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During the terminal Illness of Marvin's younger sister his family started attending a Baptist church in Plainview, Texas where he accepted Christ as his Savior at the age of 12. Upon graduation from High School he moved to Amarillo, Texas and got a job in automobile upholstery, the trade his Dad had trained him in. There he joined Grace Baptist Church, pastored by Bro. M. O. Garner which since 1985, is the Arden Road Baptist Church, pastored by Dale Bigham.
About a year later Pat joined the church and they began dating and later married in June. For 3 years they both taught Sunday School and were active in the visitation program. Pat was the church clerk.
On July 14, 1961, Marvin surrendered to preach and do whatever God wanted him to do. One month later he and Pat arrived in Springfield Mo. to attend Baptist Bible College. Their son Troy was born the day after college started.
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Following Wakeeney, Marvin pastored in Lovington, New Mexico and then Sunray, Texas where they learned many valuable lessons they needed for the Mission field of Australia.
When God again challenged Marvin about a move, he was reluctant to leave Sunray. They had seen 150 saved in 18 months, there was a sweet spirit in the church and for the first time he did not have to work outside the church for support. Here is where he began to teach and to practice Faith Promise Mission Giving. God soon showed the Matthews He wanted more than their money, He wanted them on the Mission field.
In September of 1968 Marvin and Pat were approved as Baptist Bible Fellowship International Missionaries for the field of Australia. Nine months and 88,000 miles of deputation later Grace/Arden Road Baptist Church commissioned them and sent them out with the authority to establish New Testament Churches.
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The Matthews arrived on the field August 13, 1969.During the next 28 years the Lord used them to establish and head Sydney Bible Baptist College and through the fruit of their ministry 25 churches were established, and five missionaries sent to foreign fields, supported by Australian funds and trained in the college.
From 1996 to 1999 the Matthews worked with the National churches of Papua, New Guinea, to establish an English Speaking Bible College and to train staff to operate and teach in the college.
The 41 years that has elapsed since they joined Grace Baptist Church have been filled with joy, trials, challenges, victories and defeats.Grace Baptist was a turning point in both their lives. There they grew in knowledge and there they placed their lives in God's care totally and unconditionally.God has been faithful in all things, as the Matthews continue to faithfully labor under their original commissions of Grace/Arden Road Baptist Church
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