I am a teacher, pastor, and discipler. I will be a preacher/teacher of the Bible and a discipler that seeks relational wholeness. I have a passion to see a people grow personally and relationally through a growing understanding of God in their midst as his people. This includes moving to use spiritual gifting in the church, Bible teaching, and living life together as the church.

TEACHER

I teach and preach with a focus on both theological and relational impacts of the story of Scripture on our daily lives and interactions.

SHEPHERD/OVERSEER/DISCIPLER/ADMINISTRATOR

I desire to discern talents and spiritual gifts and then work alongside individuals to develop avenues where those gifts can be given to God and the church. I have training and experience in listening and comforting the afflicted to point them in the direction of God's redemptive work in their lives and their stories as revealed through their words, God's spirit, and the intertwining of God's work through the story of His word.

· Pastoral ministry September '05 through July '06

· Helped the development of a small group study series on James at Grace Community Church (www.gracecc.org) for 100+ small groups. The study series was "real time" and was produced the same weekend as the coordinating sermon series.

· Developed and delivered a course on Psalms in a program with a desire to increase biblical literacy (Feb 2005).

· Developed and delivered an Easter series on Passover and the Egyptian Hallels - Psalm 113-118 (April 2005).

· Internship summer of 2003 observing and studying the structure and programs of a large mega church.

· Small group teacher on the impacts of postmodernity on the church - Spring 2002

· Co-leading the development of a young adult group at Libertyville Evangelical Covenant

· Preaching (see website for samples: www.graf-fiti.com)

· Discipleship through chemical addictions and discipleship/counseling through sexual addictions and divorce

· Spent 3 years in drama, including managing travel arrangements and crew as well as performing, writing, casting, scheduling performances, and shepherding. College drama ministry for youth groups and retreats as well as church services 1993-1995. Director of college evangelistic drama team for outreach at colleges 1992-1994

· Small group leader and teacher 1992-1993

· Multiple missions trips to Mexico and Venezuela for translation, evangelism, and discipleship work 1992-1996. I speak Spanish and have done multiple areas of study and experience in intercultural settings.

· I am relational, focusing my teaching of Scripture on personal discipleship avenues, small groups, and social settings. Growth and learning are best done through relationship and dialogue of the Scripture with the presence of the Spirit of God.

· I center my teaching and preaching around Scripture. The word of God and the ministry of the Spirit through Scripture is the most powerful way to teach and disciple.

· My strongest desire is for a position that would include responsibilities for teaching, educational development (curriculum), and discipling on a personal or small group basis and occasional preaching.

· The counseling that I do is seeking to bring the hope of Christ in the midst of suffering. My counseling training focused on personal and group counseling through abuse and overcoming dysfunctional family relationships. The counseling I have done has been in secular and Christian settings, but I have a biblically integrated education and understanding of counseling.

· As a discipler I long to bring people into a Scriptural understanding of God, themselves, and others.

· As a teacher I long to bring the understanding of Scripture through reading Scripture in dialogue and how it interacts with our lives.

· Personal development, contact, and discipleship with authenticity are key elements to all ministries I have been involved in.

· I have preaching/teaching/public speaking experience through drama, Sunday services, and also in business settings.

· I have an understanding of small group and team dynamics as well as interpersonal communication and leadership. This includes cross-cultural training and experience.

· My business experience includes project management of teams and individuals in setting goals, timelines, and expectations and overseeing implementation.

· Creative writing and editing is a hobby and means of reflection and worship

Psalm 77:20

Hidden in the hands of Moses and Aaron,

You led your people like a flock of sheep.

We, as individuals and as a church (unity and diversity) are the place above all else, where God chooses to reveal himself. God chooses to use us as relational agents of redemption in a world in need of His presence.

The ministry of the church and pastor is that of both deepening our walk with God and inviting others into an active relationship with God. Praying, reading, studying Scripture, and discerningly obeying is part of growing in deepening our love and obedience to Christ (I John 2:3, 5; 5:3). We deepen our relationship with God and each other when we have a greater understanding of Scripture and share the joy that we have in Christ while living together (I John 1)

December 2004

Master of Arts
MDiv

Deerfield, IL

Focused on the biblical languages (Greek and Hebrew) and the original texts of the Bible.

May 1999

Master of Arts
MA Counseling

Seattle, WA

A study of counseling techniques as well as family and social development. The degree provides preparation for counseling vocations in private practice, family services, counseling centers, mental health clinics, and residential and outpatient treatment programs

May 1996

Bachelor of Arts
International Studies

Upland, IN

The studies focused on political science, world history, and inter-cultural communications and ethnic diversity. The finance minor was geared towards international economics and corporate finance/management

May 1996

Bachelor of Arts
Spanish

Upland, IN

Developed grammatical and literary understanding of the language as well as conversational grasp of the language. Focused on Spanish and Latin American culture and literature.

July 2006 - July 2007

Pastor

Newburgh, IN

Preaching, teaching, counseling, church-planting, and leadership of the church from the organizational beginning.

· Joined a small group and secured a grant to begin "planting" a church. Established vision, vision-casting, teaching, leadership, administration and 501c3 non-profit status, and beginning of the organization.

· Significant amount of time spent establishing leadership development and training.

September 2005 - July 06

Pastor

Russell, PA

Preaching, teaching, counseling, and leadership of a young church.

· I became involved with Warren County Youth Pastors, a group of youth pastors that work together to create youth events focused on bringing churches and youth together for the purpose of evangelism, discipleship and community building. We worked together on planning and directing a county-wide youth event, and I developed great relationships with these youth pastors that continue today. I also did limited teaching for the youth during Sunday school and mentored college youth leaders who were home for the summer.

· I spent significant time in counseling and personal care. This included addiction and marriage counseling as well as experience of grief counseling the loss of an elder, brother, son, husband, and father.

September 2004 - December 2004

Pastoral Intern

Libertyville, IL

Teaching Pastoral Internship

· Alpha/Evangelistic Bible course

· Facilitating and initiating a Young Adults ministry

· Preaching

· Initializing Small group/Discipleship group

· Working on starting an outreach ministry through grief/addiction group meetings

August 2004

Preacher/Speaker

Deerfield, IL

Preaching in August for Hampshire Community Church through the Speakers Bureau at Trinity Divinity. It is filling in to preach on weekends for churches that are short a preaching/teaching pastor or a pastor who is on leave or vacation

February 2005 - April 2005

Software Training and Implementation

Indianapolis, IN

I partnered with an IT and CPA consultant (www.rapidresultsllc.com) to implement a software package that would handle church accounting and administrative needs. I was involved in the training and implementation of PowerChurch software for Christ Church of Zionsville, Indiana. I helped develop a training schedule, implement that training and installation, and be available for questions problem solving. I gained a thorough overview of all procedural requirements, accounting practices, volunteer training and administrative needs of a growing church

September 1999 - September 2003

Broker/Assoc. in Technology Solutions

Fishers, IN

· Financial advising, sales, business development, and customer service.

· I was given practical experience with conflict resolution, problem solving, project management, setting goals, communicating goals, and changing them as necessary.

· Project Management on self-directed projects. Required working independently as well as a collaboratively with team members and business partners.

· Worked with business partners to define project parameters, establish testing procedures, monitor and communicate progress to stakeholders. Provided on-going reporting and execution metrics upon completion.

· Utilized analytical skills to clearly define business requirements and generate functional specifications.

· Developed, designed, and proposed projects to enhance business efficiency and profitability. Consistently involved working on multiple tasks concurrently with tight delivery deadlines

October 2001 - September 2002

Facilitator/Professor

Indianapolis, IN

· Teaching these courses gave me experience and knowledge in curriculum development and teaching a very diverse set of students. It also enhanced and expanded my teaching skills by utilizing different means of teaching (lectures, videos, homework, group assignments, etc).

· Facilitate and teach courses in their accredited Adult Education Program for higher education. Involved utilizing lesson plans to teach and or create syllabus and teaching methods for working adults. Classes emphasized integrating Faith and Learning

July 1997 - September 1999

Mental Health Technician

Everett, WA

· This experience was directly involved with the homeless due to mental illness or drug and alcohol abuse (more often both). I was awakened to the self-inflicted suffering of the homeless as well as social injustice. It gave me a desire to bring this awareness to the church and serve in socially active ways that impact individuals in our communities.

· Offered personal counseling to residents and clients. Intake and Individual Service Planning per client and maintaining goals throughout treatment

June 1998 - September 1999

Residential Case Mgr

Bellevue, WA

· This experience brought me face to face with the daily challenges and suffering of the mentally and physically disabled. It also brought to my attention the necessity for myself and the body of Christ to find ways to serve the those in need and be socially active (i.e. widows, orphans, aliens in James).

· Oversaw distribution and maintenance of medical and personal needs. Individual one-on-one counseling for social service help and personal growth or stabilization

February 1997 - March 1998

Account Representative

Seattle, WA

· This experience was more foundational in my understanding of the ways and means by which God can bless us. My financial needs were met while attending Western Seminary and experientially it awakened me to my desire to be "about the good news of forgiveness in Jesus Christ" in my relationships and life.

· Worked with new and existing clients to identify investment objectives, and matches their profiles to available products and services. Responsible for cultivating leads and strengthening the relationship between the company and clients through quality service. Contributed to company's sales objectives. Performed operational and administrative activities resulting from client walk-ins to branch, including resolution of account problems for clients

Please email mattmaryruth@yahoo.com for further references.

· David Bell, Pastor and Friend

18841 Auburn Ln

Noblesville, IN 46060

Office: 317-848-2722 Ext 247

Home: 317-750-9850

davidb@gracecc.org

· David Clifford, Friend, Elder at Former EFCA Church, Doctor, former Wycliffe missionary

10 Cedar Ln

Russell, PA 16345

Home: 814-757-4772

david_clifford@sil.org

· Jon Swart, Pastor

RR 2

Russell, PA 16345

Home: 814-757-8066

jon@theswartfamily.com

· Pastor Dwight Nelson

Internship Mentor

Libertyville Covenant Church

250 S. St. Mary's Rd

Libertyville, IL 60048

847-362-3308

· Ron Stohler Pastor of Small Groups

Grace Community Church

5504 East 146th Street

Noblesville, IN 46062

317-848-2722 Ext 208

rons@gracecc.org

· Janet Davis, Counselor Author

165 West Circuit

Beaumont, TX 77706

409-892-6105

· Ed Park

Pastor/Counselor

906 17th Ave

Seattle, WA 98122

ed@sanctuary.cc

206-227-4593

· Joe Graves

Mentor in Small group teaching

6510 Duck Pond Dr.

Fishers, IN 46038

jgraves@jgraves.com

317-507-4466

· Dr. Carmen Mendoza

Mentor for Academic Tutoring

Trinity College

Language, Literature, and Communications Department

2065 Half Day Rd.

Deerfield, IL 60015

847-317-7158

· Jason Driestadt

Friend/Christian Marketing Consultant

431 Gilmore Ave.

Trafford, PA 15085

412-856-2884

jason@infinityconcepts.net

· Chad Melton

Director of Community Life/Resident Director

Le Tourneau University

2100 South Mobberly Avenue

Longview, TX 75607

Office: 903-233-4427 Home: 903-220-6995

chadmelton@letu.edu

· Eric Wood

Project Manager for IT

9414 W. Bethel Ave

Muncie, IN 47304

765-759-5031

ericandapril@comcast.net

Timeline of geographic living history and employment

· 1996 - 1999 Graduate from Taylor and move to Seattle for Western Seminary Seattle (Now known as Mars Hill Graduate School www.mhgs.edu)

· While a full time student in the MA program in Seattle area I worked as an Account Representative, part time as a Mental Health Technician, and a part time Residential Case Mgr in the surrounding areas.

· Completed the MA in Counseling in Summer 1999 and was employed by Charles Schwab & Co. who paid to relocate us to Indianapolis.

· 1999-2002 lived in Indianapolis while working at Charles Schwab & Co. as a stock broker and Associate in Technology Solutions.

· Taught classes part time as facilitator/professor for the adult education program at Indiana Wesleyan.

· Eli was born October 2001.

· While speaking/teaching in a men's morning small group a gentleman I did not know invited me to attend seminary and offered to pay for further education and preparation for teaching or pastoral ministry.

· 2002 - 2004 Continued with Charles Schwab & Co working at home as Associate in Technology solutions while re-locating to Deerfield,IL (Chicago Suburb) to attend Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

· Completed final projects at Charles Schwab & Co and resigned from Schwab in September 2003 to focus on finishing the MDiv degree and ministry internship in the surrounding area at Libertyville Covenant Church and Speakers Bureau.

· Caleb was born April 2004.

· 2005 to 2006 Graduated and looked for full time ministry opportunities while sub-contracting with Rapid Results employment and other sub-contracting work.

· Was called to Pastor a small church that had split off of another local church in Russell, PA.

· Was hired in August 2005 as the Pastor but was unable to unify the leadership. Leadership and disagreements resulted in my choice to resign.

· 2007 to Present Moved to Newburgh, IN because of family and joined a small group that was wanting to transition into a church plant. Secured a grant and began building a community, 501c3 organization, and a "church."