Serve God, Save the Planet by former emergency room doctor Dr. J. Matthew Sleeth 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.  It lays out sobering rationale for life changes, and a “how-to” guide for lifestyle changes that will help care for others and protect the earth. 

Five years ago, Dr. J Matthew Sleeth and his family lived in a big house on the coast, had two luxury cars and many material possessions.  As chief of the medical staff at a large hospital, Sleeth was living the American dream—until he realized that something was terribly wrong. As he saw patient after patient suffering from cancer, asthma, and other chronic diseases, he 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.  The Sleeths have since sold their big home and given away more than half of what they once owned.

In Serve God, Save the Planet, Dr. Sleeth 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.

He shares how material downscaling led his family to healthier lifestyles, stronger relationships, and richer spiritual lives.

“Although I believed in the “environmental cause” before I accepted Christ as my Savior, my belief did not translate into action,” Dr. Sleeth writes.  “After I became a Christian, I went through a process of examining my life, and I found it was filled with sin and hypocrisy.  I decided to conduct an assessment and figure out a rough estimate of the actual environmental impact by my family.   This honest inventory indicated what the Christian faith required of me.” 

“Because of these changes,” Dr. Sleeth writes in his book, “we have more time for God.  Spiritual concerns have filled the void left by material ones.  Owning fewer things has resulted in things no longer owning us.”

Serve God, Save the Planet addresses the questions:

• How can I live a more godly, equitable, and meaningful life?
• How can I help people today and in the future?
• How can I be less materialistic?
• How can I live a more charitable life?
• What would happen if I led a slower-paced existence?  

Dr. Sleeth writes:  “Serve God, Save the Planet is meant to elicit personal accountability rather than political change.  Its lessons are meant to teach individuals, families, and communities not much larger than a congregation; and yet it looks at larger issues because they profoundly affect each of us.”

“I am convinced that when the church becomes fully engaged in the problems of creation care, we will overcome seemingly insurmountable odds.  As all those who consider themselves people of faith grow in their understanding that God holds us accountable for care of his creation, we will begin to see positive changes on an unprecedented scale.”

Breaking News

–Return visit to Mars Hill: Matthew was asked by Rob Bell to preach again at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids on May 4, 2008. This time the subject will be TIME. If you can't hear the sermon live, we hope you will check out the podcast. When available, the podcast can be found here.

–Great News for daughter Emma's book, It's Easy Being Green, which was officially release March 8, 2008:

Publishers Weekly (the publication bookstores use to decide what to order) just released a very positive review of Emma Sleeth's new book, It's Easy Being Green:

"Sleeth, now an Asbury College student, is a precocious advocate for environmental issues. She wrote this book when she was just 15. (And, no, she wasn’t homeschooled, if that’s what you’re wondering.) She shares her passion for Jesus and for saving the planet, in roughly that order. Although the book is clearly aimed at teen and young adult readers, Sleeth is skillful enough at sermon illustrations that her anecdotes about babysitting, high school cliques and Mom’s homemade meals help illuminate her points for older readers as well. Pull-out boxes offer concrete suggestions for young Christians who want to go green, but aren’t sure how to go about it."

Christian Retailing (the publication Christian bookstores use to decide what to order) also will be featuring Emma as one of their up-and-coming young authors.

Photos from Recent Tours

For more photos from Dr. Sleeth's tour of Santa Barbara, click here.

How to Get a Copy

If you can't find Serve God, Save the Planet in your local bookstore or library, you can order online from Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble.

Help Us Spread the Earth Stewardship Message

Consider donating copies of Serve God, Save the Planet to your local library, church libraries, and ministers and church leaders. Our hope is to get a copy of the book in every library in America.

If you would like to help us share the creation care message with churches and campuses around the country, please prayerfully consider making a contribution to  the ministry God has called us to, Blessed Earth.  For more information, click here.

Write to Us!

If you would like Dr. Sleeth to talk at your church, school, or organization, just send us an email. Also, we'd love to have your earth stewardship questions and favorite earth stewardship scripture.