GREENVILLE—With the songs on their latest album LIFER, Texas-based band MercyMe hopes to encourage and equip audiences to live for what matters most and make a difference for eternity.
“This new album is all about living in victory and what that really means—that our victory lies in what Christ has already done for us,” bass player Nathan Cochran said. “Our victory lies in who Christ is and who we are because of him. It’s a follow-up to our last album, Welcome to the New, which focused on grace and identity.”
While touring across the country, the group emphasizes the album’s theme by sharing verses about God’s design for creation and the importance of living with passion and purpose, such as Genesis 2:7, 1 Timothy 6:12 and Psalm 146:2.
Since their debut in 2001, the group has multiple American Music Awards and Dove Awards. In spite of their success, the group has stayed true to their Texas Baptist roots and remained focused on shining the spotlight on Christ.
Lead singer Bart Millard grew up in Greenville, where his grandfather, Lloyd Lindsey, served as pastor of Ardis Heights Baptist Church throughout the 1960s and early 1970s.
Throughout their musical journey, the award-winning group MercyMe has stayed true to their Texas Baptist roots and remained focused on shining the spotlight on Christ.Through their music and message, band members hope to connect audiences to Christ’s love, forgiveness and grace while sharing personal stories of struggles, pain and redemption.
“When you write a song, you are always thankful for the impact it has on people,” Cochran said. “We’ve been grateful for the impact these songs have had on so many people. We’re continually getting stories about people walking through struggles and finding hope, regardless of the situation they are in, by being reminded about what Christ has done for us on the cross. It’s the most important and most powerful message we can share about, because it’s going to impact people for eternity.
“We’ve all gone through rough seasons in our own lives and wanting to be like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and have the courage to say that we know that God is able to deliver us, but even if he doesn’t, we’re still not going to surrender or bow down, because Christ is still worthy.
“That’s not always an easy thing to say, but it’s certainly how we want to live and how we want to encourage others, because Christ is bigger than anything we could face, and our hope rests in him.”
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MercyMe recently wrapped up a national tour with Texas worship leader Micah Tyler and the Canadian rock band Hawk Nelson. This summer, MercyMe will headline a string of outdoor concerts alongside recording artists Jeremy Camp and Natalie Grant.
“Our desire is that the message of the gospel resonates with people and helps them realize that God loves them unconditionally and is calling them to pursue a personal relationship with him,” Millard said. “During concerts, we emphasize that salvation is not based on works but what Christ has already done on the cross.
“There is nothing anyone can do to make God love them more than he already does. All you have to do is accept his invitation and respond by resting in the finished work of the cross. It’s the simplicity of the gospel and who you are in Christ—realizing why you can show grace to other people because grace has been shown to you.”
Editor’s note: A deluxe edition of the MercyMe album, LIFER, is available at all Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores locations nationwide and features three bonus tracks, including “His Eye Is On The Sparrow.” MercyMe will perform a concert following the Houston Astros Game at Minute Maid Park, June 10.
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