Offered On-Campus
Offered Online
More than an education, Maranatha Baptist University is a community of believers encouraging each other to live in such a way “that we might be to the praise of His glory” (Eph. 1:12).
Founded in 1968, Maranatha exists to train purpose-driven leaders by providing a liberal and fine arts education—a vision cast by our founder, Dr. B. Myron Cedarholm. With more than 25 years of regional accreditation, Maranatha’s rigorous academics have prepared more than 6,000 leaders to take the mission of Maranatha across the globe.
Maranatha is a non-profit, private institution aligned with its independent Baptist constituency. As such, MBU is governed by an independent board of trustees and is not part of any denominational hierarchy or structure. Maranatha maintains a strong set of spiritual and behavioral distinctives generally reflected in constituent churches. Faculty members, though diverse in academic backgrounds, share a common core of biblical values and consider themselves conservative, independent Baptists.
When Maranatha Baptist University celebrated 50 years in the 2017-2018 school year, Maranatha Baptist Seminary and Maranatha Online + Distance Learning were well-established programs. Maranatha Baptist Bible Institute began in the fall of 2019. As Maranatha grows, the mission is still central: Maranatha exists to develop leaders for the local church and the world to the praise of His glory.
For specific details on Maranatha’s statistics and policies, visit our Consumer Information Page.
On-Campus Undergraduate
41 undergraduate degree programs across 7 academic units
Maranatha Baptist Seminary
6 graduate degree programs for ministry, including the MDiv & DMin
Online + Distance Learning
12 undergraduate degree programs & 4 graduate degree programs
Maranatha Baptist Bible Institute
Bible training in a 1-year diploma program & a 2-year certificate program
Mission Statement
The mission of Maranatha, “to develop leaders for ministry in the local church and the world ‘To the Praise of His Glory,’” comes directly from Ephesians 1:12, “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.” Maranatha’s institutional mission and values are sourced in its faith-based, biblical values. As such, the institution’s core identity as a conservative Baptist institution of higher education has been well-maintained through its five decades of operation. Within this context, the administration and board of trustees regularly review contemporary issues and emerging trends.
Maranatha’s mission implies that all graduates will be effectively equipped to serve God with competence in local churches and in their chosen vocations. To ensure continuity and faithfulness to the mission, MBU makes its doctrinal position and behavior expectations plain to all prospective students, staff, and faculty. Biblically based lifestyle expectations are applied equally to all employees and students.
A key to understanding Maranatha is its ministry mindset. Integrated and robust systems prepare leaders (from all walks of life) to serve in the local church and the world. Regardless of major, students are challenged to use their education, gifts, and talents to serve God and others with their lives. The Bible core is part of the general education component for students in all programs, whether on campus or online. Every class is taught from a biblical worldview. Christian service, voluntarily undertaken, is an integral part of campus life with more than 90 percent of students regularly participating in some kind of local church service. This integrated system of transmitting biblical values assists students to choose, prize, and act on their faith both during and after their college years. This is the central distinctive of Maranatha Baptist University.
Institutional Outcomes
Reason Objectively
Scientific Reasoning
Students will use scientific principles to draw empirical conclusions about the order of all creation.
Quantitative Reasoning
Students will apply quantitative skills to interpret data and solve problems.
Critical Analysis
Students will evaluate concepts from a biblical worldview with logical reasoning and intellectual honesty.
Apply Scripture Carefully
Biblical Interpretation
Students will interpret Scripture using the historical-grammatical method with carefully attention to the immediate and broad biblical context.
Doctrinal Defense
Students will defend the historical biblical faith.
Baptist Distinctives
Students will explain the Baptist distinctives in the context of Baptist history.
Relate to Society Appropriately
Cultural Awareness
Students will respond to the dynamics of culture with discernment while showing respect to all people as image-bearers of God.
Biblical Ethics
Students will make moral judgments based on biblical principles.
Historical Understanding
Students will analyze the influence of philosophical ideas on societal trends throughout history.
Communicate Effectively
Written Communication
Students will write correctly and cohesively with compelling argumentation.
Oral Communication
Students will articulate ideas clearly and dynamically.
Serve Intentionally
Servant Leadership
Students will apply the principles of biblical servant leadership.
Executive Office
Higher education demands leadership and associated communication processes to be nimble, transparent, and effective. Maranatha’s executive leaders champion its commitment to fidelity, innovation, and continuous quality improvement.
The President and Chief Executive Officer ensure that every institutional action reflects a commitment to the mission and core values through established expectations and systems for accountability at every level. Maranatha’s stakeholders, board members, administration, faculty and staff, and student body represent a community of faith that is deeply committed to its shared biblical values.
The Executive Office oversees the implementation of Maranatha’s strategic planning process, which advances the mission while maintaining a focus on student learning.
Board of Trustees & Resource
Board of Trustees
- Matthew Davis* | Chief Executive Officer, Watertown, WI
- David Anderson* | President, Watertown, WI
- Marty Marriott* | Chancellor, Watertown, WI
- Doug Jackson, Chairman* | Pastor, Saginaw, MI
- Kevin Ames | Retired Businessman, Pacifica, CA
- David Baldwin | Businessman, Owosso, MI
- Darrell Beernink | Retired Businessman, Normal, IL
- Stephen Burton | Businessman, Chesapeake, VA
- Andy Counterman | Pastor, Millersville, MD
- Michael Dean* | Attorney, Brookfield, WI
- Randell Gillespie | Businessman, Georgetown, TX
- William Lincoln | Retired Pastor, Watertown, WI
- Bob Loggans* | Pastor, Watertown, WI
- Randy Melchert Jr. | Educator & Attorney, Menomonee Falls, WI
- Zachary Mortimer | Businessman, Shelocta, PA
- David Oliver* | Pastor, Belding, MI
- Mark Poorman* | Pastor, Fridley, MN
- Chad Prigge | Pastor, Watertown, WI
- Tim Schmig | Educator, Owosso, MI
- Michael Stoltenberg | Physician, Watertown, WI
*Indicates Executive Committee member
Board of Resource
- Todd Abbey | Pastor, Fairfax Station, VA
- Jeremiah Cochran | Pastor, Toney, AL
- William Cover | Pastor, Houston, TX
- Dave Schlagel | Pastor, Downers Grove, IL
- Jesse Sherburn | Research Engineer, Vicksburg, MS
- Joel Mikkelson | Pastor, Santa Maria, CA
- Aaron Wilson | Camp Director, Prudenville, MI
Leadership Teams
Executive Council
The Executive Council (EC), the institution’s highest internal policy-making and appellate body, is made up of the executive-level leadership of the institution. EC meets regularly to address human resource issues and policy implementation. EC represents an important safeguard on institutional policy while maintaining the connection to the Strategic Plan. The CEO serves as the Chair of the Executive Council.
- Matthew Davis, BS, JD | Chief Executive Officer
- David Anderson, BA, MDiv, DMin | President
- Marty Marriott, BA, BS, MA, MDiv, DD | Chancellor
- Donald Donovan, BS, CPA | Chief Financial Officer, Vice President for Business Affairs
- Andrew Goodwill, BA, MA, PhD | Dean of Students, Faculty for CBCM, & MBS
- Mark Herbster, BA, MDiv | Dean of the College of Bible & Church Ministries, Maranatha Baptist Seminary
- William Licht, BA, MS, MA, EdD | Vice President for Academic Affairs
- Tim McPhillips, BS, MA | Vice President for Advancement
- Kevin Montney, BS, JD | Director of Human Resources and Corporate Counsel
Strategy Council
The Strategy Council oversees the Strategic Planning process (implementation, project management, and revision), Accreditation efforts (HLC requirements and tasks, program accreditation, compliance efforts), and Institutional Assessment (institutional outcomes, academic program review, operational department review). The CEO serves as the Chair of the Strategy Council.
- Matthew Davis, BS, JD | Chief Executive Officer, Chair
- Marty Marriott, BA, BS, MA, MDiv, DD | Chancellor
- Jonathan Coleman, BA, MA, MEd | Director of Institutional Research and Effectiveness
- William Licht, BA, MS, MA, EdD | Vice President for Academic Affairs, Vice Chair
- Dana Davis, BS, MS | Assistant Vice President, Online and Distance Learning
- Jonathan Sheeley, BS, MA | Director of Communications
- D. Lance Saxon Jr., BA | Registrar
- Tim McPhillips, BS, MA | Vice President for Advancement
Leadership Council
The Leadership Council (LC) represents a vital nexus for the cross-flow of communication between departments and academic units. LC is comprised of the directors of every major department and academic unit as well as the administration of the university. Department leaders communicate recent developments, share innovations, and promote upcoming events. LC reports provide a free-flow of information on strategic direction and key organizational planning processes.
- Matthew Davis, BS, JD | Chief Executive Officer
- Marty Marriott, BA, BS, MA, MDiv, DD | Chancellor
- Philip Alsup, BS, MS, EdD | Maranatha Baptist Academy Administrator
- Ken Banks | Director of IT, Network Administrator
- Melissa Chapman, BA | Director of Kiddie Kampus
- Jared Chesley, BS | Facilities Manager
- Jonathan Coleman, BA, MA, MEd | Director of Institutional Research and Effectiveness
- Dana Davis, BS, MS | Assistant Vice President, Online and Distance Learning
- Luke DeWald | Director, Office of Student Activities
- Donald Donovan, BS, CPA | Chief Financial Officer, Vice President for Business Affairs
- Jennifer Dunlop | Library Director
- Pam Fiocchi, BA | Director of Admissions
- Karrie Flegal, BA, MA | Director of Guest Relations
- Tracy Foster, BS, MBA, DBA | Dean, School of Business
- Lane Hansel, BS, MS, MS, EdD | Chair, Department of Applied Science
- Andrew Goodwill | Dean of Students
- Tom Graham | Dean of the School of Education
- Tami Gunselman | Director of the School of Nursing
- Emily Haynes, BA, MA | Dean of Women
- Mark Herbster, BA, MDiv | Dean of the College of Bible & Church Ministries, Maranatha Baptist Seminary
- David Ledgerwood, BS, MA, MA, DMA | Chair, Department of Music
- William Licht, BA, MS, MA, EdD | Vice President for Academic Affairs
- Tim McPhillips, BS, MA | Vice President for Advancement
- Angela Morris | Chair, Department of Humanities
- D. Lance Saxon | Registrar
- Jonathan Sheeley, BS, MA | Director of Communications
- Robert Thompson, BS | Athletic Director
- Matthew Uplinger, BBA | Director of Financial Aid
- Peter Wright, BS, MA | Director of Student Recruitment, Director of Alumni Services
Statement of Faith
Within our Statement of Faith, we have provided a short summary of our doctrinal positions. For more thorough descriptions, please read our Commitment Statements.
We believe in . . .
- The verbal, plenary inspiration of the Old and New Testaments
- God in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; the new birth in Christ alone
- Baptism by immersion for believers only
- The eternal security of the believer
- The Lord’s Supper as a memorial
- Six creation days of 24 hours each
- The bodily resurrection of Christ and His bodily ascension into heaven, where He now intercedes for believers
- The pretribulation rapture of all believers
- The premillennial return and millennial reign of the Lord Jesus Christ
- The judgment
- The reality of heaven and hell
- The local church as God’s institution to carry out the Great Commission
- The obligation of every believer to live a holy life and witness to the lost of the saving power of Christ
Commitment Statements
Maranatha’s Doctrinal Statement originated in the very first year of Maranatha’s existence. During the summer of 2009, the Bible faculty and seminary faculty created an expansion of the doctrinal statement and set forth the following declaration of its commitment to biblical truth and its application of that truth to the lives of its students, staff, and faculty.
Baptist Distinctives
Baptist
Maranatha stands without apology for the Baptist distinctives. Baptistic principles and polity are taught in the classroom and practiced in the personal ministries of each faculty member.
Biblical
Maranatha believes in verbal, plenary inspiration. The Bible is the sole authority for faith and practice and is inerrant in all matters it addresses. The literal, historical-grammatical approach to the interpretation of God’s Word is emphasized through the entire curriculum.
Dispensational
Maranatha emphasizes the pretribulational rapture of all believers and the premillennial return and reign of Jesus Christ. Students are warned about the errors of Reformed theology, and they are taught to “rightly divide the Word of Truth.”
Evangelistic
Maranatha challenges and prepares students to have warm soul-winners’ hearts and to build strong evangelistic churches. The faculty includes teachers who have many years of experience in building and developing soul-winning churches.
Local Church
Maranatha teaches that the local New Testament church is God’s ordained institution to carry out His work in this age. The primacy of the local church in scriptural teaching is emphasized in both doctrine and practice.
Separatist
Maranatha takes a clear-cut stand on separation from personal worldliness and ecclesiastical error. The leadership of the school has been and continues to be against all forms of modernism, inclusivism, neo-orthodoxy, new evangelicalism, and other forms of theological compromise.
Core Values
Maranatha believes the manner of accomplishing its mission, the method of achieving its objectives, and the articulation of its philosophy can and ought to be done in a Christ-like way and according to guiding values and principles tempered and shaped by the Word of God. Each administrator, faculty member, and student should seek to operate, interact, and behave according to these stated principles:
Maranatha is an institution committed to the principles on which it was founded—the truth of God’s Word and an adherence to Baptist distinctives that set it apart from other Christian colleges and universities.
Maranatha’s theological position and local church emphasis are, and have been, vital. Academically, regional accreditation and the wide scope of the University’s programs have offered our graduates nearly unlimited career and ministry opportunities.
“I want parents and students to know we will stay true to our foundation—to the fundamentals of the faith that are as important to them as they are to us,” University President Dr. Marty Marriott said. “We will always be Baptist, biblical, dispensational, and evangelistic. We will always emphasize the local church. Those are non-negotiables. There aren’t going to be sudden shifts in what we believe or how we apply those beliefs. We are going to stay the course that has been laid out for us over the last 50 years.”
That course began in 1968, when Maranatha Baptist Bible College was established by Dr. B. Myron Cedarholm and his wife, Thelma.