Download Getting to know our Interim Pastor…. Pete Mattix Can you tell us

Getting to know our Interim Pastor…. Pete Mattix
Can you tell us about your family?
My wife, Fran, and I have been married for 29 years. We met while we
were in college at Jacksonville State University. We have 3 sons;
Brandon who is 24 and is pursuing his PhD at Clemson; Tyler who is 22
and completing his undergraduate degree in Environmental Science at
Georgia College; and Jake who is 13 and is an 8th grader at Providence
Christian Academy. Fran is a high school Biology teacher at Providence
Christian Academy. She’s also the Cheerleader Coach at Providence.
How did you come to know Christ?
I was saved during my junior year in college at Jacksonville State
University. A young man from Baptist Campus Ministries knocked on
my door one day and asked if he could share something with me. He
shared the Gospel and I made a decision that day to invite Jesus into
my life as my Lord and Savior. I had spent many years in church,
practicing “religion” but knowing nothing of the importance of a
“relationship” with my Heavenly Father. My life was changed, forever,
on that day!
How did you end up in the ministry?
God called me to be a Pastor in the early 90’s while I was serving as a
Deacon in a large church in the Atlanta area. At first, I thought it was
the craziest thing He had ever asked of me, but after wrestling with it
and praying over it; I enrolled in seminary to attain my M.Div. I
started my studies at Moody Bible College and have decided to
complete them closer to home at Luther Rice Seminary. I am a
bivocational Pastor, which means I also have a career outside of the
ministry. In fact, I have been employed with a large pharmaceutical
company for almost 28 years and am nearing retirement at which time
I plan to transition into fulltime ministry where I will serve the Lord
until I leave this earth! My secular career has taken me through a
variety of positions that include sales, sales management, and sales
training.
What is your philosophy on ministry?
Ministry is about sharing the love of Christ with others. The Church
should be an extension of Christ’s love. I also believe in “ministry over
mortar,” meaning that our focus should not be on our buildings and
facilities, but on reaching those around us with the Gospel of Jesus
Christ. I also have a passion for seeing the Church reach the next
generation of believers. We must be steadfast and determined in our
ministries to reach the younger generations that are in our
communities! And our doors must always be open to anyone and
everyone in our community! We can’t fulfill the Great Commission if we
“lock the doors and close the blinds!”
How did you end up at Lucerne Baptist Church?
It’s a God story! I didn’t feel like I was ready to accept an assignment
until I had completed my M.Div., but God said otherwise! I knew the
first time I preached at Lucerne that this was where God was leading
me. It’s hard to explain, but after “auditioning” a couple of times, the
Spirit said, “Don’t accept anything else….I’m going to put you at LBC
when the time is right.” I chuckled when the call finally came almost a
year later asking me if I would be interested in becoming the Interim
Pastor at LBC! God truly is sovereign and has a plan for our lives….we
just need to sometimes get out of His way and let Him work!
What do you like the most about Lucerne Baptist Church?
I love the people and their love for the Lord! It’s been heartwarming
to see how much the LBC family loves the Lord and loves each other.
It’s probably one of the most loving congregations that I have ever
encountered! I struggle sometimes on Sunday mornings to get folks
back in their seats after our “welcome and hug” period prior to the
sermon! They just love to be together and they truly love each other!
And they love visitors! It’s truly a very welcoming congregation!
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I enjoy spending time at the lake, hunting, fishing, and coaching Little
League baseball. The bottom line…I actually love to do anything that
involves the great outdoors! I even love to cut grass! One of the most
relaxing parts of my week involves riding my John Deere mower as I
listen to some tunes on my IPod and cut my grass! It’s a “guy thing!”
Where did the name, “Pete” come from?
I was nicknamed “Pete” during my high school days by my friends who
said I had a strong resemblance to the Cincinnati Reds player, Pete
Rose. It has stuck all these years! My real first name is actually,
“Scott.” The only time I ever hear anyone call me Scott is when I’m
talking to my mom!
What’s one thing that most people wouldn’t know about you?
I’m actually a high school football announcer on Friday nights in the
fall. I have been the “Voice of the Shiloh Generals” for the past 6
years. On any given night in the fall, if you pass Shiloh High with your
windows rolled down, you might recognize a voice coming out over the
PA system that is yelling, “Gooooo Generals!”