Matt was the son of a pastor. He came from a long line of pastors, lay leaders, and godly women on one side of the family. Then the other side of the family were missionaries and lay leaders. His family was prominent in the independent fundamental baptist circle.
Matt was a good student. He was a hard worker. He started working construction in the summer for his uncle on his mom's side. He attended a fundamental baptist university. He was an assistant pastor under the mentorship of his pastor. He was well-liked. He was respected.
Two verses that served as a guide for his life were proverbs 20:11 and first Timothy 4:12. It guided everything he did. He was mature. He had integrity. His uncle used him as a foreman. He referred to him as his joseph.
He was considered quite a catch. Many young ladies would love to date him. There was only one young lady that caught his eye.
Valerie was the daughter of a deacon. Her dad owned his own business. He was active in the church. He taught Sunday school. He was heavily involved in the upkeep of the church grounds.
Valarie did not want to go to Bible school. Her dad wanted her to at least go to one year of Bible school. Her dad had gone to fundamental Baptist University and met her mom there. He then transferred to a state university for a business degree. She did not want to but agreed because of her dad.
She was going to go for a year. She was going to lay low. She planed in spending time, not in classes or required activities in her dorm room.
She and her roommate got along. She liked the classes. She did not dislike the school. It was not what she wanted to do. She tried to make the best of it.
She was stunned when she was nominated to be a class secretary. She was elected even though she did not want the job. Matt was elected class president. He liked her right away. She liked him. She did not want to be romantically involved with anyone. She wanted to be married someday.
He pursued her.
She did not want to hurt his feelings. At f.b.u, dating off-campus consisted of groups of at least two couples and one other. Val reluctantly agrees to go on these events.
"What is your goal," matt asked Val." i don't know. I want to serve the Lord. I want to serve in a lay compacity. "She said. " what about a pastors wife?" Ge asked. "I would like to work outside the home. That's just not me., she said.
Matt and Val worked closely together on the student council and on planing events. They became friends. They had similar interests and hobbies. Her dad really liked him. Her dad pressed her to date him.
She had planned to not return to school after the year. Her dad pressed her to go back. She reluctantly agreed.she was chosen sophomore class secretary. Matt was chosen, class president. He asked her to be his girlfriend. She had said no.
Her dad got involved. " honey, Matt is a good man. He is a godly person. He is a hard worker. He is competent. He has wisdom. "He said.
" I don't want to be in a relationship right now. "She said. "This is the time to be thinking about this," he said. "I have plenty of time to think about that. I like the way things are.i have no need to change things," she said. "Mathew is a fine young man. He won't wait forever. " her dad said.
"I just want some time to myself before committing to a relationship. "She said. " you might regret that decision later. "He said.
She rebuffed matt's advances for a time. Matt continued to pursue Valerie. Valarie reluctantly relented. They served in summer ministry together working at a Baptist children's camp over the summer before there junior year. They visited each other. Matt and her dad became very close. They were similar.
In the summer before there senior year, he proposed to Valerie. Valarie accepted. It was not what you would expect from a proposal. She did not scream or cry or hug or anything like that. She said yes but it was a very matter of fact.
She had a serious tone when she told her parents that they were engaged. She posted that they were engaged on social media but it was in the same matter of fact way.
They planed the wedding while at school. The wedding was planned for two months after graduation. The wedding would be held at the church Valerie attended. They graduated. They really started to get ready for the wedding.
Valarie even started to bring her stuff to his home. She had huge doubts. She disliked the rigid nature of independent fundamental baptists. She preferred contemporary Christian music to the hymns. She was not so sure about the King James version. She did not understand why she had to wear dresses or skirts all the time. She did not understand why she could not wear pants. She was not allowed to work outside the home. She wanted a job. She wanted to hang out with friends. She wanted friends. She wanted to explore the world beyond fundamental Baptists.
She knew Matt was committed to the I.f.b. he was a huge supporter of the KJV. He was vehemently opposed to c.c.m. he believed that women should never wear pants. He was rigid on his views. She believed he was entrenched in those views.
As the day got closer, she was dreading it more and more. She felt a storm cloud over her. She felt like she could not breathe.
Matt could tell that she was more distant. He would ask her about but she said that it was nothing. He knew something was up.
Most of her things had been moved to where they were going to live. Family members started to arrive to attend the wedding. Things were falling into place yet her doubts we're growing. She just wanted out. She wanted to run away as far as she could get.
" you ok Val?" He asked. "Of course. It is just a pre-wedding jitter." She said. "We will have a gray life together. I love you so much. I will provide for you, I will protect and comfort you. You will be so loved. " he assured her. She smiled. His words did not elevate her concerns.
The wedding was three days away.she woke up. Her room was a shadow of what it had been. She only had a scant remainder of her belongings. There was a high knot in the pit of her stomach. She could not ignore it.
She just could not do this. She gave it a lot of thought. She decided that she was not going to do it. She had made her mind up. She was going to cancel the wedding.
"Dady. " she said."yes honey." her dad said. "I am breaking up with matt. I can't.marry him," she said. "Val, the wedding is three days away. Your friends and relatives are all heard. More are on there way. It passes the point of no return. " he said.
"That is why I can't go.though with it. I am too young. I am not ready to settle down. I have made my decision. " she said. "Are you sure about this? There are going to be a lot of disappointed people," he said
"I am sure daddy," she said. " I can't force you to marry him. I don't want you miserable. I won't put you in slavery. "He said.
" My mind is made up. I am going to break off the engagement. "She told him. " I really don't want you to do this. "He said. " I can't go through with it. "She said.
Matt was at the church. He was helping to put some of the finishing touches on the church. " matt, we need to talk. "She said. " ok," he said.
They went to a corner. "Matt, I cate about you. I like it. I am not in love with you. I am fond of you. I do not want to be your wife. I am calling Off the wedding. " she said.
"Valerie, no. Please don't do this. I love you. I want this." He said. "I am not changing my mind. I don't want to be married. Some say yes but not today. The wedding is not happening." She told him.
"Will you please reconsider? Your just scared?" He asked. "No, it's not. That's not it. It won't get better. I am not marying to you." She said. She took off the engagement ring. She gave it back to him. She went back to her car. Age drove away.
He gathered everyone. "Can I have your attention, please. Val And I have decided to call off the wedding. I appreciate your hard work. " matt said. Everyone was shocked and stunned.
Matt waited a day. They decided to dismantle what they sat up. The pastor made the announcement that the wedding was canceled indefinitely. They announced it on social media. Matt made sure that his family and his wedding party knew.
Matt left her town the day they were supposed to be married. On that Monday, she started to move her stuff out of the house. He helped her move out but they barely spoke.
When she left they just said goodbye. She drove away. He did not watch her go. He went back inside.
She moved out of her patent's house. She rented an apartment. She got a job. She worked at a sporting good store. She left her church and attended an evangelical megachurch. She joined the worship team. She started to wear pants. She got an e.s.v.
Matt continued to serve as assistant pastor at the church his dad pastored.he continued to be mentored by his dad. He was active in the church. He passed out tracts and John Romans on Saturday. He worked construction He worked for his uncle. He kept busy.
He stayed busy. He tried not to think about what had happened. He tried to make the best of things.
She started to date a man she met at work. He was not a Christian. He was against religion. He considered himself spiritual but not religious. She talked to her parents but the conversations we're few and far between.
She started to go to church Less and less. She eventually stopped going all together. She considered herself universal. She was eclectic. The downward spiral continued.
The end.
