A Matter of Faith

a conversation with Pastor Matt Titus | The Lutheran Church of The Redeemer

photographs by Ted B. Williams

At what point in your life did you know you wanted to be a pastor? How did this calling come about?

I think there is a part of me that has always wanted to be involved in ministry in some way. I remember from an early age where I felt drawn and captivated by worship and ministry life. My family moved around quite often when I was young (my mother is a retired US Navy nurse) so we were never able to really establish roots anywhere, but we always strived to become part of a worship community. 

However, it probably wasn’t until I worked at Lutheridge as a counselor during the summer of 2002 that I truly felt called to be a pastor. It was there, surrounded by this rich, vibrant, diverse, and faithful community that I realized that I really, really enjoyed talking with people about faith. I loved asking questions and hearing people’s stories about their faith lives. I felt like it was there on that mountain―apart from the rest of the world―that I not only felt God calling me to ministry, but also comforting and assuring me that this is something that I could do. 

My dad tells a story that when I was a freshman in college, my English professor assigned our classes parents/guardians with an assignment. Mostly a short exercise so that the professor could learn a little more about us. It wasn’t until I started seminary that my dad shared with me what he wrote. He had written something to the effect of, ‘I don’t know if Matt can see it now, but I definitely can see him pursuing a career in ministry as a pastor or somewhere else involved in the church or faith community.’ 

Seeing and knowing that others in my life saw this call from God in my life helped me be comfortable with the wild journey I was about to embark on. I like to tell others, that if you truly feel called by God to do something―anything―others will more than likely see that call as well and support you on your way. I’m thankful that my dad and others saw that work of God in my life and helped form and shape me into the pastor I am today.

Tell me about Redeemer and what is special about it?

I find The Lutheran Church of The Redeemer to be an incredible place full of faith and life. As any faith community has, Redeemer has had it’s highs and lows throughout its almost 170 years, but what I think truly sets this community of faith apart is its faithful welcoming spirit and its gifts in music. 

Lutherans have had a long history of caring for others and welcoming those who are different and Redeemer is right there in the thick of that traditional welcoming history. I like to say that at Redeemer, all are welcome―no exceptions. I believe that the community there truly embodies that welcoming ministry. It is a warm and inviting place where people strive to make sure that everyone is seen, known, and heard. We become a more complete Body of Christ by welcoming all sorts of diverse individuals and thoughts within our community. 

In regard to music, and I know that I am incredibly biased here, but I don’t know if there are many communities that have the immense amount of gifts musically that we have in the Newberry area. I am incredibly thankful not only for those incredible gifts, but to all those lovely people who are willing to share their gifts with the people of God. At Redeemer we get to hear and see God’s story of love and promise shared in ways that spoken words sometimes cannot convey. It is truly a gift to see God at work through the hands, feet, voice, instrument, and song in the people at Redeemer.

Will you talk about the history of Redeemer?

The Lutheran Church of The Redeemer was established 169 years ago in Newberry and is the oldest Lutheran Church in the city limits. This community has changed names and has changed worship spaces three times. The most recent being the construction of our current worship space in the 1960s. Despite all those changes, Redeemer continues to focus on the ministry and work of God in and through the hands and feet of her community.

Throughout its history, I feel that Redeemer has always kept seeing where God was along the horizon, while honoring the work of its past. Every church can get sort of ‘stuck’ with the thought of ‘that’s just the way we’ve always done things,’ but Redeemer has been able to grow, adapt, and find new and interesting ways where God is at work in the life and community of Newberry throughout its history.

Can you speak to how church has changed over the years? 

How has it stayed the same?

I think that one of the best ways that the faith community at Redeemer has changed over the years is that it continues to see God at work in the community around it, understanding that God is at work in all people, no matter what. We get to hear God’s love shared and lived out through a myriad of diverse and lovely people. We strive to listen to those stories―even when it is difficult―and we get to walk alongside all those who come to be a part of this community. 

It is always so easy to ‘stay with what you know’ so I commend the community of faith here in their willingness and desire to see God at work in new and different places. 

However, in spite of seeing God at work in new and interesting ways, what has always stayed the same is the knowledge and understanding that God is still at work. We get to lift up that work, we get to join in with that ministry, we get hear, see, and share that story of love just like we always have.

Tell me about the musical program / talent that you work with at Redeemer?

As I mentioned before, I think that the community of faith at Redeemer is incredibly gifted and talented. I am in awe so many times over in the almost limitless pool of talent and creativity musically in our congregation. Redeemer has a rich history of organ music from Darr Wise down to our current organist, Huger Caughman, Jr. Our Choir Director, Gayle Lindley, helps guide and shape our choir and handbell choir in ways that make your heart sing with God’s tune. We also are indebted to the numerous individuals who offer up their gifts through different instruments throughout the year―piano, flute, trumpet, clarinet, and more.

This is also not only a community that just shares the gift of music, but also desires to nourish, strengthen, and inspire that gift and love of music for generations to come. We have been able to partner with Newberry College’s Music department in providing a space for young college voices to help strengthen not only our choir, but those college students’ craft and love of music (and the community at Redeemer is wonderful at making those young adults feel welcomed and loved). We continue to provide opportunities for children and youth to learn and share their love of music as well. God’s presence in the music ministry at Redeemer is readily seen, heard, and known!

What type of outreach is Redeemer involved with?

Redeemer has been a longtime advocate for people in need within the Newberry area and beyond. The church helped start the Interfaith Community Services group in town, members of Redeemer have been instrumental in the work at the Free Medical Clinic and the newest ministry in town―God’s Abundance for All People. The community here continues to collect food every week for the Manna House. Members participate in all sorts of parades, walks, and advocacy movements throughout the year―where all of us continue to live into this life knowing that we get to participate in the ministry and service of God. 

I also love that Redeemer strives to be a place where the community of Newberry can gather―regardless of whether they are a ‘member’ of our community of faith. There are a few support groups that use our building to walk with one another, we’ve been able to partner with organizations like The Boys and Girls Club to offer a safe and fun environment for afterschool care―especially during the 2020 school year, and we are always in talks with numerous organizations, individuals, and communities of Newberry to partner with them in their ministry to serve others. 

The church should always be at the center and at the forefront of helping people and providing space and means to help in that faithful work. I’m thankful that Redeemer faithfully lives into that ministry and service with God.

What is the most important thing for people to know about Redeemer?

I always like to say that at Redeemer, all are welcome―no exceptions. I truly mean that, and I truly feel that the community of Redeemer faithfully lives that out. We strive to live into the words of St. Paul in his letter to the church in Rome; remembering that not one thing can separate you from God’s love. If nothing can separate you from God’s love, then there is nothing that can keep you from being a beloved, welcomed, seen, and heard partner and leader in ministry at Redeemer. 

Redeemer truly does welcome everyone. Especially and particularly, those who might not have experienced that sort of welcome in other places throughout their lives―for whatever reason. We get to walk with one another in this life together. We get to share in God’s love and learn of God’s story and presence from one another. The more diverse voices we get to hear and learn from, the more we get to see where God is at work and where God is leading us to serve.

All are welcome at Redeemer. No exceptions. 

Being a pastor/minister can be a heavy job sometimes. When you’re not at work, what do you to emotionally lighten your load? 

There is no other job quite like being a pastor, a profession when we are ‘on-call’ 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. You’re right, it can be hard. As a pastor, I get to be a part of some of people’s most holy and precious moments. Where those moments can be the celebration of new life, to the gut-wrenching and tragic death of the people we love, and everything in between. It is an absolute honor to be a part of this community and I am continually humbled that people here allow me to be in those spaces with them. 

What helps ‘balance’ those heavy moments for me are diving into the other things I love―television, movies, books, and video games. I love having conversations with others about all things in life over a good drink, and I find joy (most of the time) in working out with many different people here in Newberry and around the southeast in my travels. 

What’s really cool, is that God is present in each of those holy spaces outside the traditional church community. I get to see God at work in so many special and amazing ways, and I’m thankful to God for all those ways where I can relax and relish in the work and talent of others. 

Is there anything you’d like to add?

This week (first week of February) will see the release of my first published devotional book based off of one of my all-time favorite television shows. The book is called The Gospel According to Ted Lasso and it features over 30 short devotionals derived from the first season of the critically acclaimed television show that can be seen on AppleTV+. The book will be available (hopefully by the time this issue of the Newberry Magazine is published) on Amazon in physical and digital offerings. 

I’m excited, nervous, and filled with so many other emotions leading up to the release of this devotional.