Quick Facts on Matt

* Grew up Presbyterian, attended a Baptist Seminary and has worked in an Episcopalian Church. (Buy me lunch and I'll tell you the whole story)
* Once ran a race up Pike's Peak
* Loves college basketball 

While growing up in Atlanta our family attended Peachtree Presbyterian, where I got my first job working in their recreation ministry. Even though I grew up in the church, I somehow missed the message that I could have a personal relationship with God. Young Life helped me hear that message for the first time. I attended NC State where I met my beautiful wife, Grace. We both graduated with Psychology degrees. We married in 1995 while I was finishing up my Master of Divinity at Southeastern Seminary in Wake Forest, NC. I earned a Doctor of Ministry degree at Erskine Theological Seminary.

After Seminary we moved to Jacksonville, Florida where I led a youth ministry and started a contemporary worship service in an Episcopal (Anglican) Church. After serving 2 Presbyterian churches in Charlotte, NC we moved to Arlington in May 2005 when I became the 5th Senior Pastor of Little Falls. We live in the neighborhood and have three children (Lauren, Jonathan and Caroline). With the three of them, we’ll be part of the Nottingham Elementary family for 14 years!

When I'm not doing church stuff I love to play golf, run and grill out. I help lead a group of Arlington Pastors who pray together every Wednesday morning. It is great to see churches from various denominations who don't compete with one another, rather we complete one another. My heart is for people to be in authentic relationships with God and one another. I know that everyone can benefit from meeting Jesus Christ.

If you want to dialog online with Matt, please friend him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter @merrillmatt