Rez Profile: Matthew Mason

Today’s post is the second in a series of posts that will help us better know the folks that we worship with each week. In each post, we’ll play Q&A with a member of the church.

Matthew Mason


1. Can you share a short bio with us?
Throughout my life, I’ve moved fairly regularly, so I’ve never been sure how to answer the question, “Where are you from?” Since moving to DC, it’s been easier: I’m from England. I studied Music at Manchester University, and then theology at Oak Hill Theological College, in London. I then served for just over four years as curate (assistant pastor) of St John’s, a Church of England church in Tunbridge Wells, just south of London. I found out about Rez via a listserve I’m on, and contacted Dan. Annabel and I visited DC in June, loved what we saw, and couldn’t wait to join the staff at Rez.

2. How long have you attended Rez?
Since November 7, 2009.

3. When did you start following Christ? What have been some of the spiritual turning points in your life? Do you have a favorite bible verse?
I was born in a Christian family, and was baptized when I was two months old. As I grew up, I never doubted the truth of the gospel, but for a number of years in my teens, I had no interest in following Christ. When I was 20, at university, the Lord brought me back to himself, largely through the faithful prayers and Christian witness of my parents.

4. What is your favorite hymn / praise song? Why?
For All the Saints. It’s a great hymn (11 verses in all!) about Christ’s faithfulness to his people, our place in the fight of faith alongside the church throughout history, and our great hope of joining them in glory, singing praise to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

5. What was your childhood nickname(s)?
This may be an example of selective memory, but I don’t remember any until we started learning French at school. From that time on, one of my friends only ever called me “C’est une”. I’ll leave you to work out why.

7. Tell us a little about your day job / studies.
In addition to preaching and one-to-one pastoring, I’m responsible for Rez’s evangelism, and our new adult education programme.

8. What kinds of things do you do with your free time?
Mostly, I like spending time with my family, and we’re especially enjoying making the most of the great museums in DC. I also edit a theological journal, and enjoy reading novels, biography, and poetry. I tend to take on (in the privacy of my head!) the character of the person I’m reading about, so for the past few weeks, I’ve been Churchill, standing alone for freedom in the early 1940s! Now I’m consumed with the rage of Achilles.

9. When you see me on Sunday nights, you should ask me about:
Why the comic novels of P. G. Wodehouse represent the high water mark of Western literature; how to pronounce schedule, tomato, and Birmingham; how to spell colour, programme, and cheque; what to call the season that follows summer; why the biblically mandated form of government is monarchy.

10. What are some of your hopes for the future of the church?
Psalm 119 tells us that wisdom, understanding, maturity, freedom, life, and happiness come from saturation in and obedience to God’s Word. So, in order that we might flourish in every aspect of our lives together, I long above all for us to be a community of learners in the school of Scripture.

11. What is your dream job?
Opening the bowling for the England cricket team in the next Ashes series against Australia.

12. How long have you been married? Tell us a little bit about how you met your spouse.
Annabel and I have been married for 11 years. We met as students at Manchester University, through mutual friends. I particularly remember long walks to the cinema each week.

13. Tell us a bit about your kids.
Tabitha is 6. She loves playing with her younger sister, dressing up, doing maths, playing the piano, and ballet. Evie is not quite 4. She loves playing with her older sister (thankfully!), dressing up, and ballet. She’s a natural entertainer, and loves nothing better than making us laugh.