Rev. Matthew A. Smuts, Pastor
Pastor Matt Smuts's story began in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Two major threads began when he was a child: his teacher at St. Peter's Lutheran Church and School introduced one when she talked to him about the being a pastor. His family started another one when they moved to San Diego, where he attended high school.
His story continued to unfold in college at California Lutheran University, where he majored in Business Administration. During the summers, the thread of the ministry began to come to the forefront when he worked at Mt. Cross Lutheran Camp as a counselor and then as summer program director. After college, the two threads merged in a new chapter when he moved to Ohio to complete his formal education at Trinity Lutheran Seminary. After ordination, Pastor Matt was called to a traditional starting point for Lutheran pastors, a mission church in rural Alexandria, Minnesota. He then came back to California, to serve at Bethlehem Lutheran church in Granada Hills.
In 2006, Pastor Matt began the newest chapter when he was called to Grace Lutheran with Mariel, his wife, and their three children. He is excited about Grace's strength and vitality, and is enthusiastic about the focus on families, children, and music. While many of the people, programs, and practices continue from previous years, he and the people of Grace are gradually moving in new directions into the future. This newest chapter of Pastor Matt's life--and of Grace Lutheran's life--involves both routine and excitement, but promises new directions as God, the author and giver of life, works in the community.
