ABOUT SAINT MATTHEW’S
Saint Matthew’s Churches is a Christian church and we greatly value our history. Through our ordained ministers, Saint Matthew’s, for more than half a century, has preached thousands of biblically based sermons, baptized multitudes, and traveled millions of miles all over the world to spread the Gospel of our blessed Lord and Savior. It is our firm belief that we, like all Christians, have been commissioned to evangelize the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In Mark 16:15, Jesus instructed His disciples, “Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Again, in Mark 13:10, Jesus said, “The gospel must first be published among all nations.” We take God’s Word literally. This is a very serious matter to us.
Saint Matthew’s Churches is not connected to local churches which may also be named Saint Matthew’s for the first book in the New Testament. Since 1951, we have primarily grown by word of mouth, from one family telling another family, and by our free printed sermons, which are our home missionary program. The Biblical Seed Harvest plan, our stewardship program, is voluntary. It is only a suggested guideline in worshiping God with your tithes and offerings. Saint Matthew’s receives tithes and offerings based on the Scriptures and uses church donations to buy postage, and to print gospel sermons, books, magazines, and other literature that we give away free of charge. We do not sell anything. In our mail sermons, we teach that God answers prayer, which the church has the right to do under the U.S. Constitution.
The published sermons and sacred literature sent free of charge by Saint Matthew’s crosses the paths of atheists, communists, the fringes of society, those who hate the United States, God, and Christianity, and those who hate us because we are gospel missionaries. Golda Meir, the third Prime Minister of Israel, once said, “We will not roll over and die just to make our enemies happy.” The same is true of Saint Matthew’s and all other churches which are wrongfully accused of improperly using the mail.
Thousands of people are blessed by the Saint Matthew’s mail sermons. We understands that not everyone wants to receive our literature. Some who receive one of the gospel books or sermon letters that we send free of charge – and we emphasize “free of charge” – hate gospel literature. Honest people just throw the literature into the trash if they do not want to receive it; the literature costs them nothing. We pay all the costs for printing the literature as well as the postage to mail it.
There are many hurting people who believe in biblical teachings and prayer, and who are grateful to receive Saint Matthew’s books and sermon letters free of charge. These people write back to us requesting prayer; they know that God answers prayer. Because Saint Matthew’s is based on Christian teachings, we form a friendship with those who are interested in receiving free gospel literature about Jesus Christ, His saving grace, and His Second Coming. Hundreds of thousands have joined the church and have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.
As noted, most people who do not wish to receive Saint Matthew’s gospel literature simply dispose of it, never thinking anything more about it. However, there are some who wish to hurt all churches. They write or call their local newspapers or television stations and complain. Then, the newspapers or television stations take these few false claims and attack our church and other Christian churches in a way that suggests Christians engage in wrongdoing, and they suggest that no one wants to receive the gospel free of charge. These newspapers or television stations often quote unnamed sources making false claims.
Most of the men and women in the press are honest. Nevertheless, all of us have seen on the news how a few news reporters have published stories that were printed as the truth but were obviously false. Every Christian church has the right to share the good news of the Gospel, and teach that God Answers Prayers, without repercussions of any kind.
ABOUT THE SERVICES AT SAINT MATTHEW’S CHURCHES
“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me’” (1 Cor. 11:23-26).
We welcome men and women of all faiths, all nationalities, all ethnic groups, and all social stations, as taught in the Bible. Our church services are much like those of every traditional church that worships Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of humanity.
At Saint Matthew’s Churches
1. We teach that the Bible is the Word of God.
2. We teach in salvation of the soul.
3. We teach that God loves everyone.
4. We teach that God answers prayer.
5. We teach that God is a good, loving, kind heavenly Father, who is concerned about every man, woman, boy and girl on the earth.
6. We teach that God sent His only begotten Son to be born of a Virgin.
7. We teach that He lived on earth thirty-three years, and that while here, according to the Scriptures, He preached the Gospel, healed the sick, cast out evil spirits, and blessed people spiritually, physically, financially, and emotionally.
8. We teach that He was crucified on Calvary and was resurrected three days later.
9. We teach that Satan is the opposite of God. Thus, we believe that Satan is evil, and bent on trying to destroy and devour men and women.
10. We teach that Satan uses sin and its consequential ravages to make people as unhappy as he can.
The church services have music, Bible teaching, sermons, and baptisms. The Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion is celebrated regularly. The clergy offer prayers for healing and blessing for all who desire it. They pray for everyone who wants prayer for any problems they may be facing: Salvation for the soul; A closer walk with God; More knowledge about God’s Word; The answer to a biblical question; God’s help for various life situations.
Each Sunday, after the choir, congregational singing, or sermon, those wanting prayer acknowledge their need. While all are reverent in the sanctuary, each person quietly explains the need for which prayer is being sought.
We anoint with oil making the sign of the cross on the person’s forehead (as specified in the Holy Bible, James 5:14) of each one for whom prayer is to be offered. Compassionate prayer is prayed over each one individually, followed by comforting and faith inspiring words. Free biblical literature is given to all who want it as they leave the sanctuary at the close of the worship service.
The clergy for Saint Matthew’s Churches may at times perform weddings, officiate at funerals, visit hospitals, jails, offer prayer for healing of the sick, and pray for the dying. Our clergy take no compensation for the service they provide. Our motto is that every minister is to serve, and not to be served.