Matt Headley

Experience

Market Manager — City of Anniston

2025 – Present · Anniston, AL

Manages the Anniston Downtown Farmers Market
Vendor recruitment, day-of operations, staff and intern coordination
Developed Healthy Bucks shopper credit program for SNAP/EBT match
Built and deployed MarketDay, a custom market management SaaS

Founder & Developer — Headley Ventures

2023 – Present · Jacksonville, AL

The Aisle — Alabama wedding venue and vendor discovery platform
MarketDay — farmers market management software (SaaS)
SermonCoach — AI-assisted sermon preparation for pastors
Southern Legends — long-form profiles of undersung Alabamians
Plainspoken Blueprint — messaging clarity framework for leaders
HeadleyWeb — web design for small businesses in the rural South

Pastor — Multiple congregations, Indiana and Alabama

2004 – 2023 · Muncie, IN / Calhoun County, AL

Nineteen years in pastoral ministry across four congregations
Preaching, counseling, community organizing, conflict mediation
Urban ministry focus in Muncie, Indiana before returning to Alabama
Progressive evangelical theology; trained in the Franciscan contemplative tradition

Flower Farmer — Headley Flower Farm

2020 – 2023 · Jacksonville, AL

Cut flower production for CSA, farmers market, and wedding clients
Co-managed with Heather Headley

Education

Master of Divinity — Northern Seminary, Lombard, IL

2004

Theology and urban ministry. Lombard and Lawndale campuses.

Bachelor of Science, Vocal Performance — Jacksonville State University

2000

Opera, oratorio, musical theater. Roles include Sweeney Todd and the Pirate King (Pirates of Penzance).

Writing & Publications

Southern Legends

Long-form profiles of undersung Alabamians — farmers, preachers, artists, teachers. Published on southernlegends.org.

Plainspoken Blueprint

A framework for leaders who know their work but can’t say it. Eight movements. Built from twelve years of pastoral practice.

The Pulpit Truth

Religious commentary and theological writing for a non-seminary audience.

Speaking

AI and ministry — how language models are changing pastoral work
Messaging clarity for founders and leaders
Community building in the rural South
Faith, doubt, and the progressive church

Available for church gatherings, denominational conferences, civic events, and business audiences. Full speaking page: matthewheadley.com/speaking

Skills

Software TypeScript, React, Next.js, Node.js, Drizzle ORM, Turso (libsql), Clerk, Vercel, Resend, Stripe

Writing Long-form narrative journalism, theological writing, product copy, voice coaching

Leadership Community organizing, pastoral care, conflict mediation, event management

Music Classical voice (baritone), choral direction, musical theater

Based in Jacksonville, Alabama. Twenty-six years in Calhoun County. Available for remote and regional in-person work.
matthewheadley.com · matt@matthewheadley.com