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PROPOSED MINISTER TO YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES
mATTHEW CHRISTIAN BYRD


Christian and His wife, Jennifer, will be at First Baptist the Weekend of April 26 and April 27, 2008
 

A native of Mississippi, Christian was born in Tupelo on Sept. 21, 1980. The son of a Baptist minister and an elementary school art teacher, he has a younger sister, Ashley, and a younger brother, Charlie. Christian has also lived in Georgia, Alabama, and Kentucky, but considers Senatobia, Mississippi, where he graduated from high school, his hometown. 

Christian graduated from the University of Mississippi with a major in biology and a minor in history. Though he started his college career in the pre-med program, he began to sense God's leadership into ministry through his experiences with the Baptist Student Union and while working summers for Passport Christian camps. It was also at the BSU where Christian met his wife Jennifer, who is originally from Brandon, Mississippi. The two were married on June 17, 2006 in Birmingham, Alabama. 

Christian next studied at Beeson Divinity School at Samford University in Birmingham, where he received his Master of Divinity in December of 2007.

Christian has served in a variety of ministry contexts, including a significant tenure with Passport Inc, a Baptist ministry that seeks to empower students for service through summer camp experiences and other activities. Over four summers, Christian has served as a worship leader/coordinator and a Bible study leader for their youth camp programs.

Christian's skill as a worship leader and guitarist also equipped him to serve as a worship leader at North Oxford Baptist Church in Oxford, Mississippi near the end of his college career. While there, he also volunteered with the youth group.

 Finally, while in seminary, Christian served as an intern for two Baptist churches: First Baptist in Centerpoint, Alabama and Vestavia Hills Baptist in Birmingham. As a ministry intern at FBC Centerpoint, Christian worked as the youth director, worked with the children's ministry on a regular basis, served as the Vacation Bible School director, and helped with webpage design. Dr. Barry Howard, currently pastor of FBC Gainesville FL, was his pastor at Centerpoint. He says of Christian: "I endorse Christian's ministry potential and his character. He is exceptionally mature for a recent Seminary graduate. He has had excellent experiences with Passport and in his two Internships."

 As a pastoral intern at Vestavia Hills, Christian assisted with the youth program, planned and taught lessons for First Grade Sunday School, was the head of the New Members committee, helped with hospital visits, and worked directly with the pastor. Dr. Gary Furr, the pastor there, says "Christian is very gifted with an outgoing, very persuasive personality. He brings great enthusiasm to all he does, will persuade others to join whatever he is in, and is fearless about going out to invite others to be part of the church. He is an excellent preacher and presenter."

 It was during this time that Christian was licensed and ordained by the Third Baptist Church of Owensboro, Kentucky, where his father currently serves as pastor.

 Since his graduation from divinity school, Christian has been a server at PF Changs restaurant in Birmingham.  On a more personal note, he and Jennifer are expecting their first child, to be named Mary Elise, in mid-June.  Christian enjoys running, basketball, playing guitar, reading, eating ethnic foods, and watching anything on ESPN.  He declares he is, and will remain, a hopeful Ole Miss fan.

 

 

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