Testing some new songs fireside at a Lake Monroe campsite. photo by Sara Clifford
“ It’ s been, really, a return source of connection for us as a couple and then as an individual, it just feels like a piece of myself has been gathering dust on a shelf, has been dusted off, and can shine again
a little bit.”— Matt Stanley
HOUSE SPARROWS continued from 47
They performed and toured with the heavy-metal praise and worship band Zion’ s Wake that year. But a snowstorm and Alyssa’ s dad brought them together.
Matt was visiting his then-girlfriend in Milwaukee, Wisc., and hit bad weather. He called Alyssa about staying at her parents’ house in Westfield. The Hayeses weren’ t home right at that time— they were busy wrapping gifts for some kids— but gave Matt the garage code. The next morning over coffee and popovers, Matt, a religion major, talked theology with Pastor Hayes for hours.
Hayes offered him a job working with the youth at Parkview. Matt moved here in spring 2005, not sure about the job fit. But,“ I fell in love with the nature and the beauty of the area because it’ s so different from everywhere else in Indiana. And I decided, yeah, I could make a go of living here.”
48 Our Brown County • Jan./ Feb. 2026
House Sparrows debut at a 2025 Brown County music festival. photo by Clint Hammes