Matt Hammitt (center) and the band seek to promote wholeness and unity in the Christian church with their latest release.

On tour with Steven Curtis Chapman last fall, you that the album would be called Turn on the Lights. Why the change in title?

Matt Hammitt: We were going to call the record Turn on the Lights because we liked the imaging possibilities. Even though we had told several people it was the tentative title, it didn't sit quite right with us. The theme that continued to surface in our lives was wholeness and unity, so that's why we decided to change it to We Need Each Other.

That theme of uniting as a body of believers rather than splitting over denominational differences does seem to run through much of the album. Why is that issue so close to your heart at this time?

Hammitt: It's an issue that has always been close to home for me. My family endured a couple of tough church splits as a kid and it really affected me. As I grew older, I realized that some of the issues that split churches also kept denominations from working together. To me, it all seemed secondary to the importance of standing together [as Christians]. Since then, over the years, I have seen many denominations and Christian groups come together for various reasons. It is so satisfying to see us all together singing as one, just as it will be in heaven. I think that brings great joy to the heart of God.

Which is your favorite song on the CD and why?

Hammitt: I think the message of "Legacy" is really important, especially for young people. We really need to promote forward thinking with our youth. When we make the decision early on in our lives that the only thing that matters is whether or not we have done the work of Christ, then he will make something great out of our lives no matter what we do for a living. It's something I think about a lot now that I have kids. I know that if my daughters see my love for Christ reflected in the choices I make, they will be far more likely to do the same.

It sounds like marriage and parenthood is inspiring your music more now.

Hammitt: The value of the message and ministry becomes increasingly important when you have a family. It's harder now to leave home [because of family commitments], so I value my calling even more now with the desire to accomplish greater things on the road. I want my family to know that I'm out there making a difference. And it's also become increasingly important to spend more time at home. When Sanctus Real is over, I will only have God, family, and friends. If I didn't invest in those things first, it would lead to a bitter end.

How else has growing up in the spotlight shaped your songwriting over the years? How would you trace the evolution from the beginning to the present?

Hammitt: I've always had a knack for melodies and chord structures, but learning to write good lyrics has definitely been a journey for me. When I first started writing songs, I knew pretty much what I wanted to say, but I wasn't very good at saying it clearly. This obviously was a problem because great songs are dependant on a strong lyrical hook. Over the years, producers like Tedd T. and Chris Stevens have forced me to rewrite many sets of lyrics, and it has shaped me into a much better songwriter. I have finally found a good balance between poetry and clarity in our songs.

What are you looking forward to most about your upcoming tour with Third Day and what can fans expect from the set list?

Hammitt: The guys in Third Day are great. I know we will have fun and learn a lot from them. As far as the set list, we are going to try to cater to old and new fans alike. Obviously we'll be promoting the new album, but we might throw some of the oldies in the mix too.

Click here to visit Christian Music Today's artist page for Sanctus Real, where you will find the review of their latest album We Need Each Other. You can listen to song clips and purchase the music at Christianbook.com.

© Andy Argyrakis, subject to licensing agreement with Christianity Today International. All rights reserved. Click for reprint information.

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