Matthew VanDongen

I am a driven leader, who is both people and goal-oriented. I have years of diverse ministry experience. My passion is to inspire people to love and follow Jesus, to realize their callings, and to reach the hard places of the world for Jesus.

Director of Mission and Young Adults at Mission (2022-01 – Present)

Leading mission work and young adult ministry initiatives

• Collaborate with mission partners locally, nationally, and internationally
• Recruit, train, and engage the congregation in outreach and mission work
• Organize and lead mission trips nationally and internationally
• Equip the congregation to walk in their spiritual gifts
• Train the congregation on how to preach the Gospel and share their testimonies
• Organize local outreach and evangelism
• Lead congregation in reaching the 10/40 window with the Gospel
• Pioneer the young adults program
• Organize events and small groups
• Raise up leaders
• Teach, encourage, and disciple

Director of Student Ministries and Director of Interns at Thornapple Valley Church (2016-06 – 2021-08)

Led student ministries and pioneered internship program across multiple campuses

• Led and organized student activities across 3 campuses
• Brought leadership to 50 volunteers, interns, and 2 on staff employees
• Mentored and discipled students, leaders, and interns
• Organized and directed annual summer camp with 120-200 attendees
• Preaching for youth group and occasional Sunday service
• Programmed and scheduled meetings and events
• Devised and monitored program budgets
• Led small discipleship groups
• Pioneered internship program
• Designed curriculum, schedule, and recruited teachers
• Created and implemented budget and benefits
• Led over 20 interns through the program in 3 years
• Helped the spiritual development of interns
• Collaborated with executive leadership to establish long-term goals, strategies and company policies
• Oversaw decision-making to develop, enhance and enforce the mission

Missionary/Campus Staff at Youth With a Mission (2013-01 – 2016-06)

Staffed training schools and mission teams, pioneered CrossFit ministry

• Staffed training schools and mission teams
• Assisted in pioneering and developing a CrossFit ministry on campus
• Established and worked with local missionary contacts
• Discipled team members
• Created and executed a fundraising plan

Bachelor of Arts in Religion – Faith International University (2024)

Associate of Arts – Kuyper College (2013)

High School Diploma – Thornapple Kellogg High School (2010)