Matt says that "JESUS is LORD!"

And who might Matt be?

That's a legitimate question, and it deserves a direct answer.

I'm someone who wasted a half of a century ignoring God, before I turned from the world, and started to learn the fundamentals of faith. I shall be eternally grateful that God has an incredible capacity for patience and an exemplary sense of humor! I am totally aware that God intervened directly in my life in order to spare my life; to preserve it unto the day when I would develop the cognizance of who, what and why He is.

My walk with the Lord started slowly, probably because I spent my formative years in a very structured church. The "organized religion" that I knew did not seem able to cope with the wretched creature that American culture wanted to embrace.

In some ways the church hasn't changed. In many ways, society has become almost unrecognizable. This divergence has cost us dearly, not that the church should follow society's ways, but rather we should have equipped ourselves for the complexity of the tasks which now confront us. (See the page on Reach the Culture).

When I asked God to show me what he wanted me to do, and to make it obvious, He did. My wife, Teressa and I began our affiliation with prison outreach, and it has filled and rewarded us for five years. The Holy Spirit has placed questions in my mouth that have made people very uncomfortable, but they have also facilitated opportunities for groups to begin new avenues of ministry and outreach. It is all very well and good to have missionaries all over the world, but not at the cost of ignoring the homeless right in front of our own door. Teressa and I started a soup kitchen in a local church and kept it going until it became a gross inconvenience to some of the established members of the congregation. When it became necessary to move it out of the church building, we kept it going in our own home for another eight months until other resources took our place. I have counselled men in a nearby prison for over a year, and have been privileged to see their faith in Christ deliver them from the destructive influences that imprisoned their bodies as well as their souls.

Is this some kind of a record of accomplishments? Absolutely not!

This is simply God's version of basic training for me, and the things that I have learned are only the beginning of what it is necessary for me to do. The Lord has directed me toward street ministry, and I am frustrated only by an awareness that there are so few people who come to the fields to participate in the harvest. Street ministry is not something that a large group can accomplish. Street kids are very leery of "gangs" of grown-ups. They can learn to trust in individuals, but no one should ever attempt this on their own. Please remember that the disciples were sent out two by two, so that there would always be another who could attest to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

If this is where God calls us, this is where we shall go. (Isaiah 6:8,9a)

By myself, I am nothing. I am acutely aware of my need for Jesus in my life.

"With God, all things are possible." This quote is the only legitimate source of strength available to me.

"I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." Of course. But only if I am willing to surrender everything to Christ.

What could possibly be next? I haven't a clue, but I will seek God's face and his will, and trust him completely.

Please allow me to say that, because of the recommendation of a man we have had the privilege of ministering with for the last five years, Teressa and I have been accepted and ordained by Oregon Gospel Ministries. Ordained February 2, 2001 by Rev. Glen Rice, we have now been granted a higher degree of accountability. We expect to be able to answer any inquiry with an absolutely clear conscience. We will only allow that which is scriptural to serve as the foundation of our ministry, and we will rely on all scripture as absolute truth.

As independent, non-denominational ministers, we are able to serve wherever the Lord may lead us.

It is my privilege to say I am your brother in Christ.

Grace, and may the peace of our Lord be with you.

Love, in Christ,


Matt