Winter Jam 2012 Artists Took Time Out For Interviews

     Fans throughout many different cities standing in freezing cold temperatures and downpours of rain await the explosive performances as the annual Winter Jam tour celebrates it’s 17th year. Each band brings to the stage life changing melodies and messages of hope geared toward youth, yet spanning across every generation from every angle. From the heart felt worship of Kari Jobe to the heart pounding delivery of Billboards 2011 top Christian artist Skillet, the diversity of talent and genre of music draws thousands of expectant guests each year. Many leave wishing they had arrived a few hours earlier to avoid being one of the many turned away due to venue capacity limits.

     Aside from Skillet and Kari Jobe, transcending host NewSong is joined by Sanctus Real, Peter Furler(former lead for Newsboys), Building 429, Group1Crew, illusionist Brock Gill and national speaker Nick Hall. The pre-jam session includes performances by the beautiful Dara Maclean as well as For King and Country and We As Human.

     This is not the first year they have turned hopefuls away at the door. For three decades Newsong have traveled together sharing the love of God and the message of hope with all that have opened their hearts to hear the good news. Speaking with Billy Goodwin, it is clear that they do not take lightly the opportunities that God has blessed them with. The gift and provision that He has bestowed upon their lives for ministry is an open blessing that God has poured out on their lives.

“I just cannot believe that God has allowed us to do this for so many years. You know everyday I wake up I just say thank you God for letting me do this one more day. I just pray He continues to let me do it as long as I breathe.” -Billy

Billy Goodwin of NewSong

     When Newsong started this tour seventeen years ago, it was just Billy and a few other guys and they would sing using soundtracks. They rented a venue in South Carolina and did not sell any tickets in advance. It was a three-dollar entry fee at the door and they had to turn away two thousand people that year.

“It was amazing to us what God did, we really had to seek His wisdom after that and find out what it was He wanted us to do. So, for the next couple of years we added a few more artists and just called it the January Jam.”-Billy

     Last year the highly anticipated Winter Jam turned into one of the largest tours including the secular music industry. Unsurprisingly, Pollstar has voted it as the highest attended tour of the first quarter for 2012.

     I asked Billy what his thoughts were on why this tour seems to bring larger turn-outs than pre-sale concerts.

“Many factors play into the turn out. Local promoters generally take over and run the show and we just come in and do a concert. Many people cannot afford a lot of the higher price venues that use promoters and I also believe that God wants to keep us grounded. He wants us to stay faithful no matter how big or small the crowd is.”-Billy

     One thing is certain the Winter Jam crowds are huge! For the talent that is offered on this tour, ten dollars is a steal. However, it does come with a bit of a price consisting of hours in line in very cold temperatures and downpours of rain. Thousands continue being turned away because so many people show up to get in. To anyone planning to attend one of the future shows I would recommend at least arriving two hours early. Also, you can purchase the advanced VIP tickets that guarantee you an entry. The cost is a bit higher but you won’t have to worry about being a part of the turn-away crowd.

    Speaking of crowds, the crew on this tour produced by premier productions is so diverse my curiosity led me to ask Billy how they all fit together.

“We are having a blast! Show attendance is up, which transfers over to the increase in numbers we have seen for people giving their lives to Christ. It feels like we are just a big traveling church. These artists on this tour are really putting everything they have out there on stage, and Skillet really puts on a great show and John Cooper (lead singer) is really just a great guy and getting to know all of them has just been great.”-Billy

     A reflecting crowd of youth, grandparents, toddlers and middle-aged join together to share in the one purpose at the heart of the tour. I asked Mr. Goodwin the key element to reaching young and old alike as a band staying contemporary through three decades of ministry.

“We have really been able to connect even through the generation gaps simply because the heart of our message always stays the same. It’s about the purpose of Christ and how He can change your life. It’s a message that has transformed each of our lives and we are just sharing with people what it has done for us. As far as the diversity of the fans, you know we try to keep the energy high, reaching a wide spectrum of ages.”-Billy

It will be interesting to see what Spring brings for Newsong considering they plan on finding some “free time” in the midst of touring to work on putting together a new album. I joked with Billy because it amazes me how people put all their faith and trust in God for His provision basically living on the road.

“We are thrilled to be doing what we love and have the opportunity to minister into the lives of others. It’s also our way of supporting our families so we are very thankful to those who come out and support us.”-Billy

     One person who certainly knows the depths of laying it all on the line to walk in obedience is Peter Furler. Simplifying his life with wife Summer, they sold all of their belongings and moved to the gulf of Florida in a RV.

     This happened after his supportive exit from Newsboys as lead singer. After doing over a hundred shows a year for over a decade Peter felt it was time to slow things down and just be in the moment, agenda free. During this time of rest God revealed a new thing to him.

“Artistically and creatively, I began see that God didn’t make the horse to win at the races, but for his pleasure – to watch it run,” Peter explains. “I had a definite yearning to get back to nature, to express myself creatively, to do something just for the joy of it.”-Peter

     Since Peter and his wife Summer are slowing down to enjoy the simple things of life, I asked him if they had plans on having children and if he thought that would cause them to settle in somewhere instead of continuing in music ministry.

“My wife and I love kids and we are not really the settle down type of people you know. I don’t think having kids would cause us to stop doing what we are doing. We are out here on tour now with John from Skillet and others with their kids. These kids love being on tour with us and they are great with their kids, so I doubt it would change anything for us. You have to create proper balance though. Family comes first, before the music. Sometimes people make the mistake and put their own ambitions and desires before family and that’s just wrong.”-Peter

     Even though Mr. Furler no longer sings lead for Newsboys, he is a great friend with all of the members. Recently he worked on an album with previous co-producer Steve Taylor who is currently working on a movie production called Blue Like Jazz set to release April 13, 2012 which is why the album has yet to be released. Instead of holding the lead vocals on this production, Peter actually returned to his original Newsboys position of drummer and back up singer along with friends Jimmy Abegg on guitar and John Painter on bass.

     The creative bug bit Furler while working on this project which is what caused him to start his solo project On Fire released in June of 2011. I asked Peter if he has any idea what lies ahead for him after his solo album tour.

“Not sure really. I mean I love making and recording music. I don’t have any grandiose plans of world domination, just taking one day at a time and just stopping to enjoy the process. I do hope to make another record and we are just having the best time of our lives. The Winter Jam tour has been such a great atmosphere. Each act is really good and everyone is really nice. The camaraderie and the fans have been great on this tour. You know to see everyone lined up in the cold and rain waiting to see us is a real blessing.”-Peter

     Chris Rohman, lead guitar for Sanctus Real mentioned specifically how moved they have been by all the fan support on the Winter Jam tour. He also said it is kind of like a big circus with all the people that are on the road.
“You know sometimes it gets pretty crazy out here, there are like 140 of us on this tour.”

     Since Matt and Chris are from Toledo Ohio, they were very excited to bring the tour home to Columbus and Cleveland in January. For those who missed the first two buckeye visits, the tour will be returning to Cincinnati on March 17th.

     In 1996 Sanctus Real began their rise in the industry with three independent albums followed by five album releases on the Sparrow label. They have been writing songs for the tenth release expected to be out sometime next fall. As their albums have increased in maturity I asked Chris, what the main theme of the new album was about.

“I don’t really think the theme is different, but it’s just our lives and how they are taking shape as we get older. You know, all the things you learn along the way as an adult and parenting and it’s just all that taking shape with what God intends for us to become.”-Chris

     Jason Roy, lead singer for Building 429 found God’s intentions taking shape as he stepped into a worship leader position at his home church. Like many of his fellow tour mates, being an extension of ministry out of their home church on the road is naturally a testimony not only to their home church, but also to the body of Christ in general.

“Our worship team at church actually sings background on our latest album Listen To The Sound. I really feel like everything I learned from becoming lead worship in church has crossed over into the album and hits a chord that everyone can relate to. Many of the songs are from actual situations people have faced and struggled and tried to find their way out of. God does not want us to stay in that state of defeat. We have to fight for our families and grasp onto our faith.”-Jason

     The general consensus of each individual I spoke with was spot on with why I believe the Winter Jam Tour continues to thrive and succeed both with audience attendance and hearts and lives being transformed over to the grace and mercy of Christ.

     Every single last one of them have the armor of God prepared in musical formation and their feet shod with the gospel. The core purpose and intention of the desires of their hearts is to see lives changed through the transforming power of salvation. None of them see themselves as Christian artists, famous singers or Dove award nominees. They consider themselves blessed vessels for the Glory of God to be revealed in this day.

     Peter Furler summed it up fairly nicely after I became emotional during our interview setting aside a moment to express my gratitude for how his music had ministered to me for over a decade. He was appreciative but quite humble refusing to take any credit for what God did through the messages. I asked him if there was anything he would like to say to others who had been ministered to through the music he produced that he does not always have an everyday chance to speak with. His response, “Oh boy. Well, your life is just as important to God as mine is. You know He created the Heavens and the earth. We all have a certain roll and a certain place and when we find that role, we find joy in that. My role happens to be a singer and a songwriter, you know. Focus on God and His word and seek Him. Find where your joy is at in Him.”

     Ironically in that moment, he managed to minister to me again and I doubt he even knew it. None the less it was a blessing to get a chance to speak with some of the most humble Christians I have spoken with and each one of them were inspiring and motivating. I believe if you have an opportunity to make it to the Winter Jam tour this year you will have a phenomenal experience. Check the website for tour dates. Also, for all those West Coasters out there, keep your eyes open because the tour will be heading your direction this fall!

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