Rev. Craig Mathews is a graduate of Concordia-St. Paul, MN, as a Director of Christian Education. He served as a DCE for 20+ years at St. John’s in Port Washington, WI, Peace in Neenah, WI, and Beautiful Savior in Omaha, NE. After attending Concordia Seminary in St. Louis in the Alternate Route Program, Craig served for 20+ years as a Pastor, first at Faith in Chippewa Falls, WI, and then at Hope in Bradenton, FL.
While serving in Chippewa Falls, he became more serious about maintaining and improving his physical fitness. Craig competed in several Sprint Triathlons. After moving to Florida, his focus turned to competing in the annual Fight for Air Climb in
Tampa, which was a race up 46 flights of stairs at a bank in downtown Tampa. Wanting to help others in the fitness journey, he became certified with the American Council on Exercise in 2016 and began working part-time at the Bradenton YMCA as a Fitness Coach and Personal Trainer.
Craig retired from full-time pastoral ministry in May of 2020, but his work for the Lord still continues as he has served as a vacancy pastor and, in April of 2023, completed training as an Intentional Interim Pastor and presently serves at Redeemer in Englewood in that capacity.