Matt was born and raised in Michigan in a Christian home. At about 12 years old he made a profession of faith. However, it wasn’t until about 16 that his faith became his own, as opposed to the faith he grew up with. It was after a Mission Trip to Mexico that he first had the idea of becoming a Youth Pastor. His desire was to see students impacted in the same way he was impacted on that trip.

After graduating from High School, Matt went to Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, GA. While at Covenant he began volunteering in the Youth Ministry at St. Elmo Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga, TN. After a year, he became the part-time Youth Director. While in college he met and married his wife, Michelle. He served at St. Elmo Pres. until graduation from college in 1998 with a major in Biblical Studies and a minor in Youth Ministry. Since graduating from College in 1998, Matt has served as a Youth Director overseeing Jr. and Sr. High ministry in 3 different Presbyterian churches in Georgia and Virginia. In January of 2012, God called him to become the Jhi Pastor at Perimeter Church, just outside of Atlanta, GA. He finished his MDIV through Metro Atlanta Seminary and became a Pastor in 2014. In January 2019 he become the Students & Family Ministries Pastor at New City Presbyterian Church.

Matt and Michelle have 4 children. Andrew and his wife Morgan live in Carrollton, GA, where Andrew serves as Youth Director at King’s Chapel Church. Ashley is an elementary teacher at Keys Grace Academy, in Madison Heights. Sarah, and her husband Nathaniel, are students at Michigan Tech University, and Emily is in High School at Bloomfield Christian School. If you can find anything outdoors and sports related, Matt is all in. His favorite hobbies are backpacking, mountain biking, and talking about or participating in just about any sport.

Student Ministries Certification Assistant, PCA CDM Office

Katie Gordon is originally from the small textile town of Alexander City, Alabama. She graduated from Presbyterian College in 2009 with a degree in Christian Education and a minor in Youth Work. Before her start in full-time Youth Ministry, Katie worked as a Residential Life and Community Service Coordinator at a public boarding high school with an emphasis in the arts. Katie most recently served for 8 years as the Director of Youth Ministry at Severna Park Evangelical Presbyterian Church (PCA) before transitioning to her current role with CDM.

Pastor of Family & Student Ministries, Chapelgate Presbyterian Church, Marriottsville, MD

Steve has a passion to see families connected to the church and growing in the gospel. Steve is a graduate of Reformed Theological Seminary and CCEF (Christian Counseling Education Foundation) is married to his wife Cathy and they have 4 amazing sons. Steve enjoys sports, movies, reading, the beach and a good conversation over a cup of coffee.

Pastor, Student Ministry Director, Seven Rivers Church, Lecanto, FL

Mikey graduated from Covenant Seminary with an MDiv. and has served for 10 years in youth ministry. He and his wife, Emily, have two sons, Tripp and Luke. Mikey is passionate about seeing students experience God’s love.

Director of Student Ministries, Old Cutler Presbyterian Church, Miami, FL

Matt Hedinger was born and raised just outside of Chicago in Hammond, Indiana. The church wasn’t part of his life till he was invited to attend a youth ministry event his junior year of high school. He would come to understand the gospel and surrender his life to Christ later that year. Discovering a new life in the gospel completely disrupted his life. He walked away from sports to spend more time at church. He even changed his pursuit of a career in law enforcement to go into the ministry.

Matt has served as the Director of Student Ministries at Old Cutler Presbyterian Church since Sept ’16. Before that, he has served as a Director at Severna Park Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Maryland and Granada Presbyterian Church in Coral Gables, FL. Matt has volunteered at Annapolis Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Lookout Mt Presbyterian Church, and Covenant Presbyterian Church in Hammond, Indiana.

Matt met his wonderful wife of 20 years while interning at Granada and has an amazing daughter in 8th grade. The Hedingers view youth ministry as their family mission.

Matt enjoys movies, teaching, sharing meals with students and other youth leaders. He is burdened with a deep love for the Chicago Bears and Cubs. This burden helps him understand God’s inexhaustible love for us.

Pastor of Youth and Family Ministries, Grace Chapel, Lincoln, NE

Isaac loves having a front-row seat to what God is doing in the lives of youth.  Born and raised in Dubuque, Iowa, he professed faith in Jesus Christ at the age of 4 at his church’s VBS.  In 8th grade, thanks to the mentorship of a seminary intern at his church, he was called to youth ministry and still considers himself a “lifer” in youth ministry.  He graduated from Bethel University, in St Paul, Minnesota, in 2000, with degrees in Youth Ministries and Biblical and Theological Studies.  While at Bethel, he interned as an assistant chaplain in the Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center and then as the junior high youth guy at the church he would go on to serve as the Director of Youth Ministries upon graduation.  He served as the Director of Youth Ministries at Presbyterian Church of the Way, in Shoreview, Minnesota, from 2000-2001, and then served as the Director of Youth Ministries at First United Presbyterian Church in Moline, Illinois, from 2001-2014. In 2014, Isaac moved to St Louis, to finish his Masters of Divinity at Covenant Seminary, where he graduated in 2017.  In 2017, he and his family moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, where he serves as the Associate Pastor of Youth and Family Ministries.  

Isaac is passionate about helping youth ministry leaders and churches to create cultures of longevity and discipleship within their youth ministries.  He is excited to serve on this team to network with others who are passionate about Christ, the church, and youth ministry, as well as, help to train and equip those in the trenches of youth ministry.    

Family Ministries Director, Cornerstone Presbyterian Church, Landenberg, PA

Tim is the Family Minister Director at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in Landenberg, PA. He has been ministering to students and families for over 20 years. He is married to Julie and they have four beautiful and fun daughters. Tim loves being with teens and seeing them grow in the Lord from middle school thru high school. Tim enjoys all sports, both watching and playing, especially Ultimate Frisbee and basketball. He also loves playing games, drinking coffee, reading and walking Cody the dog.

Director of Student Ministries, Atlanta Westside Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, GA

Meredith hails from Savannah, GA, and studied Sociology at the University of North Georgia. Her deep desire to know, love, and disciple students was sparked while serving middle schoolers at her home church. She served at East Cobb Presbyterian Church for about 5 years and now serves as the Director of Student Ministries at Atlanta Westside Presbyterian Church. When not hanging out with students and their families, Meredith loves to peruse bookstores, read, listen to music, spend time with friends, hike in fall weather, and find new coffee shops. She is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies at Reformed Theological Seminary and writes for Rooted Youth Ministry.

Co-Director of Middle School Ministry, Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church, Lookout Mountain, TN

Emmie grew up in a Christian home in the suburbs of Chicago. Though she grew up in the Midwest, home for Emmie is Chattanooga, TN where she graduated from Covenant College with both a BA in Biblical and Theological Studies and Philosophy and an MA in Teaching. Emmie also holds an MA in Theological Studies from Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando. Emmie has worked in youth ministry in a variety of capacities at Orangewood Church, PCA and Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church, where she currently works, for the past 7 years. Emmie also teaches as an adjunct professor of youth ministry at Covenant College. Besides theology, philosophy, and youth ministry, Emmie’s interests involve reading, exploring new places, coffee (and tea), traveling, keeping up with the latest movies/shows, listening to music (and podcasts), video games, frequenting museums, cheese, hiking, and going to concerts. But what most interests her is participating and sharing the joy of these aspects of God’s creation with loved ones.

Youth Ministry Director, Christ Central Church, Durham, NC

Emilio has served in full-time student ministry for 15 years. He spent two years staff with Young Life, 12 years at Perimeter Church in Johns Creek, Ga, and is now serving in Durham, NC, at Christ Central Church.

He graduated from the University Of South Carolina and has a Masters in Divinity from Metro Atlanta Seminary. His prayer is to be licensed and ordained in 2023.

He has a passion to equip and disciple the next generation of saints and to see them reach their peers. He loves seeing students BE the church. He also has a heart for other youth ministers and wants to connect with and come alongside them. Student ministry can seem lonely, and he wants his peers to know they are not alone.

He has been married to his wife, Hope, for 13 years. They have four amazing kids. Other than student ministry, Emilio loves soccer, coffee, and Adidas.

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Youth Director, New City Fellowship, Chattanooga, TN

Gianna came to New City Fellowship in Chattanooga, TN from Maryland while studying at Covenant College. She has been involved in the youth ministry at New City since 2008

when she started as a volunteer for the high school students. In 2012, she took the role as assistant youth director and has now been on staff as the Co-Youth Director for 13 years.

She met her husband, Daniel at New City when he started volunteering with the youth group. She loves discipline Middle and high school girls, and going on trips to cultivate wonder and

fellowship among students while pointing them to the person of Jesus. Gianna and Daniel have two sons, James & Graham, and a daughter, Harper, and enjoy lots of outdoor activities with them.

Gianna loves to play games with her husband and friends, whether sports, board or card games!