A letter from elder Stuart Hayes:
It is with deep sadness that I write this. For those of you who have not heard, Matt King, a former deacon at dcf, passed away on Monday. Matt had moved to graduate school in Charlottesville at the University of Virginia. On Monday morning he was riding his bicycle to class when he was struck by a vehicle. It is difficult to express the depth of mourning that this brings our community. For many of you who knew Matt, I recognize that words cannot express the pain during this. And there is nothing wrong with pain. For in the pain, we validate our love for Matt, we recognize his love for us, we are angry with a broken world that produces death, and we cry out for a healing that only God can accomplish. In the lament, we grieve. And this type of feeling is good, it is needed, it is the pain of humanity. The pain can be numbing, where we just sit in silence and ponder. The pain can be active, where we yell, we throw objects, or we put on shoes and simply run. The pain can be overwhelming, where we lie on the couch, or press into the arms of a friend and simply weep. In any of these expressions, it is the pain we feel finding an outlet, finding a place to manifest itself. And in the pain, we look forward to the promises that Christ has brought, the promise of the restoration of all things, the final defeat of death itself, the promise that the current death is not the end, it does not have the final word. For in Christ, we see that the dead are truly raised. We hope in the truth of Paul’s mock, “Oh death where is your victory? Oh death, where is your sting?” For not even death, Satan’s final word, can overcome the final word of Jesus, the Messiah, risen and proclaimed by angles, “He is not here, He is risen, just as He said.” We look forward to seeing Matt again.
Matt King was an eclectic blend. His wild, curly hair, burly physique, and wide smile were the physical markers of an inward gentleness, joy, and kindness. Matt wore shorts all winter, and I told him it was a metaphor for the passion that burned in his soul for Jesus and his neighbors, but he maintained he was just hot. Matt once cut his hair and gave it away for those without hair. He once cut his hair because he recognized the pride and sin in his life and wanted a physical reminder that God was the only god worth his devotion. Matt once cut his hair because he was simply, hot (really, if you sat next to him you could feel the heat). I first experienced Matt around my kitchen table, an extremely intelligent freshman with a desire to hear God’s voice and allow it to impact his life. Matt thought deeply. Matt interacted deeply. He did not crave surface relationships, but preferred to press in, to look into knowing the heart of those around him. His soul welcomed you, as he looked deep into who you were rather than who you displayed yourself to be. Matt could solve a Rubik’s cube. He could speak and read Russian. He discussed the words of classic philosophers with campus professors and academics. He played monster games with elementary aged children. He fed the homeless. His love of God influenced the way he chose to live his life and interact with the world around him. Matt truly lived in a way that demonstrated the restorative work of the Father.
There are many stories that will be told about Matt in the coming days. We should celebrate those as a community and mourn together. Matt King loved me and I love him. Praise to God the Father, who loves us all.
Funeral services will be held at Ridge Baptist Church in Summerville, SC on Saturday, April 24 at 11:00 am. There will be many from dcf travelling together. If you need a ride, let us know (stuart@dcfclemson.org) and we will help locate one.
If you would like to leave a memory or prayer to be given to Matt’s parents and brother, please do so by visiting and commenting at Winn Collier’s blog. You also may visit Matt’s facebook page here.
