After 22 years of faithful service, Matt Rollins will transition from First Baptist Greenville to full-time work with Village Engage. As I reflect on his ministry among us, I am struck by the gift Matt has given this congregation: longevity, an increasingly rare contribution in our hyperactive and transient culture. Since Matt is a math guy, here’s another way to think about his ministry: he has spent 44% of his life, or 11/25, investing in First Baptist Greenville! We are a better church because of his time, his faith and his steady commitment. During my tenure, I have especially appreciated Matt’s long history with this church and its people; he has been someone I could turn to for historical context and perspective shaped by years of faithful presence.
When Matt told me of his new position with Village Engage, I was surprised but not shocked. Over the last few years, Matt has felt increasingly drawn into the wider community. The gift of that evolving call has been meaningful for First Baptist. He has led us into deeper and more faithful engagement with our city, initiating our involvement in GOAL (Greenville Organized for Accountable Leadership) and launching the HOSEA program to help those in danger of eviction. He has helped us, as a congregation, live more fully into Christ’s call to love and serve our neighbors. While we will miss Matt greatly, we give thanks for the many ways God has worked through his ministry among us, and we bless him as he begins this new chapter of service. On January 25, we will recognize Matt during worship, and you will have the opportunity to greet him and offer your thanks. Please join me in expressing gratitude for Matt and in praying for him in the days ahead. Keep reading to hear from Matt.
-Carol
“Dear friends and family of First Baptist Greenville,
In 2003, I applied for the position of Recreation Coordinator at the church my wife grew up in. Over twenty-two years, seven offices, five positions, and two theology degrees later, I feel as though I grew up here too! Ministering alongside this congregation, figuring out together what it means to be the people of God here at the corner of Cleveland and Faris, has been both an honor and a privilege. In that span, you have demonstrated to me true generosity, the power of servant leadership, and the gift of space: space to thrive and to mess up, to teach and to learn, and to offer and receive grace.
During this time, especially over the past few years, I have begun to sense a steady call to serve and minister beyond the walls of the church, discerning a holy nudge gently guiding me toward full-time faith-based advocacy and community ministry. While I have certainly embraced this in my current role as Minister of Community Engagement in many meaningful ways, I am excited that my new role as Director of Faith-Based Initiatives for Village Engage (Mill Village Ministries) will allow me to continue living more fully into that calling of serving the wider community.
My final week in the office will be the week of January 12, and I look forward to celebrating these twenty-two years with all of you in worship on Sunday, January 25. This will not be goodbye, of course, as we are staying in Greenville, and my new employer is already an established partner of First Baptist—a relationship I look forward to strengthening in the years ahead.
I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve this congregation and for the support, fellowship, and encouragement you have shown me throughout these years. It has been a blessing to work within a church family so committed to sharing the love of Christ. You have modeled that love for me more often than you know, and I will carry it with me as I move into this next chapter of ministry.
Peace and grace,
Matt Rollins”