Wow! This is gonna be a tough one. Please bear with me. When I read this passage from Paul to the Philippians, I felt it in every fiber of my body. Paul was at a place in his life where he had become a spiritual father to a few younger guys who were extremely precious to him. He had taught them. He had mentored them. He had challenged them. He deeply loved them. He was extremely proud of them. When Paul spoke of one of those young men, he couldn’t help but say that he had “no one else like him.” Timothy was with Paul in Rome as he wrote this letter to the Philippian church. He had traveled with Paul on his 2nd missionary journey. He had the same love for the Gospel that Paul had. He had the same love for the people that Paul had. They were “one-souled” together for Jesus Christ. This was a special relationship.
This is exactly how I feel about Pastor Matt Hatton. I’m no Apostle Paul, that’s for sure, but I’ve had the unbelievable privilege of watching a young goofy kid become a powerful and committed leader for Jesus Christ! Oh, there’s stories! Trust me! Just ask Tami what she did to Matt during prayer at youth group one crazy summer night many years ago, or what Matt the Robber did on my house roof in the middle of the night! There could be a Taco Bell story in there too, but that one almost got us all thrown into jail! ? I could go on forever! So many fun memories, but that’s not what it’s about. It goes so much deeper than those fun and crazy stories from our time together in youth ministry.
What it’s about is a young boy who overcame conflict and chaos in his indelible teen years to now become the lead pastor of a church. What it’s about is a man who has modelled a heart for Jesus and commitment to his family. What it’s about is a Children’s Pastor who loved our kids at a high level and served our families well. What it’s about is someone that I trust with the Gospel, my family, and my life. Both Matt and Morgan have also spoken into my kids' lives and continue to do so to this day. Tami and I are incredibly grateful.
We all need people that we can trust in our lives. We all want to reproduce ourselves in some way. That’s why we put our favorite team’s jersey on our son when he’s barely out of the womb. That’s why we put our favorite colors and styles on our little girls as soon as possible. What if we looked to reproduce ourselves in the more important areas of life? What if we literally taught our kids and others what it looks like to have a passion for people, concern for the lost, and a love to sacrifice? When we are willing to take the time to do such things, God gives to us people that we can trust.
No doubt, when Paul started the church in Lystra he made an impression. We find out later that a woman named Eunice and her mother named Lois came to Christ in salvation. These two Jewish women knew of the prophecies, and when Paul taught them that the Messiah had come, they quickly became disciples of Jesus Christ. We would also find out later that they had a son (and grandson) named Timothy who would come to salvation as well. One thing that must be understood is what they saw in the Apostle Paul that was “convincing” of the power of the Gospel. Take a few minutes and read Acts 14:8-20 and consider the example that young Timothy would have in mentoring him. What you find is someone so committed to God and people that it “rubbed off” on this young adult...changing his life! How are we “rubbing off” on people? I hope and pray that God has used me.
Timothy would become someone who Paul could trust. He would defend his character and commitment to the Corinthian church. He would encourage the Thessalonian church. He would later pastor the Ephesian church. God used his life in amazing ways. Paul loved and trusted him so much that all could see both in person and in his writings.
As we close this chapter of ministry together, I am so grateful for the time God has given to both our church and to me personally to serve the Lord with Pastor Matt. He truly is a son to me, and I know that God is going to continue to use his life in amazing ways. Why? Because he has proven that he is a trustworthy leader for Jesus Christ. I love him more than words can say!
This is exactly how I feel about Pastor Matt Hatton. I’m no Apostle Paul, that’s for sure, but I’ve had the unbelievable privilege of watching a young goofy kid become a powerful and committed leader for Jesus Christ! Oh, there’s stories! Trust me! Just ask Tami what she did to Matt during prayer at youth group one crazy summer night many years ago, or what Matt the Robber did on my house roof in the middle of the night! There could be a Taco Bell story in there too, but that one almost got us all thrown into jail! ? I could go on forever! So many fun memories, but that’s not what it’s about. It goes so much deeper than those fun and crazy stories from our time together in youth ministry.
What it’s about is a young boy who overcame conflict and chaos in his indelible teen years to now become the lead pastor of a church. What it’s about is a man who has modelled a heart for Jesus and commitment to his family. What it’s about is a Children’s Pastor who loved our kids at a high level and served our families well. What it’s about is someone that I trust with the Gospel, my family, and my life. Both Matt and Morgan have also spoken into my kids' lives and continue to do so to this day. Tami and I are incredibly grateful.
We all need people that we can trust in our lives. We all want to reproduce ourselves in some way. That’s why we put our favorite team’s jersey on our son when he’s barely out of the womb. That’s why we put our favorite colors and styles on our little girls as soon as possible. What if we looked to reproduce ourselves in the more important areas of life? What if we literally taught our kids and others what it looks like to have a passion for people, concern for the lost, and a love to sacrifice? When we are willing to take the time to do such things, God gives to us people that we can trust.
No doubt, when Paul started the church in Lystra he made an impression. We find out later that a woman named Eunice and her mother named Lois came to Christ in salvation. These two Jewish women knew of the prophecies, and when Paul taught them that the Messiah had come, they quickly became disciples of Jesus Christ. We would also find out later that they had a son (and grandson) named Timothy who would come to salvation as well. One thing that must be understood is what they saw in the Apostle Paul that was “convincing” of the power of the Gospel. Take a few minutes and read Acts 14:8-20 and consider the example that young Timothy would have in mentoring him. What you find is someone so committed to God and people that it “rubbed off” on this young adult...changing his life! How are we “rubbing off” on people? I hope and pray that God has used me.
Timothy would become someone who Paul could trust. He would defend his character and commitment to the Corinthian church. He would encourage the Thessalonian church. He would later pastor the Ephesian church. God used his life in amazing ways. Paul loved and trusted him so much that all could see both in person and in his writings.
As we close this chapter of ministry together, I am so grateful for the time God has given to both our church and to me personally to serve the Lord with Pastor Matt. He truly is a son to me, and I know that God is going to continue to use his life in amazing ways. Why? Because he has proven that he is a trustworthy leader for Jesus Christ. I love him more than words can say!