Matthew is originally from Bettendorf, Iowa (in the “Quad Cities”), and is a graduate of Iowa State University and the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. He has been serving as an ordained minister of word and sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA) since November of 2002. His first call was as an associate pastor (and youth director) at the First Presbyterian Church of Norfolk, Nebraska where he served under the Rev. William Nottage-Tacey, then Rev. Hal Rainey (interim), and then Rev. David Crawford. While in Nebraska, he met and married his lovely wife Anna Marie. In 2006, Matthew accepted a call as the pastor of the Princeton Presbyterian Church of Iowa. While there, he and Anna Marie were blessed with the births of their two children Elizabeth and Zachary. In 2014, Matthew and his family were called by God to move to Illinois in order to serve the First Presbyterian Church of Mattoon.

A child of the 80s, Matthew likes classic movies such as “Back to the Future” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day off.” He watched a lot of “He-Man” on TV (and resents “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” a bit since that show pushed “He-Man” off the broadcast schedule), played a lot of backyard baseball, and even though he was born on “Star Wars Day” (May the 4th) in 1977 (the same year “Star Wars” debuted in theaters), his preferred space adventure series is Star Trek (especially Next Generation or Strange New Worlds). He likes Chicago Cubs baseball, LOST (the TV series), biking, hiking, and reading. He loves his family, cherishes his friends, and appreciates listening to the stories of others in order to build peace and unity.

Above all, Matthew loves Jesus and wants you to know how much Jesus loves you. From reading a lot of C.S. Lewis in high school, he has a heart for apologetics (reasonably explaining the Christian faith), and from attending the Cornerstone Church of Ames (and many other good churches), he appreciates humble, Christ-centered, and God honoring preaching. He is honored to be serving FPC as pastor, and loves encouraging Christians to embrace Jesus and live out their own unique calling.