Bio

Saved by grace, husband, father, pastor, teacher, coffee lover, bibliophile, author

Click here for summary of doctrinal position

Matt attended Bible college where he met his wife Lee. After college, Matt served as the youth pastor at Harvest Baptist Church (now South Pointe Baptist Church) in Anderson, SC. From there, he went to teach Bible and English Grammar and Composition at his high school alma mater, Emmanuel Baptist Christian Academy (now Heritage Christian Academy) in Mechanicsburg, PA.

Matt served as pastor at Fairview Bible Church in Lewistown, PA and Grace Bible Chapel in York Springs, PA. During his ministry at Grace, Matt ministered to a local fellowship of pastors in pastoral encouragement and education. He also initiated and organized the Mid State Choir Festival and helped to encourage local churches.

Matt believes the following are foundational doctrines of Christianity:

  • the inspiration and absolute authority of God’s Word
  • the creation of mankind by a direct act of God
  • the incarnation and virgin birth of Jesus Christ
  • the deity (God-hood) of Jesus Christ
  • the substitutionary (vicarious) atonement for the sins of mankind by the shedding of Christ’s blood on the cross
  • the resurrection of Christ’s body from the tomb
  • Christ’s power to save mankind from sin
  • the salvation of mankind, which is a new birth through the Holy Spirit’s regenerating power
  • the gift of eternal life by God’s grace

Matt recognizes that Christians disagree in other areas of doctrine. The Puritan pastor Richard Baxter best summarizes his thoughts on these differences: “In necessary things, unity; in doubtful things, liberty; in all things, charity.”

Matt also believes in basic Baptist distinctives:

  • Biblical authority
  • Autonomy (self-governance) of the local church
  • Priesthood of the believer
  • Two ordinances
  • Individual soul liberty
  • Saved and baptized church membership
  • Two offices (pastor and deacon)
  • Separation of church and state (the government must not dictate an official church and the church must not control the government)