Jerry Mathis

Age: 73.

Family: Wife, Darlene; six children, Gennifer Mattila and Amanda Mattila, both of Yuba City, Robyn Piper and Michelle Piper, both of San Rafael; J.J. Mattila of Seaside, Ore., and Gregory Mattila of Scappoose, Ore.

City of residence: Yuba City.

Occupation: I am retired from the Montana Department of Transportation and previously in Oregon was deputy sheriff for Lane County in Eugene, city police officer in Roseburg and flight instructor for 10 years.

Hobbies, interests: Golf, fly fishing, archery and hunting for deer, elk and birds.

What brought you to the Yuba-Sutter area? Our daughter, Gennifer.

Place of worship you attend: Trinity Anglican Church in Yuba City.

How long have you attended? About seven years.

What is the importance of faith in your life? I think everybody has faith. The difference for me is that God is always there. Faith is part of the human condition. I have seen the hand of God at work. In nature it is everywhere.

How do you live out your faith? I believe that if anyone needs help, I'm required to help. Thanks to my daughter Gennifer, who has Rett Syndrome, when I see people in need, I'm inclined to help. Because of her I made a deeper spiritual search, for I don't have an answer why there are Gennifers in the world. Without her, I wouldn't be who I am.

Faith in Action appears Saturdays. It features a member of a church, temple or mosque and the importance of their faith. To suggest someone to be featured, contact Faith & Family coordinator Larry Badger at 749-4776 or lbadger@ appealdemocrat. com.