Vroman takes over as new pastor of First Baptist Church in Sikeston

SIKESTON — The First Baptist Church in Sikeston has a new pastor.

Matthew Vroman, who had been a pastor in Detroit, held his first sermon at First Baptist last week. Vroman is no stranger to Missouri.

“I was born in Howard County over in Glasgow (Missouri),” Vroman said. “I went to Mizzou and got saved and was called into ministry. I met my wife there and got married.”

Vroman, who was an agriculture major at Mizzou, served in the military for four years in San Antonio and also served in Turkey as a missionary.

“I’ve been serving on the east side of Detroit, primarily an African-American church,” Vroman said. “And now God called us here.”

Vroman, who is an avid Cardinals fan, said he and his family wanted to get back to a small town, rural setting.

“I like Missouri. I’ve traveled all over the world but there is something about small town Missouri that just sticks in your craw,” Vroman said.

Vroman, who has been ministering for 30 years, has been a pastor for about nine years. He said he knew a little about Sikeston before applying for the position.

“I knew about Lambert’s in college because a friend took me there,” Vroman said. “And then as you learn (Sikeston) is just like so many areas in Missouri with the history and the agriculture. It is very conservative community and I like that.”

Vroman’s wife Dianne is a dietician and they have four children, Mattie, Betty, Anna and Marie.