09/02/2026
Meet Melissa and Matthew ✨
Their story began in 1989, when Matthew was managing executive education programs for USC and Melissa was working in hotel sales in Marina del Rey. A sales manager who thought they would make a cute couple set them up on a group date to see the Angels play the Orioles especially fitting since Matthew is a Baltimore fan. They took it from there.
After moving from Los Angeles to Austin in 1992, they returned to Ventura County in 2024 to be closer to family and soon found another kind of home at Church of the Foothills.
Matthew has sung in church choirs throughout his life and now sings with ours. Together, he and Melissa lead the Fellowship Board. Melissa especially enjoys visiting with the people she sees each week, while both treasure the church’s open and welcoming spirit. Something Matthew, a lifelong churchgoer, says is rare and special in a church community.
When asked what they admire about one another, Matthew points to Melissa’s resilience, strength, and grace, especially under pressure. He also appreciates the enormous heart she has for family and friends. Melissa admires Matthew’s offbeat sense of humor, strong character and convictions, deep faith, and ability to see the best in people. She calls him an amazing girl dad, a devoted friend, and a fellow crazy dog parent. She loves his excellent cooking and baking, too, and jokes that she can abandon him at any social event, knowing he’ll happily thrive on his own!
Life stays lively thanks to their two grown daughters and three dogs. Their youngest daughter works in interior design in Los Angeles, while their eldest is an oncology nurse supervisor in Montana. Alfie is a white Labrador puppy who is seven months old. Ellie, a Maltipoo, is four, and Frankie, a Pug, is seven. Their yard has even become the neighborhood’s unofficial dog park, with daily visitors and sometimes six or seven dogs romping around at once.
We’re so glad their journey led them back to Ventura County and into our community. 💛