This is a blog about life, Christianity, pastoral ministry, discipleship, and culture. Renovate is a word that captures my life and mission. When Jesus came into the world, He announced a message that was all about total renovation of our lives, communities, and world. He invited us into that mission of renovation.

Bio

I am married to Kelly, who has served in various ministry roles and operates her own spiritual direction practice. I am the father of three sons, all in college or beyond, with two of them married. I am a disciple of Jesus, a pastor, writer.

Since 2010, I have served as the Senior Pastor at Eastbrook Church (Milwaukee, WI). Before that, I was the Associate Pastor at Brooklife Church (Mukwonago, WI) and the Pastor of Collegiate Ministries at Elmbrook Church (Brookfield, WI). I received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Christian Education from Wheaton College (IL), a Master of Divinity degree from Northern Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Western Theological Seminary (Holland, MI) in connection with the Eugene Peterson Center for Christian Imagination.

I have been privileged to speak at a number of churches, chapels, and conferences, and am currently open to invitations to speak. You can watch or listen to examples of messages here.

Alongside of this blog, I write for other publications, such as Christianity Today, Preaching Today, The Living Church, The Evangelical Missions Quarterly (EMQ), Relevant Magazine, and am currently working on a full-length book with Eerdmans Publishers. You can read more about that project and find a more detailed list of my writing projects here.

Churches where Matt has worked:

• Eastbrook Church – an urban multi-ethnic church in Milwaukee, WI, where I currently serve as Senior Pastor (2010-present)
• Brooklife Church – a church I helped to plant and served as Associate Pastor (2008-2010)
• Elmbrook Church – where I served for five years as Pastor of Collegiate Ministries, working with an urban, multi-campus ministry in Milwaukee called The Ave (2003-2008)
• Church of the Great Shepherd – a church plant where I was on staff immediately after college and during seminary, serving initially as a worship leader, and then successively as Music Director and College Ministry Director (1997-2003)