Matthew R.S. Todd
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Books Clicking on titles or images will lead to the book sellers
Hope Alive: Going and Growing through Pain
Mill Lake Books, 2016.
This book is a compilation of personal narratives built around Matthew Todd’s life as a husband, a father, a pastor, and a professional. He uses these narratives to reflect on the problem of evil in human life. This volume does not purport to be a comprehensive academic and philosophical tome on the problem of human pain, suffering and evil. Instead, the approach is of one person sharing some personal experiences and theological reflections with family and friends around a coffee table. The difficult experiences include serious accidents, major illnesses, job losses, unexpected deaths and criminal attacks. In the midst of these events, Todd offers no simple answers—apart from the comforting thought that God is always with us no matter what we face and the affirmation that God is good and negative circumstances don’t change that. The stories in this book reveal God’s grace in the midst of hard times. They argue for a Christian faith that says, “Though he slay me, yet I will hope in him” (Job 13:15 NIV) and “If you throw us in the fire, the God we serve can rescue us…But even if he doesn’t, it wouldn’t make a bit of difference…We still wouldn’t serve [the] gods [of this world]” (Daniel 3:16-18, The Message).
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Endorsements:
"...The encounter with God is typically at the points in life where we are stretched almost beyond our limits - in personal experience Matthew demonstrates this admirably in his book."
Phillip H. Wiebe, PhD
Professor of Philosophy
Chair of Research Ethics Board
Trinity Western University, Canada
Vancouver Shroud Association Director
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"If I want transparent and informed friends to help me grasp unfathonable and unanswerable suffering, I want Matthew Todd to be in that conversation. This book combines realistic and hopeful perspectives, not only drawing from the narrative of his life but also utilizing the thoughtful and even artful contributions of global thinkers. Together these perspectives bring hope and encouragement to find joy."
Randy White, DMin
Director, Fresno Pacific University
Center for Community Transformation,
and author of Poetic Intercessions: Artful
prayers for a Friend (Harmon Press, 2010).
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Developing a Transformational English Ministry in Chinese Churches
Friesen Press, BC, 2016
If you want to discuss development and transitions of a growing English ministry you’ve come to the right book. If recruiting and training youth workers, or development of worship, discipleship and mentoring is your concern – you’ll find ideas here. Many Chinese churches lack a long vision for their English ministry rooted in the Great commission. The author explores maturing English congregational models, the Silent Exodus, and why partnering is imperative. A celebration is given to the Chinese churches multicultural potential and challenge to reconcile the CBC hybrid culture. This volume has one goal – healthier churches to the glory of God.
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Endorsement:
"I commend to spiritual leaders, pastors, and denominational overseers Matthew Todd's well thought through and real-life-experienced work, Developing a Transformational English Ministry in Chinese Churches. In this concise volume, Matthew captures the heart of ministry triumphs and tensions in the unique world of serving God in a multi-cultural, Chinese-based Christian community. As he identifies and opens up areas of real strength and real brokeness from his own journey (also drawing from the well of other servants of these churches), this cumulative research brings deep observation and insight as well as practical wisdom to encourage and inform courageous hearted servants who serve in such communities. Readers will be touched by the maturity, truthfulness, cultural sensitivity, and useful application of this overview of ministry in Chinese Churches."
Lawrence Yuen - A Canadian-Chinese Pastor,
4th Generation in Canada
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Crisis of English Ministries in Chinese Canadian Churches
Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2015
In this book, Dr. Matthew Todd looks into the anecdotal reporting of high numbers of Canadian-born Chinese leaving Western Canadian Chinese churches–what is termed the silent exodus. Some of the fastest-growing Canadian churches are Chinese, yet reportedly the highest dropout rates are among Chinese and Asian church adult ministries. This book recommends solutions towards the retention of Canadian-born Chinese adults in Chinese bicultural churches through empowerment. To address retention, the key factors that contribute to a silent exodus are established through qualitative research with participants of diverse church affiliations. Todd examines various models and proposed solutions the Chinese church has used to retain its English-speaking congregants, and gives attention to a theological basis for being inclusive in mission initiatives and for empowerment through passing the leadership baton. Todd makes some recommendations on the new wave of an emerging congregational model that requires negotiation with Chinese church leadership to give power away to English ministry leaders and congregations. He anticipates that this will permit transformational leadership practices that contribute to shalom, community transformation, and lasting congregations.
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Endorsements:
"The research information coupled with candid comments gathered in chapter six of the book are a must-read for all those who are involved with serving the bilingual and bicultural congregation in the church ministry. Warning to readers: we need to be prepared for transformation or our cultural emotion will likely override the real benefits of reading this book."
Paul C. Wang, DMin
Vice-Principle, Canadian School of Theology,
Tyndale University Theological Seminary
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"Chinese churches of the diaspora are celebrated for their commitment to the spread of the gospel, but it is less well known that there is a large number of Canadian-born Chinese Christians who leave the church. Matthew Todd has documented this 'silent exodus' and has suggested a plan of action to reverse this attrition. This important study should be read by every pastor and lay leader of Chinese heritage who also speaks English."
W. Ward Gasque, PhD
E. Marshall Sheppherd Professor of Biblical Studies emeritus,
Regent College
"This is a creatively conceived and systematically executed research project on the role of language and its social impact, focusing on Canada but in many ways applicable to the US as well. It is solidly based on empirical data."
Daniel H. Bays, PhD
Professor of History emeritus
Calvin College
Book Review: David H. Leung is assistant conference minister for Chinese churches for the B.C. Mennonite Brethren conference.
See Link: http://mbherald.com/english-ministry-crisis-chinese-churches/
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Book review: Bakke graduate University - Books
See Link: http://bgublog.blogspot.ca/
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Book review: Wipf & Stock Pubishers
See Link: https://wipfandstock.com/english-ministry-crisis-in-chinese-canadian-churches.html
Historical Attitudes that Have Shaped the Church’s Use of the Arts
Word Alive Press, Winnipeg, MB 2010
Winnipeg, MB: Word Alive Press, 2010
Matthew Todd reflects on two millennia of religious action, reaction, and inaction with the arts. His composition mines the question, “What attitudes have shaped the Church’s use of the arts?” The book briefly addresses a range of diverse attitudes encompassing the disciplines of theology, philosophy, sociology, humanities, aesthetics and psychology. A panorama of attitudes are winnowed out from historical epochs in the Ancient, Medieval, Reformational and Modern/Postmodern Church. What emerges is that the Church’s attitudes towards the arts is mixed and deeply impacted by secular practices, renewal, philosophical movements, and theological interpretation. Two things can be stated at the outset: first, the Church’s attitudes towards the arts have not been conceived in a vacuum. Secondly, as C.S. Lewis pointed out, when “Christian activities have been directed toward this present world… the arts (have) tended to flourish in its neighborhood.” This is the first book I’ve seen that shows the diversity of attitudes that have shaped the Church’s involvement in the arts to the present day. The Church’s attitudes towards the arts have often been shaped by various movements and interpretations. Often today I find Christians largely unaware of how much Western culture has been shaped by Christian values. Matthew helps us get a more informed perspective.
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Endorsement:
"This is the first book I've seen that shows the diversity of attitudes that have shaped the Church's involvement in the arts to the present day. The Church's attitudes towards the arts have often been shaped by various movements and interpretations. Often today I find Christians largely unaware of how much Western culture has been shaped by Christian values. Matthew helps us get a more informed perspective."
Dal Schindell,
Instructor in Art & Christianity
Director of the Lookout Gallery,
Regent College
Book Review: –Lance Odegard lives in East Vancouver with the Artisan community
See Link: http://mbherald.com/historical-attitudes-that-have-shaped-the-churchs-use-of-the-arts/
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Editorial Book Review - Arts Connection: The Intersection of Faith, Arts and Canadian Culture
See link: http://artsconnection.ca/content/quick-read-explores-churchs-attitude-towards-art
The Interface of Percussive Arts, Religious Experience and Sacred Association
Word Alive Press, Winnipeg, MB 2008eg, MB: Word Alive Press, 2008
The objective of this book is to theologically ground how drummers and percussionists practice their craft in worship contexts. The book examines the historical foundations of the Western church’s practice in order to demonstrate that it has been shaped, in part, by Greek metaphysics that carry a bias against the physical and temporal, especially when it comes to the relation of percussive arts in worship and sacred contexts. This bias, deriving not only from Greek dualistic thought but also from certain negatively perceived secular associations, has resulted in the Church’s overlooking or, in some cases, intentionally ignoring, the robust sacral expression and disclosure that percussive arts have provided to other sacred traditions. Attempting to redress the neglect of the place of the percussive arts in the church, this books seeks to demonstrate that such neglect and even suppression goes against an orthodox biblical approach to the physical and the temporal. In fact, scriptural examples of worship in bodily rhythmic expressivity and scriptural teachings regarding God’s good ordering of creation and the image of God in man provide substance for a holistic liturgical embrace of percussive instruments within the context of corporate worship.
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Endorsements:
"Music has long been a contentious issue among Christians and little wonder since it touches us so deeply. Central to much of that contention has been the role of percussion. Thanks to Matthew Todd we now have a book written by someone who not only knows percussion but also something of the history of the church's concerns. This is a must read for anyone interested in the issue."
Rikk Watts, PhD
Associate Professor NT,
Regent College
Former Drummer
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"Matthew Todd has been an integral part of the orchestra at our David C. Lam Society festivals. His use of the timpani and other percussion instruments have truly added to the magnificent sound to glorify the Lord. I have enjoyed his positive and joyful contributions to our music in which his use of percussive art appears to have one aim, to extol the Lord."
The Honorable Dr. David C. Lam
Former lieutenant-Governor of BC (1988-1995)
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"In my opinion, Matthew Todd's book is long overdue. This book not only renders the historical development of percussive arts within the western church, it also explores the theological and philosophical impact of percussive arts throughout the ages. He writes clearly about the bias shaped by Greek metaphysics and traced the development into the misguided notion of percussive arts among many sacred traditions. This book is full of information and rich in ideas. It definately ranks highly as a resource among worship resources in a subject that requires a scholar with an interdisciplinary background to do justice in this topic. For anyone that is serious about learning more about the role of percussive art in worship and sacred contexts, this book is a "must read."
Herbert H. Tsang, PhD
Conductor Sinfonia Mosaic
Professor
Carey Theological College
Director of Centre for Worship Studies
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"I love Matthew Todd's insight and passion concerning Percussive Arts and the Church. Matthew brings years of practical experience as a pastor, percussionist and son of a professional percussionist. I agree with Matthew when he states that the Church needs 'the percussive arts because of their capacity to reinforce the good news message. For example, a joyful text may call for a high level of discipline and energy that pushes the beat with drive to build excitement through the song.' As a professional arranger, pastor, worship leader and teacher, I have personally witnessed the power of percussion mixed with God honoring worship in over 45 countries around the world. As Matthew so eloquently points out, 'percussive art can loudly and vigorously underscore truths that arouse emotions.' May you be inspired to see the use of percussion in the Church in a whole new way as you read Matthew Todd's compelling treatise."
Mark Cole, B. Mus. (Praisecharts)
Arranger, songwriter, teacher, record producer, music director
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See Book review by The Vancouver Sun's Religion and Ethics reporter Douglas Todd:
Titled: "Are Drums Too Sensual for Churches?"
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See Book Review: By Freelance Drummer and Music teacher Kenton Wiens.
See Link: http://mbherald.com/sanctifying-the-drums/
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