Today we’d like to introduce you to Richard Matthews.
Hi Richard, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Growing up, I always had an interest in the arts. I grew up in my church where I was always a part of praise and worship. My mom was in the choir and she could sing, but she didn’t receive a lot of formal training. When she saw that I had an interest in the arts, she made sure I got the best training she could give me. I did both sports and the arts, but I loved to dance and so I chose that. There was just something so special about dancing, performing, and being creative. My mom got me into it before high school, and that path led me to earning my BFA in Dance at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia with a minor in Creative Writing. Creativity has always been in my DNA.
I had a professional dance career from 2016 to 2019, and then COVID hit and my life started to pivot. Pursuing a professional dance career is incredibly hard — it’s high pain, you’re overworked, and it’s overhyped. During that season, I also came back to God after being away from Him. I had been chasing a career in fame thinking it would fill the holes in my heart from being raised in a single-parent household, not having my father present, and feeling rejection at every turn. I realized I needed Jesus.
Around 2024, God began calling me back to arts and entertainment. I told Him I didn’t want to dance again out of fear and false humility. I feared leaning back into fame and worshiping success instead of worshiping the Lord. But God convicted me deeply and told me He missed me dancing. That broke me, and everything changed.
That’s where the idea of His Birth House was born. I sat on it for a couple of years until the Lord really began to push me. In February 2026, I launched my LLC. At the time, I was between jobs and couldn’t fully see how I’d make the investment. But God put it on my heart that if I stepped out, He would be with me and favor me. So I did it. I invested money that probably should have gone toward my rent, paid for the LLC, and launched.
What happened next was beautiful. In January 2026, I attended a worship night and sought the Lord for vision. He spoke very clearly: do a hip hop showcase on April 30th, 2026. I didn’t understand why that date was so specific, but it was. I even drew a boombox that day with music coming out of it, and I still have that picture. It shook me because of how specific it all was.
So after launching in February, my main goal was the showcase. Through a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, I pulled together dancers and choreographers who had been doing Christian and faith-based movement from New York, Long Island, New Jersey, Florida, and the DMV. The show was a success, and what made it even more remarkable was that I still didn’t have a job at the time. The showcase cost around $5,000 to $6,000, and we covered it entirely through fundraising and donations.
His Birth House itself is an arts center and production studio with a vision to produce arts and entertainment, including concert videos, music videos, books, shows, and everything in between. It’s going to be a versatile creative hub. But since my background is in dance, that’s where God gave me grace to start. As for entrepreneurship, I think I always had a natural eye for leadership and building things. The gap between 2019 and 2026 wasn’t wasted time. I spent it studying personal development, studying leadership, and leading within my church. All of that was preparation. I just didn’t know it yet.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Through God’s favor I was able to pull off a showcase that cost around $3,000, funded entirely through donations and fundraising. That proved to me that I couldn’t do this in my own strength. Only God could make this happen, and it confirmed that He wanted this to exist in the earth.
One of the biggest challenges was having no team in the early stages of developing the show. It was just me. I was the social media marketer, the graphic designer, the one handling inquiries and corresponding with the venue — all of it. If I were to do it again, I would build even a small team from the start so I wouldn’t have to wear every hat alone.
Thankfully, by show day I was able to rally an incredible team of volunteers, which was absolutely vital because I was hosting and couldn’t focus on anything else. A huge shoutout to everyone who made it happen:
Stage Manager: Joddie Iyalekhue
Co-Host: Leonna Howard
Production Assistant: Ruben Ruiz
Worship: Adriana Adeline
Usher: Christie Gonzalez
Usher: Nathalia Romulus
Stage Hand: Kailee Freeman
Content: Ethan Inniss
Photo: Isaiah Coleman
Video: Kevin Hernandez
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My background is in the performing arts. I have a degree in dance and grew up doing dancing, acting, and singing. But since giving my life back to Christ and sharing about it online in 2023, I’ve stepped into a new lane as a content creator with a focus on ministry.
On the ministry side, I’m developing REDEEMPT1ON Ministries, a non-profit dedicated to sharing Jesus with those who struggle with identity, including sexual brokenness and rejection, and helping them find wholeness in Christ. On the business side, my for-profit LLC is His Birth House, the arts academy I’m actively building.
In terms of content and creative work, I’ve developed a strong skill set in content strategy, video editing, and creative direction. God has also gifted me with the gift of communication, which has led me into speaking, hosting, and performing for Jesus. Choreography is something I’ve been doing since I was little and it remains one of my greatest passions. All of it is driven by a desire to produce holy art and see the gospel ministered through creative expression. I truly believe the arts are one of the greatest spaces for people to encounter God without it feeling forced. Some people will never walk into a church, but they might meet the Lord through a movie, a video, or a dance.
Everything I’m building is faith-based and intentional. What I’m most known for is my testimony, which went viral and opened a lot of doors. That’s what set things in motion, and I plan to keep building on it through entrepreneurship rooted in purpose.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
I remember doing a tap dance in grade school to “Shackles” by Mary Mary with my teacher, Mrs. Walker, for the school talent show, and we did such a good job.
Pricing:
- Donate to: Paypal: @hisbirthhouse
- Donate to: CashApp @hisbirthhouse
- Donate: Venmo @hisbirthhouse
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.therichardmatthews.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richwithpassion/
- Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/hisbirthhouse/
- Twitter: https://www.youtube.com/@hisbirthhouse
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@richwithpassion
- Other: https://hisbirthhouse.my.canva.site/
Image Credits
Isaiah Coleman @isaiahjcphotos
