Ministry Focus
Matt was appointed by Missions Door in June, 1985, to be a Campus Ambassador. His desire has been to influence young people during a season of life when he himself had experienced much spiritual growth. The college years are a time when many are searching, and even those raised in the church are questioning what they believe. Matt brings to the campus a passion for “explaining & defending a biblical worldview (on rational intellectual grounds) in an academic environment & teaching disciples to do the same.” For 18 years now, every Friday afternoon while school is in session, he has met with Atheists, Agnostics, Buddhists, Wiccans, (one Druid), Solipsists, Anarchists, ex-Christians, and a host of Reductionistic Materialist Monists for discussions in a group called “The CAVE.” One student described it as “a safe place to ask difficult but important questions." Since 1990 Matt & Susi have directed the ministry at Central Washington University in Ellensburg. They love the work God has called them to: challenging students to commit their lives to Jesus as Lord and mentoring them as His disciples. Susi has a passion for hospitality and for reaching out to International students. They host weekly potlucks and often have students living with them. Matt says, “When God brings a person to life spiritually, they have a hunger and thirst for God that will drive them to an ever-deepening experience and understanding of His love and truth. Seeing lives changed as a result of partnering with God is my joy and reward.”
Faith Story
Matt was 4 years old when he responded to the message about Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and asked for forgiveness. At age 5 he announced in church that God was calling him to be a preacher. He spent the next twelve years coming to terms with the implications of this conversion and call. Though at first it seemed that free grace and eternal security undermined the motivation to deny self, he came to understand God’s demand for obedience as an expression of His love. He also saw that the gift of grace involves the power to escape sin’s bondage. At age 17, Matt’s early call was confirmed by God, and he surrendered his life to Christ’s Lordship and to pursue full-time ministry. He met his wife, Susi, at Bridges Community Church in Los Altos, California, where they both were active in college and young-married ministries.
Family
Matt and Susi were married in 1981, and they have 8 children: Amanda, Nate, Kaleb, Katie, Carrie, Ben, Soren and Haddon.
Education
B.A. in Liberal Studies from San Jose State University M.A. in Systematic Theology and Philosophy of Religion from Denver Seminary (Thesis: The Apologetic of C.S. Lewis as an Art and a Science)