Matthew Thomas’ offers new buzz, hope for church
Author’s debut book, ‘The Buzz About The Church,’ released
WHITEHOUSE, Texas – Matthew Thomas marks his publishing debut with the release of “The Buzz About The Church” (published by WestBow Press), a book marrying the practice of discipleship with the metaphor of beekeeping to create “a new buzz and hope for the church.”
The Western church is in significant decline, Thomas argues. “The Buzz About The Church” offers hope for its future in the practice of discipleship modeled by Jesus and honeybees. The fortifying idea predominant in the book is the process Jesus used to forge his disciples in to mature followers he also uses to mature his creation, as seen in a honeybee colony. “The riddle Sampson poses in Judges 14 of ‘what is strong and sweet?’ guides the reader to our hope and what will ultimately save the church,” the author shares.
The book is both a companion to the mechanistic approach and also new image-rich offering for modern-day readers who are “tired of boring strategies, plans and procedures of the culture and church.”
“I want them to imagine faith in a much more comprehensive way. I want them to see the Lord has planted his process of discipleship in every corner of creation, and the practice of Jesus to deeply form and mature each of us is the hope of the church,” Thomas adds.
“The Buzz About The Church”
By Matthew Thomas
Hardcover | 6 x 9in | 112 pages | ISBN 9781512793512
Softcover | 6 x 9in | 112 pages | ISBN 9781512793529
E-Book | 112 pages | ISBN 9781512793536
Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble
About the Author
Matthew Thomas was raised in the central Texas town of Rockdale and attended Saint John’s United Methodist Church. Upon receiving his call to ministry, he began his education at Lon Morris College in 1994. He received his first appointment at Dialville and Pierce Chapel UMCs in the summer of 1995. He has served numerous churches over the years, including Carroll Springs UMC. Upon finishing at Lon Morris College, he went on to receive his Bachelor of Science in speech communications from the University of Texas at Tyler. Following U.T. Tyler, he graduated from Perkins School of Theology with a master’s in divinity. The last several years have been spent pursuing a doctor of ministry degree from George Fox Evangelical Seminary. He graduated in May of 2015 with a doctorate in semiotics and future studies. His thesis is about reimagining discipleship through a theology of beekeeping. Thomas spends his time in the pastorate and writing. He currently serves as solo pastor of Whitehouse United Methodist Church. He also is a fourth generation beekeeper. He has two children, Noah (13) and Emma (10). He is happily married to Christina, a band director for Whitehouse ISD.
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