Testimonies
Haley C. from Dallas, GA
I have been in this same small town my entire life. I was born into a Christian family. But my church going family had secrets. There was addiction, depression and anger, I lived in fear. Growing up i was a pretty good kid until i turned 12. That’s where my story really starts. Besides the abuse emotionally in my family, i lived a good life. But at 12, my parents got divorced. I was crushed. After that, i started failing in school. I started cutting.
I kept cutting and self mutilating any way possible. I started popping pills and getting drunk, all at the age of 14. That was all i knew. i was popped full of pain killers every time that I was upset. so addiction started there. I felt the cold hands of men that i did not want, i was alone, and scared. I have tried to commit suicide 3 times.
I know now that it is only by the grace of God that I’m ALIVE. Last year i was on the ledge, i was between the beautiful field of safety and the treacherous valley of death. My boyfriend was pretty much the only thing keeping me alive. I trusted him b/c he is the only man who has not abused me. He brought me to Scream The Prayer 2009 in Douglasville Ga. I was not enjoying it too much until You guys played. It was the first time seeing you and as soon as the music started, i felt like everything was gone. Like the world stood still and it was only me and God. Every time I hear you it brings tears to my eyes. That was the moment that changed my life. I was ready to die and now i live through the lyrics in your songs. I see you every time your here. You have such a great gift in you to move people Mattie. I can see God radiate in you. I’m just one girl, out of millions. And this is just a story of a girl, that is written in a small town on the east coast. But you changed me. And even though you have NO IDEA who i am, i feel like your my best friend.
Thank you for what you do. God Bless
Kevin S.
I think there’s a sense of honesty in your voice. It’s comforting. I remember walking home crying asking God if he loved me, then I took out my iPod and began playing your Spoken Word album, and I suddenly felt this rush of love, I don’t know what it was, unexplainable. It was this feeling of salvation and enlightenment. It made me feel so much better about myself. I now play your spoken word every morning before I start my day, and For Today’s album Portraits, when I get out of school, and your spoken word before I go to bed every day. It helps me so much. Thank you so much Mattie. You’ve changed my life!
James P. from Minnesota
Mattie I can’t express how thankful I am for you and Candice and the ministry you are leading. I knew that For Today preached the gospel, but to what extent I wasn’t sure until I saw you in Buffalo,MN this past August. And so I have to say that there are so many “Christian” Metal bands that just give a brief statement saying “We love Jesus” or “We’re Christians” and that’s the fullness of their boldness. As for you, you’ve taken it one step farther by declaring that God is God and not backing down from your mission statement. Now I obviously don’t know you personally, but that’s the beauty of it! I see the fruit that comes from your labor, I hear the message that God brings through you, and from those 2 things I know for a fact that you are a man of God. (You’re also lead by the Holy Spirit and I’m led by the Spirit, so it was kind of obvious to me. XD )
For Today is easily one of my favorite bands to listen to. You bring an awesome message and the band makes awesome music! When I found out that you would be releasing “When the Sons Become Fathers”, I said to myself, “That’s going to be freakin awesome!!”. I listened to it over and over again! There was even a night where I was in a prayer room (which is usually for our whole youth group, but that night it was just guys) and I talked to my leader about listening to “Joshua Generation” and he was totally down for it. That track messed us up, big time! (Funny story: Rick Pino has a track called “Lift Your Voice” and it also starts out with a shofar blowing in the beginning. But when they heard your voice, instead of Pastor Damon Thompson, they were like “Wait! Who is this??”)
Anyways, I also appreciated the line you said in “Restless” that went, We must have vision of a higher calling than simply resisting sin. If what it means to be devoted to the gospel of Jesus Christ is to get up on Sunday mornings and to do your best not to say a couple of cuss words, then you’ve missed it. We must catch God’s vision of what it truly means to struggle for the sake of Christ and for the establishment of the Kingdom of Heaven.” I got chills when I heard that. Because there are too many people that are like that. There are too many people who “go to Church every Sunday.” You’re on the front-lines declaring victory for our generation! And to that I say, “Hallelujah!!!” We gotta get this sleeping giant to wake up and move!!
Mr. Montgomery, you’re the man! Thank you so much for being a light in the darkness of a scene typically unreached, or fed false doctrine! You’re an inspiration and a blessing to me in just about everything you do with your ministry!
Tyler M. from Birmingham, AL
Mattie,
You just dont know how much you have blessed me and a few of my friends… But me, the show in Birmingham on the 29th of January and you were with Winds Of Plagues, and a few others.. You said, ” No matter what you’ve done in this life, no matter how un-worthy you think you are, Jesus Christ LOVES you..You can be forgiven….You ARE forgiven” That spoke to me, that night, weather it be you or the Lord speaking through you, from that night, me and my girlfriend got better with what we were doing…We were having sex, cursing all the time, doing the most un-holy things, we were living like there was no tommorrow… Fast-Foreward to now, at nights when we hang out, instead of sex and crap like that, we have prayer Mattie…PRAYER…I used to not even pray that often-at all-, now me and my girlfriend are praying, and calling out to the Lord now..because of For Today, and YOU Mattie Montgomery. You saved my life that night through Jesus Christ… Thankyou.
Love,
Tyler
Rushael L. from Fresno, CA
Mattie-
I would just like to say two words to you. Thank you. You and your words have touched me in so many ways. I have found God through you. I never really knew much about myself or what I wanted to do/ become until I found Jesus. You have taught me so much. You really touched me in Fresno,Ca a couple of nights ago. It was my first night seeing you guys and I was so excited to listen to the music and I’ve listened to your preaching and stuff on You Tube but I never thought it would be what it was. It was amazing. I was touched so much by you and I just want to say thank you again, for everything. You have blessed me and made me realize that I want to live for Jesus. He has a plan for me and I want to follow it. I can’t wait to live and become what he wants me to be. I hope to see you and your band again.
Thank you so much for changing my life in such a short amount of time.
I appreciate everything you do…
Thanks,
Rushael
Shelby O.
It was April 9, 2009. I had stopped going to church, reading my bible and praying. I got back on drugs(after almost 2 years of being sober) and did what ever I could get my hands on. So my friend found a ride to the For Today/ A plea for purging show in kansas city/belton. And decided I would go since I was a big fan of plea at the time and knew a couple of your guys songs. Plea played, everything was fine. I figured the show would be like any other typical ‘christian metal’ show. The same “we love jesus and its okay if you don’t thing.” But you guys got on played your set, then started preaching. Mike talked about getting saved, then you got up and called all of us fake Christians out, and I lost it. Right in the middle of a metal show I started crying and weeping, everything you were saying was describing how i’d been acting the last month. Then you got off stage and I immediately ran over to you and your wife and you both prayed for me and pointed out their was no accident that I ended up at the show. I cleaned up my act after that night, I still slip up everynow and then. But I know if it wasnt for going to that show, I can say I would have gotten deep into it, back to the way I was before. At that point in my life I was done with church and anything a typical preacher or leadership could say. So looking back, I don’t know what else could have stopped me at that point. To this day, if I’m not right with God, I can’t listen to your guys music. God speaks right threw it, and points things out to me. Thank you for everything that you do. Keep it up! I’ll be praying for you and your ministry and that it can continue to reach others lives!
God bless
Jacob Aguirre from Azusa, CA
I have yet to be at a for today show or seeing you in person in any way, but seeing videos of you guys like and the passion you speak of Jesus made it difficult to ignore that i NEED Christ in my life. After i gave my life to Christ and welcomed the Holy Spirit into my heart, I never felt such a love, just the failings of man pave the way to a road in which leads me to pain and an emptiness that i was never able to fill. Jesus is the only thing that has made me feel fulfilled and happy in a long time. I really appreciate how you speak with truth and make me think about myself and i am catch in my own mistakes that i can avoid and live truly for God i currently go to Praise Chapel in Azusa with no regrets 
i’ve been saved since November 11 2009, not too long but i am working on myself and feel like my life has meaning anyway ima keep it short You’re a great influence on me and i’m glad there’s a true man of God that i can go and listen to your songs or spoken word tracks and i just feel like i need to read my Bible more and when i do i feel better
Your friend Jacob
Steven T. from Georgia
Mattie, You’ve touched me and ispired me through all your lyrics and definitely your teachings. I’ve watched a few of your sermons on youtube and let me tell you man, it’s brought me to a better understanding of my life and my relationship with Christ Almighty. I’ve become to think completely different about my sin and the things I do in this earth. I saw you guys in McDonough, GA in February of 2009 at the Rock Show and that Spirit filled show has brought me to the person i am today. I’m in a band now myself and we’ve come to name our band METANOIA, i got that name from what was written in your album cover of Portraits and from a video filmed with you and your wife in Arizona. Man, thank you so much for surrendering to Christ’s will and sharing his love with the whole world. Thank you for helping me understand this life so much more than i ever would have before.
You’re the greatest person i’ve ever had the chance to meet and hear preach. God Bless you man.
Joe Q. from Ashville, NC
I was saved by Christ when I was nine years old. Due to the fact my parents placed me in a Baptist school, I basically grew up Baptists…believing what they believe and so forth. It wasn’t until the December of 2008 when I followed a “pretty girl” to a non-demoninational church. That’s when I was introduced to Christian metal…. I started off slowly and it wasnt until a the summer of 2009 when my youth pastor told me about For Today.
That’s when my eyes were blown away! Not even Contemporary Christian artists go so deep in their lyrics. I started paying attention to what I was reading in the Bible. I started examing my life so much more! I started seeking an intimate relationship with God. I was so used to being …a “christian”. Praying, Reading the Bible, and I had really thought I cared about God!! I was such a hypocrite! God has used you guys to give me passion about a Living God.
Because of God…I’ve stopped masturbating. I’ve started fasting more to seek true intercession with God. I’ve been able to start a Bible Study, Prayer, and Accountability group at school! I’ve been pursuing God’s will and Word.
I’ve been striving to respect my parents. Before bed, I have a prayer and worship service between me and God. And please do not get me wrong. I’m not boasting in myself nor uplifting myself. When I listen to your albums, I worship Him. I also picked up When Sons become Fathers and it is intense lessons that feed my desire to learn about God. You guys are so open to the Holy Spirit and His will. Thank you so much for you inspiration! I know you give all the glory to God!
I’m praying for all of you!!!
And I can’t wait to see what you guys are doing next!
God Bless you!
I love you!
Lauren F.
Hey, my names Lauren Francisco, a 19 year old college student who’s been on a journey to find answers to a lot of questions. I was agnostic for the longest time. I’m a pastor’s kid and seeing Christians on a daily basis who perpetrate and cover up their flaws was really bothering me. Church was like a routine. From 9-9:30 praise, 9:35- so and so is offering. Too structured. Too judging. NO love. I didn’t fit in. The truth is, I didn’t want to fit in. A lot of so called Christians STAY in the church ministering to others who STAY in the church. It’s like a cycle I didn’t want to be involved in. I was hurting inside but no CHRISTIAN could see that. No one really cared how I felt it seemed like. It’s as if we’re taught to cover up our flaws and the youth are just to pick up where the “elders” left off. No thank you….. I went out on a search for something, someone BIGGER than me. Church was not where it was found. It was music. I tend to listen to some pretty awesome things but as I got older I realized the lyrics were not doing it for me. A lot of the music out there sounds good, but it’s garbage. I found ForToday on myspace by accident about a year ago. Oh, and woah did i realize it was not an accident. The first song I listened to and is still my favorite today “Saul of Tarsus (The Messenger)”. “I will resist my sins to the point of blood and i will wear my scars like badges of war”. That sentence alone made me cry out. How can someone feel so strongly about God? I’ve never heard someone cry out so passionately, so confidently. Mattie did it for me man. Seeing someone who can go outside of “expected” barriers and literally scream God’s name made me realize I can too. I was stuck in a cycle, but seeing Mattie break the cycle encouraged me to NEVER be silenced. No matter where I go, I should live for God like it was my last day. “There will never be another chance to live today for God! There will never be another name that can save us from ourselves!” I’m literally on fire for Jesus Christ. ON FIRE!!! Mattie, man, he’s what Christians should look like. He’s a reflection of Christ love, indescribable, uncontrollable, passionate. Hearing his new solo stuff which is just spoken word opened my eyes. Music does not have to be “sang” or “screamed”. Our voices are MUSIC to his ears. My fellow brother, Mattie, is music to my ears. Thank you. Seriously… THANK YOU SO MUCH. I needed reassurance. Your voice is what did it for me. God Bless!
Todd from Phoenix, AZ
So lately I’ve been thinking about what it is like to really know Jesus and love him. I remember the first time I saw you guys in April, I stopped you in Burger King to say hi and told you “you’re my biggest inspiration”. Then you told me “What if Jesus was your biggest inspiration?” Now since then I just keep becoming closer with Him and just recently I thought about what you said. I can now with my heart say that Jesus is my inspiration. I still love you, don’t get me wrong. haha, but it’s just I know all that he can do for me. I just thought I would share that with you. Hopefully I’ll see you guys sometime soon!
Bill H.
I can honestly say that when I first heard “For Today” I thought great another hardcore band for the Lord. I had just heard about Tommy & Sleeping Giant & I was amazed at their live show. (CStone) But as I listened to your music more, I really loved what your saying. Then you put out “When the sons become fathers” I was blown away. Especially “Vision” & “Restless”! At first, being a pastor, I thought this is something this church needs to hear & then I felt God tell me no, this is something you need to hear” It has changed the way I have been
looking at the calling God has placed on my life. I have got to get a bigger vision of outreach. Not for the sake of growing a church, but because God’s heart & the calling He has laid on my heart is so much bigger than building a church! Two things stand out that I needed to hear, that is “Am I so busy doing things for God, that I have missed opportunities to do things with God!” & Just as equally important “Have I focused so much on a vision of what I think is God’s (with so much of me involved) that I can’t truly see the Vision that God has set before me. I have since then backed up from the things I have been doing & am now spending more time waiting on the Lord, (Being still for me is very difficult even at 49 years old) to see His vision for my life & how I play into the whole of His Kingdom. I have been a Christian for 27 years & I have seen peoples’ lives changed & I have seen God use my hands & voice to do some amazing things, but Jesus said “These things & More shall you do, because I go to the Father…” There is such a need for the Spirit of God in this area & I want to see how I play a part in that. Sorry for talking so long. I am looking forward to seeing you guys @ CStone this year!
Your Friend
Bill