Matthew Vixie didn’t know that his mentor, It Is Written Speaker-Emeritus Mark Finley, would be at his ordination ceremony until he was given the specially prepared bulletin minutes before the service. He was thrilled to think that the man after whom he had patterned his ministry was to be there on the stage with him at the Arizona camp meeting.

"When I was taking theology courses at Southern Adventist University, my colleagues and I would pour over Mark Finley’s sermons, watch his videos and read his books in anticipation of the day when we, too, could work in public evangelism, thus fulfilling our dream of service to God," he explains.

Vixie was born Jan. 28, 1975, in Walla Walla, Wash., to Robert and Patricia Vixie and shared his growing-up years with older sister, Jennifer. In 1994, he graduated from Columbia Adventist Academy and entered Walla Walla College as an education major. Following his first year at WWC, and after much prayer and consideration, Mathew felt he was being called to the ministry.

In 1995, Matthew enrolled in the theology program at Southern Adventist University and that same year met Heather Cook, who was studying pre-physical therapy. They were married March 19, 2000.

Following graduation from Southern, Matthew and Heather accepted a call to the Arizona Conference, which diverted him directly to the seminary at Andrews University. In December 2001, Matthew received his Master of Divinity degree.

Upon arriving in Arizona, this young pastoral team settled in for their first assignment at the Camelback church in Phoenix, serving as intern with Senior Pastor Charles White.

In October 2004, the Vixies transferred to the Safford/Willcox district. The couple is also looking forward to the birth of their first child in November.