Matthew West says his hit single that has soared up the Billboard charts was inspired by a conversation he had with a fan about the power of prayer. West’s Song Don’t stop praying debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Christian Airplay chart and is on track to become West’s most streamed song of all time. This marks West’s 13th time to reach No. 1 on the Christian Airplay chart.
“A woman came up to me [at] “At the concert in Greenville, South Carolina, she and her husband were like, ‘I’m excited to go to the concert tonight, but I’m going to have surgery tomorrow morning,’ because she’s been battling breast cancer,” West told Crosswalk Headlines.
West assumed the couple just wanted a selfie, but they asked for something more serious.
“She said, ‘Would you please pray for us?’ I remember that moment. Sometimes I’m guilty of saying, ‘Hey, I’m praying for you,’ and then I get busy with life and I move on and I forget.”
As about 100 people lined up to greet him, West bowed his head in prayer alongside his wife.
“We all stopped in that moment and said a prayer for that woman,” West said.
“And then that night, I stood on stage and realized I was singing for so many people… [and] They’re all fighting different kinds of battles, and they all have their hands up in prayer, they all worship, and they all believe there’s a God out there who hears us when we pray. That was the impetus for this song.”
West said the song takes on special meaning in an election year when Americans face an uncertain future.
“I’m excited to be able to deliver this song. Don’t stop praying“This is a reminder that ‘Prayer is powerful.’ There are a lot of different campaign slogans that you’re going to hear this year, but my campaign slogan is, ‘Don’t stop praying in 2024,'” West said.
Related article: Matthew West declares “Never Stop Praying” as theme for 2020 electionFour
The song is part of his new album. My Story Your GloryHe will kick off his 17-city tour in Pensacola, Florida on October 30th.
Watch the full interview: Matthew West says “spiritual awakening is happening”
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Terry Wyatt/Stringer
Michael Faust He has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years, and his work has appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, Christian Post, Leaf Chronicle, Toronto Star and Knoxville News Sentinel.
