When you think of Jeremy Camp, the words “shy” and “quiet” don’t come to mind.
Energetic? Yes.
Passionate? Definitely.
Straightforward? Absolutely.
Camp’s thoughtful lyrics and booming voice have earned him legions of fans and accolades including 16 No. 1 songs, five Dove Awards, three ASP Songwriter of the Year wins and an American Music Award nomination.
So why would someone so well known for his willingness to speak his mind and share his heart title his latest release Speaking Louder Than Before? After all, his message has always come through loud and clear.
Through his songs we’ve seen the joy and the sorrow, his devotion to God, his fear of falling short and his certainty that Jesus is the answer to life’s toughest questions. Even when Jeremy’s message became painfully personal when losing his first wife to cancer just months after their wedding, he boldly wore the mantle of comforter, soothing the pain of others by sharing his story, listening patiently to theirs, and providing them with songs that expressed what they were feeling when their grief left them unable to speak. It was that life-altering tragedy that inspired his early career.
Now, remarried with two young children and a new home base in Nashville, Camp feels like he’s
starting fresh. “It’s so new because I’m in such a different place,” he says. “I’m 30 years old now. I’ve
been doing this for a while and so much has happened since it began. At this point, I have a more clearcut purpose and vision of what I’m meant to do. I’m more purposeful in what I’m sharing.” Being more purposeful is important now that time on the road can mean time away from his family.
So Speaking Louder isn’t so much about Camp turning up the volume as it is finding greater clarity in what God’s called him to do. And while he continues to grow and mature as an artist and a man, it only makes sense that this rocker with a preacher’s heart would use his platform to proclaim – louder than ever – the message he knows today’s kids need to hear.
Speaking Louder’s songs will resonate with people of any age, but Camp’s message this time around is directed squarely at youth. “I see the hurt, the lack of direction, in this new generation,” the former
youth leader says.
“Some people might think I’m being preachy. I’m not angry; I’m not pointing a finger. Really, my heart
is breaking. I’m talking about loving people and serving people.” And it’s not a message he necessarily
believes everyone is called to deliver. “I’m telling my story,” he clarifies. I’m pointing that finger at me.”
The track “You Will Be There” is drawn directly from Psalm 139, while “I Know Who I Am” is based
on Paul’s impassioned speech in Romans 7 about doing the things he doesn’t want to and failing to do
what he knows he should (who can’t relate to that?).
There’s also the very personal song “Healing Hand of God,” which serves as an epilogue of sorts to the story of Camp’s loss of his first wife, a subject he needed encouragement to revisit. “I never want this to be just a story. It was my life, it was her life, and it was hard. But I still have people who come up to me every night who have lost someone, and God showed me that this is still part of His plan for me. It’s a chapter of my life He still wants me share.”
“God called us to be the light of the world as we represent Him,” he says emphatically, his conviction never wavering. “When you’re speaking the truth, when you know what you believe, you speak loud.”
If that’s the case, it’s no wonder Camp goes through life with the volume turned all the way up.
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Jeremy's label has graciously agreed to offer TWO lucky winners a copy of this new release, which comes out this week!
So, let's have some fun, shall we?!
To win, leave me the following in comments below:
1. Your name
2. Contact info (email or blog) Open to US residents only
3. Two things you would like for Christmas: One has to be something you expect (maybe something you get every year without fail), and then the one thing that would absolutely blow. your. mind if you found it wrapped under the tree.
Remember, you have to trust me with your mailing address should you win. Comments will be open until Friday, November 28th until midnight PT or so. Winners will be drawn by Random Generator and contacted via email by Sunday, November 30th. You will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be drawn.
Remember the things you must leave in comments to qualify!
Now, dream away!
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