Tony Mathews to be nominated as SBTC vice president

GRAPEVINE—Tony Mathews, pastor of North Garland Baptist Fellowship in Garland, will be nominated as vice president of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention at the annual meeting in Odessa, Oct. 28-29. Andrew Hebert, pastor of Paramount Baptist Church in Amarillo, will recommend Mathews to messengers.

“One of the reasons our convention has been so healthy through the years is because we have been led by wise, godly, bold leaders,” Hebert told the TEXAN. “Tony Mathews has been one of those leaders that God has used in tremendous ways to bless our fellowship of churches,” he said, announcing his desire to nominate Mathews.

Hebert praised Mathews for “faithful endurance,” shepherding the Garland church for more than 27 of the 32 years he has pastored. “He has weathered the storms and expertly navigated his church through the waters of ministry. At the core of who he is, Dr. Mathews is a preacher. He’s committed to the inerrant Word of God.”

Mathews earned a bachelor of business administration from Angelo State University, a master of arts in Christian leadership from Criswell College, and a master of divinity and doctor of ministry from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Angela, have three adult children. 

He has served as president of the African-American Fellowship of the SBTC, as a member of the resolutions committee, a Bible conference speaker and vice president of the Pastors’ Conference. Mathews also served two terms as a trustee at Southwestern Seminary, as well as being elected vice-chairman.

During Mathews’ tenure as pastor, North Garland has planted eight churches and taken mission trips to 20 countries on five continents. “His heart beats for missions and he has a passion for inspiring pastors to be mission mobilizers in the local church,” Hebert said.

Calling him “a bold, courageous and important voice at the table in this leadership position,” Hebert said

Mathews is committed to engaging with the next generation of pastors and investing in younger leaders. 

In 2018, North Garland Baptist Fellowship gave $33,192 through the SBTC to Southern Baptist causes, including $31,992 through the Cooperative Program.

Mathews is the author of There’s More Than One Color in the Pew: A Handbook for Multicultural, Multiracial Churches, and he is a contributing author for the North American Mission Board’s Journal of African American Southern Baptist History, and for the Next Steps Resourcespublished by the International Mission Board.