Raising Up a Testimony

Book excerpt: During his first seven years ministering to a suburban Houston congregation (2003-9), Matt Soper wrote a weekly essay commenting on current events, culture and the Christian faith. These essays touched on some of the most dramatic events and pressings issues of that decade, such as the capture of Saddam Hussein, the Abu Ghraib prison debacle, Hurricane Katrina, the fallout from the Danish cartoons of Muhammed, the Enron implosion, sports steroid scandals, the same-sex marriage debate, Barack Obama's historic election, and the 2007-8 recession. They also addressed more prosaic but always challenging issues and events in the life of regular people striving to live faithfully as part of an American congregation of Christians. The essays were written in real time as events unfolded, and they chronicle a preacher attempting to lead a community of Christians in thoughtfully engaging the world through eyes of courageous, rigorous and hopeful faith. Dr. Matt Soper was born and raised in New Orleans, LA. He earned bachelor's degrees in Business from Rhodes College and Biblical Studies from Austin Graduate School of Theology, a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry from Abilene Christian University. He has served churches in New Milford, CT, Los Angeles, CA and Houston, TX. He is currently the Senior Minister of the West Houston Church of Christ. He and his wife, Angela, have two daughters.