Matt Carter

Life Story

Matt grew up in Athens, Texas. Like many east Texas families, Matt's parents faithfully attended their local congregation and made certain that Matt did as well. He prayed to receive Christ at 8 years of age. However, Christ was not the focus of his life on a daily basis. Matt is confident that he was saved at this point because he could no longer enjoy sin - even when he tried - but he had not yet touched the holiness of God.

He attended Texas A&M with plans to go to medical school after graduation. He was in the Corp of Cadets and was a Ross Volunteer. During his freshman year, he achieved the popularity and success he had looked forward to before college. He also began to realize that those things weren't as fulfilling as he expected them to be.

During Christmas Break that year, he went on a ski trip with his girlfriend's church group. Although she broke up with him early in the week, he couldn't be more grateful that he went. As he was feeling awkward hanging out with his now ex-girlfriend's friends, an upper-classman on the trip had compassion and befriended him. When they returned to College Station, Brett invited him to a Bible study that met on campus. Matt decided to check it out. He experienced a deeper level of worship than he had ever encountered when he did. The students around him sang a song he had never heard before, "Lord, you are more precious than silver/ Lord, you are more costly than gold." As he joined their song, he recognized that the words were truth. He realized that his life and priorities would have to change drastically because of that truth.

He began attending Central Baptist Church and, for the first time, truly made the Lord the focus of his life. Things began to fall into place and have a sense of purpose for him. He had encountered the presence and holiness of God; his life was changed.

Sensing a Call

About a year later, he met his future wife, Jennifer, in a history class. He looked over and saw a beautiful girl wearing an FCA t-shirt and was hooked. Matt loves remembering that his mom prayed for his future mate from the time he was born and knows her prayer was abundantly answered. He and Jennifer began dating soon after they met. He continued to work toward goal of becoming a doctor; she her degree in applied math. They both loved God. And life was good.

That summer, however, he experienced something that once again turned his life upside down. On the road between Dallas and Texarkana to visit Jennifer who was working at a Christian camp, he was listening to a local Christian radio station. A song that speaks of answering the call of God to take His hope and truth to those who don't have it was playing. He had been suppressing the growing sense that God might have a plan for his life that did not involve his becoming a doctor. As he listened to the song, the recognition that God's dream for him was that he become a pastor flooded his soul. He began to realize that his dreams couldn't possibly be better or more fulfilling than God's could. In that moment, he pulled over and told Him "I don't care where you take me. I'm yours."

Matt didn't tell Jennifer right away; afraid of what she would say when she learned he was to be a minister. When he finally did, he was blown away by her response. She told him she wouldn't have it any other way. In fact, she told him that when she was younger, she had prayed she would marry a pastor. God had prepared both Jennifer and Matt for the ministry of the gospel.

Matt's parents, on the other hand, were shocked and, initially, disappointed by his decision. At first, they discouraged his plans but over time they came to accept and even support him in his new role. God used Matt's coming to Christ to revolutionize his family. While his parents and aunts and uncles were active in their local churches, Matt was the first in his extended family to go beyond a surface relationship with Jesus. Now, one by one, God began to capture their hearts. They became a family focused on Christ.

He changed his major from bio-medical science to history, made plans for seminary after graduation instead of med school, and began looking for opportunities to serve and be discipled. Soon after, Greg Matte of the student Bible study ministry Breakaway provided an opportunity for Matt to begin working with a youth pastor in a local church. When the youth pastor left the church to go to seminary, Matt was asked to serve as a lay-youth director. Matt has served as a minister in several different churches ever since. God has used him many times to begin or help rebuild a ministry.

Matt and Jennifer married during her senior year and his fifth year in college. After graduation in 1996, Matt began classes at Southwestern Theological Seminary. He is working to complete his final five hours of seminary.

Vision for The Austin Stone

My vision for The Austin Stone is that it be an environment where people can connect with God and with each other. I believe those who are searching for a deep connection with God, those who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, and those who are simply looking for Someone worth believing in will find what they are looking for at The Austin Stone.

My desire is that this church be about true worship; the study of the Word; community meetings that provide opportunities for building relationships, sharing life, and accountability; and a focus on families including children and youth. I believe the best thing we can do for the children and youth who are part of our church is to help them forge relationships with adults who care about them and with their peers rather than creating a lot of programs. In relationship, they will hear truth and have opportunities to mature spiritually and become who they are called to be.

My greatest hope is not that the Austin Stone has 20,000 members and a beautiful building in ten years. I would rather see 2000 members who are passionate about Christ, who love each other, and who are reaching out to their communities. I would rather see The Austin Stone planting churches around the nation and the world that teach the Word of God and encourage worship in spirit and truth. I would rather see us support missionaries who are loving the peoples of the world and bringing them the hope of the gospel. In the day to day business of the church, it is tempting for pastors to forget that they are not building their kingdom but God's. I want to remember that my job is to lift up His name. The Word promises that "… the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea." Habakkuk 2:14. I want to be part of what God is doing. My ambition is to impact the world for Him and His kingdom. That begins with the part in Austin that He has entrusted to me, and the co-laborers He has brought alongside me, but that is only the beginning…