Mattie Montgomery | Speaking Up
rise! Wake up brothers and sisters! It is time for our generation to wake up and step into destiny!” This proclamation opens When the Sons Become Fathers, Mattie Montgomery’s newest, boldest project. This is a teaching album, I know, not something you’d think you’d throw on your stereo at the end of a hard day. Nonetheless, Montgomery’s conviction and passion for these various topics that he feels are crippling our generation today, shines through so brightly on these eight tracks. The For Today frontman is truly a leading voice in today’s hardcore music scene and we are fortunate enough to hear a bit more about what he believes are the toughest struggles facing us today as well as what we need to do to overcome them.
Can you explain a bit about this project you are releasing this month?
Mattie Montgomery: Simply put: This is a speaking album. My vision for this album is a big one, but I’ve come to find that God honors those who are bold enough to dream. It won’t be a music album, it is an album of short sermons–prophetic declarations, designed to bring freedom and awakening to our generation–each with some electronic, sort of atmospheric background music.
How and when did this idea come to you?
MM: Well, I feel like I’ve been given a very unique position of influence in the lives of a new generation of Christ-follower. Because of my involvement in a revolution in Christian evangelism and discipleship, as a part of For Today, I have the attention of thousands upon thousands of young adults, who are hungry to see Truth radically lived out in front of their eyes. Because of the position I have been put in, I feel strongly that God is leading me to produce a more direct form of leadership and guidance for these people–one that could serve to fulfill two purposes. Firstly, it could challenge, encourage and strengthen the younger believers who are a part of ‘the scene’, to step up, stand out, and become the living manifestation of Christ on the earth in our time. Secondly, putting out an album with more easily-accessible music, devoid of screaming, breakdowns, guitar solos, and everything else that defines the music of our genre, would allow it to work it’s way into the homes of the more mainstream church, who may not even know about For Today –who may not even know this genre of music exists! This would give them a picture of the incredible movement of God that is breaking loose in our subculture, and gain alignment, support and accountability, not only for For Today, but for every other ministry that is functioning within this secular underground metal/hardcore scene.
“Historically, after the Israelites had been freed from captivity and slavery in Egypt, they wandered in the desert for 40 years before entering into “The Promised Land”, or the land of Canaan, that God had promised
to give them.”
Can you give us an example of one of the tracks and maybe what lead you to choose that topic?
MM: One of the tracks, the one that I think is my favorite, is called “Joshua Generation” The Lord has been speaking to me a lot about our generation walking under the anointing (or, the commission/preparation) of Joshua. Historically, after the Israelites had been freed from captivity and slavery in Egypt, they wandered in the desert for 40 years before entering into “The Promised Land”, or the land of Canaan, that God had promised to give them. Now, when it came time for them to enter in to their promised inheritance, Joshua was one of the leaders that rose up to lead the people in the siege against the land.
Now, for those that don’t know the story, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joshua and told him to instruct the people to walk around the city walls one time a day for 7 days, and then, on the 7th day, to walk around the city 7 times, then to blow horns. And that, when they did that, the walls would simply fall down before them. They obeyed, and God came through, handing over their promised land in true, miraculous fashion.
I believe that God is awakening, in our generation, young people who will rise up, and declare “We have been wandering in the desert for far too long”. And who will lead our people into our destiny in God’s promise. It’s a powerful message, but I believe that the spirits of our generation are wired to receive it.
Did you write the music for the tracks?
MM: No I didn’t, actually. Josh Schroeder, the drummer for my old band, Besieged, and current owner/engineer at Random Awesome Recording Studio in Bay City, Michigan is, and has been for as long as I’ve known him, a really amazing electronic musician. So, as God began really laying this project on my heart, about 6 months ago, I got in touch with him to see if he would be willing to work with me on it. He blew me away with some of the stuff he wrote for the record, and I’m VERY excited for everyone to be able to hear it.
What do you think is the biggest problem facing the church/this generation today when it comes to faith?
MM: Fear. I believe that fear of failure often cripples well-intentioned people. There are so many believers that hear simply the things God has for us to do, without ever taking hold of the fact that God has equipped us to do them. I also believe that an inherent fear of rejection has become a powerful and devastating force against the young people in our generation. After having been rejected or abandoned by friends or family members, we are often hesitant to truly trust that God loves and and has good intentions for us.
That being said, God has not given us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, love and self-control.
What do you want people to walk away with after hearing these tracks?
MM: A fire! We were made to be revolutionaries and visionaries, who can ignite a wild-fire that will sweep across our generation, bringing revelation of God’s true heart, and Christ’s true character. It is my hope, my prayer and my vision, that these tracks will inspire young adults to step up into boldness and fearless as they pursue God, bringing about a cultural shift into faith, hope and love under the cross of Christ.
Where is this going to be available?
MM: It will be available in iTunes, Rhapsody, amazonMP3, and anywhere else that offers music downloads. Also, I will have them available while on tour with For Today.
Christ bless you bro, you are no doubt leaving an impact on many peoples lives. The bible says every time we bring lost souls to Him we are blessed with jewels on our crowns that will be given to us by God; I got no doubt that mattie and the entire for today band have thousands of jewels on their crowns. their words are powerful and true which is what many of these kids soul scream for. I pray the best for all of ya’ll and your families.
Mattie Montgomery is so inspiring and he is definitely gifted in teaching through the Holy Spirit. I pray that him, his wife, and his child are blessed in whatever they do.
Mattie is such an inspiration to me. It is so wonderful how he takes the gospel to these kids. He is not ashamed of Jesus and For Today is just such a blessing to me.