Casting Crowns is making disciples through music

It's hard to corral seven musicians with day jobs and families into the studio.

Casting Crowns manages. Lead singer Mark Hall is the youth pastor at Eagles Landing Baptist Church in McDonough, Ga. Several other members -- Megan Garrett, Melodee DeVevo, Hector Cervantes, Chris Huffman, Juan DeVevo and newcomer Brian Scoggin -- also work with Eagles Landing and other churches in the Atlanta area.

It was youth ministry that inspired the group's latest album, Until The Whole World Hears , released Tuesday. It's the group's fourth album in less than six years.

The title of the new CD and the tour, which includes a performance at the University of South Carolina Aiken Convocation Center on Friday, comes from the e-mail signature of Mr. Hall's mentor in youth ministry, Roger Glidewell.

Mr. Hall has taken it as a challenge to intentionally share the gospel through his work and lifestyle.

He's been a youth pastor for 18 years and a band member since 1999. In Casting Crowns' six years with a major label, the group has sold more than 4.5 million albums and won 23 Dove Awards, a Grammy Award and an American Music Award. The objective, however, remains making disciples.

"It's about being obedient to what God would have you say," Mr. Hall said. "It's not about sales. It's not about albums. That doesn't define success for us."

The band's ministry has loftier goals, he said. "There are three things we want to happen, three things we want people to hear."

First, the gospel is to be proclaimed. Second, believers should come to recognize the sort of relationship with God he desires.

"It's the sort of everyday, walking-around friendship with him that he wants us to have," Mr. Hall said.

Third, he said, believers should identify God's purpose for their lives.

"No matter what, we're to keep our head in the game, to keep on loving, to keep on serving other people," he said. "Our message is timeless but our methods are timely."

They have to be, he said, to reach younger generations.

"We see what faith looks like in everyday life. To learn, to grow, to struggle. We know what it feels like to walk on water or to be walked on. Our music is for those times."

Reach Kelly Jasper at (706) 823-3552 or kelly.jasper@augustachronicle.com.