Matthew West gets personal during Winter Jam 2013
Matthew West solidified that he wasn’t an artist just for 30-40 years-olds as he entertained a packed house at Winter Jam this weekend.
Matthew West performing “Hllo, My Name Is” Winter Jam 2013 photo Brandon Jones
After opening with his hit “The Motions” and joking with the crowd during a “Pee Your Pants” song, West then pulled back the curtain to his latest album “Into the Light” and presented a video back story to each of his next two songs.
“‘Hello, my name is Jordan and I am a drug addict.’ That was the first sentence of this young man’s story that he sent to me,” West said. This was one submission of 25,000 stories to inspire the songs for this album. Jordan’s road from addict to Pastor was the story of a young man delivered by Jesus from his collapsed life to one full of hope.
While the crowd responded, it was “Forgiveness” which stirred the hearts of those in the audience. The song, which is based on a true story of Renee, who lost her 20 year old daughter as a result of being hit by a drunk driver, could reach everyone. Old and young could empathize with the pain of this mother. But through Jesus Christ, Renee visited the driver, Eric, in prison and forgave him that she was able to experience true freedom from the anger she harnessed inside.
“I look around at 20,000 faces and I see stories,” West told the crowd as he concluded with “Strong Enough” and the emotions were obvious as tears rolled down the faces of many in attendance.
In the front row were three 16-20 year-olds with their hands raised in worship, singing and shouting with West during the chorus:
I know I’m not strong enough to be
Everything that I’m supposed to be
I give up
I’m not stong enough
Hands of mercy won’t you cover me
Lord right now I’m asking you to be
Strong enough
Strong enough
Strong enough
Youth pastors may have been surprised that it wasn’t just TobyMac, Red or one of the young artists who touched their kids, it was also the personal approach of Matthew West.
Matthew West’s website is here
Full Winter Jam coverage on The Dispatch – go here
Get all of the dates for shows, ticket information at the Jam Tour website here
Matthew West performing at Winter Jam 2013 photo Brandon Jones
All photos were taken by Brandon Jones, The Global Dispatch. Please email BRANDON at theglobaldispat[email protected] before sharing these photos on a different website.
