The Pastor's Page

Pray for the peoples of Trinidad & Tobago --- that it would be a light shining for Christ in the Caribbean!

Feel free to drop by our pastor's blog at http://www.grippedbythegospel.com .

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A Little About Bro. Matt

Preaching in Destin, Florida to college students on Spring Break

Born in Virginia, Bro. Matt was born into the home of a mother who had trusted in Christ, but with a father who did not. At the age of 10, he saw his father come to Christ at a revival service, and the Lord used that to impress upon Bro. Matt that if his ever-so-strong father saw the need for Christ, then he needed Christ as well. So in July 1982 at the Rustburg Baptist Church in Rustburg, VA, Bro. Matt was saved by God's sovereign grace.

During middle school and high school, Bro. Matt found himself moving a great deal. In 7th grade alone, he lived in three states: Michigan, Virginia, and Florida. This helped him get to know various people from various areas of the country and has helped a great deal in ministering to all backgrounds.

After moving to Florida, his family joined the First Baptist Church of Beverly Hills. Beverly Hills is located in Citrus County, and the church was built in a retirement community. Bro. Matt never had so many grandparents in his life! For years, he was the only one in the youth group, but what a blessing getting to know these dear seasoned saints who had persevered through the decades with their Savior. What a lasting impact that had!

At the age of 18, Bro. Matt felt God's call into the ministry. So 18 months later after graduating with a business degree from Central Florida Community College, he enrolled at Palm Beach Atlantic College (now University) in West Palm Beach, FL, as a Church Music major. What a tremendous opportunity! Learning the discipline being trained in classical music, being around other Christians of the same age, and studying at an institution with a Christian worldview --- praise God from whom ALL blessings flow

Bro. Matt went on to study Church Music at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. Upon graduation, he served at the First Baptist Church of Clewiston, FL, as minister of music and youth. It was there that God called Bro. Matt in a different direction. In June of 1999 while taking 18 of his youth to youth camp, God impressed upon him a new area of ministry with these words: "I want you to preach!" As someone involved with music his whole life, this was no easy submission. But finally, after 18 months of soul-searching and prayer, he announced that he would leave Clewiston and return to seminary for what many say is a "preaching degree."

He finished his M.Div. degree from Southern and his Doctorate of Ministry in Expository Preaching at Southern.

Bro. Matt has been pastor of Boone's Creek Baptist Church since September of 2003. Through the preaching of the Word of God, a commitment to be On-Mission for Christ through evangelism and missions, and a desire to disciple and foster fellowship among the followers of Jesus Christ, we pray that God will continue to do great things among this family of faith as He has for the past 225 years.

Bro. Matt is blessed with a wonderful wife and four precious children.

Bro. Matt and his father, Phil, at the Newark, NJ, Airport getting ready to leave for Trinidad, February 18, 2005 (Photo courtesy of Paul Rainey)	Bro. Matt helping the worship team at the Mount Beulah Evangelical Baptist Church, Point Fortin, Trinidad & Tobago (January 2007) (Photo courtesy of Alex Marshall, Jr.)
Bro. Matt, Eddie Jaikaren, Roddie Taylor, and Frank Porter (the President of the Youth for Christ of Trinidad & Tobago) (January 2006)	Darren Clement (President of the United Baptist Training Institute of Trinidad and Tobago), Bro. Matt, and Roddie Taylor (January 14, 2006)
Bro. Matt with Adam Dixon (leads EKU's Campus Crusade for Christ), Jason Storie, and Weston Tripp during an EKU Campus Crusade for Christ Spring Break Retreat, March 2010	The Perry Family -- Easter Sunday 2010

(Map of Trinidad courtesy of VisitTnT.com --- the official tourism site for Trinidad and Tobago)