CURRICULUM VITAE
STEVEN H. MATHEWS
EDUCATION[1]
B.A., cum laude, Florida Baptist Theological College, Graceville, Florida. December
1999.
Major: Theology.
M.A., with high distinction, Trinity Theological Seminary, Newburgh, Indiana. May
2000.
Majors: Philosophy and Apologetics.
M.Div., Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, Lynchburg, Virginia. January 2004.
Major: Standard Divinity Track.
D.Min., Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, Lynchburg, Virginia. May 2005.
Major: Spiritual Formation.
Thesis: A Spiritual Disciplines-Based Discipleship Curriculum for the Local
Church.
M.B.A., Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia. October 2008.
Major: General Business.
Ph.D., University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa. September 2013.
Major: Biblical and Religious Studies.
Dissertation: A Social-Scientific Interpretation of Fasting in the New Testament as
a Critical Analysis of Fasting in Contemporary Evangelical Spirituality.
Diploma, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, March 2017.
Squadron Officer School
Diploma, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, March 2018.
Air Command and Staff College
Certificate, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, May 2021.
Major: Nonprofit Management.
Graduate Certificate, Nations University, West Monroe, Louisiana. December 2022.
Major: Biblical Studies.
Diploma, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, October 2022.
Air War College
Post-Doctoral Certificate, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, New Orleans,
Louisiana. December 2022.
Major: Educational Ministry Leadership.
M.T.S., with distinction, Nations University, West Monroe, Louisiana. December 2023.
Major: Theology.
D.Min., Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, North Carolina. May
2024.
Major: Pastoral Ministry
Thesis: The Efficacy of an Expository Sermon Series in Increasing Attendance
Through Members Inviting Others at United Baptist Church
Graduate Certificate, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. May 2024.
Major: American Literature and Culture
A.L.M., Dean’s List, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. May 2025.
Major: English Literature
Capstone Thesis: “That’s the Pulpit Speaking”: Preaching, Metaphor, and Metonymy in
Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead.
Ph.D. studies. Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City, Missouri.
Major: Applied Theology, Ecclesiology
Additional Graduate Studies: Southern Evangelical Seminary, Temple Baptist Theological
Seminary at Brewton-Parker College
MINISTRY EXPERIENCE
Pastor, Esto Baptist Church, Esto, Florida. 1997-1998
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Connelly Springs, North Carolina. 2000-2005
Oversaw construction of new fellowship hall.
Drafted constitution and bylaws.
Pastor, New Life Baptist Church, Lenoir, North Carolina. 2005-2009
Among top 30 churches for baptisms in state convention, 2006.
Pastor, United Baptist Church, Valdese, North Carolina. 2014-present.
Annual mission trips including Armenia, Turkey, Kenya, Malaysia, Guatemala
Pre-Covid growth rate 8% above state convention average.
Post-Covid growth rate up 29% from Covid lowest average.
Chaplain, Civil Air Patrol. 2016-present.
Rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Chaplain ministry at every level from squadron to Executive Officer to Chief of
Chaplains.
Full Civil Air Patrol resume available upon request.
ECCLESIASTICAL CREDENTIALS
License to Gospel Ministry, Cheek Memorial Baptist Church, Americus, Georgia. 1996
Ordination to Gospel Ministry, Cheek Memorial Baptist Church, Americus, Georgia. 1997
Commission to Military Chaplaincy, North American Mission Board, SBC, 2016
EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE
Adjunct Professor of Humanities, University of Phoenix, Phoenix, Arizona. 2006-2017.
Course Grader, Southern Baptist Seminary Extension, Nashville, Tennessee. 2007-2017.
Adjunct Professor of Philosophy and Religion, Grand Canyon University, Phoenix,
Arizona. 2009-2013.
Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministry and New Testament, Foothills Christian
College and Seminary, Wilkesboro, North Carolina. 2009-2013.
Adjunct Professor of Philosophy and Religion, Ashford University, Clinton, Iowa. 2009-
2014.
Professor of New Testament, Fruitland Baptist Bible College extension campus,
Wilkesboro, North Carolina. 2014-2015.
Adjunct Professor of Philosophy, Argosy University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 2012-
2019.
Professor, Ph.D. program, South African Theological Seminary, Sandton, South Africa,
2013-2017.
Adjunct Instructor, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary EQUIP campus,
Morganton, North Carolina. 2018-2020.
Professor, Nations University, West Monroe, Louisiana. 2020-present.
Instructor, Civil Air Patrol Chaplain Corps College, Maxwell Air Force Base,
Alabama. 2021-present.
Faculty Mentor/Reader, Ph.D. program, Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia. 2024-
present.
Subject Matter Expert, D.Min. program, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake
Forest, North Carolina, 2024-present.
PUBLICATIONS
Books:
Holy Habits: Spiritual Disciplines for Christian Living (Rainer Publishing 2014)
Evaluating Church Spiritual Formation Programs: An Empirical Study (Atlanta: Scholars’ Press, 2014)
Know the New Testament: A Concise Introduction to the New Testament (Rainer Publishing, 2014). Foreword by Dr. Danny Akin. Out of print. Republished as New Testament Handbook (Createspace, 2017)
Christian Fasting: Biblical and Evangelical Perspectives (Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield, 2015)
The Fullness of God: Sermons on Christ from Colossians (Createspace, 2015)
Preaching the Deeper Christian Life: Eight Sermons from Andrew Murray’s Classic Guide to Christian Living (Createspace, 2016)
Come Follow Me: Reflections on the Markan Jesus (Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2017)
Biblical Preaching for the Local Church: Fifty-One Expository Sermons (Createspace, 2018)
Academic Articles:
The Holy Spirit in the Gospel of John, American Journal of Biblical Theology, 14.4. (January 2013). Selected for republication in ATLA-indexed Journal of Biblical Theology, 7.3 (September 2024).
Postmodern Popular Philosophy and the Caricature of Expository Preaching: A Response to Wade, American Journal of Biblical Theology, 14.30 (July 2013).
Fasting, Justification, and Self-Righteousness in Luke 18:9-14: A Social-Scientific Interpretation as Response to Friedrichson, with Ernest van Eck. HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 69(1), Art. #1957., 2013.
A Moral and Relational Interpretation of the Parable of the Prodigal Son, with William Dwight Winters, American Journal of Biblical Theology, 15.24 (June 2014). Selected for republication in ATLA-indexed Journal of Biblical Theology, 5.3 (September 2022).
Why did the Jews and Samaritans Hate Each Other? Historical Precedents for Jewish/Samaritan Conflict in the Gospels, Bible and Spade, 27:3, 2014.
Civil Defense Chaplaincy, Journal of Civil Defense, American Civil Defense Association, Vol 53, No. 2, October 2019.
I Corinthians 14:34-35- Are Women Allowed to Speak in Church? American Journal of Biblical Theology, 21.48 (November 2020). Selected for republication in ATLA-indexed Journal of Biblical Theology, 5.1 (March 2022).
Biblical Illiteracy: Philosophical Underpinnings and a Proposed Contribution to Educational Ministry, American Journal of Biblical Theology, 23.23 (June 5, 2022). Selected for republication in ATLA-indexed Journal of Biblical Theology, 6.3 (September 2023).
Rhetorical Criticism for Expository Preaching: An Analysis of I Peter 2:4-10, American Journal of Biblical Theology, 23.26 (June 26, 2022).
Luke 14:15-23: Temporal and Eschatological Implications of Evangelistic Hospitality American Journal of Biblical Theology, 25.31 (August 4, 2024).
Popular Articles
Better Reading for Stronger Preaching: What Great Reading Does for the Preacher. Center for Preaching and Pastoral Leadership, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. December 31, 2024.
Better Reading for Stronger Preaching: What Great Reading Does for the Sermon. Center for Preaching and Pastoral Leadership, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. January 7, 2025.
Book Reviews:
How We Got the New Testament: Text, Transmission, Translation by Stanley E. Porter for Biblical Theology Bulletin: Journal of Bible and Culture, October 2016 46: 209-210.
Five Views on Biblical Inerrancy by J. Merrick and Stephen M. Garrett for Biblical Theology Bulletin: Journal of Bible and Culture August 2016 46.3:160-162.
Reading Mark for the First Time by Wilfrid J. Harrington for Biblical Theology Bulletin: Journal of Bible and Culture, May 2016 46:107-108.
Online Courses:
World Religions, The Learning House, Inc., Louisville, Kentucky, 2010
The Synoptic Gospels, Mid-Continent University, Mayfield, Kentucky, 2012
Biblical Spirituality, Mid-Continent University, Mayfield, Kentucky, 2013
Awards and Honors
Faculty Recognition Award for Excellence in Online Teaching, Grand Canyon University,
2010.
Squadron Chaplain of the Year, North Carolina Wing, Civil Air Patrol, 2017.
Honorary Lieutenant Colonel, State of Georgia, Governor Nathan Deal, 2018.
Honorary Colonel, State of Alabama, Governor Kay Ivey, 2018.
Chaplain of the Year, North Carolina Wing, Civil Air Patrol, 2019.
Charles B. Keesee Educational Fund Grant, 2021-2022. Funding post-doctoral research at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
Charles B. Keesee Educational Fund Grant, 2023-2024. Funding doctoral research at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Joseph Sloan Lifetime of Kingdom Service Award, Nations University Alumni Association, 2023.
Civil Air Patrol Distinguished Chaplain, Military Chaplains Association, 2024.
Harvard University Master of Liberal Arts Dean’s List, 2025.
[1] Total accredited credit hours as of May 2025: Undergraduate: 137. Graduate: 276. Doctoral: 80.
S. H. Mathews 