Samuel
and Cynthia
Matthews
September
2013
I
was born on 18 February 1949 and raised by my dad in the rough ghettos
on the
east side of Detroit, Michigan. I graduated from Southeastern High
School in
June 1966. To my knowledge I was the first Black apprentice
pipe-coverer to be
accepted into that skill trade union in Michigan (1968). I covered pipe
for
Owen Corning Fiberglas (asbestos).
I'm
a retired US Navy Nuclear Submarine Weapons Officer (20 years,
1969‑1989).
I served 10 years as an Enlisted Man (E1 ‑ E7) and the last ten years
as
a Commissioned Officer (O1 ‑ O3). I served as the Senior Scuba Diver
and
as the Chief Torpedo Fire Control Technician (FTG) onboard the nuclear
submarine USS Lafayette (SSBN 616). I served as the Officer of the Deck
(surfaced and submerged), First Lieutenant, Diving Officer, and
Assistant
Weapons Officer onboard the nuclear submarine USS Daniel Webster (SSBN
626). At
various shore commands I served as a Non-Judicial Punishment
Investigating
Officer, Submarine School Instructor and Division Officer, Satellite
Launch
Planning Officer, Quality Assurance Staff Assistant, and Executive
Officer.
In March 1977, I became a Christian - a member of the body of Christ -
a
servant of God, a preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I have
performed
missionary work in Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, New Mexico, South Africa,
and the
state of Utah. I have preached at various lectureships and as the guest
evangelist for the churches of Christ in England, Scotland, various
Caribbean
Islands, and more than half of our United States.
While serving as a deacon with the church in Salt Lake City, Utah, I
began and
preached on the "Bible Is Right" radio program. This program was
aired seven days per week (from 1984‑1994) over Bountiful, Utah station
KBBX (1600 on "AM" dial). In 1987 I published two religious tracts
which can be read in English or Spanish: How To
Be Just
A Christian and The Five
Steps To
Salvation. A third article, Come Let Us
Reason
Together, is a teachable fill-in-the-blank Bible study. I've
written or
edited many other Articles
For Spiritual Growth published in various periodicals.
I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Education from
Southern
Illinois University at Carbondale (1978), and a Master’s of Science
degree in
Church Ministry from Southern Christian University in Montgomery,
Alabama
(1999). The beginning of this web site (www.TrustInGodAmerica.com)
was a class assignment I completed while earning my Masters.
On 30 August 1972, I married "Miss America" (America Teresa Smith) of
St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. We were blessed with four wonderful
faithful
Christian children, two son-in-laws, one daughter-in-law, four handsome
grandsons, and three precious granddaughters. "Miss America"
passed away in a Portland, OR hospital at 7:40 pm on 19 June 2010.
Please
go to this 11 minute VIDEO
to view a picture tribute which was shown at her funeral on 24 June
2010. On
5 February 2011, I married Cynthia Jones of Detroit, Michigan. We
are
presently working and worshiping with a congregation of Christians in
St.
Thomas, Virgin Islands.
I'm just a Christian. I'm serving God and mankind to make a difference
in the
world. I love the Lord our God and all other created things. Like
the
apostle Paul, I can say: "What things were gain to me, those I
counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss
for the
excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for whom I have
suffered
the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win
Christ, And
be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the
law, but
which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God
by
faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the
fellowship
of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any
means I
might attain unto the resurrection of the dead" (Philippians 3:7‑11)
All Glory to God!
With
love in Christ,
Samuel
A. Matthews
Galatians 2:20