People Who Inspire Us: Matt Overton

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12473877_432849476914913_3644028361511825176_oMeet Hatchaton 2015 alum Matt Overton, a PCUSA pastor whose vision for youth ministry starts…with mowing lawns. With the full support of his congregation, and the active involvement of members excited to learn that the church values their expertise outside a committee meeting, Matt founded Mowtown Teen Lawn Care, a for-profit missional enterprise that hires teenagers, earning fair market wages, for landscaping jobs.  As Overton says, “[In youth ministry] we attract kids all the time with Cheetos, couches and games. Why not attract them with jobs and work and life skills?”  Here’s the story on Duke’s Divinity’s Faith and Leadership:

https://www.faithandleadership.com/mowtown-teen-lawn-care-social-enterprise-offering-new-model-youth-ministry

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