Greg Matthews

Greg Matthews, has lead an epic life and most of that in defending and safeguarding our nation and the American public; After serving his country in the US Air Force during Desert Storm/Desert Shield, Greg spent the next 27 years mastering skills that would save lives. Driven by a passion to help those who could not help themselves, he applied himself to the rigors of becoming a Fire Fighter, Hazardous Materials Technician, EMT, Special Operations Rescue Technician, Rescue Helicopter Pilot, Fugitive Recovery Agent, Terrorism Response Manager, Homeland Security Manager, Naval Antiterrorism & Physical Security Officer, Emergency Manager, international consultant, and currently serves as the US Army Corps of Engineers Southwestern Division Antiterrorism Officer protecting the nation’s dams, hydro-power generation plants, and navigation locks.

Though most would look on any one of his accomplishments as a measure of what the world defines as a man, but Greg would tell you something different. “The bravest of men, the ones of true character and purpose, are those who have placed the pursuit of intimate relationship with their family and God as the core of their existence. Achievements are worthless in the absence of relationships”.

Greg was not always aware of this foundational truth. Most of his life was spent proving to the world at any cost that he was a man. Whether it was battling structure fires, cutting people out of twisted vehicles, rappelling over cliffs, pulling people form rivers, working at the world trade center attack, disrupting terrorist attacks, conducting helicopter rescues, or starting a national emergency service system in the jungles of east Africa, if he could picture it in his mind, he was going to find a way to do it. He was driven by all the wrong reasons though.

It took a cold day in Alaska’s back country and a chance encounter with a 650 lbs. grizzly bear to change all that in an instant. After an attack lasting over two minutes, Greg lay lifeless and bleeding heavily, When his brother finally reached him, the only words he could get out were “I think I’m dying”.

In an instant he was changed, as the mirror of empty works was held up to his face. On the verge of death, he finally realized what really mattered in life. It wasn’t the achievements he had been chasing for so long it was the relationships in his life that meant the most. Those relationships, the ones with God, wife and and his kids would give him the will and the determination to make it out alive.

Well, Greg is a completely different man now. God allowed him another chance to get things right. So many things have changed, but none greater than his commitment to invest first in those foundational relationships with family, but most importantly with God. God has shown him what it means to be a real man, and has given him a tremendous burden to share this message with other men. Through the writing of his book Relentless, an outreach ministry to men has been born. When he is not loving on his family, Greg is loving on God through sharing his life changing and life giving message with other men. Greg now has a passion to reach as many men as he can with the powerful message of defining manhood through essential intimate relationships first.

Greg believes God wants every man to build and pursue a house of achievements, but it has to start with building and investing in the core foundational relationships first.

Greg is no longer consumed with chasing achievements across the world, he is content now just loving on his family and seeking a deeper walk and relationship with God. Greg lives in Plano, Texas with his wife Rhea, sons Casey and Benjamin, and his daughter Ciara. Rhea and Greg just celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary. They attend Chase Oaks Church in Plano, and spend most of their time at the baseball and softball fields watching all three of them play. Who would have ever thought that a grizzly attack would turn out to be one of the greatest blessings in his life. When asked what has been the biggest change since the attack he responded “I try and live every day now like I may never see tomorrow. If you live with that perspective there will never be a question as to what’s important”.

Learn more about Greg at his website.