education, College Minister, Bus Minister, Associate Pastor and Senior Pastor.
- In addition, Pastor Mike has been a professional musician, an adjunct professor at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix and at Gulfshore Bible College in Fort Myers, Florida, and has taught one January-term class at the Southern California campus of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. He has served as conference / camp pastor, worship leader, conference leader, writer, and curriculum designer for the Baptist Sunday School Board (now Lifeway), the North American Mission Board, and for numerous national and state conventions and associations.
- Due to his commitment to helping churches become more effective in reaching and ministering to the needs of men, Pastor Mike has been actively involved for more than twelve years in Promise Keepers, and recently served on the Board of Directors as coordinator for Pastor Relations on Promise Keepers' Arizona Advanced Planning Team for the Arizona Promise Keepers Conference held at the Glendale Arena (now Jobing.com Arena).
- Evangelism is an integral part in Pastor Mike’s calling and he has always been actively involved in personal evangelism, as speaker at evangelistic events, revivals and crusades, as well as training others in being effective in presenting the truths of the gospel.
- Pastor Mike’s goals, with God’s help, in his own words, are ...
- To be the best husband, father, man, and pastor I can be.
- To be a life-long learner, a compassionate care-giver, a bold believer, and a servant leader.
- To plant seeds and harvest souls where God has planted me...beginning first in Arizona, then in all the world.
- Hobbies:
- Music, golf (the “holy” game), most sports (although curling is a real stretch), writing, and watching people (enjoying the wonderful variety God displays in making each person unique and special).
- Favorite foods:
- Whatever is on the table, but especially pizza, Mexican food, a juicy steak, spaghetti, brisket, sloppy joes, a good hamburger with no cheese, and Eskimo pies.
- Favorite beverages:
- Iced tea, Dr. Pepper, chocolate milk, chocolate malts, 2% milk, grape juice, orange smoothies.
- Music (or artists) he listens to:
- Wide variety -- but especially Matt Redmund, Chris Rice, Stephen Curtis Chapman, Hillsong, Michael W. Smith, Lincoln Brewster, Mercy Me, Beatles, Eagles, James Taylor, Lionel Richie, Simon and Garfunkel, Chicago.
- Favorite t.v. shows:
- West Wing, David Letterman, NCIS, Late Night with Craig Ferguson, The Colbert Report, The Daily Show, House, Law and Order, Grey's Anatomy, M.A.S.H., C.N.N., Austin City Limits, the History Channel, sports programming.
- Latest movies he’s seen:
- Mr. Popper's Penguins, The Proposal, Shrek Forever, True Grit, The King's Speech, Date Night, Morning Glory, Secretariat, How To Train Your Dragon, Crazy Heart, This Is It, Burlesque, Robin Hood, The Blind Side, Star Trek, Shrek 4, Julie and Julia, Amazing Grace, It's Complicated, Shrek III, Despicable Me, Seabiscuit.
- Favorite movies all-time:
- Mr. Holland's Opus, Patch Adams, With Honors, Stand By Me, Stand and Deliver, I Am Sam, Father of the Bride, Goodbye Mr. Chips, The Out of Towners, Brian's Song, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, The Candidate, The Natural, The Rare Breed, Fiddler On the Roof, Forrest Gump, Love Actually, Dave, The American President, Hoosiers, The Replacements, What's Up Doc?, Remember the Titans, Happy Feet, Bean, The Blind Side, Antwone Fisher.
- Favorite book(s) he’s read recently:
- When Generations Collide; The Art of Mentoring: Lead, Follow, and Get Out of the Way; Radical; The Power of One Thing; Jesus: Why the World Is Still Fascinated By Him; Man In the Mirror; And the Angels Were Silent; The Purpose of Christmas; Simple Church; Good To Great; Now, Discover Your Strengths; Forgiveness Is A Choice; When God Whispers Your Name; Worship At the Next Level; Four Pillars Of a Man’s Heart; When Men Think Private Thoughts.
- Writing:
- Numerous articles, Youth Curriculum Studies and two chapters of DiscipleYouthII notebook...all for Lifeway Christian Resources (formerly the Baptist Sunday School Board)
- Book: "Observations of the Weird Bearded Guy" -- published in 2008.
- Favorite sports team(s):
- Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Suns, ASU Sun Devils, Oklahoma Sooners, whomever is playing the New York Yankees or Notre Dame.
- What he likes most about SMBC:
- The good hearts of the people and their willingness to serve the Lord.