thesource4ymcom interviews Rebecca St. James
Interview
Rebecca St. James
October 3, 2000
Jonathan (dressed for the occasion) sits down with Rebecca St. James. Youth for Christ Ministries in Sacramento partnered with local churches on an event bringing out Rebecca St. James and Switchfoot. Jonathan got a chance to hang out with Rebecca and the band members before and after the concert. Jonathan gives us a peek into Rebecca's personal life, her ministry and her interests.
JONATHAN: Rebecca- great concert! Thanks for taking the time to talk to us.
REBECCA: (In a thick Australian accent) Thank you for bringing us out.
JONATHAN: First of all, how old are you?
REBECCA: I'm 23. I just had my birthday July 26th.
JONATHAN: Cool. And how long have you been doing this.
REBECCA: Ah ... since I was about ... probably 16 or so.
JONATHAN: And since this is a written interview I'm bummed that my readers can't hear your accent ...
REBECCA: (laughing) Yeah.
JONATHAN: ... now obviously, by the accent, you're from where?
REBECCA: Sidney Australia
JONATHAN: Sidney Australia. And did you grow up there.
REBECCA: Yes, I lived there for about 12 years and then lived in Brisbane for about a year and a half or so before moving to America when I was about 14.
JONATHAN: Okay- and where do you live now?
REBECCA: Nashville Tennessee.
JONATHAN: Okay- great. Now tonight the most exciting news is that you gave an invitation, 74 people came forward, 12 people made first-time decisions for Christ, others rededicated their lives ... is that something you do a lot with your concerts?
REBECCA: Yes, pretty much whenever we do a full concert we have an alter call and see people respond and it's always just incredible- it's always just an amazing "God thing" to see people respond because it's not something that I think I can orchestrate. I mean- I can't force a changed life. Only God can do that. So when we hear back stories through e mail or letters of people who have committed their hearts to God and now are in missions work or -you know- that kind of thing- it's just unbelievable- it's just a beautiful thing.
JONATHAN: That's great. What is the most fulfilling thing in your ministry? What makes you say, "It don't get better than this!"
REBECCA: Hmmm. I think when I'm leading people in worship- that's a big part of it. Like we end our concerts with "Oh Come Let Us Adore Him." And every night when I hear the audience singing that song it's just like, "Wow ! ...
JONATHAN: Cool!
REBECCA: ... Cool! You know I just feel very fulfilled in that. And then when I'm helping people, like serving or doing something for somebody else and just knowing the joy that it's going to bring them. I feel like one of my spiritual gifts is helping and serving and I just enjoy that a lot.
JONATHAN: It was cool watching you interact with your band and the different people you travel with and ... you travel with your Dad. (looking both ways) He's not in the room ... so how does that work?
REBECCA: (laughing) Very well most the time. I mean I wouldn't want anyone else to be my manager. Just because there's that understanding there and he cares for me more than any manager could- you know- because he loves me as his daughter ...
JONATHAN: Looking out for his baby ...
REBECCA: Yes- in all kinds of different ways. And I appreciate that so much. I mean every now and then you know we kind of see things differently or what- but I think we've learned to be up front about those things and so if he's hurt me in any way or if we disagree on something we'll talk about it.
JONATHAN: Cool
REBECCA: So that's great too. We have a real good honest relationship.
JONATHAN: That's great.
JONATHAN: Now my readers are mostly youth workers. Many of us have seen you a multiple of times. When you think about all the concerts you've done ... what do you think is the most pathetic, worst concert you've done? Either bad circumstances on stage ... or more people on stage than in the audience ... whatever
REBECCA: (laughing) yeah ... well actually probably the worst that I can remember was this year in Branson, Missouri. It was in this old theme park sort of thing and the crowd was packed- there was ... like stacks of people there, but they had sat through a speaker for like an hour or that kind of thing. So we come on and we're doing our thing and it was like in the middle of the day so we didn't have any of our lights or anything ... and people started like walking out! I don't think the sound was very good and also they'd been sitting there for a long time I think through other stuff as well. And so a lot of people left and then- it was April Fools- the band decides that they're going to play a trick on me. So they modulate in the song and so, not only am I affected by the crowd who is leaving, but also they modulate so I'm feeling like I'm going insane! So then they modulate back down ... and so- I'm just like freaking out ...
JONATHAN: So you're singing either too flat or too sharp
REBECCA: They modulated up so I had to adjust- well at first I kept singing in my key and I was thinking, "This is not sounding right, this is not sounding right!" So then I adjusted to their key right in time for them to drop back down and I thought I was going to die!
JONATHAN: So you sounded like the Thompson Twins in concert ... never mind ... I'm dating myself.
I asked a few youth pastors, "What would you ask Rebecca St. James?" The single ones said they would ask, "Will you go out with me?" So tell me, is there someone special? Do you have a love life?
REBECCA: (laughing) No, my love life is reasonably non-existent actually. Which ... because road life doesn't like . . . help relationships really. Although I've been home a reasonable amount this year but I just really haven't met anybody that I just feel ... you know ... "This could be the one!" You know ... not lately.
JONATHAN: So do you ever think about that?
REBECCA: Yeh I do ... but I just . . . I feel like in God's timing it's going to be right and he's going to... you know ... show up in my life.
JONATHAN: Where are you going to meet him.
REBECCA: (laughing) I have NO idea! I have a real heart for missions so I've always felt maybe on the mission field I'd meet him or like on a short term mission trip or something like that ...
JONATHAN: That'd be cool. Some guy who say's "Who are you? What's your name?"
REBECCA: Yeh ... exactly! I'd love that.
JONATHAN: That'd be cool. Hey let me ask you a couple personal questions. When you grew up, who's CDs or tapes did you listen to.
REBECCA: Petra, Carmen... I use to do the Champion with Carmen and put my hands up in the air. I would make my brothers the Devils and Satan and I'd be Jesus (laugh)
JONATHAN: A servant attitude.
REBECCA: Also listened to White Heart, Stryper. Yeh- I actually caught one of their Bibles.
JONATHAN: Really?
REBECCA: They use to throw New Testaments out in the audience.
JONATHAN: Yeah, I remember that.
Are you reading any books right now?
REBECCA: I'm reading a book called The Deeper Christian Life, by Andrew Murray. It's REALLY good.
JONATHAN: Favorite movie?
REBECCA: While You Were Sleeping.
JONATHAN: While You Were Sleeping?
REBECCA: It's so good.
JONATHAN: It's my wife's favorite movie.
REBECCA: Beautiful ... so sweet. That would be kind of nice- meeting your husband that way- saving his brother's life ...
JONATHAN: and getting to know him better while visiting the family ...
REBECCA: so romantic ...
JONATHAN: Just don't lie as much as Lucy/Sandra Bullock- avoid a little bit of trouble!
REBECCA: Yes- of course
JONATHAN: Dogs or cats? If you had a choice ...
REBECCA: Dogs!
JONATHAN: What do you think of cats?
REBECCA: They're just kind of ... prissy.
JONATHAN: They are- aren't they?
Rebecca: You know. They just are kind of ...(funny expression)
JONATHAN: Let me finish by asking- since this goes out to a bunch of youth workers - how can we pray for you?
REBECCA: Pray for us to, as a team, be spiritually sensitive- you know- led by God absolutely to speak what he's saying now- I think that's the big one.
JONATHAN: Cool. Well, obviously it happened tonight with 74 people coming forward. I went back to the room and they were short counselors- I got to lead 2 people to Christ. It was fun.
REBECCA: Wow. Very Cool.
JONATHAN: Good stuff. Hey, thanks for your time. I appreciate it.
REBECCA: No problem, thank you.
Keep an eye out for Rebecca's new album coming out October 24th. Check out her website where you can find out the latest news about her, her role in the new Left Behind movie and her song on the soundtrack! Cool!
JesusfreakHideout Interviews Rebecca St. James
After taking some time off to relax, recharge, and refocus, Christian pop singer/songwriter and voice of purity Rebecca St. James sat down with us at GMA Week 2008 to discuss her break and what's next on her plate...
This interview took place on: 4/22/08.
Youtube filmpje van dit interview: klik hier
JesusfreakHideout.com (John DiBiase): So how was your sabbatical?
Rebecca St. James: It was amazing. I'm an idealist and I'm a romantic and all that, and so I dream stuff to be better than it turns out to be a lot of times. But man, this actually exceeded my expectations spiritually, emotionally, physically and mentally to fully have a real break. I keep being reminded of that Scripture that talks about the young man dreaming new dreams and new visions. That's how I feel - that I'm just a woman that has a new dream now and my heart is energized. I got to kind of just hang out in Nashville and be in one spot for awhile and actually got to see friends and went to have coffee and do projects around my house and get into cycling. I actually started going to an improvisation class recently too. *laughs* I just kind of got to be a kid for awhile, you know? It was really great. Then I traveled some. It was just a really powerful time in my life.
JFH (John): What kind of new dreams do you feel you were given during that time?
Rebecca: One of the things that happened was that I think I got a fresh love for music. When music is what you do, you actually don't listen to it that much on your own free time. Or at least I find I'm that way. I think I've spoken to other musicians who feel that way too. It's just like, when that's your world, you come back home and you're in the car and you just want silence. I think during that time I was just able to listen to new music and get a fresh heart for music. I'm also real passionate about family films and really upping the standard with that. If God allows me, I would love to work more into film. We're actually talking to a couple of major film companies in Los Angeles and having meetings about that. So for the people that are reading this, if you feel so led, please just pray for us because we really just want to be led by God and if He's in it, we'll just walk through those doors and if He's not, we just don't want to be a part of it. I'm just kind of trying to remain with my hands open and trust Him.
JFH (John): Who were some of the artists that you listened to that really inspired you about music again?
Rebecca: Feist, for sure. I went to a Feist show actually in Nashville at the Ryman. She really inspired me. She uses a lot of different instruments in the show and a lot of extra creativity. Two of our shows now actually feature the banjo and mandolin and a xylophone and all of this random stuff, maybe even an accordion. We're not sounding country at all though, but just adding lace to the show. It's been really awesome to do that. I'm actually playing guitar in my show now, which I've never done before. On my God album, I had a song called "A Cold Heart Turns" and I play guitar on that track and I'm actually doing that track live now. So that's been really neat to kind of explore that on another level. Some of the other groups I've really gotten into include a local group from Nashville called Paper Route. I love their stuff. Oh, the Once soundtrack! I massively got into that. I loved the film and the soundtrack is just awesome and the songs are just so strong and passionate, really passionate.
JFH (John): So are you working on new music?
Rebecca: Yeah, we're actually just starting to talk about a new album. By the end of the year, we're hoping to have a project out. Probably some of the albums that I've just talked musically will factor in. I'm just trying to be creative and think outside the box. I'm excited to get to see what that will end up sounding like.
JFH (John): Do you want to talk a little bit about your new books?
Rebecca: Yeah! Wait for Me, which is a book of mine that's been out for five or six years now, we've repackaged that so it has a study guide with it so people can go a little bit deeper. And then there's a book called Pure, which is talking about purity of the mind, body, and spirit and that purity really comes from your heart, so it's kind of getting the heart into gear so that we can live out purity in a culture that's telling us to do the exact opposite of being pure. It's real practical and really relational. It's a 90 day devotional book with stories from my life but also questions and Bible verses that can kind of take somebody deeper each day with God.
JFH (John): I appreciate the fact that you're exploring that. We actually got rid of cable because TV has just gotten so junky. It's so hard to find something good. And if there is at least one show that we want to watch, we just go online and watch it nowadays. Most movies are getting worse and worse and it's great that you want to pursue family films. Even the quality of some family films is declining. It just seems like they keep pushing the envelope, which I really believe does effect teens and young people because they're impressionable. Some are watching this stuff and mimicking it.
Rebecca: Yeah. And, I mean, you also put spoken words, which are so powerful. Words have power to give life or to destroy it. And then you put music - which is crazy powerful - and a visual together and you've got power to transform a life. I really think that we need to be, as Christians, involved in every form of art and culture.
JFH (John): I agree, and we should have some of the best ideas.
Rebecca: Yes, I believe so.
JFH (John): This is kind of a loaded question, but I was thinking about this recently. When I started listening to Christian music, it was during the early 90's, and it seemed like it was very distinct. For example, Audio Adrenaline and DC Talk and Newsboys - I guess, the "youth group bands." Christian music was something that was really ministering to youth at that time. Now it seems like it's blurring more between mainstream and Christian. Now it seems like the rock bands are straying more and more from any kind of spiritual message. If a song is going to talk about Jesus, it's probably worship. It seems like the standard has been lowered for Christian music to a point where you could pick up a record in a Christian book store and it could even have mild profanity on it. It's like, when I was a young teen, when you listened to CCM, that never would have been a concern. And it makes me wonder if because they're trying to crossover, it's turning into lower standards and bands don't have to worry about how they act or what they do so much. But kids inevitably look up to these people regardless and some get disappointed or think that this stuff is acceptable with Christianity. I know this is a heavy question, but do you think it's kind of dangerous? I mean, I see the positive and the negative in both viewpoints. I think it's great that certain bands that do still hold integrity in their music can get out into the mainstream and speak to kids. But then there's still that concern that standards are being lowered.
Rebecca: It's really an interesting time in Christian music because there's a whole lot of talk going on right now as to what Christian music is gonna look like in the next ten years because of all the downloading and not paying for music. I mean, the industry is just kind of getting smaller and smaller at large, not with just Christian music. Some people are saying that Christian music as we know it may not exist for much longer. You'll have people like me and you who are all about worship and all about ministry and then you'll have your Christians within mainstream music and that'll be it. There won't be this genre within the whole of Christian music. That's kind of what's being talked about. I think I'm kind of feeling the rumblings of that. I think upholding a strong standard of integrity as Christians no matter what you do for a living is really key and really important. Living above reproach has been a really important concept to me. We all have to defend our actions before God and live right for Him, so I'm not wanting to point a finger. I just want to lead by example. I want to have a pure conscience before God, and hopefully by all of our examples we can impact people around us, both Christians and non-Christians.
JFH (John): What do you feel that God has been teaching you lately in any area of your life?
Rebecca: I think just to be real and transparent and vulnerable and authentic. I'm reading The Road Less Travelled by Scott Peck, and it's not really a Christian book but I think there's a lot of truth in it. I also recently read The Shack which is by William P. Young which is absolutely extraordinary. It's a fiction book about pain and asking the deepest questions about why we experience pain when there's a good God or how there could be a good God when people experience such pain. It's a very, very powerful life-changing book. The one that I'm reading right now is really talking about honesty and the importance of integrity and honesty in our lives and how when we start to be dishonest and start to hide things, that's when we get into all kinds of problems and disorders and dysfunctional relationships. I think just living in truth is the thing for me. I think for a long time in my Christian life that I felt like I had it all together and I felt really strong and smiled when I was crying on the inside. As I've matured as a Christian, He's teaching me things all the time and I know I'm never going to arrive. It's just this process of going and learning and being messy sometimes in my life and admitting that and saying "Sorry Lord, help me to learn." But I'm just learning to be really authentic and being real about what's on the inside especially in trusted community but then also in ministry to a certain level and just saying "Look man, I'm in major pain at certain points in my life and I don't understand this or that and don't have it all together." It's about just being really honest about that. That's really important.
JFH (John): It's cool that you said that. I definitely feel like Christians are getting this impression that we have to act like everything's fine all the time. You go to some churches on Sunday or youth group and you have some people that always have their hands up in praise but sometimes you have those days or even a spell when you feel like...
Rebecca: Yup! You're just dry and like "God, where are You?!"...
JFH (John): And you can kind of connect on a certain level when it's just you and Him, but when you're around other people who are really on fire, you can just feel really self-conscious about it. I think when we feel like we can't be real is when we start to heap judgment on ourselves. We think that there's something wrong with us if we can't be as happy as everyone else who seem to have it all together.
Rebecca: Yup! Yeah. It's important to be broken and to be free to be broken, because we all are.
JFH (Amy DiBiase): I missed an excellent opportunity to see you perform in !Hero: The Rock Opera. If that is any touch on what could lie ahead for your film, I would just be so excited to see it. John was able to purchase a copy of the DVD. We coincidentally live in Bethlehem, PA, so we were one of the locations that the tour was supposed to come to at one point. I was gonna be able to go to that, but then the tour had gotten canceled. Were you supposed to be on the second round?
Rebecca: I was on the first round, but there were actually three rounds. The second one was when The Passion of the Christ had just done its big deal and [the tour] got canceled. We ended up doing one show at the Ryman here in Nashville. There was another round that just happened in the last year or two that they tried to do and they did one or two shows and the whole thing got canceled. It was long, it was gonna be a month or something like that. The show was powerful, like when we would do "He's Not Here" at the end. I mean literally, on most nights, we'd have people standing up one by one all across the auditorium raising their hands and praising God. It was powerful; I got goose bumps just talking about it. I would love to do it again.
JFH (John): With pursuing film, are there multiple genres that you'd like to do?
Rebecca: Mostly family film. The screenplay that we've written now, which is based on this book by Kristin Billerbeck called What a Girl Wants, is a romantic comedy. That's kind of where my passion is right now. Maybe I'll do drama or something along those lines in the future.
JFH (John): No action films? *laughs*
Rebecca: I don't know if I wanna be Lara Croft, you know? *laughs*
Lori Kasbeer interviews Rebecca St. James
Happy 2009!! I am over the moon excited to introduce you to Christian pop singer/songwriter Rebecca St. James. In addition to her Grammy, she is a multiple Dove Award winner. Rebecca St. James, born in Australia, has been a leading female voice in Christian Music. But did you know she is also an establish author?
Rebecca skyrocketed as an author with her book, Wait For Me, where she discusses sexual purity. Wait For Me reached the #1 spot on the prestigious CBA (Young Adult) book chart in 2003. In 2004 she released, SHE and SHE Teen. SHE, which also hit #1 on the CBA Young Adult Chart, gives modern womanhood a voice based on a return to biblical principles.
Rebecca’s passion is still young women, but her newest devotional book Pure: A 90-Day Devotional for the Mind, the Body & the Spirit is for women of all ages. Purity is something, as Christians, we should strive for daily. But what does it mean to live a pure life? Reading Rebecca’s devotional book Pure is like sitting down with a best friend in a coffee shop. What you see is what you get. She is real, she is honest, and she is a woman with a heart for God.
Rebecca we are so excited to have you visiting us here at Christian Women Online Magazine. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself, and also how you moved from Australia to the United States?
We moved to America originally because of my dad’s job in Christian music. My parents made the move with six kids—me, the oldest—and my five younger brothers. My mother was expecting my younger sister, Libby, at the time. My dad was a concert promoter back in Australia and always involved in Christian music at some level. Unfortunately shortly after moving here, he lost his new job and we were forced into some very hard times as a family. Through that time period, I saw God move on our behalf in dramatic ways—someone gave us a car, groceries would appear on our porch, someone even paid the hospital bills for Libby to be born, and to this day, we don’t know who did this for us. All this had a very profound spiritual impact on me at a very impressionable age—I saw firsthand with my family, while still very young, how we can fully trust God’s faithfulness.
It is amazing to see how the actions of one person, can make an eternal impact on someone. Many times we as Christians think “what can I do, I am only one person?” This example shows how one action can change a person’s walk with Christ. Wow!
How did you get your start as a Christian singer?
With my dad being a Christian promoter back in Australia, as I mentioned, I literally grew up around music. I remember going to shows as a very little kid and looking at the performers onstage in the lights and wondering if they were having fun! My brothers and I would actually put on little ‘shows’ at home for my parents—we would pretend to sell tickets and merchandise—so now looking back, I think maybe I had somewhat of an inkling even then of what was to come. I was never really driven to be a singer as some people are—I actually remember purposefully giving God my gifts and talents when I was quite young and asking Him to use me. I didn’t quite know what this might look like in my life.
I made a record in Australia but actually my real start came here in the U.S. I was singing at our church and several executives from my label, EMI, heard me and were interested in signing me. That was the real start of what was to come. I was only 15 at the time and I could never have imagined all the aspects of the journey God was about to take me on. It’s definitely been an incredible adventure thus far.
You have written several books, but in your new 90-day devotional titledPure you encourage women to live a life of purity from the inside out. Can you share with us what you mean by living a life of purity?
Striving to live a pure life physically is obviously a huge aspect of life as a Christian and one that we hear talked about a great deal. But in addition, the way you turn over your fears and priorities to God, the way you forgive others, the way you think about every aspect of life—this one and the one to come—are also part of living a ‘pure’ life.
When living out our love of God becomes our biggest passion, our lives are greatly impacted. Not only our decisions about how we treat our bodies, but also how we protect and feed our minds and spirits as well. That’s a picture of a ‘pure’ lifestyle.”
What are some of the ways we can guard our hearts on a daily basis?
As I mention in Pure, when my six siblings and I were growing up, our parents placed a sign on top of our television to remind us to be aware of what we allowed into our minds, It was Psalms 101:2-3 and says: ‘I will live with a pure heart in my own home. I will not put anything wicked before my eyes.’
On a day to day basis, we can prevent a great deal of anguish in our lives by guarding what we put into our minds—and ultimately what we allow to take root in the heart. We need to be really wise about the simple things: the magazines we read, what we look at in our travels on the internet, what movies and television we watch, and, of course, the music we listen to. What goes ‘in’ is ultimately going to come ‘out’ in our lives and actions. We need to ask for God’s strength to say no to the harmful—to go against the grain of what is prevalent in the world around us. The best way to ‘guard the heart’ that I have found is to daily spend time in God’s Word—to ask Him every day to purify and renew my mind.
You share in one of your devotionals how we tend to live our lives surviving one challenge just so we can move on to the next one. Can you share how as Christians we can get trapped in “survival mode?”
There have been seasons in my life, as I talked about in the book, where I realized I wasn’t thriving—I was simply surviving! ‘Survival mode’ for me was simply getting by day-to-day and not failing. It was rooted in fear—fear of rejection, of stepping out to new opportunities, or people or challenges, even at times wanting what I did to be ‘just right’ to the point of agonizing over the creative process. It was exhausting to focus on surviving one challenge to get to the next one—a never ending cycle. It took me some time to wake up to the reality that God doesn’t want us to just survive—He wants us to thrive! In my own life, I have come to the realization that God is in total control of my steps—they are ordered of Him—and with Him guiding the path I can throw off all fears—I can move from ‘survive’ to ‘thrive’!”
In the past one of your passions has been your ministry to teens. What would you say is your primary passion for your ministry today?
I’m still very passionate about reaching young people—the Wait For Memessage about waiting for sex until marriage is a huge part of my message and one that I continue to share from concert stages all over the world. I have felt in this, the most recent season of my life, God really calling me to Christian film—to bringing a Godly message through this medium. I am very exciting about this new aspect of my life and am seeing God open doors in recent months for me in the film community!
Singing, to writing and now acting, how do you balance everything and not burn out?
A few years ago I had to learn a very difficult lesson about the need for ‘balance’ in my life. In certain seasons of my ministry, I have overtaxed myself and have paid the consequences both with emotional and physical exhaustion. I didn’t have much left to give and came the closest to burn out that I ever want to get—a place where I never want to go again! God is concerned that we learn to balance our lives physically and emotionally—learning that there is a time to work, and a time to rest.
In my own life, I’ve had to learn to set boundaries—and even harder sometimes—I’ve had to learn to say ‘no.’ Finding the balance between rest and work, grace and discipline, giving and receiving—all are daily exercises we all have to face. I find I can avoid going off track by spending time each day with God and asking Him for daily wisdom on finding balance.
You are an advocate for one of the ministries dear to my heart, Compassion International. How has this ministry changed you?
I am passionate about sharing the message of Compassion with everyone who will listen. In my work with Compassion, I’ve seen their ministry in operation first hand in parts of the world where children would have little hope without the presence of this wonderful ministry. On a trip several years ago to Rwanda to film for Compassion, I saw the stark contrast of their work in one of the poorest regions of the world. I witnessed little children with clean, bright, shining faces singing songs about Jesus and radiating His love at the Compassion school which stood literally within the shadow of the town’s very foul, wretched garbage dump. Here in the midst of the unlovely, Compassion had raised a standard for God—and children’s lives through Compassion sponsorship were being pulled from poverty and lack and being forever changed. They are a ministry that’s truly impacting for the Kingdom.
To learn more about Compassion International please see their blog herehttp://blog.compassion.com.
Are there any upcoming projects you can share with us?
I’m very excited about a film I am working on that will be released in 2009—a wonderful door God has opened in this current season! It’s called To the Wall.
It’s a faith and family film about two young guys whose dads died in the Vietnam war. The movie contains flashbacks from Vietnam, showing the friendship between the fathers of these two young men. One is a believer, the other is struggling with matters of faith. Wayne and John, the young guys, embark on a journey to the Vietnam wall in DC, to see their fathers’ names and to connect with their history. Along the way, they meet my character, Annie and her cousin Ted, and we bring some lighter elements to the film. As a ‘PS’ to readers –I would love additional prayer for God’s peace and joy to shine through me and for inspiration as I move into this new genre.
We will definitely be praying for God’s blessing on this new exciting adventure. I will be looking forward to the release of “To The Wall.”
Thank you so much for taking the time to visit with us here. Can you share a scripture with us that God has recently placed on your heart?
I have one to share that is very special to me—a recurring reminder in my life and ministry. It’s Act 20:24. In the Living translation it says: But life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned to me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about God’s mighty kindness and love.” I pray we are reminded daily that through Jesus, each of us as Christians, have the privilege in this world of being ‘bearers of good news!’ How awesome is that?
Pure: A 90-Day Devotional for the Mind, the Body & the Spirit” by Rebecca St. James is a perfect devotional book to begin your new year. Each chapter is short but rich in content. If you would like a chance to win “Pure: A 90-Day Devotional for the Mind, the Body & the Spirit” by Rebecca St. James (for January ‘09 only) please visit our Book Draw.
©2009, Lori Kasbeer
Tracy Darlington interviews Rebecca St. James
"God does not want us to be living in the past, in shame, in fear, or in the future, in worry. He wants us to be living in the present, in now, with Him." --Rebecca St. James
REBECCA ST. JAMES is both a Grammy and Dove Award recipient, with international success that has driven her record sales into the millions. The Australian-born St. James, who has been called "the definitive voice in today's contemporary Christian music," is the author of such books as Wait for Me and She. She is known for her passionate involvement in youth-related ministries.
Tracy: It’s been awhile since we touched base, and we’d love for you to share with our readers what’s new, what’s going on in your life.
Rebecca: I’ve been on and off the road this year with the SHE events, which are fantastic. I love getting to see my mentor Evie and do these events that are bringing the generations together. It’s pretty cool being able to model that and see it happening in the audience, too. My mom often comes to those events - it’s a big mother-daughter event. Having my mentor and my mom both there and seeing moms and their daughters having a night out together bonding and growing in God is pretty neat. We got to do a SHE evening in Norway this year, so it’s extended now to both Australia and Norway as well as the U.S.
We also went to Europe twice, which is always sort of the front lines of ministry. Getting to see God work around the world and being a part of what He’s doing in different countries is encouraging. It’s challenging too, as you don’t have quite the same rhythm as you do when you’re back at home or in a tour bus. You don’t always have the comforts you do when touring in the U.S. It’s challenging but really powerful and encouraging on a heart level, too.
A couple books came out this year, and I’m looking at getting more involved in film. I dabbled in it with Hero and a couple small movie parts over the years (Unidentified and Veggie Tales). That’s been a real passion of mine over the years. I was actually offered a tv show on PAX years ago, but we couldn’t do it because I was on tour at the time, and we didn’t want to have to cancel the shows. So I’m actually having a lot more meetings in LA the last year, and I got my first role in a faith and family film we’re starting next month. I auditioned just in the last couple weeks and got the part. It’s a part I’m super excited about. Pursuing acting has been a dream of mine since I was about six years old. My brothers and my cousins and I used to put on plays together.
What was the inspiration behind your new book Pure?
Devotional books have changed my life. When I was fifteen there was a devotional book called Time with God that really drew me close to God. And a few years after that He opened up doors for me to be involved in the 40 Days with God books. Devotional books and purity both have been huge passions of mine for a long time, since my teens. Having an opportunity to marry those two passions in this book was great, because there is a real need for young people to be encouraged in purity.
What was the process like to write the book?
Dale Reeves is the guy who helped me with both devotional books and Wait for Me - I think this is the fourth book we’ve worked on together - he was actually the main compiler for the whole thing. He gathered stories of mine and direct quotes from the last ten to thirteen years of my ministry. So a lot of the credit for the day to day gathering of material and work goes to Dale and to Jackie Monaghan, my publicist, who’s been doing interviews with me for years and years and years. So it’s a compilation of my life’s work, my ministry. It’s not really just pulling from the last few years. It’s pulling from my entire ministry.
What do you know now that you wish you’d known when you first started in music?
I wish someone had told me that rest is incredibly important, and that it’s essential to take time out for sabbaticals---to live and grow and learn and fill up so that I had something to give when I was on the road and writing songs and books. The problem is that if you don’t stop and take time out to live and to learn you end up having nothing left. You actually dry up. You become an emotional and spiritual anorexic where you’re eating into yourself because you have absolutely nothing left. You’ve got no food to draw on because you haven’t rested. Burnout has been something I’ve struggled with for many years now. Who knows if I would’ve listened or not, but I do wish someone had spoken that into my life way earlier, rather than having to learn the hard way about that.
Do you have a fun road story to share?
I was just looking at some pictures of my European tour from a couple years ago, and we had this one extensive tour when we went to Moscow. We had a tradition on that tour of doing karate moves, and we have some pretty cool pictures of us in Norway doing karate moves with the band and Charmaine my background singer, my brothers and me. It’s pictures of us in mid-air on this ferry crossing over this Norway fjord, and then in front of some of the most famous buildings in Moscow doing the same thing, karate moves. It was goofy and really fun. I look back and remember that with a smile.
Cooking has helped me on the road. I bring my crepe maker out and make crepes for the band, the team and myself. I used to bring a toaster oven and cook banana bread and Korean beef barbeque, which stunk up the bus ‘cause it had so much garlic in it! That wasn’t quite as popular. I had to marinate it for days. Cooking on the tour bus really helped bring a piece of home to the road.
You’ve recently talked about The Shack novel by William P. Young and how it impacted your life. Tell us what you enjoyed about it.
I loved The Shack. I want to encourage every Christian and non-Christian to read it. It’s profound. I don’t think it needs to be taken absolutely literally. When Christians start making it absolutely literal they get upset. But there is a lot that is incredibly prophetic and profound and positively challenging to believers, to anybody. It makes you see God in a different way. One of the biggest challenges about that book is that there’s a real focus on being with God in the present. God does not want us to be living in the past, in shame, in fear, or in the future, in worry. He wants us to be living in the present, in now, with Him. The Shack helps us see Papa, Jesus, the Holy Spirit in such a new life giving way. Sometimes we put God in a box, in our own vision of who He is. That was very challenging to me. A lot of us have a view of God that is very much like a school teacher ready to rap us on our hands if we mess up. I think this picture of God as somebody who has sense of humor and is loving and is all embracing when it comes to our hearts is a beautiful picture of God. The compassionate elements really come to the foreground. It really rounded out my view of God in a healthy way. Yes, God is a god of justice and to be feared and honored and respected. That’s incredibly important. But the merciful, gracious, and loving God needs to be focused on. I just love that book. I talk about it a lot to friends and recommend it to everybody.
Can we expect a new album any time soon?
We’re looking at going into the studio the first half of next year, so I’d say maybe mid-next year. It could be earlier, but it just depends on a few factors. We’re talking about sometime early next year doing some recording. It will be a departure for sure. It’s probably not going to be a rock focus. The music I’ve been listening to lately is a bit more chill. It’s been more emotional, really drawing you in, but more on an intense level---a hot, emotional, vulnerable level.
Even as adults we don’t always know how to follow the dream in our hearts. Do you think God puts dreams in our hearts early that we’re supposed to pursue later in life?
I’ve been seeing that in my own life. For a long time I got really busy with the opportunities right in front of me, and I don’t think I really listened to my deep heart, the dreams and visions God had birthed in me that were really, really, deep. It took me taking time out on a sabbatical. For some people that could mean taking a weekend to pray. A friend of mine took forty days to plead with God to show her a new vision for her life, and He did. I needed a sabbatical to help me to uncover the distractions and get to the deep parts of my heart again and realize there were some unfulfilled dreams I needed to follow. I had to make some major changes in my life. It’s cool, because I’m now seeing the confirmation that it was right. Only He can open the doors that truly need to be open. That’s what we need to pray, “God, I surrender to You. If I’m wrong, close doors. And if I’m hearing from you just open the doors, and help me to be led by you.” Being in relationships where we’re kept accountable is incredibly important, too.
You’re in line at Starbucks. What are you ordering?
I go back and forth between a Grande decaf Capuccino with 2 Splendas that I put in myself, and a Venti iced Americano with lots of milk in that.
What are two things people might be surprised to know about you?
When anybody gets to know me outside of music and ministry, and they spend hang time with me, they’re surprised that I’m actually fun. People incorrectly stereotype me as being really intense and focused. I can be fun, goofy. I like to make people laugh, and I like to laugh myself and just joke around. That’s the part of me I’m getting to celebrate a lot more lately. I like to be a kid.
When was the last time you cried?
Actually, it’s been a little bit. I’ve had a big cry within the last month or so, but I don’t really remember. I had a light, touching moment kind of cry taking my brother to the airport this morning. I was telling him about a film I had watched that moved me called Under the Same Moon, and as I explained the ending I just started getting emotional! I was tearing up about it! I like that I can be moved to tears reasonably easily.
Three things always found in your refrigerator?
Milk, yogurt, and eggs. I would never want to give up dairy! I’m so addicted to it!
Anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
You know how much I love the ministry Compassion. I just recently sponsored another child in Uganda. I wanted to sponsor a child where I could speak to her in English. I just got my first letter from my sponsor child, Lucy, the other day. It was so cool. Sam, in Uganda, he and I write back and forth to each other a lot. So we’re keeping in touch. Lucy and I are just starting, so I sent her a Polaroid picture of me and I held up a sign that said “Hi Lucy”. It’s such a great ministry. I always encourage people to get involved with that. And if you don’t have enough money, get a group of friends together and sponsor a child.
Ccm magazine interviews Rebecca St. James
Afgelopen jaar ben je op jezelf gaan wonen. Hoe bevalt je nieuwe woning?
'Ik ben een echte klusser. Bewust heb ik gekozen voor een huis dat nog niet helemaal klaar is. Ik wil mijn eigen persoonlijkheid in mijn huis kwijt kunnen. Ik vind het fantastisch om iets dat nog niet mooi is aantrekkelijk te maken. Het is een uitdaging voor mij, ik hou van interieur inrichten.'
Op welke manier kun je je ontspannen?
'Een van mijn meest favoriete manieren om te ontspannen is om in een cafe te gaan zitten. Vooral als ik bezig ben met iets te schrijven. Ik kijk om mij heen en dan zie ik studenten en andere mensen werken en daar krijg ik een gemeenschapsgevoel van.'
Hoeveel boeken lees je en heb je nog tips?
'Gemiddeld lees ik zo'n tien tot twaalf boeken per jaar. Mooie boeken vind ik: "The Pressure’s Off" van Larry Crabb, "Windows of the Soul" van Paul Meier en "What’s So Amazing About Grace" van Phillip Yancey.'
Welke muziek draai je zelf regelmatig?
'De laatste tijd luister ik veel naar het album "The beautiful letdown" van Switchfoot. Muzikaal gezien is dit album geniaal en de songteksten zijn fantastisch. Ik ben trots op hen en blij dat Switchfoot zo gezegend is'.
Je hebt "Maggie" gespeeld in de musical !Hero. Welke rol zou je graag nog eens spelen?
'Het lijkt me leuk om de rol van Maria von Trapp te spelen in "The Sound of Music". Sinds mijn jeugd ben ik al helemaal weg van die musical. Het heeft mij van jongs af aan gemotiveerd om ooit eens zelf in een musical te spelen."
Waar ben je op dit moment mee bezig?
'Momenteel schrijf ik teksten voor een nieuw album. Ik wil doorgaan met de Bijbel als uitgangspunt te nemen. Muzikaal gezien wil ik mijn grenzen verleggen op het nieuwe album. Het is de bedoeling meer terug te keren naar het rock-geluid uit mijn beginperiode. Er zal op het album gebruik worden gemaakt van wat onbekendere instrumenten.'
Bron: Ccm magazine
Pluggedin interview met Rebecca St. James
Het lijkt erop dat je de valkuilen die de muziek industrie heeft hebt ontweken. Hoe heb je dit voor elkaar gekregen?
Weet je, ik ben even vatbaar voor zelfzuchtigheid en trots en al die valstrikken als ieder ander. En ik heb het zeker niet perfect gedaan, maar God is zo genadig voor mij geweest en heeft me bescherming gegeven waar ik hem ongelofelijk dankbaar voor ben.
Eén van de dingen waarvan ik denk dat het me beschermd heeft is dat ik opgegroeid ben met muziek om me heen. Ik denk dat ik 6 weken oud was toen ik naar mijn eerste concert ging, hierdoor zag ik een aantal valkuilen van muziek terwijl ik opgroeide. Mensen zijn weg van hun families. Ze zijn weg van de kerk. Ze zijn weg van verantwoordelijkheden. Dit kan heel gevaarlijk zijn. Ik stapte in de muziek met deze voorkennis.
Ook heb ik altijd al het gevoel gehad dat ik een roeping en een missie in de muziek had. Het was geen grote droom van me om op het podium te staan zodat iedereen naar me zou kijken. Ik kijk liever naar andere mensen op het podium dan dat er zelf sta. Dus dat is in een bepaald opzicht ook wel een bescherming.
Waarschijnlijk de beste bescherming die God mij gegeven heeft is mijn familie. Zij zijn betrokken geweest vanaf dag 1. Mijn vader is mijn manager. Dus al vanaf het begin zei hij tegen mij: “geloof niet in je eigen publiciteit. Geef niet toe aan wat anderen zeggen over je want dat zou je kapot kunnen maken. Je bent geroepen om God te dienen, het gaat allemaal om Hem” Dit soort herinneringen kreeg ik constant.
Het lijkt erop dat er een formule is ontstaan om een popster te worden. Wat denk je dat het is?
Ik denk dat talent, uiterlijk en onderwijs enkele van die formules zijn voor jonge popsterren. Veel van deze kinderen komen bijvoorbeeld van de Mickey Mouse Club en soortgelijke arena’s. Daarbij worden ze getraind om goede uitvoeringen te geven – om heel erg goed te zingen, dansen en te acteren. En er word hun een podium gegeven waar ze heel veel mensen kunnen beïnvloeden, maar de trend is helaas dat het vaak eindigt met het verkopen van een product door middel van seksualiteit.
Een triest voorbeeld is Britney Spears die overduidelijk is omringt door mensen die zeggen: “Laat meer van je huid zien. Wees sexier. Dan verkoop je meer platen. Het is goed voor je en voor anderen als je dat doet.” Het is als water dat op een steen drupt. Het maakt niet uit hoeveel passie je hebt om trouw te blijven aan je reinheid en je religieuze wortels, wanneer je je laat omringen door mensen die steeds opnieuw dezelfde dingen zeggen, zul je op een gegeven moment compromis sluiten.
Hetzelfde geld voor Miley Cyrus. Ik hoop dat ze niet door zal blijven gaan op dit pad bergafwaarts, want het leid haarzelf en de mensen die kijken af. Maar als we eerlijk zijn, wie weet wat er gebeurd was als ik of jij in dezelfde situatie zouden zijn, waarbij invloedrijke personen spreken in onze levens, wie weet hadden we dan wel hetzelfde gedaan. Door de genade van God hebben we dat gelukkig niet. Daarom denk ik niet dat iemand van ons kan wijzen en zeggen, “Ik zou dat nooit hebben gedaan” omdat niemand van ons hierboven staat.
Ik ken een jong middelbare school meisje die droomt om naar Hollywood te gaan en een ster te worden. Ze voelt dat ze de industrie positief kan beïnvloeden omdat ze een sterke Christen is. Wat zou je meisjes adviseren die entertainers willen worden? Zou je het afraden of juist stimuleren?
Ik zou niemand iets afraden wat God hun mogelijk geroepen heeft te doen. Ik denk dat het iets is wat je met wijsheid moet ontdekken. Geleid door Gods vrede. Geleid door Gods bevestiging in omstandigheden. Geleid door gebed. Geleid door verantwoordelijkheid van Gods familie. Door de gemeenschap. Er zijn zo veel manieren in het leven waarop we van God kunnen horen. Dus absoluut, als iemand een gave gekregen heeft van God op het gebied van kunst, ontwijk dat dan niet. We hebben meer Christenen nodig in deze gebieden. Deze gaven zijn zo’n krachtig medium om de wereld te veranderen dat christenen daar niet bang voor mogen zijn. Ik heb daar zo’n passie voor. Ik moedig mensen aan om deze kunsten zoals film of muziek te verkennen als ze het gevoel hebben dat God hun hierin geroepen heeft. Ook in andere soorten kunsten zoals bijvoorbeeld schrijven. Maar ga deze weg met wijsheid en ga telkens naar God: “Heer, bent u dit of probeer ik dit uit eigen kracht te doen?”
Als je iets ontwijkt alleen om dat het eng lijkt, dan is dat overduidelijk angst en dat is verkeerd. God roept ons niet op om een geest van angst te hebben maar een geest van liefde en gezond verstand. Ik voelde dat ik geroepen werd om naar Los Angeles te gaan, wat voor sommigen de meest enge plek op aarde is. En ik voel dat ik geroepen ben om betrokken te zijn bij muziek, film en ook het schrijven van boeken. Maar ook om een christen te zijn op de plek waar ik woon en om ook daar te leven voor God.
Ik moedig mensen aan, of je nu een danser, muzikant of acteur willen worden, om te streven naar perfectie. Span je in, om iets te maken dat zo’n hoge standaard heeft dat het de respect verdient van mensen en, daardoor, een mogelijkheid bied om het leven van andere mensen aan te spreken… Want er zijn verschillende niet christenen die perfectie na streven en op deze manier op hun vakgebied terrein winnen ondanks dat het slechte voorbeelden zijn.
Buiten dat, ook alle andere factoren zijn van belang. Je mentoren (begeleiders), je ouders en je passie. Wees betrouwbaar. Zorg ervoor dat je sterke christenen om je heen hebt die je met wijsheid kunnen begeleiden op het moment dat er deuren voor je openen, zodat je betrouwbaar blijft.
Waarom denk je dat meisjes zo getrokken worden naar amusement? Natuurlijk is er potentieel geld en roem, maar waar zouden ze echt naar zoeken buiten deze dingen?
Voor mezelf denk ik dat het niet je doel moet zijn om het te gaan maken in de reguliere muziek. Als dat onze focus is dan denk ik dat het ons kapot zal maken. Het zou ons beschadigen. Ik denk dat het doel van een artiest, van een performer, als een christen zou moeten zijn om door God gebruikt te worden en om God te eren met je werk, dan zal hij je leven gebruiken. Of het nu lokaal of wereldwijd is, Hij zal je gebruiken om mensen de weg te wijzen en om een positieve invloed te zijn in deze wereld. Sommige mensen blijven steken in
“ik wil een grote ster zijn voor God” en ik denk dat dit heel gevaarlijk is. Dat denk ik echt. Hij zal je leiden waar hij je wil hebben en dat heb je niet in je eigen hand.
