Introduction
Mike Keller is a university campus missionary with Campus Bible Fellowship, through Baptist Mid-Missions. He was born in a small farm town in Indiana where everyone knew each other, and when childhood was more simple, safe, and exciting. Although Mike’s parents divorced when he was just three years old, his mother always made sure to keep Christianity at the center of their family life, as he recalls regularly going to church with his siblings. Mike came to know the Lord at the age of twelve after an evangelistic outreach, in which he met and conversed with the speaker. After hearing the Gospel, he put his faith in Jesus Christ as his Savior. Mike was then baptized about a year later.
Throughout his life, Mike’s education was made difficult by many obstacles that he overcame with the help of professors and his wife Sharon (also a missionary), whom he married in 1986 while in college. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Pastoral Theology from Faith Baptist Bible College in Iowa; and a Master’s Degree in Biblical Studies from Bethany Theological Seminary in Alabama. Although Mike spends a great deal of time studying, he believes that having hobbies is an important aspect of life as well. He really enjoys reading, music, and simply learning new things, most recently taking up leather-working. He and his wife Sharon now live in Utah, where they continue their campus ministry in the nation’s highest Mormon-populated state.
Interview Questions
1.) How did God confirm to you your calling to be a missionary?
Ever since I got saved, I became very interested in ministry. I often wondered what happens in churches and in the pastor’s life after Sundays. But, even as a saved person, I really didn’t think I was going to be in the ministry. When my family and I moved to Las Vegas, I was still in high school, but the men in our church recognized that I had a call to ministry. I was given leadership positions in youth group or was allowed to teach and lead Bible studies from time to time. And there was a pastor who owned a huge personal library, and he would let me use and read his books—and sometimes he would even give me some books to keep. So, all these people and circumstances were confirming to me that I was to go into the ministry.
Also, when I got accepted to Bible college and received financial assistance, that further confirmed to me that I was on the right path. Then, after being an assistant pastor of a church, my wife and I were led by the Lord, and a retired pastor, to pursue campus ministry since we had a passion to reach young people and had already experienced similar missionary work in India. So we joined Campus Bible Fellowship and have been campus ministers for about 20 years now.
2.) Were your family and friends supportive of your decision?
Yes, definitely. As I commented before, many people were recognizing my calling and supported me every step of the way.
3.) What has your ministry primarily consisted of?
Throughout the years, my work has focused primarily on ministering to university students, which my wife and I have been involved with for about 20 years. I do this by teaching and leading group Bible studies, one-on-one lessons with students, and evangelizing on campuses.
4.) What is one thing God has taught you as a result of being a missionary?
I would say there is a lot that God has taught me and continues to teach me every day. One thing that I’ve been taught is that God called me, I didn’t call Him; and since He called me, He has the right to call the shots in my life in terms of what I am to do and where I am to go—He is my Master. He has also taught me to have patience and flexibility.
If you don’t have patience in ministry, you’re not going to be able to make it. One of the key virtues that God calls us to have is patience; we must allow it to “do its work,” and must possess it with God and people. God is patient with us, so we must be patient with others. Also, flexibility, especially in terms of missions overseas, is absolutely necessary; God can call you to one place for a time, and then move you to another for a time. Therefore, I would say patience and flexibility have been the biggest things that God has taught me.
5.) What parts of your missionary work do you enjoy the most?
What I enjoy the most—and there are two main aspects—is being able to learn things from the Bible, and then being able to make others see and learn the same things through my teaching. I enjoy working with people as they grow in their Christian faith.
6.) What parts of your missionary work have been the most challenging?
I would say the most challenging aspect of my ministry is the finances. And it is not just a ministry thing—everyone deals with this problem; it is part of our system. It is a big challenge. And it is true that there are some things in ministry that are “high ticket” items. God works through finances, but sometimes what He wants us to do is to stop worrying about those finances and just get on our knees and pray—we cannot forget God in this.
I often pray, “God, would you lay it upon the hearts and minds of churches and individuals to support us.” I ask Him, “Do you want me to publicly go to others and ask them to help us?” And sometimes I believe He does want us to present our needs to others—the money is out there. There are people out there with a lot of money that would willingly give to the cause of Christ if they only knew the need. And I believe God can simply place the need within their hearts so that I do not even have to ask for their support. God provides.
7.) What does your typical day or week look like?
My typical day can be untypical. I do, however, like to begin my day at seven o’clock in the morning. For the most part, depending on when I have the group Bible studies on campus, one-on-one meetings with students, or something else, my days are flexible. On any given day, I can be involved in a group Bible study, a couple of one-on-one meetings, evangelizing, setting up club tables, and visiting those in prisons, etc. Also, I spend time preparing lessons (or even sermons) and studying the Bible. I like taking Fridays off during the week to spend time with my wife.
8.) What is one of your most treasured memories in your years of service to the Lord?
When my wife and I handed a student from China a Bible—it was her first time ever seeing and holding a Bible. When she looked at it, she paused and ran her hands through the pages, and so appreciated our gift. It was a very touching moment. Another time was when another Chinese student said, “Jesus…what is that?!” It was very exciting to be able to explain to them the Gospel.
9.) Have you read any books, besides the Bible, that have been particularly helpful to you? Or Podcasts? Or Videos?
I read a lot, but two books do come to mind that are very special to me: Disappointment With God by Philip Yancey; and Handbook To Prayer by Kenneth Boa. These two books have really helped me in times of trouble, doubt or frustration, and in understanding God and prayer—I use the prayer book every day. I don’t really follow anyone on Podcasts, but I do use YouTube to watch conferences and sermons.
10.) Do you have any advice for someone who might be thinking about pursuing the type of missionary work you have done or currently do?
I believe it is important to understand what God’s calling is in one’s life. God is calling people into His harvest field for full-time work, so missions ministry is not some kind of two-week humanitarian work somewhere outside the United States. There is nothing wrong with humanitarian efforts, for people need this help across the world, but many times there is no real sense of the Gospel, evangelism, and discipleship. W
What God is looking for in missions, however, is a long-term, stick-it-out, endurance, hard-days-and-good-days kind of ministry. So, if God is calling you to do that, and is confirming it to you in various ways, then do that! But you must realize that there will be good days and bad days—and coupled with that, have flexibility and patience.
11.) How can people and churches better help your work? In other words, what are some ways we can support you? Be specific.
Well, they can support us financially. Again, there is something to be said about having the money, the finances, to do certain things in ministry. Sometimes our efforts cost lots of money. If people want to personally support us, they can visit the Give Online Page on the Baptist Mid-Missions website. Once there, in the drop-down menu, select “3. Missionary Support,” then in the second drop-down menu, scroll down to designate the donation to “Keller, Michael Dale,” and then enter the rest of the information on the form, making sure to select whether the donation is a one-time gift or on a recurrent plan. Also, much prayer.
12.) How can we pray for you?
We can certainly use people’s prayers. Pray for us physically, that we wouldn’t get ill or sick, that we have the energy and intellect, and that we would be able to timely point people to the Scripture verse(s) they need to hear at that specific time.
* Truth Informed and the person being interviewed may not share some of the same views, values, and beliefs—although the core Christian doctrines are, of course, common among both parties. The interviewee is not affiliated with Truth Informed in any way, and any comment he/she makes is not to be construed as representative of the views, values, and beliefs of Truth Informed, and vice versa.