ABOUT
MATTHEW BARNETT
As a boy, the preacher’s son had a dream:
a church that remained open 24 hours a day, 365 days
a year. This church would serve the inner-cities’
physical and spiritual needs, bringing a message of
hope to the seemingly hopeless. The Dream
Center is the fulfillment of that dream.
Matthew Barnett founded the Dream
Center in 1993, starting an international
movement reaching from South America to Sweden.
Matthew Barnett, best-selling author
of The Church That Never Sleeps and pastor
of one of America’s fastest growing churches,
is one of the most dynamic voices God is using in
Christianity today. At the age of 34, he is fulfilling
the roles of people who have been in the ministry
for years. Son of Pastor Tommy Barnett, best-selling
author, church growth pioneer, and pastor of what
Time Magazine noted as “One of the three largest
churches in America,” Matthew has learned powerful
principles of ministry, which have gifted him in founding
The Dream Center in Los Angeles.
The Dream Center began as a typical
local church. With the fresh vision and desire to impact
the entire city that God birthed in Matthew’s
heart, the church grew from 39 members at its conception
in September of 1994, to reaching more than 35,000 people
each week in the Center’s 40 services and 273
ministries and outreaches today. The Dream Center
houses close to 500 people who are being rehabilitated
for the glory of God. Every week people receive food
and many other services are offered to meet the spiritual
and physical needs of the community.
As of April 2002, there have been over 130 Dream Centers
launched around the world.
MORE
THAN JUST NUMBERS
2001 was a historic year for the Dream Center.
Pastor Matthew Barnett and the International Church
of the Foursquare Gospel united the famous Angelus Temple
with the Dream Center. Through a process
of two great denominations working together, the unification
was possible, and as of November 1, 2001, Pastor Matthew
Barnett became the Senior Pastor over Angelus Temple
and the Dream Center. Matthew now has a congregation
in excess of 6,000 attending weekly.
Matthew has spoken in some of the largest and most
prestigious conventions, conferences, camp-meetings
and churches throughout America and the world including
Promise Keepers and Hillsong. He hosts a weekly television
program called “The Church That Never Sleeps,”
which airs nationally and internationally. He has
consulted leading businessmen, celebrities, and athletes.
President George W. Bush has endorsed him with the
highest regards to his achievements, and his church
has been recognized several times in the New York
Times and the Los Angeles Times for its contribution
to the community.
The Los Angeles Times Magazine did a feature story
on Matthew Barnett in their July 21, 2002 issue placing
him on the cover. Pastor Matthew has also won numerous
awards including the Religious Heritage Award in 1999.
Matthew married Caroline Olsson on September 10,
1999. Their first child, Mia Aimee, was born on September
4, 2003 and Caden West was born to the proud parents
on January 18, 2006.
Pastor
Tommy Barnett
Dream Center Founder
TOMMY
BARNETT is the Senior
Pastor of one of the fastest growing churches in America,
Phoenix First Assembly of God, in Phoenix, Arizona.
The church is known as The Church with a Heart, because
of its 245+ outreach ministries.
With an average weekly attendance of over 15,000,
Phoenix First is a soul winning church, committed
to reaching the city, country, and world for God.
The Church moved into a multi-million-dollar complex
in 1985, occupying 75 acres on Shadow Mountain. The
first building constructed was the 6,500-seat auditorium,
one of the largest sanctuaries in America. Next came
three additional buildings -- administration, education,
and gymnasium. Completed in 2001 is the exciting SMALL
WORLD VILLAGE. Read
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