"i invite YOU in": the MOTIVATION of REDEMPTION

Nearly 100 students sat quietly in the Cumberland County College auditorium recently while listening to Matthew Maher talk about the importance of making good decisions.  As Matt spoke passionately about his experiences, you could hear a pin drop.  Afterwards, several students approached Matt, thanking him for sharing his story.Matt calls himself That Guy.  He grew up in Cape May County, NJ, and was That Guy who excelled both academically and athletically.  Matt was active in his community, played basketball and soccer, and coached children in youth camps.  He was That Guy who grew up in a picture-perfect family, with parents who always supported his goals.  After graduating Temple University, which he attended on a full scholarship, Matt signed a contract with the professional soccer team, Carolina FC, in 2007, and eventually with the Philadelphia Kixx in January 2009.  He was That Guy whose life was envied by many.Unfortunately, Matt is now That Guy who killed a father of six in a drunk driving crash.On March 1, 2009 – just a couple of months after joining the Philadelphia Kixx – Matt sustained a career-ending knee injury.  A week later, Matt, feeling discouraged about his situation, went to a bar with a friend and got drunk.  After leaving the bar, Matt was speeding on the Atlantic City Expressway and crashed into the vehicle of Hort Kap, killing him instantly.

Matt didn’t receive the news he killed Kap until he was in police custody.  As he sat in the holding cell, contemplating the consequences of a DUI charge, he overheard the dispatcher describing Kap as “deceased.” In an instant, Matt’s world came crashing down.  “I couldn’t totally comprehend the weight and sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach trying to understand the full magnitude of the word ‘deceased’-- and that my actions caused it,” describes Matt.  “It was total mind confusion.”About one month after the crash, as Matt was awaiting his sentencing, the Bible Club counselor at Middle Township High School when Matt was the club’s president, approached Matt’s mother, asking if he would be interested in speaking with students at the school.“My mom left the decision up to me and I told her after much thought and prayer that I always stood up during all the good in my life; and that I should stand up now during the bad and take ownership of my bad decision,” says Matt.Prior to sentencing, Matt partnered with the South Jersey Traffic Safety Alliance (SJTSA) and was able to make 34 “I’m That Guy” presentations to more than 7,000 students in high schools and colleges throughout South Jersey.   His goal was to spare someone else from following in his footsteps, and the process was cathartic.  

“The variety of ways the kids connected with Matt was powerful and continued to be evident through the following of his website and the blog he wrote from prison,” says SJTSA Program Manager Teresa Thomas.  “I am so proud to have been a part of it and to see him continuing with the message.”As soon as the crash occurred, Matt expressed remorse for his actions and was relieved when the Kap’s family anger subsided into forgiveness.  During Matt’s sentencing, Noun Ung, Kap’s third child, told Matt how he destroyed his world with his reckless actions.  However, Ung then offered Matt a hug and expressed compassion to his father’s killer.  Both families later joined in prayer.  Matt was charged with aggravated manslaughter and sentenced to five years, five months in prison.“I never thought I’d be in an ugly environment like prison, but instead of fighting my circumstances, I decided to accept them and become intentional in making the best of them,” explains Matt.  “It wasn’t easy, but my faith in Christ infused my perspective, my peace, and my passion.”While in prison, Matt focused on positive activities and encouraged others to do the same.  He started a Bible study group, tutored fellow inmates in English, and wrote 15 books.  He also kept a daily blog to chronicle his life in prison.  Matt’s mom shares in Matt’s desire to encourage others to make the right choices by hosting her own radio show and managing the www.mattmaherstory.com website, which has received tens of thousands of hits.Matt’s day of independence came August 3, 2014.  He quickly partnered with SJTSA again and, with support from a State Farm grant, has committed to hosting presentations to high school and college students throughout New Jersey and neighboring states.  These presentations promise to be just as impactful as the ones before his sentencing, but this time he has the platform of intense prison stories to further illustrate the possible consequences of poor decisions.Matt’s first presentation since being released was to the Cumberland County College students where students were gripped by Matt’s raw and honest story.  He doesn’t sugar-coat his actions, feelings, or the crash, and humbly requests that young people don’t follow in his footsteps of manslaughter.To further emphasize the dangers of drinking and driving, Christian Muniz and his family attended the first presentation.  The Muniz family was changed forever in June 2008 when, after a night of drinking with friends, then-18 year old Christian got behind the wheel of his car and raced friend, Carlos, on a roadway in Atlantic City.  With the mix of alcohol and speeding, Carlos lost control of his vehicle and hit Christian’s car, causing Christian to crash into a telephone pole.  Christian sustained a traumatic brain injury, leaving him wheel chair-bound, unable to feed himself, and with limited verbal skills.  His mother, Iris, quit her job to become his full-time caregiver.  Christian’s story is documented in a video created by SJTSA and funded by State Farm.  This video was also shown to the Cumberland County College presentation participants.In addition to sharing his message with many students, Matt has other endeavors planned to positively mold his future.  He and his mother created the Be Still Foundation, which is committed to advocating responsible decision making, the prevention of risky behavior, and provides strategies for overcoming adversity.  Matt also headed to the altar November 8 to start the next stage of his life as a married man.“I am excited about this new beginning all around,” explains Matt.  “And I am going to continue to allow my pain to fuel my passion and mission. I know I don’t deserve a voice, but the community at large deserves this message.  And I believe my future is a mirror of what I see now in the present. And that present motivation is called redemption. By God’s grace alone!”