Briarwood Church

Matt Green – Youth Pastor
Matt grew up in a small town in the hills of North Georgia called Toccoa. After graduating from high school, he attended Lee University in Cleveland, TN where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Bible and Theology. It was at Lee, while traveling with the Lee Singers (a gospel choir), that Matt met his lovely bride, Lynnsee. They were married in the summer of 2005 and now have two daughters, Georgia and Haydyn.

Matt started part-time ministry at the age of 15 in his home church. After graduating from Lee, he began his full-time ministry as the Youth Pastor of Cathedral Christian Center in Phoenix, AZ. In January of 2008, Matt and Lynnsee joined the staff of Briarwood Church as Youth Pastors.

Matt enjoys spending time with his family. He plays golf whenever he can. He is a lover of both music and movies and has a vast trivia knowledge to go with both.

Karen Putman – Childrens Minister Karen Putman has been involved in Children’s Ministry and Christian Education in various capacities for over 25 years. She attended Texas Tech and has taken Berean Bible Classes through the Assemblies of God. She has been on Staff at Briarwood Church as the Children’s Minister and Christian Education Director since January 1, 1998. She was the Children’s Minister at Christian Life Assembly of God in Lubbock from 1989 - 1997 before coming to Briarwood. She also served as Children’s Ministry Director at Radiant Life and South Plains Christian Fellowship while living in Lubbock.

Karen grew up in Van Horn, Texas. She moved to Lubbock in 1973, but returned briefly to Van Horn in 1975 to graduate. She has two grown children and 4 grandchildren with one more due to arrive in July of 2010. Her son, Brandon, and his wife Alisha reside in Lubbock with their two sons, Jaxson & Jett. Her daughter, Season Bruce, and her husband Wade reside in Conroe with their two children, Westin and Emma, awaiting the arrival of their third child. Karen loves spending time with her family, her kids at church, and friends. She is an avid reader, loves old movies and playing cards and games, and can spend all day in an antiques store if given the chance!

Karen has a passion for ministering to children and their families. She feels very strongly that children are not only the church of tomorrow, but are a vital part of the church of today. She strives to help them realize that God has a purpose for their lives even as children, and wants to use them right now, where they are today. Her ministry to children is relational…building relationships outside the walls of the church, AND relevant…using creative and exciting ways of presenting God’s Word to insure an understanding of the lesson for each child. It is her belief that the methods of teaching the Word to children must constantly be changing with today’s culture, but the Message must always remain the same.