Mark Scandrette

Bryan Allain interviews me on his faith and sports website here. I hope sports fans aren’t offended.

Earlier this month I flew to Nashville, Tennessee to help lead a retreat for a group of younger musicians and song-writers, organized by my friend Charlie Peacock, and funded through a foundation. In the 1990’s Charlie was a popular musician and song-writer who has become a successful music producer and author. He and his wife Andi bought an old church, which they converted into a home, retreat center and recording studio. I have admired Charlie and Andi for many years (1) because of Charlie’s music, and (2) because of their commitment to integrating art-making, thoughtful reflection, hospitality and Christian spirituality. So, it’s been quite an honor for me to collaborate with them on several projects over the past few years.

This retreat was designed to encourage and support up-and-coming artists who are people of faith working in mainstream entertainment. Many of these young musicians live in New York, L.A. or Nashville and are part of touring bands, write songs for Sony or EMI or have their music featured in films and television. It was such an interesting group of people to interact with. My role was to help them make connections between their life as artists and disciples of Jesus.

For people called to a life in the arts there are a variety of challenges. Many of these musicians struggle with how to measure success in an industry that has changed so dramatically in the past 10 years. You might put incredible energy into creating good music and touring the country, only to find yourself exhausted and broke in the end.  With success and money there are many temptations to compromise morally or artistically. During the retreat the group had the opportunity to hear from Amy Grant, David Wilcox and Derek Webb—and others who have succeeded as artists and wrestled with how to follow the way of Jesus. My friend Charlie is a wise sage and mentor for many younger artists—and this event was an embodiment of his legacy.

I’m new to posting videos online, this is only my second attempt–an intro. to my SOUL GRAFFITI course through Church Divinity School of the Pacific’s Center for Anglical Learning and Leadership.  I won’t be posting the rest of these publicly, but thought this clip would give a taste of what this online course is about. It is basically an online book club that you can get graduate continuing education credit for. Check out the video here.

Doug Pagitt, Tony Jones and I each documented the shaving of our revivalist facial hair for posterity.  My son, Isaiah, saved the preacher’s gray scraggly beard clippings in a glass jar he labeled, A.L. Withee, 2008. See the video here. I know the posting of this is a bit delayed, but I am something of a luddite.

I will be speaking in Birmingham the weekend of Oct. 18 & 19th (and will post details as they unfold). I’m flying out a day early to go to my 20 year Hale County high school reunion in Moundville, Alabama. Some of you know that when I was 16 my family moved from Minneapolis to rural Alabama– so I spent my senior year of high school and two years of college in the sweat tea and BBQ belly of the deep south. Its going to be a surreal and fabulous weekend!