Orthodox Speakers Bureau
Ο Μάθιου Γκάλλατιν είναι πρώην προτεστάντης πάστορας που, μετά από αγωνιώδη αναζήτηση της αλήθειας και έρευνα των αρχαίων πηγών του χριστιανισμού, μεταστράφηκε στην Ορθοδοξία μαζί με την οικογένειά του. Περιέγραψε την πνευματική του διαδρομή στο βιβλίο του, που κυκλοφορεί στα ελληνικά με τον τίτλο Διψώντας για το Θεό, όπου εξηγεί στους πρώην ομόπιστούς του ορισμένα βασικά στοιχεία της ορθόδοξης πίστης. Αποσπάσματα αυτού του βιβλίου αξίζει να διαβάσετε εδώ.
Ο Μάθιου Γκάλλατιν είναι πρώην προτεστάντης πάστορας που, μετά από αγωνιώδη αναζήτηση της αλήθειας και έρευνα των αρχαίων πηγών του χριστιανισμού, μεταστράφηκε στην Ορθοδοξία μαζί με την οικογένειά του. Περιέγραψε την πνευματική του διαδρομή στο βιβλίο του, που κυκλοφορεί στα ελληνικά με τον τίτλο Διψώντας για το Θεό, όπου εξηγεί στους πρώην ομόπιστούς του ορισμένα βασικά στοιχεία της ορθόδοξης πίστης. Αποσπάσματα αυτού του βιβλίου αξίζει να διαβάσετε εδώ.
Matthew Gallatin is the author of the popular book, Thirsting for God in a Land of Shallow Wells (Conciliar Press, 2002). Audiences around the country have heard him
share the story of his journey from evangelical Protestantism to Eastern
Orthodox Christianity. “Pilgrims from Paradise,” his weekly podcast on
Ancient Faith Radio, reaches thousands of listeners each month with timely teachings on the Orthodox Christian experience.
Matthew’s podcasts, lectures, and retreats cover a broad spectrum of
topics: his conversion to Orthodoxy, the comparative differences between
Eastern and Western Christianity, the problem of Christian pluralism,
the ascetic/sacramental experience of God, the impact of philosophy on
Christianity, the nature and importance of Holy Tradition, discerning
the will of God in one’s life, liturgical music, how to simply and
effectively share one’s Orthodox faith, the basics of parish growth,
Orthodox environmentalism—and more.
Born in West Virginia and raised in Pennsylvania, Matthew moved to
the Pacific Northwest to attend college in 1970. He’s lived in Eastern
Washington/Northern Idaho ever since. Over the years, Matthew has made
his living as a cement contractor, a probation officer, and an
evangelical pastor. He has worked in community action agencies, and is a
professional singer, songwriter, guitarist, and studio musician.
Matthew received a Master’s Degree in philosophy from Gonzaga
University in Spokane, Washington. For 17 years, he taught philosophy
at Gonzaga, and at North Idaho College in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. In
2007, he left his academic post to focus on writing and speaking full
time.
Matthew and his wife Alice were married in 1975. They currently
reside in Sandpoint, Idaho, and are active in the mission parish of Holy
Myrrhbearers Orthodox Church in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Their son Joshua
and his wife Tiffani have two children: William and Lucinda. Kaci,
their daughter, is mom to Zachary. All the kids and grandkids attend
St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church in Post Falls, Idaho.
As pastor of a non-denominational church during the 1980s, Matthew
became troubled by the doctrinal contradictions that separate
Christians. He could no longer accept that God would leave His children
so divided and confused about who He is and what He wants for them. So,
he embarked on a search for original Christianity. His spiritual
journey led him into philosophy, which in turn led him to the writings
of the Early Church Fathers.
Matthew began to study the faith of the first Christians in earnest.
He found that their life centered upon an immediate experience of the
presence of Christ. He also came to see that common Western approaches
to God—the rational contemplation of the Scriptures, the spiritual
application of imagination, or even the practice of charismatic
gifts—cannot produce this sort of encounter with the Divine. Rather, it
is made possible through participation in the sacramental and ascetic
practices which have defined Christian life since the time of the
Apostles.
Over time, Matthew discovered that there is only one place where the
Early Church’s sacramental and ascetic life has been faithfully
preserved: Eastern Orthodoxy. In 1997, Matthew, Alice, and Kaci were
received into the Orthodox Church. Joshua and Tiffani joined them in
2005.
Father Peter Gillquist, noted author and Director of Missions and
Evangelism for the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese, has said that
Matthew’s gift is his ability to explain difficult concepts simply.
Whatever topic Matthew addresses, his goal is to show how that issue
relates to God’s ultimate desire for us: that we be one with Him, and
one with each other, in the same way that the members of the Holy
Trinity are one (John 17:20-23).
Currently, Matthew is compiling his podcast transcripts into publishable volumes. He’s also working on a book entitled One: What It Means To Be A Christian,
which he hopes to publish this year (2009). To learn more about
Matthew’s life and ministry, please visit his website:
www.matthewgallatin.com.
Pilgrims from Paradise (Ancient Faith Radio)
You’re connected to the Pilgrims from Paradise podcast with Matthew Gallatin. Matthew is the author of Thirsting For God in a Land of Shallow Wells published by Conciliar Press [here].
Δεν υπάρχουν σχόλια:
Δημοσίευση σχολίου