Howdy Matheny

Keith “Howdy” Matheny has been a part of Forum Christian Church for forty years, serving as an elder and member of the board. He was given the nickname Howdy when, as a UPS driver, he greeted each stop with a hearty “Howdy.” George Liggett, owner of The Nostalgia Shop, had a parrot that would repeat “Howdy, Howdy,” over and over.

At Forum, he has led the benevolence committee and has been involved as a middle school Bible class teacher, small group leader, and bus driver, and now helps train others to get their commercial driver’s license (CDL) as well.

Serving with the church and God is what led him to Love Columbia.

“There is no doubt in my mind that God has, for the last forty years serving with Forum’s benevolence, prepared me for serving with Love Columbia,” Matheny said, adding that he knew about the organization — formerly called Love INC — for some fifteen years. In fact, Forum member Carol Paten encouraged Matheny to meet her close friend, Jane Williams, a founder of Love INC and the executive director of Love Columbia.

“I am one person, but I have a great village that helps me,” Matheny said.

He was trained by Dr. James Ferneau to handle the benevolent needs of the church. Bradley Williams, Forum’s senior minister, encouraged him to pursue the role with Love Columbia as an extension of Forum’s contribution to the community.

Matt Copeland with Christian Chapel Church contacted him about creating a city-wide repair ministry with partnering churches and connecting him with Williams and Love Columbia. Through that partnership, Tiger Towing provides a discount and the Veterans United Foundation contributes via a “get to work” grant.

Matheny’s extensive experience with cars influenced his purpose for Love Columbia. For three years, he has diagnosed donated vehicles and client’s vehicles, which gives the nonprofit an approximate cost to budget for the repair. He also educates people about car care and maintenance by teaching a car maintenance class, which he not only teaches at Love Columbia, but also as an extension to groups like In2Action, MyLife Clinic, Central Bank’s PosperU, and more.

Rod Petersen, Forum’s community outreach minister, said, “It was God’s plan that Howdy and Jane Williams’ paths someday would cross, and what a beautiful benefit to our community that was created.”