07/07/2026
Meet Matthew!
Matthew grew up in church, but he got involved in drugs and gangs in his early 20s. He describes this time as his “dark road”, yet Matthew had a friend who never gave up on him. The friend strove to be a light, inviting him to church over and over. Finally, tired of being “bothered”, Matthew said yes. Still high, Matthew joined his friend for an experience that changed his life. The worship that day is what he believes brought him back to Christ.
Reflecting on life’s ups and down, Matthew said, “I’ve felt alone, not worth investing in.” But Matthew has found friends and a God who reminded him of his worth. Since being in Amarillo, Matthew has spent lots of time at the PARC and Faith City Mission. At the PARC, we are the friend that never gives up. Like his friends and family along the dark road, we walk with our members to remind them of who they are and whose they are. We love hearing our members’ stories and want to share when they succeed! Here’s where we’ve seen Matthew do great things:
Matthew has been known to be a committed worker at a popular chain restaurant. Enough so, that he immediately got a full-time job at the Amarillo location when he moved. When his wife initially got sick, he began working only part-time to help care for her. Near the time of her death, Matthew had to quit his job to tend to her full time, becoming homeless in the process. Still grieving after her death, Matthew knew he must continue to work. He went to his old boss and asked for his job back. Because of his reputation for hard work and dedication, he got the job!
We are so proud of Matthew and our members who are committed to reaching greatness in their endeavors. Not only is Matthew working hard at his job, he is starting back to school in the fall. We are proud of his dedication to try new things and take next steps, even in the face of adversity.
