SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (ANS) -- Enormously gifted as a worship leader, yet living a secret life of addiction, Matt Tommey now uses his art as a way to connect with God and lead others into personal and creative wholeness.

Matt Tommey

“I grew up in the church under a Steinway piano,” says Matt Tommey, worship pastor, artist, author, and founder of The Worship Studio. At 13, living in Columbus, Georgia, he gave his heart to the Lord and answered a very early call into worship ministry.

As a young teenager, several traumatic events – his grandfather’s death, sexual abuse by a same-sex family member, and a deteriorating relationship with his father created a perfect storm of brokenness. Matt struggled for many years to overcome his inner distress, but succumbed to addiction and other unhealthy relational patterns.

He was driven into living a double life of fear and shame, performance and perfection, which only served to drive the pain deeper.

As his secret life continued, he felt more and more conflicted. But God intervened through a special friendship he developed with Jim and Pat Banks, who led House of Healing Ministries. 

“They were the first safe people in my life,” Matt says. “I shared my story with them from beginning to end. They didn’t reject me and began to really walk with me on a journey toward wholeness.”

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