Rev. Matt Bridges

Rev. Matt Bridges was born and raised in Las Cruces, New Mexico and for many years before and during seminary, was involved in music ministry as a worship leader. He is a graduate of Brite Divinity School, where he earned a master of Divinity. His passions for ministry include missions, evangelism, music, social justice, and pastoral care, just to name a few.

While in seminary, he studied and engaged in various aspects of ministry, but most recently he assisted his professor in finishing a book and project about remembering hate crime victims entitled Unfinished Lives. In his final year, Matt was awarded the Gilbert L. Ferrell United Methodist Studies Award. Throughout his seminary education, he received book awards for his studies in Church History, Congregational Leadership, Worship, and Practical Theology.

As a new member of the New Mexico Annual Conference, Matt was commissioned as a provisional elder in June of 2011. He will serve at St. Mark?s mainly in the areas of Missions, Discipleship, Evangelism and Hospitality.

Matt?s theology begins with the reality of everyone being created in the image of God and being precious in God?s sight. Tied in with this idea is the reality of Jesus Christ, but as Christians embodying Christ and living up to the commission Jesus called forth to his disciples in Matthew, to ?go therefore and make disciples of all the nations.?

He is intentional in his ability and willingness to offer theological reflection in the context of ministry at all times. He truly tries to embrace the United Methodist slogan of ?Open Hearts, Open Minds, and Open Doors.? His commitment to St. Mark?s is to help every member embody the mission of ?developing Dynamic Disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.?

Matt is joined in ministry by his wife, Corinne, and their daughter Emilie.