Scott Dawson (evangelist)

Scott Dawson (born September 14, 1967) is an American author, preacher, and the founder of the Scott Dawson Evangelistic Association (SDEA), and of the Strength to Stand Conference movement.

Dawson was born on September 14, 1967. He graduated from Samford University earning a Bachelor of Arts, and earned a Master of Divinity from Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama. Later in 1993, he received his ordination and certificate of gospel ministry by order of the Roebuck Park Baptist Church. He preached his first sermon at the age of 16. Shortly after, he began speaking at various churches. By the age of 20, Scott founded the evangelistic association that would come to be known as SDEA (Scott Dawson Evangelistic Association). Since 1987, the organization has founded and directed numerous music festivals featuring Christian artists and speakers. In 2005 Scott Dawson partnered with Scott Lenning who worked as crusade director at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association for nearly 20 years. The Scott Dawson Evangelistic Association operates out of Birmingham, AL where Scott and his wife, Tarra, reside with their children Hunter and Hope.

Scott Dawson speaking at Stadium Fest.

Dawson & his organization founded the Strength to Stand Conference. Being held annually since 1989, the conferences, aimed at teens and young adults, feature Christian artists and speakers. The conferences has also been host to the Passion Conferences. Musical acts such as Lecrae, Jamie Grace and David Crowder.

SDEA is also the parent organization behind StadiumFest, a festival which draws over 30,000 attendees annually. One Birmingham News reporter billed StadiumFest as "the largest free Christian crowd Birmingham has seen since 1986".

• Dear Lord Why?' (Scott Dawson Evangelistic Association, 2001).
• Complete Evangelism Guidebook (Baker Books, 2006).
• Evangelism Today: Effectively Sharing the Gospel in a Rapidly Changing World (Baker Books, 2009).