October 19, 2007
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Diana Hunter, School of Continuing Education, UVSC
(801) 863-7427
hunterdi@uvsc.edu
OREM, Utah-What if someone gave up a fantastic career, sold his home, and gave away more than half of what he owned? That's the story of J. Matthew Sleeth, M.D., who was the chief of medical staff and director of ER at a hospital on the east coast. Dr. Sleeth resigned from his position to devote his life to environmental stewardship. He will speak on his journey and his book, Serve God, Save the Planet: A Christian Call to Action, at UVSC on Tuesday, October 30th from 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. in the Losee Center ( room LC243). This event is free and open to the public. It is cosponsored by the Environmental Studies, Religious Studies, Peace and Justice Studies and the School of Continuing Education.
Serve God, Save the Planet, is a deeply personal book with far-reaching ramifications for Christians and all those who take their devotion to God seriously. The book presents a gripping account of Dr. Sleeth's personal and spiritual journey to environmental stewardship, lays out sobering rationale for life changes, and a guide for lifestyle changes that will help care for others and help protect the earth.
Dr. Sleeth is a graduate of George Washington University School of Medicine where he received two post doctoral fellowships. Five years ago, Sleeth and his family lived in a big house on the coast, had two luxury cars and many material possessions. Sleeth was living the American dream, until he realized that something was wrong. As he saw patient after patient suffering from cancer, asthma, and other chronic diseases, and began to understand that the earth and its inhabitants were in trouble. Feeling helpless, he turned to his faith for guidance. He discovered how the scriptural lessons of personal responsibility, simplicity, and stewardship could be applied to modern life. Together with his wife and two teenaged children, he began to bring his lifestyle in line with his values. The Sleeth family sold their big house and gave away more than half of what they owned.
The Sleeth family made many lifestyle changes after examining their lives. Sleeth made an assessment of the environmental impact by his family on the earth and was convicted to translate his Christian beliefs into action. The home the Sleeths live in is the exact size of their old garage. They use less than one-third of the fossil fuels and one-quarter of the electricity they once used. They have gone from leaving two barrels of trash by the curb each week to leaving one bag every few weeks.
Sleeth now helps lead the eco-evangelism movement from his home in Wilmore, KY. Dr. Sleeth resigned from his position as chief to teach, preach, and write about faith and the environment throughout the country. His book, Serve God, Save the Planet: A Christian Call to Action, was released in soft cover by Zondervan Publishing in April 2007. In Sleeth's book, he shares the joy of adopting a less materialistic lifestyle, and reveals what was easy and what was hard about the changes his family has made and how material downscaling led his family to healthier lifestyles, stronger relationships, and richer spiritual lives. To hear more about Dr. J. Matthew Sleeth's personal book come to the powerful presentation that will change your life's perspectives.
For more information about Sleeth's talk at UVSC call the School of Continuing Education at (801) 863-7427. To view more on Dr. J. Matthew Sleeth and his book online go to www.servegodsavetheplanet.org.
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