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The Reverend Matthew J. Watts The Reverend Matthew J. Watts is pastor of the Grace Bible Church in Kanawha County, W.Va. He was raised in poverty in the southern coalfields of West Virginia. In spite of a living situation that would today be described as "at risk," he had the benefits of a tightly knit family, community, and church. He credits these factors with helping him to acquire things that money cannot buy -- love, loyalty, character, dignity, and a sense of belonging. Reverend Watts graduated with honors from Mount Hope High School in 1973. He won basketball and academic scholarships to the West Virginia Institute of Technology, and graduated from there in 1977 with a BS in civil engineering. He worked for the Tennessee Valley Authority and Union Carbide before entering the ministry in 1984. His community work has been extensive, from one-on-one assistance to leadership positions in large coalitions addressing a variety of issues. |
