ROB: What pastor or teacher makes the Bible’s relevance jump off the page, like a life-size pop-up picture book?
BETHANY: There’s a pastor in Dallas, Texas -- actually, one of Shane’s friends -- that I’ve been listening to a lot. His name is Matt Candler, and he pastors a church called The Village. Amazing… He’s one of the top podcasts downloaded in the nation. I’ve met with him a few times, and I’m in line so much with what he says. So, Matt Candler and my pastor at home, home church. He’s just a fiery man who really loves God.
ROB: That’s sweet when you meet people like that. Which woman in the Bible do you relate the most closely to?
BETHANY: A lot of the time, I relate to Martha. I think about her a lot. Actually, my pastor at home, he’s a short black stout man from Virginia. He called her a humdinger, and I’m like, “Oh, I’m a humdinger too.” You know, somebody so trying to prove something and working really hard at something that doesn’t last, you know. Instead of just sitting and listening and enjoying. I struggle a lot with that. I love Martha.
ROB: That’s a really good thought. Would you rather read a book, watch a movie or listen to music and why?
BETHANY: It’s funny; I don’t really listen to a lot of music. Usually I just prefer quiet, but I love movies. I probably read more than I watch movies, because we’re en route to somewhere most of the time. I just kind of huddle in the corner and read because, for me, I can be very much an introvert. So if I can stay in the Word and restful… I love getting lost in pages.
ROB: What’s your favorite book?
BETHANY: Probably To Kill A Mockingbird. I bawled after reading that book. I had to read it again afterward. That book speaks a lot about nobility of the heart.
ROB: What are some of the most important things you have learned about the music business?
BETHANY: Probably the two things are: 1) Being able to [choose] what to fight for, and what to compromise, and being able to stretch… I can be just bullheaded and stubborn to things, so just open to anything that makes me grow. But I think just figuring out, “OK, this is really important to me.” And whether I’m going to hold my ground or not.
The other thing -- and I don’t know if this is just me -- but when I have time off, I’m not thinking about it a lot. I mean, some of it is intentional and some of it is that I just don’t. Being able to separate me from what I do has been really important to me.
ROB: Who’s been the best musician or songwriter you have collaborated with?
BETHANY: I haven’t really collaborated. I’ve written with people, but collaborated, I actually just did that modern hymns project with the lead singer of Sanctus Real, Matt Hammitt, and John Painter produced it. (He used to be a part of this band called Fleming & John.) It’s just so different from what I do musically, it was just so fun -- kind of a break from what I do.
Rob Vischer is lead singer and primary writer for indie rock band Facing Away. Visit the band at myCCM.org/FacingAway.
To read Rob's winning essay, visit this link: Rob's Essay