Who We Are

Pastor Mike Matiscik has a passion for evangelism because no one ever personally sat down and shared the gospel with him until he was 23 years old.

"I can't believe that I could live in this country for so long with everyone assuming that I had heard it. The gospel has changed my life. My desire is that God would also make a difference in your life. I truly believe the only way to effectively do that is through God's Word. That is why I am so pleased the Bible is the basis of everything we do at Christian Fellowship Church!"

These words are not only proclaimed but lived out as Pastor Matiscik faithfully teaches God's Word through systematic, verse-by-verse exposition each week.

Mike was born and raised in Ohio and graduated from The Ohio State University with a degree in Business
Administration. Prior to entering pastoral ministry, he worked in public accounting with Ernst & Whinney (now Ernst & Young). Recognizing his need for a godly helpmate, the Lord graciously brought Rebecca ("Becky") into his life through a weekly Bible study. They were married in 1989 and have two children, Ellie and Joshua.

God, in His sovereignty, led Mike and Becky to California, where Mike earned his Master of Divinity degree
from The Master's Seminary, graduating in 1992. He later completed his Doctor of Ministry degree from Shepherds Theological Seminary in 2024.

Mike has served in various youth ministries and two college-and-career ministries before being called to
Christian Fellowship Church in Hammond, Indiana, in 1996. Since then, he has faithfully served as Senior Pastor, preaching God's Word, equipping believers, and helping lead the church in its mission of making disciples through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

In addition to his pastoral responsibilities, Mike serves as Director of the Cluster Program for Shepherds
Theological Seminary. He is also the author of Fully Assured, a book designed to help believers find biblical assurance of salvation through the study of 1 John.

Mike and Becky are especially grateful for the blessing of becoming grandparents with the arrival of their grandson, Dean Michael, in September 2025. After decades of ministry, their passion remains unchanged: to know Jesus Christ, make Him known, and help people grow in a deeper understanding of God's Word.

Pastor Jose Arguedas is originally from Costa Rica and has been involved in ministry for more than 15 years. During that time, he spent ten years serving as a missionary throughout several Latin American countries, sharing the gospel and ministering to local communities. He also served for six years as the director of a discipleship and ministry training school, equipping young people who sensed God's call to missions and preparing them to take the message of Jesus Christ to the nation.

In 2022, Pastor Jose moved to the United States to further his theological education, earning a Master of
Arts in Theological Studies. He currently serves as Pastor of the Spanish Ministry at Christian Fellowship Church in Hammond, Indiana. As part of the church's "One Church, Two Languages" vision, he is helping reach Spanish-speaking families with the gospel and encouraging believers to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ through the teaching of God's Word.

Jose is happily married to his wife, Marianela, and together they are blessed with three sons: Josue, Caleb,
and Samuel. His passion is to see lives transformed through the saving grace of Jesus Christ and to equip believers to become faithful disciples who are committed to advancing God's Kingdom.

Together, Pastor Jose and his family are dedicatedto helping people know Jesus Christ, grow in His Word, and share His truth with others.

Elder Sean Flanagan desires to see all believers grow in their faith. "The best way for believers to grow is through the Word of God and spending time with other believers. I am so glad that Pastor Mike teaches the Bible verse-by-verse. This type of teaching explains God's message to us in a basic, simple language. It explains both what all people must do to be saved, and what believers must know to please God." 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says that "All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."

Sean was born in Nebraska and is a graduate of the University of Nebraska. He met his wife Jodi in the college ministry at their local church. They were married in 1998 and have three children, Chloe, Quinn, and Caleb. Sean has served in various levels of youth ministries and currently leads our college & career group (Venture), teaches Children's Church, and teaches Adult Bible Fellowship (ABF), in addition to being an elder.

Ruben came to faith in Christ in 2011 while searching for answers in life that he couldn’t find anywhere else. His journey began when his wife invited him to a Bible study, and from that point on, he has been faithfully following Christ.

Ruben and his wife, Tania, have been part of Christian Fellowship Church for over five years. They are blessed with eight children and four grandchildren—with one more on the way.

Before coming to CFC, Ruben served at Community Christian Church of Chicago, where he helped launch a youth group by inviting players from the high school football team he coached to attend Thursday night meetings after practice—a ministry he was involved in for five years.

One verse that has deeply encouraged Ruben is Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." This verse reminds him that even in times of doubt or uncertainty, God is in control.

Ruben currently works as a maintenance manager for Leeco Steel, overseeing nine sites across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. In his free time, he enjoys watching football and continues to support his sons by serving as a consultant for their high school football team.

Ruben is grateful for the opportunity to serve the church family as a deacon and to use his gifts to build up the body of Christ.

Grant accepted Christ into his life at a young age. A growing sense of guilt over his youthful sins prompted him to ask Jesus to be his Savior, giving him the opportunity to turn his back on Satan to serve a new Master!

Grant grew up in a Christian home with parents who were faithful attenders at CFC. He’s been a part of Hammond-life since birth, continuing so, with his graduation from Purdue Northwest University, and now, proudly working as a store manager through the local grocery chain of Strack & Van Til’s.

The Lord has allowed various avenues of service via Grant’s ministry at Christian Fellowship Church…

• Sunday School teacher: grades 1-3.
• Commander for the A.W.A.N.A. Youth Clubs.
• Missions Board Member - Corresponding Missions Secretary
• Deacon Chairman

CFC has been a “constant” throughout Grant’s journey of growing-up: shaping his life, encouraging with godly role models of Christian living, providing emotional & spiritual support. As an adult, he has come to value the grammatical historical approach of Pastor Mike’s Bible teaching.

Both Grant & his wife, Annie, seek to serve the Lord by opening their home with hospitality AND the gospel. They pray that their growing family, three boys, one girl, and counting, will be a testimony to others..

“Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…

Hebrews 10:23-25

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

2 Corinthians 5:21

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Rolando was born and raised on the south side of Chicago. He married Annette in 2000 and moved to Hammond in 2004. Annette, his daughter Sofia, and son Rolando Jr. started attending CFC in 2005.

Rolando started attending about a year later after seeing a change in his wife. Through Pastor Mike's teachings and sharing of the gospel, he immediately realized he needed a Savior. The more he attended and heard the Word, the more he saw what a sinner he is. He repented and gave his life to Jesus. His heart's desire is to serve the people in his community and to see some come to faith.

Romans 10:17: "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." This verse explains how Rolando came to faith.

In Dave’s youth in Oklahoma, he embraced the Lord as his Savior, finding solace in the conviction that Jesus Christ redeemed him. Anchored in the assurance of salvation, he draws security from Romans Chapter 8:35 & 39.

The verse in 2 Corinthians 5:21 resonates deeply with him, underscoring Christ's selfless sacrifice for our sins. This reminder directs his focus and gratitude towards our Lord’s act of atonement.

His passion lies in his love for hospitality, service, and administration. He finds fulfillment in utilizing these Spiritual gifts to serve others. Grateful for the blessings God has bestowed upon his life, he aspires to extend compassion and support to those in need, especially Veterans.

He has been married to his beloved wife, Kara, since 1992, and together, they've been blessed with the joy of raising two wonderful children, Morgyn and Caleb. Their journey has taken them across both coasts, each experience contributing to their growth in Christ.

In 2019, my wife Cyndy began attending CFC with our then 3-year-old son, Benjamin. That’s when Pastor Mike met with me and shared the Gospel. He explained that salvation is by faith alone, which was difficult for me to understand at first. I had grown up believing that being a good person was enough.

After about a year of attending regularly, the Lord removed the scales from my eyes. He helped me see that there was nothing I could do to earn salvation—Jesus had already done it all for me on the cross. It was then that I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior.

Since then, God has given me a new love for others. As a Deacon, my desire is to humbly serve my brothers and sisters in Christ and to lay my life down for others, just as Jesus laid His life down for me.

“So that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Philippians 2:10-11.

I was blessed to be raised byparents who loved the Lord and faithfully taught me the truths of Scripture. As
an adult, I came to embrace with my heart the biblical truths that I had long understood with my head. Since coming to Christian Fellowship Church, where God's Word is intentionally and faithfully taught, I have been given countless opportunities to grow in my walk with Christ.

Serving on the Deacon Board has provided a meaningful avenue of ministry. It is a privilege to serve the
church family through the oversight and care of our buildings and grounds, helping ensure that our facilities are ready to support the many ministries of Christian Fellowship Church.

One of my favorite verses is Jeremiah 29:11:

"For I know the plans that I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope."

While I understand that this promise was originally given to Israel during the Babylonian exile, it reminds me of a broader biblical truth found throughout Scripture: God lovingly watches over His people and faithfully accomplishes His good purposes in their lives. Through both the joys and challenges that God has allowed in my journey, I have seen His sovereign hand at work and have learned that He is always in control.

I am grateful for the blessing of being the father of four adult children and the grandfather of several grandchildren. Family is one of God's greatest gifts, and I treasure the opportunities to invest in their lives and watch God's faithfulness unfold from one generation to the next.

And, of course, playing golf with Pastor Mike isalways an added blessing!