The artist known as Least Of All (LOA), otherwise known as Matthew Vance was born in Chowchilla, CA
into a poor home with little hope for a bright future. Before he was a year old, his mother took him and
moved to Northern California’s San Francisco Bay Area after splitting up with his father who was addicted
to heroin. In due time he inherited a whole host of unresolved family problems and so his life was marked
by multiple layers of consistent struggle, shame and hopelessness. Everything from school house
misbehavior to criminality and drug addiction have played major roles in the shaping of his identity. When
asked about his past, LOA is usually swift to offer up his admission of shame and remorse, yet claims to
have no regrets. “These are the things that broke me and led me right into God‘s presence” is what he says
about the road in his rearview.
Fast forward to the age of 18 and this young man was getting ready to have the first of 4 children.
Three years later and he was getting married. All of this was going on while this future servant of Christ was
in and out of jail and growing progressively worse in his addictions and criminal behavior. After 5 years of
destroying his marriage and 7 years of terrible parenting, it all came to a boiling point and Matthew asked
God to take over and change him at whatever cost. The next day he was in handcuffs once again. This time,
however, would be the last. Although he was facing enough prison time to devastate his life permanently
and Child Services had taken his kids from him and his wife, it was out of this mess that God captured the
heart of a broken man. He found freedom in his cell and God answered his prayers. He was afforded the
opportunity to go to rehab and was completely transformed. When he graduated his program, God granted
him his children back and began healing his marriage one day at a time. To this day he strives to learn how
to be a better husband to his wife of 12 years (with no signs of quitting) and is always endeavoring to love
his four beautiful daughters with the same love God has shown him. His family is a true miracle formed
entirely out of God’s grace.
Within a couple of years of his turning point, Matthew met the other members of the group Not by
Sight and they began their adventure in making music as a tool in pointing people to Christ. Though he was
always musically inclined, he had to learn the art of making music for God’s glory from the ground up.
Along the way God enabled him to reach more people than he ever dreamed with the men from Walk By
Faith Music who he says are his best friends. “It is an honor to serve the most high God with these guys”
says the rapper.
It is out of gratitude, reverence and compassion that LOA cannot help but to tell people about this
marvelous God who changed the life of someone with no hope. Someone who didn’t deserve help. Some
one who considers himself the Least Of All.