Connection to NWC

Northwestern College board member Mike Miller, D.Min., Chief Business Officer of The Navigators and President of NavPress, said that the connection between The Navigators and Northwestern College goes back to a relationship between his organization’s founder, Dawson Trotman, and then-Northwestern president Billy Graham. “A number of the earliest field staff of The Navigators were Northwestern grads,” Miller noted, highlighting a “really deep connection” between the organizations that made it natural to say yes when fellow board member Lauren Libby recommended Miller for service on NWC’s board.

Education and career

A former Baptist minister, Miller served in a number of pastoral and director roles, as well as executive of LifeWay and as one of the founders of GodTube, the Christian alternative to YouTube. He is a published author and holds a B.A. from Oklahoma Baptist University, M.Div. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, D. Min. from Talbot Theological Seminary and an MBA from Dallas Baptist University.

Family and interests

Miller and his wife, Pat, have been married for 35 years. They have two grown children, Mary and Matthew (married to Erin), and one grandson. Mike explained that in addition to family time, “Pat and I love the outdoors. We’re hikers, climbers, mountain people. I’ve ridden motorcycles all my life. Pat and I have ridden in 49 states—including Hawaii.”

NWC opportunities

Miller sees great opportunities ahead for Northwestern and for ways The Navigators and NWC can build on their connections. “The Navigators’ mission of ‘resourcing and equipping disciples and disciple-makers for a worldwide discipleship revolution’ offers many opportunities for collaboration and support of Northwestern’s mission,” Miller said. Expanding Northwestern beyond its historically regional footprint is something Miller is very excited about. “Northwestern can have a worldwide educational ministry impact,” he suggested. “With online learning and the [expanding] diversity of programs, Northwestern can have a much broader influence in God’s Kingdom work.”

Guiding principles

As Miller’s career and opportunities have expanded, he has seen God equip him each step of the way for the next thing. “God will surprise you if you’re obedient and listen to His call,” he reflected. “He can take you from this small thing you think you’re supposed to be and over time introduce you to this enormous Kingdom reality that you never could have dreamt. Kingdom calling isn’t about what you do, it’s about commitment to follow the Lord in His work.”