Dr. Matthew Tanner was born in Belleville, Illinois to Dr. Steve and Mary Tanner in March 1977. Matthew and his identical twin brother, Joshua, were given a ten percent chance of surviving through the night. Trusting in the sovereign plan of God, their parents dedicated Matthew and Joshua's lives to the Lord, and both have lived healthy lives in service to the Lord.Dr. Tanner grew up in both central and north Arkansas before graduating high school and moving to attend College of the Ozarks. It was there he completed a degree in Administration of Justice and Psychology. While attending College of the Ozarks, Dr. Tanner met his wife, Heather, and they have been married since 2002. The Tanners are proud of their three daughters: Sarah, Shelby, and Samantha.After undergraduate school, Dr. Tanner attended Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and earned a Master of Divinity degree in 2006, a Master of Theology, and a Doctor of Ministry in December 2020.Dr. Tanner has served as pastor for several churches in the state of Missouri, interim pastor for a church in South Dakota, and Director of Missions in his own ministry. He currently is, at the publication of this book, lead pastor of Northside Baptist Church in Bernie, Missouri.