How Matthew West’s Music Encouraged a Family to Help Others After Son’s Death
By Movieguide® Contributor
Matthew West recently spoke with Brady Fineske about how West’s music impacted his family after his son’s death.
Fineske’s son Jack was diagnosed with brain cancer, and while he eventually passed away, his legacy lives on.
“I just remember that a couple months after Jack died, I had just started getting back into working out in the morning after everything we had been through, and that song [‘I Trust Jesus’ by Matthew West] came on that morning and as I was probably complaining to God a little bit, I got that message loud and clear. He made me. I needed to go do something,” Fineske told West on his podcast.
“We needed to do something to share the powerful journey we went on with our son. That he led us through with our faith,” he added.
He and his family then founded “Catching Up With Jack,” a foundation that raises money to help other families going through similar experiences.
“Anyone who knew Jack quickly understood he was special. He was a special son and a fantastic big brother to four little sisters. Two of his greatest loves were Captain America and baseball, but beyond the above, Jack’s greatest love was God. As he endured round after round of treatment for brain cancer, Jack was steadfast in his faith, welcoming his next stage while calming those around him,” the Catching Up With Jack website reads.
“Jack’s undying belief was infectious to everyone around him, and he has helped countless individuals and families feel closer to God as a result of his good work,” it continues. “We pray and hope that his strength can and will be felt by other families with children battling this terrible disease.”
As part of its fundraising efforts, the foundation partners with West who performs at its annual Christmas concert. All proceeds are donated to families fighting pediatric cancer.
The most recent concert occurred on Dec. 5. “We are thrilled to announce that CUWJ 2023 is now SOLD OUT,” the foundation announced on Instagram.
Movieguide® previously reported:
MercyMe band member Bart Millard is reflecting on his time with the group.
“We’ve been in the band 30 years next August,” he said during an appearance on “The Matthew West Podcast,” joking that it’s pretty significant, considering he’s just 35 years old.
When West asked what his initial dreams for the group were, Millard said they were pretty small.
“The dream was to be heard on the radio,” he said. “I couldn’t think higher than that…It was one thing to own the album and choose to listen to it, but when something would pop up on the radio…[I thought] ‘Man, what would that feel like?’ I couldn’t imagine.
- Content: +3Share:
- Content: +1