Melanie Matson
Minister of Children
Melanie has served as the Children’s Minister at First Baptist Church Nacogdoches since July 2009. A native of Nacogdoches and a longtime member of First Baptist, Melanie’s roots in the church run deep—she even met her husband, Craig, in the early days of the church’s Great Escape ministry.
She is a 1992 graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University. While in college, during a trip to Student Week at Glorieta, New Mexico, Melanie felt God’s call to ministry. She didn’t yet know the specifics, but she knew He had a purpose for her life. Over the years, she has faithfully served in various capacities—from teaching Preschool Church and VBS to leading Acteens for 17 years. In 2009, God began to shift her heart toward a greater calling, and that July, she stepped into her current role as Children’s Minister.
Melanie has a genuine love for being with children—whether coloring, cutting, pasting, playing, reading, singing, or even dancing (which she admits isn’t her strongest talent!). But most importantly, her heart is devoted to helping children discover how much our awesome God loves them. Her passion is to guide children as they grow in their love and knowledge of the Lord, leading them toward a personal relationship with Jesus as their Savior.
Melanie and Craig have been married since 1993. They have one wonderful son, Davis, and two lively dogs, Truman and Harper Lee.