Youth Pastor

Who is the real Matt Ediger?

While some people think that Matt is a man of international mystery, he is just a “normal” guy (Ok no one thinks that, people just think I am weird!). If that didn’t scare you off; let me welcome you to the Hope Teens website! Allow me to tell you a little bit about myself.

I was born in Wichita, Kansas in November of 1982. I lived in Kansas until I went away to college. However, before I get to far ahead of myself I have to tell you about something changed my life forever. My mom, my brother, and I were watching T.V. one evening when on came guy by the name of Billy Graham. He explained that the Bible tells us that we all have this problem called sin. I knew that there were things, that I had done even as a 4^th grader, that were bad but I didn’t realize that those things were what God called sin and that they offended Him. Then Mr. Graham began to share about Jesus’ love for me and His desire to have a personal relationship with me as well. He explained that Jesus died 2000 years ago for my sins! He explained that if by faith, that if I believed that Jesus Christ died for my sins and that He rose from the grave 3 days later, that I could have eternal life with Jesus. I didn’t realize that decision would change my life forever and set off a chain of events that so far has taken me all over the place and brought me here.

After that fateful night things began to slowly change in my life, I had a desire to learn more about God and read my Bible. However, it wasn’t until my junior year in High school when I joined the Army National Guard and that’s when God really began to get a hold of me with His plans for my life. I went to boot camp over my summer break after my Jr. Year, talk about a summer vacation! Then I finished my advanced training the following summer. I think because I was so caught up in me and what I wanted to do with my life, God had to get me out of my comfort zone to really let me know that He had serious plans for my life. Shortly after I finished my advanced training 9-11 happened. The unit I was attached was deployed overseas for about 10 months to Germany. Through this, God pulling me way out of my comfort zone, I realized that He wanted me to go to Bible College. So after my “European vacation” I enrolled at Calvary Bible College in Kansas City, MO. That happened to be where I met my wonderful wife Sara! Shortly before Sara and I were married I was notified again that my unit would be deploying to Afghanistan! Sara and I were married on the 18^th of December in 2004 about 2 months later I was gone for a year. Again, I think God needed to stretch me a little more. He used that year to show my how awesome He truly is. I had a near death experience while I was in Afghanistan because of a burst appendix. I realized as all this was going on that God was calling me to become a youth pastor!

Once I returned from Afghanistan I went back to school and started sending out resumes` for a job as a youth pastor and what do you know Hope Bible Church needed a youth pastor so here I am! My wife and I have been here for a little over a year and a half and are very excited to be working with a really great group of students. We are excited about being able to share the love of Christ that has affected us so much with others. Also we love being a part of helping people pursue a deeper relationship with Jesus.

Thank you again for stopping by our virtual youth group, I hope to meet you in our real youth group someday!