Bios

Matt Pitt was born and raised in Roebuck, Alabama. He was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder at a young age, and in school he was branded as a “learning disability” student. Unknown to Matt and his family, this diagnosis would lead to more than simple inattentiveness. Matt’s introduction to drugs began when he took a spring break trip during high school. With the freedom he found in the drugs he quickly became an addict. His new compulsion paved a path into a lifestyle of not only experimenting with other drugs but selling. This lifestyle continued through college and followed him to the University of Alabama. One afternoon at the university, Pitt’s parents arrived unannounced and asked him to attend a football game. He had spent the previous evening binging on cocaine and felt that pills would both calm and bring him back down. During his arrival at the game, Matt overdosed. The decision landed him back home, in Roebuck, where he battled the drug habit. Matt’s father sat him in their basement one evening and told Matt that he would no longer support his reckless and excessive ways. He was forced to make a choice: Matt would either shake away his addictions, or he would live homelessly. On this very evening, Matt’s father led him to the Lord. Matt felt the presence of God in his basement, and brought all his friends to witness. What followed by Matt and his three friends worshipping has now grown into one of the largest youth movements across the world: The Basement. Pitt now travels across the country each week to speak the truth of God; reminding our youth that God loves each of them and that they each have a purpose on earth, no matter who they are or what they have done.

Casey Holland (Birdman) grew up in a Christian home, with the feeling that God existed. He held a life consumed with sports, beginning in his early childhood and ending after college. He even played basketball for two schools while attending college. His athletic career led him into a realm of endless parties—which dropped him on all fours and left him alone at the end of his rope needing a miracle. Upon finishing college basketball, he began exploring new drugs, and Birdman developed a frightful addiction to OxyContin—a powerful pain pharmaceutical. He soon found dependency on the drug, while drowning in its momentary euphoria, but there was something waiting to catch Casey. Holland found his way to The Basement one evening, still overpowered by his addiction. There was a feeling resonating around this room, and it immediately overshadowed the satisfaction of Casey’s drug habits—it was the Lord, and He released the grasp of OxyContin’s control over Holland. Casey fell to his knees in praise. He now works fulltime with The Basement, and has been the disc-jockey for this fired-up movement for four years.

Ike Ubasineke was raised in Luling, Louisiana, where Christianity was pressed upon him by his family. The family attended church each Sunday, and Ike was rather involved; he shared his family’s beliefs, but he often battled absolute commitment. After all, Ike had a reputation to tend, and his friends were to “cool” to be Christians. Ubasineke soon found himself at the University of New Orleans, partying nightly. These rebellious decisions dragged Ike through an entire year, where he then collided with God’s plan for his life. A friend helped him off the ground, brushed the dirt off his shoulders, and invited him to meet with Campus Crusade for Christ. Ike, feeling God’s call into ministry, decided that moving to Birmingham, Alabama for the Southeastern Bible College was his calling. He devoted himself to ministry, and soon heard around the campfire about this basement bible study on Tuesday nights. Ike was skeptical about it all, but something kept telling him to try it out. When he planted his feet on the basement’s concrete floors, he felt the zeal that had overtook The Basement’s youth. Ike was fired up! Passion for the Lord soon flowed as Ike witnessed those from his generation shameless and filled with purpose. It is here that Ike currently works in Leadership Development and Worship.

Justin Standridge was raised in Birmingham, Alabama. His family held Christian values while he grew up, although Justin felt that church was, most certainly, not his cup of tea. God had not been in his life during childhood, and Justin’s disbelief would continue throughout his teenage years. Standridge focused on athletics during high school: he played quarterback for his school’s football team, and began preparing for the life of a professional athlete. Room for other matters did not exist. At the ripe age of eighteen, Justin was drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to play professional baseball. His dreams had become reality and he had reached a pinnacle. Soon after leaving high school, Justin grew displeased with life as a whole and dug for satisfaction, though what he uncovered was four years of a drug and alcohol-induced life. After years of a partying lifestyle, Standridge’s dreams disappeared. Baseball faded out of sight, and Justin lost all hope. But something was out in the shadows, reaching for him. While visiting home on Christmas break, he was invited to a bible study in a local’s basement. When the spotlights were turned on in this basement, the Lord presented Himself with comforting arms outstretched; offering Justin something that was far better than any drug could possibly offer—joy. He immediately accepted Christ, and soon thereafter discarded his last chance at a career in professional baseball to share the love of Jesus with a lost generation as The Basement’s high school pastor.