Office Phone: (765) 384-7232 Cell Phone: (585) 509-4804 Reverend Matt Stewart is originally from Western New York and began his call to full-time ministry in 1999. He spent 14 years as the senior pastor at Lifestone Church in Henrietta, NY before he came to Sweetser Wesleyan . He loves basketball, the Seahawks, and his cows. He graduated from Houghton College and has earned his Masters of Divinity from Indiana Wesleyan University.
"Be confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6
Naomi Umfleet, Children's Director
I graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University with a Children's Ministry degree and now I am continuing my path to be ordained. I also hope to continue my education by taking an online Transition to Teaching program through IWU to gain an early education degree as well. I have a passion to teach kids about God and to see their faith grow.
I come from a small town in Montana. I grew up in a family of six. My dad is a Wesleyan Pastor and my mom is a childcare director. I grew up the only girl among my three brothers. One is married while the other two will be heading to Indiana Wesleyan University this fall to begin their freshman year in college. I love animals, my favorite being the tiger. I love the color blue. I adore cheesecake and a very well-put-together pun.
Over the years I have had many opportunities to grow and learn in my experience. I was the children's teacher at my small local church for four years before heading off to college. The summer before my first year at IWU, I was able to be the Children's Evangelist at a summer camp. I had that role for the next three following years. While in college, I have volunteered at several churches in their Children's Ministry. One being Lakeview Wesleyan's midweek program. The others being a Children's intern at both Sweetser Wesleyan Church in Sweetser, IN, and Keystone Church in Saline, MI. I was then promoted from Intern to Children's Director at both these churches and traveled between the two every other week during my senior year of college. After graduation, the Lord placed on my heart to continue work here in Sweetser. I resigned from the church in Michigan and moved into town in May 2021. I look forward to serving the church community and their children as well as serving the Sweetser community as a whole.
Life Verse: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." -Jeremiah 29:11
Raegan Tippey, Youth Director
Raegan is currently a senior at Indiana Wesleyan University studying Youth and Pastoral Ministries. Next year, she will continue at IWU pursuing her Masters in Practical Theology, alongside others in the Kern Program, as well as continuing in her path to ordination. Raegan runs on the University’s Cross Country and Track Team and is an avid ice cream eater. She got her call into ministry in 2014, and has been discovering more of God’s plan in the past 8 years. Since coming to college, Raegan has been on a summer ministry team through the University every summer traveling to different camps for June and July and walking alongside teens as they encounter God, and ask the question “What now?”
Raegan joined our staff in September of 2022 and is so excited to continue serving the students of Sweetser Wesleyan Church, as well as any other student who may just need someone to say “I’m here.”
Life verse: Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) "For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."
