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10 Questions with ... Shawn Craig
December 2, 2013
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Members:
Randy Phillips, Shawn Craig, Dan DeanDiscography:
- 1992 Phillips, Craig & Dean
- 1994 Lifeline
- 1995 Trust
- 1996 Repeat The Sounding Joy
- 1997 Where Strength Begins
- 1999 Restoration
- 2001 Let My Words Be Few
- 2003 Let Your Glory Fall
- 2004 Let The Worshipers Arise
- 2006 Top of My Lungs
- 2009 Fearless
- 2010 Hope For All The World EP
- 2012 Breathe In
- 2013 Hope For All The World
1. Brief history/synopsis
Born in Indiana, grew up in a small town in Northwest Louisiana, on a lake with bayous. Have a B.A. in Music from Webster University, and Masters of Divinity from Oral Roberts University. Have worked as a gas station attendant, carpenters helper, shoe salesman and musician/pastor. Currently living and serving in St. Louis.
2. What does a normal day at home look like for you?
I'm a lead pastor so most days I'm in the office, counseling, study, and teaching in our ministry institute which I love! Love watching these guys right out of H.S. learn about ministry and the Bible. I'm an outdoors type guy, so I'm not much into TV etc. I'd rather use a chainsaw and an axe and stack firewood than play xbox.
3. What's the song that you just can't get out of your head right now?
"Mercy" by Matt Redman. The lyric is rich with theology, and the melody is mesmerizing and captivating.
4. How do you juggle life on the road with wanting to be home? How much do you travel, what are the challenges?
Last year we did 28 concerts, a cruise and a conference. So it's mainly a struggle with flying. Flying isn't fun like it used to be. I love home and my wife, and I enjoy each other's company so much that I sometimes cry when I go on the road.
5. What's the biggest "God moment" that you've ever experienced, personal or professional?
One of the biggest God-moments for me was the time when I was asked to become lead pastor of the church where I had been music pastor. I was terrified, yet when I looked over the previous 5 years I realized that God had absolutely prepared me for that moment through the suffering I'd experienced and the lessons I'd learned as a staff pastor.
6. What's the last book you read?
I read about 4 books at a time. I get bored with one book. But one I'm nearly finished with is called Hurt 2.0 by Chap Clark. It's challenging what I've believed about today's youth. The premise is that today's youth aren't yesterday's youth. One of their deepest wounds is the vacuum in their soul due to alienation from parents and healthy adults. The overriding theme of their hurt is, "You think you know me. But you really don't." Fascinating incarnational effort by Clark.
7. What caused you to want to serve God in full time ministry?
It may sound grandiose and I don't mean it to be, but I've had a sense of calling since I was 13-14. I couldn't always articulate it, but I've had a desire from a youth for people to really KNOW God. Philippians 3 has been a key chapter in my life personally, and I've wanted others to know the wonder and awesomeness of the God we serve.
8. If you could go back and change any event/decision in your life, what would it be, and why?
I wish I would've learned another language! I think it's so lame that I, along with most Americans, speak one language! I've tried to learn Spanish and Portuguese but it gets harder as you age.
9. Person you'd most like to have a discussion with, living or dead.....Deities are excused from this question
Apostle Paul would be first on the list because he was a unique man having a Jewish heritage but passionately preached to pagans. Fascinating! I'd love to ask him questions about cross-cultural implications for the gospel as well as have him explain a few passages! Second person I'd love to chat with would Abraham Lincoln. How did he overcome so many setbacks and persevere? Who was he in his soul?
10. Favorite Bible verse....life verse?
Today it's Eph 3:19 "to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." God's love is more than an intellectual thing. It's BEYOND knowledge. Yet the more that we know it, the more we are filled. What a mystery!
Editor's Note: Check out the new PC&D Christmas project, HOPE FOR ALL THE WORLD. It's amazing!
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