JFH News: Matthew West Shares How God Became the Ultimate Author of His Story with I Am Second

Matthew West Shares How God Became the Ultimate Author of His Story, Discovering Peace and a Renewed Identity

One of Christian music’s most prolific singer-songwriters shares his journey as a pastor’s kid and how he escaped the weight of worldly expectations in new I Am Second White Chair film

Matthew West Shares How God Became the Ultimate Author of His Story with I Am Second

NEWS SOURCE: KC Communications
December 11, 2025

PLANO, Texas (December 11, 2025) — Award-winning recording artist, singer-songwriter and storyteller Matthew West details the defining—yet unexpected—moments that led him to discovering his identity and purpose in a new White Chair film released today from the global storytelling ministry, I Am Second.

Matthew grew up in the front row of his parents’ church in suburban Chicago. At home, his parents encouraged him to pursue the most important relationship he could ever discover—a personal relationship with Jesus. Outside this environment, however, he felt the constant pressure to perform and live up to a “preacher’s kid” standard. He carried the weight of others’ expectations wherever he went.

“From a very early age, I had this feeling that all eyes were on me,” said West. “When I was a kid, I kind of just figured that I’ll get to heaven because I’m in the family business. Church was more like what we did as opposed to having a faith being like who I was and guiding my life.”

When Matthew made the decision to follow Jesus, it wasn’t from within the walls of his own church. This pivotal moment took place in an unexpected setting—sitting alone on a blue couch, clinging to the words of an evangelist on his television screen.

“I let my walls down and prayed a simple, yet life-changing prayer,” said West. “That was the first moment when I realized that my life is a story. I’m not the author of it but my faith in Jesus is not just a family connection anymore. This is my story.”

Over time, as God continued to pursue Matthew, his heart softened to the truth that while the world may place unrealistic expectations and pressure on you, the only relationship that truly matters is the one between you and God—the true author of every life.

As Matthew entered college and stepped away from the label of pastor’s kid, he made choices that strayed from God’s heart as he sought to define his own identity. Recognizing his mistakes, Matthew surrendered control to God, trusting a greater hand to write the story of his life.

“I knew that my prayer was sincere and I knew that I wanted what God had for me,” said West. “It was a moment where I was fully embracing his grace and forgiveness in my life.”

Matthew’s vision for making music solidified when he fully devoted his life to God. Today, the five-time Grammy nominee gathers thousands of testimonies of faith, inviting everyday people to share their stories. Marked by brokenness and redemption, these stories have inspired several of his songs and offer hope and encouragement to others through shared experiences.

“When you put God first in your life, he can take even the most messed up chapters of your story and he can redeem them in a way that actually reaches out and lets somebody else know that there’s hope for them too,” said West.

Matthew’s story reveals an important truth: there is a greater storyteller at work in every life. His journey shows that when God is in control of the narrative, peace, hope and purpose abound.

“Don’t try to live your story your way,” said West. “Place the pen back into the rightful author’s hands and watch and be amazed at what kind of story he can write with your life.”

To learn more about Matthew's story, visit https://www.iamsecond.com/film/matthew-west/. For more information about I Am Second, visit iamsecond.com.

About I Am Second

I Am Second, an initiative of e3 Partners, is a global storytelling ministry that tells stories that lift up Jesus though digital and other media and provides pathways for people to grow as a follower of Jesus. Through various discipleship resources and missions activities, I Am Second seeks to help individuals boldly pursue God’s unique calling for their lives. To learn more about I Am Second, visit iamsecond.com.

About Matthew West

Dubbed “one of Christian music’s most prolific singer-songwriters” (Billboard), Matthew West has notched 38 No.1 songs combined as an artist and songwriter and has been awarded RIAA Gold and Platinum certifications. West is also a five-time GRAMMY nominee, NSAI’s 2022 Songwriter-Artist of the Year, ASCAP’s 2023 Golden Note Award recipient, ASCAP’s Songwriter of the Year recipient, and a multiple ASCAP Christian Music Songwriter/Artist of the Year winner. He has received an American Music Award, a Billboard Music Award, K-LOVE Fan Awards, GMA Dove Awards, and has been named Billboard’s Hot Christian Songwriter of the Year. A recipient of the Rich Mullins Impact Award, West also received a Primetime Emmy® Award nomination for Original Music & Lyrics for the title track for the feature film “The Heart of Christmas.”

In addition to his own recording career, he has co-hosted the K-LOVE Fan Awards eight times and has more than 275 songwriting credits to his name, including cuts by Anne Wilson, Rascal Flatts, Scotty McCreery, Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Mandisa, Danny Gokey, Casting Crowns, and others. The release of Don’t Stop Praying marks his 13th studio album. West's first single from the album and title track, "Don't Stop Praying" (released January 2024) marked his biggest streaming single debut in his 20-year career and notched a No. 1 spot for two weeks at radio. The newest single, “Unashamed,” from the Don't Stop Praying album is currently climbing the Top 10 on Christian radio, inspiring people across the Nation to stand boldly in faith and live unashamed of the Gospel.

Adding author to his list of accolades, West has written eight books to date: K- Love award winning “My Story, Your Glory 30-Day Devotional,” “Give This Christmas Away,” “The Story Of Your Life,” “Forgiveness,” “Today Is Day One”, “Hello, My Name Is, “The God Who Stays,” “Come Home For Christmas” with his ninth book “Don’t Stop Praying” slated to release in February 2026. In 2020, The Matthew West Podcast debuted and continues weekly with special guests. West is also passionate about providing hope and healing through the power of prayer and story. Along with his father, Pastor Joe West, they founded popwe, a non-profit ministry helping others to craft, share, and live a more meaningful life.

For more information visit www.matthewwest.com or follow him on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.

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For more info on Matthew West, visit the JFH Artists Database.