Matt grew up in Alexandria, MN and attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD. He graduated in 2006 with a degree in Religion and a minor in psychology. While attending Augustana, Matt got involved with Cru and experienced genuine, Christian, community that was different than what he'd seen before. People who loved the Lord and didn't mark their faith by what they didn't do, but by what they did do in sharing the love of Christ with others. After graduation, Matt attended seminary for a year where he felt the Lord guiding him back to campus ministry. He returned to Sioux Falls to spend two years working as an intern with Cru at several colleges in the 'Sioux Empire'. In 2009, Matt went through staff training to become full-time staff with Cru and was placed in Mankato, MN to work with the colleges of the 'Minnesota Plains', primarily, Minnesota State University.
Kristin grew up in Cedar Falls, IA and attended the University of Iowa, in Iowa City, IA. She graduated in 2005 with a degree in Health Promotion and minors in Spanish and psychology. During her time at the U of I, Kristin got involved with Cru and was challenged to grow in her faith in new ways. As she grew and got to experience ministry overseas in Brazil, the Lord made it clear where He'd like to use her in the future. When she graduated, Kristin spent a year interning with Cru at Iowa, then a year in Brazil. At that point she went through staff training to become full-time staff with Cru. She returned to Brazil for another year and then moved to Sioux Falls, SD to join Matt and his team.
Matt & Kristin met at Cru's Christmas conference in Minneapolis, MN in January 2008. After a few months of dating, ministry led Kristin back to Brazil, and their relationship became long distance. Kristin returned that summer for a brief visit and Matt proposed. Almost a year from the day they met, Matt & Kristin were married, on January 10, 2009.
Together, they are eager to see what the Lord has in store for them in ministry in Mankato, MN. They are expecting their first child in September 2011 and look forward to the ways the Lord will shape them and their ministry to college students as they enter parenthood.
