Episode 165

In this episode of the Removing Barriers podcast, we continue discovering God’s work on mission fields around the world in our On the Mission Field series. Today’s episode features Matthew Goins, missionary to Honduras, who graciously takes the time to share what God is doing not only in Honduras, but also in his life and family as they navigate tragedy and grief. Perhaps many Christians the world over are tempted to question God or blame Him when painful trials arise, but Matthew Goins teaches us that even in the most heartbreaking circumstances, God sees, God cares, and God is faithful. What are those losses, tribulations, or trials on your doorstep this season? Do you find your faith jostled? Weakened, even? What work have you been called to do that has been hindered or even halted by the weight of it all? Take heart, dear Christian, and look to the Savior. Come and listen; Matthew Goins declares God’s faithfulness and reminds us all that we serve a risen Savior whose promises are yea and amen.

[Matthew Goins]

What my hearts cry is right now is just more people surrendering to be ministers. You know, whether that’s pastor or missionary. I mean, here in Honduras, I don’t want to be the end of the line on the missionary chain, you know? And so the people here have the same responsibility to the Great Commission that any church in the world has.

[Jay]

Thank you for tuning in to the Removing Barriers podcast. I’m Jay and I’m MCG. and we’re attempting to remove barriers so we can all have a clear view of the cross.

[MCG]

This is episode 165 of the Removing Barriers podcast, and this is the 15th in the series of on the mission field. And in this episode, we’ll be going on the mission field with Matthew Goins to Honduras.

Matthew, it is indeed a pleasure and welcome to the removing barriers podcasts.

[Matthew Goins]

Thank you very much. It’s a pleasure for me to be on this podcast with you.

[MCG]

Great. I’m glad you can fill us in your busy schedule.

[Jay]

Hi, this is Jay. MCG and I would like for you to help us remove barriers by going to removingbarriers.net and subscribing to receive all things, removing barriers. If you’d like to take your efforts a bit further and help us keep the mics on, consider donating at removingbarriers.net/donate. Removing Barriers, a clear view of the cross.

[MCG]

Alright, Matthew, let’s start at the beginning. Tell us about your family, your calling, how did you end up in Honduras, kind a just, how did you become a missionary?

[Matthew Goins]

OK, just a general overview then so uh, my name is Matthew. I’m married. I have been married this July of 2024. We will have been married 24 years. It’s easy for me to remember because we got married in the year.

[MCG]

Ohh wow, Congrats.

[Matthew Goins]

2000 so whatever the year is, you know.

[MCG]

Yep.

[Matthew Goins]

Once we get to July, that’s how long I’ve been married and my wife and I have been blessed with three sons. They were born.

[MCG]

Great.

[Matthew Goins]

Within a year of each other, or about 13 months. So our first son was born in January 2003. The next one was born in February 2004, and our final son was born April 2005. So three boys and three years.

[MCG]

Wow.

[Jay]

Wow.

[MCG]

Yeah. We have four boys. So yeah, we sympathize.

[Matthew Goins]

Right and. OK. Yeah, we understand each other. Yeah. So we were accepted as missionaries, candidates with our mission agency, Bi MI in May of 2002. So if you count back that far, we’re looking at 22 years since we became missionary candidates and started our pre field ministries. We spent one year in language school. In Costa Rica. And then this December, we’ll make 20 years that we’ve been in Honduras as missionaries.

[Jay]

Wow. So missions, was that something that you knew early on that the Lord was calling you to or was it something that you discovered perhaps after college? Could you describe how long has the Lord known you, and how long did it take for him to make it known to you that he wanted you on the mission field?

[Matthew Goins]

Sure. Great question. You know, I grew up in a good church that emphasized missions. My mom and dad were saved when I was probably 4 years old. And so it was easy for me to make a profession of faith at that time. Later on in my early teen years, I would say I had some doubts, you know, things that I was struggling with. Doubted my salvation. I was very timid. I didn’t want people to think poorly of me. So I didn’t say anything to anybody. Body and after that my heart started to get very hard and I was practicing, you know, different sinful things. But being a hypocrite. So I would go to church with my parents. I was in a Christian School. And, you know all the time I was living A2 way life. You know, one way in front of church and people that were looking. Me and another way in private with friends that I knew were just like me. And so, you know, evidence was there that I was not born again, that I was not regenerate, but I felt comfortable in the Christian world. And my goal in life at this point was I wanted to make a lot of money. I wanted to go into the financial world I wanted. To live for myself. I went to a Christian college not because of any Christian conviction, but because I felt comfortable in the Christian world and moving around in that Christian world. And it was very I was paying my own way. It was very accessible economically for me. So. So I went and studied accounting. Pensacola Christian College and that my first year I was living for myself, you know, hiding who I really was didn’t care about God. I didn’t care about the Bible, didn’t care about going to church. I would try to skip as often as. Possible. But at the end of my freshman year, so I was 19 years old. I had an experience where. Family member of mine died suddenly. And you know, God used that the fragility of life and the brevity of life all came into focus. It was the first person I knew closely that had died, as my grandfather and he actually died while he was preaching. He was in church service on Wednesday night preaching at a church. And he had heart attack and died. And God really used that.

[MCG]

Wow.

[Matthew Goins]

Plus versus I’d grown up. Memorizing and everything I’d learned in Christian School and church, you know, it all came flooding back at the right moment, and God used that to really convict me of my sin. And that’s when I responded in faith to his work in my. Heart. And you know, that’s when I would say that I was born again. And that’s when. Yeah, I I saw immediate changes. I cared about going to church and I wanted to hear the Bible preached and I wanted to read it for myself. I stopped doing things that I had been doing in secret, and it was in that process, you know, this is a long answer to your question, but it was in.

[MCG]

No, this is a podcast. Go ahead.

[Matthew Goins]

That. Right. So you know, before I had always decided what I wanted to do with my life, and now that I had, you know. Yielded to Christ and giving my heart to him. Then it was like the apostle Paul asked on the Damascus Rd. Lord, what do you want me to do? And so that’s when I reconsidered my whole purpose in life and I felt God strongly leading me toward ministering. But even then, I wasn’t sure that it was going to be foreign missions. But having grown up in a church that emphasized missions, you know, knowing about that and, you know, seeing the needs outside of the US for the gospel, that’s when during a missions conference, I yielded to the work of God in. My. Heart. It was a year later and I said, God, if you’ll use me on the mission field, I volunteer. Go, go. You know, just direct the path. And from there it. Was. You know, God directing toward where specifically to go in the timings.

[MCG]

Yeah.

[Jay]

So you were 20 then around 20 years old when the Lord called you.

[Matthew Goins]

Around 20 years old when I. That’s right. When I, you know, volunteered and said, God, I’m willing to go to.

[Jay]

To miss Tasha.

[Matthew Goins]

The mission field. If that’s what you want and he didn’t close any doors, that’s where I am now.

[MCG]

Yeah. Let me ask you probably diverting Elizabeth from Honduras. What we gotta get back to Honduras. Growing up in a Christian home in a good church, yet it took you until you’re 19. Your grandfather died for you to be safe. This question is not accusing anybody, but we do. You think the adults in your life went wrong in this, or why did it take you so long to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ?

[Matthew Goins]

That’s a good question. And you know, I imagine you’re asking that as a father you.

[MCG]

Yeah, definitely, definitely read my mind. You’re in my mind, yeah… Know.

[Matthew Goins]

They got they got young boys and I would say, you know. Possibly just being left to my own devices. You know, I’m the oldest of 6 and so as five boys and a girl at the end.

[MCG]

Hmm. Hmm.

[Matthew Goins]

And you know, maybe not having that intentional. Knowing where I am spiritually kind of taking that spiritual temperature was probably somewhere something that I would say it was not detected early on. Because of that, you know? So in public, I was able to, you know. Just go through the motions, but anybody that got to know me intimately would understand that there were some problems. You know what? I, you know, I wasn’t excited about spiritual things. I was more interested in myself. So maybe not having a confrontation either when I was sending and saying hey as a believer as a child. God, this behavior is incorrect. You know, it allowed me to continue without any type. Of course correction during that time.

[MCG]

Yeah. Yeah, definitely. It’s scary because we interview missionaries and we all interview Christians giving their salvation testimony. And I will say a good 50% of those who were born in a Christian home raised in a good church. Yet at some point along the way, they either doubt their salvation. Or they were living double life like you’re explaining. I’m like, and I wrestle in my mind. It’s like, how is that possible? I wasn’t raised in a Christian home and.

[Matthew Goins]

Right.

[MCG]

I heard the price that said. Once. Again, not accusing anybody, but I heard the prices at once. There are two types of strong Christians, those who got saved in an unsafe home because they’re from unsafe homes. They got safe and. They are. Strong Christian. They’re on fire for the Lord, and then there’s the other one is the one who, you know, Christian home. With a modern father, a strong Christian. And then you say everything else seems to be a bit WAVY, I don’t know. If. That’s according to his studies or whatever. So I don’t know how true that is, but yeah, it’s that can be definitely concerning when you pour so much into your children and yet they come up and they don’t serve the Lord.

[Matthew Goins]

Yeah, you know I would add to that. You know, the Bible teaches us that when someone’s in Christ or a new. Creature.

[MCG]

Hey man.

[Matthew Goins]

And so there should be spiritual evidence and you know, that’s where the intentionality comes in. You know, mom and dad. Youth leader pastor. Knowing people beyond the superficial and seeing is there evidence. That’s what I looked for in my sons growing up. I don’t care. I mean, this sounds sounds bad. Maybe, but I don’t care about a profession of faith. Verbal when you were young. What I care about is seeing. Spiritual fruit that only the Holy Spirit can create in your. Life, you know, a spirit of love and joy and peace and long-suffering telling us good, faithless, meekness, temperance. And so you know. And as I see that lacking in my sons, that I, you know, confront and say, hey, you know, as a child of God, this is not right. You need to repent and you know. And when you see them saying you’re right, you know.

[MCG]

Hmm.

[Matthew Goins]

Humbly admit to that. Then when they come around and say, OK, that’s good, that’s God working in their heart. So there’s evidence.

[MCG]

Yeah, definitely. Umm, alright. Well, let’s pivot back to Honduras. For those who were geologically challenged, like myself, where in the world is Honduras?

[Matthew Goins]

Sure.

Honduras is in Central America, so we are along that strip of land leading, you know, past Mexico, down towards South America. So you’ll get to Mexico, then Guatemala and then Honduras. We’re in that part where it almost kind of levels out in Central America.

[MCG]

Mm-hmm.

[Jay]

OK, cool. OK, so can you tell us more about the Honduras or is it Honduras or the Honduras?

[Matthew Goins]

Yes. It’s just Honduras.

[Jay]

Just Honduras, can you tell us about Honduras, the capital city, the population, the People group? What do they believe there? What sort of spiritual landscape are you operating in as a missionary to Honduras?

[Matthew Goins]

Right. Just. Sure. OK. OK, sure. So Honduras was named by Christopher Columbus, Honduras. Honduras is the way you would say it in Spanish means like depths or deep water. It was when they were taking soundings off the coast and found deep water port here. And so Honduras is about the land size of the state of Tennessee and currently. But since this would say 9 million people here, so not a huge population really in a country this. Guys, the capital city is Tegucigalpa, which we’re about four hours north of there. And I would say that’s a city of one and a half million, something like that. The second largest city is San Pedro Sula. That’s the industrial capital of the country. That’s where all the commerce takes place. And that’s right in the valley where we are, we’re in the same valley. Pedro Sula, where in the city of El Progreso? The progress and we have a city of about 250,000.

[MCG]

Hmm.

[Matthew Goins]

And people as far as spiritual climate, historically Catholic here in Honduras and a lot of people would claim to be Catholic. And yet what I see in practice is that not a whole lot of practicing Catholics. We have a lot of evangelical churches here, of all types, the most predominant type would be. Like a charismatic style and a lot of the prosperity gospel has made inroads here.

[Jay]

Hmm.

[Matthew Goins]

And so you’ll find a lot of that false teaching of, you know, God is like a genie in a bottle. You rub the lamp and he gives you whatever you want. And we also deal with the Colts, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses. They’re quite a few of them here operating in the country. And So what we found in the beginning is there’s not a lack of churches. It’s just a lack of. Sound doctrine. And so we wanted to drill down and you know, really teach the authority of Scripture and the sufficiency of script. Sure. And we found that, you know, doing an expository study of the word of God from the pulpit shows the people, you know that authority and application of that authority.

[MCG]

Right. Let’s go back to that time. The Lord burdened your heart for specifically for Honduras. Tell us about that time. How did you know it was Honduras?

[Matthew Goins]

OK, OK, sure. So in the beginning, when I surrendered my life to missions, I didn’t know where God would lead me or how he would lead me to that country. And so I chose a country. And it wasn’t Honduras. I had seen a video about Nepal and the spiritual. It wasn’t even a religious video just talking about Mount Everest. And all I could see in that video was all of the, you know, the the religious practice and the worship of false gods. And God moved my heart. When I saw that, you know, kind of like Jeremiah said, my eye, I fixed my heart. And so I just said, God, I’m going. To. Choose the Paul. But I’m going to pray that you guide my path and so if that’s not the place, just guide me to the right place. But I’m gonna set my sights somewhere. And I would say, you know, little by little over the next year, God changed my heart’s desire. You know, my heart feelings really feel like, you know how the Bible says. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the. Desires of your. Heart. Yeah, that’s what I was doing. And, you know, serving in my local church, reading the Bible, praying, serving and. You know, I was delighting in the Lord, and he started giving me the desires he wanted me to. Yeah. And that desire started to be toward Latin America and the opportunities in Latin America for the gospel and how it’s right here. It’s not a hard country. There are open doors everywhere in Honduras. So I can go into schools still with the Bible and teach the Bible, not in a hidden way, but openly. And they’re asking me to. And so, you know, God slowly led me toward Latin America general, and then a friend of mine in college. And I started praying about specific countries and Honduras keep coming up with people. I would meet, things I would hear about. And so my wife and I, at this time, we decided let’s go visit. And after we visit, you know, let’s pray. And if God gives us a peace, that’s. Where? We’re going to go. That’s how it happened. We visited for the first time in 2002, May of 2002, spent 10 days and we really felt to peace like this is where God wants us, and this is where. God will use us.

[MCG]

Amen.

[Jay]

So if there are any young people or old people for that matter, listening to this podcast that are wondering, you know, where would God have them go? And perhaps it’s Honduras, who knows. If you were to speak to them, what would you like them to know? What are some things that they should keep in mind if they are called by the Lord to serve in Honduras?

[Matthew Goins]

OK. I would say you know, serve where you are right now, get involved, you know, grow spiritually in the setting of your local church and serve in your local church. And you know God’s going to start giving you the desires in your heart through, you know, just a a desire plus that peace that. Comes and so that’s what I would say. You know, God’s going to steer a a moving ship if you want to use that type of an analogy. So be faithful right where you are and and God will lead you to the place, whether it’s through counsel, opportunities and desires of your heart. Scripture, God’s going to lead you there.

[MCG]

Culture wise, whole different is the culture in Honduras versus the American culture. And how did you handle those differences?

[Matthew Goins]

So you know, I would say one of the major differences is the laid back lifestyle I grew up in the DC area in Northern Virginia and so. So everything was structured and you know there were time schedules and things like that. There’s order and much of the sense, you know, I think even now I have a romanticized view of how it used to be in my country. And then when I go back, I’m like, oh, it’s not so.

[MCG]

MHM.

[Matthew Goins]

Different than. Where I live right now, but that was hard for me to go from a place where. You know, here in Honduras, it’s not scheduled driven. It’s more relationship driven and that was hard for me to adapt to. I would put more importance on my schedule, my calendar than who I was with at the moment and that was an error on my PC. You know, so I would say, hey, I’ve gotta go. I’ve got a meeting, you know, with another person. And I would stack my meetings and, you know, it would show lack of importance to the person. So those were some things I had to adjust to and really appreciate there’s some great things in this culture that I was missing where I was growing up, you know, so emphasis on family emphasis on people and relationships. A more laid back lifestyle so you know all of those things. And you know what helped me adapt was just really letting the Holy Spirit produce the fruit that he wanted to produce in my life and not living in the flesh and trying to and getting angry or frustrated and just letting the peace of the Holy Spirit, you know, rule in my heart.

[MCG]

Yeah, it’s interesting you said that because I had the reverse experience because growing up in the Caribbean, I came to Pensacola Christian College and. The first first trip service I went to almost like I was watching some sort of robot. You know, the song either went up and we sing a song and he went to sit down as someone else go up and then they go sit down the song. They go back up, then the preacher go up and church stats at one time and they finish at this time all the time. And that was just completely foreign to me, you know.

[Matthew Goins]

Right.

[MCG]

In the islands, you know, you start, you know it’s 7:00, but we might start 7:05 or 7:15, and then we might go until 9:00 or, you know, it wasn’t structured like that. And it was weird when I first saw it.

[Matthew Goins]

Yes, I could see how that would seem robotic, right? So I had the reverse experience.

[MCG]

Yeah.

[Jay]

Would you say that in Honduras, with the more emphasis on relationship emphasis on families and not so much the schedule and rigidity and things like that, and considering that a majority of the population is Catholic, got some evangelical and and also the cults like Mormonism and Jehovah’s Witness, would you say the culture is more like an? Acts Chapter 2 culture where. Everyone has a general idea of who God is and what sin is, and that sort of thing. Or is it more like Act 17, where folks generally have no idea what’s going on and you have to start at Genesis 1 when you’re witnessing to them, or when you’re ministering to them?

[Matthew Goins]

Right, great question. I would say Acts 2 would be what we would characterize where we are, there’s access to. And you know whether it’s through Catholic tradition or, you know, evangelical television broadcast radio. So people know, you know, you will see on the buses things like, you know, Jehovah, you know, Jehovah Jaira or something like that, or Jesus is Lord, things like that. And so the religious terminology is everywhere.

When people greet each other with, you know, God bless you. Yet it’s like here’s the substance. You know, the knowledge, the true knowledge of God. There’s a. The appearance of knowledge but not according to the truth.

[MCG]

Form of godliness, huh? Yeah.

[Jay]

Do you find that it makes it more difficult to witness to them? Because I found often times that some of the hardest people to evangelize or to minister to are the religious folks who know the garb they know, right? The terminology they’ve heard it so many times. It’s often become like they’re hardened to it. Almost. Do you find that to be the case? When? You talk to people.

[Matthew Goins]

Exactly right, it is. They really don’t see the need for, you know. So they feel like they’re OK. I would say, you know, they understand the terminology, their religious and their morals. And so it is. It’s harder to really break through those those traditions and help them understand that’s not what the Bible is teaching as far as being reconciled with the father through Jesus Christ.

[MCG]

Yeah, they really just bunch and normally the hardest one to witness to. So what are some needs that if they should be filled, that would make your task in Honduras sharing the government Honduras a little bit.

[Matthew Goins]

Right.

[MCG]

Easier.

[Matthew Goins]

You know, it would be easy to try to talk about physical needs, but I would say, you know what, my hearts cry is right now is just more people surrendering to be ministers. You know, whether that’s pastor or missionary. I mean, here in Honduras, I don’t want to be the end of the line on the missionary chain, you know? And so the people here have the same. Responsibility to the Great Commission that any church in the world has. And so, you know, that’s my hearts desire is to not just start a church here, which we have, but also train up a generation of laborers here that will go out and be missionaries, you know. So we could have ascending platform here in Honduras. We could get into countries.

[MCG]

Hey man.

[Matthew Goins]

Even Creative access nation. Things that an American passport holder like myself would never be able to get into, but someone with a Honduras passport could easily get. Into. You know to be as far as making things easier, the end goal for me is, you know, making disciples here in Honduras. And so that would be easier if I had more laborers. Yeah.

[MCG]

And then. Definitely.

[Matthew Goins]

Like Jesus’s prayer request.

[Jay]

You know, we spoke to a missionary in the Middle East, and of course, in a closed country, he did not want it known where he was. But we asked him the question that we’re about to ask you. And he mentioned how in his part of the world where he’s ministering. They will look at the United States collectively as a whole, whether politically or religiously, whatever, and they would say, ohh, that’s Christianity. And so it made his job difficult because he has to explain to them that no, that’s not what Christianity is. Let me explain to you what Christianity is. So let me pose the same question to you. Is there anything the church in the US?

[Matthew Goins]

Right.

[Jay]

Is doing or the US in general is doing that makes your job more difficult as you Minister to the souls and. Ferris.

[Matthew Goins]

That’s a great question too. I would say that the wealth of the United States is like. A magnet.

[Jay]

Hmm.

[Matthew Goins]

And the people here want to go, you know, they see that wealth and the lifestyle that’s portrayed on television. They’re not even talking about the church, but as a culture, you know, it’s that destination that everybody wants to get to.

[Jay]

MHM.

[Matthew Goins]

And being in a country that’s so close, it’s not uncommon for people to take a land route. You know, up through Guatemala, Mexico. Go to, get to the border and try to make it there. People I know that have gone and you know, so there’s a lack of contentment when spiritual maturity happens, there’s going to be a contentment with your lot in life where God has you and God will give opportunities. Maybe to change that. I’m not saying it’s against God’s will for people to go to. The United States. But he’ll make that happen. He’ll provide a. Way. So that’s one that’s the culture is such a magnet that I’m fighting against because this is a poor country and I think that’s why prosperity gospel is so popular here, because that’s what everybody wants. They want money. They want, you know, riches. They want comfort as far as the church, you know, you see that in the church sometimes where.

[Jay]

Hmm.

[Matthew Goins]

You know, church doesn’t have to be an elaborate production, but sometimes that’s what you see in a wealthy country, not just the United States, but anywhere where there is wealth, it becomes more. Of a production where, you know, church is really simple. It’s believers gathering together and that could be under a tree, you know, or in a building like mine that has no air. Conditioning.

[MCG]

Hello.

[Matthew Goins]

You know, and so it’s that emphasis on material things that need to be. It’s almost like the understanding is. Church is done this way. And these are the material things you need to have to do church the right way. I think it would be great for the world, even the global South, even, you know, Africa, South America, to understand, we don’t need all the trappings that you can see in the Western Church or in the American Church to have church and to be successful, you need the Bible. And the Holy Spirit, you know. So yeah, I don’t know if that answers the question specifically, but those are some things.

[Jay]

No, it does.

[Matthew Goins]

I’m seeing absolutely.

[MCG]

Yeah, there’s a question that is running around my mind, so I’m going to try to grab it and send it to you. You mentioned about desiring to see, you know, missionaries from Honduras, you know, go to countries where it may be more difficult for Americans to go to.

[Jay]

OK.

[MCG]

Yes. The question in my mind is going back to the Acts 2 and Act 17 culture, because I believe that the American culture is now moving rapidly toward an acts chapter 17 culture. There’s still pockets of acts Chapter 2. You know, you might find those in the rural areas of Kentucky and Tennessee and stuff like that, but for most part in the cities and in the metro areas of the US, I would say that there is heavily acts Chapter 17 and I think 2020 was probably that pivot that kind of push it over. And as they like now, we’re actually in this Act 17, we see it in our politicians. We see it in our leaders because the people are the ones who are electing them. Do you believe they’re going to be a reverse at some point where we’re going to now be sending? Missionaries from Honduras back to the US to reach our Act 17 culture up here.

[Matthew Goins]

You know, it’s funny how if you trace church history, it’s kind of, you know. Started in the middle. East.

[MCG]

Mm-hmm.

[Matthew Goins]

And then moved into Europe and spread, you know, Paul taking the gospel into the Europe, you know, Greece and getting to Rome.

[MCG]

Yep.

[MCG]

MHM.

[Matthew Goins]

And it’s spreading W, you know, and it’s almost like you can see how. Yeah, it’s it’s gone to Europe and spread some into Asia and then over to North America. And now it’s almost like going down South America, Africa and over into Asia. Seems like that’s where the fervor is right now and where God is doing a movement. Where there are laborers that are available, you know that are willing to go. And yeah, they call it the global S you know, the South America, Africa, Southeast Asia, and a lot of missionaries coming out of there now and possibly go. Went to the US just like we send missionaries from the US over to England where you know that’s where it all started for for North America. And so, yeah, I could see that happening. I could definitely see that happening.

[Jay]

Right, right.

[MCG]

All right. Well, let’s go into a little bit of break. You’ll listen to the removing birds podcast. We’re sitting down with missionary Matthew Goings to Honduras and learning all about his mission field. We’ll be right back.

[Jay]

Hi, this is Jay. MCG and I would like for you to help us remove barriers by going to removingbarriers.net and subscribing to receive all things removing barriers. If you’d like to take your efforts a bit further and help us keep the mics on, consider donating at removingbarriers.net/donate. Removing Barriers, a clear view of the cross.

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[MCG]

Alright, missionary Matthew. You know, at times we look at missionaries as being, you know, maybe that’s superstar of the Christian race. You know, they give up the comforts of their country and they go to a country that doesn’t maybe share the same comfort, the same culture, the same people, you know, and rightfully so. We should hold the role while they’re serving. But many times we don’t talk about the difficulties on the mission field or the hard times and your only family just went through a very rough time and maybe you’re still going to some of that. Tell us about your son Jayden and how should Christian deal with grief typically.

[Matthew Goins]

OK so. Yes, we are still in a grief season. It’s just over 13 months since my son Jayden was tragically killed. He was a freshman in college studying pastoral ministries. His desire was to return to Honduras and minister with us and continue, you know, facilitating church planting so. He was working along the side of the road, doing landscaping, earning money for college and you know, the details still remain to be clear. But a vehicle left the road. Well, a driver was distracted. At least, you know, maybe impaired, but left the road and struck my son. And from what we understand, he was killed instantly on March 21st, 2023. That’s been a very difficult thing for. All of us. Something I never. Never envisioned happening in our family.

Well. You know, and you almost think, well, of course God’s not going to be God’s not going to allow something like that to happen to me because I am a missionary and I am serving the Lord and my son was not doing things wrong. You know, he was studying and he was, you know, serving in his local church. And wanting to be a minister and of course, God’s not gonna let happen something bad. But that’s not. That’s not proper theology that we live in a broken world. And the sun rises on the just and on the unjust, and the rain falls on the just and on the unjust. And you know, it’s just another reminder that this is a broken shadow world that we live in. This is not our ultimate reality. And no. God did not owe me anything. And God did not promise, you know, physical. Physical safety. For his followers. So when things like this happened, what I have had to do, my wife has had to do is just like anchor ourselves to God’s character and understand God is a good God. Not malicious in any way. God allowed this to happen. He could have intervened and he didn’t. Any small little thing could have changed and this would not have happened. But it didn’t. And I just have to trust that God is sovereign. He’s good. He’s going to use this tragedy. For his purposes. You know, I cry a lot now. I my I.

[Jay]

Ah.

[Matthew Goins]

I struggle. You know? I miss, miss him a lot. He was. That we relate differently to our children. You have four sons, and I’m sure you relate differently to each one, and they each have their personality and you love each one, and that’s how it is with mine. But you know, I had a specific I had a very special relationship with Jayden.

[MCG]

Ohh yeah.

[Matthew Goins]

And I miss him a. Lot.

[Jay]

Yeah.

[Matthew Goins]

And you know what? I just if I think about it. From his perspective. His race. Is done.

[MCG]

Hmm.

[Matthew Goins]

You know he’s. He trusted in Christ as his savior at a young age, and we helped him in his discipleship process, and I saw fruit in his life of spiritual growth. And his race is done, you know, not many parents see the beginning and the end.

[MCG]

Hmm.

[Matthew Goins]

Of their child’s race. Usually it’s the child that’s. Burying us. And so I’m I I know that he’s finished and I know he’s with the stage here.

[MCG]

Amen.

[Matthew Goins]

And I know he is suffering is over and he’ll never have to go through what I’m going through down here on this earth. And so that’s the type of perspective that helps me keep going because there are times when I just feel like quitting.

[MCG]

Yeah, I hear you on that one.

[Jay]

Yeah. When you counsel others, I imagine that in your position as a missionary and planting churches, people come to you for counseling and grief, do you? And that when you’re counselling them, I imagine, of course you have that in mind, but how do you counsel others when they come to you and they need help in dealing with their grief as well?

[Matthew Goins]

You know, it depends. I’m still fresh in this, and so I am just now turning the corner from the. One needing help.

[MCG]

Hmm.

[Matthew Goins]

To now being able to help others. And you know, I try to reach them in God’s character, you know, look at God’s character. Look at his loving kindness, his mercy, his goodness, his love. His generosity, you know, God is not a malicious God or a capricious God, that you know is just going to fly off the handle or punish people in this way. He’s trying to move all of humanity toward faith in Jesus Christ and a glorious eternity, and this is not the end. And so anything that pushes me toward God is a good thing, including suffering and tragedy.

[MCG]

Yeah, yeah. Ohh, I can’t imagine you know. They say that when you lose a loved one, especially a loved one, as close as a son, a spouse, it’s almost like losing a limb. You know you’ll never get it back. Never be the same, but you’ll get accustomed somewhat to it. How are you and your family doing? How’s your wife?

[Jay]

Yeah.

[MCG]

When your sons doing.

[Matthew Goins]

Right. It depends on when you ask. You know, I describe it as.

[MCG]

I hear.

[Matthew Goins]

Waves, you know, on the seashore.

[MCG]

Hmm.

[Matthew Goins]

They’re always present. Sometimes they’re coming in soft and you can barely feel them, and other times they’re coming in hard and crashing. And so. You know, it’s hard to measure how we’re doing. We are. Deeply missing his presence in our lives.

[Jay]

Uh.

[Matthew Goins]

You know, it’s hard. To. Hard to see pictures or even, you know, have memories of past events or or even now getting together as a family. There’s always that missing.

[MCG]

Hmm.

[Matthew Goins]

Missing peace and.

[MCG]

Hmm.

[Matthew Goins]

And so, you know, I think. If you measure how we’re doing as far as are we back to doing? What God’s called us to do? I think that we’re we’re doing OK. You know we are. I’m preaching still. And serving in the church. And I’m going back to a regular schedule. In the beginning, it was not, you know, it was just all we could do to face the next day. So I’ve seen some progress there. My oldest son was a sophomore in college when the accident happened. They were roommates Jayden and Joe Ash, and it’s been very difficult for him. He decided to stay in school and finish the semester and.

[MCG]

Hmm.

[Matthew Goins]

He struggled. You know, he really did. He finished. He struggled. You know. Now his younger brother. So the youngest is now a freshman in college and the oldest is in junior. This year they would have all three been there.

[MCG]

Hmm.

[Matthew Goins]

Together. They all love soccer, they they all wanted to play on the same soccer team and.

Yes. So. You know the oldest and the youngest. They’re rooming together. Joe Ash and Justice, you know, they understand each other. They’re helping each other along. Encouraging, I would say our families never been closer than it is right now after this tragedy that we took things for granted before and thought that it would always continue the way it.

[Jay]

Hmm.

[MCG]

Yep.

[Matthew Goins]

It was things have changed and so we’re close now and I would say for the most part, it’s God’s grace that’s helping us face each new day.

[MCG]

Yeah, for so long for that, my wife is not doing too well, so I’ll. Ask the next question. Obviously your ministry change and I think you alluded to that. Could you tell me some of the things that changed because of this? Praise the Lord for the better, I will assume.

[Matthew Goins]

Yeah. Sure. So. I’ve, I’ve learned some things for sure I’ve learned to. You know. Take advantage of of the moments you know and not take anything for granted. I’ve really appreciated our church. I think I didn’t appreciate the body of Christ. Before like I. Do now.

[MCG]

Hmm.

[Matthew Goins]

Because there’s no way. Without the support that we’ve had from our church family. I don’t know where I would be right now. There was a devastating loss. I understand why people turned to drugs or alcohol or suicide when things get rough, when they don’t know Christ and and even sometimes when they do.

[Jay]

Hmm. Hmm.

[Matthew Goins]

But the Christian community, you know, and it’s working, you know, the body of Christ, it’s. The you know it. It shares the burden. You know it rejoice with those who rejoice and we weep with those who weep. We’ve had a church here. That’s really they. I mean, they watched my son grow up. He was born in Costa Rica. He his first birthday in Honduras. So they know him from birth.

[Jay]

OK.

[MCG]

Yeah.

[Matthew Goins]

And uh, you know. Our church has really rallied around us and has helped ease the burden. Whether it’s preparing meals or. Taking some of my duties off of me or my wife’s duties off so that we could just be here and and, you know, take each day at a time. So I think that’s something that’s changed in me as far as my appreciation of the local church, the body of Christ and and taking advantage of of the moments of, you know, who you’re with.

[MCG]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Matthew Goins]

Not take anything for granted.

[MCG]

Yeah, definitely. You know, I think it’s probably a year ago now for me as well, but I’m the coordinator of the soul winning ministry at our church and usually on Thursday evenings, we will, instead of going knock on doors, we’ll go and do some. Follow. Ups, if we have follow-ups to. Too. And my pastor got a hold of me and probably a few days, maybe the Sunday before that Thursday. And he said, hey, I’m going to be out of town, but I really needed to go and follow up with this family. This family have never been to the church. They heard of the church through a friend that used to come to the church. And he told me, hey, grab this person here. And you both of you go. I specifically want both of you to go. And I went over and it was a family dealing with a lot of the fun as well and.

[Jay]

Wow.

[MCG]

It was the hardest fight I’ve ever made. Because, you know, it was a sudden loss, just like Jaden. But this was a decision that the person made personally to do. That. And man I it changed me. I was never connected anyway to the fact that I actually got a book that I’m reading right now, calling acquainted with grief, because.

[Matthew Goins]

Wow.

[MCG]

What do you say to someone in that situation? It was a few days after I’m like. Wow, you know, so man, I totally I will pray for you, brother. I can’t another time. People saying we know how you feel. I can’t say that. I don’t think that’s the truth. So I won’t say that. But I will say I will pray for you and your family that God will send you to work to you and the rest of.

[Matthew Goins]

Thank you.

[MCG]

Your family, your life, so yeah.

[Jay]

Absolutely.

[Matthew Goins]

Thank you. Yeah, it has been hard and you know, only God working through us. Have we been able to? Stacy today and I guess when I do talk to people. About grief now. There is a little bit of a credibility because. I’ve.

[MCG]

Yep.

[Matthew Goins]

Experienced loss. Whereas before you know, I think before I was very insensitive to other people’s loss.

[MCG]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Matthew Goins]

Because it you know, now that it’s happened to me. I look back but. I think wow, I could have been. More. Compassionate to people.

[Jay]

Yeah, yeah.

[MCG]

All right. Well, let’s go into a little bit of a fun section, lighten things up a little bit from that and find out some of your favorites. What is your favorite scripture verse?

[Matthew Goins]

My favorite scripture verse I. Would say Philippians 1/2. You want for to me to live as Christ and to die is gain.

[MCG]

Amen. Amen.

[Jay]

What is your favorite historical biblical account? They call them Bible stories, but we don’t like to call it that because it’s the truth, right? It’s history. So what’s your favorite account in?

[Matthew Goins]

Right. That’s right, that’s right. Oh, man, that’s great.

[Jay]

The scriptures.

[Matthew Goins]

I love the apostle Paul and just reading about his dedication despite a lot of hardship, a lot of suffering. Just, just persevere.

And so you know if. I. Were to put it down would be. In general the apostle Paul and probably one of my favorites is in Philippians. You know Philippi where he was in jail. He and Silas were singing at midnight after having been whipped, you know, and, you know, totally unjustly treated. I just really, I really admire.

[Jay]

Yeah, for sure. I can’t even imagine what a Roman whipping is like, right? I just know the whippings I got growing up, and I sure didn’t feel like singing afterwards. So the fact that they were doing that, absolutely, that is a great historical account. Just remembering to rejoice in the Lord and to keep your eyes on.

[MCG]

Right.

[Matthew Goins]

No.

[Jay]

The Lord that.

[MCG]

Is really great. Yeah. What would you say is the most convicting?

[Matthew Goins]

Right.

[MCG]

Scripted passage to you.

[Matthew Goins]

Conflicting scripture passage?

[MCG]

Convicting.

[Matthew Goins]

Ohh, convicting, convicting OK, I thought you were looking at like some type.

[MCG]

Yeah.

[Matthew Goins]

Of debate or something.

[MCG]

Ohh no.

[Matthew Goins]

Convicting. Oh, wow. Oh, you know, I that’s a good one. Not sure how to answer that one rather than you know when Jesus said, you know, what is the greatest commandment to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. You know all of the law and commandments are hinged on these two. It’s like that’s convicting to me.

[MCG]

Yes.

[Matthew Goins]

Because you know. I fall so short.

[MCG]

Yeah, yeah, I think the idea behind that one is, you know, there are some passages that no matter how many times you read them or how many times you heard messages preaching them, you always prick you for me. Yeah. Is that verse in Acts 17 when he says.

Of that. And they that turned the world upside down. I’ve come here also and for me, man, I’m thinking if they can turn the world upside down for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, why can’t we?

[Matthew Goins]

OK. Right. No, that’s good.

[MCG]

You know.

[Jay]

OK, So what would you say is the most comforting scripture verse for you? Or verse is for you now?

[Matthew Goins]

Right. You know, in the Psalms where it says that the Lord is close to the broken hearted.

[MCG]

Hmm.

[Matthew Goins]

You know that one has been one of my go TOS lately. You know how he bites at the heart of the of the broken hearted and that’s you know, even when we do emojis and texting, you know, early on it was that broken heart emoji and now it’s that wrapped up bound up heart. Emoji. You know that God is is binding that heart up.

[MCG]

Yeah, yeah, definitely. What is your favorite hymn of the?

[Matthew Goins]

I like a mighty fortress is our God. Old classic.

[MCG]

Everyone ask you to sing it.

[Matthew Goins]

Thank you. You’re here, Sir. Pleased to hear that your listeners.

[Jay]

What would you say is your favorite giant of the faith in the scriptures? Would it be Paul as well, or do you have some? Different.

[Matthew Goins]

I would say definitely the apostle Paul would be the, you know, giant of the faith. That. I just so greatly admire. And you know. Love to read about the early church in specific. You know, the book of acts. I love the book of acts.

Oh. But even you know, just the apostle Paul, definitely.

[MCG]

What are some of the biggest barriers that you will see that are preventing the Honduras people from coming to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ?

[Matthew Goins]

Let’s say materialism is one of the big things. A desire. You know you don’t have to be rich to want to be rich, and that’s where they are. You know, there’s a lot that aren’t rich, but that’s what they want. It’s their passion. You know, being rich or wealthy or have a better lifestyle. That’s not a bad thing. If that’s God’s plan.

[MCG]

Right.

[Matthew Goins]

And if you know people could be good stewards of that, that’s definitely one of the big barriers. And then just an ignorance of.

[Matthew Goins]

True, a correct interpretation of scripture.

[MCG]

Mm-hmm.

[Matthew Goins]

You know, so scripture is. Very common here, like we talked about this earlier, but you know, people don’t have a proper view of Scripture or the proper framework to interpret Scripture. So I would say those are the two biggest barriers that come to my mind.

[Jay]

And how would you say, as a missionary on the field, how can those barriers be? Remove.

[Matthew Goins]

Right. So going to the second one, I mentioned the ignorance of Scripture. I would say from the pulpit preaching expository and giving people a proper framework of scripture, you know, it’s one story that’s got different focuses all along the way. But it’s one story. It’s got, you know, God’s. Plan of redemption. You know where creation sin and needs to be redeemed and the whole Bible talks about how God loved us so much to redeem us. And then there’s going to be the glorious eternity. And so, you know, having that proper framework and then preaching. Through scripture, you know, preaching through books of the Bible. With that framework in mind. Is going to help remove that. Ignorance. And that, you know, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. So as people hear the word of God, properly interpret it, God’s going to start using that it will not return void and then materialism.

I mean. It’s just. Learning to manage your money wisely. So we’ve done financial classes here, you know, try to pull some stuff from Dave Ramsey like you mentioned and you know, teach proper stewardship and also contentment is a big thing just being. With what you look like or what you have in life where you were born, your family. And just letting go. God show himself strong, show the gospel through your life right where you are and not trying to take the reins in your own hands and do things your own way.

[MCG]

Missionary Matthew was a pleasure. Thank you for joining us on the Removing Barriers podcast.

[Matthew Goins]

It’s my pleasure to enjoy the time

[Jay]

Hey, thanks so much for listening to the Removing Barriers podcast. Did you know that you could find us on Twitter, Gab Parlor, Facebook and Reddit, go to removingbarriers.net/contact and like and follow us on social media, removing barriers, a clear view of the cross?

[MCG]

Thank you for listening. To get a hold of us to support this podcast or to learn more about removing barriers. Go to: removingbarriers.net. This has been the removing Barriers podcast we attempted to remove barriers so that we all can have a clear view of the cross.