Monday, March 10, 2014

Getting to know: Matt Fowler


(This week's blog will be a bit different from the norm. With the amount of growing new families added to our church each month, we as a staff, decided to take a break from our routine format to share a little bit about ourselves and our families. It is our hope and desire that we might become a group of leaders that you know and trust. As usual, I'm batting leadoff, but be looking forward to Sankie =Tuesday, Jeff = Wednesday, Terry = Thursday, and of course Phil = Friday.) 


It’s so cool to look back and see how the Lord has orchestrated our past to bring us to this unique place in life. Presently, such thoughts overwhelm my soul with gratitude. It wasn’t all that long ago I was transitioning from bi-vocational ministry into a full time position as a youth and children’s ministry coordinator here at the church.  I'm now privileged to be leading as an ordained Family Pastor of Middle School. My wife, Brittany, and I have the blessed honor and responsibility of raising our three children, Brooks (11), Chandler (8), and Matilyn (6) during a very special time. With our oldest being a fifth grader that is also one of our Wired middle schoolers, gone are the days of simply talking in theory about the importance of family ministry. The significance of discipleship at home and our call to be intentionally involved parents has become all the more evident as a result of my pastoral role. How gracious of the Lord to allow me to be a part of this family ministry team just as our own children near the vital pre-adolescent stage of development! Honestly folks, if up to us, my wife and I would have never known the fullness and value of faith talks, faith walks, and faith mission. And while we are far from some sort of finished project and indeed never will be, by placing us on staff here, the Lord has enlightened us to the great worth of investing in our children and doing so alongside other parents and families that are longing to point each other to Christ.

Like many young families, weekly we battle to find our rhythm in the hectic, busy pace of life. Between soccer practices and baseball tourneys, my wife’s work as a clinical therapist and my seminary course load, balance and focus are always desperately needed for our overall health as a family. During the last year or so, we have also discovered how precious it is to belong to a genuine community of believers – friends that know us and like us anyway – people who have agreed to share in the ups and downs with us as we each seek to bring God glory. Again, what unmerited favor that the Lord would lead us to such a place!

When we’re not hangin’ in the Warehouse, writing a Monday blog, or shuffling to and from ballgames, we really enjoy being home. For us, not much is better than sleeping in on a Saturday and eating a big homemade breakfast together. Our family enjoys camping and loves to be out in God’s creation. We are avid St. Louis Cardinal fans and in terms of bedlam, a house fearfully and wonderfully made crimson and orange. We love our life but acknowledge that it is often weighty and things rarely come easy. Since we all face days full of complexities and challenges, we hope to be an available resource of hope, encouragement, and direction. We are excited to be a part of the Lord’s work in South Tulsa and all that He’s doing at New Beginnings. We look forward to partnering with you in the seasons ahead as we chase after Christ together. 


May we make much of Him,


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