P10
May 2013
A
few years ago, the members of
MercyMe
had a killer idea.
The Texas-based Christian rock band realized that
the free Gospel message so foundational to its
music was being offered to the public at a premium
ticket price.
That didn’t make sense, and neither did what
followed: MercyMe decided it would put together
an arena-size tour of Christian acts, hit the road and
charge a mere
10 bucks
admission. No reserved
seats. No ticket fees.
Bart Millard
, MercyMe’s lead
singer, thought it was high time in a low economy for
a tour where the fans won.
The band’s accountants thought it was a killer idea,
too – it would kill the bottom line – and weren’t
in favor.
“MercyMe’s advisers told them not to do it,” says
Ryan Slaughter
, who worked for the band and
is now producing a documentary film about what
became the Rock & Worship Roadshow, which is
still beating the odds after five years.
“This tour, on paper, is a terrible business decision,”
Slaughter says. “But people step out in faith and just
do it.”
Indeed they do. Earlier this year, the Roadshow and
its nine acts played 20 cities in little more than a
month, starting out in Madison, Wis., and finishing
in Fresno, Calif. Grand Canyon University and
Compassion International were the major sponsors
that helped make it possible.
GCU’s partnership with the tour is three years old.
And if a stop in Ontario, Calif., in February is any
indication, the relationship is thriving.
The Rock & Worship Roadshow, sponsored by GCU,
played to large crowds in 20 cities earlier this year.
Lead singer Bart Millard (lower left) of MercyMe says
his band “couldn’t avoid the fact that God was calling
us” to orchestrate the tour. Photos by Eric Brown/
ericbrownphoto.com
Concert tour’s documentary
to premiere at GCU in fall
Rock&Worship
The
– by Doug Carroll
