Featured Story: Matt Hill
“I decided I was going to chase after the Lord with my life and be obedient to his calling.”
Matt Hill received his calling into ministry at an early age. Growing up in the church, as a pastor’s kid, the church was everything they did. Matt gave his life to Jesus at an early age but struggled with faith and fitting in during high school. Instead of following God’s calling, he chose to follow his own interests. Matt would go on to earn his degree from Penn State University and pursue a teaching career. But God had bigger things in store.
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart” Psalm 37:4
In 2007 Matt decided to stop running from his calling and follow the plan God had for him. He gave up his teaching career and pursued a full-time job in ministry. Matt joined the staff at Community Evangelical Church in Sinking Spring, PA. Ten years later Matt is still at CEC, now as Associate Pastor of Missional Ministries. From planting churches to reaching the “one-percenter” motorcycle gangs with the gospel, Matt is chasing after God’s calling on his life with a passionate pursuit.
Matt’s desire to see men lead and families flourish is what opened up the door for Men of Iron to partner with CEC.
“We need the men in our church to understand that they were not created to do life alone. But that they were created to be leaders in their homes, good husbands and fathers, and leaders of their church.”
As they looked around their church they saw a women’s ministry flourishing through relational discipleship. At the same time, their men’s ministry was dying. After trying every kind of fellowship event possible, the leadership knew they needed something structured and something purposeful. In 2009 they found exactly what they were looking for after meeting with Men of Iron Executive Director Garret Barbush.
“We tell our men that if you succeed, your family is going to succeed, and our church is going to succeed. We have seen an overwhelming growth of the ministry because we have seen guys, who have been through the ministry, tell other men about it. And we have celebrated it well. The wives will tell you that their husbands have changed dramatically.”
Community Evangelical Church is passionate about Strong27™, and it starts with men like Matt Hill. One of the biggest contributors to the health of the church and now the health of their men’s ministry is the leadership at CEC. The entire leadership team has served as mentors through Strong27™. They desire to see men lead their families, and ultimately about seeing the kingdom of God advance. Strong27™ has changed the culture of the church, both in individual men and in families.
“Strong27™ has bred this culture of spiritual health and spiritual leadership through our men. It’s pushed our men to step up in leadership positions and when they’ve done that our men’s ministry has just exploded. To see men come to understand their purpose as leaders of their home and their church, that is the overwehlming joy of Strong27™”
Matt is married to his wife Emily of 12 years and they reside in Sinking Spring, PA. They have 3 kids; Addison (9), Aaron (7), and Aubree (4).