Matt has been our pastor since July 1990. He and his wife Rita have been married for 33 years, and have been a part of our church family most of their adult lives. Matt grew up in Camden, TN which is a small town situated not far from the Tennessee River in West Tennessee. He served our Nation in the US Navy from 1980-1984. It was during his service in the Navy that he was called to the ministry. He first thought God was leading him into missionary work in the Far East where he had been stationed. But, once he was honorably discharged from the Navy, he discovered that God was leading him into the be a minister of a local congregation. He earned his Bachelor’s of Arts degree from Bethel College in McKenzie, TN. He earned his Master of Divinity degree from Memphis Theological Seminary. He was ordained to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament in June 1990. Matt loves to teach and preach the Bible as God’s revealed Word. He is committed to its truthfulness and believes God was able to transcend the imperfections of the human writers involved to bring us Divine Truth on written page. He is also a musician who enjoys playing guitar and mandolin in worship and in other venues. He enjoys the outdoors and grew up hunting and fishing. He and Rita are an important part of our ongoing ministry at Pleasant Union. Rita is a licensed RN who has earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She brings many gifts to our church life. She is a capable Bible teacher, funny and witty, gifted at teaching children God’s Truth. Both Matt and Rita’s passion is to serve the Lord Jesus Christ faithfully with our Church Family.