• Matthew West Surprises Story -Tellers

    October 20, 2010 - Comments (15)

    Unbeknownst to Rebecca and Joly, two women whose stories inspired songs on The Story of Your Life, Matthew West was hiding in a back room at The JOY FM Studios, set to debut their songs in-person on The Morning Cruise.

     

     

    (WJIS, Sarasota – Serving Central & Southwest Florida) – From 10,000 fan-submitted stories, Matthew West chose two from Central & Southwest Florida to make the final eleven songs on The Story of Your Life. Rebecca (“Family Tree”) and Joly (“Two Houses”) were invited to The JOY FM Studios to hear the songs their stories inspired debuted live by Matthew West, who would be “patched in” from another location (Nashville). Little did they know, the “other location” was a back room at The JOY FM. When the artist stepped through the studio door, guitar in-hand, surprise was mixed with elation and tears of joy. The Morning Cruise hosts, Dave, Bill and Carmen engineered the moment to capture and share not just the songs, but the first-hand emotion that went with the stories Rebecca and Joly had submitted. The Morning Cruise dedicated the morning show to bring the touching in-person debut to their audience.

     

    “I’m nervous. I’m shaking right now!” said West as he stepped into the studio, surprised the two women and began his acoustic performance of “Two Houses.” Joly was sitting three feet away, having read her letter to The Morning Cruise audience. Joly’s story is a painful case of abandonment by her father, a trauma in which the sixteen year old has found forgiveness through faith. Rebecca told of how God broke the cycle of her parents’ destructive dysfunction and led to her present work with crisis pregnancies and unwed mothers.

     

    Both women’s stories may be found on the artist’s website at http://www.matthewwest.com/. Audio highlights of “Operation Story of Your Life” on The Morning Cruise can be heard at http://www.thejoyfm.com/asheard/2010-10-18 .

     

    The JOY FM is a network of non-commercial, listener-supported contemporary Christian music stations serving Southwest, Central and North Florida since 1986. It is owned by Radio Training Network, and is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization.

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    • 15 comments

    1. 1. Nora Kahal commented:

      Wed 20/10/10, 10:46 am

      This is so inspiring.

    2. 2. James commented:

      Fri 22/10/10, 6:44 am

      I like that this one has pictures. Glad to read it. God bless you, Matthew.

    3. 3. MaryAnne Skora commented:

      Fri 22/10/10, 5:03 pm

      This is just amazing, breathtakingly inspiring. These are the two songs that reached out to me the most, well they all did but the story here is heartbreaking but has promise of new hope. God bless you!

    4. 4. miana wright commented:

      Sun 24/10/10, 6:58 am

      Love your music

    5. 5. Gwen Schulze commented:

      Sun 24/10/10, 7:35 pm

      Can I send you a copy of my story of Abuse? Your song; Broken Girl, has really ministered to me in ways you could never imagine. Thank you for allowing God to work through you in this way. I have also put pictures to the song onto a DVD. I asked permission to use, but never received a response. We have a program in our denomination (Evangelical Covenant) called AVA (Advocacy for Victims of Abuse). This could be a very powerful healing tool for so many victims. Thank you so much

      Gwen

    6. 6. Katherine commented:

      Thu 28/10/10, 4:17 am

      your are the most inspired music writer i have ever listened to in my life your songs have help me through troubling times every time i listen to broken pieces or or stop the world i want to get out. my heart it jumps because i feel God so much i just cry of happiness then i hear the song you wrote for these people God is truly with you and that is a blessing i want to tell you my story how do i send it to you

      Katherine

    7. 7. John commented:

      Wed 3/11/10, 11:08 am

      Saw Matthew at Northland in Longwood, FL on 11/2. The show was great and the stories and music were inspirational. Picked up a copy of the CD after the show (as did most of the attendees) and it is outstanding. See him on tour – it will touch your life and give you perspective.

    8. 8. Amber commented:

      Thu 4/11/10, 6:54 am

      I was at your McAlester show and i must tell you that your songs touched my heart and mended my soul. You helped renew a fire within me. I took these stories to my mom along with a Christmas Shoe Box to fill. Well I must tell you that my mom has already bought enought stuff to fill five shoe boxes but i have a problem I NEED MORE SHOEBOXES where can i go to find the shoe boxes for the orphans? Thanks for the help! and God Bless you!!!!!!!

    9. 9. Brittany Marcum commented:

      Tue 16/11/10, 9:57 pm

      She coded twice last night and they were able to bring her blood pressure back up a little using medications and the family gathered around her(all 30 of us)… and talked to her and prayed and just loved her………(preparing for our goodbye)…..and as we were talking she pulled out of it to some degree…. her blood pressure started to climb and she opened her eyes in response to the family….. things are still unstable at this point in the game but she is a fighter and we are praying that she pulls through…… so “Lord I am asking you to be ‘STRONG ENOUGH’ for her”!!!!!! Please pray that she makes it through this and gets back to her normal active healthy self…. <3 with God all things are possible and I believe that He can give her the strength to beat this when her body may not feel strong enough– Love Brittany

    10. 10. Debbie commented:

      Mon 22/11/10, 5:16 pm

      I heard that Matthew West wrote a song called “One Last Christmas”. It sounded like a very touching song though I didn’t get to listen to the whole thing. I am looking for the words. Could any one help.

      Thank You

    11. 11. Bre commented:

      Mon 29/11/10, 7:35 pm

      I just heard “one last christmas” on the radio and it really touched me because i wouldve given anything to spend one last christmas with my mom. “my own little world” has really inspired me too. i sat on the floor in my room, listening to it when i first heard it. it changed my whole life for the better.

    12. 12. Steph commented:

      Wed 1/12/10, 4:13 am

      One last christmas is a song about a little boy (from my town) who had leukemia, he was 2, he loved christmas and they didnt think he’d make it, so everyone put lights up early last year so that he could see them. After news spread it became a national thing, his mom is suppose to have a commerical on lifetime, and i believe there will be a show also. He passed away right after christmas. RIP DAX

    13. 13. Ashley commented:

      Sat 4/12/10, 7:41 pm

      These stories and songs are so inspiring….I wish I could get to meet Matthew West, and his song “One Last Christmas” is very touching; it made me cry!

    14. 14. Amber commented:

      Tue 28/12/10, 12:57 pm

      Well Matthew, you’ve done it again!
      Ever since i met you in springfield, you have never quit
      inspiring me!! God bless you!!!!!!!!!!

    15. 15. Hannah commented:

      Sun 30/1/11, 4:34 pm

      That is so sweet .I just wanted you to know that your music has helped me through alot of really dark places and helped me to see God in a whole new way.Thank You so much.

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