Scott MacIntyre | Blind American Idol Finalist, Transplant Recipient and Author

Scott MacIntyre

Blind American Idol Finalist, Transplant Recipient and Author

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Scott MacIntyre
Biography

Scott MacIntyre is an acclaimed speaker, Christian recording artist, scholar, and author. Since his introduction into the public eye as the first blind finalist on American Idol, he has inspired audiences throughout North America and beyond with his dynamic messages on trusting God through adversity.

Blind from birth and a two-time kidney transplant recipient, Scott has experienced God's providence in the midst of suffering. In his autobiographical book By Faith, Not By Sight, he writes about his journey of faith and how he learned to overcome fear and trust God's plan for his life. He is living proof that God can take the most difficult of circumstances and work them together for good.

Scott was first diagnosed with stage-four kidney failure at nineteen years old, and after becoming extremely ill, he began emergency dialysis.

"The hardest thing for me was not having enough strength to play the piano and sing anymore," says Scott. "It felt like my dreams were dying, but still I held on to hope."

After a year on dialysis, his college piano teacher's wife donated her kidney to Scott and saved his life. It was less than a year later that he auditioned for American Idol.

"Without that gift of life, I never would have been on American Idol, married my wife Christina, or been able to share my story with others. It was a very humbling experience to say the least."

That kidney transplant lasted for eight years, then in September 2014, Scott was put back on the transplant waiting list for a deceased-donor kidney. Several months later, an anonymous living donor stepped forward and offered to undergo compatibility testing after hearing about Scott's need on the radio.

In June 2015, Scott underwent his second successful kidney transplant and has since made a full recovery. The following year, Scott and his wife Christina welcomed their first baby into the world - Christian Scott MacIntyre, born September of 2016.

"When I was in kidney failure, we couldn't have kids. So when my donor gave me the gift of life she not only saved my life but also allowed us to create a new life."

Their story is recounted in the new documentary film, I Am Hope: Scott MacIntyre's Inspirational Transplant Journey.

"I think there is such a strong parallel between my two kidney donors giving me the gift of life when I was powerless to save myself and Jesus Christ offering us the much greater gift of eternal life when we were powerless to save ourselves from sin."

As an accomplished pianist, Scott's heartfelt songs and powerful voice take his audiences on an emotional journey of hardship and hope, entreating listeners that no matter what life brings their way, life is always worth living to the fullest.

Scott has appeared on the 700 Club, Praise the Lord, Hour of Power, 100 Huntley Street, the Today Show, Huckabee, and many other programs. In 2010, Scott was honored by Dr. Robert and Arvella Schuller with the annual award for "promoting positive values in the media." In 2012, he partnered with Donate Life America and FOX to launch a national PSA for organ, eye, and tissue donation. He wrote a song for the PSA entitled "I Am Hope," and it quickly became a theme song for the transplant community. The song was released on Scott's 2014 album Lighthouse.

With a uniquely distinguished academic track record, Scott understands the critical role teachers play in shaping their students' futures. He was admitted into Arizona State University's Barrett Honors College and Herberger College of Fine Arts at 14 years old. In 2005, he received Marshall and UK Fulbright scholarships and was ranked by USA Today as one of the top twenty undergraduate seniors in the nation. He then graduated ASU Summa Cum Laude at nineteen, going on to receive a master's degree overseas in England at Royal Holloway, University of London and the Royal College of Music. He was accepted to both Oxford and Cambridge Universities for further graduate study in the UK before redirecting his energies to his music and speaking career.

Scott is married to his wife Christina who travels with him in support of his career. They live in Franklin, TN with their son Christian.

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God Has a Plan for You

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” - Jeremiah 29:11 This verse became a mainstay during many difficult trials in Scott’s life. In many instances, he had no choice but to trust that God had a plan for his life, even when life itself seemed impossible. He believes that when all is said and done, God’s plan is better than anything we can imagine. God uses our successes and failures, our hardships and triumphs to mold us into the people He desires us to be. Scott’s testimony will help you trust God for your future, no matter where you find yourself today.

By Faith, Not By Sight

Whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, we all face challenges in life, and at times they seem insurmountable. We are reluctant to take a step toward our challenges into the unknown because we can’t see where our feet will land, but God calls us to walk by faith, not by sight. He is strong in our weakness, and he is faithful to uphold us as we trust in Him. Scott didn’t know how he would learn to play the piano without being able to see the sheet music. He didn’t know how he would ever make music again if he was tied to a dialysis chair day after day. He certainly didn’t know how he would connect with American Idol viewers if he couldn’t even see the TV cameras. But where God led him, he followed, trusting that God would fill in the gaps along the way.

The Gift of Life

At 19 years old, Scott dealt with the overwhelming reality of undiagnosed end-stage kidney failure. After 2 years of searching for answers, undergoing dialysis, and watching his dreams fall farther and farther out of reach, the wife of a former piano teacher donated her kidney to Scott and saved his life. It was less than a year later that Scott auditioned for American Idol. Scott draws a striking parallel between his piano teacher’s wife giving up her kidney and Jesus giving up His life for each of us. When we truly understand how much Christ gave up for our sakes, how can we respond but by giving generously to others?

The Beauty in Life

Growing up with a disability, Scott had a significant choice to make: to be caught up in the disappointment of his situation and have a negative attitude toward life, or to focus on what he could do in spite of his blindness and choose to see the silver lining behind every cloud. Unable to play contact sports as a child, confined to a dialysis chair as a 19 year old, discriminated against, and even rejected by American Idol before later becoming an American Idol finalist, Scott has always maintained a positive attitude. It’s easy to be grateful to God when life is going our way, but it’s hard to be grateful when the world seems to be coming apart at every turn. Scott will challenge you to find God’s blessings hidden in life’s darkest hours and show you what the beauty in life is all about.

Scott MacIntyre
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