212: Neil Matthews and Accepting God’s Acceptance

Neil Matthews is a husband, father, and the producer of the podcast Other People’s Shoes where he creates space to hear one another’s perspectives. Today, Neil shares how he got swept into youth ministry, lost it all after a startling confession, and found a new ministry in podcasting. Neil relates his struggle with pride as a cover for his deeper woundings. He learned to depend on grace in humility while listening to what others are going through. Neil’s story reminds us that God is shaping us for the good through even the hardest experiences.

Listen to Neil’s story now!

Stories Neil shared:

Growing up in Southern California
Moving to Oregon before sixth grade
Choosing Christ and getting baptized
The night he almost committed suicide
The mentor who gave him a DC Talk tape
Giving his life to Christ at youth group once and for all
The night his youth leader quit in scandal
Getting swept into ministry as a 19 year old
Pursuing credentials as a pastor
How pornography derailed his career as a pastor
Reconciling with the pastor who fired him through his podcast
The absence of God he felt in that season
Getting baptized again on April 15, 2012
Learning to accept God’s acceptance of him

Great quotes from Neil:

Pain is something all of us walk in. How are we going to use it?

God sees me as who I am more than I do.

I am so important to him that I don’t need to get importance from anyone else.

Resources we mentioned:

Neil’s podcast website, Other People’s Shoes
You Lost Me: Why Young Christians Are Leaving Church . . . and Rethinking Faith by David Kinnaman
Neil’s episode with the pastor who fired him, You Lost Me Season Finale

Related episodes:

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