Alumni Spotlight
Matthew E. Engelking '92
Major: Government (Pre-law) & Communications
(Journalism)
Occupation: Attorney
After graduation from Evangel in 1992, Matt headed to Virginia Beach, Virginia for his first year of Law School at Regent University. After three years of sheer pleasure on the beach (and in the law library), and Juris Doctorate in hand, Engelking returned to Minnesota in 1995. His first job was in a personal injury firm where he clerked and contracted for approximately one year. He then accepted a position at a well known Minnesota firm (Meshbesher Law Office) practicing primarily criminal defense. After three years, Engelking left to start his own firm where he remained until April of 2004 when he joined the Stearns County Attorney’s Office as a criminal prosecutor.
Matt has been published in the Trial Diplomacy Journal and featured by local media. He has been a volunteer with the Christian Legal Society and has donated services to various homeless veterans and victims of domestic violence. Since 1998, he has also been an adjunct faculty member at North Central University in Minneapolis teaching Mass Media Law and American Political Systems. Engelking also has been active in the local church serving as a deacon and leading various ministries.
In 1999, Matt met his future bride Brenda K. Dilly. He and Brenda were on the job working opposite sides of a contested hearing. It is rumored the two engaged in a heated argument outside the courtroom and had to be warned by court personnel to lower their voices and reach a compromise. To the surprise of many, the couple married in September of 2000.
Evangel had a tremendous impact on Engelking’s life. He was repeatedly impacted by the faculty’s passionate example of integrated faith and learning. Matt says, “I was impressed by my professors’ keen insights and was deeply inspired to follow their example to pursue excellence, truth, and professionalism in every area of life.”
Engelking also has fond memories of his life in Krause Hall and is proud to have been associated with the Brethren of K3N. To this day, he misses the camaraderie, fellowship, and the memorable experiences of living with such an awesome group of individuals. His heart warms quickly at the thought of his time spent with the Brethren.