MTN.fire

After weeks of recovery from a stroke and a family medical crisis, Matt shares a quiet reflection on God’s sustaining grace. Inspired by 2 Corinthians 12:9 and a simple piece of wisdom from an old saint: “He owns both sides of the river.”

This Fireside Chat marks the first episode recorded after my stroke. Anchored in 2 Corinthians 12:9, we sit with a truth that doesn’t rush healing or offer easy answers. Paul asks for the thorn to be removed, and God responds with sustaining grace instead of relief. This episode is about weakness that remains, strength that’s borrowed, and the quiet faith of learning to be carried when control is gone.

In this episode of MTN.fire, Matt returns after a season of quiet to talk about something every believer needs but few protect: communication with God.Spiritual battles aren’t lost because we lack strength or passion. They’re lost when the signal breaks down.Drawing from Scripture, personal testimony, and the call to persistent prayer, this episode reframes prayer not as a religious habit, but as an active line of communication that keeps us aligned with Heaven in the middle of pressure, fear, and noise.You’ll hear why prayer isn’t just preparation for the battle, but how we stay oriented once the fight begins. Why stillness matters. Why discernment requires proximity. And how God often speaks most clearly when we’re willing to slow down and listen.If you’ve felt distracted, overwhelmed, or unsure of your next step, this episode is an invitation to quiet the noise, stay on the line, and remember that you were never fighting alone.Scripture references include Luke 18, John 10:27, and examples from the early church.

Before a soldier steps onto the battlefield, he steps into the Armory.In this episode, we break down the Armor of God piece by piece - not as metaphor, but as the daily discipline that forms warriors in the Kingdom. From the belt of truth to the sword of the Spirit, this is where believers learn not just how to stand, but how to stay standing.Matt shares a personal tie-in about healing, formation, and learning to wear the armor in real life - not just recite it.Because freedom was the miracle… but formation is the mission.If you’ve ever felt unprepared, unsteady, or under attack, this episode calls you back to the forge, back to discipline, and back to the Armory.Topics Covered:• Why spiritual formation requires discipline• The function of every piece of the Armor of God• How to walk in peace, truth, and identity• Why training in private protects you in public• A prayer for strength, clarity, and readiness• What it means to check your armor daily

In this Fireside Chat, I share how a random late night scroll through reels turned into a moment of truth. Between arrest videos, church bloopers, and a fitness coach who clearly targeted the wrong income bracket, a reel came up with three verses that hit me right where I was. These scriptures spoke about discipline, trials, and the training ground God uses to shape us. I wrote them down and wanted to bring them to you. This is a short, honest reminder that God is building strength in the places we feel tested.

In this Thanksgiving-week Fireside Chat, Let's slow down, breathe, and remember the goodness of God.Inspired by George Washington’s 1789 proclamation calling for “a day of thanksgiving and prayer,” this episode looks past the holiday noise and into the heart of gratitude - not as an emotion, but as a spiritual weapon. We talk about God’s faithfulness in a hard year, the tables that feel full and the ones that feel empty, and the mercy that carried us when we didn’t even notice.Whether this season feels joyful or heavy, this is a space to pause, reflect, and thank the One who’s been good through it all. The episode ends with a prayer over your home, your family, and your heart during this holiday week.Happy Thanksgiving - and remember: gratitude changes the atmosphere.

Not every season looks like a wildfire. In this encouraging Fireside Chat Matt reminds listeners that quiet faithfulness matters - even the smallest sparks God places in our lives can be fanned into lasting light. This episode calls you to notice the small victories, tend your ember, and trust God’s slow, steady work.

Before any battle is won outwardly, a war is raging inside. In Episode Two of Season Four -The Enemy Within - Matt digs into the quiet, relentless conflict between the flesh and the Spirit. This episode is for the ones who fight alone in the dark, who wrestle with thoughts that sound like their own, and who need the truth that freedom is found when obedience out-muscles impulse.We walk Galatians 5:17 and pull it into real life: how the enemy uses distraction and division to make us ineffective, how grace meets us in the trenches, and why the victory the world wants to steal is already ours through Jesus. Expect honest testimony, practical application, and a prophetic call to keep surrendering the mind to Christ.• If this episode landed on you - reach out, share it, or tag someone who needs to hear it.• Subscribe to the show to get new episodes as they drop.Connect / Support / Links:Website: https://mtnfire.org Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mtn.fireFollow: Insta (and Facebook)Support the ministry here: https://buymeacoffee.com/mtn.fireWant to book Matt for speaking? Reach out on the website - https://mtnfire.org/contact/

Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of mental health struggles, suicidal thoughts, and trauma. Listener discretion is advised.It’s been one year since the night everything in my life shattered. In this episode, I share my journey through PTSD, anxiety, depression, and a suicide scare, leading to the day I received my diagnosis and the slow, powerful process of healing that followed. I talk honestly about the darkest moments, the mercy that kept me alive, and how God began rebuilding me from the inside out.If you’re struggling, you are not alone. Call or text 988 anytime, and talk to someone. And remember: even in the messiest, darkest moments, God hears you.

Life’s storms aren’t always punishment - they can be God’s mercy in disguise. In this episode of Fireside Chats, Matt dives into the story of Jonah, a man who knew God’s callbut ran from it anyway. Trapped in the belly of a fish for three long days, Jonah finally cried out to God, and in those dark, silent hours, true surrender began.Matt reflects on what it means to face the storms in our own lives, how sometimes the hard place we’re stuck in is exactly where God meets us, and why redemption and breakthrough often start when we stop fighting and start surrendering. If you’ve ever felt trapped, overwhelmed, or stuck in the middle of life’s chaos, this chat is for you - a raw, personal look at mercy, grace, and the power of turning back to Godwhen we can’t go any further alone.

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Before any battle is fought outwardly, it’s answered inwardly. In this opening message for season 4: Preparing for Battle, Matt explores what it means to prepare for spiritual warfare the right way - on your knees. Strength isn’t built in the spotlight; it’s forged in surrender.(Ephesians 6:10–11)

What if your faith was tested at the edge of eternity — would you stand unashamed?In this season finale of MTN.fire, Matt delivers a powerful message - a call to courage, conviction, and eternal perspective.From the prisons of Richard Wurmbrand to the sacrifice of the Groenewald family, this episode weaves together the legacy of believers who stood when the world bowed. Their stories end where all true faith begins - in victory.The Gospel still advances with power.Eternity is on the line.🔥 Scripture:Revelation 12:11“They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and bythe word of their testimony…”🎙️ Listen on:Spotify | Apple | Amazon | YouTube @MTN-fire🌐 Website: https://www.mtnfire.org — full blog posts, merch, and ways to support the ministry.

🎧 Fireside Chat #3 - Bedside PrayersWhen life slows down to the sound of hospital monitors, faith starts to sound different. In this Fireside Chat, Matt shares a personal moment from his dad’s recent health scare - a prayer whispered before surgery that reminded him where hope really comes from.God is the One who heals, who gives wisdom to doctors, who guides their hands, and who writes every breath of our story. Even when we don’t understand the why or the outcome, He’s still our hope.This episode is a reminder that sometimes the fire has to wait - not because it’s gone out, but because God is still working in the quiet places, right beside us.

Fireside Chat #2 - “Making Heaven Crowded”Guest: HenleyThis one hits close to home - literally.In this special father-daughter Fireside Chat, Matt sits down with his daughter Henley for a real conversation about God, prayer, and what faith looks like through a child’s eyes.Together they talk about what it means to love Jesus, to pray when things are hard, and to keep the fire of faith burning from one generation to the next.This episode isn’t scripted - it’s family. It’s love. It’s the reminder that the faith we live in front of our kids is the legacy they’ll carry.💬 Topics:Talking to God like a friendSeeing faith through your child’s eyesThe power of example and everyday faithPassing the fire to the next generation📖 Verse: Proverbs 22:6 - “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”🎙️ “The fire God started in us isn’t meant to stop with us - it’s meant to be carried forward, brighter in the next generation.”

Kabul, Afghanistan - November 29, 2014.Werner Groenewald was a pastor and teacher living the Great Commission in a war-torn nation. His teenage children, Jean-Pierre and Rodé, served alongside him. That morning, the Taliban stormed their compound. Gunfire. Smoke. Silence. Yet this is not a story of defeat - it’s a story of victory.The Groenewald family didn’t die for a cause; they lived for a Kingdom. And even their final breath echoed eternity.In this episode of MTN.fire, Matt shares a powerful message about faith under fire, the cost of obedience, and the hope that outlives death itself. 🔥 Scripture: Hebrews 12 : 2 - “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith…” Takeaway: When your eyes are on eternity, death loses its power. The Gospel isn’t about avoiding risk, it’s about eternal reward. The Groenewalds remind us that courage isn’t loud. It’s steadfast.

Welcome to Fireside Chats - the raw, unfiltered side of MTN.fire.This isn’t one of the usual episodes… it’s slower, more personal.No script, no schedule - just honest moments with God.In this first Fireside Chat, Matt shares where the idea came from, what’s been happening behind the scenes as Season 3 wraps up and Season 4 begins, and a short devotion from Psalm 37:7 about slowing down and trusting God’s timing.Sometimes the fire isn’t about doing, it’s about becoming.Pull up a chair.Welcome to the fire.

“Even in chains… it advances with power.”Richard Wurmbrand was imprisoned and tortured for preaching Christ under Communist rule - but the Gospel never stopped moving.In this episode of MTN.fire, we tell the story of a man who spent fourteen years in a Romanian prison for his faith. He lost everything but never lost his song. From tapping sermons through the walls to forgiving the guards who beat him, Wurmbrand’s story proves that the Gospel doesn’t need freedom to flourish - only faith.Through Scripture and story, we see that what God starts in the dark… He always finishes in the light.💬 Episode theme: Philippians 1 : 12-13“What has happened to me has actually served to advance the Gospel.”🎧 In this episode:• The faith and fire of Richard Wurmbrand• Worship and perseverance under persecution• The reminder that even our personal chains can’t silence the Gospel• How the fire of the early church still burns in us today🌐 Read the companion post & explore more at: https://mtnfire.org🔥 MTN.fireTestimony. Truth. Fire.

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”Jim Elliot wrote those words before stepping onto a remote riverbank in Ecuador - a moment that would echo through eternity.Five men, armed only with faith, answered a call that didn’t promise safety, only obedience. What the world called a tragedy, Heaven called triumph. Their story became a flame that still burns today.In this episode, Matt dives deep into the cost of surrender and the beauty of living unashamed for the Gospel. This isn’t just about missionaries on foreign soil - it’s about every believer who’s ever faced fear and chose faith. Every heart that’s whispered yes when it didn’t make sense.Because following Jesus will cost you something, but it will never leave you empty.🔥 The world calls it loss. Heaven calls it victory.

In a world gone quiet, one man refused to bow.Dietrich Bonhoeffer stood when others stayed silent, choosing the cross over compromise and conviction over comfort.His story reminds us that boldness isn’t a personality trait, it’s proximity to Christ.Through Paul’s words in 2 Timothy 1:7-8, we learn that courage isn’t the absence of fear but the presence of the Spirit: power, love, and self-control.In this episode of MTN.fire, we explore the cost of obedience, the danger of silence, and what it means to carry unshakable faith when the world demands you fold.🔥 Because the cost is temporary - but the impact is eternal.

Scripture: Matthew 10:32–33What does it really mean to stand unashamed for Jesus?In this powerful episode, we step into the fire with two of the early church’s most fearless believers - Polycarp, the elderly bishop who faced Rome’s flames, and Perpetua, a young mother who faced the arena and would not deny her Savior.Their courage wasn’t found in comfort - it was forged in faith.Their stories still ask us the same question: “Will you acknowledge Him?”Matt brings this message home with a personal word on identity, purpose, and what it means to stand for Christ when everything around you shakes.🔥 Highlights include:“Faith hidden is faith starving. Confession feeds courage. Courage fuels witness.”It’s not arrogance - it’s allegiance. It’s not noise - it’s loyalty. And it’s time to stand.

When fear stares you in the face, what do you do?Stephen-the first martyr of the church-shows us what unshakable faith really looks like. As stones were raised against him, he lifted his eyes and saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. In that moment, fear lost and faith won.In this episode, we step inside Acts 6–7 and walk withStephen through the clash between fear and faith. We’ll see what it means to stand firm when the world throws stones, why Jesus stood for Stephen, and how the same power that filled him can fill us today.From the courtroom to the crowd, from fear’s grip toheaven’s glory, this is more than a story of martyrdom-it’s a revelation of courage, vision, and victory through Christ.Scripture Focus: Acts 6–7Theme: Fear vs. Faith - The Standing SaviorKey Verse: Acts 7:55 – “But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed intoheaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.”

Being unashamed of Christ isn’t optional - it’s the dividing line. Romans 1:16 calls the gospel “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” But in a world that celebrates silence and compromise, the question becomes unavoidable: If your faith was put on trial today, would there be enough evidence to convict you?In this season opener, we confront the cost of following Jesus, the eternal danger of compromise, and the boldness required to live unashamed. Featuring a powerful reflection on the Apostle John’s endurance in exile, along with my own story of losing friends for the sake of the gospel, this episode is a call to stand, live loud, and pay the price - because He paid it first.

When the fire clears, the smoke settles, and the storm passes, what comes next? The mountain.In this Season 2 finale of MTN.fire, Matt looks back at the journey so far, from testimony, trauma, and healing, to storms, anchors, and fire. And now, with the refining behind us, we set our eyes on the climb ahead.In this episode:The faithfulness of God through every season.How mountains in Scripture represent testing, revelation, and encounter.The “next mountain” in your life, whether freedom, healing, calling, or faith.MTN.fire’s own next step: boldness, community, and living unashamed.Why perspective matters, what Job teaches us about trials and endurance.Your story doesn’t end in the valley, the storm, or the fire. God is calling you higher. The mountain is waiting.📖 Scriptures: Exodus 19:18–20, Luke 23:33, Matthew 17:1–2, Psalm 121:1–2, Isaiah 2:3, Matthew 17:20, James 1:2–4, Job 42:5

Fire doesn’t just destroy, it refines. Gold isn’t proven in comfort, it’s proven in the flames. In this episode of MTN.fire, we talk about what the fire takes, what it leaves behind, and why it’s proof, not punishment.I’ll share how God used the fire in my own life to burn away pride, isolation, and false identities, leaving behind a faith that can stand when everything else falls. And I’ll challenge you to look at your own trials differently: not as the end of you, but as preparation for what’s next."Your faith - more precious than gold… though tested by fire." (1 Peter 1:7)

Life’s storms will rock you. Fear, loss, lies, and pain can drag you farther than you ever thought you’d drift. I know, I’ve lived it. But Hebrews 6:19 reminds us that we have “a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul.”In this episode, I share what it means to be anchored in Jesus when every other rope breaks. From the storms that nearly took me under to the hope that keeps me steady now, this is about finding the Anchor who never moves.Storms will come. Waves will hit. But the Anchor still holds.

What name have you been answering to? Abandoned? Addict? Worthless? Failure?Pain and people are quick to hand us labels, but those false names don’t define you. In this episode, Matt unpacks the spiritual battle for your identity and how trauma, lies, and scars try to rename you, and how God has already spoken a better word.Through scripture, testimony, and practical steps, you’ll discover how to rip up the counterfeit ID cards of the enemy and embrace the name Heaven has written over your life: Redeemed. Chosen. Free.Key themes:Identity theft of the soul: when pain and people write your storyGod’s blueprint vs. the enemy’s counterfeit labelsPractical steps to replace lies with truthDeclaring and praying your God-given name until it sticksIsaiah 62:2 says, “You shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will give.” That’s the verdict. That’s your name now.

Campfires don’t go out in a flash, they fade little by little when nobody tends them. Same with your soul.On March 31st, Jesus healed me - PTSD, anxiety, depression, all gone. But the next morning I realized something: fires don’t stay lit by accident. If you don’t feed them, guard them, and stir the coals, they’ll fade.In this episode of MTN.fire, we walk through Paul’s charge to Timothy: “Fan into flame the gift of God.” (2 Tim 1:6) Together we’ll talk about:Fuel - rhythms of Word and prayer that keep the flame burning.Windbreak - guardrails and boundaries that protect the fire.Stirring the coals - testimony and service that keep heat alive.This isn’t about earning - it’s about response. God lit the flame. Our role is to tend it, guard it, and let it spread.🔥 Don’t let what God started die on your watch.

You think your past disqualifies you? You think the chain around your neck is too heavy to break? The cross says otherwise.In this episode we unpack Colossians 2:14–15—how Jesus canceled the record of debt, nailed it to the cross, and disarmed the powers that accused you. We walk through a raw personal moment when old lies tried to creep back in, and we look at the Barabbas exchange as a living picture of substitution: the guilty walks free because the Innocent took our place. Then we get practical with simple handles you can use this week to live free in your thoughts, habits, and story.ScriptureColossians 2:14–15; Revelation 12:11; Matthew 27 / Mark 15 / Luke 23 (Barabbas)Handles — Walk Free This WeekRename the record: “Paid in full. Canceled. Nailed. Disarmed.” (Col 2:14–15)Rehearse the triumph (60 seconds): Picture your IOU on His cross and the enemy’s empty hands.Release your testimony (one person): Two sentences of what Jesus has already changed in you. (Rev 12:11)Guard the gain (10-minute rule): Give God the first 10—Colossians 2, prayer, and one spoken truth.Prayer + InvitationIf your heart’s pounding, that’s your invitation. Say yes to Jesus today. Freedom isn’t fireworks; it’s trusting the finished work. The door is open, walk through.

Breakthrough changes everything. When God heals, restores, or delivers, it’s powerful, but it also paints a target. The enemy will try to whisper, distract, and pull you back into the fear you’ve been freed from.In this episode, Matt shares the story of how God completely healed him from PTSD, anxiety, and depression, and the moment, just weeks later, when the enemy tried to rattle him with fear again. What once would have sent him spiraling ended in peace, prayer, and a reminder that freedom in Christ is not fragile.We’ll look at Nehemiah 4:14, Ephesians 6:11, and Exodus 14 to learn what it means to guard the ground God has given you, how to stay armored up, and how to keep walking free.Because victory isn’t the end, it’s the beginning of a new fight worth winning.

Nobody wakes up in chains. You walk there, one compromise at a time.In this Season 2 opener, Matt takes you inside one of the hardest seasons of his life, a relationship wrapped in compromise, betrayal, and the weight of PTSD. But this isn’t just his story. Scripture warns us about the “slow fade,” from James to Galatians to the story of Samson himself.This episode unpacks:How small compromises drift us farther than we realizeWhy silence in the face of compromise isn’t neutrality, it’s agreementSamson’s story as a mirror for our ownDesire → Deception → Death (James 1:14–15)How the price of delay compares to the reward of repentanceChains don’t break themselves. But Jesus still does.Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or YouTube.🔗 mtnfire.org

🌪 The Whirlwind, the 3AM Encounter, and the God Who Speaks 🌪After chapters of silence, Job finally hears from God, not in an explanation, but in a whirlwind. In this episode, we walk through Job 38, where God bypasses the “why” and reveals Who He is.I share my own whirlwind experience, the night I stopped demanding answers and started receiving revelation, and unpack why God’s presence is greater than any explanation. Along the way, we explore the deeper meaning of His words to Job and the transformation that happens when we see Him for who He truly is.📖 Key Scriptures:Job 38:1–7 — The whirlwind begins.Job 42:5 — “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.”In This Episode:The tone and weight of God’s response to Job.My personal shift from wanting explanations to receiving revelation.Why revelation transforms in ways explanations never can.How to position yourself to hear from God when He seems silent.The call to trust Him when we can’t see the full picture.

Sometimes the voice you least expect is the one you most need to hear.Job knew it. I’ve lived it.In this episode, we step into the moment when a young, unexpected voice, Elihu, speaks life and truth into a scene heavy with silence and hurt. From Job’s story to my own 25-year journey of resisting and finally accepting God’s call, we’ll see that He speaks in more ways than we realize! It can be through whispers, through storms, and often through people we didn’t think could carry His message.📖 Scripture: Job 32–37; Job 33:14🎙 Theme: God can speak through unexpected voices, even yours.

Sometimes the deepest wounds come from the people who were supposed to help you.Job knew it. I’ve lived it.In this episode, we walk through the sting of bad advice, the weight of well-meaning words that wound, and the even heavier moment when God feels silent. From Job’s friends to my own battles with PTSD, insomnia, and emotional spirals, we’ll uncover the truth: silence is not absence, and God is still at work when you can’t see or hear Him.📖 Scripture: Job 13:5; Job 23:8–10🎙 Theme: People can fail you, but Heaven never abandons you.

Job 1–2 “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”What do you do when the fire hits your life—and you didn’t do anything wrong?In this raw and personal episode, I walk through the story of Job, a blameless man who lost everything… and still worshiped. I share my own experience with pain that wasn’t punishment—loss, heartbreak, mental health struggles—and how sometimes the fire in your life is actually the setup for something greater.If you’ve ever felt like you were burning without cause—this one’s for you.Theme: When the fire doesn’t make senseKey Verse: Job 1:21MTN.fire Podcast – Real faith. Real fire.

I was broken. Diagnosed. Done. But Jesus wasn’t finished.This is the moment everything changed—the night the chains fell off, the darkness lifted, and the fire of God hit my life like never before. This is the healing. The vision. The calling. And the undeniable proof that He still moves in power.“...so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire…”—1 Peter 1:7 (ESV)

This is the darknight of the soul—the valley. After the chaos of sin and the traumatic event inEpisode 2, this chapter dives into what happened after: the PTSD, the panicattacks, the insomnia, the isolation, and the downward spiral. But even in thedepths, God was watching. This episode is raw, vulnerable, and filled with thepain that came before the healing. Psalm40:2 (ESV) – "He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the mirybog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure."

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains descriptions of gun violence and a real-life double homicide that the host witnessed. While handled with care and reverence, it may be triggering for some listeners. Discretion is advised.Before the fire, there was the fall.In this unfiltered episode, Matt shares how rebellion and sin opened doors that led to deep darkness—including the night he witnessed a double homicide and came face-to-face with death.But even in that moment, God was present.This is not a story about staying down. It’s about the hand that pulled him out.🔥 Subscribe and follow: ⁠linktr.ee/mtn.fire Luke 15:20 – “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion…”

Before the fall... there was the fire.In this debut episode, I take you back to where it all began—childhood in Virginia, being adopted into a loving home, and discovering that God's hand was on me long before I ever knew His name. I talk about my early identity, the whispers of the enemy, and the moments that marked me: playing barefoot in the backyard, hearing God’s voice at a youth conference when I was 12, and receiving a prophetic word that confirmed the calling I didn’t yet understand.You’ll also meet some of the people who helped shape my life—my cousin Abe, my longtime friend Jeremy,and a brief introduction to what would turn into decades of turmoil. This is the story of “young me”—a little wild, deeply loved, and already chosen.This isn’t just a backstory. It’s the setup for everything that’s coming.Theme verse: Jeremiah 1:5 – “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you…”Check out my socials and follow me on- linktr.ee/mtn.fire

Welcome to MTN.fire - a podcast born from a miracle and fueled by a mission. I was once battling PTSD, anxiety, depression, and insomnia - until Jesus Christ healed me completely. No symptoms. No turning back. This is the beginning of the calling He placed on my life - to share the Gospel and prepare the way for the fire coming from these Appalachian Mountains.“But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.” - Job 23:10 (ESV)Welcome to MTN.fire.🎧 Subscribe, share, and join me on this journey of hope, healing, and revival.