The following in an excerpt of a feature done on Pastor Matt in TV4 Life Magazine.
Spotlight on Matt Beemer
Feature: Natasha Turner
Photography: Paul Thompson
Pastor, Bible school director, missions organisation overseer, and dad, introducing Matt Beemer and World Harvest Bible Church in Salford Quays, Manchester (www.goyewhbc.com).
Q. Tell us about your family and where you were born.
I have been married to Julie for fourteen years and have three children. I was born in Michigan, USA, and Julie was born in Arizona, USA, but our children were born in England.
Q. What made you want to adopt a child?
Desmond was attending our church with his foster mother, but she could no longer care for him. We felt he had a call on his life and couldn't let just anyone have him, so we made a choice to take him into our family.
Q. What was your initial reason for moving to England?
When we moved to England, God told us that England is a nation from which to reach the nations. He said it would happen both IN the country and FROM the country, and that's why we are here.
Q. Has that word from God happened?
Yes, currently, about 40% of the WHBC congregation is former Muslims. More than 600 Muslims have come to the Lord through WHBC in the last six years alone.
Q. With the current climate since September 11 and with the struggles in the Middle East, have you personally experienced any problems?
There have been threats to our Persian Christians. The Iranian secret police and the Iranian black market traders even know about what we are doing and have made it known to us. We have put in extra security policies, but none of these things concern us. God has opened this door to Muslims, and we trust in His protection.
Q. How is WHBC reaching other nations?
I've ministered in more than 30 countries; however, our most recent focus has been in Egypt, where we have ministered to thousands of people and to more than 1,200 ministers and denominational leaders. World Harvest Bible Training Centre is currently training students from the Philippines, India, Egypt, Uganda, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Iran, Guadalupe, Ghana, and of course, England, to go back and reach their nations with the Gospel. We have also started a missionary resourcing agency to help others get to the mission field. Our 20/20 vision is to train and mobilise 1,000 missionaries by the year 2020.
Q. With all this focus on other nations, what does WHBC do for the local community?
In addition to local evangelism, we are just now completing a £500,000 building extension that includes a full-time nursery and a multimedia coffee bar.
Q. What is your church's main purpose?
Everything we do is with the purpose of helping each person grow and mature in what God has called him/her to do. When speaking to our church members, most of them tell me they come to our church because they get fed the uncompromised, strong meat of God's Word.
Q. What do you do for fun? I love anything with adventure and excitement.
My congregation has blessed me with chances to drive racecars and fly helicopters, and recently, a friend and I took a 1,200-mile motorcycle trip across several states in the USA, squeezing in some preaching along the way.
Interested in partnering with the Beemers? Below is information how you can give to their ministry.
Stateside Financial Support
Please make checks payable to: RHEMA Bible Church Missions
and designate 'The Beemers' on the memo line of the check.
Checks can then be mailed to:
RHEMA Bible Church Missions
P.O. Box 50126
Tulsa, OK 74156