Matt Hagee: Taking the Helm at Cornerstone Church

A Preacher’s Shadow

In San Antonio Texas Cornerstone Church is a juggernaut a sprawling campus where faith and family collide. It’s the brainchild of John Hagee a pastor who’s been preaching for over six decades his voice a mix of gravel and grace filling airwaves and pews with talk of salvation and support for Israel. At 85 he’s a megachurch legend founder of Christians United for Israel and a guy who’s never shied away from a microphone or a cause. But the story’s shifting now and his son Matt Hagee is stepping up ready to carry the torch.

Matt’s not just the pastor’s kid. He’s a dad a singer a preacher in his own right shaped by a life in the church but carving out his own space. This is about him where he came from what he’s doing at Cornerstone and where he’s headed next.

Growing Up Hagee

Matt was born in 1978 the baby of five kids in a house where the Bible was the playbook. John Hagee wasn’t just a father he was a force building Cornerstone from a tiny congregation to a 22000-strong powerhouse. Matt’s mom Diana kept things steady running ministries and raising kids who knew faith wasn’t optional. With preachers in the family going back generations Matt grew up in the thick of it—singing in church acting in skits even scrubbing cabins at summer camp. It was a childhood split between regular kid stuff and the hum of a megachurch.

At 12 Matt decided he wanted to preach same as his dad. By 17 he was up in front of 1500 people heart pounding delivering his first sermon. He wasn’t handed a spotlight—he earned it trailing his father learning how to run a church by watching and doing from fixing budgets to leading prayers. Those years shaped him grounding him in the hustle of ministry.

Books and the Bible

Matt didn’t coast on his name. He went to Oral Roberts University a place his dad had ties to and got a degree in business management. Later he studied at Texas A&M picking up skills to manage Cornerstone’s massive operation think church school and TV network rolled into one. School gave him a backbone for the practical side of preaching.

His early days in ministry were a grind. He took on Sunday night services a chance to preach while his dad owned the mornings. Matt’s style was intense but warm full of stories and a touch of humor reaching folks from all corners of San Antonio families Latinos Black congregants. He learned from John’s big presence but started finding his own way speaking to people who needed faith to make sense in a messy world.

Leading Cornerstone

Now Matt’s the lead pastor at Cornerstone splitting duties with his dad who’s still senior pastor. It’s a huge gig: 500 employees a school with 900 kids and a TV ministry that hits homes from Texas to Canada. He preaches every week often with his wife Kendal on shows like Hagee Ministries. His sermons dig into faith and family delivered with a spark that feels like his dad’s but softer around the edges.

He’s done more than talk. Matt’s helped grow the church’s campus including a place called Sanctuary of Hope opened in 2018 to help pregnant women in tough spots. It’s a nod to Cornerstone’s stance on life and its push to do good locally. John’s the big-picture guy Matt’s the one making it work day-to-day using his business know-how to keep things tight and his heart to keep people close. He’s holding fast to the church’s roots spreading the gospel standing with Israel while nudging it toward today’s needs.

Beyond the Pulpit

Matt’s reach goes way past Sunday mornings. His sermons air on Cornerstone’s TV network and get clipped for YouTube where they pull in viewers. He sings too with the Hagee Family Singers his parents and sisters cutting gospel tracks like their 2020 album Faith Family & Friends up on Spotify. He and Kendal have a podcast Matt and Kendal Hagee where they chat about life and belief keeping it real for their listeners.

On Instagram he posts about sermons and family but he’s careful keeping things clean and focused. Unlike his dad who’s stirred up plenty of debates Matt stays out of the deep end. He got flak in 2021 for a rally at the church that veered too far right and he owned the mistake saying it wasn’t checked properly. It showed the tightrope he walks carrying a big name in a world that’s quick to judge.

Home and Heart

Matt’s married to Kendal his teammate in everything. She’s big at Cornerstone leading women’s ministries with Diana and co-hosting their shows. They’ve got four kids and live in Boerne Texas balancing diaper changes with preaching schedules. Their life’s busy but grounded a mix of church work and family dinners.

His faith is old-school evangelical big on Scripture Israel and living what you preach. But Matt’s got a knack for making it feel fresh talking to folks raising kids in 2025. He’s out speaking at places like Liberty University or showing up for church events always ready with a word or a grin. He says he’s an old soul in a young body and it fits: he’s tied to the past but looking ahead.

The Road Ahead

John Hagee’s still preaching at 85 but Matt’s taking on more every day. His dad’s said Cornerstone’s future church school TV will be in good hands with Matt. The challenge is keeping the church’s fire burning when megachurches aren’t the draw they once were. Matt’s got ideas: more online stuff like streaming and social media to catch younger eyes. He’s also into community work like Sanctuary of Hope and might double down there. Singing’s still part of it gospel with a modern twist to bring in new folks.

He’s less likely to jump into political fights than his dad which could keep things smoother. His future’s about holding the line on what Cornerstone stands for while opening the door to new people and new ways. It’s a big job but he’s been training for it his whole life.

Keeping the Fire Lit

Matt Hagee’s story is about stepping up without losing sight of where he came from. He’s gone from a kid in the church to a leader for thousands taking the Hagee name and making it his own. Cornerstone’s still a force and Matt’s steering it ready to keep its light shining. He’s not just carrying a legacy he’s adding to it one day one sermon at a time.