Matthew Maka

Matthew left a position as senior pastor of a church in East Brunswick, N.J., to move his family to Gaithersburg and become part of Covenant Life. He joined the pastoral team after graduating from our Pastors College in May 2005. Matt was born and raised in Flanders, N.J.

Matthew grew up attending Bethlehem Church in Randolph, N.J., and was an active member of the youth ministry there. He says, “I heard the gospel as a child from faithful, believing parents. God used their faithful witness to draw me to Himself at a young age.  What a miracle to be a child of God.”

Matthew first sensed a calling to pastoral ministry in 1988, at age 19. He decided to attend Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., where he received a bachelor’s degree in biblical studies in 1992. He later studied at Alliance Theological Seminary in Nyack, N.Y. 

He served as a youth pastor in Long Valley, N.J., from 1996 to 2000, then as senior pastor in East Brunswick until he joined Covenant Life in 2002.

Matt’s first encounter with Sovereign Grace Ministries was a seminar that was part of a Joshua Harris “True Love Tour.” “The gospel centered teaching and Spirit-filled, doctrinally rich worship were like nothing I had ever experienced before,” says Matt. Several years of relationship building followed with Covenant Life pastors like Jeff Purswell and Bob Kauflin. Matt states, “Throughout this process my view of my sin, the church, and the Savior was radically altered.”

Matthew says he is most passionate about “serving the people of Covenant Life. What a joy to care for such humble people who desire to serve and love the Savior with all of their lives.”

Matthew and his wife Elsabeth were married June 20, 1992. They have three daughters and a son. Matthew enjoys beach vacations and playing with the children. Other interests and hobbies include fishing, biking, running, weightlifting, and woodworking.