Matthew S. Tripp, M.ED.

3923 Ne 22nd Lane, Ocala 34470 ⚫ MLTripp1cor13@aol.com

(352) 427-9909 ⚫ http://mtrippresumec.weebly.com/

HEART FOR MINISTRY

As a worship leader with over 10 years of experience, I am passionate about using music as a tool to point people to
God. However, my broader calling is to facilitate worship through multiple means, including biblical teaching, service,
giving, and prayer. My heart is to create an environment where the gospel message is central, and the congregation
can share and live out their faith in all aspects of life. Drawing from my experience in both traditional and modern
worship, I seek to express the truth of God's Word through a variety of musical styles, bringing honor and glory to
God. My desire is to use my skills and abilities to encourage people to seek God, and to foster growth and maturity in
their relationship with Him. I am thrilled at the opportunity to serve with the staff and congregation in helping to fulfill
God’s mission for His church.

FAMILY
I have been married to my beautiful wife, Lindsey, for eleven years, and I consider her a tremendous blessing in my
life. She has been a shining example of God's loving kindness, and continues to be my beloved partner in both music
and ministry. Together, we have three children: Levi, who is seven years old, Eden, who is three, and a baby boy due
at the end of March. In addition to her many talents, my wife also homeschools our children, a monumental and
fruitful task that we are both deeply committed to.

EDUCATION
University of Florida Graduated 12/2016
M.Ed. in Secondary Science Education, Gainesville, FL Specialty in Biology

Certificate of Ordination 01/2011

Highlands Baptist Church

Baptist College of Florida Graduated 12/2010

B.A. in Missions, Graceville, FL

MINISTRY EXPERIENCE
Highlands Baptist Church 05/2017 - PRESENT
Worship Leader, Ocala, FL
Worship Leader Experience:
• Led weekly Sunday morning worship for a congregation of 60-90 people
• Organized order of service, songs, scriptures, children’s church, special music, and prayer time using Planning
Center
• Coordinated and developed volunteers for the band and tech team (taught 2 drummers and 1 guitarist)
• Upgraded sound system to digital soundboard and in-ear monitors
• Created, edited, and maintained videos on YouTube for testimonies, sermon illustrations, and event promotion
• Maintained worship budget and attended weekly staff meetings
• Arranged childcare and recruited volunteers
Teaching Experience:
• Preached multiple times throughout the year
• Led small groups, Sunday school classes, and men’s accountability groups for several years
• Rotated teaching Sunday night digging deeper classes

 Testimony 1 
During my twelve years at Highlands, one of the sweetest moments where we saw God at work was when our small
group volunteered at "Interfaith," our local homeless shelter and food pantry. Though it was humbling to simply serve
food, our group felt called to do more. We organized two nights a week where some members watched over the
children while others taught a parenting class. The parents and children who found themselves in difficult situations
were incredibly grateful for our efforts. Years later, it was a tremendous blessing to witness one of those children
profess their faith in Jesus and be called into ministry. This experience showed me the power of serving others and
the lasting impact it can have on their lives.

 Testimony 2 
During our worship service on October 30th, 2022, we experienced an incredible instance of God's tangible presence.
As our band began playing their first song, our pastor received an emergency call informing us that our forty-two-
year-old piano player, Josh, was unresponsive on the floor at home. Though our hearts were tempted to fear, we
turned to the Lord in prayer and song. The congregation joined together in worship, shedding tears and pleading with
God to give Josh more time, but in His infinite wisdom, He did not. Despite our mourning, we did not become bitter.
Instead, we celebrated Josh's life and poured out our generosity towards his wife and three children. This experience
showed me the power of worship in difficult times, as it helped us to trust in God's plan and turn our mourning into a
celebration of life.

Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) 08/2017 - PRESENT

Coordinator at Osceola Middle School, Ocala, FL
• Planned and facilitated bi-weekly meetings for 40-80 students
• Coordinated with local youth pastors to promote their ministries and invite them to speak
• Taught evangelistic Bible lessons and organized age-appropriate games
• Worked with school administrators to secure permission for the club
• Created and produced promotional videos and maintained regular communication with students through the
Remind App
• Coordinated with parents to provide snacks for meetings

 Testimony 
During my time with FCA, my perspective on our work changed through one particular encounter. After delivering a
lesson on Jesus as the bread of life in John 6, a seventh-grade girl approached me and expressed her gratitude for the
message. She shared that she now believed in Jesus and wanted to follow him. I was thrilled by her decision, but
when I asked if she had anyone to take her to church so her newfound faith could be nurtured, she responded with a
heartbreaking "No". It was then that I realized FCA had to do more than just preach the gospel. One of our goals must
be to provide churches with a platform in public schools and get students connected with local congregations. The
following year, I launched an aggressive campaign to recruit youth pastors to come to FCA, promote their ministries,
and preach the Word. God blessed our efforts beyond expectation, and I saw firsthand the power of collaboration
between FCA and local churches in reaching and discipling students.

Highlands Baptist Church 01/2011 – 05/2012

Youth Pastor and Youth Worship Leader, Ocala, FL
• Led weekly Wednesday night youth services for 8-15 students
• Led youth worship and Bible study
• Led Sunday school classes
• Organized community events

New Hope Baptist Church 02/2008-05/2010

Youth Pastor and Youth Worship Leader, Westville, FL
• Led weekly Wednesday night youth services for 10-25 students
• Led youth worship and Bible study
• Led Sunday school classes
• Drove the church bus
• Visited students at local schools

i-Camp 07/2010
Camp Worship Leader, Life Community Church, Eustis, FL
• Led worship and prepared biblical lessons for youth during a week long program

India Mission Trip 05/2010-06/2010

Missionary, THE TASK, International Mission Board
• During my time in India, I was part of a team of five that lived in the city of Calcutta for five weeks. We
established a groundbreaking work for the local missionaries by teaching conversational English classes. This
experience provided a unique opportunity to connect with the community and learn about the local culture.
Through this work, I gained valuable insights into cross-cultural communication and developed a deep
appreciation for the power of education to break down barriers and build relationships.

Prison Ministry 2008-2009

Ministry and Worship Leader, Graceville, FL
 • One of the leaders in a bible study group, led worship, and preached every forth Sunday.

College Bible Study Leader 2006-2007

Bible Study Leader, College of Central Florida, Ocala, FL
• Founded, organized, and lead an in-depth bible study at Central Florida Community College.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Osceola Middle School 01/2017 - PRESENT
Middle School Science Teacher, Ocala, FL Life Science, Physical Science

Osceola Middle School After School Program 01/2017 - PRESENT

Teacher, Ocala, FL Robotics, 3D Printing, Guitar

First Assembly Christian School 8/2013-05/2016

High School Science Teacher, Ocala, FL Biology, Chemistry, Life Science, Earth Science

Substitute Teacher 03/2011-05/2013

Elementary–High School Teacher, Belleview and Ocala, FL Variety of Subjects

ADDITIONAL SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

Teambuilding Skills
• Strong ability to build positive relationships with students, staff and family members with differing
communication styles and diverse backgrounds.
• Experience teaching co-workers and students to use technology.
• Experienced communicating through popular networking apps like Remind, Band App, and Discord
• Led a middle school guitar class
Technology Related Skills
• Practical knowledge of online telecommunication software like Zoom and Microsoft Teams.
• Experience coding in Python, Arduino, and Scratch.
• Experience using video editing software and creating promotional videos
• Extensive knowledge of Microsoft OneNote and experience integrating it into classroom and online lessons.
• Please visit https://mtrippresumec.weebly.com/ for live recordings of sermons, music, and promotional videos

REFERENCES
Name Position Contact Information
Chris Gilliam Pastor chris.m.gilliam@gmail.com
678-699-1436 Highlands Baptist Church

Derek Brown Youth Pastor d.brown2188@gmail.com

850-380-9425 Hillcrest Church

Bob Allan Layman bethboballan@gmail.com

352-216-6302 Highlands Baptist Church

Curtis Garrison Children’s Pastor garrisoncr@gmail.com

352-286-4187 Trinity Baptist Church

Nick Gray Bible Teacher nick.gray605@gmail.com

251-227-3540 First Assembly Christian School