Résumé
Last updated 7/7/10
Click here for a downloadable PDF resume
Matthew A. Cleaver
Address and phone number withheld for online resume. Email me for that information.
______________________________________________________________________________
OBJECTIVE: To serve Jesus Christ and his church in the context of local church ministry, specializing in adolescents and families.
EDUCATION
Candidate for Master of Arts in Youth and Family Ministry
Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN
Expected Graduation: May 2011
Bachelor of Science in Youth Ministry, Cum Laude
Minor: Biblical and Theological Studies
John Brown University, Siloam Springs, AR
Graduation: May 2006, 3.76 GPA
EXPERIENCE
Director of Youth and Ministry Development: July 2009 – Present
Hope Lutheran Church: Cedar Hill, TX
- Expanded Youth Director position (below) to include Ministry Development department.
- Oversaw, coordinated, and evaluated of all educational ministries including children and adult Sunday school and adult small groups.
- Hired, trained, and supervised church’s first youth ministry intern.
- Responsible for overall church administration and communication procedures and structures.
- Built and maintained new church website, hopelutheran.net.
- Supervised church secretary.
- Preached at least quarterly; led worship in pastor’s absence.
Youth Director: June 2006 – June 2009
Hope Lutheran Church: Cedar Hill, TX
- Directly responsible for oversight of all seventh through twelfth grade ministry.
- Encouraged and helped place individual students in specific ministry positions apart from youth ministry programming. Helped students discern God’s unique call on their life.
- Drew new adult leadership into youth ministry.
- Worked to develop a shared style of ministry with adults, parents and youth and shift away from a youth director-centric model.
- Experimented with intergenerational ministry through organic and structured opportunities.
- Developed lesson materials for Sunday school and small groups.
- Designed and led, along with the youth, a monthly Sunday evening and annual Maundy Thursday worship service.
- Preached and led worship on occasional Sunday mornings.
- Lead and coordinate separate summer mission trips for middle and high school.
- Organize, plan, and lead regular social events and periodic retreats
- Budget and track all finances related to youth ministry.
- Communicated regularly through all available avenues: email, bulletin, newsletter, website, Facebook, text message, postcards, flyers, and calendars.
Youth Director: March 2005 – May 2006
Mount Hermon Church: Jay, OK
- Led and taught Wednesday and Sunday night middle and high school program.
- Coordinated citywide outreach events with local youth directors attended by 200 teens.
- Directed Vacation Bible School for approximately 200 children, teenagers, and adults.
Teacher’s Assistant: August 2004 – May 2005
Dr. Dan Lambert, Associate Professor of Youth Ministry, John Brown University
- Developed and maintained website for Dr. Lambert’s book on teaching in youth ministry.
- Assisted Dr. Lambert with research for a forthcoming book, class preparation and materials, grading assignments, and tracking grades and attendance.
Youth Ministry Intern: Summer 2004
Cy-Fair Christian Church: Houston, TX
Worked closely with veteran Youth Minister. Highlights include:
- Planned trip to San Antonio and led a team during High School mission trip to Mobile, AL.
- Participated in VBS, Jr. High camp, High School conference, and taught Sunday school.
- Communicated with families via newsletters, postcards, PowerPoint, and interactive CDs.
Youth Group Volunteer: October 2003 – March 2005
Harvard Avenue Baptist Church: Siloam Springs, AR
- Co-led, with my wife, a Sunday night discipleship group.
- Responsible for counseling and relationship building during weekly outreach program.
- Assisted during various lock-ins, Discipleship Now weekends, and special events.
Youth Worker Training Conferences
- Youth Specialties – National Youth Workers Convention: 2004, 2006
- Youth Specialties – The CORE: 2003, 2004
- Group Magazine Live: 2004
ACTIVITIES, HONORS, & PUBLICATIONS
- MattCleaver.com – Named Top 20 Youth Ministry Blog in 2010 by Youth Specialties. Almost 400 posts written, primarily relating to youth ministry, theology, and the church.
- Guest on Dr. Andrew Root’s Liveblog: December 15, 2009.
- NT-NL Synod Involvement:
- Chair, DiscipleLife Goal B Team: “Nurturing Youth and Families”
- Voting member: 2008 and 2010 Synod Assembly; 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly
- Monthly lunch meetings with other synod youth workers
- Leadership Team: 2009 Passing on Faith Conference
- Professional Memberships:
- ELCA Youth Ministry Network
- National Network of Youth Ministries
- Theta Alpha Kappa (religious and theological studies honor society)
- Book Reviews Published at Youth Ministry Exchange (www.ymexchange.com):
- Baehr, Ted and Pat Boone. The Culture-Wise Family.
- Everts, Don. All the Ideas Living in My Head.
- Folmsbee, Chris. A New Kind of Youth Ministry.
- Lytch, Carol. Choosing Church: What Makes a Difference for Teens.
- McKnight, Scot. A Community Called Atonement.
- Root, Andrew. Revisiting Relational Youth Ministry.
- Yaconelli, Mark. Growing Souls.
- Mahan, Brian, Michael Warren, and David White. Awakening Youth Discipleship.
- Paper Presentations:
- “Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Redefining Martyrdom,” American Academy of Religion Southwest Regional Meeting: Theta Alpha Kappa Section; March 4, 2006: Dallas, TX
- “Radical Reinterpretation: Jesus Redefining Religious Expectation,” Arkansas Undergraduate Research Conference; April 23, 2005: Henderson State University