Matthew Sheden is the Chicago-born lead pastor at Defiance Church responsible for teaching, vision, and shepherding the community. He is passionate about inviting people into a transformative space of common worship together and letting that guide them in their daily lives. Matthew has a Masters of Divinity from the Seattle School of Theology and Psychology and has continued to enrich his understanding of who God is through the study the scriptures, Karl Barth, and Stanley Hauerwas. He and his wife, Kelli, along with their three children love to swim in the Hot Springs, ski Sunlight Mountain, fly fish, catch a baseball game,and cook pizza together nearly every Friday night.

Matthew would love to meet you if you are looking for a church or new to the Valley and treat you to a coffee or a pint.