Gavin is Solas’s Assistant Director (Scotland) and does a wide variety of work for the organisation. He speaks for Solas in churches and at conferences, co-ordinates the website, writes articles and other Solas communications and presents webinars and podcasts. He also loves networking for Solas and speaking with church leaders about our work. Gavin has been married to Elaine since 1996 and they have three adult children. He has been a member of Perth Baptist Church since 1999.
Video Samples
Speaking at Riverside Church, Ayr
The Road to Emmaus – preaching at Maddiston Community Church near Falkirk
Jesus and the Questions of Our Age – preaching at Selkirk Baptist Church
Writing Samples
Perfectionism, Grace and Drums – article for the Undercurrents series
Taking the Gospel Outside the Four Walls of the Church: Café-style evangelism in six easy steps
Finding Hope This Easter in the Age of Doomscrolling – article for The Scotsman newspaper
Photo Gallery
Right-click to download images
Biography
Gavin Matthews grew up in the west London suburbs near Heathrow Airport. His parents were Christians who brought him up in the faith, which he came to enjoy himself when he was seventeen and studying A-levels after a period of wrestling with doubts and questions. He was greatly influenced in his early Christian life by the noted Bible teacher Derek O. Swann, and the Covenanters youth movement.
After moving to Scotland, Gavin gained an MA(Hons) 1st Class, in Modern History and Political Science at the University of Dundee, and married a fellow student, Elaine. There he was involved with the Christian Union and Central Baptist Church. After that he gained an M.Litt in Modern American History and Politics at St Andrews, pursuing research into the post-Civil rights era responses of the Black Churches of Philadelphia to the development needs of the city’s African American neighbourhoods. While being the primary carer for three children Gavin then studied theology at ICC in Glasgow, gaining an Open University accredited degree.
Gavin and his family have lived in Perth since the late 1990s and have been active members of Perth Baptist Church throughout that time. He first worked for Solas as a contributor to, then editor at Solas Magazine, beginning in 2015. He is now Solas’s Assistant Director (Scotland) and does a wide variety of work for the organisation. He speaks for Solas in churches and at conferences, co-ordinates the website, writes articles and other Solas communications and presents webinars and podcasts. He also does a lot of networking for Solas and speaks to church leaders about our work.
Outside work and church, Gavin enjoys reading, hillwalking and cycling. At the time of writing he has two Munros to go to complete his first round. He likes music that others find objectionable, and has a very corny sense of humour.
