It is hard to believe Matt Walton has been here five years and that he has ONLY been here five years. Just think of all the ways Matt’s work is blessing and shaping our church. First, for visitors, Matt has implemented an entirely new strategy for greeters and ushers and recruited hosts of new folks to help guests feel welcome. He developed the Next Step class where, without any pressure to make a decision, guests can discern whether South Main ought to be their church home (93% of them make that very decision). For all of our Adult Bible Communities, Matt is expanding the pool of well-qualified teachers through a cohort training program that puts veteran and novice teachers together as mentor and apprentice. All of them spend a year studying the Bible, Theology, and Church History through Truett Seminary’s Certificate of Ministry program. We are the only church I know with that robust a training program for teachers. On Wednesday evenings Matt is teaching Paul’s Pastoral letters, bringing to life and to Houston the problems (and solutions) Paul offered to the first century church. You might not know it, but Matt is working with Dolores and the Family Ministry Team on their Sunday School curriculum, offering his Biblical insights to the process. If those things were not enough, you can find Matt playing 42 with senior adults on retreat or counseling with people in need of his wisdom. It is hard to find a place at South Main where Matt is not making things better. Five years into his ministry I am more glad than ever that Matt, Kristie, Evan, and Finley have made South Main their home. I hope you’ll take time to thank each of them for being here and blessing us each and all.
Angela Spoede, Discipleship Committee Chair
Working with Matt has been a master class in authenticity in action. He cares deeply about God’s people and equipping Christ-followers to grow in faith. He listens thoughtfully and has a gift for sorting through sometimes divergent or conflicting concerns to find the core of an issue and to move toward resolution. Matt’s leadership has paved the way for an intentional and effective adult discipleship program at SMBC that is truly unique. The impact of Matt’s work will be felt far beyond South Main’s halls, and we are so blessed to have him here week in and week out.
Erin DuBroc, Outreach Committee Chair
Matt has been such a pleasure to work with and learn from during my time on the Outreach committee and the PTDC. He is always encouraging, reassuring, open minded to everyone's ideas, and he approaches his role with a really impressive balance of humility and leadership. Matt's creativity and passion for improving our church's avenues for discipleship has always been apparent, and I'm grateful he is such an integral part of our ministerial team.
