BOWS
From the very beginning, Matt McPherson has been a visionary. Long before he became the founder and CEO of Mathews Archery, he felt a deep calling to make a difference. He wrestled with the same question many of us do: “How can I really impact the world?” Doors opened, opportunities appeared, and his willingness to take leaps of faith has set the course for the life he leads today.
Matt is quick to share that his foundation has never been business or even archery, but his personal relationship with Christ. That faith has shaped every chapter of his journey. Together with his wife and soulmate, Sherry, he has dedicated his life to spreading the gospel.
Still, after God and family, one of Matt’s loves is archery. He built his first compound bow at just 13 years old in 1970 sparking a passion that has carried him ever since. In those early years, he experimented and refined his designs—eventually launching McPherson Archery in 1985 and later, in 1992, founding Mathews Archery.
From its inception, Mathews was built on three core values: Innovation, Integrity, and Impact. Those principles are more than business buzzwords; they’ve guided this company’s culture, its products, and Matt’s leadership for more than three decades. Innovation is an ethos that guides everything from our product design to the stories we tell. At Mathews we strive to build products that elevate the status quo and inspire people to dream big. Integrity serves as the backbone of how we treat everyone from our customers to our independent retailers, and even each other internally. As Matt has always said – “People first, business second”.
When it comes to impact, Mathews will always strive to give back to this sport that has given so much to us. More than 20 years ago, Matt designed the Genesis bow, which became the official bow of NASP (National Archery in the Schools Program). Since then, tens of millions of students have drawn back a string for the first time through this program. Through supporting numerous conservation projects and organizations, we will always fight to preserve wildlife, the lands they live on and our heritage of archery hunting.
Throughout Matt’s life, those same core values have manifested themselves in their own ways. And as the owner and founder of Mathews Archery, Matt has always ensured his businesses serve a greater purpose. From digging wells to provide clean water to villages in need, to supporting missionaries around the globe, Matt has always done his best to answer his calling.
Years ago, Matt and Sherry wrote a song called The Salvation Poem which has been heard by over a billion people worldwide. Together, they felt a powerful calling from God to tell the story of Jesus in a new way. Alongside Sherry and their son Brennan, they launched The Salvation Poem Project, an independent nonprofit creative studio dedicated to sharing the Gospel through art and storytelling.
With Brennan now serving as president of The Salvation Poem Project, they assembled a creative team and began work on what would become their most ambitious project yet.
That vision is now a reality with the release of “Light of the World”, a classically animated 2D film that tells the story of Jesus from the Garden of Eden to the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and to His crucifixion and resurrection. Beautifully crafted and spiritually powerful, the film is designed to capture hearts and remind audiences that Jesus not only changed the world two thousand years ago—He is still changing lives today.
*Pictured left to right (Matt McPherson, Founder & CEO of McPherson Companies & Executive Producer of LOTW, John Schafer, Film Director for Salvation Poem Project & Director of LOTW, Brennan McPherson, President of Salvation Poem Project & Producer of LOTW, Tom Bancroft, Animator and Director of LOTW, Barry Landis, Moderator of Q&A and External Marketing Team Member.
The film aims to inspire and captivate audiences of all ages, with a hope that people will be called to make a decision for Jesus to be the Savior of their Life. Light of the World opens in theaters on September 5th.
From the entire team at Mathews Archery, we thank you for being able to share a piece of Matt’s heart and passion of what drives us every day.
Light of the World opens in theaters on September 5th.
You can learn more, purchase tickets and get connected at
lightoftheworld.com
