Matt and his wife Terri have four grown kids (Allyson, Sara, Emily, and Tim) and eight grandchildren. Matt grew up in Midway, Alabama on his family farm. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Animal Science and Master’s degree in Animal Nutrition from Auburn University. Following college, he worked in agricultural banking for ten years with the Federal Land Bank in Alabama. He responded to a call to ministry in 1991 and subsequently obtained a Master’s of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Before coming to Tallahassee, he served as an Associate Pastor at First Baptist Church in Enterprise, Alabama and was a founding staff member of Vaughn Forest Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. Matt moved to Tallahassee on July 10, 1996, to plant Canopy Roads Baptist Church. His vision was to start a biblically sound, innovative church to help unchurched people become fully devoted followers of Christ. Canopy Roads held its first service on September 8th at Hawks Rise Elementary and met there for the next six and a half years before moving to its current location on Bannerman Road in 2002.
Hobbies and Interests: "My favorite activities are spending time with the family, gardening, grilling, running, backpacking, hunting and fishing."
Favorite Thing To Do In Tallahassee: "I enjoy dinner with my wife Terri at a local seafood or oriental restaurants."
Favorite Bible Verses: Matthew 6:33 & Matthew 28:19-20