معرفی
John V. G. Matthews serves as Senior Research Professor of Educational Foundations and Religious Education at Andrews University's Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, where he directs the MA in Religious Education program and maintains a joint appointment in the School of Education. His international academic career spans Africa, Europe, Asia, and North America with diverse responsibilities in pastoring, teaching, and administration.
His educational credentials include:
- BA from Columbia Union College (1974)
- MA from Andrews University (1975)
- PhD from Andrews University (1988)
Dr. Matthews' research centers on Religious Education, Educational Foundations, and Ideological Diversity, with significant contributions to faith-integrated pedagogy. His work bridges theoretical frameworks and practical applications, exemplified by the UNICEF-Pakistan project developing Islam-integrated health education materials for traditional birth attendants. He examines how religious commitment influences educational engagement across cultural contexts, with particular focus on Seventh-day Adventist educational traditions and historical educational philosophy.
His publication timeline reveals enduring commitment to faith-education integration: from 1988 doctoral research on Renaissance humanist pedagogy, through 2003 analysis of Adventist higher education commitment, to 2017 investigations of adolescent faith-service correlations. This trajectory demonstrates consistent exploration of how religious identity shapes educational participation across historical periods and cultural settings.
As Director of the MA program, Dr. Matthews mentors graduate students in religious education methodology while maintaining active scholarly engagement through international conference presentations. His applied research approach connects academic theory with real-world educational challenges in both secular and faith-based contexts.
