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 is an avid rose grower with a green thumb, an active pet/animal trainer (probably helps in training Mike), an avid 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-two plus (the same guy, of course!), is warm and caring, and dearly loved by all who get to know her.
- She currently operates her own businesses, Picasso Pups and Dream Weaver Productions, where she designs and constructs a variety of items, primarily items associated with dog agility training and supplies, and breeds / raises pure-bred Miniature Australian Shepherd pups (she now has eight of them).
- Pastor Mike and Becky are the proud parents of two grown children, a son-in law, daughter-in-law, one granddaughter, one grandson, and a grandson who is "on the way" (due to make his appearance in May, 2012)...
- Kimberly Martinson
- Kim lives in Norman, Oklahoma, with her husband, Scott, and their two adorable children, Kyrstin and Stephan (quite simply the most beautiful granddaughter and most handsome grandson in the world).
- Kim is a summa cum laude grad of the Barrett Honors College and member of the honorary Phi Beta Kappa sorority at Arizona State University, 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 now serves on the faculty as an instructor for freshman English students, and where she is pursuing her Ph.D.
- 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 entered the world and began shaking it up on April 14, 2010. With the help of his "big" sister, Kyrstin, the love and care of his parents, Scott and Kim, and the on-going prayer support and encouragement of grandpa Mike and grandma Becky, Stefan has already placed his imprint on their hearts, and has brought smiles to their faces.
- Jeff Gilbert
- Jeff lives in Phoenix with his new bride, Brianna, and works for Copenhagen/Denmark 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 Gilbert
- The newest addition to the Gilbert family, lovely Brianna and Jeff were married this past year and are enjoying their on-going honeymoon, celebrating how God brought them together.
- Brianna is a graduate of ASU and has served as an events coordinator and has worked with a ministry providing housing for those displaced by hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, etc., around the country.
- Currently Brianna is working as a teacher at Brophy High School in Phoenix.
- Jeff and Brianna are expecting their first child, Jude Michael Gilbert, in May of 2012.
- Jude Michael Gilbert
- Jude is expected to make his arrival in May, 2012, and the whole family is anxiously looking forward to his appearance. He's already taking after his dad and grandpa, responding to music at every occurrence, and kicking hard against "the establishment."
- Pastor Mike’s educational preparation includes…
- Bachelor of Science -- Major: Business Management -- Missouri State University (Springfield, Missouri), 1974.
- Master of Religious Education -- Major: Youth and Education Ministries, Church Administration -- Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (Fort Worth, Texas), 1977.
- Ph.D. course work -- Major: Biblical vs. Emergent Theology, Biblical studies -- Trinity Evangelical Seminary, 1989-1994.
- Master of Divinity, equiv. -- Focus: Theology -- Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary (Mill Valley, California), 1998.
- Pursuing his Doctor of Ministry -- Focus: Philosophy of Ministry and Advanced Ministry principles and applications in a local church setting -- Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary (Arizona campus in Scottsdale, Arizona)
- Pastor Mike is actively pursuing his final steps in completing his doctorate, and will be leading SMBC in a doctoral project this April-June, connecting our senior adults with the children and parents within our congregation, providing our children with "adopted grandparents" and our seniors with "adopted grandkids" while also assisting the parents of our children...all the while helping all our members to "reach across the generations" and appreciate those of generations other than their own...helping meet the needs of both groups.
- 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, 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 featured speaker, 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 state conventions, associations, local churches and student ministry groups across the nation.
- 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 ten years in Promise Keepers, and recently served as coordinator for Pastor Relations on the Promise Keepers' Arizona Advanced Planning Team for the Arizona Promise Keepers Conference held at the Glendale 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 (in his own words)...
- 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, computer graphics, 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, and Eskimo pies.
- Favorite beverages:
- Dr. Pepper, iced tea, chocolate malts, orange smoothies.
- Music (or artists) he listens to:
- Wide variety, but especially Matt Redman, Chris Rice, Stephen Curtis Chapman, Hillsong, Beatles, Eagles, James Taylor, John Denver, Simon & Garfunkel, Chicago.
- Favorite t.v. shows:
- West Wing, David Letterman, The Jon Stewart Show, M.A.S.H., NCIS, House, C.N.N., sports programming.
- Latest movies he’s seen:
- Joyful Noise, The Descendants.
- Favorite movies all-time:
- Patch Adams, Mr. Holland's Opus, With Honors, The Out of Towners, An American President, The Candidate, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, J.F.K., Dave, Help!, That Thing You Do, Brian's Song, Titanic, Hoosiers, The Natural, The Right Stuff, Goodbye Mr. Chips, Remember the Titans, Love Actually, What's Up Doc?, The Blind Side, Joyful Noise.
- Favorite book(s) he’s read recently (check out Pastor Mike's "recommended reading" list on this website also):
- 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.
- Favorite sports team(s):
- Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Suns, ASU Sun Devils, Oklahoma Sooners, St. Louis Cardinals, U.S. Olympians, Harlem Globetrotters, and whoever is playing Notre Dame.
- What he likes most about SMBC:
- The good hearts of the people and their willingness to serve the Lord, the potential God has placed within our grasp.
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