Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Religious Music and Entertainment
Matthew West Describes His ‘Haunting’ Conversation with Billy Graham

Matthew West Describes His ‘Haunting’ Conversation with Billy Graham

Last updated on: September 29, 2017 at 4:02 pm by DeWayne Hamby

Matthew West Describes His ‘Haunting’ Conversation with Billy Graham 2017-09-29T16:02:09-04:00 DeWayne Hamby

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

When it came time to record his latest record, Dove Award-winning singer-songwriter Matthew West (“Grace Wins,” “Hello My Name Is”) found two words beating around in his heart. The phrase All In was introduced in discussions with a friend that spilled over into his next musical chapter. Described as his “most personal work to date,” the album, which releases Sept. 22, speaks on themes of faith, family, and hope in songs such as “The Beautiful Things We Miss,” “Never Ever Give Up” and the title track.

Matthew West released his new project 'All In' through Sparrow Records/Capitol Christian Music Group on Sept. 22. Image courtesy of Sparrow Records.

Matthew West released his new project ‘All In’ through Sparrow Records/Capitol Christian Music Group on Sept. 22. Image courtesy of Sparrow Records.

During a recent interview, West explained the concept behind the new record, an unfortgettable visit with Dr. Billy Graham, balancing his career and family, and co-writing with the music artist who inspired him along the way.

Can you describe how you came to the inspiration for the album title ‘All In’?

Matthew West: “I think it’s kind of been a common theme in my personal life lately, just those two words. I had a friend who would choose a word that he felt like God was putting on his heart to be his theme for the year. So I started doing that for myself in years past. This year, I cheated a little bit and expanded beyond one word and I made it a two-word theme and that theme is ‘All In.’ I guess it has something to do with the stage of life I’m in right now, watching my daughters rapidly grow up and just seeing life go so fast before my eyes. I’m at this point where I want to stop and take some inventory and really kind of ask some of the tough questions in my life, like’ Am I going all in in every aspect of my life or are there any areas where I’m phoning it in?’ I just kind of set out with that, something that felt like a big idea in those few little words. It was something I felt would resonate with the audience that’s out there listening to my music.

“I feel like a lot of times, the reason why people might resonate with my music is because they’re walking through some of the same things I’m writing about. All In is a song by song journey of looking at the areas of our lives where we have a choice . . . ‘Am I going to play it safe and maybe let the fear of what if win or am I going to go all in and reach the end of my life with no regrets?’ I think that’s kind of the haunting thought in my life right now. If my life were to end today, would I have any regrets and if so, what would they be? If the answer to that is ‘Yes, I would have some regrets,’ then guess what? My life is not ending today, Lord willing, so this means I still have the chance to change some things that need to be changed in my life.

You spoke about regrets and I’ve read where you had a conversation with Billy Graham and asked him if he had any regrets. What did he say?

That was a moment I’ll not soon forget. Everybody talks about having a bucket list and then there’s things that are not on your bucket list, because you don’t think that they would ever happen. Having a time to sit down and speak with Reverend Billy Graham was something I never even had on my bucket list but his grandson, Will Graham, took me on a surprise day trip. We drove to visit Billy at his home, and sat in his kitchen for about an hour and had a wonderful conversation. I thought if I have a chance to ask him a few questions, why would I not get some wisdom from this great man of God? I asked him, ‘Do you have any regrets?’ He said that he regretted that he had to spend so much time away from his family and his children. Boy, there was something that really resonated and was haunting, got me thinking a lot. It hit me on two levels – it made me feel better that even Billy Graham has regrets. In

other words, we’re all human. We all have things we would do over if we could. I also think he was giving me that information, advising. That’s a big theme of this record. Maybe going ‘All In’ is not always the big things that capture headlines. Sometimes it’s in the little ways. I wrote some songs about what it means to go all in within the four walls of my own home.

matthewwest

Matthew West released his new project ‘All In’ through Sparrow Records/Capitol Christian Music Group on Sept. 22. Image courtesy of Sparrow Records.

You also had a ‘full-circle’ moment with Steven Curtis Chapman on this record.

Yes, I had the chance to write with Steven Curtis Chapman, who heavily influenced me in my development. I wound up digging into my own story, so there’s one song that’s called ‘The Sound of a Life Changing’ that literally talks about me as a college student going to see Steven Curtis Chapman in concert and how that was a real important moment in my life. My life really changed there, because I knew God put me on this earth to make music just like Steven Curtis does. So I called Steven and invited him to come to this cabin where I was writing songs, this cabin built by country singer Alan Jackson, which was so cool. He came out and we wrote that song together and finished it. Here I was, a college kid at this guy’s concerts and now all these years later, he considers me a peer and we’re writing that song together. That was a pretty neat moment.

You recently released a book, now a new album, and have a family at home. How are you able to balance it all?

That’s a good question. I think I’m still trying to figure out how to balance it all. Sometimes I’m guilty of having too many ideas and not really thinking about how I’m going to squeeze it all in first, so I let the ideas lead the way and then I live my life as if there’s 13 months in a year and somehow more than 24 hours in a day. Somehow it all gets done and these are exciting times, to be able to be given a creative voice in something that I love to do is something I’m really grateful for more than ever.

I was listening to a podcast this morning and a very successful businessman was saying ‘My work isn’t work because it’s a mission. I don’t feel like I work at all.’ That’s kinda how I feel about my music. Sure, I get exhausted sometimes but writing books, making music and traveling around the country singing for people, boy, I sure do love doing it. If I didn’t love it, it would feel like more of a sacrifice. But since I love what I’m doing and I feel like there’s a purpose to it, it fuels me more than it drains me.

All In by Matthew West recently released through Sparrow Records (Capitol Christian Music Group).

Previous Post

September 29, 2017

Jaci Velasquez on ‘A Question of Faith,' Christian Entertainment

Next Post

October 1, 2017 Review: 'Mully': An Ordinary Man, An Extraordinary Story

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Comics Movies Music Plays and Musicals Podcasts Television Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 September 2015 July 2015 March 2015 November 2014 September 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 May 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 February 2012 December 2011 November 2011 August 2011 July 2011 March 2011 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 April 2006 February 2006 December 2005 October 2005 September 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 February 2005

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who said, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want"?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Moses David Solomon Paul