Matt McPherson | Founder of Mathews Archery & McPherson Guitars | Building a Business That Funds the Kingdom
Release Date: 12/03/2025
The Wow Factor
Mark Batterson is the lead pastor of in Washington, D.C., and a prolific bestselling author known for his ability to blend faith, leadership, and personal growth into practical, lived-out wisdom. With more than two decades of writing and nearly 30 years of pastoral leadership, Mark has built a legacy centered on long obedience, bold vision, and unwavering trust in God’s timing. In this episode, he joins Brad to unpack the core idea behind his latest message: “gradually, then suddenly.” Brad and Mark explore the tension between patience and ambition, and why most meaningful growth...
info_outlineThe Wow Factor
Josh Block is the longtime leader of , a global healthcare equipment company known for its distinctive people-first culture and multigenerational family leadership. After unexpectedly stepping into the president’s role at just 29 years old, Josh spent the next decade and a half guiding the organization’s growth from a $30 million business into a thriving enterprise of over 425 team members. In this episode, he joins Brad to share insights from his new book, , a practical framework for helping leaders create cultures where team members feel safe, seen, and successful, and where the...
info_outlineThe Wow Factor
Dr. Emerson Eggerichs is a longtime marriage teacher, speaker, and author, that has helped couples for decades. A former senior pastor at Trinity Church in East Lansing, Michigan, Emerson’s work blends pastoral experience, biblical study, and real-world marriage dynamics into practical tools couples can use immediately. In this episode, he joins Brad for his third visit to this time to talk about his newest book, , a collection of insights and stories designed to bring clarity when couples feel stuck, distant, or worn down by years of misunderstanding. Brad and Emerson dig into why...
info_outlineThe Wow Factor
David McDonald is the owner of and a third-generation car dealer originally from Roswell, New Mexico, raised in the Denver area. A former college tennis player at the University of Oklahoma, David carries deep work ethic values shaped by family, faith, and decades of business leadership. Today, he leads Escalante Golf with a long-term stewardship mindset, building private clubs and experiences that prioritize customer service, culture, and community. Brad sits down with David to explore how Escalante Golf was born out of a simple observation: golfers, especially young golfers, weren’t...
info_outlineThe Wow Factor
Dick Stricklen is the owner of Motor City Auto Center in Bakersfield, CA, a sprawling campus which includes a Buick/GMC dealership, a Lexus dealership, and a large used car & truck operation. Dick’s team devote themselves to helping and serving their customers and providing staff with the opportunity to develop their skills and interests. Dick took over the GMC dealership at the age of 19 after his father’s death and since then has followed his passion for building authentic relationships with team members and clients alike. Dick joins me on the show today to share how he started in...
info_outlineThe Wow Factor
Gracie Formsma is a college student at Samford University, co-founder of , a hat brand in the ecosystem. She’s also the daughter of The Wow Factor host, Brad Formsma. Originally from Michigan, Gracie moved with her family to California about a decade ago, growing up in a home shaped by faith, generosity, and the gritty reality of launching the nonprofit I Like Giving and its Generous Family initiative. Today, she brings her marketing eye, creative direction, and heart for discipleship to Love Gives, a lifestyle brand built around the simple but profound truth of John 3:16. Brad sits...
info_outlineThe Wow Factor
is a pioneering Christian financial planner, longtime CPA, and founder of the firms and ministries that helped shape today’s faith-based financial movement. After growing up in Indiana, studying at Indiana University, and working for KPMG in New York, Dallas, and San Francisco, Ron returned home to start his own CPA firm in 1970. That firm would grow into one of the top 50 accounting firms in the country, and later, Ron would go on to launch a fee-based financial planning firm for Christians, work closely with Campus Crusade (Cru), and help birth and related initiatives that now...
info_outlineThe Wow Factor
is an American-Israeli Messianic Jew, former attorney, and author based in Jerusalem. Raised on the South Side of Chicago, Sandra experienced antisemitism early in life—an upbringing that shaped both her faith journey and her long-term focus on helping the church understand Israel through a biblical lens. Through decades of study and ministry, she has written and updated to address common theological misconceptions, church-history blind spots, and the interpretive frameworks that still shape how many Christians think about Israel today. In this episode of The Wow Factor, Brad sits...
info_outlineThe Wow Factor
is a bestselling author, serial entrepreneur, and the Executive Chairman of , a venture-backed tech company. A sixth-generation Tampa native, Jordan has built and exited multiple startups, served in the political arena, and now devotes his life to helping Christians connect the gospel to their everyday work. Through his books, podcasts, and speaking, Jordan’s mission is to equip believers to see their daily tasks, whether in tech, teaching, or making coffee as sacred and significant. In this rich and thought-provoking episode of The Wow Factor, Brad sits down with Jordan to explore the...
info_outlineThe Wow Factor
Matt McPherson is an inventor, entrepreneur, and passionate follower of Jesus Christ whose companies have reshaped two industries, archery and high-end guitar manufacturing. As the founder of , one of the most respected names in hunting and bow technology, and , known for their unique design and pristine tone, Matt has spent decades building world-class products from the woods of Sparta, Wisconsin. But his bigger mission? Funding global ministry and sharing the Gospel with clarity and creativity. In this milestone 300th episode of The Wow Factor, Brad reconnects with his longtime friend...
info_outlineMatt McPherson is an inventor, entrepreneur, and passionate follower of Jesus Christ whose companies have reshaped two industries, archery and high-end guitar manufacturing. As the founder of Mathews Archery, one of the most respected names in hunting and bow technology, and McPherson Guitars, known for their unique design and pristine tone, Matt has spent decades building world-class products from the woods of Sparta, Wisconsin. But his bigger mission? Funding global ministry and sharing the Gospel with clarity and creativity.
In this milestone 300th episode of The Wow Factor, Brad reconnects with his longtime friend Matt McPherson for a powerful conversation about calling, hearing from God, and stewarding business as a tool for impact. Matt shares how a childhood love for archery led to launching Mathews Archery, and how a prophetic word in his early 20s reshaped his view of work and ministry forever. They explore the story behind his breakthrough product Lost Camo, the founding of The Salvation Poem Foundation, and the journey to producing Light of the World, a full-length animated film on the life of Jesus.
From financial risk during COVID shutdowns to watching a God-sized vision unfold on screen, Matt’s story is full of practical faith, spiritual listening, and a relentless pursuit of simplicity—in both business and belief.
“I heard God say, ‘I’m going to prosper you in business so you can be self-sufficient in ministry.’” - Matt McPherson
“Let’s make our homes an uncomfortable place for the enemy to hang out.” - Matt McPherson
“The Gospel is simple: We broke it. God fixed it through Christ. And now we choose to receive it.” - Matt McPherson
This Week on The Wow Factor:
- How a childhood moment with a toy bow shaped Matt’s entire future
- The prophetic word that redirected Matt’s dreams and defined his mission
- Why Matt believes engineers are made to simplify—and how that applies to faith
- Founding Mathews Archery in Wisconsin and building a global brand
- How a request for camouflage sparked the creation of Lost Camo
- Practical stories of hearing from God—down to camera purchases and Walmart trips
- How Matt handled a full company shutdown during COVID without layoffs
- The surprising result: 2020 became Mathews' most profitable year ever
- What it means to trust God’s timing (and not get ahead of Him)
- The backstory behind The Salvation Poem—and its reach to over 1 billion people
- Producing Light of the World: A $30M animated film sharing the story of Jesus
- How the movie distills the entire Gospel into one clear, beautiful arc
- Why Matt refuses to overcomplicate the message of Jesus
- The joy of giving, the power of obedience, and the impact of business-led ministry
Matt McPherson’s Word of Wisdom:
If I’m going to eat the food and take up the space, I want to give back more than I take. Ask God to let you be part of what He’s doing.
Connect with Matthews Archery:
Connect with McPherson Guitars:
Connect with The Wow Factor: