"Slow Down" contains unusual restful powers, healing to the mind and spirit, so Suite was eager to know more about the artists behind it, Matt & Sherry McPherson.
Suite: Matt, I’ve read of how God dropped the details of the archery bow, and then the guitar, into your spirit. Did He lead you to “The Salvation Poem” in a similar way?
Matt: Yes, I had prayed for wisdom and direction for the designs in the archery and guitar companies, and God had consistently given me new insight into better ways of making those products.
But more and more, I found myself becoming restless to create new and fresh ways to impact the world for Christ. In prayer one day, I remember praying, “How shallow it seems that I’m making better bows and better guitars, but what difference will it make 1,000 years from now? Lord, give me an idea that could be used in a new and fresh way to impact the world for Christ.” The thought suddenly came to me that we all know these poems from childhood, like “Mary Had a Little Lamb” and other such poems that we couldn’t forget even if we tried. Yet these poems don’t have any relevance or significance for our lives today.
Then the thought came to me, “What if we taught the world a poem that they couldn’t forget, and it had the potential to affect lives for eternity?” The idea was to write a salvation prayer in the form of a poem and a song. I set about writing it and Sherry joined me in completing it—and “The Salvation Poem” was born. It has now been translated into more than 15 languages, and Cook International will print it on 30 million pieces of missions literature this year. At his evangelistic outreach events, Franklin Graham is passing out pens imprinted with the poem. The song is also being produced in many styles to reach different age and culture groups. It is amazing how God is opening doors around the world. The fact that God would entrust us with such a powerful witnessing tool is exciting and also very humbling. Our goal is to be found faithful.
Suite: The themes of your CD Slow Down me to have just as powerful a message for listeners: putting God first, focusing on families, and caring for the salvation of the lost. Did you have any sense of calling as you put together this new project?
Matt: Yes, of course. In a sense, each individual song had its place. We didn’t necessarily set out to write a particular subject, but God had His way of making His direction known through His inspiration for each song.
Suite: I know prayer is central to your life, and to your music ministry. Do you feel we (the music industry) have wandered off from that centrality and if so, do you have any thoughts on how we might find our way back again?
Matt: We know in our own lives we must always seek His will and direction, not seek our own and then ask Him to bless it. Some music is shallow, and some music has great depth. It really is a matter of searching our own heart and motive for why we write songs.
Suite: Matt, you and Sherry can’t make it through a day without… what?
Matt: Having conversation and fellowship with God. Reading His Word and telling each other, “I love you.”
Find out more about Matt & Sherry McPherson, "Slow Down," and "The Salvation Poem" at their website.
