It’s Time to Part Ways with Crown
I was recently told that my position at Crown Financial Ministries was going to be eliminated and I would have the option of staying with the ministry and taking on the Caribbean. While this was an incredibly attractive offer (especially during this unusually long and cold winter), it would also require taking my fund-raising efforts from $35,000/year to $120,000/year.
With much prayer and consideration for our new marriage, Rocio (my fiancee) and I both felt it was time to part ways with Crown. We don’t know what God has next for us, but your prayers for this transition are coveted.
I will miss my time with this great organization. Since college, it’s been all I’ve known. I leave behind a joint effort with hundreds of personal prayer and financial supporters. Together God has used us to do great things. Here’s a quick recap of some of my favorite memories during my time at Crown:
Interning with Dave Rae – The former President of Apple Canada housed me and poured his life into mine for a couple years, and I still root for the American’s against his Canucks. The ungrateful audacity of me. Smile.
Meeting Larry Burkett - I don’t think I’ve eaten Fruit Loops since.
FX03 – Our big plans were never fully realized but Chancy Burrell, Hope Welborn, Liz Hart (Kelley), Tim Krauss and Marianne Ramsey (Krauss), Megan Pawlos (Pacheco), Joanna Royal and I made for a heck of a summer experience for 8 college students, and a cool short-term missions program came out of it.
Traveling with and being mentored by Dr. Dick Wynn – This man still is my hero. It’s a goal of mine to make it to more countries with Rocio then I have been to with Dick Wynn. This will take some time.
Interns – Elicia Olsen, Ashlyn Ward (Bishop), Anna Soliven (Rosado), Michele Scott, Felix von Keyserlingk (Germany), Alex Morrison, and Christina Wolverton made a huge impact while they were here. They raised their own funds so they could serve people with God’s truth on stewardship. And there’s one more…Enkhtuya Purvee (Mongolia) is about to serve with Crown Taiwan.
Andrés Panasiuk’s call out for the nations to thank and pray for the United States in their language – We had just finished praying for the nations at the 2004 Crown Reunion. Following Andres’ lead, the nations then turned and thanked God for us. Humbling, unifying and awe-inspiring, I was right next to my friend Richard Samuel from India. The way he passionately cried out to God in Tamil made me weep. 
12Stone’s Small Group’s round-the-clock prayer support for my Pakistan trip – For the first and only time I remember, I experienced fear before an international trip. I mentioned this to my co-leader, Jessica Roberts (Brothers). She recruited 24 people from a couple of the 12Stone Single’s Small Groups to pray for me 24-7 while I was there. This completely overwhelmed me.
Like-minded discussions with Chuck Bentley on how to help Crown serve the poor – We’d get so into it, he seemed to always have to postpone or cancel a meeting or two. His pressing has helped grow my passion for serving people in poverty. So grateful he would give his time so generously to me.
Dr. Suparno’s devotional on stewardship and the Cross – He patiently and powerfully pointed out why all stewardship ultimately points to the cross. His humility and passion for Jesus has marked me.
The intern from Hawaii that was my opposite – When Anna Soliven (Rosado) started her internship, she made a point of saying her gifting was to help make inefficient things become efficient (I might have said my gifting was to make efficient things become inefficient). She’s put up with countless tangents and “tools” of creativity over the past 4+ years, and she has given and sacrificed much for the people of Crown ignite! and our global field staff. As a brand new mother, her son and whatever else she lends her attention to will be blessed.
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Wow. And that was just a snippet. God has been incredibly generous.
If you’re one of my friends who have worked or volunteered at Crown over the last 9 years, I’d be honored to hear some of your favorite memories (or your perspective on mine above).
This entry was posted on Friday, February 26th, 2010 at 4:48 pm. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS Feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
We never got to know one another very well Matt, but I remember you. Seems like you and I interfaced on some kind of project involving Crown Church Coordinators and short-term missions projects. I dunno…. it’s been too long ago for me to remember the details of the project. But I definitely remember the man – you made an impact on me and several other folks with your sensitivity, love for people, and devotion to the Lord. I won’t forget that, long after we forgot one another’s names and faces.
Thanks for all that you have done. Serving God through Crown is a labor of love filled with great joy and terror. God always carried us to places greater than our choosing. Blessings upon you and whatever He leads you to next.
John Read
Former Atlanta Director
I joined Crown in July 2006 to lead Global Web Media, and in the first 2 weeks I interviewed every home office department to understand their challenges, web needs, and overall role at Crown. I met this young guy with a huge smile and an even bigger heart who described his passion for reaching the whole world with the message of stewardship. He talked about firing up college students, churches and anyone else interested in using what they had to make a difference. Huh? “How could he do all that on his own?” I thought. I soon got my answer.
Matt made a mark on me. He was sold out and on a mission, fully abandoned to anything temporary without snubbing it. He genuinely cared for everyone. He was a tribe leader before that term was hip. A renegade with a remarkable cause. He knew he was put on earth to make a difference. Made me ask myself if I was willing to give up everything to travel the world by faith. I’ll continue to ask myself that question, thanks to Matt.
I didn’t get the chance to work too closely with Matt – not closely enough, in my opinion – but I watched him from a distance. I was moved by his counts of his travels and results. We got to work together on a “God is on the Move” project ones to rally other staff to give, and we shared stories of how God had moved us. I won’t forget the tennis shoes. I silently prayed for God to bless Matt richly for his faithfulness and give him the desires of his heart. I prayed for him to find a partner to share his ministry with, a wife to enjoy this unique life he had made for himself in God’s service. Apparently I wasn’t the only one praying. And God showed up in a BIG way. Wow.
Matt (and Rocio), the old Irish wedding blessing seems to be written just for you. He has amazing plans written for your lives that your 9-yr blink at Crown cannot begin to touch. And you have fans like me holding up your arms and praying for you as you race forward toward Him. Know that you’ve touched my life. Truly. Go get ‘em!
May God be with you and bless you.
May you see your children’s children.
May you be poor in misfortunes and rich in blessings.
May you know nothing but happiness from this day forward.
Love in Him,
Amanda Johnson
Matt, I have such mixed feelings about your leaving – Crown is losing such champion BUT on the other hand, you have so much to offer it would be selfish to keep you hidden in the folds at Crown. I remember the early days on the International team with Dick Wynn and you would come up with some idea. After spilling out what was on your mind and heart, Dick would say, “Matt, would you say that again? I don’t understand a word of what you’re saying.” I have watched you grow and mature as a very competent and excellent communicator who can express his heart and mind in such a way that the Holy Spirit brings light, understanding, and conviction to hearts. You are one of my favorite Devo speakers at Crown. Rocio is a blessed woman. I look forward to hearing what God does next in your life (after you and Rocio become a team, of course!). I’m praying and rooting for you!
Matt:
Crown loses a passionate, innovative, engager of hearts, minds, and souls. You, however, gain an opportunity for a new “God said” in your life–am thrilled for you. Having seen major doors closed in my own life, only to see the Lord open something fresh and wonderful, I am expectant to hear what He has prepared for you and your bride. It was an honor to serve alongside you on FX ‘03 and I’d love to do whatever I can to help you find that next calling!
Your bro’ in Christ,
F
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Matt: I finally mailed you some pictures from the Shillong ‘06 trip a couplle of weeks ago. Did you get them? Val
God bless as you move into a new seaon of your life – both jobwise, ministrywise, and marital-status-wise. (Is that even a word?)