FOUNDERS/EXECUTIVE DIRECTORJOSH AND TRACEY MATTESON
Josh met his wife Tracey while in college and were married in 1996. They have three boys of whom they are extremely proud - all of whom are now married. Josh and Tracey lead SALT Next Gen Ministries - a nonprofit Christian missions organization they established in 2019. In 2021, God called them to relocate to Nashville, TN where they currently reside. Prior to this, the Mattesons served as a church-planters in the Phoenix area in April of 2017. From 2008-2017 Josh served as senior pastor at an established church for 9 years, having served as the interim pastor for a year and as the student pastor for 7 years prior to that. Josh graduated from International Baptist College with my B.A. in Bible and Pastoral Studies and completed his Master of Divinity at Phoenix Seminary in 2016. Josh and Tracey and have a deep and abiding passion for readying the next generation. Both see their investment in students as a crucial outworking of the calling the Lord has given to them to serve Him and further the Gospel. Their joy is leading students to experience the challenge and thrill of front-line service for the expanse of the Kingdom.
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DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIPSWILL WORTHINGTON
Will and Carly met while attending Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. There Will received a degree in Biblical Studies while working at several different churches before becoming a teacher and a coach at Briarwood Christian School. Together they have two children, Teddy (2) and Kit (2 mo). Both Will and Carly grew up experiencing international missions and this ultimately led to them packing up their stuff and moving to Nashville, Tennessee to engage in student missions training and to also serve amongst the refugee community there. The Worthingtons attend Brentwood Baptist Church in Nashville, TN. Will and Carly have a huge heart to equipping the harvesters and raising support for their mission so that all of their energy, time, and resources can go directly to what the were sent to do...to serve the nations and to build God’s kingdom, all for His glory!
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DIRECTOR OF WOMEN'S DISCIPLESHIP & MEMBER CARE COORDINATORTRACEY MATTESON
Tracey is the wife of Josh Matteson and together they have three amazing adult sons. Tracey has served in ministry alongside her husband for 27 years. Over the years, she has filled multiple ministry leadership positions such as: Women’s Ministry Director, Women’s & Girls Bible Study Leader, Small Group Facilitator for women, youth and young adult ministries, as well as many other ministry roles. Her passion is discipling women of all ages. Tracey currently serves in two roles for SALT Next Gen Ministries: The Director of Women’s Discipleship and Member Care Coordinator. In Tracey’s free time, she loves spending time with family, traveling with her husband, and enjoying coffee with friends.
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DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & ADMINISTRATIONWIM CODINGTON
Wim grew up on the mission field and has visited over 25 different countries. He has extensive experience working with American and foreign pastors. Wim also spent over 14 years working as a CPA for a large accounting firm. In addition to his role with SALT Next Gen Ministries, Wim leads City Church Network. Wim's administrative abilities are used to create and sustain the financial, legal, website, and communication tools within SALT Next Gen and City Church Network for the purpose of maximizing clarity, transparency, stewardship, and unity in the body of Christ. Wim and his wife Libby aim to assist the body of Christ to be effectively mobilized and strengthened for the supremely valuable work of proclaiming the good news of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ to those people who have not yet heard. Wim and Libby live in Nashville, TN and have four children: Carrie, Wim Jr., Beth, and Vera.
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GAP YEAR COORDINATORS & STUDENT MOBILIZERSBENJA & ANNA MATTESON
Benja started his journey into missions by devoting a year of his life in a Gap Year missions program. After spending four months living among Rohingya refugees in the Dallas area, Benja moved to the U.K. for a six month assignment where he served in a church planting effort there. After concluding his Gap Year, Benja served on staff with a missions organization for two years. He has spent time in cross-cultural work in both India and Nepal. Benja is currently a senior majoring in Global Studies with Liberty University. Benja and his wife Anna, both share a passion for reaching the nations and for mobilizing the next generation.
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LATIN AMERICA OUTREACH COORDINATORSDOUG & CHRISTY JONES
Doug and Christy are both originally from Tennessee and met at Wheaton College. After graduation, Doug moved to Mexico to serve with a children’s ministry, while Christy taught school in Honduras. They reconnected a few years later, got married in 2000, and served as missionaries in Mexico until 2014. After moving back to the States, Doug pastored a small, multi-cultural church in southeast Nashville. During their time in Nashville, they had the privilege of helping equip and send 18 different families and young adults to serve overseas as missionaries. They have three wonderful children: Sam, Eric, and Margie. They are both fluent in Spanish and love authentic Mexican food. They also enjoy the outdoors, hiking, reading a good book, spending time with family and friends, drinking a good cup of coffee, playing games, and watching a good movie. God has given Doug and Christy a passion for Jesus, a love for the nations, and a desire to invest in the next generation for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
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AFRICA OUTREACH SPECIALISTDANI & KARLI MUGISHA
Dani serves as our Africa Outreach Coordinator. Dani and Karli lead a Bible Study on Wednesday night for upwards of 100 young people whose families came here as refugees. The families of these youth who are Christians attend ethnic churches where they can worship and hear the Word in their native language. But these congregations are typically small and cannot even fully support their pastor. In these cases, these ethnic youth, many of whom are from African countries, do not have anyone pouring into them and discipling them. This leaves them vulnerable to a variety of dangerous and destructive influences. It is tragic when young lives are pulled away from their Christian roots - especially young lives that are filled with such promise and who have already had to overcome so much. We believe that there is an incredible opportunity to focus on these young people and to share the gospel, disciple, and mentor them. We believe that God will call some of them to serve in ministry and on the mission field. Dani and his wife were, Karli, were married in March of 2023 and they are expecting their first child this summer - a girl!
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MIDDLE EAST OUTREACH SPECIALISTEZEKIEL & ABIGAIL WALKER
Ezekiel and his wife, Abigail, have joined the team and will be moved to Nashville this month. Ezekiel and Abigail are not their real names. For the security of their families, their real identities are kept confidential. The work they are doing is sensitive and impactful.
Abigail was born in Tennessee but grew up in Africa as a missionary kid (MK). Ezekiel was born and raised in Afghanistan. After fleeing from the Taliban, he met believers in a country outside of Afghanistan. It was there that he eventually followed Christ, was discipled, and then began serving among refugees. That is when Abigail and he met - serving refugees together in Central Asia. They were married and continued to serve together overseas until June 2021 when they, and their firstborn son, transitioned to the United States. In time they became legal guardians of three of Ezekiel's siblings when American troops evacuated Afghanistan. Overnight, they became a family of six! Over his time in the States, Ezekiel has had a remarkable impact in outreach, leadership development, and church planting with Muslim-majority people groups from some of the most difficult countries in the Middle East. We are overjoyed to have them and their family join our team! |
SOUTH ASIA OUTREACH SPECIALISTKIRAN BODDU
Kiran comes to us from Hyderabad, India, where he has been leading a pastoral leadership and church planting network called the New Life Initiative. Kiran is also the founder of the Presbyterian Church of South Asia - Chennai and the Presbyterian Theological Institute in Vijayawada in South India - both of which served as General Secretary and as Director for several years. Kiran received his B.A. from Dravidian University in Andhra Pradesh in 2011 and his M.A. from Birmingham Theological Seminary in Alabama in 2018. He intends to pursue his Master of Divinity while serving with SALT Next Gen.
As South Asia Outreach Specialist, Kiran will be actively reaching out to Indians, Nepalis, Bangladeshis, and Sri Lankans in the Nashville area. He will also be assisting in training the next generation in serving cross-culturally. Kiran is also working on creating a South Asian Ministry Leader Network for diaspora leaders here in North America. |
AREA OUTREACH TEAM MEMBERRACHEL DURHAM
Rachel was born and raised just south of Atlanta, Ga. She serves on our Africa Outreach team, our South Asia Outreach team, and assists with student mobilization and training in Nashville. Prior to this, Rachel has lived and served in India, England, and Kenya with the International Mission Board. While pursuing her undergraduate and Masters degrees in Global Studies from Truett-McConnell University, she served as the campus’ Great Commission Mobilizer where she had the opportunity to organize and co-lead missions and ministry teams around the nation and around the world. Through these experiences, God has grown a passion in her to see His kingdom grow among the unreached peoples of the world who have made their home in global cities, including places like Nashville, TN. She has a heart to see local churches from all nations equipped to faithfully join Jesus in His mission to redeem one people from all peoples for His glory and worship, and she believes that the next generation has the potential to effectively lead out in this effort.
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CHURCH NETWORK STRATEGISTERIC VAN PATTEN
Eric is father of 10 wonderful kids and husband to one amazing wife. He is a friend to many, and loves Jesus with all his heart, mind, and soul. Eric has nearly 35 years of vocational ministry with the local church. In addition, he has been deeply involved in the mission of making disciples of all nations. He enjoys traveling, networking, and adventures. Eric believes missions is an outflow of worship to God who deserves every bit of it. As one who is committed to leadership and lifelong learning, he loves what Doug Fields has said: "Leaders are learners, and when you stop learning you stop leading."
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RESIDENT MINISTRY TEAM LEADERS - CLARKSTON, GABLAKE & MAKENNAH SELLERS
Blake and Makennah are graduates of Truett-McConnel University, both with degrees in Global Studies. They now live and work in Clarkston, GA. Clarkston is known as "the most diverse square mile in America". Blake and Makennah were married in 2020. As teens, they both did a gap year overseas in Central America, Southeast Asia, and Africa (9 months). Their hearts were drawn to Clarkston for cross-cultural ministry and have been serving in that community for the past four years. They are excited to join the SALT Staff and bring SALT Next Gen's outreach and training to Clarkston.
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AREA OUTREACH COORDINATORCAEDMON WALDROP
Caedmon hails from Kansas and is a graduate of Grand Canyon University. He joined the SALT Next Gen Staff in 2021 as a Resident Ministry Team member. He has served on various overseas teams in places like Nicaragua and in the Middle East. Caedmon now serves as our Nashville Area Outreach Coordinator as well as our Cultural Encounters Coordinator. He also assist with travel coordinating for teams and with student mobilization.
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