After serving in various roles at Trinity Atlanta for 15 years, the Rev. Ashley Mathews will be installed as Rector of Christ the King Fayetteville on Sunday, September 11. Hear her share what excites her about this new role and what she hopes God does in the growing community!
Looking back, what was your favorite thing about serving at Trinity Atlanta?
[My favorite thing is] the people I had the privilege to know and love. To have been their pastor and friend for 15 years will forever be one of the great privileges of my life.
When did you first feel the call to pastor Christ the King [CTK]?
Conversations began several months ago as I began to sense that my time at Trinity Atlanta was likely drawing to a close. I think it’s safe to say that in the early months of 2022, [my husband and I] felt confident that God was calling us to CTK.
What excites you about engaging people in the Fayetteville area?
I love this area—always have. North Arkansas is beautiful, and it’s been my home for most of my life. Culturally speaking, over the last few years there has been a lot of investment in the arts, in the outdoors, in food and beverage in this area, so the growth and development is exciting to see.
Spiritually speaking, I think people here (just like people everywhere) are looking for authentic relationships and experiences of God while being very wary of the Church and Christian culture writ large. Fayetteville is a quintessential college town. I love college towns because they are always full of intellectually and spiritually curious people. So I’m excited to learn from them, and I’m hopeful that our church can be a refreshing and encouraging place for people who are looking for a way to connect with God and to deepen their faith.
What are some of the needs and challenges in the city that you hope to meet?
Fayetteville’s needs and challenges are unique in some ways and more common than any of us would like for them to be. This area is combating poverty, racism and deep political divisions just like cities all over the country. While I’m careful to avoid making grand declarations about what I or CTK can do about any of those things, I’m here for the struggle and for the redemptive work I know that Jesus is always wanting to do.
What is your dream for what CTK will look, feel and sound like?
Is this maybe the Sunday School answer? But truthfully my prayer is that as a community we would somehow look, feel and sound like Jesus. That’s it. That people would experience our church as a community of people who have been marked by the presence of Jesus.
What makes all of the ups and downs of pastoral ministry worth it for you?
Again Sunday School, my apologies, but the truth is: Jesus. I’m in it for him. He’s the joy of my life. He’s the source of the peace I have when I have it. And I really do just want all of us to have more of him.
Where are you in the life of your church? What’s next for ya’ll?
We are building a ministry team and looking for a place to worship. We need all those things. But the phase of life we are in is a very early, tender phase. What we need is for the Spirit to knit us together and grow those of us who are already here. We need to go deeper before or at least as we grow wider.
How can we pray for you?
You can join me in praying for the kingdom to come—for people to come to faith, for the fruits of the Spirit in abundance in my life and the lives of our people. You can honestly pray for anything that comes to mind—we probably need it. 🙂