Using Christian themes as a ticket to enter the world of pop music can be quite difficult, but Casting Crowns proved otherwise. Just last 2007, the band enjoyed fame by being awarded in the Grammys and a Dove award for their ticket of employing soft rock into the music scene. In addition, they also won in the American Music Awards as the Contemporary Inspirational Artist of 2007.
The band was actually created in a First Baptist church by youth pastor, Mark Hall. The church is located at Downtown Daytona Beach. Apart from creating Casting Crowns, he is also the band’s lead vocalist. In its early days, it gained ticket into the music world by performing in front of a youth group located in Atlanta.
They also owe their musical marketing to the famous Steven Curtis Chapman. The man gave them a ticket to popularity as he discovered their talent and eventually offered them a recording contract. In 2003, Casting Crowns finally launched their self-titled album which was also their first ticket into the recording scene. They made Christian music history as the album immediately sold across record bars. Soon after, they followed it up with their second album ticket entitled, “Lifesong” which still proved the band’s success by grabbing the 9th spot when it debuted on the Billboard Charts. Both the second and first album were awarded as a platinum selling record.
On their third album ticket, “The Altar and the Door”, Casting Crowns still continued to make waves and prove their talent and musical influence. When the album came out, it debuted on the 2nd spot in the Billboard Album Charts and grabbed the top spot on the Hot Christian albums Chart. After only being ten weeks old in the market, the third ticket became a certified Gold record.
At present, the band remains strongly grounded with their Christian faith. They also sees their work as a ministry which aims to preach and relay a Christian message to its audiences. Hall even goes on to define their music by saying that it is a “ministry of discipleship."
Also, all of the band members remain true as a Christian ticket by being ministers in Eagle’s Landing First Baptist Church. On the same venue, they also play for the youth service. On Wednesdays, Hall makes time for his duties as a minister by facilitating prayer sessions as well as engaging in Christian talks and being the speaker himself.
