Home > Music > Interviews
 Unimaginable Impact
interview by Michael Herman
posted 05/20/02
MercyMe (left to right): Mike Scheuchzer (guitar), Robby Shaffer (drums), Nathan Cochran (bass), Jim Bryson (upside down - keyboards), Bart Millard (vocals)
Considering the strong grassroots following that they've developed over the years, it's not too surprising that MercyMe's national debut has been well received. But none of these five men could have imagined the level of success that Almost There would encounter, all because of a little song entitled "I Can Only Imagine," which earned songwriter Bart Millard and company three Dove awards in 2002. With their album currently riding high on the Billboard 200 Albums chart, the men of MercyMe talked with us about their recent accolades and the lives they've impacted in concert.
Are you surprised by the strong response to your music?
Jim: Yes and no. We did 6 independent albums before signing with INO Records and releasing the current album, Almost There. So we already knew people were interested in what we were doing when Almost There was released.
What is your reaction to the incredible popularity of the song, "I Can Only Imagine"?
Jim: That song was originally recorded on our 1999 independent album called The Worship Project. It wasn't nationally distributed, but there were a few radio stations that picked it up, like WDJC in Birmingham. Listeners of WDJC voted "I Can Only Imagine" the number one song of the year.
Mike: As far as being surprised by the popularity of the song, God's been truly surprising us every week for the past 6 or 8 months. But while the song was climbing to number one on the charts, we heard so much good news about it that we weren't surprised anymore. I even have grown to expect great things from God. I get excited about what's coming next. I just have to remember to focus on the One who gives the blessing and not the blessing itself. I really hope I don't lose that excitement and expectation to see God move every new day.
Is there a comment heard from a listener that has stuck with you?
Bart: A dad at a concert told me about his life. His wife had passed away and he had four teenage sons. All four of his children accepted Christ that night at the concert after hearing our music and listening to us speak.
Jim: A 56-year-old father complimented us on our lyrics and how they speak directly of God. That was amazing to hear.
Mike: The president of S.E. Bible College told us that his grandsons accepted Christ at the concert. We never get tired of hearing stories like that; it's why we do what we do.
What song on your current album do you really hope doesn't get overlooked because of the success of "I Can Only Imagine"?
Bart: "Here Am I"
Jim: "In You"
Mike: "Cannot Say Enough"
Nathan: "Cannot Say Enough"
Robby: "All Fall Down"
What are some of the traditions or common things you do as a band while you're touring?
Bart: Golf
Jim: Sleep, play, eat … sleep, play eat … Cosby Show reruns … sleep, play, eat …
Mike: We sing the national anthem a lot while we're traveling.
Nathan: We also sing a lot of old southern gospel songs.
Robby: It's also traditional for the bus to break down.
What's your greatest fear?
MercyMe: We have three group answers for this one because we've discussed the question before and we all agree on this. The first is that we would quit bearing fruit for the kingdom of God. The second is that we would put regular gas in the diesel tank. And our third answer is our general fear of things that sting, especially when they can fly.
If you were able to have a 25th hour to every day, what would you do with it?
Bart: I'd spend extra time at home.
Jim: Time with my wife.
Mike: Yeah, I'd definitely spend time at home.
Nathan: Time with my wife.
Robby: I'd sleep … okay, I'd sleep "at home" since everyone else said that.
What job would you like to be able to do for a day?
Bart: I'd be a golfer on the PGA Tour.
Jim: A Formula-1 race car driver.
Mike: Either a PGA golfer or a Play Station game tester.
Nathan: I think I'd want to be a tire-changer on Jim's pit crew.
Robby: A major league baseball player.
Who do some people say you look like?
Bart: Drew Carey
Jim: The lead singer for the band Everclear.
Mike: Either James Spader (Stargate) or Matthew Lillard (the bad guy from Scream and Shaggy from Scooby-Doo).
Nathan: Sean William Scott (Dude, Where's My Car?, American Pie)
Robby: MTV's Tom Green or Ram's quarterback Kurt Warner.
What is something you hope someone will say about you someday?
Bart: "He was a man of God and he loved his family."
Jim: "He had a profound influence on my spiritual walk."
Mike: "Christ used him."
Nathan: "Everything about his life glorified God."
Robby: "No matter what, Christ was the center of his life."
What qualities do you admire in people?
Bart: The ability to laugh at themselves.
Jim: Honesty
Mike: The ability to see the good in people.
Nathan: Not being cynical.
Robby: The ability to be real.
Click here to read our review of Almost There, and listen to song clips at Musicforce.com.
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