"i invite YOU in": the BUZZ of GRACE

The EU Movement (www.EUmovement.com) had the great opportunity to interview Matt Maher recently. Matthew Maher grew up achieving in every area of his life. He was a role model, active in his community, excelled in academics and athletics, earned himself a full scholarship to Temple University, and eventually signed a professional contract as a soccer player. Matthew’s entire life was marked by good decision-making and thoughtful steps toward each of his goals. The early hours of Saturday, March 7th, 2009, when Matthew made the fatal decision to drive while under the influence of alcohol. Traveling at a high rate of speed on the Atlantic City Expressway, Matthew struck the vehicle of 55 year-old Hort Kap, a father of six children. Mr. Kap was pronounced dead at the scene and Matthew was arrested and subsequently charged with aggravated manslaughter. Matthew's poor decision to drink and drive would tragically change many lives. In January, 2010, Matthew was sentenced to 5 years 5 months in prison, of which he served 85 percent (55 months) and was released on August 3, 2014. Prior to his sentencing in 2010, a presentation was created by Matthew, alongside the South Jersey Traffic Safety Alliance, featuring his life story entitled, I’m That Guy. The story highlighted the notable label of how Matthew Maher was known as  “that guy” who excelled in everything to now being  labeled “that guy,” that drunk driver, that killed an innocent man. This presentation reached over 7,000 students in just 8 weeks with unfulfilled requests from every part of the state due to his upcoming sentencing to prison.  Matthew was raised in a strong Christian home and when everything around him began to crumble, he fell back on his strong foundation of faith in Jesus Christ. From the onset, he had dedicated himself to honoring the memory of his victim, Mr. Hort Kap, by continuing the call of finding purpose in this unspeakable tragedy and holding himself fully accountable. Matthew has experienced what it means to go from the height of success to the depths of sorrow. Thus, he began to share his prison journey by writing in a daily journal, which eventually was posted on a website created by family and friends. The result was astounding. In the course of just the first year 80,000 people visited the site in over 98 countries and 6 continents. It was apparent his transparent message of accountability, remorse, and overcoming adversity through real life faith in action --while imprisoned-- resonated with the readers. His message continues to spread hope to the hurting, and points readers to seek God’s help in hopeless situations.  Matthew is committed to demonstrate that greater purpose can prevail when we allow God to work in the midst of great tragedy.  His life calling is to encourage others to cling to their faith and look for heavens purpose in the midst of life’s difficulties. He has embraced this adversity as an opportunity to grow and these years in prison have sharpened him spiritually, mentally, and physically.There has been a great amount of buzz about the Matt Maher Story, which reached over 7,000 students in just 8 weeks, what is it?The 7,000 students in just under 8 weeks happened during the time frame right before my sentencing day (January 7th, 2010). With those weeks on the speaking circuit, it was compelling to the audience (and community) to know that I was speaking out about my tragedy so soon and even prior to my incarceration. With demands for the presentation still coming in during my absence, the website was created as a way to “display” the story to the masses who would not have had any other way of seeing it. To be honest and in hindsight, it was God beginning the redemptive process in my life. I believe the buzz back then, during, and now is all because of God making much of Himself through a broken vessel. A broken vessel is an open vessel. Since being out (August 3, 2014), I have spoken to close to 20,000 students with 50 speaking engagements in schools and colleges. And another 10,000 people with 20 more ministry speaking engagements in churches or Christian/Catholic schools.  I’ve been as far as California and Nebraska, and recently was the keynote speaker at a graduation ceremony. I remain completely humbled and overwhelmed by all that God has restored in my life; and it has been by His grace alone that I even have a voice today.What is the biggest lesson you learned from your time in prison?Wow! There has been so many lessons learned during that time, but the most crucial lesson has been the inspiration behind my first published book. And that’s how “we, believers, may be the only Bible somebody will ever read.” And, is what they are “reading” in our conduct legible? I realized in the darkness of prison that Jesus’ light needs our lives to be the reflection of His salvation. With so many souls lost and in despair—especially in prison--I realized that God had entrusted me with the responsibility of “being all things to all men.” Thus, I learned that our sole purpose on earth is to share the gospel to the unsaved by the way we live and love.If you could give yourself some advice during that time period before you made the decision to drink and drive what would it be?I would have reminded myself that the future of uncertainty (to me) is a future of certainty to God. I had just torn my ACL in a pro game and I felt as if my soccer career was over. I greatly mismanaged that emotional pain and ended up causing an insurmountable amount of more pain to so many lives. I would have told myself how much more God had planned for me, and it wasn’t the end of anything, but in fact the beginning. I would have told myself to make the next decisions based on others, and not myself.How has God restored your life and redeemed your story?My entire life was counted out by so many. By mans standards, I should have never recovered, nor should I have been giving a platform or place back in society. But God’s ways are higher than mans, and He truly recycles our evil and makes good. He has allowed me the platform of speaking life and it touches all walks of life for His glory. He has granted me the favor and grace to be seen as admirable and honorable by so many (which is mindboggling) as oppose to being viewed as a villain. He has brought new life into my world and given me the best gift a man can ever receive, my wife Sarah. God has restored the years eaten by the locust and has made all things work together for good. The pain of what I have done still grieves me, but when given to Jesus, He turns it into passion to help others. I am nothing without Christ!At EU Movement we are all about seeing people act out of the work that God is doing inside of them. How can one step out for God if they simply do not know how?I encourage those seeking God’s will to find it in His Word. The Bible is God’s heart on paper, and when we take time to read that “paper”, His heart gets inside of us. In order to act out of the work God is doing inside a man or woman, the individual must be sensitive to hearing Gods voice. And often, we cannot hear Him speak because of the distractions that bombard us on a daily basis. My isolation in prison was the most clarity of spirit that I have ever had or known. I crave that spiritual place and truly know that I must find time to isolate myself (set myself apart) to hear God. Whether early in the AM or late in the PM, it is so important to find time alone with God. Even Jesus, the Son of God, knew the value of this discipline. So how much more do we need time alone with God to hear Him; and then we will be able to move out of the work He is doing inside of us.What has God been teaching you lately?He has been teaching me that His timing is so perfect. I want to move ahead in my own way and timing, but it always deems ineffective and exhausting. However, the verse that continually comes to my heart when I get anxious is “Be Still and Know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). He has a plan in every moment (the slow times and the fast times), and every experience is a developmental stage to mature us to the level of the responsibilities He has for us.--www.EUMOVEMENT.com--