“If you feel like God is calling you to this or that, He's touched your life in some sort of way. Ask HimtoopendoorsandseetheplacesthatHe'll take you,” AndIthinkGodwill encouragedthenextgenerationto exaltyouandIthink “seekfirsttheKingdom,”adding:“A He'llgiveyouafavor lotofus,wewanttobefamousfor andIthinkHe'lldo Jesus,butHedoesn'tneedourfame, extraordinarythingsif Heneedsourheartsandour youstayhumble,”the obedience.AndHeneedsustospeak 64-year-oldartistsaid. whathe’ssaying,becausethewords MacPowell,the thatweputinmusicspeaktopeople Michael W. Smith | Jason Davis Photography for K�LOVE Fan Awards formerfrontmanof whoareinbasements,inhospitals, ThirdDaywhoisnowa readytotaketheirlives.I'mtelling soloartist,encouraged you,theuniquenessofHisvoice 1960satCalvaryChapelinCosta artiststoremainbiblicallysound, insideofusanddisplayedthroughus Mesa,California,CCMistodaya stressingtheimportanceofnot isabigdeal.Andwemustbetuned multibillion-dollarindustry,withmany wateringdownthemessageofthe in.” artistsfindinghugecrossoversuccess. Gospel. Hestressedthatregardlessofwhat AccordingtotheBerkleeSchoolof “Ithinkasanartist,you'realways happensinculture,“God’smessage Music,thefastest-growingradio wantingtomakemusicthatwillreach neverchanges.” marketintheUnitedStatestodayis peopleoutsideofthewallsofthe “God'sWordisthemoststable Christianmusic. Church,butatthesametime,weall foundationtobuildon,”theartist Smith,ofthemostrecognizable oftenthinkaboutthatterm,‘we're said.“Forme,it'stakingGod'sWord namesinCCMforthelastfour preachingtothechoir,’”hesaid.“I've andformulatingitinsuchawaythat decades,toldCPhebelieveshumilityis gottencriticizedinthepastformaking it's fresh.…WhenIwrite,Igotothe thekeytotrulyhonoringGod.The veryGospel-forwardmusicbecause Lordandsay,‘Whatdoyouwantto artist,who’swonthreeGrammy yougo,‘Well,you'rejustpreachingto say?’Andthenthepackagingisthe Awards,45DoveAwards,one thechoir.’Well,IknowIwasinthe producingthesound,andwetrytoget AmericanMusicAwardandwas choir,andIneededtobepreachedto. it outthere.AlotoftimesGoduses recentlyinductedintotheGospel So… artistscandoboth.Wecando propheticmomentsinmylifethatI MusicHallofFame,wasnominatedin musicandartthatreachesoutsideof writeintosongs.” theBookImpactcategoryforhisbook, ourwalls,butatthesametime, TheK-LOVEFanAwardswillairon TheWayoftheFather. encourageourbrothersandsistersthat TBNJune3,airingbacktobackat “Stayhumble.It'snotaboutyou. arewithintheChurch.” both8p.m.and10p.m.ET. Andthat'sthekey.…I'dratherhumble “AmericanIdol”alumDannyGokey, myself;beinghumbledbyGodisnota whowasnominatedforMaleArtistof lotoffun.SoIjustthinkthat'sthekey. theYearandwasalsoapresenter, Christianpost.com 41