He caught me by surprise.
It was the first full day of the 2025 Matthew 5:9 Fellowship “Faithful Perseverance” Annual Gathering. We were wrapping up our final workshop of the day — Immovable Together — a fast-moving, small-group exercise drawn from the call in 1 Corinthians 15:58 to “be steadfast, immovable,” the verse that set the tone for our gathering. The room buzzed with conversation as Evangelical pastors and leaders rotated between reflection prompts. In the middle of all that motion, a young man named Moe stepped quietly into the ballroom, scanning the room with a mix of confidence and uncertainty. He walked straight toward me and asked, “Are you a pastor?”
Moe worked at the hotel. He’d seen our sign in the lobby and felt compelled to find someone who could help — a pastor who could help. We stepped aside to a quiet stairwell where he opened up about his struggles.
The more Moe spoke, the more his story mirrored mine — I knew those feelings, those disappointments, those fault lines between brokenness and hope. He wanted Jesus. I remembered when I was first learning that I couldn’t live without Him.
Though I’m ordained, I’ve never served as a church pastor. Yet in my role with the Matthew 5:9 Fellowship, I’ve been privileged to walk alongside pastors across the country — men and women who bear both the beauty and the burden of ministry. Many are exhausted, weighed down by the divisions and toxic polarization that shape so much of life today. And yet, moments like this remind me of what a sacred privilege it is to be sought out as a pastor — to represent Christ in someone’s moment of searching.
Moe didn’t come back that evening, and I worried I’d failed him somehow. But the next day, he returned with a smile — and by God’s grace, our conversation ended with him receiving Jesus as his Lord and Savior. I’ve prayed for him since.
I hope we remember Moe — as a young man who found Jesus, and as a reminder of why this calling still matters. When toxic polarization feels unbearable, when burdens grow heavier, may we remember that people like Moe still see pastors as those who can help them find hope. As Annie Johnson Flint wrote, “As the burdens grow greater and the labors increase…” — God gives more grace. And perhaps, through Moe, He was reminding us of that very thing.
Brandon serves as the Matthew 5:9 Program Director. He views the pursuit of unity as an integral part of his life. For years, he has spoken to diverse groups around the country on various topics, which are often inherently divisive, seeking to bring clarity, compassion, and peace to these conversations. Ultimately, Brandon has sought to engage cultural questions and concerns within the context of Christian hope.
Brandon served as co-chapter director for the Wayne State Ratio Christi chapter. He served on the Stephen Ministry leadership team at Kensington Community Church and occasionally serves alongside Inner City Detroit Cru and Serve the City-Detroit.
Brandon graduated from Michigan State University with a major in Journalism and a minor in Sociology. He completed a Master’s in Christian Apologetics from Biola University and a Master’s of Divinity in Interdisciplinary Studies through Moody Theological Seminary.
Brandon enjoys playing various sports, reading, and writing, but mostly spending time with his three sons, daughter, and his wonderful wife.
