'There's No Place I'd Rather Be'

Credit: Jeremy Cowart

After more than 12 years together, MercyMe is still facing challenges of traveling on the road and receiving praise for "I Can Only Imagine," the hit single that exploded them onto secular radio. Here, lead singer Bart Millard opens up about meeting Billy Graham and how his band keeps each other accountable as devoted Christians. Look for MercyMe's latest album, "Coming Up to Breathe" in stores starting April 25.

I saw you and MercyMe perform at the Billy Graham Crusade last summer in New York. What was it like to play at the festival and to meet Billy Graham?

On Meeting Billy Graham

The first time we played at a crusade, in Kansas City, was also the first time we met Dr. Graham.  There are three people I have always wanted to meet in life and he’s definitely one of them.  It was a dream come true.  Dr. Graham was really, really sincere and as sweet as can be. I was awestruck because he's just an amazing man of God.

You mentioned three people you wanted to meet in your life. Who are the other two and why?

The other two are Bono and Bill Cosby. Bono, because I’m just a huge, huge, huge U2 fan, and I think Bill Cosby’s one of the funniest people on earth.

I remember the first time I heard “I Can Only Imagine” on the radio. I was struck by how the song mentioned “Jesus” in a way that was loving and not as an expletive. Why do you think the song climbed through the charts of secular radio so quickly?

When you figure that one out, let me know because all logic says it shouldn’t have happened. When the popularity took place, we were just as shocked as everybody else, and even more shocked when secular radio stations continued to play our songs. We never tried to hide what we believed. If people asked us about it, we would talk about it.  The amazing thing was, we would meet DJs at mainstream stations who would say, ‘You know, I’m a believer.’ I hope that people are yearning for God.

When MercyMe first began, what were the goals of the band? Have you achieved them?

Our biggest goal was to be obedient to God's calling, which was to usher people into his throne room.  Our definition of worship has broadened over the years. What I view as worship now is certainly a little different than how I used to view worship. I don’t see it as a verse in a chorus, on a big screen with words, like I used to. It’s just trying to be as real as possible in front of an audience. 12 years ago all I wanted to do was sing the right songs and get emotionally wound up, but now I realize my job is to make Christ the center of attention each night. 

Do you ever feel there’s pressure to stay Christian and popular at the same time?

No, not for me. It’s never been an issue. The popularity’s got its pluses and minuses, and there are many days that I would rather just be a Christian and not known at all, but that’s not what God has called me to do. As Christians, we're supposed to share the Gospel in every corner of the globe. 

On Being a Christian

Being a Christian consumes every bit of my heart.  For me, it's just impossible not to be a Christian; it becomes a lifestyle.

Do you feel other Christian bands have watered down their message? Are there things they are doing right or wrong?

I’ve never met an artist who was at a certain level of spirituality offstage and then lowered it onstage. I’ve gotten a million questions about Switchfoot, about whether they’re watering down their message. I don’t see them watering down anything. They’re believers; there’s no doubt in my mind. They’re still who they were in the first place. Whenever a Christian artist goes mainstream, people want them to be our new martyr or poster child or to be exactly what we think they should be.

Continued on page 2: What are temptations MercyMe encounter on the road? »