Matt Oost has served as Lead Pastor of Canton 1^st Church of the Nazarene since January 2021. Prior to serving in this role, he served as an Associate Pastor at Peoria 1^st and Canton 1^st. Matt grew up in Wyoming, IL and gave his life to Christ in the summer of 1990 at the age of 13. He sensed a call to ministry as a teenager and God chose to take him the long way around in that journey. God used that time to grow a love for the Church in Matt and he served in any way he could as a lay person. Matt says, “I owe so much to the Church for how they have loved and carried me and my family through many trials over the years. It is my honor to serve her.”

He and his wife Stephanie are both products of Central Illinois. Stephanie grew up in Smithfield. They married in September 2011. They have 3 children: Anna 10, Simon 7, and Lily 3.