Christian Artist Spreads Message of Hope in a Unique Way
By Movieguide® Contributor
Christian artist Matthew West is spreading a message of hope around Nashville.
In a recent video, he documented himself setting up encouraging yard signs around the city.
“Today, I’m taking you along with me to spread some hope and a bold message of faith in the form of a yard sign,” he began. “Ever since I wrote the song ‘Don’t Stop Praying,’ it really felt like a statement.”
“My team and I were talking about how there’s all these signs that are going to be in people’s yards. Everybody is getting the word out about something, and it’s like, well, what’s the campaign slogan of the believer, of somebody who follows Jesus?” West continued.
He’s using the phrase “Don’t Stop Praying” on the signs to encourage people.
“Amongst all of the messages that are in the world that are coming at us every single day, that message of just a reminder like, ‘Hey, God’s listening for your voice, talk to him today,’” he explained.
The singer was inspired to start this trend after he saw churches across the nation creating encouraging yard signs for their members to put in front of their homes.
He wants this message to invade more than just Nashville, though. On his “Don’t Stop Praying” website, fans can buy their own signs to join the movement.
“I’ve been kind of convicted in a good way of just like how often I just stay in my own little bubble, my own little world of family and friends and influence, when there’s a great big city full of people who are lost and searching and need hope,” West added. “There’s a God who made you, he loves you, he knows you and he has the best plan for your life.”
West released “Don’t Stop Praying” at the beginning of the year, and last month, it went No. 1 on Billboard’s Christian Airplay chart.
“Getting that call from my record label will never get old! I’m thankful for all of the radio stations sharing this song with their listeners around the world” West wrote on Instagram of the feat. “More important than any chart position, I have always aimed to put songs into the world that hit people’s hearts with a message they needed to hear, and the minute this song was written, I felt in my heart that this was a message for our world right now. Whatever it is you’re praying for, and no matter how long you’ve been praying, don’t stop!”
It marks the singer’s 13th overall song on Billboard’s charts.
“The achievement ties West with TobyMac for the most No. 1s among solo artists on the 2003-launched ranking. Penned by West and Jeff Pardo, the inspirational track marked the largest debut streaming week in the history of West’s monumental career upon release in January and is on track to be his most-streamed song to date,” The Christian Beat reported.
Movieguide® previously reported on West:
In a special Father’s Day episode of his podcast, hosted by his wife Emily, Matthew West shared his heart for fatherhood and the biggest lessons he learned from being a parent.
“I think the first thing that comes to mind is that [my daughters] have taught me about the heart of God. So I feel like being a dad to LuLu and Delaney has shown me so much about the heart of our heavenly Father towards us as children,” West said when asked what parenting has taught him. “Like, I think it’s just increased my capacity to understand – even though we can never fully fathom the depths of God’s love for His children, for us – like, being a dad and like plunging into these crazy depths of love for our kids shows me more about the heart of a father.”
“It shows me, you know, just the way that I would drop everything just to be with them, that’s how God is with us. So I feel like there’s been so many times in life that I’ve thought about the love that I have for my kids and the relationship I want to have with them, and the Lord’s used that to show me about what kind of relationship He wants to have with me.”
Being a parent has also taught West how to move beyond the selfish desires that he has as he refocuses himself on caring for the needs of his wife and kids.
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