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Mark Matthews

Matthews-Mark.jpg“If the CCO hadn’t been at Elmira, I don’t know if I would have found North Presbyterian Church and a congregation where I felt at home,” says Mark Matthews. “Just knowing that the CCO’s ministry was there helped me be a better student. It helped me contribute more to what’s right in the world, to stand up for what’s important according to the Word of God. It just taught me to be more vigilant.”

When Mark transferred in to Elmira College his junior year, he was looking for a church and other Christian students to connect with. At North Presbyterian Church, adjacent to Elmira’s campus, he found both. CCO staff member Sam Portnoff, who worked for the CCO in partnership with the church, reached out to Mark, and the rest is history.

“My friendship with Sam was the most important thing to me during college,” Mark says. “We just clicked. He was very generous and very knowledgeable. It helped just to know that he was around, and I enjoyed studying with Bible with him and other students. It was a great social outlet, studying the Bible with other believers. We were people of faith trying to figure stuff out and have a snack or two. That was very important in my life at the time.”

Today, Mark lives in Watkins Glen, New York, where he works as a tutor and substitute teacher. He is a member and a deacon at First Presbyterian Church of Watkins Glen, and he is considering pursuing a career in ministry. He is still very close to his former campus worker; Sam lives just a 20-minute drive away, in Ithaca, and he and Mark get together every month or two for coffee.

“As a deacon, my role is to help with church activities and visit the sick and those who can’t get to church regularly,” Mark explains. “I do those things and I enjoy it very much. The ministry helps me as much as it helps them. I love volunteering my time and energy to caring for people; it’s rewarding to meet new people and grow those relationships.”

Mark also enjoys reaching out and sharing his faith through his participation in a local writer’s group, and especially through playing chess. He hopes to start a chess club at a local café, and to teach kids “with too much time on their hands” how to play. He enjoys opportunities to get to know new people over a game that he loves playing. “If the timing is right, I’ll share the gospel,” Mark says. “Chess has always been a very important part of my ministry.”

Mark enjoys teaching, especially tutoring. “I think I have a lot more ability and strength to teach and mentor one person than I do 30 at a time,” he says. “I find the results much more gratifying.”

“I’m going to pursue a career in ministry, and that’s because I feel like the CCO and Sam introduced me to a need to reach out to people in a relevant way. Sam has been an important part of my life and a great model. His work ethic and the way he demonstrates patience really rubbed off on me.”