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.