S12E01 | A Joyful Participant: Craig Lawson
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 Maranatha 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.”
