This week we sat down with a newer member of the Deaconry staff, Matt Bowman.

Where are you from?

I’m originally from Blairstown up in Warren County, New Jersey. My parents have a 70 acre hay farm there that I grew up on.

When did you start at the Deaconry?

I started at the Deaconry on May 1st of this year and I officially took over the ropes course on July 1st.

How did you end up here?

Someone told me that the Deaconry was potentially looking to hire, so I sent Executive Director Joel Davis my resume back in January. We began talking and eventually there was an opening and now I’m here.

What is your role here at the Deaconry?

I wear a couple of different hats. I’m the ropes course manager, the hospitality coordinator for retreat guests, and I assist Joel with various other projects.

What are some of your hobbies and interests?

I am an outdoors kind-of guy. I love hunting. In the Fall and Winter I mostly hunt waterfowl, which is like ducks and geese. I also like to go hiking and skiing. I’ve hiked all around the Delaware Water Gap, which is where I grew up. I would love to one day go to some of the national parks out west.

Do you have any favorite scriptures?

Philippians 1:6

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Everyone is somewhere along their journey and nobody has really arrived at the end of their destination. Knowing wherever you’re at, God is working with you.

Any leaving thoughts?

The people working here are really great. I get to work in a couple different departments, so I interact with almost everyone here. I really enjoy being out on the ropes course. I’ve been doing it for a couple of years, but I really started to get into it this past year. Come pop in and visit!