“The more you see the less you know, the less you find out as you go. I knew much more then than I do now.”
— U2, City of Blinding Lights (2004)
Matt Norman serves as the Senior Director of Field Ministries for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, a role he shares with his wife Michelle. Together, they guide global strategy, cultivate sustainable, contextually rooted ministry, and oversee support and training for field personnel around the world. Based in Barcelona, Spain, Matt brings more than two decades of experience in intercultural ministry, leadership development, and theological education.Â
A third-culture kid raised in Uganda and Greece, Matt has also lived and served in Raleigh, Toronto, Atlanta, and now Barcelona. His life and work are grounded in mutual respect, learning, and collaboration—values he carries into his leadership of diverse global teams.Â
RELATED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Matt has designed and led learning-centered formation pathways for globally distributed personnel, integrating face-to-face and online experiences shaped by adult learning principles. He co-authored Dawnings, a framework for congregational life, and Pivot, a leadership development resource exploring new paradigms for engaging in God’s mission.
He regularly consults with churches and nonprofit leaders on organizational dynamics, inter-cultural training, and leadership development, drawing from his wide-ranging experience in multicultural environments.
ACADEMIC & RESEARCH INTERESTS
Matt holds a PhD in Theology from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, where his research focused on homiletics through the lens of learning-centered education. Inspired by Jane Vella’s Dialogue Education™, his work brings together practical theology, pedagogy, and practice theory to reimagine preaching as a participatory and transformative learning event. As Vella reminds us, “Human beings are subjects or decision-makers in their own lives. The opposite of being a subject in one’s own life is feeling like an object…” (Vella, Learning to Listen, Learning to Teach).
He also holds an MA in Global Leadership from Fuller Theological Seminary and is actively involved with the International Baptist Theological Study Centre (IBTS) in Amsterdam, where he contributes to community-based learning models and theological formation.
Away from Work
Matt is married to Michelle, and they have two children. He enjoys playing basketball and padel, cheering for FC Barcelona, and making music—whether that’s picking up the guitar or writing songs. He’s also an avid traveler and reader with a deep appreciation for culture and storytelling.