Pastor Matt joined Good Shepherd Lutheran Church as an associate pastor in 2023 with the mission of helping the congregation live into its vision and God’s calling: to go beyond the walls the church facility and to serve human need in a deeper way.

Heeding one of his “holy nudges” in 2018, Pastor Matt began pursuing a path for bi-vocational ministry allowing him to maintain his current employment while also becoming a pastor to serve a congregation part-time. Pastor Matt is excited about new and innovative ways to approach ministry, empower congregational leadership and leverage his entrepreneurial spirit. He is a graduate of Luther Seminary and served a congregation in the Greater Milwaukee Synod where he helped launch a synod-wide ministry focused on cultivating conversations at the intersection of faith and addiction.

Pastor Matt grew up on the family dairy farm with his parents and younger sister in Door County, Wisconsin, before attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison to receive his undergraduate degree in life sciences communication. In his secular career, he works as an account supervisor for a marketing firm serving various food and agriculture companies. In addition to conventional communications and public relations, he also works with clients to realize and achieve their goals related to sustainability and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

In his spare time, Pastor Matt is an avid traveler. He has visited 28 U.S. states (and counting) and has spent extended time in Norway, South Africa and Peru in addition to shorter trips to several other countries. What he enjoys most about traveling is experiencing the beauty and diversity of God’s creation and connecting with God’s people, their cultures, and their food.

If you’re looking to schedule time with Pastor Matt, we suggest you try connecting over a cup of coffee or some Culver’s custard.