Hopes Anthem: An Interview with William Matthews

As the home of Bill Johnson’s ministry and Jesus Culture’s music, Bethel has attracted much interest in recent years. Now, the Redding, California-based mega church has brought a new worship leader to the world’s attention.

William Matthews moved to Bethel in 2007, following what he describes as a call from God. “I fell in love with the people here. The Lord was putting me into a family and music just became the easiest way for me to add strength to the movement. Eventually that ended up being an album.”

Released last month, Hope’s Anthem features 10 tracks of everything from pop to R&B and even country music. William’s passionate lyrics add great depth to an already vibrant album.

“I’m probably one of the most eclectic people,” Williams admits. “We went to the studio and it surprised us what actually came out. But I produced something that was true to myself. Anyone that knows my personality has come back and told me ‘when I listen to your record it feels like you’.”

The album’s positive message is clear from start to finish. “I’ve had some amazingly powerful encounters with hope,” Williams says.

“Growing up as a church kid I struggled with depression and I struggled with not feeling secure in the love that my parents had for me. They were wonderful parents, but for whatever reason I was never able to receive that. I struggled with loneliness and isolation.

“It’s only been in the last several years that the Lord has given me hope in that situation. He’s spoken identity over me and spoken who I was called to be.”

Williams’ background has had a direct influence on his music. “Hope’s Anthem is my favourite song. It was a song that originally ministered to me, now it has become this song that is a song being sung all over the world. It’s kind of funny that in my bedroom feeling hopeless, I would write this song that is now having worldwide impact.”

Another song having a big impact is the opening song, “Deep Cries Out”. Originally appearing on Bethel’s Be Lifted High album, the song has gone on to be sung around the world. How did it come about?

“Deep Cries Out was a spontaneous prophetic song. People ask me all the time what it means. To be perfectly honest, in some ways I don’t know! Ezekiel 47 talks about the river of God and there’s that commitment to walk in the river and go where God is going. It’s our heart response back to God and a commitment to walk, dance and have fun in the river, and go wherever it’s taking us.”

Matthews isn’t just passionate about singing praises to God, and leading thousands in worship. He wants to mobilise people to think about reaching the communities around them.

“It’s a core conviction of Bethel that we believe God is going to transform our city and that a whole city-wide salvation is going to come. Some people think we’re crazy, but we’re going to have hope in God, hope for cities and nations, hope in prayer and hope in people.”

As a final thought, he adds: “The Christian bubble- where you only have Christian friends- hasn’t equipped people, but more protected people. The hope for me with my songwriting is to write songs that adore the Lord and release people to express love back to him. But also to say to people through songs – ‘hey think about your cities and nations, we’re going for this’.”