FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS, RELEVANT
Way—or festivals or any of these
Church in the South. So when peo-
has had a unique vantage point cov-
things—not
financially
ple speak about Christian art, I think
ering the intersection of faith and
represents is that people are spending
you’ve got Christians in different parts
culture, and chronicling what God
their money in other ways. The Church
of the country with different perspec-
is doing in this generation. A lot has
has attached itself to different capital
tives on that very same topic.
changed since the magazine first de-
in interesting ways over the last cou-
buted in March 2003, and things are
ple centuries. And we deem certain
PROPAGANDA: This empire was built
changing faster than ever. To mark
things kosher or Christian, and we sell
on an industry or a marketplace that
our
them as such.
needed categories. It was like this reck-
15th
anniversary,
RELEVANT
succeeding
So, essentially, you are selling a
oning where the term doesn’t even
with some of the important voices in
product, but it’s stamped: “We are affil-
serve all of [Christendom]. There are
American Christianity over the last 15
iated with Christ.” And then the stores
Christians who are “not allowed” at
years—people who have helped shape
that sell these things are also in that
this table. And then somebody finally
the way we talk about faith. Here is
same box. But the reality is, there’s no
went, “I don’t know, man. I feel like
part of that conversation:
such thing as a Christian CD, there’s no
what you’re selling me is safety. Not
such thing as a Christian store. There’s
the faith.” I think it was a reflection of
a building that houses a bunch of piec-
what was happening as a culture as a
es of art that may or may not be good,
whole. And then technology and cul-
CAMERON: When RELEVANT debuted
that may or may not represent good
ture moved on, but the industry didn’t
back in 2003, Christian and main-
theology.
keep up, and in the meantime, artists
SHIFTS
stream entertainment looked a lot
kept making music and writers kept
different. Since then, we’ve witnessed
EUGENE: I’ve always known this, but it
writing and had to find other ways to
the precipitous decline of the Christian
has never been so poignant and so real
support themselves.
retail industry and Christian music
that this country is an incredibly large
festivals, as well as the success of a lot
country with lots of different views
KIM: Artists and bands and worship
of Christian artists in the mainstream.
and nuances. It just reveals that even
teams that we love, they’re a lot more
Why do you think things have changed
within the so-called nomenclature of
accessible now. That’s the power of
so much over the last 15 years, and
Christian culture, there’s just such a
the internet and social media. I think
what does it mean for the future?
broad perspective and view. [What is
it’s just easier to hear new music, to
called] the evangelical Church in Se-
connect, to watch live streams of fun
attle isn’t even called the evangelical
shows and share moments. There’s
JON: The ultimate thing that Life-
OUR GUESTS:
PROPAGANDA RECORDING ARTIST, POET AND ACTIVIST
SARAH PULLIAM BAILEY RELIGION REPORTER FOR THE WASHINGTON POST
EUGENE CHO
JON FOREMAN
DON MILLER
AUTHOR AND PASTOR
SWITCHFOOT FRONTMAN
AUTHOR AND SPEAKER
043
KIM WALKER-SMITH WORSHIP LEADER
RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM
15 YEARS OF RELEVANT
founder Cameron Strang sat down