Reverend Matthew J. Watts is a native of Mount Hope, WV and has served as the Senior Pastor of Grace Bible Church in Charleston, West Virginia since 1993. Prior to that, he worked as an engineer, small business consultant.
In 1997, he established the HOPE Community Development Corporation, a non-profit organization with the mission of empowering the inner city through spiritual renewal, education, employment and training, economic development and comprehensive community revitalization of the West Side of Charleston.
Reverend Watts is recognized as a community leader who understands the importance of economic development to the empowerment of the African American Community. He is the recipient of numerous community and national awards for his work with youth and the community. Reverend Watts has been instrumental in shaping policy to improve education, workforce development, housing, juvenile justice and prison reform for the citizens of West Virginia.
He has been married to his wife Pamela since 1980 and they have five adult children and eleven grandchildren. Reverend Watts and Pamela reside on 3rd Avenue on the West Side of Charleston.