LEADERSHIP TEAM

Matthew S. Diehl

I was born and raised in Houston, Texas. I had a previous career prior to entering ministry; I was a Houston Police Officer for about twelve years.

Prior to coming to Round Top, I was the pastor of a mission (new church plant) for two years. In addition, I was on the staff serving many roles at Houston Baptist University for about two years. The year prior to coming to Round Top, I served as the Southwest Ministry Representative for the American Bible Society, New York.

 

My wife, Renee, of 42 years, and I followed the Lord’s calling to Round Top in 1999 to serve. On September 29, 2020, Renee died of cancer. The Lord’s love and peace provided strength and encouragement through the year-long battle with cancer. We Believers know that we will be with the Lord someday. Renee’s time came sooner.

I survived cancer (diagnosed August 2015) during multiple years of treatments and surgeries. However, Renee was diagnosed stage 4. The best doctors in the world at MD Anderson Houston could not save her life. The Lord did save her eternal life, and she is now with Him forever. The grace, peace and love of God sustained us through this temporal fallen world’s sufferings. We chose to humble ourselves to God through life’s challenges. He did not disappoint us. We grew to a greater understanding of the love of God at work in our lives and to others. God’s love is chosen by us to overcome life’s biggest challenges. Renee surrendered to God and chose for His love to carry her through life. It is said that we do not leave this world with anything. We do leave this world with God’s love carrying us. God is love, and we are in Him, and He is in us (“In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.” John 14:20 NAU) I pray these words find a home in someone who reads them or is being faced with such a time in their life.

We have been blessed with two adult children and four grandchildren. As of late Summer of 2021, my son, Christopher, and my daughter, Jennifer, and her husband, Kevin, with their youngest daughter, Eva, are now living with me.

My hobbies include taking pictures, cars, carpentry, bicycling and many outdoor sports.

 

My training and experience include a Master’s Degree in Theology and a BS in Political Science and Mass Media with continued experience in public service since I was twenty-one.

I also have been involved in private business ownership and operations since being in Round Top, which came to a successful end.

This experience provided great insight into the lives of many in our community and the challenges people face outside of ministry.

I have also served as Election Judge in our community.

 

As a pastor, I pray for the Holy Spirit to work through me to serve His purposes and His ways

first and foremost. I believe God has gifted me with compassion, teaching and

preaching. I pray that the Lord works through me, and all of us,

using these gifts to build a Christian Community of Faith. I recognize

Jesus is the head and the center of the ministry, not me. My part is to prepare

believers for serving Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit who is at work in

all of our hearts. Prayer, confession, forgiveness, service and spending time in God’s

Word are essential to all our lives as servants of the Lord. Reaching the lost and ministering to people,

as Jesus does to the Church, is an overall mission of the pastorate.

 

I view the Church as containing all born-again believers. This means a person has surrendered their heart (re-birth) to God, thereby living-out faith taught by Jesus, God our Savior. In today’s world, the word “Christian” has many meanings. You cannot have a saving relationship with God by earning or working your way through man-made institutions. We must surrender to God’s grace of salvation, because it cannot be purchased or merited. We are called to witness all of God’s proclaimed Word as contained in the Holy Bible, making disciples and baptizing believers in the name of Jesus Christ. I hope to visit with you soon.

Veronica Skaggs

My passion is to share Christ with others.  I have experienced, in and through my family and community, Christ’s unfailing devotion and love.  To those whom much has been given, much is required.  This is a responsibility that I do not take lightly.  In a society that has lost sight of Christ as their first love, God has impressed on me the great urgency that we turn back to Him. Throughout my life God has continued to fill my heart with His great compassion and love for our children.  As a child advocate in His service, I continually strive to help promote and create a healthy environment for our children to learn and grow in. I grew up in a home hearing the Gospel message and understanding that God must always have first place in our lives.   His unconditional love was the reason for the Cross and has been experienced in my life.  It is my prayer that His unconditional love will touch your life as well.