Graduate Profile: Matthew Sullivan (AATS)

My name is Matt Sullivan. My family and I reside in Auburn, CA. Here I have the privilege of serving and working at Redemption Church of Auburn. It has been a wonderful season of growth and service to this church family in preparation for pastoral ministry.

I was raised in a Bible-preaching, evangelical church in Northern California. I had godly parents who loved my siblings and I and raised us in the Word. Despite these gifts of providence, I did not come to saving faith in the gospel until I was a senior in high school after a long spiritual struggle.

After high school, I attended Calvary Chapel Bible College in Southern California. Here I was immersed in the regular study of Scripture, which was soul-reviving and life-changing. It was as I carefully read the book of Romans that my understanding of the gospel was enhanced, and my heart burned with the further discovery of “the great exchange” between Christ and the sinner. Coming to an experiential understanding of Christ and His redeeming work is my best memory. During my studies at Bible College, I picked up Martyn Lloyd-Jones’ exposition of Ephesians, which introduced me to the joy and beauty of Reformed theology.

After graduation from Bible College, I served in various forms of church ministry for many years. In 2014 came the call to vocational pastoral ministry. My wife and I were very excited by this, and decided it would be best for me to return to school for further theological education. I began at Moody Bible Institute and then transferred to Reformed Baptist Seminary. My education at RBS was even better than I expected it to be. The theological instruction here was not only safe and trustworthy, it has deepened my communion with the Lord and better equipped me to serve His church.

During my schooling at RBS I have also served as a pastoral intern at Redemption Church. I was brought on to help out with the needs of the church and to be prepared for pastoral ministry. It has been an immense joy becoming part of the family. I have also been tremendously blessed with many opportunities to preach, teach classes, counsel people, and get an inside look into the realities of church leadership.

My wife and I are now prayerfully seeking pastoral opportunities. We trust the Lord will lead us to the right place of His choosing in His perfect time. We very much look forward to meeting the church family He is preparing us for.