1. The Underground
Your Alternative Christian Voice
http://theundergroundsite.com
Casting Crowns' Mark Hall talks to The Underground about
new album, book
As far as contemporary Christian bands go, Casting Crowns is the epitome of consistency. The
band has unwaveringly dropped record upon record and hit after hit--all while staying true to its
theme, uniqueness and core elements.
With the release of Casting Crowns' highly anticipated 2014 album, "Thrive," we just had to
have a chat with Mark Hall.
After finally getting both our timing and schedules together we got around to having a very
incredible talk about "Thrive" the album and “Thrive – Digging Deep, Reaching Out,” the
book. (Hall penned the book with Tim Luke. The book will bring to focus more insight on the
songs heard on the album.)
This is one interview that I walked away from feeling inspired and motivated to dig deeper in to
the word. Below is the transcript of what we talked about. I hope it inspires you as well.
The Underground (Michael Ernest): What’s your favorite Casting Crowns album?
Casting Crowns (Mark Hall): This one.
The Underground (Michael Ernest): This one?
Casting Crowns (Mark Hall): Yes this one by far. It's new. It is definitely a favorite for me. The
songs are diverse. I feel like we hit -- I try to hit all of the things that people are going through
right now. I feel like it's well-rounded musically and sonically.
The Underground (Michael Ernest): What is different about “Thrive" compared to
Casting Crowns' previous records?
Casting Crowns (Mark Hall): Our theme has always been discipleship, which is sharing the
gospel to believers and challenging them to walk deeper in a relationship with Jesus to reach
the world. So, as we challenge believers, we give them a picture of a tree with roots that dig
deep. So, when you see the “Thrive” tree, you see digging deep to know Him. What we've done
is make songs about digging deep and getting into God's word and knowing Him more...songs
about using gifts and getting involved in other’s lives and sharing the gospel with the world.
The Underground (Michael Ernest): Did you or the band members feel any weight or
pressure to make an album that will live up to the standard the other records?
Casting Crowns (Mark Hall): Always. Everyone wants to be liked. We all want people to like
our music. It's funny sometimes when people will come up to me and say, “Man I love all your
songs, but your second record is my favorite.” It is definitely a compliment, but at the same time
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2. The Underground
Your Alternative Christian Voice
http://theundergroundsite.com
you're like -- what about "The Altar and the Door" or "Until the Whole World Hears?" We always
want the newest record to be everyone's favorite, but at the same time [we can’t complain].
The Underground (Michael Ernest): Would you say “Thrive" is a theologically based
album?
Casting Crowns (Mark Hall): Yes, all based on Scripture. The inside of the, CD, when you
open it has the liner notes of all the Scriptures that the songs come from.
When the record releases, there will be online devotionals on each song [on our website]-- each
song will have its own Bible study.
The Underground (Michael Ernest): Who or what inspired "Broken Together?"
Casting Crowns (Mark Hall): The song "Broken Together" is inspired by a family friends of
ours who were going through a hard time in their marriage, and we did a song about that. It's
hard when you have been married for a while and there has been hurt and pain. It is hard to
keep going because it feels like you need to start over and be new again. The song says maybe
we can't be complete, but we could be broken together--that God will bring together a marriage
that is broken.
The Underground (Michael Ernest): Tell us about the book, “‘Thrive: Digging Deep,
Reaching Out.”
Casting Crowns (Mark Hall): Well, as a youth pastor, all the songs that I write are for church.
One of my co-pastors here at my church transcribed all of my sermons for my students and
families and compiled them together into what this book is. The big idea is trumped down into
the songs in “Thrive,” so now there is a book, so people can really dive into the idea of digging
into God's word and reaching out to the world.
The Underground (Michael Ernest): Casting Crowns will be on the road soon. Give us
some insight on the Thrive Tour.
Casting Crowns (Mark Hall): The tour begins, I believe, in February and we are going out with
Laura Story and also For King and Country. The boys from For King and Country are the
brothers of Rebecca St. James. Our very first tour on the road was with Rebecca St. James, so
we got to know the brothers earlier on, and seeing their ministry grow has been great.
The Underground (Michael Ernest): Why should people get “Thrive" both the album and
the book?
Casting Crowns (Mark Hall): I think people should get “Thrive” because it will challenge their
faith. If you are not a believer, and you are still outside looking for a way in to see who God is
and what the Bible is about, the record will point you to the Word. The record is not the Word, it
points to the Word, if that makes sense; and every song will point to the gospel.
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3. The Underground
Your Alternative Christian Voice
http://theundergroundsite.com
If you are a believer, this record will encourage you to stop just surviving, stop just trying to get
to the next day and understand that God has created you to thrive. He put you here for a
purpose; He has given you gifts; He's given you the story; He's given you people who will hear
you. It is pretty easy to know Him where you are, and to get people to know Him too.
We didn't want to make a record just to entertain the world, we were writing a record to point to
the Word .The Word is alive-- God's word and the gospel. And we wanted to make a record and
book that points you to the gospel.
The Underground (Michael Ernest): What are you looking forward to the most in this
year?
Casting Crowns (Mark Hall): Well, we are looking at a possible trip to South Africa. That would
be incredible. It's not fully in stone yet, but we are working together. In Kenya we've built a
school and a clinic. So we want to go spend a few days, and I have several students in my
youth ministry who want to work in the clinic. We just want to take a trip and see what God is
doing. Last time we had a very good trip to South Africa. We went to Jo’burg and Cape Town,
so we are hoping to be back.
Get the album "Thrive" on Amazon
Get the book "Thrive: Digging Deep, Reaching Out" on Amazon
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