Stephen McWhirter Shares Redemption Story in Debut Book

What happens when a preacher isn’t the man he appears to be when he’s home with his family? Growing up the son of a traveling evangelist who was an upright man behind the pulpit but a violent husband at home, Stephen McWhirter experienced firsthand the devastating effects of religious hypocrisy. This painful trauma led to over a decade of rebellion, addiction and brokenness, as he was furious at God for allowing his father to abuse his mother. He sought escape through alcohol and drugs, using crystal-meth for the first time at only 17-years-old and was arrested for stealing, possession of narcotic and underage drinking, seven times before he was 21. Still, God had other plans.

In his debut book, Radically Restored: How Knowing Jesus Heals Our Brokenness, worship leader and songwriter of “Come Jesus Come” which has more than 100 million online views and won the 2025 GMA Dove Award for Gospel Song of the Year, Stephen shares his incredible journey. He went from being a drug addict hating God to experiencing God’s redemption and finding a deeper purpose, proving that no one is beyond God’s reach.

Late one night, with his girlfriend in the bed next to him and crystal-meth on the side table, he felt the urge to start reading The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel. In that moment, God seized his heart, revealing he was real, he was good, and he had a purpose for Stephen’s life.

“If God could grab me out of the depths of an abusive, dysfunctional family and a crystal-meth addiction to turn me into someone who truly knows and loves Jesus, leads people in worship all over the world, and has a happy, healthy family, he can do a radical work in your life too,” writes McWhirter.

From that radical encounter with Jesus, Stephen’s life took a dramatic turn. Miraculously, God healed him, and he never used drugs or alcohol again. He sensed God calling him to forgive his abusive father, not to absolve his father of his actions, but as a path towards healing for himself. Within weeks, he and his girlfriend were both baptized by his father, and eventually his father performed their wedding ceremony. This radical act of forgiveness not only healed Stephen’s heart but also opened the door for reconciliation and restoration within his family. When his father passed away from cancer in 2012, he was surrounded by his family and repeatedly asked them for forgiveness. Stephen’s last words to his father would have been unimaginable to his 17-year-old self, “I love you, and I forgive you.”

“Forgiveness is not saying what they did was ok or even that they should continue to be in your life,” writes Stephen. “I have never condoned what my father did to my mother. Forgiving is not necessarily for the other person, it’s for you. Forgiving my dad and letting him baptize us and perform our wedding ceremony were some of the hardest moments of my life. I believe Tara knew the Lord wanted me to fully lay all my hatred for my earthy father at the feet of my heavenly Father.”

In 2015, Stephen was hired as a church worship leader and eventually started writing his own music. His breakthrough song “Come Jesus Come” has garnered more than 100 million views, touching countless lives with its message of hope and surrender. He collaborated with gospel artist Jason Clayborn on “Rapha” and “Born a King,” which was featured on the hit series The Chosen.

Radically Restored offers readers practical guidance to confront and heal from their own brokenness and to understand just how far God will go to save them. By helping readers see themselves as true sons and daughters of God and truly comprehend the scope of God’s forgiveness, Stephen shows the power of God’s love to transform any life.

About the author: Over twenty years ago, Stephen McWhirter was a meth addict and wounded preacher’s kid who had a radical encounter with Jesus. Today, he travels the world leading worship, sharing his testimony, and seeing many people come to Christ. His song “Come Jesus Come,” which has amassed over one hundred million views and streams across platforms, has been performed by CeCe Winans on American Idol and recorded by Winans with gospel legend Shirley Caesar, by country music artist Cody Johnson, and in Spanish by Christine D’Clario. With the momentum from “Come Jesus Come,” Stephen started going live on social media and traveling all over the world worshiping Jesus and sharing his testimony. Today, Stephen is an artist and writer with Capitol Christian Music Group and Re:think Music. Stephen is married to Tara and has three growing redheaded boys. They live in Louisville, Kentucky, and are unswervingly committed to worshiping Jesus and leading others to him.

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