interview by Ryan T. Richardson

Mark Hall, lead singer of Casting Crowns, took the time to sit down with Modern Disciple and share some of his thoughts and inspiration with us.

Casting Crowns is an unusual name. How did you come up with it?

Three or four things at once. The scripture in Revelation 4 about the 24 elders casting their crowns before Him was one of them. The picture of "Life Worship", worshipping Him with our lives, definitely comes to mind. Little kingdoms can rise up in our lives, even good things that we tend to put above our relationship with Jesus, and all of those kingdoms have to fall daily. It's a daily thing, casting our crowns before Him.

I understand your record deal came about in a non-traditional way?

Oh yeah. I've been a youth pastor for about 12 years, I'm in my office right now at Eagles Landing First Baptist in McDonough, Georgia. When we started in Daytona Beach, we decided to make a CD, as a neighborhood outreach for student ministries. It became a tract for the youth group. A college student in Daytona met Mark Miller from Sawyer Brown at a basketball camp, found out he was a believer and gave him the CD to listen to. We had our first conversation with him just last March.

What advice do you have for an upcoming band, that's really hungry for a record deal?

We do what God calls us to do. He gives you gifts for a certain ministry, to contribute to the body. I'd ask myself, "what am I contributing to the church?" Bands are great, CDs are great, but the church is where God is working. After you are plugged into the church, you'll realize, "a record contract does not validate my ministry". We live in Atlanta; we're removed from the hype. During the week, everybody in the band is working their day jobs. Hopefully, it keeps us grounded. For my youth group, I know I need to be fresh, and plugged into accountability.

How do you keep the fire for student ministry stoked?

Relationships with the students keeps it fresh. I think what burns out a lot of youth ministers is that they bond with one group of students, usually one generation. If they don't invest in the middle school, the next generation, they get burned out when the older group moves on. My encouragement is, "go where you're sent, bloom where you're planted". Not everyone is meant to be somewhere for 10 years, Paul moved around a lot. I see my role as the starter, the builder. Some are called to come in when the structure is laid and stay with it.

You've had major sales, press coverage, etc. What's the funniest thing about going from relative obscurity to being #1 in sales?

We are still in obscurity, being in Atlanta. It's not really a big deal here, doing what we're doing. This is the real world here. Desk, computer, student lunch at 11! Tell us about "What If His People Prayed". It's going back to what God has called us to do. There are a lot of us with picket signs, but not a lot of worn out knees. How about "American Dream"? I don't know many groups that are writing songs like this. For me, at the first church that I was in, I realized quickly that most kids didn't have dads like I had. My dad worked in the business world, but every afternoon, we were in the backyard throwing the football, roaring all over the house. I just thought everybody had that. Now, many girls are out dating anyone that will just spend time with them, looking for that dad. Anytime a dad came to my office, it was way too late to do anything - "how can we fix this now?" We came up with this song just before we played a NASCAR event, we first played it for all the dads that were there, many that would not walk into the doors of a church. It was inspired by the dads that would be there. It's the song that every teenager I've ever ministered to would love to say, and know they won't be heard, so we're singing it for them. What's the most discouraging thing about Christian men these days? The religion, and the fact that men feel that we can't expose weakness. When we show up at church, we've got to look like we've got it all together, when we really don't. That just burns me - churches are full of sick people, but nobody sins. I don't think that it bothers the world so much that we fail; it's that we act like we don't. That's where we're conformed to this image that's not Jesus. That's the place that burns me the most. What's the most encouraging thing about Christian men these days? Seeing men learning how to worship. You have to humble yourself to worship. It's not about being "The Man", and being perfect. Guys going out to see "The Passion Of The Christ" and being broken by it is really encouraging. What scripture is speaking to you these days? Galatians 2:20, all the verses that talk about the crucifixion, crucifying the old life.

Any books?

The Next Door Savior by Max Lucado, and I'm about to start Henry Blackaby's book on Holiness. Also, My Utmost for His Highest is always on my desk.

Tell us about Jumpstart Resources? (www.jumpstartresources.com)

When I started in youth ministry, I had no resources to work with. This is a site for youth pastors that need some help. There will be assistance that they can print off and use right away. Jumpstart will arm youth leaders with info about topics like how to do outreach events, how to train leaders. They've got the vision and the talent, they just need the tools.

Any last words for Modern Disciple readers?

Love them like Jesus.

Also, carefully guard your time with God in the morning. That's the first thing Satan goes after is your time with God. Just like the decapitation strike on Iraq, once he cuts the head down and the communication is down, we're scattered. You've got to be plugged in to Him, because what happens is, some big giant decision hits us, and now, we're trying to rediscover God's voice instead of just talking to Him because we did this morning.