St. Matthew Church History

The Rev. Dr. Don Finch was appointed July 1, 1973 to organize a new church to be located at 2540 W. Baseline Road, Mesa, Arizona.

The first worship service was held September 16, 1973 at Mesa Community College. Constitution Sunday was held on Palm Sunday, April 7, 1974. It was conducted by Bishop Charles Golden and District Superintendent Robert Stanley with 126 Charter Members. September 7, 1975, worship services were moved to Booker T. Washington Elementary School.

Ground-Breaking services were held Palm Sunday, April 1977 on the present church site for construction of the Fellowship Hall. The Rev. Herb Osman became our minister on January 1, 1978 and officiated at the first service held in the Fellowship Hall on April 30, 1978. The Rev. Daniel Turner was appointed as our minister on July 1, 1983.

On February 10, 1985 a ground-breaking service was held for construction of the Sanctuary and Education Buildings. These two buildings were consecrated February 9, 1986 with District Superintendent Rev. Gene Collett and Rev. Turner presiding. The Rev. Tom Butcher was appointed as our Senior Pastor on July 1, 1991. The Rev. Tom Wick was appointed as Senior Pastor to St. Matthew from 1995-2003. The Rev. Dan Morley was appointed Senior Pastor to St. Matthew from 2003-2007. Our present Senior Pastor, The Rev. Dr. David (Dave) Alberts, conducted his first service of worship with us, July 2007.

St. Matthew has had several Associate Pastors: the Rev. Susan Brims, the Rev. Dr. Jeff Procter-Murphy, the Rev. Gene Gordon, the Rev. Cherie Whisler, the Rev. Duane Combs, the Rev. Iain Glithero, and the Rev. Robin Greentigerman. From 1996 to the present, the Rev. Diana Williams has served as our Associate Pastor with a focus on Deaf Ministry. As an associate, the Rev. Dr. Eric Brown joined the St. Matthew pastoral staff in July of 2008.