Introduction to Rev. Vernl E. Mattson,
Associate Regional Pastor and Area Minister

For These Associations:
Greater Delaware Valley Association,
North Shore Association, and 
West New Jersey Baptist Association

In July 2004, the Reverend Vernl E. Mattson accepted the call to become the Associate Regional Pastor for the American Baptist Churches of New Jersey. He was assigned to serve in South Jersey to be in regional pastoral ministry with three associations: North Shore Association, Greater Delaware Valley Association and West New Jersey Baptist Association. Rev. Mattson has provided leadership to the 86 congregations and 118 pastors since his coming to South Jersey. As Associate Regional Pastor, a new portfolio from the previous position of Area Minister, the ministry focus is upon fulfilling the Region Vision for Healthy and Faithful congregations, pastors and regional ministries within South Jersey. Rev. Mattson is actively involved in worship opportunities within these churches, in leadership development, organizational dynamics, and leading in Health and Faithfulness Initiatives with our churches and using his years in administration and personnel management to provide counsel and guidance to our church leadership.

Rev. Mattson loves to share God’s word in sermons, devotionals and leadership gatherings. Rev. Mattson said, “It is a privilege to be in ministry with the congregations of South Jersey and to watch them address the opportunities for evangelism, discipleship, worship renewal, and a host of other ministries in our day and time. As Associate Regional Pastor, I have the joy of walking with congregations as they discover God’s vision for their ministry and to enable their ministries to take hold in New Jersey.” Rev. Mattson looks forward to visiting with all of the pastors and church leadership in the coming year and he is greatly encouraged by the giftedness of our pastors and laity. He desires to build up the body of Christ with his churches, and to address faithfully the needs for spiritual renewal and outreach in His name to our world. Rev. Mattson desires to be with you and your church family soon. If you have not set a specific date or time for his coming, feel free to call his office to establish such a time where he can come and better serve your ministry needs.

Here is a bit more information about Rev. Vernl E. Mattson’s ministry experiences and love for our ABCNJ mission and ministry. For over twenty years, he has served in regional level mission and was in pastoral ministry for over a decade before coming to regional mission work in the ABC/USA. He has a great love for the American Baptist mission, himself becoming a believer through this mission work. Rev. Mattson has conducted a number of mission trips within the United States and Europe; with a primary focus on the Baptist Union of Poland, Mexico, and National Ministries missions in the western USA. He served as the Associate Executive Minister for the American Baptist Churches of Michigan before coming to New Jersey. His skills in administration, non-profit organization, and communications were extensively used as well as mission interpretation and Biblical stewardship education. He loves the use of technology within the church and has served as webmaster and trainer for website development within local churches. He launched ABC-MI E-Link, a bi-weekly electronic communication serving ABC-MI churches and leaders in 2000 which became the primary means of sharing regional news.

In his thirty years of pastoral and administrative missions within the American Baptist Churches of the USA, Rev. Mattson has remained a dedicated supporter of local church ministries and mission efforts. He has been able to visit a number of international and national missions including Poland, Mexico, Jordan, Israel, Italy, Greece, Great Britain and Egypt. Nationally, he has visited many of our Neighborhood Action Projects, home mission agencies and new church development sites. He has taken work teams to Mexico, and to the Kodiak Baptist Mission in Alaska.

Rev. Mattson was born in North Platte, Nebraska and as a youth also lived in Wyoming and Idaho. He is a graduate of Central Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City, Kansas and has served churches in Nebraska, Missouri and Kansas. He served for eighteen years in various staff positions in the American Baptist Churches of Michigan, prior to coming to New Jersey. Rev. Mattson is married to Corrine Lynn Mattson and they have two adult daughters and five grandchildren.