Chaplain Hoffman

Thanks for stopping by. My name is Matthew, or Matt (doesn’t matter) Hoffman. I am a minister, theologian and humanitarian who has been shaped by a spirituality/theology of work and concepts of vocation; and then how that work brings substantive care to others, specifically to the sick and poor.

For the first part of my working life, I had the honor of serving as a local church pastor (youth pastor, missions pastor and senior pastor) and church planter for approximately 20 years, being part of starting three different congregations. In my early years of ministry I found myself shaped by experiences of working with the poor both within the U.S. and abroad. Most significantly was a 6 year period of bringing groups of people down to the border to do community development work in the landfills of Reynosa, Mexico. Those events shaped me more than I realized in the moment.

When I transitioned into becoming a senior pastor, I became more of a “man of words.” For anyone who has ever been a pastor, you know that it requires you to talk…a lot. After serving in this capacity for many years, having achieved some measure of success in that role, I got tired of words. I found myself growing weary with speaking and wanted to live in more of a place of “doing something.” James’ words, “faith without works is dead,” was a point of continuous ache and restlessness for me.

Approximately 15 years ago I started to make the transition into healthcare chaplaincy, where I wasn’t talking so much as my ministry was one of more listening and presence. I am forever thankful to God for bringing me into this transition.

Shortly after that transition within healthcare ministry, I found myself immersed into the field of medical missions and humanitarian aid sending both staff and supplies to work all over the world. While still being a healthcare chaplain, who was learning, and continues to learn about the everchanging field of humanitarian logistics/supply chain, I remained deeply imbedded in pastoral care work with healthcare professionals. Within that function, I would find myself exploring with them the concepts of meaningful work, compassion fatigue and vocational burnout. From this, I focused my entire doctoral journey on the subject of the spirituality of work, what makes it meaningful and how one might view their work as a means of connecting with themselves, the world around them and with God - The One Who works. This doctoral journey, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic led me to my final dissertation entitled, Pandemic Theology: Listen, Lament and Labor. A Theology That Emerged From Those Who Worked on COVID Units.

So this website is dedicated to giving words, pictures, art and reflection as I meander through these various subjects and whatever else crosses my path. Thanks for stopping by.

The opinions of this site are solely the perspectives of its authors and are not the opinions of any one’s employers or affiliates.