Born into a family with parents as Salvation Army Officers (Pastors), and alongside his younger brother, Matt Rideout was deeply impacted by the values and mission of The Salvation Army from a young age. Hailing from Newfoundland, his journey has taken him across Newfoundland, Ontario, and Manitoba in various roles.
With a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Nipissing, Matt’s academic background in business and accounting led him to serve with the Salvation Army’s finance department in St. John’s, Newfoundland for over two years as an accountant. But it was God’s call on his life that drew him to the Salvation Army’s College for Officer Training in Winnipeg, Manitoba to become a pastor with The Salvation Army as an officer. After an intensive two years of training, he was commissioned and appointed at a Winnipeg church for a year.
Matt is a sports fan, spanning from the Toronto Maple Leafs, Raptors, and Blue Jays to the Winnipeg Jets and Blue Bombers from his time in Winnipeg. In his spare time, he enjoys video games, movies, TV shows, and music, often analyzing their underlying narratives and artistic imagery. He values introspection and the depth of one-on-one conversations with people.
Married to Jenny, a lifelong Winnipegger also pursuing her pastoral journey with the Salvation Army, their shared values, sense of humor, and calling from God on their shared path brings them joy and purpose. Having recently transitioned from Winnipeg to Georgina in the summer of 2023, they are enjoying getting to know their new neighbours in the surrounding communities.
At his core, Matt desires for everyone to know how loved they truly are by God and to experience a profound relationship with Jesus. He hopes for lives to be transformed by Jesus’s power, leading to freedom from sin and self. For every person to be saved, healed and delivered. For people to embrace who God has created them to be and for the church to truly love others and tell others about Jesus.
