Missionaries
Matt Noble
Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycamore fruit: 15 And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.
Amos 7:14-15 (KJV) – Matt’s Life Verse
“You’d have to shoot me out of a cannon to get me outta here.” This is the reply I often repeated to my old foreman and fellow employees when I worked in the factory. I was a CNC Machinist for a hydraulics company. I had worked there for 8 months as a temporary before being hired in April of 1995. But then, in the fall of 2003, I was shot out of a spiritual cannon. I would leave there being open to whatever God had for me. I had a stirring in my soul to do something more than to work, sleep, and eat, for this was my daily routine during my time at Monarch Hydraulics in Sparta, Michigan.
I had come to Alaska Bible Institute for two reasons. First, was an invitation from a friend who gave me a brochure from the school. Second, was a confirmation from the Lord. I had laid a fleece out that my parents would back my decision 100%. Anything less would tell me I was to stay at Monarch. On a Saturday night I took them out to the local Olive Garden and told them my plan. They gave their full consent and I turned in my two weeks notice to my foreman the following Monday.
I loaded up and drove the 4400 mile trip to Homer from Michigan with a group of friends. What a trip! It was breath taking to be on a journey to a place I’d never been to fulfill a call that was yet unclear. I still prefer to drive that piece of road any day versus flying home. His peace accompanied me every mile.
I arrived at ABI in late September 2003. From 2003 to 2006, God had chipped away the things I needed to get rid of; I was being molded into a usable vessel. I learned about His Word and I let it saturate my soul. The more I studied, the more I saw my limited knowledge. I wrestled with staying, leaving, and my future. It was a good time to learn to trust and hang on. I also became dorm monitor my 2nd and 3rd year at ABI. This trained me even more of how to interact with my fellow students. I was stretched in this role. I also worked off campus my second and third year. It was full time, but it was good.
At the end of my 2nd year, the director of AVM called me into his office and asked me to consider coming on staff as a teacher. In my 3rd year, I was asked to “audition” so to speak in the Old Testament Survey class. I was given the book of Amos to teach. Needless to say, it became my book. Once the class was over, the board accepted me as the newest AVM missionary. I felt like an Amos. I didn’t seek the ministry, it sought me….better yet… the Lord sought me. It’s like He put His hand on my heart and said “Come”.
Over the last few years, I’ve been teaching “Intro to the Bible” and “Church History”. I co-teach “Epistles” and “Speech” with two other instructors. I’m still a student….and I love it. I can say for sure that this is what I was born to do. My calling found me. It’s funny, I use a lot of what I learned in the factory in the classroom. I used to wonder if I’d missed my calling. I found out the Lord was waiting for me. It was all a part of His plan. He waited to get the factory lesson in me so He could get it out of me.
Today I am a vessel in His hands. My desire is to pass on the things the Lord has laid on my heart. I realize there is a generation coming up that needs the instruction God has placed in me.
Contact Matt: noble@alaskabible.org
