Pastor Matt has been our Lead Pastor since August 2021. He is a licensed and ordained minister with the Church of God, with their home office in Anderson, Indiana, a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, and a certified clinical supervisor.   

 

He has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Anderson University in Christian Education, a Master of Arts Degree from Ashland Theological Seminary in Clinical Counseling, and a Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Counseling from Liberty University.  He is an Adjunct Professor of Bible and Psychology for Indiana Wesleyan University and an Adjunct Professor of Psychology, Sociology, and Pastoral Counseling for Grace College and Seminary at their Bath, Ohio Extension.

 

With a career spanning over 36 years, Matt Williams has excelled in a multitude of roles, including pastoral ministry, counseling, and teaching.  His professional journey has taken him through churches, funeral homes, hospices, and various mental health agencies. Notably, he has also served as a high school guidance counselor and school administrator, showcasing his adaptability and versatility.

 

Matt has trained hundreds of professionals.  He is a frequent speaker and presenter to various organizations nationwide on multiple topics, including grief, stress management, supervision, counseling ethics, counselor education/training, marriage building, and other issues. He has been the keynote speaker or presenter for organizations like:

 

• Metro Health Burn Unit’s Annual Retreat

• Trainer for Coventry Health Care, Kansas City, Kansas

• Odyssey Hospice Memorial Service   

• Cleveland Clinic’s Wound Center Recognition Banquet

• National Alliance for Grieving Children’s Annual National Symposium

• Holy Family Hospice Memorial Services

• Kiwanis Clubs in Strongsville, Brecksville, and North Royalton

• And many churches and other organizations

 

One of Matt's significant contributions to the field of mental health is his role in training and supervising nearly 150 graduate students. His dedication to their career advancement is a testament to his commitment to developing mental health professionals.  However, his real love is mentoring and coaching pastors. Currently, he is working with nearly thirty pastors, not only in the United States but across the world.  

 

He has appeared on television and hosted “Grief Talk,” a weekly radio call-in talk show in Cleveland, Ohio. He is also a frequent guest on a local radio station, where he presents an on-air Bible study. He is a guest lecturer at local colleges and universities like John Carroll University, Cleveland State University, and Baldwin-Wallace College. He also enjoys assisting churches in developing care ministries within their churches and helping them with their ongoing ministry training needs. Matt has written several articles for various publications.

 

Personally, Matt has been married for thirty-three years to his beautiful wife, Sheri, a high school teacher. They have four beautiful children, Mackenzie, Maelei, Matthew, and Montgomarie, and his two personal four-legged best friends, Bailey and Maggie.