Generation to Generation
Making an Intergenerational Impact an Interview with Matt Miller
Unlike many of the members featured so far, Matt Miller is not a cradle Presbyterian. He doesn’t have a family history at FPC Gastonia and he has only been a member for a few years. But, Matt is already making strides to ensure that the work he is doing in the church and the community now will have an impact for generations to come.
While he hasn’t always been a Presbyterian, Matt does have a strong faith background. He grew up in the Baptist church and attended Gaston Christian School as a child, helping him to create a strong foundation for his own faith. Once he was an adult, Matt and his wife, Stephanie, began to look for a church home of their own. Eventually, they settled in at FPC Gastonia. Matt explains that they fell in love with Rev. Vanacore and Pastor Stanley, while also finding that they aligned with the church’s mission in the community. It wasn’t long before Matt was elected as a Deacon, an opportunity that gave Matt the chance to really delve into the various mission opportunities that FPC Gastonia offers.
While he hasn’t always been a Presbyterian, Matt does have a strong faith background. He grew up in the Baptist church and attended Gaston Christian School as a child, helping him to create a strong foundation for his own faith. Once he was an adult, Matt and his wife, Stephanie, began to look for a church home of their own. Eventually, they settled in at FPC Gastonia. Matt explains that they fell in love with Rev. Vanacore and Pastor Stanley, while also finding that they aligned with the church’s mission in the community. It wasn’t long before Matt was elected as a Deacon, an opportunity that gave Matt the chance to really delve into the various mission opportunities that FPC Gastonia offers.
Through this opportunity, Matt became very involved with the Boys and Girls Club in Gaston County. He acted as a mentor for a Sherwood Elementary student named Antonio, following him all the way into middle school at Grier. He seems to have found his niche, as he continues to volunteer with organizations that serve children. In particular, Matt works with an organization called Classroom Central. Matt explains their mission is to provide school supplies to underprivileged children so that they can have the resources they need to excel at school. Matt explains, “Teachers are able to come to Classroom Central and get supplies that they can disperse as they see a need. That way, there is no kid that’s going to go home and not have the materials or the necessities that they need to succeed.” A lack of resources is only one of the myriad of issues many children face each day, and it is only getting worse in the wake of the pandemic. Matt shares that many foundations have not been able to give as expected and that bills that may have gone unpaid will soon be coming due, causing many families to struggle. “We talk about homelessness,” Matt says grimly, “we know that’s going to explode.” The impact that these unfortunate circumstances have on our children now, can have a huge effect on the opportunities they are able to pursue later on in life. That’s why it’s important now more than ever, Matt explains, that we find a way to help.
Matt knows that finding the time isn’t always easy. “It’s very tough,” Matt admits saying, “I’m in that age now where I don’t have a fresh baby or anything, so people are going to have obstacles that come up that are going to limit what they can and can’t do. But I think that what’s important is to find the time that you do have, use it wisely, and use it to the benefit of others.” Matt explains that his goal is to make it less about himself, and more about what he can do for someone else. He encourages the rest of the congregation to try to balance their time so that they can do the same. “There are so many needs out there,” Matt states, “and it’s going to take everyone in the congregation each pitching in a little bit to be able to help meet everything.” The impact that we can make together, Matt has found, is so much bigger than anything we could have made on our own.
If nothing else, Matt explains that the insight he has gleaned through these experiences has made just as much of an impact in his own life as it has in the lives of those he is working to help. He shares one such example, saying that in the wake of his father’s death in 2019, he found himself feeling very alone. But through his volunteer work, he came to realize that his “alone” was so far from the “alone” that many others experience. He had people to lean on and support him through those tough times, so he wants to make sure that others are able to find the same support through him. “Giving back gives you a feeling greater than anything you could ever do in life,” Matt says with a smile. He explains that that feeling just keeps growing as you see the result of your work years down the line. FPC Gastonia has worked for generations to impact the community as well as our own lives. May we work to continue that legacy so that we can see the results for generations to come.
This article is part of a weekly series featuring FPC Gastonia members as part of our Generation to Generation Campaign. Check-in next week as we share another member's story! Find more on our website at www.fpcgastonia.org/generation-to-generation.
Matt knows that finding the time isn’t always easy. “It’s very tough,” Matt admits saying, “I’m in that age now where I don’t have a fresh baby or anything, so people are going to have obstacles that come up that are going to limit what they can and can’t do. But I think that what’s important is to find the time that you do have, use it wisely, and use it to the benefit of others.” Matt explains that his goal is to make it less about himself, and more about what he can do for someone else. He encourages the rest of the congregation to try to balance their time so that they can do the same. “There are so many needs out there,” Matt states, “and it’s going to take everyone in the congregation each pitching in a little bit to be able to help meet everything.” The impact that we can make together, Matt has found, is so much bigger than anything we could have made on our own.
If nothing else, Matt explains that the insight he has gleaned through these experiences has made just as much of an impact in his own life as it has in the lives of those he is working to help. He shares one such example, saying that in the wake of his father’s death in 2019, he found himself feeling very alone. But through his volunteer work, he came to realize that his “alone” was so far from the “alone” that many others experience. He had people to lean on and support him through those tough times, so he wants to make sure that others are able to find the same support through him. “Giving back gives you a feeling greater than anything you could ever do in life,” Matt says with a smile. He explains that that feeling just keeps growing as you see the result of your work years down the line. FPC Gastonia has worked for generations to impact the community as well as our own lives. May we work to continue that legacy so that we can see the results for generations to come.
This article is part of a weekly series featuring FPC Gastonia members as part of our Generation to Generation Campaign. Check-in next week as we share another member's story! Find more on our website at www.fpcgastonia.org/generation-to-generation.
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