When Matthew West and his team realized that their album would be released in an election year, they came up with an ingenious idea: put up billboards in yards across the country that encouraged prayer, rather than promoting a candidate. Their concept was a success. The billboards don't even have West's name on them. Instead, they simply say, “Never Stop Praying.” Of course, this is the title of a popular West song, but it's also a timeless message that Christians have believed in for centuries.
For most passersby, especially those who don't listen to Christian music, the sign serves as an encouraging reminder to pray.
“This has become a pretty inspiring movement,” West told Crosswalk Headlines.
“When you think about election season and you drive down the street, you see all kinds of election posters in people's yards. Everybody has their own slogan, and those slogans can be divisive. And one person gets angry at another person,” he said.
“What should be the campaign slogan for followers of Jesus? What is the message that will lead people to Jesus, and how can we be a light in this dark world right now?”
“We had a vision of signs in yards across the country saying, 'Never Stop Praying,'” he said.
The garden sign is translation:has proven popular.
“People are picking them up by the thousands and putting them in their yards,” he said. “A church in Wisconsin just ordered 1,000 of them and gave them to all their congregants. And it was a Catholic church.”
“I got an email from a friend of mine who's a recording artist and he was on tour in Wisconsin, and he said, 'Hey, I was driving down this road in Wisconsin, and about 300 yards away there was a sign that said, 'Never Stop Praying.' It's so cool that a song can take on a life of its own and become a movement.'”
West said American Christians need to stand up for the truth and bear witness. “God hears. [you] When I pray.”
“Pray for healing for our nation,” he said. “Consider putting up a sign in your yard to encourage people and let them know where your faith stands. Like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, we need to be bold in our faith.”
Watch: Matthew West – Don't Stop Praying (Music Video)
Photo credit: ©YouTube/Matthew West
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.
