On 8 April 2026, Matthew reaffirmed his baptismal call to mission service and renewed his commission to serve as a missionary in Christ’s Holy Church. He also received a blessing from bishops of The United Methodist Church and leaders of the United Methodist mission agency for his continued ministry in Rome. Matthew was commissioned as a missionary of The United Methodist Church on 29 April 2012.

Matthew and 16 other missionaries received blessings for their mission service in 10 different countries around the world. In addition to Matthew as an international ecumenist, missionaries who were blessed work in area of education, social work, church planting, pastoral ministry and agriculture.

The worship service was hosted by Lavington United Church in Nairobi – a Methodist, Anglican, and Presbyterian congregation in the Lavington neighborhood in Nairobi – and served as a sign of the unity already shared by followers of Christ.

During the service, Bishop John Maromba, presiding bishop of the Methodist Church in Kenya, preached on Matthew 5:9: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson, president of United Methodist Global Ministries, said to the missionaries, “the Lord appeared to Moses in a burning bush and called to him saying, ‘put off your shoes from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.’ Now, by virtue of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, every place we tread becomes holy. Today, we come to affirm that the influence you have each day in your home, neighborhood, school, workplace, and in our community takes place on holy ground.”

Dr. Roland Fernandes, general secretary of United Methodist Global Missionaries and United Methodist Higher Education and Ministry, presented anchor crosses to the missionaries as a symbol of our faith and hope in Jesus Christ. He said, “this anchor reminds us of the call to mission within and beyond our native lands and communities. The anchor and the cross remind us to be rooted in our faith, hope and love as we continue in our journeys.” In directly addressing the missionaries, Dr. Fernandes said, “may this anchor cross be a symbol of your participation in God’s mission, anchored in Christ’s saving love and commissioned by The United Methodist Church. May God’s grace and peace be with you in your journey.”

The service of missionary commissioning and commissioning renewal has held on the sidelines of the joint meeting of the boards of directors of the General Board of Global Ministries and the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry.