Matt Read
Senior Pastor
Office: 740-927-1859 x213
Matt grew up in a small community in Northern Indiana. His parents and grandparents, strong Christians, were spiritually solid influences in his life. His parents led Matt to the Lord at the age of 5. In 1993, Matt's parents helped plant a church in their community. Their deep involvement in launching the church developed in him a core belief of the importance of the church as the Bride of Christ, the Body of believers, and the central tool God uses to reach the lost and disciple the Christian. His parents' faith and godly obedience left a lasting mark on Matt's love for God and the local church.
As a High School Junior, God used opportunities of leading Bible studies, preaching, and teaching the Bible to clarify to Matt his calling to be a pastor in the local church. With the support of his parents and grandparents, he accepted the call by attending Taylor University and receiving a degree in Christian Education. After graduation, he ministered in inner-city Los Angeles, helping to plant Gospel-Centered house churches among the urban poor.
In 2008 Matt married Mary, and both attended Denver Seminary, where Matt received his Master’s in Divinity, and Mary received her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health. Following seminary, he served in a church as an Associate Pastor of Discipleship and Young Adults. In 2015 Jersey Church called Matt to join the Jersey Church Staff team to lead the Next Gen Ministries.
During Matt’s pastoring tenure he has worked and led a variety of ministries. He has directed and organized mul[ple ministry programs including preschool, elementary, middle school, and high school age groups. Most recently MaY worked with our young professionals and college students where he discipled and taught regularly. In adult ministry, MaY has structured and formed adult Grow Groups and pastoral care through training and equipping leaders, hospital visits, counseling sessions and focused seminars.
Matt's life verse is Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight." His heart for the church is reflected in his favorite passage of Scripture, Acts 2:42-47 where God is moving through the New Testament church to begin a movement of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
As someone who grew up in the Midwest, Matt feels called to pastor in the Midwest. He sees his purpose to glorify God by leading a church that is reaching the lost, making disciples, and sending them out to begin Kingdom movements. He highly values the proclamation of God's Word, prayer, and the fellowship of believers.
Matt and Mary have three strong, adventurous boys: Caleb, Sam, and Lucas. They highly enjoy playing in the woods, playing sports, and roughhousing.
Matt enjoys hiking, shooting trap, skeet, sporting pigeons, and attending and watching sports. He greatly enjoys watching and coaching his kid's sports teams. His favorite food is pizza. He and his family enjoy traveling together and thoroughly enjoyed their most recent trip to Yellowstone National Park.