VASHAWN MITCHELL | CHRIS QUILALA | IN REVIEW: MORE CHRISTMAS MUSIC! MARK LOWRYLOVE: THE WHOLE POINT GOSPEL MUSIC’S FUNNY MAN TALKS SERIOUS ABOUT LOVING GOD DEC 1, 2016 header contents DECEMBER 01, 2016 From the Editor Out & About Publisher Michael Miller Exclusive pics of your favorite artists! General Manager | In this issue: Lecrae, Stryper, Associate Publisher Audio Adrenaline, Ricky Skaggs, Smitty Wheeler Aaron & Amanda Crabb + more! Associate Publisher | Mixed Media Production Ross Cluver Mark Lowry Editorial Director Andrew Greer sits down with the Chris Well man behind “Mary, Did You Know?,” + Managing Editor expected antics & more in this cover Kevin Sparkman story (video in CCMmagazine.com). Designers Martina Ahlbrandt Joshua Jamison Ginny Owens Contributing Editors ONLINE-ONLY! The intrepid singer- Andy Argyrakis songwriter returns from near career- Matt Conner ending surgery & vocal modifications Contributors Andrew Greer to release her best work to date. Caroline Lusk Assistant Prod. Manager VaShawn Mitchell Paula Rozelle Hanback Having traversed the globe to aid Fulfillment & Customer audiences in raising their praise, the Service Manager Suzanne Solinger Chicago native’s ministerial spirit is Customer Service Reps as alive as ever. Janice Collier Arsenault Jason Lloyd About A Mile Chris Quilala Executive Dir. of Advertising text DeDe Donatelli-Tarrant Known for fronting West Coast wor- 805.987.5072 ship troupe Jesus Culture, the singer- [email protected] songwriter steps into the unknown Joel Stombres, 630.584.0213 [email protected] of releasing his first solo project. Account Executive Jon Edlin, 913.231.7333 Reviews [email protected] New music from Christy Nockels, Ginny Owens, Troy Hargrave, 615-312-4242 VaShawn Mitchell, Chris Quilala + more! [email protected] Web Ad Traffic oordinatorC Kristina James www.ccmmagazine.com/magazine/issues/dec-01-2016 CCMdigital_Dec01_2016.indd 3 11/29/16 1:58 PM From the Editor From the Editor Silent Nights | We have finally reached December, the last month of 2016 For perspective, I’ll close with a brief excerpt from a dear friend, former and the unofficial first month of Christmas. Of course, retail America seems musician-worship leader, and now, due to hereditary condition, completely to inch Christmas-related promotions and celebrations ever closer to the deaf pastor-teacher-author: end of Halloween, but I digress. Today what I experience, when the lights are off, are the sounds of silence lingering there in the dark. When I cannot see her face, there As you may know by now, I’ve never been a huge fan of Christmas—well, the are no conversations, no telling jokes, no last-minute reminders to westernized version that has seemed to all but swallowed us up, anyway. discuss, not even the words, “I love you, goodnight.” What was once the Since my role here at CCM Magazine began, however, getting to hear and day’s highlight has now significantly changed, for the sweet sound of my read first-hand accounts of God moving in the midst of the artists we cover loved ones voices has been replaced with a piercing silent night. and why they choose to sing at this time of year have been touching, to say the least. Let’s be more than thankful. Let’s be mindful. Let us be ever so closer to Christ this Christmas. As I’ve mentioned before, a big part of this revelation for me has been the contributions of our friend, singer-songwriter-author Andrew Greer, and his Christmas & Communion series that have appeared in this publication. Blessings, Andrew brings a heartfelt perspective and much needed reality check to the holiday season—gently surfacing what some people and families have to face while the rest of us are distracted by hot cocoa and “Fa-la-la’ing.” More from Andrew in our December publications and posts (as always, stay tuned to CCMmagazine.com and our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram feeds— please “friend” and “follow” us today!). FACEBOOK.COM/CCMMAGAZINE My prayer is that we move ever closer to Christ and His love versus the things of man—after all, it was He that came to earth that first Christmas, just to be with us. In this issue, you will be blessed by Jesus Culture’s Chris Quilala as he goes into more depth about the loss of his son at this very time two years ago—despite the pain, you can bet he and his family will be singing louder than ever this year. www.ccmmagazine.com/magazine/issues/oct-15-2016 www.ccmmagazine.com/magazine/issues/dec-01-2016 CCMdigital_Dec01_2016.indd 4 11/29/16 1:58 PM From the Editor Silent Nights | We have finally reached December, the last month of 2016 For perspective, I’ll close with a brief excerpt from a dear friend, former and the unofficial first month of Christmas. Of course, retail America seems musician-worship leader, and now, due to hereditary condition, completely to inch Christmas-related promotions and celebrations ever closer to the deaf pastor-teacher-author: end of Halloween, but I digress. Today what I experience, when the lights are off, are the sounds of silence lingering there in the dark. When I cannot see her face, there As you may know by now, I’ve never been a huge fan of Christmas—well, the are no conversations, no telling jokes, no last-minute reminders to westernized version that has seemed to all but swallowed us up, anyway. discuss, not even the words, “I love you, goodnight.” What was once the Since my role here at CCM Magazine began, however, getting to hear and day’s highlight has now significantly changed, for the sweet sound of my read first-hand accounts of God moving in the midst of the artists we cover loved ones voices has been replaced with a piercing silent night. and why they choose to sing at this time of year have been touching, to say the least. Let’s be more than thankful. Let’s be mindful. Let us be ever so closer to Christ this Christmas. As I’ve mentioned before, a big part of this revelation for me has been the contributions of our friend, singer-songwriter-author Andrew Greer, and his Christmas & Communion series that have appeared in this publication. Blessings, Andrew brings a heartfelt perspective and much needed reality check to the holiday season—gently surfacing what some people and families have to face while the rest of us are distracted by hot cocoa and “Fa-la-la’ing.” More Kevin Sparkman from Andrew in our December publications and posts (as always, stay tuned Editor, CCM Magazine to CCMmagazine.com and our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram feeds— [email protected] please “friend” and “follow” us today!). FACEBOOK.COM/CCMMAGAZINE TWITTER.COM/CCMMAGAZINE INSTAGRAM.COM/CCMMAG My prayer is that we move ever closer to Christ and His love versus the things of man—after all, it was He that came to earth that first Christmas, just to be with us. In this issue, you will be blessed by Jesus Culture’s Chris Quilala as he goes into more depth about the loss of his son at this very time two years ago—despite the pain, you can bet he and his family will be singing louder than ever this year. www.ccmmagazine.com/magazine/issues/oct-15-2016 www.ccmmagazine.com/magazine/issues/dec-01-2016 CCMdigital_Dec01_2016.indd 5 11/29/16 1:58 PM hed — subhed dek By line text. www.ccmmagazine.com/magazine/issues/nov-15-2016 CCMdigital_Dec01_2016.indd 6 11/29/16 1:58 PM AN ADVENTURE OF BIBLICAL PROPORTIONS Proudly Partnered with PLAY NOW AT THEAETHERLIGHT.COM Explore the world of Aethasia™, and join the Resistance in their fight against the tyrannical emperor and his army of mechanical men! Once a beautiful land, Aethasia is now covered by a sickly pervasive fog that corrupts everything it touches. But all is not lost. Rumors are spreading of a fledgling Resistance, who have the courage and audacity to try and restore Aethasia to its former glory, and to reinstate the The Great Engineer back to the throne of Aethasia. And that Resistance needs you! Mark Lowry — How He Loves By Andrew Greer Mark Lowry is one of gospel music’s greatest gifts. From his Dove Award-winning musical recordings to his GRAMMY-win- ning run as a member of the Gaither Vocal Band, his celebrat- ed songwriting prowess—evidenced especially this time of year thanks to the phenomenal impact of his composition, “Mary, Did You Know?”—and of course his infamous side-splitting antics, Lowry has inspired audiences for decades through one of the industry’s most fascinating and multi-faceted careers. But no matter the medium, Lowry says his goal for his audienc- es, and for himself, remains the same: to serve God, and to serve each other, in love. Following his cheered 2015 recording, How We Love (Spring Hill), with a full-blown live humor-and-song shindig on his new Billboard chart-topping DVD, Dogs Go To Heaven (Gaither Music), Lowry sits down for a transparent talk about the reali- ties of life, the mysteries of faith and the possibilities of love. Dig in as we engage the recent Gospel Music Hall of Famer in one of the most thoughtful conversations to transpire inside the pages of CCM Magazine in recent history. Dig in for one of the most thoughtful conversations to transpire inside the pages of CCM in a long while. www.ccmmagazine.com/magazine/issues/dec-01-2016 www.ccmmagazine.com/magazine/issues/nov-15-2016 CCMdigital_Dec01_2016.indd 8 11/29/16 1:58 PM Mark Lowry — How He Loves By Andrew Greer Mark Lowry is one of gospel music’s greatest gifts.