#103 - "Until The Whole World Hears" by Casting Crowns NRT Contributor Kevin Davis speaks with Casting Crowns' lead singer, Mark Hall, about the title track from their latest album, Until The Whole World Hears."
Mark Hall: "God wants to use you, He wants you to grow and He wants you to have a purpose."
Amid nearly 5 million career album sales, numerous awards and consistent chart-topping radio success in an unprecedented six-year span, Casting Crowns lead singer and songwriter Mark Hall has never strayed from the group’s main purpose: “Present discipleship through music.” The band’s message remains rooted in the youth ministry Hall has led on a weekly basis since 1999. The result with each new song collection is a fresh, relevant perspective on our journey with Christ.
“Our main purpose, above all else, is to know Him more,” shares Hall.
It’s this unwavering pursuit that has inspired Casting Crowns’ latest release, Until The Whole World Hears, an offering of encouragement, challenge, hope and truth to a world in need of Jesus.
“As we travel through our journey as Christians, we come to a realization there are lots of people out there who need to hear about Jesus,” Hall says. “Through our maturity, we begin to see the world as God sees the world and work with purpose to show people Jesus, until the whole world hears.”
I had the great opportunity to speak with Mark Hall about the song “Until The Whole World Hears.” You can listen to our entire interview here.
Please tell me the background story about writing the song “Until The Whole World Hears.”
All of our songs are based on our experiences with student ministries. They are birthed from bible studies, conversations and real-life experiences. This specific song title came from my experience with Global Youth Ministry. As encouragement in letters that I would get from Roger Gladwell with his signature he would always include “until the whole world hears.” All of our songs are about authenticity and we have to earn the right to speak the truth with teenagers through genuine relationships. My prayer is for our songs to be an overflow of our walk with Jesus.
What does the message of “Until The Whole World Hears” mean to you personally?
I went to the book of John and read about John the Baptist as he knew his purpose and his calling was to preach the gospel. I reference him in the chorus, “like voices in the wilderness we’re crying out.” This song is for the church, and as John the Baptist says in John 3:30, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Did you base the song on any other Bible verses?
Matthew 24:14: And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
What is the takeaway message for listeners about the song?
For believers, in context with our other songs, the messages are that God wants to use you, He wants you to grow and He wants you to have a purpose. There are a trilogy of songs and messages that go together on the album. This song, “Glorious Day,” and “To Know You.” This song reminds me to be more intentional about what I do. I may not be able to get on a plane and fly to China and give out Bibles and preach the gospel, but how can I witness to my co-workers and my friends and my family.
Lord I wanna feel Your heart
See the world through Your eyes
I wanna be your hands and feet
I wanna live a life that leads
Ready yourself, Ready yourself
Let us shine the light of Jesus in the darkest night
Ready yourself, Ready yourself
May the powers of darkness tremble as our praises rise
Until the whole world hears
Lord we are calling out
Lifting up your name for all to hear the sound
Like voices in the wilderness we're crying out
As the day draws near
We'll sing until the whole world hears
Lord let Your sleeping giant rise
Catch the demons by surprise
Holy nations sanctify
Let this be our battle cry
Ready yourself, Ready yourself
Let us shine the light of Jesus in the darkest night
Ready yourself, Ready yourself
May the powers of darkness tremble as our praises rise
Until the whole world hears
Lord we are calling out
Lifting up your name for all to hear the sound
Like voices in the wilderness we're crying out
As the day draws near
We'll sing until the whole world hears
Wo-o-oh Wo-o-oh
We'll sing until the whole world hears
Wo-o-oh Wo-o-oh
We'll sing until the whole world hears
I wanna be your hands and feet
I wanna live a life that leads
To see You set the captive free
Until the whole world hears
And I pray the day will see
More of You and less of me
Lord I want my life to be the song you sing
Until the whole world hears
Lord we are calling out
Lifting up your name for all to hear the sound
Like voices in the wilderness we're crying out
As the day draws near
We'll sing until the whole world hears
As Mark said, Casting Crowns writes songs for the church. Our calendars get filled up quickly and evangelism isn’t something we take time to put in our schedules. This song is a great challenge for people to stop and think about how they are living for God. We all need to be more intentional in our walk with God and we are commanded by Jesus to preach the gospel of the kingdom. Live your life with a purpose and know that we are all here for a reason. I truly believe that Jesus is coming soon and we need to think of sharing the gospel as more than singing along with a song on the radio. Take some time to pray about who God is calling you to speak with about Him. He is risen!
Posted April 06, 2010 | Kevin Davis is a long time fan of Christian music, an avid music collector and credits the message of Christian music for leading him to Christ. Kevin also writes reviews for ChristianMusicReview.org. He currently lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and three daughters.
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