Matt Horan has served as Associate Pastor at Hyde Park since 2007. 

He earned a B.A. in Creative Writing from Florida State University in 1997, and became a junior high English teacher and soccer coach at Community Christian School in Tallahassee. While earning an M.A. in Educational Administration, he felt called away from the classroom, and began serving as the assistant youth director at Killearn United Methodist Church. Upon finishing his master's degree in 2001, he became the youth director at First United Methodist Church of Carrollton, Georgia. 

In 2004, he felt the call to become an elder in the United Methodist Church, and moved to Orlando, Florida; where he began attending Asbury Theological Seminary. He was chaplain of the student government in 2006 and president of 2007. He received an M.Div. in May, 2007, and was commissioned for ministry and received his first pastoral appointment — Hyde Park — in July of 2007.

Matt has been married to Susan since 1999, and they have two daughters, Jenna and Ashley. He collects Pez Dispensers, and as a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is a proud fan of the World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies.

Full name: The Reverend Matthew Paul Horan
But Please Call Me: Matt
Position: Associate Pastor
Born where and when: Philadelphia, PA — April 17

Family facts: Wife, Susan (b. March 29), daughters, Jenna Leigh (b. August 14) and Ashley Marie (b. April 22)

How I became a Christian: Through my Catholic upbringing and my involvement with Campus Crusade for Christ at Florida State University

Favorites

Music: Newsboys; Soundtracks to “The Natural,” “Rudy,” and “The Blues Brothers;” Stuff with bagpipes in it; KT Tunstall; Evanescence; contemporary versions of Christmas carols, Sarah McLachlan, Boyz II Men, Aaron Neville, marching bands.

Movie: “The Blues Brothers,” “Star Wars,” “Gettysburg,” “Tommy Boy,” “Glory,” “Rudy,” “Invincible,” “The Natural,” “Field of Dreams,” “Amistad,” “Scent of a Woman,” “Good Will Hunting,” “Ocean's 11,” “When Harry Met Sally,” “Cool Runnings,” “Apollo 13,” “Pirates of the Caribbean,“ ”Batman Begins,” “Walk the Line,” “The Three Muskateers,” “The Untouchables,” “Tombstone,” “Rain Man.”TV Show: “The West Wing,” “Seinfield,” “24,” “King of Queens.”

Food: Chick-fil-A chicken biscuits are quite good. I also have a top five ranking of restaurants based their pre-meal bread: Olive Garden, Fazolis, Hops, Roadhouse and the Spaghetti Factory. I also like Oranges a great deal. I have great affection for Boston Cream doughnuts, but have no business eating them.

Place to vacation: On a hammock in the shade or on a cruise ship.

Place to eat: Olive Garden, although a friend just bought me dinner at Bern's Steakhouse, and so I might now be ruined for all other restaurants.

How I spend my free time: Playing fantasy baseball (I've been in the same league for 13 years), playing softball, writing, going to the beach, seeing movies, trying to beat the all-time high score on PacMan, swimming with my girls, reading, watching FSU football, watching any teams play baseball and cheering for my favorite teams: Phillies, Eagles, Sixers, Flyers and Seminoles!

Best book I’ve read recently: “Eternity in their Hearts” by Don Richardson

Nobody knows that I...am an amateur Pez dispenser collector

Person I’d most like to meet: Former Philadelphia Phillie Juan Samuel

My vision for the future of Hyde Park Church is: that it will be a force of transformation of the Tampa community into a place more and more like the Kingdom of God by offering hope to those who need it. By the way... everyone needs it!

One way folks can pray for me is: that I remain disciplined in getting exercise and finding time to relax!