Pastor Matt Kennedy

Pastor Matt is from a small town that most people have never heard of...North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. He headed to UNC Greensboro with plans of becoming a lawyer, but during his sophomore year, God redirected his path and called him into ministry. Instead of law school, Pastor Matt earned his Master of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and joined the staff of Sardis Baptist Church in 2016, where he has faithfully served as Associate Pastor and Student Pastor ever since.

At his core, Pastor Matt simply loves God and loves God's Word. His greatest desire is to help people open the Scriptures for themselves, discover the richness of biblical truth, and become more like Jesus. He firmly believes that the Spirit of God uses the Word of God to transform the people of God into the image of the Son of God, and that conviction shapes everything he teaches, whether on a Wednesday night, through The Steadfast Podcast, or in everyday conversations over coffee.

If you've spent any time around Pastor Matt, you'll quickly discover that humility is one of his defining characteristics. He has a quiet way of making much of Christ instead of himself, leading with gentleness, conviction, and a well-timed sense of humor that reminds everyone discipleship is serious work...but joyful work too. He believes today's students aren't just the church of tomorrow. They are disciples of Christ today, uniquely called to influence their generation for the glory of God.

When he's not opening God's Word, Pastor Matt embraces his self-proclaimed title of Bible nerd (he really wants you to read your Bible!), enthusiastically defends the superiority of queso over guacamole, cheers passionately for the Green Bay Packers (Go Pack Go!), and enjoys pushing himself through new physical challenges. He has completed more than 1,000 gym classes, five Spartan races, two HYROX competitions, and is currently training for his first marathon.

Whether teaching Scripture, encouraging the next generation, or crossing another finish line, Pastor Matt's heart remains the same: to faithfully point people to Jesus and help them become steadfast followers of Christ.