From being orphaned early in life to almost dying from cancer as an adult, Matthew Ward has reasons to celebrate the birth of his savior. Don't miss the next HAVEN Today as Matthew joins Charles Morris to share his life story and music from his just-released solo Christmas album on a program called "Christmas With Matthew Ward".

November 30, 2006

Christmas with Matthew Ward

Song: O Come Let Us Adore Him (intro)
Performed by:

You lose one parent at 10, another when you’re 12, it’s bound to affect your life. And so it did for Matthew Ward. God used this as a way to give him a heart for other orphans and lead him on a journey into ministry by music for Jesus all his adult life. Welcome to Haven Today, telling the great story that’s all about Jesus. I’m Charles Morris. In the next few minutes we’ll be joined by a former member of The 2nd Chapter of Acts who’s just released his first Christmas solo album. Later we’ll give you full details for getting a copy of this new project by making a Christmas gift to Haven Ministries at haventoday.org or by calling 1-800-654-2836. Now let’s get started with a program called, “Christmas with Matthew Ward”.

Song: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Performed by: Matthew Ward

This is Haven Today and I’m Charles Morris and on the line with us from Colorado is Matthew Ward. And Matthew I want to welcome you back to Haven Today.
MW: Well thank you so much Charles it’s great to be with you.
CM: Well I have been kind of sneaking some listens to your album. In fact it’s been this new Christmas album that’s been playing in my car audio system the last week and a half and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. And I’ve also told our listeners we were going to get to premier this, but they’ve heard a few cuts already. Why now? Why for the first time did Matthew Ward decide to put out a solo Christmas album?
MW: That’s a really good question. You know, my wife and I have been getting sort of involved in the last 10 years off and on with an organization called, “Children’s Hope Chest”
CM: Oh yes.
MW: Yeah, and they do a lot of orphan care in Russia. Also they’re going into Swaziland as well. And somebody pointed out to me recently a scripture in Deuteronomy that talks about setting aside a portion of your field for the widow and the fatherless and all this, and I thought, well what part of my field have a set aside for that? So my wife and I prayed about it and we really felt like we were supposed to do this Christmas CD and the majority of the proceeds from that were going to go directly to Children’s Hope Chest to help take care of orphans in Russia primarily.
CM: In fact, the head of that organization, George Steiner first introduced us, I don’t know, a year or so ago. It’s ironic, isn’t it that you’re doing this album, you’ve travelled in Russia, you want to help orphans there. Does the fact that you and your siblings were orphaned at a pretty young age have anything to do with this maybe?
MW: Well, you know, I don’t know if it did consciously when I first got involved with them. Actually I was just asked to do a fund raiser some 10 years ago for them and I did that and then George invited me to go to Russia to kind of see what they were doing with the money that we raised. So it wasn’t kind of like, “oh, I was orphaned and they’re orphans and I want to see how they do” you know, but God has definitely placed that in my heart over the last 10 years certainly, more and more and I’m sure I can look back and say it’s because I was orphaned by the time I was 12 years old. So I do have a heart for that situation, definitely.
CM: You and I have talked about this before but let me just ask you again just in case some of our listeners don’t know. When you lost one of your parents and then what was it, a year or 2 years later you lost your other parent. How did the Lord use that in your life?
MW: Well, yeah I lost my mom at 10 and then my dad at 12. Well the Lord really brought a lot of stuff out of that. You know you look at that and say, you know, well that was just a disaster, but you know, there were still 4 siblings living at home when my second parent passed away and that’s really where the group The 2nd Chapter of Acts came from, those who are familiar with that group –
CM: Yes
MW: it was me and my two sisters. And you know, if that tragedy wouldn’t have happened at that time in our lives I’m sure that the group would have never taken off, would have never gotten off the ground and it would have never been something that God had used, you know. So you got to look at those things and go, you know, yeah it was tragic, but you know, God really raised something wonderful out of the midst of that.
CM: You and I also talked before about how music figured heavily into your life even more so after losing your parents. Christmas, Christmas music must hold something special in your heart as well.
MW: You know it really does. One of my first memories of counter point melody was going on a walk with my sister Annie down to the American River which was real close to where we lived in Sacramento. And we were coming back from this walk and she was teaching Nellie and I these little parts just to see if we could get them and, “In excelsis deo” you know.
CM: Yes
MW: And all these little counterpoints and I think it blew my sister away because we could actually do them. But that was my, that was my first experience I think with music in that sense, you know, learning parts right off the cuff and doing counter point. And of course you know, I fell in love with Christmas music so sure it has a very special place in my heart.
CM: On this new album, is there one song in particular that really ministers to you?
MW: They’re all really my favorites, so it’s kind of like they all do in their own way. But probably “O Holy Night”
CM: OK Yes.
MW: And that one and “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” always nails me when I do it. You know, it just, “Ransom captive Israel” you know? The lyrics to that song are just amazing.

Song: O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Performed by: Matthew Ward

The song is “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” and that’s Matthew Ward’s version of it here on Haven Today from his brand new album which we’re getting to premiere here on Haven Today just as they are hitting the road on a tour. And as Matthew has been telling us, most of the proceeds, if you’re sending a gift to Haven that will help us a little bit, but it’s also going to be helping Children’s Hope Chest which works with orphans in Russia and now – I guess I hadn’t even heard about this – but Matthew, Swaziland as well?
MW: That’s right. Yeah, it looks like we’re getting ready to go into Swaziland, or we already are. And possibly even China in ’07 at some point in ’07.
CM: Wow, wow.
MW: Yeah, I mean it’s exciting, exciting times. And it’s neat to see how God is using this organization. I mean like I said I’ve been watching them for over 10 years off and on, and everything that George Steiner wanted to implement when I went with him on an overview trip over 10 years ago, everything we talked about I’ve seen come about and it’s happening well. So that’s a really encouraging thing to me. That’s why I can put into this organization because I can see what they’re doing and their doing a good job with it.
CM: Well, Matthew, I’m excited. I’ve got to tell you the song that I’m enjoying the most on your new album. I don’t know what it is, there’s a bit of jazz or something in it.
MW: Oh yeah
CM: You’ve done something special to “Silent Night”
MW: Yeah
CM: Which of course is one of my favorite Christmas carols anyway. You’re the musician. I’m not. What is it that I like about your version of “Silent Night”?

MW: You know that’s like, you know, “What do you like about painting?” you know. I, you know what though? It’s interesting because you know my brother-in-law Buck, not a big jazz –
CM: Yes
MW: Not a big jazzy type music enthusiast. And when he called me – I sent him a CD. He listened to it – and he said, “You know my favorite song on the record,” and that would have been like the last one I would have thought he’d have said. But he said, “I really loved what you did with ‘Silent Night’,” and I just about fell out of my chair. Yeah, I mean it is a little jazzy, it’s fun. I just think it’s a great rendition of the song, very simplistic, I really, I really, really love it. I love how that turned out.

Song: Silent Night
Performed by: Matthew Ward

That of course, is “Silent Night” and it is the Matthew Ward arrangement which is, by the way, my favorite song on the new Matthew Ward Christmas album. Matthew’s still with us on the line from Colorado. Matthew, there was that time, many years ago now, when you were an orphan yourself and had been orphaned, well, one parent dying when you were 10 and another when you were 12, what was Christmas like for you back then having lost your parents, but you knew the Lord, you knew Jesus back then? What was it like?
MW: Well, you know Christmas, even before my parents died, you know even though we didn’t have a lot, they always tried to make it work and I have got fond memories of that when my parents were alive. Obviously the 2 years that my dad was left to fend for us Christmas was a bit different but, you know, he tried the best he could and I really respect that. After moving in with my sister Annie and her husband Buck, Nellie and I did from Sacramento, you know, Christmas took on a whole new meaning because we, like you said, we did kind of have a new relationship with God that had kind of started up during that time. So our eyes were sort of looking at things with different lenses on and Christmas really did begin to take on a new meaning, for me personally and I began to see, you know, it’s not just about getting presents but it’s about the absolute gift that was given to me through Jesus Christ.
CM: Would you mind leading us in prayer that more orphans would be adopted into the kingdom of Jesus Christ this Christmas time? Lead us in prayer.
MW: Amen. Lord I just pray not only for the children in Russia and in Swaziland but here in the United States as well and everywhere where there’s just children that are orphaned because of different circumstances. God I just pray that you would pour out your Spirit, that your Holy Spirit would fall this Christmas season Lord, and that kids would be curious about you, become hungry and really look into who you are and what you’re about and why you came, why you suffered on the cross and died and rose again. Lord I pray that you would touch these children with your Word, Lord that you would bring people into their lives that could just speak life and love into their hearts and really, really, really just allow them to see what the face of God looks like in another person. And I just ask you to do that in your name of Jesus, amen.

Song: Silver Bells
Performed by: Matthew Ward

Matthew Ward, Matthew bringing us music from his first solo Christmas album ever and you got to hear it along with his story here on Haven Today. I got an email from a listener in Baltimore who gets up really early every morning so he doesn’t miss the program. Thanks Tony, for sharing how the messages enrich you spiritually. Can you believe it, tomorrow is December 1. And it’s not too long until Christmas of course. One way you can celebrate Christmas and help others at the same time is by sending a gift to listener supported Haven Today. If you’d like a copy of this brand new CD, “Christmas with Matthew Ward” just head to our website haventoday.org or you can give us a call at 1-800-654-2836. I’ll give you the number and our web address again in a moment, but remember part of your gift will help Haven tell the great story that’s all about Jesus and part of your gift Matthew is donating to help “Children’s Hope Chest”. That’s a ministry in Colorado that works with orphans in Russia and as you heard him say it’s now starting to work in Zambia as well. And when you visit haventoday.org please notice the other resources we have like Haven’s “Acapella Christmas Album”, “Music for the Season” by the Westminster Brass and the Archeological Study Bible in hard back or leather bindings. And we also have a leather bound edition of “The Valley of Vision” a collection of Puritan prayers and devotions. It’s all there plus a lot more for Christmas at haventoday.org. And please let us know the station you listen to when you go online or when you call us at 1-800-654-2836. I want to thank Matthew Ward for being with us today from Colorado just before he starts a Christmas tour. Tomorrow on the program we’ll be talking with Mike Rich and he’s the one who wrote the screenplay for the brand new movie opening tomorrow in several thousand theaters, “The Nativity Story”. I’m Charles Morris. Thank you for joining me. Would you come back again tomorrow when again we’ll be telling the great story that’s all about Jesus here on Haven Today?