Matt was born on December 29, 1983. On the same day, 175 years earlier, Andrew Jackson was born. Other significant events had taken place on this day. In 1170 archbishop Thomas Becket became a martyr, the British captured Savannah, Georgia in 1778, and on the same day Matt was born, Arnold Schwarzenegger, the future governator of California crashed his jeep. The day Matt was born was not at all significant apart from the fact that an all knowing and all loving God had a plan for this person, who was to be totally unworthy and unprepared for the depth and scope of God's grace and mercy.
Matt was born in Bellflower, California to a loving Christian parents. When he was five years old, his parents moved from Bellflower to Murrieta, California. Moving from a crowded suburban neighborhood to five acres of undeveloped countryside was refreshing. Soon after a neighbor invited the family to attend a small bible believing church in Temecula called Rancho Temecula Bible Church. The church was later renamed Temecula Valley Baptist Church.
Matt was soon enrolled into Temecula Christian School, a small private school ministry of the church. Matt's dad, Steve, went on staff as the maintenance man/P.E. and Biology Teacher. He also served as a deacon. Matt's mom, Karolee, served in various ministries at the church-where they still attend. Around the same time, Matt's dad led him to the Lord in the family living room. He then begin to grow in the Lord and walk with Him. However, during his seventh grade year, problems in the church and a wrong group of friends caused his growth to be stifled and his faith tested. During his high school years his relationship with the Lord remained rocky.
But as a testimony to the loving grace of God, the Lord protected him and brought him back. After graduating high school Matt moved to Carlsbad to attend Mira Costa College in 2002. At the same time, through a series of events to complex to be of human planning, Matt began to attend the college and career ministry home fellowship. He than began serving with the Junior High Ministry (the Lord's sense of humor) After obtaining an A.A. Degree in Creative writing and literature studies, God changed his desires and placed the desire for studying His word in his heart. He enrolled at Calvary Chapel Bible College in Murrieta, California.
In January, 2007 while attending a Calvary Chapel Bible College extension campus in Peru, God's purpose and the riches of His grace become a little more clear. After accepting the call to ministry Matt went on staff as the Junior High Pastor the day after returning from Peru in June of 2007. He enjoys, surfing, skating, bicycling, running, reading, writing poetry, traveling, bench pressing 450 pounds, eating organically grown fruits and vegetables, playing with his pet Weimaraner named Delilah and long walks on the beach.
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