Bethel Musics William Matthews releases debut album

As a Bethel Music background vocalist, singer-songwriter William Matthews has lent his singing talents to the likes of Kim Walker and Jake Hamilton.

He was also a lead vocalist on BethelLive’s acclaimed recording, Be Lifted High.

Now he’s doing something a little different with a brand new solo worship album, Hope’s Anthem, out on July 25 from Kingsway.

Get ready for some uplifting stuff. This joyful album is all about declaring God’s hope and redemptive love for humanity.

The music has been written entirely by Matthews and the Bethel Music team and blends together R&B, soul, pop and even a little country.

And so far, it’s got the thumbs up from a lot of church leaders in the US.

One of them is, of course, Bill Johnson, senior leader of Bethel Church.

“William’s music is refreshing and joyful. It is filled with grace, wonderfully revealing the pleasure of the Lord,” he said.

But it’s not only Bill who loves it. There are others giving the new album enthusiastic endorsement.

Shawn Bolz, director and pastor of Expression58 and author of Keys to Heaven’s Economy, said: “William Matthews is my pick for favourite new sound of 2011. He is breaking out of the traditional music and worship scene we are used to.”

Bob Hartley, author of Hope Journey, founder of Deeper Waters Ministry in Kansas City said, “In this day, God is releasing a fresh revelation of Hope across the nations of the earth. William has heard the sound and has written a song called ‘Hope’s Anthem’.

“Not only is this one of my favourite songs, but I believe it is one of the most important songs of this generation!”

Julie Meyer, Worship Leader at The International House Of Prayer in Kansas City, said, “I can still remember the very first time I heard him sing at the International House of Prayer."

“I literally had to look around the stage to find out who was singing. William sings with passion.

"He sings with skill and his songs literally break open faith in a room.

"He sings the ‘not yet’ into the ‘now.’ William is a worshipper that lays hold of the kingdom of God and brings the whole room with him.”

William has deep musical roots. His mother directed the choir in their church in Detroit and he was surrounded by soul singers and talented vocalists.

At the age of 12, his parents took up ministry in Raleigh, North Carolina, and it was after this move that he started to write songs.
In 2007, he moved to be a part of the International House of Prayer in Kansas City leading worship alongside Justin Rizzo, Misty Edwards, Cory Asbury, Julie Meyer, Matt Gilman, and others.

During this time, he was part of worship teams leading for The Call and wrote several songs on various albums and compilations for Forerunner Music, a division of the International House of Prayer, before meeting Brian and Jenn Johnson and joining the leadership team at Bethel Church in Redding, California, where he currently resides.