Bishop Rick D. Brackett was born May 20, 1954 in Mooresville, NC. He has a love for preaching but more importantly a love for the people to whom he preaches. His messages are anointed and are relevant for these times. 

He and his wife Gayle lead the staff and congregation of the Matthews Church of God in reflecting an attitude of love, acceptance and forgiveness. Those who attend church services go away with the feeling that they have been in a church filled with a love for God and for one another. The church has made tremendous strides under his leadership in attendance, membership and finances and has exceeded all previous records in every category. A new 9,000 sq. ft. sanctuary was built in 2009 and the former sanctuary has been renovated as a fellowship hall.

Bishop Brackett felt the call to ministry at the young age of 17 and served as a state evangelist for six years and pastor for thirty years. He became an Ordained Bishop in 1980 at the very young age of 26, which is exceptional. He attended: North Carolina State Bible & Music Institute, East Coast Bible College, Lee University and he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Counseling from Christian Bible College & Seminary, Independence Missouri. He was awarded, "Outstanding Young Men of America" in 1979 and was recently named to "Strathmore's Who's Who". He served as a committee member for the Ministerial Affirmation Program (MAP) from 1999-2005 and  as a committee member for the Ministerial Internship Program (MIP) for the Churches of God in Western North Carolina from 2007-2008. He currently serves on the State Evangelism Board in Western North Carolina. He serves not only as our Senior Pastor but as the District Overseer of the Matthews District with a total of 8 churches in Mecklenburg and Union Counties. 

Bishop Brackett is married to Gayle Jacobs formerly of Lumberton, NC who is just as committed to the ministry serving as the "Women's Ministries President" and Church Secretary. He has two daughters, Abigail and Beth; Abby serves as "Children's Pastor" and Beth serves as "Praise & Worship Leader" and also works alongside of her husband, Ed as Youth Pastors.

Gayle Jacobs Brackett was born in Lumberton, N.C. and is the daughter of the late Johnson and Gaynell Jacobs. Gayle is one of twelve children and was actively involved in a singing ministry, the "Jacobs Sisters", that included five of her sisters. She was always a dedicated member of the Saddletree Church of God and actively involved in local ministries.

Gayle is known throughout the state as a dedicated wife and mother and is loved by all those that know her. She is a prayer warrior and has exceptional faith and loves to give God praise for the things He has done in her life. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996 but believed God for and received her healing. 

Gayle is gifted as an encourager and as someone that works constantly behind the scenes to help the church operate effectively. She has served faithfully alongside her husband in ministry for thirty three years.   

Elders of the church provide care for the people and serve as shepherds to the flock of God.

 1 Peter 5:1-10  As shepherds working under the supervision and authority of the Pastor, each Elder must first be a care giver to the people of God's Church.

John Rollins III was invited to the Matthews Church of God over twenty years ago; he knew absolutely nothing about the Church of God, being raised Catholic and even attended a Catholic school.
He still remembers vividly the Sunday that the Spirit of the Lord drew him to an altar of repentance; he says it was the best day of his life.

John graduated from Sun Valley High School and Guilford College. He served in law enforcement for ten years with five of those years as a detective. He is a successful entrepreneur; starting his own business, H&R Custom Injection Molding, Inc., eighteen years ago.

He loves the Matthews Church of God and can't say enough good things or express his feelings to do it justice. He has served as the Church Treasurer for more than ten years and has been an Elder for more than six years.

John says, "I thank God that I am a part of the mission of the Matthews Church of God. It is my desire that others will experience God's love through salvation. I am honored to be an Elder and I look forward to laboring with my brothers and sisters in Christ. I pray that I may be an Aaron, supporting my pastor to the best of my ability and being a helper and an encourager."

Brad Devereaux was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio area and graduated from Wright State University with a Bachelors of Science degree in Accountancy. He was privileged to be brought up in a Pentecostal home with parents who taught him to love, trust and honor God in all things.

Brad met his wife, Claudia, at church and they were married in 1973.  They moved from Ohio to California in 1988 to provide assistance to Claudia’s parents, not knowing that her mother would later be diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor.  Though the eventual outcome was not a healing on this earth, God provided may blessings and supplied the needs that came from this experience.  While in

California, Brad served as Deacon in their church and also as a sound crew member. Claudia was involved in the music ministry.  They both served on the mission’s board.

In 1992 they moved to Charlotte.  They attended a couple of other Pentecostal churches in Charlotte.  At these churches Brad served in various ministries as Deacon and sound crew member. Claudia was involved in the music ministry and they both were part of the mission’s board.

“In January 2008 we made our first visit to the Matthews Church of God.  From the first moment we stepped in the door and heard the pre-service music, we felt the Holy Spirit’s presence.  The praise and worship time and the preaching all confirmed to us that this was the place God had for us to become a part of.  The friendliness and love shown to us indicated that this congregation had the love of God within their hearts.  Even in the midst of the building program, this church continued to honor the Great Commission to go into all the world and preach the gospel by their increased giving to world missions.”

“I count it a blessing that God allows me to continue to serve him as a ministry of helps to the members and guests of Matthews Church of God.”

Judy Church was invited to the Matthews Church of God on March 14, 2010. Because of that invitation, she was ready to listen to God and take action. Faith, most of the time is stepping out in the unknown. All she had was a feeling in her heart. So each Sunday, she took the steps of faith, in seeing what God has in store for the church through her ministry gifts God has called her in. 

This is called, "Walking by Faith", one step at a time. How did she know this is the church? She stepped out to find out. Prayed about it, and made sure she was pretty solid on what she felt in her heart. She sensed a real love from the Pastor and his family, and congregation, but most of all the anointing was present.

She has served as a choir and worship leader in area churches for 30 years.

Judy is married to Jimmy Church, a minister who has served in ministry for 30 years.  Judy and Jimmy praise God for 29 years of marriage. They have two children; Aletha, who works with the handicap in providing community services, and is married to Jerome Ward. Jered is attending, Caldwell Community College; both children are very gifted in music.

Her hobbies include swimming, taking walks and enjoying music.

Judy studied, Business Administration from Western Piedmont Community College,  attended Lenoir-Rhyne College and took percussion band under the director of Rick Cline in 1999. She attended Mars Hill College two years in 1974 & 1975 in a choral clinic recording chosen from an audition from her high school years.  She has received many awards in the Church of God for District Music Director in 1977. In 1976, she won the Statewide Piano Competition Award. She was awarded a certificate for completing the NC State Bible and Music Institute in 1972.  She attended music classes at East Coast Bible College and one of her teachers was Eddy Wilson, the Minister of Music at the Landmark Church of God in Statesville, NC. Her latest two music awards in 2009, through "Premiere Promotions" was "The Best Female Artist of the Year", and "The Best Gospel/Christian Music Award".  She will be traveling to AL, to perform live broadcasting on TBN with songs she has recorded and written. 

In today's world of accelerating technology and mass media, the possibilities for reaching people in music of the gospel are endless.  Her desire is to keep positive thoughts no matter the circumstances, have a made up mind and determination to touch the hearts of people through the music that God enables her to write. Her goal is to win people for Christ and to disciple Christians that have a desire to use their talents in music. Her motto - "We are the voice that encourages people to change their lives for the better, through Jesus Christ".

I am honored to serve as Music Minister and worshipping as believers in leading others to do the same.

 

"Musically Yours",

~ Judy Church ~

Beth Baker is the Pastor's daughter and the younger of 2.  Beth has always had a passion to minister to hurting people and has felt a call to minister through music at a very early age.  In 1997 Beth graduated with honors from South Caldwell High School as the Editor in Chief of the school newspaper entitled "The Spartan Muse".   She then attended East Coast Bible College where she studied Music and Journalism. 

Currently she is the praise and worship leader for the Matthews Church of God as well as the Choir Director.

Beth has had extensive training in Church music.  She has attended Choral Festivals with over 2,000 worship leaders, music workshops, and has also had voice lessons.  While attending East Coast Bible College, she was blessed to minister through song at several churches throughout North and South Carolina.  From 2000 to 2001, she and a friend had their own Radio AM program where she taught the Word of God and sang.

Recently the Lord has blessed her to lead worship at various places and various dominations, i.e., Ladies conferences, homecomings, and recently had the opportunity to sing and minister to a public high school in North Carolina. 

Beth also works with the outreach ministries program at Matthews. She enjoys leading praise and worship and directing the Matthews sanctuary choir.  Her hobbies include traveling, going to the gym, spending time with family and friends.  She is married to the love of her life, Ed Baker. They have one child, Alex and they reside in Charlotte, NC. 

Kidz Church is headed up by Abigail B. Salsedo, the pastor's daughter. Abigail has had several years of experience in working with children, as she is an elementary school teacher and teaches at the Reedy Creek Elementary School in Charlotte, N.C. Abigail attended Appalachian State University where she graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in education. She also has a background in music and is able to play both the clarinet and piano. She enjoys reading, sports, and listening to music as her hobbies.  

Abigail is excited about what God is doing in the church and she is especially thrilled to see the children's department growing. It is her desire to see more and more children get involved in the exciting programs of the church. She is convinced that all children will be benefited by attending "Kidz Church" each Sunday morning. The music, puppets, bible stories and games are a wonderful way to help build a stable foundation for our youth of tomorrow.              

Melisa is a graduate of Independence High School in Mint Hill, NC. She has worked in the dental field for 20 years and currently works as a Dental Assistant in Monroe, NC.

Melisa has been married for 16 years to her husband Dale and they have one child, Jarrett, who is her pride and joy. She enjoys spending time with her family, watching movies and photography.

Melisa serves as the church Sunday School Secretary and is an Elder's wife. She loves working alongside Abby in the children's ministry and is excited about what God is doing in the children's department.

Ed was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana and spent thirty years of his life there. His religious and educational background centered around a Catholic upbringing. Ed received his bachelor's degree in accounting and moved to Charlotte, N.C. looking for a change of scenery and a new outlook on life. Ed said, "At this point, one might think that I would go to work for a bank or an accounting firm, however, God led me to do something else; He led me to work with children as a teacher." Ed thoroughly enjoys working with "special needs kids" and has been doing so now for four years.

Ed says, "Just over a year ago, as God continued to bless me, I was introduced to the love of my life, Beth Brackett. Beth and I are now married and live in Charlotte, N.C." They have one child, Alexander.

Ed & Beth have been given several opportunities to use their talents to spread the Word of God. It is their prayer that God will always give them the strength and boldness to do the will of God.

They both look forward to working with the youth of the Matthews Church of God.

 

Vivian graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from UNC-Pembroke in 1985 in Public Administration & a concentration in Business. 

She has worked in the accounting and administration field for over 20 years.  She currently works as an Assistant Controller with an Architect firm. 

She has taught Sunday school for the preschool class, before moving to teach the elementary class, and is currently working with the Junior Sunday school class.  She has worked as a teacher in our Kid’s church and assisted with the Children’s programs and events.  She serves on the Christian education board and enjoys being involved with the church in any way she can uplift the kingdom of God’s work.    

She and her husband James have two sons, Jordan & Jacob.  Aside from church activities, she enjoys watching her boys on the school track and soccer fields. 

Amy Griffin is a native of Charlotte, NC where she graduated from IndependenceHigh School and also attended King’s Business College. She works for a manufacturing company in Monroe as a Market Specialist.

In the summer of 2007 she changed careers to work in childcare and began pursuing her Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education.  She feels she is using the talents and abilities that the Lord has given her and feels blessed to be able to do what she loves.

Amy is very active in the church serving as Deacon of Pastoral Care, Assistant Treasurer, and as a member of the Stewardship Committee.  She works with the 4-7 year olds Cubby Bear class on Wednesday evenings and helps out with children’s activities when she is needed.   

Amy is grateful for any opportunity to serve the Lord and wants to give Him the glory for all of His many blessings.

She and her husband Chip have been married since 1998 and they have two beautiful children – Caitlin and Cody.  She enjoys spending time with her family, church activities, reading and going to school.

Kevin is a native of Plymouth, NC and brought up in a God-fearing home by his parents John and Sue Cooper.  He and his two siblings (Michael and Amy) were dedicated to the Lord at birth and brought up in the Plymouth Church of God.  Kevin was an active member of the church singing in the choir, singing specials and playing musical instruments in the church band (drums and trumpet). God has blessed him vocally and during his senior year in high school and freshman year in college, was granted the opportunity to sing lead/tenor with a local gospel group.  Kevin continues to use his talents for the Lord at the Matthews Church of God, where he has attended since March 2006.

After graduation from Plymouth High School, Kevin moved to Wilmington, NC where he attended the University of North Carolina and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology.  It was in his last semester of college, that he met his lovely wife Christina.  They were married in 1999, and in the same year, relocated to the Charlotte area.  God has since blessed him with a beautiful family, including his daughter Kassidy (2005) and son Carsten (2007). 

Kevin is an active member of the Matthews Church of God, serving not only as a Deacon, but also in the Choir, Praise team and every now again breaks out the trumpet or sits down at the drums.  He recognizes that if it wasn’t for a praying family and the grace of God, he wouldn’t be where he is today.  He knows that God has ordained his steps and has drawn him to the Matthews Church of God for such a time as this.  Kevin is excited about how God is using him and his prayer is to be continually used for his service.

Ed was raised in Salisbury, NC and attended Mitchell College as well as Catawba College. He lived in Louisville, Kentucky and Jacksonville, Florida before settling down in Indian Trail, NC in 1977.

Ed grew up in the Methodist Denomination but as he grew older he fell away from church and rarely attended. But then he was invited to the Matthews Church of God where he immediately knew that he was being led by the Holy Spirit. He rededicated his life to the Lord and made the Matthews Church of God his home.

Ed says, "There is no way to describe what this church and my walk with the Lord now means to me; it truly is peace that passes all understanding. I want to serve the Lord in any way He can use me."