In 2010, the Lord called Matthew to be a pastor. Imagining pastors to be heroes of the faith, he felt inadequate and was easily discouraged from attending seminary. For 10 years, he procrastinated.

Conquering feelings of inadequacy, the Lord empowered graduation from seminary with distinction, and he was led to plant and pastor a church. 

With the following in mind, Matthew moved forward: “Be the change you would like to see in the church.” 

He has never been so fulfilled in my ministry, in the center of God’s will. “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.” 2 Corinthians 4:8‭-‬10

Matthew came out of the homosexual lifestyle and the false “I am attracted to men therefore I am gay” identity falsehood–by a complete stranger at a McDonald’s asking him if he knew where he would go once he died. Right away Matthew humbled himself and realized the Lord was calling him out of his lifestyle. He found newness in Christ and serves in Cambodia as senior pastor of  Castaway Baptist Church, Cambodia castawayministries.org.

He finds that his past alignment with a false identity helps him connect with the people of Cambodia, for which 97 percent identify as Buddhist. He finds the logic similar: “I am Cambodian; therefore I am Buddhist. Christianity is not an option for me.” He helps them see that Christ loves and died for everyone, is the creator and the one true God.

Matthew’s story can be found on One80 Podcast, episode 113.