Matthew West Shares Testimony In New Short Film From I Am Second

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Matthew West appears in a new White Chair film from the global storytelling ministry, I Am Second, that details the defining yet unexpected moments that led him to discovering his identity and purpose.

As a kid West grew up in the front row of his parents’ church in suburban Chicago, where he felt the constant pressure to perform and live up to a “preacher’s kid” standard. The weight of others’ expectations followed him wherever he went. “From a very early age, I had this feeling that all eyes were on me,” says West. “The pressure that I felt being the preacher’s kid, there were several moments in my life where I was like ‘I don’t want this pressure, I don’t like how this feels.’”

As he entered college and stepped away from the label of pastor’s kid, West sought to define his own identity. He found himself making choices that strayed from his faith—decisions he knew would disappoint his parents and left him feeling ashamed. Recognizing his mistakes, West surrendered control and trusted a higher power with 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.”

More about West’s story can be found at iamsecond.com/film/matthew-west. West’s newest single, “Unashamed,” from his Don’t Stop Praying album is currently climbing the Top 10 on Christian radio, and his ninth book Don’t Stop Praying is slated for release in February.

Lorie Hollabaugh
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