Ooltewah resident Matthew Vandegriff brings his nearly lifelong quest to work with students to Brainerd Hills Baptist Church where he is the new minister of students.
Vandegriff said he’ll use his experience as a police officer for the Chattanooga Police Department and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office – a total of 10 years – for the job. During his tenure he supervised student resource officers in public schools.
“Students aren’t going to tell me anything that’s going to shock me or make me feel like they’re a bad person,” he said. “I’ve seen a lot of things that I hope will bring some diversity to the way the ministry is done.”
Matthew VandegriffHe said students he met may have been involved with drugs, alcohol, sex or gangs, but these habits were part of a bigger search.
“Everything is a seeking-after,” he said, “to fulfill legitimate God-given needs.”