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