Meet Rev. Dr. Matthew Williams
by Susan Koehler, Chair of Staff Parish Relations Committee
On June 5, Trinity’s congregation will be introduced to Rev. Dr. Matthew M. Williams, and on July 3, we will formally welcome him into the pulpit and into our hearts. Mark your calendars for these two special events. To quote retired pastor Rev. John Willis, “You don’t want to miss it!”
Matthew and his wife, Joy, are excited to return to Tallahassee. Before his appointments in Pembroke Pines and Boca Grande, Matthew served at Killearn United Methodist Church, four years as director of worship and arts and two years as associate pastor. Matthew and Joy now look forward to raising their son, Ethan, in our community. Ethan will turn two on June 24, and he is already registered in Trinity United Methodist Preschool.
On June 5, Wayne and Matthew will conduct a fun and informative interview-style dialogue. However, we’re already abuzz with questions and would love a little getting-to-know-the-Williams frontloading. So, here you go. Enjoy a little introduction via some frequently asked questions.
Music is so important to Trinity. Does Matthew have a background in music?
Prior to entering ordained ministry, Matthew served as director of music and choral conductor in multiple religious and educational settings over the course of fifteen years. As a pastor, he is intentional about thematically aligning music and liturgy. He values all types of worship and sees music as an integral part of the worship experience.
What type of leadership will Matthew bring to Trinity?
Matthew’s leadership skills have been lauded by both congregants and persons across the connection. He considers himself to have an interactive leadership style, rooted in the practices of listening, creating teams, and delegating. He continually seeks support from key leaders and enters into decisions prayerfully.
What can we expect from the pulpit?
Matthew’s preaching has been consistently ranked as highly effective. He follows the lectionary and relies heavily on lectionary readings to form themes and sermon points. In each sermon, he is committed to providing congregants with at least one practical point to apply to their daily lives. Matthew has shown strength and commitment in guiding churches in their understanding of United Methodism and Wesleyan theology.
Does he have any experience with international missions?
Matthew serves on the Board of ZOE Empowers and on the Board of Twelve Churches, Nicaragua. Since 2007, he has taken 14 trips to Nicaragua. As part of Twelve Churches, he has organized pastoral training conferences, assisted in microloan development programs, and helped connect other mission organizations, including Orphan Network and Caring Partners to Twelve Churches for their partnership. Matthew has also traveled to Rwanda, where he met and embraced our ZOE Empowerment Group orphans and toured HOPE International. Matthew’s international mission involvement also extends to work in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
What about local missions?
Matthew and Joy have invested themselves in multiple local missions in each of the communities in which they have served. They like to connect with the local community and attend community events, both sacred and secular. They look forward to becoming involved in the Tallahassee community and supporting the local missions of “the church with a heart for the city.”
Enough about Matthew – tell us about Joy!
Joy’s undergraduate degree is in healthcare administration, and she continued her educational pursuits by earning her MBA. She is currently a senior director for Premier, Inc., a healthcare improvement company based in Charlotte, North Carolina. She has a passion for securing the best healthcare facilities for all, and she lives out that passion by managing a reputable team and ensuring a supply team acquisition program that works toward success for healthcare institutions across the country. In her philanthropic work, Joy has assisted hospitals and healthcare clinics in the United States, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua.
What kinds of hobbies and activities do the Williams enjoy?
Matthew and Joy love the outdoors – especially hiking and boating. They enjoy traveling and getting away for some family time at their home in Lake Junaluska, North Carolina. They are also fans of bluegrass music. (Just wait until they discover Bluegrass Sunday at Trinity!)
If you want to know more about the Williams family, make sure you have watched the introductory video that can be found here. Also, make sure to attend or tune in to the June 5 service. Remember, “You don’t want to miss it!”