CSLI Belfast presents

The Question of Pain & Suffering

with Gavin Matthews

Gavin Matthews grew up in the west London suburbs near Heathrow Airport. 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. Outside work and church, Gavin enjoys reading, hillwalking and cycling. He likes music that others find objectionable, and has a very corny sense of humour.