Matthews Church of God

Bishop Rick D. Brackett was born May 20, 1954 in Mooresville, NC. He has a love for preaching but more importantly a love for the people to whom he preaches. His messages are anointed and are relevant for these times. 

He and his wife Gayle lead the staff and congregation of the Matthews Church of God in reflecting an attitude of love, acceptance and forgiveness. Those who attend church services go away with the feeling that they have been in a church filled with a love for God and for one another. The church has made tremendous strides under his leadership in attendance, membership and finances and has exceeded all previous records in every category. A new 9,000 sq. ft. sanctuary was built in 2009 and the former sanctuary has been renovated into a fellowship hall.

Bishop Brackett felt the call to ministry at the young age of 17 and served as a state evangelist for six years and pastor for more than forty four years. He became an Ordained Bishop in 1980 at the very young age of 26, which is exceptional. He attended: North Carolina State Bible & Music Institute, East Coast Bible College, Lee University and he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Counseling from Christian Bible College & Seminary, Independence Missouri. He was awarded, "Outstanding Young Men of America" in 1979 and was recently named to "Strathmore's Who's Who". He served as a committee member for the Ministerial Affirmation Program (MAP) from 1999-2005 and as a committee member for the Ministerial Internship Program (MIP) for the Churches of God in Western North Carolina from 2007-2008. He served on the State Evangelism Board in Western North Carolina from 2008-2010 and served on the WNC USA Missions Board from 2014-2018 and served on WNC State Council from 2018-2022. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Ministerial Examining Board for Ordained Ministers and Ordained Bishops 2022-2024, and on the WNC World Missions Board. He serves not only as the Senior Pastor but as the District Overseer of the Matthews District with a total of 4 churches in Mecklenburg and Union Counties. 

Bishop Brackett is married to Gayle Jacobs formerly of Lumberton, NC who is just as committed to the ministry serving as the "Women's Ministries President" and Executive Church Secretary. He has two daughters, Abigail and Beth; Abby serves as "Children's Pastor" and Beth serves alongside of her husband, Ed as Youth Pastors.

Gayle Jacobs Brackett was born in Lumberton, N.C. and is the daughter of the late Johnson and Gaynell Jacobs. Gayle is one of twelve children and was actively involved in a singing ministry, the "Jacobs Sisters", that included five of her sisters. She was always a dedicated member of the Saddletree Church of God and actively involved in local ministries.

Gayle is known throughout the state as a dedicated wife and mother and is loved by all those that know her. She is a prayer warrior and has exceptional faith and loves to give God praise for the things He has done in her life. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996 but believed God for and received her healing. 

Gayle is gifted as an encourager and as someone that works constantly behind the scenes to help the church operate effectively. She has served faithfully alongside her husband in ministry for forty three years.  

Phillip King pastored the Ranch Road Church of God in Charlotte, NC. where he served for the past eleven years. His previous pastorates have been Jonesville, Randleman, Mt. Holly, Marion Cross Mill, and East Rowan Churches of God.Phillip has served as a WNC State Youth Board Member and is a graduate of East Coast Bible College with a Bachelor of Science in Christian Education.His MIP Internship was at the Lane Street Church of God in Kannapolis, NC under the direction of Pastor Sam Crisp.He has been an ordained bishop in the Church of God since 1989.He was a member of the East Coast Chorale for three years and can also play the trumpet. He is married to Debbie Craig King, who is a talented musician and singer and Matthews is her home church.

Sheron Dinnoo, Vivian Burnette, Stan Widener,

John Rollins, Amy Griffin, Rob Gibson

 (Left to Right) John Rollins, Sheron Dinnoo,

Steve Smith, Edward Baker, James Griffin

Elders of the church provide care for the people and serve as shepherds to the flock of God.

 1 Peter 5:1-10 As shepherds working under the supervision and authority of the Pastor, each Elder must first be a care giver to the people of God's Church.

John Rollins III was invited to the Matthews Church of God over twenty years ago; he knew absolutely nothing about the Church of God, being raised Catholic and even attended a Catholic school.
He still remembers vividly the Sunday that the Spirit of the Lord drew him to an altar of repentance; he says it was the best day of his life.

John graduated from Sun Valley High School and Guilford College. He served in law enforcement for ten years with five of those years as a detective. He is a successful entrepreneur; starting his own business, H&R Custom Injection Molding, Inc., eighteen years ago.

He loves the Matthews Church of God and can't say enough good things or express his feelings to do it justice. He has served as the Church Treasurer for more than ten years and has been an Elder for more than six years.

John says, "I thank God that I am a part of the mission of the Matthews Church of God. It is my desire that others will experience God's love through salvation. I am honored to be an Elder and I look forward to laboring with my brothers and sisters in Christ. I pray that I may be an Aaron, supporting my pastor to the best of my ability and being a helper and an encourager."

Steve was born July 22, 1965 in Flint, Michigan where he graduated from Linden High School in  Linden, MI in 1983. He moved to Charlotte, NC in September of 1989 just in time to experience his first Hurricane, '' HUGO'' that welcomed him to the east coast. The Smith family currently resides in Waxhaw, NC.

Steve has been employed by the Family Dollar Corporation where he has been a truck driver for ten years.

Steve's wife's name is Shelley, to whom he has been married since 1996; who in his words is, "my wonderful wife and prayer warrior."  Steve and Shelley have 5 sons in which they are proud to say are all born-again.

Steve rededicated his life to Christ at Matthews COG on Mother's Day 2004, was baptized in water on March 16, 2005 by Bishop Brackett along with his wife Shelley, and sons Stephen III, David, Andy, and Chase. He received the baptism of the Holy Ghost in the choir loft on March 12, 2006 and was installed as a church elder on  August 27, 2006.

Steve is so greatful for what God has done in his life; he says:

"Since dedicating my life to Christ and joining the Matthews Church of God the Lord has done great things in my life...trusting in God; He has saved my marriage,and He has delivered me from depression.

My prayer is that I always listen to the Holy Spirit for his guidance, to lead like Jesus and to be an armor-bearer to Pastor Brackett and a help to all my brethren at Matthews."

Reuben James Griffin, Jr. was born September 14, 1950 in Wadesboro, N.C. He is the oldest of four; one brother and two sisters.

James served in the military after being drafted into the US Army 1970-1971. He held the rank of E5 sergeant and tank driver.

He has been married to Carolyn Martin since 1975; they have two children: Stephanie & Tonya and two grandchildren: Joshua & Brittany. He enjoys softball, golfing, fishing, cycling and working out at the gym.

James received his associate degree in business in 1977 from Anson Community College, his bachelors in 1989 from Gardner Webb and his masters in 1991 from Pfeiffer University. He has worked at everything from janitorial work to factory manager. He has been a very successful insurance agent since 1997.

He grew up in the Pentecostal Holiness Church and then joined the Church of God in 1977. He has been very active in the church serving on the men’s counsel, Sunday school teacher, Sunday school superintendent, treasurer, finance committee, trustee, church bus driver, and choir.

Sheron Dinnoo was born in the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago and is an only child to Hamlyn and Tara Dinnoo. He was raised in a Presbyterian home and credits his Grandparents for his early church exposure. As a child and teenager he was very active in the local church and youth group.

At the end of his teenage years he admits falling away from his faith but later realized God had bigger plans for his life. He attended Wingate University and graduated with a Degree in Mathematics and Computer Science and now works as an IT Manager for a local small business. He has been married to Rita since 2007 and the two have been inseparable since 2003. They have two children, Candace and Brandon (Rita’s from prior marriage) and two grandchildren, Candon and Dominic.

He says, “I thank God for sending my wife into my life. She was instrumental in rekindling my love for the Lord and bringing me to Matthews Church of God. She was raised in the CoG and until coming here I just did not know what I was missing!”

Ed was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana and spent thirty years of his life there. His religious and educational background centered around a Catholic upbringing. Ed received his bachelor's degree in accounting and moved to Charlotte, N.C. looking for a change of scenery and a new outlook on life. Ed said, "At this point, one might think that I would go to work for a bank or an accounting firm, however, God led me to do something else; He led me to work with children as a teacher." Ed worked with "Alexander Youth Network" for several years; he thoroughly enjoys working with "special needs kids". Currently, Ed is employed with CMS as a special ed teacher at Idlewild Elementary.

Beth Baker is the Pastor's daughter and the younger of two. Beth has always had a passion to minister to hurting people and has felt a call to minister through music at a very early age. In 1997 Beth graduated with honors from South Caldwell High School as the Editor in Chief of the school newspaper entitled "The Spartan Muse". She then attended East Coast Bible College where she studied Music and Journalism. 

Beth has had extensive training in church music. She has attended Choral Festivals with over 2,000 worship leaders, music workshops, and has also had voice lessons. While attending East Coast Bible College, she was blessed to minister through song at several churches throughout North and South Carolina. From 2000 to 2001, she and a friend had their own Radio AM program where she taught the Word of God and sang.

Recently Beth felt the call of God on her life the preach the gospel and the Lord has blessed her to lead worship at various places and various dominations, i.e., Ladies conferences, homecomings, and recently had the opportunity to sing and minister to a public high school in North Carolina. 

Beth also works with the outreach ministries program at Matthews and she enjoys leading praise and worship. Her hobbies include traveling, going to the gym, spending time with family and friends. She is married to the love of her life, Ed Baker. They have two children, Alex and Katherine; they reside in Charlotte, NC.

Ed was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana and spent thirty years of his life there. His religious and educational background centered around a Catholic upbringing. Ed received his bachelor's degree in accounting and moved to Charlotte, N.C. looking for a change of scenery and a new outlook on life. Ed said, "At this point, one might think that I would go to work for a bank or an accounting firm, however, God led me to do something else; He led me to work with children as a teacher." Ed worked with "Alexander Youth Network" for several years; he thoroughly enjoys working with "special needs kids". Currently, Ed is employed with Wells Fargo in the investment division uptown Charlotte.

Ed says, "Just over a year ago, as God continued to bless me, I was introduced to the love of my life, Beth Brackett. Beth and I are now married and live in Charlotte, N.C." They have one child, Alexander (Alex).

Ed & Beth have been given several opportunities to use their talents to spread the Word of God. It is their prayer that God will always give them the strength and boldness to do the will of God.

They both look forward to working with the youth of the Matthews Church of God.

Kidz Church is headed up by Abigail B. Salsedo, the pastor's daughter. Abigail has had several years of experience in working with children, as she is an elementary school teacher and teaches at the Sun Valley Elementary School in Indian Trail, N.C. Abigail attended Appalachian State University where she graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in education. She also has a background in music and is able to play both the clarinet and piano. She enjoys reading, sports, and listening to music as her hobbies. 

Abigail is excited about what God is doing in the church and she is especially thrilled to see the children's department growing. It is her desire to see more and more children get involved in the exciting programs of the church. She is convinced that all children will be benefited by attending "Kidz Church" each Sunday morning. The music, puppets, bible stories and games are a wonderful way to help build a stable foundation for our youth of tomorrow.

Abby is married to Troy Salsedo and they have three children: Logan, Skylar and Luke.

Beth attended Paw Creek Christian Academy. She studied communications at Gaston College and World Harvest Bible College and Graduated in 2000.

Beth is amazed more each day at how awesome God truly is. He can make the blind to see, and He can save a sinner like me. He is a life giver, way maker, burden bearer, friend to the friendless, hope to the hopeless, and a shelter from the storm. Her father was a preacher man and her mother stood by his side for 46 years. When he went to Heaven it only made her want to go there more! Beth said that her parents taught her so many things about life. How to love people, how to serve, but most importantly about salvation. She owes so much to them. Beth said that her mom is her best friend, and she thanks God for everyday they have together. Beth is always looking for the good in people and tells them what she sees. Beth admits that she makes a mess of things sometimes, yet she is striving to press toward the mark. Beth wants to see Jesus face to face when her life is over here, AND she wants Him to know her by name.

We are delighted to be able to add to our music team, Tonya Walker Griffin. Tonya is an excellent musician and singer and adds so much to our music program.

Tonya is the daughter of the late Roby & Mattie Walker who served our state well in pastoring and music. Tonya is married to Eddie Griffin, who also adds another voice to our music program. Eddie is also a "PK", being the son of the late James & Dorothy Griffin who were both a blessing to WNC.

Bobby Hunt

Livian Hunt

Ed Baker

Amy Griffin

Livian Hunt

Pearlyn Bremer

Kevin Cooper

Steve Smith

Bobby Hunt

Aaron Loera

James Griffin

Doug & Joanie Burns

Scott & Stephanie Hobbs

Caitlin Griffin

Stan Widener

Hailey Rollins

Kevin Cooper

Christina Cooper

Alex Baker

Carsten Cooper

Phillip King

Scott Hobbs

Andy Darmanivong

Shelley Smith

Rob Gibson

Pearlyn Bremer

James Griffin

Pauline Blake