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Six months ago, none of us had ever heard of Casting Crowns. But when the first single, "If We Are the Body," off of their self-titled debut CD (Beach Street Records) went racing up the radio charts, the word was out on this new band. Listeners were drawn to the bold lyrics, a rallying call for the church to open its arms to seekers. Casting Crowns is the flagship artist on Beach Street, a label formed by Sawyer Brown front man Mark Miller. Their debut was co-produced by Miller and Steven Curtis Chapman.

Frontman and songwriter Mark Hall (center)with his band Casting Crowns

What has surprised you since your self-titled album was released?

Mark HallEverything, because it wasn't something we were pursuing. The very first conversation we had with anybody about doing this on this level was in late March of 2003, not that long ago.

I've been a youth pastor for 12 years at Eagle's Landing First Baptist Church here in McDonough, Georgia. The guys in the band all teach small groups and lead ministries here with me. So it really wasn't something we thought would happen on this scale. The music was just something we did here for our students.

So how'd it come to this?

HallWhen Mark Miller called [from Beach Street Records], he asked us what we thought about being their first artists on the label. I had talked with him in the past because he had gotten a hold of one of the CDs we make as an outreach tool for the youth group.

Wherever I've served as a youth pastor, I'd get a band together. As we became more comfortable together, we go into a local studio and record since I wrote music. The CDs were always small-scale, but they would have information about the church, how to get saved, and things about the student ministry. That's what Mark Miller got a hold of, just one of those small, local projects. So it really wasn't like we were searching for a record label to be a part of. It really did take us by surprise.

And then?

HallThen things moved so fast. But I have such a peace about what's going on because I know I did nothing to get it started. All I've heard from the record industry, from the management side, and even from Steven Curtis and Mark is that this never happens. It's been our slogan all the way through this, "This never happens."

So, it's been a surprise from the get-go. I was expecting at any moment for all of it to go away and I was going to be happy with what happened—just being able to meet Mark Miller and Steven Curtis Chapman. I was like, "Okay! Cool, I can go home now. This is awesome."

What about the success of the first single, "If We Are the Body"?

HallIt really shocked me at first, and it gave me a lot of hope. That's a pretty hard-hitting song. And as a youth pastor, my lyrics are hard-hitting, but the kids know my transparency and how I'm very open about my shortcomings.

I never thought they'd use that song to introduce us to the world—coming out punching—but the response was strong. Some people in radio were hesitant, but it took off so fast. It really lit a fire in me that people do see it the right way. We're not angry artists throwing rocks at the church. We're in the church. We're not saying everything's messed up. We're saying that all of us have something to do.

It's done remarkably well on the charts.

HallI really don't know how to process all this "chart stuff." I've heard that we're number one here and there. But I told the guys at the label and the guys in the band, Don't even tell me about the charts. I don't have a file in my brain that processes that. It's not real to me because I just don't understand it.

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