Matt Redman: Behind a Heart of Worship

GROWING UP FATHERLESS
Matt Redman was born in England. He admits that his childhood was hard in some ways. His father died when he was seven years old, and he later found out his dad had committed suicide. “A year or two later my mum (herself a passionate follower of Christ) remarried, and at first it felt like I had a new father. However, a couple of years in, things turned sour, and we soon discovered that he wasn’t the man of integrity and faithfulness he claimed to be. After mistreating us as a family and abusing my trust, he was forced to leave, “ shares Matt. The family once again found themselves fatherless. “I can honestly say that God was to me what it tells he is in the Psalms: a father to the fatherless,” shares Matt.

By the age of 15, Matt was active in his church, and he was soon busy leading worship services with the encouragement of his youth leader at the time, Mike Pilavachi. Matt then joined Pilavachi in starting a youth camp movement known as "Soul Survivor". He also began communicating his message of faith through recordings. His debut, The Friendship and the Fear, was released in 1998. As a worship leader, Matt’s journey has taken him to countries such as South Africa, Japan, India, Australia, Germany, Uganda, Croatia and the Czech Republic. His early compositions include "The Heart of Worship", "Better is One Day" and "Once Again", which have infiltrated churches all over the world. More recent songs have included "Blessed Be Your Name" and "You Never Let Go". Matt feels blessed to spend so much time involved in playing worship music – especially considering he never learned to read music. “I’ve always loved listening to music and only started playing it so I could lead worship, “recalls Matt.

WE SHALL NOT BE SHAKEN
His latest release, We Shall Not Be Shaken, marks Matt’s seventh studio album that was written fresh off the Passion World Tour (17 cities) and centers around the theme of God's faithfulness in a shifting and changing world. “I’ve been trying to write songs of stability – truths that we need to sing about in times of uncertainty. He says, “Life can seem very shaky – and recently there’s been this big economic downturn which has added to the stress of so many people’s everyday lives. But we worship a God who is unshakeable…when all around is sinking sand. He is the solid ground we can stand upon.”

As a songwriter, Matt says he is always trying to find fresh ways to sing about the cross. In the song, "This Is How We Know", co-written with his wife, Beth, he blends the message of John 3:16 and 1 John 3:16. This song took Matt over six months to complete. “I was actually going 'round in circles day after day trying to figure out what the chorus should be. Then my fantastic song-finisher wife, Beth, walked in and 45 minutes later we had a completed song!"

Matt and Beth have had a very hard couple of years with some miscarried pregnancies. “At those times you choose the path of contentment, trust, and worship — or the path of bitterness and complaint. Those moments really define us, and I’m so grateful that, by the grace of God, we chose to keep trusting Him."

The couple now have four children; Maisey, Noah, Rocco and Jackson.

AN UNEXPECTED MOVE TO THE UNITED STATES
In 2009, Matt and his family moved to Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of a team starting Passion City Church with pastors Louie and Shelley Giglio, Chris Tomlin, and others. This is the third church plant Matt has been involved with, having previously been on the team for Soul Survivor, Watford, and The Point in the United Kingdom. Matt and his family never imagined they would be calling America home, but Matt shares that clearly God had another idea in mind. He and his family are so grateful to be at Passion City Church and are looking forward to an amazing adventure.

This fall, Matt and his band are on tour with Casting Crowns on the Until the Whole World Hears Tour. He will visit over 40 different cities around North America.

"I'm really excited to be teaming up with Casting Crowns for these nights of worship. I've seen the impact their songs have had in so many people's lives, and I hope that by joining our songs, hearts and voices together we'll have some very special evenings of worship all over this nation," says Matt.