My name is Matt Judkins, and I am an Elder in the Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church. More than anything else, I try to live as a passionate and faithful disciple of Jesus.
I grew up in rural Southeastern Oklahoma and graduated high school with 13 other classmates. From there, I pursued and finished a Bachelors degree in Biology and then began a PhD program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. To make a long story short, after I finished the Masters portion of my degree, I left to pursue a call to full-time ordained ministry.
I worked for a few years at Chapel Hill UMC in Oklahoma City, while teaching part time as an Adjunct Professor at Oklahoma City Community College. My wife Nanci, our newborn daughter Emma, and I moved to Kentucky in December 2002, and I entered Asbury Theological Seminary.
We moved back to the Oklahoma Conference after I graduated in 2005, and I was appointed to Quinton and Canadian, a two-point charge in the McAlester District. Our son Caleb was born later that year. In May 2008, I finished the probationary process and was ordained as a full Elder in the conference.
I have been serving as Minister of Discipleship at Church of the Servant United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City since October 2008. A short time later, our son Blake was born at the beginning of 2009. In May 2010, I graduated from Drew University with a Doctor of Ministry in Congregational Development. In August 2011, I started as the Minister of our Chapel Community at Church of the Servant. In December 2011, I helped launch a new worship community, Servant 923. Each week I get the privilege of serving and leading in our most traditional service and our most contemporary service!
It’s an exciting time as we experience life together as a family of five.
In my spare time over the last few years, I began this blog as a place where I could think and write, two things that are inseparable in my life. It has also ended up being a place where I can connect with folks I might not otherwise connect with. If it serves to ignite a few thoughts or a good conversation, then it will far exceed my meager expectations.
Now that I’ve found this site, I can cancel all my preaching helps, Christian magazines and therapy sessions. Kidding aside, I consider Matt one of the brighter and more thoughtful Wunderkind of the Oklahoma Conference. Congratulations on your ordiantion, Matt!
Congratulations and blessings on your ordination!
Actually I stopped by to see if you’d reviewed Willimon’s new book on salvation, but I’m glad to see you’re up to even better things!