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Ask Gaither why it works and he'll shrug off the success with characteristic humility. "The older I get, the fewer things I know, but those things I do know, I know with certainty. And I know that people are drawn to that picture of Christ that I learned in Sunday school, standing with his arms outstretched and saying, 'Come, come.' I am moved to share that Christ, especially with persons who might have become turned off to the faith."

And there is that authenticity factor again, the intrinsic appeal of an artist who thinks what's hip is being who you are. "Styles will come and go," Gaither says, "so it's got to be more than the music. If we've survived all these years, I suppose it must be that people sense the genuine love for Christ that is in our hearts."

Mark Allan Powell is a professor of New Testament at Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio, and author of The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music (Hendrickson).

Copyright © 2004 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Also posted today is an article about the Gaithers' Praise Gathering.

Gaithernet has more information about Bill and Gloria including an email newsletter, events calendar, Homecoming information, the Homecoming magazine, and sales information.

Christianbook.com has a massive collection of the Gaither's music, videos, and Homecoming paraphernalia.

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April 2004, Vol. 48, No. 4