RELEVANT - Issue 99 - May/June 2019

99 STEPHEN CURRY | ROONEY MARA | TONY HALE JUDAH & THE LION | TAR AJI P. HENSON | NATE BARGATZE THE JAPANESE HOUSE | ERWIN MCM ANUS | BEN HIGGINS F A I T H , C U LT U R E & I N T E N T I O N A L L I V I N G

Hillsong United Joel Houston and Hillsong United helped shape the modern

STEPHEN CURRY | ROONEY MARA | TONY HALE

worship movement. Now,

JUDAH & THE LION | TAR AJI P. HENSON | NATE BARGATZE

after a much-needed

THE JAPANESE HOUSE | ERWIN MCM ANUS | BEN HIGGINS

break, they’ve found new inspiration.

MAY-JUNE 2019 // $6.95 US

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CONTENTS MAY/JUNE 2019 // ISSUE 99

56

Features Hillsong United p.56

8 0 // ERWIN MCMANUS McManus has spent his life learning how to live. Now, he’s ready to teach the rest of us.

The band that revolutionized how an entire generation worships reached a point where they couldn’t feel the wonder anymore. Here’s the story of how Hillsong United found hope again.

8 4 // BEN HIGGINS The king of reality TV romance is figuring out how to leverage his platform for good.

3 2 // 2019 SUMMER READING GUIDE

Judah & the Lion

A look at the books that will take your summer from good to great.

44

3 6 // ROONEY MARA As the star of Mary Magdalene, Rooney Mara finds a fresh perspective on Jesus.

4 0 // STEPH CURRY His legacy as an athlete secure, Curry is setting his sights on being a filmmaker.

5 0 // HE AVEN AND SELL How multilevel marketing schemes found their easiest mark yet in churches.

Tony Hale

p . 76 How did this former worship band end up topping the pop music charts? They’re not totally sure, but they’re not planning on going anywhere.

p .44 With Veep and Arrested Development, Hale has created two of comedy’s greatest characters. Now, he’s finding a whole new character: himself.

5 4 // TAR AJI P. HENSON

6 8 // THE JAPANESE HOUSE

The star of Empire on how her faith makes her a better and more loving actor.

One of the most promising artists of her generation is wrestling with her demons.

6 4 // MENTAL HE ALTH

7 2 // A HOUSE DIVIDED

A team of mental health experts is here to kick your mind into its best possible shape.

Politics. Religion. Justice. How can families talk about the issues tearing us apart?

1 0 // FIRS T WORD

8 8 // RELE VANT SELECT S Our curation of the best in music, books and

1 2 // CURRENT We chat with red-hot stand-up comic Nate Bargatze, find out which year’s upcoming

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film. You know Johnnyswim and Social Club Misfits, but are you up on the new LÉON?

music festival is right for you and rank pop

9 6 // L AS T WORD

culture’s best (worst?) devils. Plus, Lupita

Jennie Allen on why sometimes, dreaming big

Nyong’o and more.

has to start small.

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T H E M A G A Z I N E O N FA I T H , C U LT U R E & INTENTIONAL LIVING

May/June 2019, Issue 99 Almost there.

Publisher & CEO | CAMERON STRANG Brand Director | JESSE CAREY Senior Editor | TYLER HUCKABEE Senior Writer | TYLER DASWICK Copy Editor | KATHY PIERRE Contributing Writers: Rachel Givens, Jessica Stephens Creative Director | JOHN DAVID HARRIS Designer | CRISTIAN DONOSO Video Editor | CLARKE FLIPPO Audio Editor | CHANDLER STRANG Web Developer | NATE TRAVIS Contributing Photographers: Andy Barron, Susan Aurinko, Leisa Cole, Sandra Thorsson, Vanessa Heins, Steve Gullick, Connor and Rachel Dwyer Sales and Partnerships Director | HEATHER COOK Account Executive | FELICHIA WRIGHT Traffic Manager | CAROLINE COLE Marketing Director | AME LYNN FUHLBRUCK Operations Manager | JESSICA COLLINS Operations Coordinator | GABRIELLE HICKEY Finance Director | MICHAEL BOWLES

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: www.RELEVANTmagazine.com/advertise

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Issue #99 May/June 2019 (ISSN: 1543-317X). RELEVANT is published 6 times a year in January, March, May, July, September and November for $26.99 per year by RELEVANT Media Group, Inc., 55 W. Church St., Suite 211, Orlando, FL 32801. Periodicals postage paid at Orlando, FL, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to RELEVANT Magazine, P.O. Box 531147, Orlando, FL 32853.

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FIRST WORD a letter from the publisher

it’s different. The need is different.

So, God’s been challenging us to look at the

We’ve got 99 issues, but staying still ain’t one

horizon, and what we’re seeing is new wine needing a very new wineskin.

Interestingly, when looking at RELEVANT as a business—the print magazine, website, podcasts, etc.—the magazine you’re holding

GOD IS ALWAYS DOING

going anywhere. Re-subscribe today.)

The various media we create serve different purposes. There’s an audience for

TO STAY SAFE IN OUR

offers: stories and ideas worth sitting down

FAMILIAR PLACE THAT WE

our subscribers say they keep an issue of

to me: This is the 99th issue

RELEVANT over nine months. different, I’m talking about something bigger

bi-monthly since 2003, covering

than just the magazine. The doors we’re

the intersection of faith and

seeing God open are pushing us out of our

culture, and giving a voice to what God is doing

comfort zone and making us fundamentally

in this generation. On one hand it feels like we’re

rethink what we do and why we do it. Is there

still just starting out, but then you look up and

a new model? Is there ultimately a different

we’re on the eve of our 100th issue.

purpose for the media we’ll be creating? something like that, you have a choice to make:

doing a new thing in this generation, but there

Stay with what you know and is comfortable,

wasn’t a platform to talk about it. We needed a

or take a big risk on Him. Media changes rapidly, and I don’t know what the future holds for RELEVANT. We’re still dreaming, and everything is very much

times over the years, looking ahead to our 100th

wet cement. But I do know our next issue will

issue this summer and beyond has caused me to

symbolize a bit of a strategic pivot from our

pause and think about our direction and purpose

current missional era to a new one.

all over again.

I’m immensely proud of the work the

It’s stretching (and scary) when you decide to double-down and chase a new dream. But

RELEVANT team has done over the years. We’ve

isn’t that how we’re supposed to live life? God

engaged important conversations; we’ve talked to

is always doing something new, and it’s when

people who are shaping culture; we’ve shined the

we choose to stay safe in our familiar place

spotlight on issues that needed attention; we’ve

that we miss out on the new move He’s doing.

tried our best to challenge the status quo and make a difference.

And despite all of that, I haven’t been able to shake the feeling lately there’s something more

So, yes, the new era is going to look a little different. God is stirring something significant.

It’s been an incredible ride these first 99

for us to do. Things are changing rapidly, and

issues. Thank you for reading, and for being

there’s a void today just like when we started. But

part of this story.

MAY-JUNE

MOVE HE’S DOING.

When God starts to open your eyes to

was a clear void that needed to be filled. God was

And while RELEVANT has evolved countless

MISS OUT ON THE NEW

So when I talk about doing something

publishing the print magazine

and the secular, calling, quarterlife crises.

SOMETHING NEW, AND IT’S WHEN WE CHOOSE

the kind of content a magazine uniquely

ere’s a surreal fact, at least

place to wrestle with the big questions, the sacred

CHASE A NEW DREAM. BUT ISN’T THAT HOW WE’RE

healthy venture. (So, no, the magazine’s not

content. It isn’t as disposable. 80 percent of

When we set out to launch RELEVANT, there

TO DOUBLE-DOWN AND

SUPPOSED TO LIVE LIFE?

magazine readers spend time with the

H

SCARY) WHEN YOU DECIDE

in your hands is actually our most financially

and spending time with. Unlike web readers,

of RELEVANT. We’ve been

IT’S STRETCHING (AND

010

C A MER ON S T R A NG Founder & Publisher

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CURRENT A B I M O N T H LY L O O K A T F A I T H , L I F E A N D C U LT U R E

Chris Evans’ Post-MCU Mission: Avenging the Political Divide Having wrapped his stint as an Avenger, Chris Evans is turning his attention to politics.

IF

YOU’VE PAID ANY

a meaningful, substantive

attention to Chris Evans’

way. The idea is to pepper

Twitter account, you know

politicians with common

the Avengers star is not shy

questions on various issues

about his political opinions.

and then give them 60 seconds

“IT’S NOT ABOUT MY POLITICAL OPINION. IT’S ABOUT YOURS.”

His social media presence led to speculation

to respond, explaining their

that Captain America might quit Hollywood

stance. That explanation will be posted to

donations from special interest groups.

and set his sights on Capitol Hill. And in a

A Starting Point, along with links to further

But in its best version, A Starting Point

way, that’s what he’s doing, though Evans’

information. The end goal is to provide

could be an antidote to the Facebook echo

political aspirations are different, and better

voters with simple, concise explanations of

chamber; a place to hear what the people

than you might expect.

important issues from both sides of the aisle.

you didn’t vote for really think and, who

Evans announced that he’s launching a

Will it work? Maybe. It remains to be seen

knows, maybe even change your mind. “It’s

new website called A Starting Point, that

how the site will deal with the fact that, say,

not about my political opinion,” says Evans.

will aim to bridge the partisan divide in

many politicians’ views are influenced by

“It’s about yours.”

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CURRENT

Study: Religion Actually Makes People Happier

Chance the Rapper: The New Champion for Young Earth Creationism?

IS RELIGION GOOD FOR YOUR

emotional health? A new Pew Research study certainly points to yes, but there’s a caveat: You have to be “actively religious.”

The study found a pretty stark happy gap between the

Never shy about advocating for things he believes in, Chance has a new cause.

“actively religious” and those people who are inactively religious or not religious at

C

HANCE THE RAPPER ,

years? idk”. And in a follow-up:

one of the hip-hop

“I give this joint a million on the

marvels of this

high side.”

generation, has a

all in the U.S. A full 36% of Americans who described themselves as “actively

A Pew Research study earlier

religious” said they

lot going on. He has his highly

this year found 81% of Americans

were “very happy.”

anticipated Coloring Book follow-

believe humans evolved over

Just 25% of the

up album due this summer. He’s

time. White evangelicals are, as

inactively religious

newly married. And now he’s

you might expect, more likely to

taken on a new mantle:

be skeptical of evolution: Four

champion of the young Earth

in 10 say humans have always

creation theory.

existed in their present state, and

It all started on Twitter (Where

27% of black Protestants say the

religion doesn’t really do

else?) when Chance tweeted an

same. That clashes pretty harshly

anything for your emotional

innocuous musing about the age

with American scientists, 98% of

well-being if your beliefs

of the Earth, positing, “Y’all think

whom say humans and all life

don’t manifest in regular

this s*** goin on for a billion

forms evolved.

actions like going to a worship

and 25% of the non-religious said the same.

In other words,

service and praying.

MISC.

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New York Magazine reported most

PureFlix’s recent abortion movie

On Easter Sunday at this year’s

Americans believe marriage isn’t

Unplanned holds a brutal 0% top

Coachella music festival, Kanye West

important to becoming an adult.

critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

hosted one of his “Sunday Service”

What’s more, 45% of U.S. adults

Still, the movie made $6.3 million

gatherings featuring a mix of gospel

are single.

its first weekend.

performances and prayer.

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03/06

CURRENT

THE HOT LIST Bimonthly Cultural Power Rankings

Ethically Minded Millennials Are Causing a Hunting Boom The latest thing millennials are killing? Animals.

THOSE NAMBY-PAMBY, PC-

choosing to be part of the

happy, safe-space addicted

food chain instead of just

millennials have found a new

clicking around on

target on which to focus their

Uber Eats.

M E N TA L H EA LT H

ire. Literally, in this case,

[Hottest]

as hunting is experiencing

Artists like Kim WalkerSmith are talking about mental health in spaces

something of a boom among folks who have realized that

where it’s still taboo.

the most ethical way to eat meat might just be to kill

B R I E L A RS O N

it yourself.

[Hotter]

In 1982, 16.7 million

Captain Marvel is a huge

Americans had paid hunting

advocate for gender

licenses, but that number had

equality. We’re fans.

J O R DA N P E E L E [Hot]

1

4 2

8 5

dropped by 2010 when just 9

14.4 million Americans did.

7

6

3

But times are changing and

Us was even more dar-

by 2018, that number had

ing than Get Out.

grown to 15.6 million. It’s not

10

quite where it was back in the hunting boom years, but there’s research to suggest a new resurgence is being led by

“Mother?

Moooother?”

millennials who are actively B R I C K - A N D - M O RTA R [Cold]

1: The lower head / 2: The flank / 3: No, maybe this is the flank? / 4: The back / 5: This is the flank for sure / 6: The

LifeWay announced

tummy / 7: The rear tummy / 8: The haunches / 9: The lower haunches / 10: The upper hoof

they’ll be closing their 170 remaining physical Christian bookstores, following Family in 2017.

S EX [Colder]

Americans are having less sex than ever, and the trend seems to be driven mostly by young people. Experts blame the rising median marriage age.

CO L L EG E S C H E M E S [Coldest]

Good grades and hard work are for other tax

Should the Bible Be Taught in Public Schools?

FIVE DIFFERENT STATES are weighing some version of what are being called “Bible studies

bills” that would make it legal to teach the Bible in public schools. Such measures have failed in the past, running up against arguments about the separation of church and state, but the measures received a notable Twitter endorsement from President Donald Trump, who called the idea “great.” Kentucky successfully passed a bill of guidelines for teaching the Bible in 2016, so the notion could be gaining some steam. Supporters say teaching the Bible is akin to teaching religious literacy.

brackets.

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05/06

Michael Sheen and David Tennant in

CURRENT

Good Omens

Turns Out Adults Who Live With Their Parents Save Less

Hellranker A Definitive Listing of Pop Culture’s Best (Worst?) Satans IN AMAZON PRIME’S NEW miniseries

adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s bestselling novel Good Omens, Benedict Cumberbatch voices Satan as a cast that includes Jon Hamm, Frances McDormand and Nick Offerman battle and bicker at the dawn of the end times. With his sultry British snarl, we’ll admit, he makes a good Lucifer. However, when it comes to fictional Satans, it’s a pretty crowded field. Here’s our ranking of the best popculture devils.

1. WILL FERRELL

MILLENNIALS LIVE at

SNL

home more than any other

Real ones remember the SNL classic where Garth Brooks trades his soul to Satan for a few devilishly hot licks. Problem is, Satan’s an awful musician.

generation did. That much

2. DAVE GROHL

But the oft-stated reason for living with the parents—that they just can’t afford anything else—may have a big hole in it. Namely, a new study shows

TENACIOUS D: PICK OF DESTINY

that millennials who move

In an epic, apocalyptic rock-off between Tenacious D (Jack Black and Kyle Glass), Dave Grohl plays a devil who has never rocked softer.

in with roommates end up

3. DEVIL FLANDERS

saving more money than their homebound counterparts.

According to research from Comet, around a third of millennials live with their

THE SIMPSONS

parents, but the two-thirds

When Homer claims he’d trade it all for a donut, he discovers to his horror that the real devil is a Flanders look-alike scarier than he could have ever imagined.

who live with roommates or

4. MEL GIBSON BABY DEVIL

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we’ve known for a while.

on their own are far more likely to be putting money into savings. What’s more, millennials living with their parents are 5.5 times more likely to say they’re

THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST

dissatisfied with their living

Of all the hard-to-watch moments in Mel Gibson’s Jesus biopic, the scene where Satan’s holding an evil baby is definitely the worst.

arrangements.

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04/10

CURRENT

Lupita Nyong’o Takes ‘Us’ to the Record Books Biggest opening for an original horror film? Check.

Biggest opening for a movie with a woman of color in the lead? Check plus.

IF YOU’VE SEEN

sending the movie

by a woman of color.

any marketing

she headlines into

The previous record

whatsoever for Us,

the record books. Us

belonged to 2004’s

the latest spooky slice

snagged a whopping

Alien vs. Predator,

of social commentary

$72.1 million in its

which starred Sanaa

from writer-director

opening weekend,

Lathan.

Jordan Peele, then

almost doubling

So it’s another

you know Lupita

expectations,

milestone in a career

Nyong’o does double

breaking the record

that’s been full of

duty as both a set-

for highest grossing

them, from winning

upon wife and mom

weekend for an

an Oscar for her work

and her malicious

original horror

in 12 Years a Slave to

dopplegänger. It’s a

movie and maybe

the whole collection

flex of a performance

most notably of all:

of records broken

that is rightfully

snagging the new

by Black Panther. Up

getting heralded as

record for the best

next: a little movie

her finest work to

opening weekend of

called Star Wars.

date, and it’s also

any movie headlined

Half of Pastors Say They’re Nervous About Discussing Social Issues FIFTY PERCENT OF PASTORS SAY THEY’RE NERVOUS about

offending people if they talk about social issues, according to new research from the Barna Group. The study found a bit of a catch-22 for American ministers. Sixty-nine percent say they feel pressured by their congregations to speak into

touchy issues, but 64% say they also feel limited by their congregation in what they are and aren’t allowed to say.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, pastors ranked LGBTQ issues as the subject they felt most uncomfortable speaking about, with 44% saying they felt limitations.

MISC.

MAY-JUNE

Google unveiled their new video game

In March, hundreds of thousands of

California governor Gavin Newsom

platform called Stadia, in which players

young people around the world

announced a moratorium on capital

can stream mainstream games onto

walked out of classrooms to protest

punishment in the state, granting

their PCs through their web browsers.

inaction on climate change. Can we

reprieve to 737 inmates on death row.

No more fighting for the good controller.

time-travel to when they run things?

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MISC.

The Summer Festival Survival Handbook S

ummer festivals are not for the faint of heart. It’s not just the temperatures and hordes of unshowered ravers (although those parts aren’t exactly cake walks). It’s also a matter of time management and knowing how to navigate the shows, snacks and downtime. And what do you know, we’ve got a survival guide to help you get through it all like a pro.

Archaeologists in Jerusalem uncovered two seals that bear an inscription noting they belonged to

GOVERNOR’S

BONNAROO

OUTSIDE LANDS

LOLLAPALOOZA

CREATION FEST

BALL

IN A HE AT-

A TRUST FU N D

THE FIST BU MP

G O D LOVES

THE BIG A PPLE

PL AGUED DE ATH

PA R A DISE

OF FESTI VALS

YOU A N D H AS

TR A P, N O O NE

WHERE: New York City (May 31 - June 2) NOTABLE ACTS: Florence + The Machine, Tyler the Creator, SZA THE LOOK: It’s NYC, baby. Do you!

THE GEAR: Just bring your big city attitude. That’s the New York City way.

TRAVEL: I’m walkin’ here!

CA N HE A R YOU SCRE A M

WHERE: Manchester, TN (June 13-16) NOTABLE ACTS: Post Malone, Solange, Cardi B THE LOOK: Think Walking Dead extra.

THE GEAR: Bring weapons to defend yourself against people who will want to steal your resources.

TRAVEL: You’ll be able to drive there no problem and don’t worry about the return trip as you probably won’t be making one.

A WO N DERFUL

WHERE: San Francisco (August 9-11)

WHERE: Chicago (August 1-4)

NOTABLE ACTS: Chance the Rapper, The Strokes, Tool (rumored)

NOTABLE ACTS: Childish Gambino, Lauren Daigle, Janelle Monae

THE LOOK: Just swing by Anthropologie on the way and you’ll be fine.

THE LOOK: Lolla is in downtown Chicago, so aim for festival vibe meets Midwestern bachelor party.

THE GEAR: Why pack your own gear when your servants can do it for you?

TRAVEL: Have your servants have the yacht back at the main gate by 10.

THE GEAR: Pack good shoes since the Lolla grounds are a little big (50 square miles).

TRAVEL: If you want to avoid traffic coming and going, you’ll want to get an early start (around 3 a.m.).

FESTI VAL FOR YOUR LIFE

Nathan-Melech, an official named in 2 Kings. The discovery helps confirm the biblical timeline of the City of David.

WHERE: Shirleysburg, PA (June 26-29) NOTABLE ACTS: Elevation Worship, Hillsong United, Kari Jobe THE LOOK: One Direction circa 2015 THE GEAR: The only thing you need has already been given to you.

All you have to do is accept it.

According to the 2019 World Happiness Report (a thing, apparently), Finland is the happiest country in the world this year.

As for the United States, it’s barely in the top 20, landing at a middling No. 19.

TRAVEL: A 16-passenger van and a big manila for all the gas receipts for Gloria in accounting.

In a tragic loss in the tech world, a server error caused social network MySpace to lose millions of photos, videos and songs published on the site before 2016. Well, it’s not like we were hoping people would find our embarrassing old profiles anyway.

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04/06

CURRENT

MISC.

J

UST HOW BAD IS

pornography?

According to a few new pieces of

proposed legislation, it may rise to

In the largest agricultural bust in U.S. history,

the level of a public health crisis.

federal agents

Arizona is weighing a bill saying

seized one million

porn “perpetuates a sexually toxic environment that damages all areas of our society.” If passed, Arizona

pounds of pork at a New jersey port in March. No telling if there was any

would be the 12th state to pass

help for the agents

resolutions labeling porn a crisis.

from their friendly

National organizations are divided on whether or not such measures

neighborhood Spider-Ham.

are correct or even helpful. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told CNN that porn “can be connected to other public health issues like sexual violence and occupational HIV transmission” but said that it “does not have an established position” on whether or

New Legislation Aims to Get Porn Branded a ‘Public Health Crisis’

not it rises to the level of a crisis.

A group of 250

Labeling porn a health crisis

experts signed

doesn’t automatically give state governments any extra control over the legalization of porn and has no extra punishing powers. Instead, supporters say the measures are intended to help raise awareness about the potential dangers of viewing porn.

a petition to the U.N. and World Health Organization asking for regulations on AirPods and other wireless headphones that may cause cancer.

Hate Groups in the U.S. Have Risen 30% Over the Last Four Years Apple’s new

THE RISE IN HATE GROUPS observed by

experts over the last few years in the U.S. shows no signs of slowing down and may actually be increasing. For the

fourth year in a row, the Southern Poverty Law Center has reported a troubling increase in hate groups working in the States, and the SPLC estimates that the

number of groups has risen 30% since 2014, with a 7% rise in 2018 alone.

By their metrics, around 1,020 organizations are designated as hate groups in 2018—a high in at

least 20 years. According to the SPLC, most of the growth comes from nationalist groups who are in a “hysteria” over racial demographic shifts in the U.S.

streaming service, Apple+, looks just like every other streaming service on the market. We expected more from those people.

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RELEVANT

Q&A

Nate Bargatze The stand-up comedian opens up about his faith, career and, yes, failing a bowling class.

For years, stand-up comedian Nate Bargatze has been a staple of late-night shows, but after doing a half-hour set for the Netflix series The Standups, things started to change. “I could tell that with these shows, everybody watched it,” he says. The appearance led to his hourlong special, The Tennessee Kid. And we’ll likely be seeing a lot more of him on TV in the future: He’s currently working with Jerrod Carmichael to develop a sitcom based on his life for ABC.

HOW DO YOU FAIL BOWLING, OUT

in God. Then Pete was. Me and him

We recently spoke with Bargatze

OF CURIOSITY?

bonded over that.

about his career, his approach to

I don’t know. I’m actually not that bad of

comedy and how his faith influences

a bowler!

both of them.

and I’m always a fan of that.

YOU GREW UP IN A CHRISTIAN HOME

MAY-JUNE

It was awesome to see his show. He was completely, very honest about it, A lot of people who I was around

WHAT WAS YOUR PARENTS’ REACTION

AND GOT YOUR START IN COMEDY WITH

weren’t Christians and didn’t grow up

WHEN YOU TOLD THEM YOU WANTED TO

PETE HOLMES. WHAT DID YOU THINK OF

in the Church or anything. Sometimes

PURSUE COMEDY?

CRASHING AND WHAT WAS IT LIKE FOR

guys can go away from that, but it just

Mine were super supportive. With my

YOU BEING A CHRISTIAN IN COMEDY?

made me get more into it, because I

dad [a Christian magician] doing magic

In Tennessee, everybody is a Christian.

just thought, ‘Why do you think you’re

shows, he loved it. I mean, look, college

So [moving to] Chicago was the first

right?’ I’ve always said I trust my

was not working out. I mean, I failed

time that I ever met people that either

parents more than I trust anybody else

bowling.

weren’t religious or didn’t believe

I ever met.

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crucified, dead and buried tell the story of the cross in its power and in its brutal force.

When the apostle Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost, he told the massive crowd assembled before him: “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus

DEEPER

of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders

The True Sign of Redemption

and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men” (Acts 2:22–23). This text underlines that the cross was not something that surprised God or merely

The cross is central to the Gospel

happened to Jesus. It was God’s plan.

because it demands redemption.

When John the Baptist saw Jesus, he cried out, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world”

AS

A YOUNG MAN, I

Christianity is a cross. The fact that

(John 1:29). The lamb, spotless and

ENCOUNTERED A NEW

a horrifying instrument of execution

without blemish, was the best-known

TESTAMENT SCHOLAR

has been turned into a symbol of

symbol of blood sacrifice.

who had many strong

love, beauty and devotion requires an

feelings about the

explanation.

cross of Christ. He absolutely hated the idea that the crucifixion of Christ

That explanation is called the New Testament. The message of the cross

lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Speaking of His life, Jesus made

was necessary for our

clear that He would go to the

salvation. He hated the

cross willingly: “No one takes

very idea of Christ’s death as our substitute, paying the penalty for our sins that we ourselves could not pay.

He heartily rejected what he called “bloody

The fact that a horrifying instrument of execution has been turned into a symbol of love, beauty, and devotion requires an explanation.

cross religion”—the

it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father” (John 10:18).

This is why Christians

message of the cross.

MAY-JUNE

Jesus told His disciples: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone

look to Jesus on the cross

But the Bible reveals so clearly that

is the good news of salvation, and the

as a victor, not a victim. He came for

Christ died for our sins and that the

story of the cross is the story of God’s

this purpose, and He fulfilled this

payment for the penalty for our sins

love for sinners.

redeeming purpose—completely.

was necessary. As the apostle Paul

The Apostles’ Creed takes

teaches us, the cross, and the cross

us to the central truths of our

alone, reveals how God can be both

salvation when we confess

“just and the justifier of the one who

that Jesus Christ, God’s only

has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:26).

Son, “was crucified, dead and

Indeed, the unmistakable symbol of

buried.” These three words,

028

A L BER T MOHL ER JR .

Taken from The Apostles’ Creed by Albert Mohler. Copyright © 2019 by R. Albert Mohler Jr. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson. www.TheApostlesCreedBook.com

2019

DEEPER

The Real Pro-Life Heather Avis on why being antiabortion isn’t enough

HE AT HER AV IS is the author of Scoot Over and Make Some Room and The Lucky Few, and is a popular speaker, podcaster and Instagrammer.

another kind of baby? Which then implies a certain kind of person is better than another kind of person? ur children with

the tragically high termination rate

Down syndrome are

for babies with Down syndrome, they

do we get to decide what kind of life we

born into a world in

often say something along the lines of,

stand for? No! No, we don’t.

which their worth goes

“I knew a woman who got a positive

unnoticed at best. A

diagnosis and considered an abortion.

for life. And if we say we are pro-life,

world in which the majority of people

Thank God, the baby didn’t end up

then we better be pro–Down syndrome

continue to believe a person with

even having Down syndrome. But can

and pro–black lives, pro-autism,

Down syndrome is not worthy of life.

you imagine? She almost terminated a

pro-immigrant, and pro-person-with-

O

If we’re going to stand for life, then

If we stand for life, then we stand

This is simply tragic. There’s one

a-physical-

more thing I wince at, but it’s not

different-

exactly easy to talk about.

I wince when many in the Christian community consider the high termination rate of babies with Down syndrome an

Do you see how pro-life is about so much more than being anti-abortion?

anti-abortion issue. Deep breath.

solely on a positive Down syndrome

enter a building (maybe community

perfectly healthy child!”

Did you catch it? How not pro-life

church) because it does not accommodate their specific mode of

diagnosis is a modern-day form of

that way of thinking is? Do you see

mobility. And if we say we are pro–Down

eugenics and a tragedy. But when

how harmful it is when we say things

syndrome, then we better be making

those of us who are pro-life put

such as, “Thank God, the baby didn’t

darn well sure that people with Down

all of our energy and focus on the

have Down syndrome”? Or, “We

syndrome have a place in this world to

anti-abortion portion of a pro-life

prayed the diagnosis was wrong, and

be fully embraced just as they are.

worldview, we are only seeing a sliver

God heard our prayer and healed our

of what it really means to be pro-life.

child of Down syndrome! Praise Him!”

We’re also missing an opportunity to

Do you see how not pro-life those

Still with me here? Do you see how pro-life is about so much more than being anti-abortion? It’s about shouting

make the changes necessary to truly

statements are? How such phrases

the worth of all lives! And especially the

save the lives of the unborn.

are drenched in the stink of believing

lives of those whose worth continues to

a certain kind of baby is better than

be questioned.

When talking with people about

MAY-JUNE

still cannot

even their

Stay with me here. I do believe terminating a pregnancy based

ability who

030

2019

DEEPER

God Is a Foodie Margaret Feinberg explains why eating is a spiritual experience.

M

It’s almost as if God redeemed food just as He does us.

R E L E VA N T ’ S 2 0 19

Summer Reading Guide Long, warm days are perfect for kicking your feet BY up and C . C H R I S TO PHER a relaxing with SMITH great book.

MAY-JUNE

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2017

[2 0 1 9 S U M M E R R E A D I N G G U I D E ]

S

ummers always start with big reading plans. You tell yourself this is the year when you’ll become A Real Reader: someone

Holy Noticing On Taking Every Moment Captive

who can casually discuss their ever-expand-

Charles Stone

ing personal library with confidence.

( M O O D Y P U B L I S H E R S)

But then, well, you know how it goes. Life happens. Netflix happens. And your unread stack just gets higher and higher.

But maybe this can be the summer where

Rebecca Makkai

you finally take those aspirations by the covers and build the sort of habit that will change your life numerous times over. There’s no shortcut, but it does get a little easier if you’ve got a list of guaranteed good reads. And lucky you, you’ve got one right at your fingertips.

LIFE ON AUTOPILOT? It

All the Lives We Ever Lived A Literary Meditation

he Great Believers is a searing, unforgettable epic that takes place amidst one of the least understood events of the last few decades: the AIDS crisis.

T

doesn’t sound pleasant, but it’s sort of our default state—taking care of the mindless errands of dayto-day life without putting much mental energy into it at all. But Charles Stone’s new book is an invitation to go the extra mile with our minds—to become mentally present with our families, our friends, ourselves and even God all day, every day. Stone’s biblical interpretation is winningly blended with both church history and cutting-edge research for a wonderfully inviting read.

on Grief

RELEVANT: You had to do a lot of

research to get the depiction of the AIDS crisis in The Great Believers right.

Why do you think that’s an underdiscussed part of our recent history?

MAKKAI: The AIDS crisis did come

into popular culture in a few ways, but the world and America, in particular, didn’t react to that initial American AIDS crisis with the attention that it deserved, so there’s less of that stuff to look back on.

RELEVANT: You set out to write a

novel but do you feel like, in some ways, this has turned you into an activist?

Katharine Smyth

MAKKAI: I don’t want to come off

(C R O W N )

seeming like I have some street savior complex, but I do want to be an ally in every way that I can, and I think that fiction is an entry way into this world.

IT’S PRETTY BOLD TO EVOKE a late

novelist as loved as Virginia Woolf right on your cover, but Smyth’s subtitle to her haunting memoir-slash-critical evaluation works because it is, in this case, literally true. This is a book about “Seeking Solace in Virginia Woolf,” and how one woman’s devastation over the loss of her father helped her understand Woolf’s To the Lighthouse

in a fresh way. It’s a great read for fans of Woolf, of course, but All the Lives We Ever Lived is also worth reading for anyone wrestling with what it means for a story to become part of you, and how the things we read end up working their way into our identities even as the people we love move on.

033

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

[2 0 1 9 S U M M E R R E A D I N G G U I D E ]

helped you resolve any lingering tension with your old beliefs?

KWON: In some

R.O. Kwon What the Scam of a John Carreyrou (K N O P F)

It took a while, but Elizabeth Holmes’ infamous Theranos scam was eventually exposed for the smoke and mirrors operation it really was. But there were years in which Holmes played Silicon Valley, some of the world’s most powerful people and the entire free market for fools, launching a multimillion dollar company off the promise of cutting-edge technology that did not, and this can’t be stressed enough, work at all.

The hows and whys of this have been detailed in an HBO documentary and a few searing long-reads online, but Bad Blood is the definitive account of Theranos: what it claimed to be, what it actually was and how it hoodwinked the masses. And more than other recent grifts, Theranos is just as much about America as it is about Holmes. While she may have gotten caught, the system she exploited is humming on pretty much the same as it always has been, looking for its next mark.

MAY-JUNE

RELEVANT: Do you miss being a

Christian?

Bad Blood Lifetime Says About Us

ways. Something I’m coming to understand is that maybe writing this book and my writing in general continues to be an act of grieving. It’s my last way of being with God, whom I did love very deeply. It’s entirely possible I still love Him even if I don’t believe in Him.

KWON: Oh, I miss it so much. I

you think the world of disillusioned Christian college dropouts sounds boring, that’s only because you haven’t read The Incendiaries—the award-winning debut novel from R.O. Kwon, who fills the world of a young believerturned-skeptic with intrigue as he starts to suspect that his girlfriend is falling for a dangerous cult leader. Kwon wrote the book because she was raised Christian herself, and she wanted to see her experience depicted in a novel.

IF

RELEVANT: Do you think this book

loved being Christian. It was so fun. I was so happy. I just walked around bathed in light and love and I was always trying to love everyone around me because everyone was a child of God and I thought I would live forever.

RELEVANT: And you’re still

grieving that?

KWON: Absolutely. Sometimes

love doesn’t end. One aspect of grief is the love for an object that has become unavailable. It’s one last way of having someone with us even when they’re gone.

The Unsaved Christian Reaching Cultural Christianity With the Gospel Dean Inserra ( M O O D Y P U B L I S H E R S)

In this book, Inserra explains how Christianity in America has become more of a cultural signifier than a religious belief, meaning many Christians don’t have a relationship with God at all—and need to be introduced to Him.

034

2017

[2 0 1 9 S U M M E R R E A D I N G G U I D E ]

Territory of Light A Novel Yuko Tsushima ( F A R R A R, S T R A U S A N D G I R O U X )

This lovely Japanese novel was translated to English a full 40 years after its publication, and it’s well worth the wait. A haunting story of a woman grappling with her first year raising her toddler alone after her husband leaves. It is a reflection on the joys and terrors of parenthood that will ring true whether or not you have children of your own. A soft, tender and quietly devastating read.

It’s Not Supposed To Be This Way Where to Turn in Hard Times Lysa TerKeurst (T H O M A S N ELS O N)

It’s always refreshing to read authors who admit they don’t have all the answers. TerKeurst’s book was written in the midst of what she calls “shattering” circumstances, and she provides no simple, easy respite for anyone else experiencing the same thing. But she does offer encouragement and practical tips for emotional and spiritual practices that have helped see her through.

When You Read This A Novel Mary Adkins ( H A R P E R C O L L I N S)

What is death in the digital age? It’s been the subject of think pieces on what happens to our social media presence after we pass on, but Adkins uses it as the framework of this story about a young woman who chronicles her final days with a terminal illness online, and the friends who dedicate themselves to making her last wish come true. It’s as sad as it sounds, but surprisingly life-affirming too.

Nate Pyle ore Than You Can Handle is a gutcheck on the idea that God doesn’t give people things too big for them to deal with. That belief, according to Pyle, is a setup for disappointment.

M

RELEVANT: Where did the idea

that “God won’t give you more than you can handle” come from?

PYLE: I think when people say

it, they say it with really good intentions. They’re trying to give you comfort. But the implicit message is that no matter what

035

you’re facing, God must think you’re up to the task. So if you don’t feel that then that means you’re deficient or you’re going to disappoint God. That is not, I don’t think, what God intends at all.

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

R O O N E Y M A R A The star of Mary Magdalene looked past her

BY T Y L E R D A S W I C K

character’s reputation. Can the Church do the same?

The first thing Rooney Mara had to

wanted to go into it with a clean slate.”

do as the lead in Mary Magdalene

Many Christians would benefit to do the same. Mara’s bi-

was forget her character’s rep-

opic of the biblical figure finds both its greatest successes and

utation. Pop culture and church

loudest public controversies by putting its title character at

culture have assigned Magdalene

the center of the story. Magdalene is less about bearing wit-

some unflattering (and inaccu-

ness to Jesus’ life than about recording the spectrum of re-

rate)

sinful,

actions to Jesus’ life, and as everyone in the movie comes to

even (thanks to Dan Brown) Jesus’

their own conclusions about what the coming of the Kingdom

wife—but Magdalene, the movie, steers away from the sa-

of God will look like, the narrative positions Mary as someone

lacious to offer a more biblical presentation of her life. For

who had a tighter grip on the truth than most of the disciples,

Mara to do it justice, she had to unlearn who Magdalene was.

if not all of them.

T

labels—prostitute,

Pope Gregory I labeled Magdalene a “sinful woman” in the year 591, and public opinion of the biblical figure hasn’t

RETHINKING MAGDALENE

improved much since the early church, even among Chris-

The Church has struggled with Mary Magdalene’s special

tians. Though the Bible makes no mention of Mary being a

understanding of the Gospel for hundreds of years. And of-

prostitute, the theory still persists, and in recent years, the

tentimes, that misunderstanding has mirrored ideas about

runaway success of Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code gave

gender and ministry within the Church itself.

prominence to the notion Magdalene was Jesus’ secret wife.

A popular, conspiratorial narrative has speculated that

This theory is rooted in interpretations of the non-canonical

there must have been a romantic element to Mary and Jesus’

Gnostic gospels (such as the Gospel of Philip and the Gospel

relationship in order for her to garner the esteem she had in

of Mary), but the Bible itself offers no foothold for the idea.

His eyes. Really, the early church was accusing her of seduc-

Nevertheless, misconceptions of Magdalene abound, and Mara, 33, was around a few of them growing up. As a girl,

ing her way to the top. It’s a familiar (and offensive) refrain many successful women face today.

Mara was raised Catholic. She attended Sunday school every

Mara and Garth Davis, the director of Mary Magdalene, antic-

week and went to Catholic school until sixth grade. She’s since

ipated this perception of Mary, but they didn’t expect their mov-

left organized religion, but still had to eradicate her prior im-

ie to be controversial for trying to reclaim Magdalene’s story.

pressions of Magdalene before portraying her on screen.

MAY-JUNE

“I look at a male-dominated society and the way people

“I had these things in the back of my head I had to let go

have decided to manipulate women in history, and I find that

of and start from scratch,” she says. “I had so much baggage

way more controversial than us telling this story,” Davis says..

in terms of what I knew about the character and the story. I

“Two thousand years and we still haven’t acknowledged this

036

2019

037

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

interpretation of Mary Magdalene? I

“We

want-

to

remind

think that’s more controversial than

ed

the making of this movie. We’re going

people that the

to meet resistance, but we have to get

Kingdom

these stories out there.”

within us,” Da-

Mara agrees. She hopes that the

is

vis says. “When

movie challenges misunderstandings.

you’re

“A lot of women I know were moved by

the

it and thankful the movie was made,”

everyone had a

she says.

different idea of

Magdalene

positions

Mary

among disciples,

apart

what the com-

from the disciples in two respects. First,

ing of the King-

her relationship with Jesus is more fa-

dom was going

milial than that of Jesus and the other

to be, but what I

disciples. Mary is by Christ’s side at

love about Mary

the Last Supper, for example, and Je-

is she chose to

sus confides in Mary more intimately

just be in the

than He does the Twelve. Their scenes

world and trust.

together sit at the heart of the mov-

It was a com-

ie’s relational web. As Mary and Jesus

pletely different way of being part of

and follow Jesus with the disciples.

become close, the rest of the Twelve

that powerful faith movement.”

She walks into the disciples’ camp

grow jealous, mistrustful or more en-

Mary’s intuition of Jesus’ mission,

and stands out right away as the only

trenched in their own understanding

however, was often dismissed by the

woman. The men are confused and con-

of who Jesus is and why He came.

early church as a result of nepotism.

cerned, even a little intimidated.

The second respect, then, is how

That’s not lost on Mara and Davis, and

“I remember walking up to that

Mary understands the Kingdom of God

in Magdalene, they’re careful to un-

group of men and thinking how it would

in relation to the other disciples. While

derline how Mary’s relationship with

have been absolutely terrifying,” Mara

Simon Peter and Judas Iscariot expect

Jesus came not from special treatment

says. “To just go and join this group of men

“A lot of the issues in the film are present in 2019, even more so than when we made it.” –Rooney Mara

definitely

took a lot of bravery. We’ve never seen that world from

a

female

perspective, and I think the male and female perspectives quite

are

different,

certainly during that

So

or attention, but bold, faith-motivated

there’s a lot of value seeing [the story]

ment in a Messianic uprising, Mary in-

decisions.

from a woman’s point of view.”

Christ says in Luke 17: “The coming of

AN ANCIENT PATRIARCHY

a woman at the time to leave her home

the Kingdom of God is not something

Mara remembers shooting a scene

and follow Jesus. I found it moving to

that can be observed ... because the

early in the film in which Mary makes

see Mary try and find a way to express

Kingdom of God is in your midst.”

the radical choice to leave her home

her calling. I think she’s dealing with

sists the Kingdom is “here and now.” As

MAY-JUNE

time.

Jesus to overthrow the Roman govern-

Davis agrees: “It was very daring for

038

2019

and Mark 16 asserts

Mara and the other actors had to

the same. Modern

strain at times in search of that vulner-

apologists point to

ability. Instead of a soundstage, Magda-

these passages as

lene was shot in places meant to evoke

evidence

the reality of the period, such as Rome

for

the

Resurrection (Why

For Mara, the tactility helped her

place the validity of

become more honest inside the part,

their argument in

her biggest worry going into the role.

the mouths of wom-

Despite leaving Catholicism, Mara still

en, who in those

considers herself very spiritual, so

days could not even

while it was strange for her to be act-

give a testimony in

ing opposite Jesus in the early days of

court?) but even to-

production, the grounded nature of the

day, women looking

movie brought her toward a revelation.

to follow in Mary

She dropped her preconceptions about

Magdalene’s

Mary and Jesus and she found her own

foot-

steps are fighting the same biases she The tactility of

the same prob-

Magdalene helped

lems

Mara give an honest performance.

and the canyons of Southern Italy.

would conspirators

was battling almost 2000 years ago.

idea of the truth again.

“I thought it was going to be pretty weird to do some scenes with Jesus,”

women

“A lot of the issues in the film are

she says, laughing. “How do you go into

face today. She

certainly relevant and present in 2019,

that space and make it feel real? But

was

even more so than when we made it (in

it was cool to let myself be open as I

2016),” Mara says.

went along and rediscover what I knew

pushing

up against tradition, and I think a lot of women can

about Jesus. I was surprised. It wasn’t A MODERN PARABLE

dissimilar to the spiritual things I fol-

Mary Magdalene was far from the

Critics might say Magdalene’s illus-

low and believe in as an adult.”

last woman in the Christian Church

tration of Mary is a result of forced

Reputations are a hindrance to

who had to work harder for authori-

contemporaneousness, a way to cram

change, which means to see beyond

ty. Across entire denominations and

modern issues into the Passion narra-

them takes a radical mindset. The

individual church campuses, there is

tive, but from the start, Davis rooted

most controversial thing about Mary

still resistance to the idea that women

his movie in history. His movie does not

Magdalene is not that it shows us a

should be extended explicit pastoral

look, feel or sound like other faith-re-

fresh take on the woman at its center,

roles in the Church. While theologies

lated stories on screen, and that’s the

but that its take feels fresh. It’s both a

differ in that respect, the prospect of

point. He says he wanted to evoke the

signpost pointing toward a more recep-

even giving women more general lead-

feeling of “an elegant documentary.”

tive church and a measuring stick for

relate to that.”

ership positions in church still carries

“I wanted to do a human telling of

the Church’s present shortcomings. It

surprising controversy in 2019. Apart

[this story],” says Davis. “I’m not here

shows a woman in A.D. 33 struggling

from the Church, as some recent news

to judge [other faith movies], but I don’t

with the same lack of validation many

still indicates, there are institutions

relate to them. When I read this script,

of her successors fight against right

that still push harmful ideas that wom-

Jesus wasn’t held above us. He was with

now. Don’t dismiss that tension. Believe

en aren’t believed, recognized, affirmed

the people. I could be on that journey

it and tell the others.

or granted the same authority as men

with Him. I didn’t feel like I was being

today in what they assert or profess.

taught a lesson. All these characters

When Magdalene bore witness to the

have a vulnerability about them, and I

Resurrection among the disciples, Luke

think it’s in those vulnerabilities we get

24 says the disciples didn’t believe her,

close to spiritual truth.”

039

T YLER DASWICK is the senior writer at RELEVANT. Follow him on Twitter @tylerdaswick.

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

S T E P H I S O N

C U R R A

Y M I S S I O N The NBA superstar has his sights on a new goal: becoming a Hollywood mogul.

THERE WAS A MOMENT in the days

in a myriad of ways, but on a

following the shooting at Charleston,

visceral level, I believe everybody

South Carolina’s Emanuel AME

understood the message,” Curry says.

Church that Stephen Curry has

It’s the kind of story that NBA

thought about a lot. President

superstar Curry believes the world

Barack Obama was delivering the

needs to hear. The film is co-

eulogy for Rev. Clementa Pinckney—

executive produced by Unanimous

one of nine people gunned down at

Media, a new entertainment

the historic black church by white

company co-founded by Curry to tell

supremacist Dylann Roof—when he

stories about faith.

began singing. The President of the

popular athletes in the world

in “Amazing Grace.”

(the ninth most popular globally,

“There was something powerful BY JESSE CAREY

Curry may be one of the most

United States led the congregation

according to ESPN’s methodology),

in that moment and the idea

but as he sees it, his most important

of grace, the forgiveness of a

work happens off the court.

community and the urge to find

“I know how powerful

the best in ourselves,” Curry says.

storytelling can be,” he says. “One

“Whether religious or not, many

story can reach and impact so many

of us relate to the idea of grace as

people. I also know that I have a

a calming to the soul and whether

unique opportunity to reach a wide

it was the delivery, the timing or

audience, and I wanted to leverage

the person delivering it, that was a

that to inspire and move people.

transcendent moment.”

Stories are about connection.

The moment is featured in

They have the ability to transcend

Emanuel, a new documentary

generations, engage us through

that tells the story of not only the

emotions and connect us to others.”

shooting, but also how many in the community chose to respond to the

MVP

shooting with grace and forgiveness.

Back in 2016, Steph Curry became

“Grace can be interpreted

041

the first player in NBA history

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

to be named the league’s MVP by a

“Faith is the substance of things

unanimous vote, which inspired the

hoped for and the evidence of things

name of his media company. He’s

not seen,” he says. “It’s core to my

currently the point guard and leader

life on and off the court—it’s rooted

of the Golden State Warriors, one of

in my foundation, my family and my

the most dominant teams in the league

perspective on life.”

and one of the greatest teams of all

Unanimous Media presents an

time by any reasonable metric. That’s

opportunity for Curry to do more than

why it came as a bit of a surprise that

just tell faith stories with a basketball

in the prime of his basketball career

context. He sees it as a chance to tell

“I know how powerful storytelling can be—one story can reach and impact so many people.” he would simultaneously launch a

stories that will reach people where

massive media venture.

they are.

However, it’s a move he’s passionate

Breakthrough, the first major release

of stories to make an impact.

Curry co-executive produced, but it’s

“It was important for me to start Unanimous Media specifically with the goal of telling powerful faith stories,

only a subplot to a larger narrative about faith, family and prayer.

Based on a true story, the film

be the only exposure to faith that some

honestly, because life is hard,” he says.

tells the story of a young, basketball-

people will have,” he says. “I don’t take

“There are curveballs and losses that

obsessed teenager who nearly dies

that lightly.”

can feel overwhelming, but through

after falling through the ice of a

those moments, there is also a God

frozen lake. His family and church

THE CENTRAL STRAND

who by nature cannot abandon you,

community pray for a miracle as he

The sheer scope of Curry’s ambitions

and the truth of the Gospel is life-

clings to life.

for Unanimous Media will come as no

changing and life-giving.”

Curry has never been shy about his

“This is the first script I received, I

surprise to anyone familiar with the

read it in one sitting and was blown

standards of excellence he’s always set

faith. His signature Under Armour

away,” he says. “I knew immediately

for himself and his team. Along with

shoes all have a reference to his

that I wanted to be a part of bringing it

the upcoming slate of movies, there

favorite Bible verse under the tongue:

to the screen.”

are also plans for video games, virtual

Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things

Curry and the rest of his team

through Christ who strengthens me.”

at Unanimous worked with

They were the fourth best-selling

Breakthrough’s producer DeVon

signature basketball shoe in the world

Franklin, providing notes on the script.

in 2017, just above Jordans.

MAY-JUNE

Yes, basketball plays a small part in

about because he believes in the power

“I am so aware that this film might

042

reality projects, physical consumer goods and television shows.

Unanimous is even producing an extreme mini-golf competition show for ABC called Holey Moley.

2019

about trying to be heaven-minded, and raising kids who grow up worshiping the Creator of the universe, as opposed to the temptations of this world.”

Unanimous Media has a variety of projects currently in the works including holiday movies centered around Christmas and Easter, an animated Bible movie and even a romantic comedy about the church dating scene called Church Hoppers.

But along with the light-hearted fare, there are also moments and stories that are more profound—like the President of the United States singing a hymn to a group of mourning churchgoers who are choosing to offer forgiveness to the man who targeted their community.

“Stories like this are the reason we created Unanimous and entered the entertainment space,” he says of Emanuel. “It felt urgent to show the totally human, various journeys of grief and forgiveness, the redeeming and freedom-unlocking power of that forgiveness, and the inspiring way a community was able to come together in the face of unthinkable tragedy.”

Curry, a two-time NBA MVP, launched Unanimous Media to

Though Curry and his team

start operating differently.”

The doors of Hollywood have

It’s these kinds of stories Curry believes he’s called to tell in the next

have a wide

opened to Curry pretty easily.

stage of his professional life. These

array of projects

Unanimous has already inked an

won’t just entertain viewers. They

they are

enviably lucrative partnership with

have the power to transform the way

interested in pursuing, they all, even

Sony Pictures Entertainment. But

people think about complicated issues.

the mini-golf show, have a common

when it comes to choosing which

goal: bringing families together. Curry

projects to pursue, Curry is relying on

who God is to someone going through

wants people to slow down, sit with

the thing that has brought him this far

it, then that whole thing, the whole

each other and talk about big ideas

and drives him on the court and off of

movie, the entire production of it all,

with people they care about.

it: his faith.

was worth it.”

tell stories of faith.

“So much of how we operate as a

“If we can introduce or redefine

“My faith is a central strand that

culture is based on the now—how

connects the various aspects of my

much money we can make, what we

life—father, husband, son, athlete,

want the world to see, just keeping

business man,” he says. “So when it’s

up with everyone else,” Curry says.

time to make decisions, it’s what I lean

“When we shift our perspective, we

on. It can be big or small, but it’s more

043

JESSE CAREY is the brand director at RELEVANT. Follow him on Twitter @jessecarey.

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

Hale yes.

How Emmy-winning actor Tony Hale let go of ‘success’ and started saying yes to the simple life

MAY-JUNE

044

2019

BY

JESSE CAREY

It was about 20 years ago when Tony Hale had an

with Veep, or become the central new character in

experience that would end up shaping his outlook

one of Hollywood’s most beloved franchises–he’ll

on life.

voice “Forky” in the upcoming Toy Story 4–Tony

The aspiring actor had just done a nationwide Pepto-Bismol commercial. In just a few weeks, he’d

Hale learned a major lesson about self-worth.

Fame and success wouldn’t make him happy. The

be attending his 10-year high school reunion. For

commercial gave him a platform, connections and a

Hale, this was a very big deal.

little bit of money, but he’d put so much value into it

“I remember thinking, ‘I can’t wait to go back to my high school reunion,’” he says. “I mean, people

that he ultimately felt deflated.

“It’s really woken me up to thinking, ‘Wow, this

that maybe I was insecure around, I want them to

is all about the simple,’” he says. “It’s all about

really see me in this space. I want them to see that

breathing and connecting with people and loving

I’m the guy on TV.”

people and loving God. I mean, not to sound like

Hale was in his late 20s. The commercial didn’t just feel like a success. It felt like validation.

a devotional, but it’s almost like the more things have gotten bigger, the simpler they’ve gotten in my

“I put a lot of energy into that fantasy of walking

mind. Life has gotten simpler.”

into that room,” he remembers.

THE SIMPLE LIFE

However, after the reunion, something unexpected happened. Hale didn’t feel great about

It’s hard to pinpoint the exact moment when Tony

his achievement. He felt empty.

Hale “arrived.”

“After that 10-year reunion, I think I felt worse

After moving to New York in the mid-’90s, Hale

than when I came in because I had given so much

landed a handful of commercials and helped found

energy,” he says. “That’s just fleeting. It’s stupid. It’s

a group called The Haven. It was a place for fellow

just … you really see how shallow this is.”

Christian actors and industry professionals to

Years before he would win two Emmys, star

meet and talk about faith, art and life. Soon after

in one of television’s era-defining comedies with

his arrival in New York, he landed small guest

Arrested Development, follow that up by starring in

appearances on shows like The Sopranos and

another one of television’s era-defining comedies

Dawson’s Creek, but it was 2003 when he got his

045

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

major break.

That year, Hale was cast as the

“The whole thing is very surreal,” he says. “I’m such a big Toy Story fan.

really good couple of therapists.”

“I talk about being present so much

comically codependent man-child

I was like, ‘Of course I’ll do it!’ But it

because I suck at it,” he admits. “My

Buster Bluth on Arrested Development.

really wasn’t until I saw the trailer that

default is being somewhere else. It’s

Though the show struggled to find a

it really hit me. I was like, ‘Oh wow,

more of a challenge to be where I am,

large audience in its first three seasons

I’m actually in it. I’m actually a part

so it’s a real daily choice for me.”

on Fox, it became a critical darling and

of it.’”

developed a passionate following. In

For a guy who has had the “next big

Hale’s attitude is indicative of how

thing” lined up for the past decade and

“It’s all about breathing and connecting with people and loving people and loving God …

Life has gotten simpler.”

2013—seven years after its network

things have changed for him since

a half, it took him a while to learn to

TV run—Netflix revived Arrested for a

the Pepto-Bismol commercial and

actually enjoy where he’s at right now.

fourth and fifth season, and the latest

anticlimactic high school reunion.

“I meet a lot of people who have

eight episodes were released this

These days, he doesn’t spend a lot

gotten their dream and realized that

spring. According to industry sources,

of time thinking about the future or

it didn’t satisfy them the way they

it remains one of the platform’s most

dwelling on the past. He’s living in

thought it was going to satisfy them,”

popular shows.

the moment.

Hale says. “This also can be a business

His performance as Buster Bluth

where you’re always looking to the

helped launch Hale’s career as a

any measure, Hale has arrived. But

next thing. It’s never enough. Success

comedic actor with a unique knack for

according to him, “arriving” doesn’t

is insatiable, fame is insatiable.”

tightly wound worrywarts. In 2012,

have anything to do with the roles he’s

after appearing in supporting roles

landing. It’s being happy with where

on how to deal with the trappings of

in several big-budget movies, Hale

he’s at—no matter where that happens

fame, Hale has also come to lean on his

was cast as the high-strung and also

to be.

relationship with God.

comically codependent Gary Walsh in

But along with his new perspective

“I think for so much of my life, it

the hit HBO series Veep. Hale’s neurotic

was very easy to live in this fantasy,

HE IS PRESENT

turn as the scene-stealing character

of ‘What does arrived look like? What

When Hale first arrived in Hollywood,

earned him two Primetime Emmy

does making it look like?’” he says.

he was quick to defend his faith.

Awards for best supporting actor in a

“And the older I get, and the more I do

But after years in the business, and

comedy series. The final season of the

it, the more it really brings me back

struggling to find contentment in

satirical political series is airing now,

down to the simple. Really arriving

professional success, things started

and even though the current political

and making it is just being as present

to change.

world has moved well past the bounds

as I can be, and in a situation and

of satire, Hale’s presence remains an

connected to people.”

astonishment.

MAY-JUNE

And what a moment it is. By almost

That was a lesson it’s taken Hale

“The older I get, my relationship with God and my faith—I mean, it’s always been everything to me—but

And then there’s Pixar, which cast

a long time to realize, and he’s quick

there’s more of an ownership of it

Hale as the new anchor of Toy Story 4.

to note it helped him a lot to have “a

now,” he says. “God really is the only

046

2019

reason I’m doing anything I’m doing.”

Hale’s ownership of his faith started to reframe the way he thought about his beliefs, especially when it came to his defensiveness.

It helped him contextualize what actually “arriving” as an actor and a healthy approach to being “famous” might actually look like.

“Everybody wants to be known,” he explains.

“Everybody wants to be seen. And people look at fame as the ultimate being known, the ultimate being seen. In actuality, if you’re known by people who you love and love you, that’s all the known you need.

And people that are really, really famous, they’re less known than a person who’s working at the mall in Birmingham, Alabama, because that person in Birmingham, Alabama, can walk into a place and, whatever ‘hello’ they get, whatever encouragement they get, whatever somebody’s giving, there are no strings attached.”

KNOWN FOR GOOD

There’s a common thread that connects many of the characters Tony Hale is known for: They are fragile people with deep-seated issues. That’s exactly why Hale enjoys playing them.

“I love it just because I’m a broken mess,” he says.

047

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

MAY-JUNE

048

2019

“I’m a disaster. I’m a huge work

he learned before his high school

show. It’s another role he hopes to

in progress.”

reunion: Life isn’t about looking

learn from.

For him, there’s a value in showing the consequences of brokenness.

toward the next thing; it’s about being present in the moment God has you in.

He’s not against “redemptive”

“I pretty much want to be Archibald,” he says. “I want to have that perspective on life.”

entertainment, but he’s also learned

A CLEAR AND PRESENT NOW

the power of showing what happens

This fall, Netflix will air a new show

present-living animated chicken. But

when characters don’t seek or achieve

starring Tony Hale. It isn’t another

he also sees himself in Buster Bluth

redemption.

prestige sitcom. It’s a cartoon about

and Veep’s Gary, both anxiety-riddled,

a chicken. And he says it’s one of the

“broken” people just trying to stay

“It’s not like I’m against art that

Hale wants to be more like a

puts a bow on it. We all need hope,” he says.

“I love redemptive work, but I also love art that really shows brokenness.”

Take Veep’s main character Selina Meyer, played by Julia LouisDreyfus. Meyer’s an

“I love redemptive work, but I also love art that really shows brokenness.”

unrepentant narcissist who doesn’t mind walking all over people in an effort to

most important projects he’s ever

afloat in a world that’s uninterested

fuel her mostly selfish ambitions. For

worked on.

in them.

Hale, there’s real value in showing

In 2014, Hale co-authored a

what happens to someone like that.

children’s book called Archibald’s

so I love doing characters or stories

“Throughout the seasons, I think

“I’ve struggled with anxiety myself,

Next Big Thing. The story’s concept

that put a mirror up to society,” he

there’s been this constant theme of

comes as no surprise. Archibald, the

explains. “Even if it’s not a pretty bow

you reap what you sow,” he explains.

aforementioned chicken, learns to be

at the end, even if it’s not a redemptive

“Selina is an awful person. She’s a

fully present. He’s the personification

picture, just me feeling seen in that

very broken human being who is

(or chickenification) of a thought

work is comforting.”

all about herself and only wants the

experiment: What if instead of

most attention, the most power. She’s

looking forward to the next big thing,

when he’ll arrive, in his career or

not kind. And the fact is, that reaps

everywhere you are is a big thing?

even as a person. He’s more concerned

isolation. That reaps destruction. I

“I think of all my jobs, this has

with living in the moment, being fully

No longer is Hale worrying about

think our society, we invest in more

been …” Hale stops himself for a

present and understanding that success

and more and more. It’s not enough,

moment. “I mean, I loved Arrested.

isn’t about where you’re headed.

it’s not enough, it’s not enough. When

I loved Veep. But this is something

you give yourself, when you are kind,

that is really so special to put out

when you are loving, it reaps such a

there, because especially in today’s

better outcome.”

political climate and all the chaos in

Hale wants to make art that teaches

the world, this little chicken is seeing

people about themselves, even if that

the best in people and is super loving

lesson is about what happens to people

and positive, and ‘yes ands’ his way

who behave badly.

through life. It’s really, really life-

In his life, almost no lesson has been more important than the one

It’s about enjoying where God has you right now.

giving and fun.”

Hale will voice Archibald on the

049

JESSE CAREY is the brand director at RELEVANT. You can find him on Twitter @jessecarey.

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

HEAVEN & SELL ESSENTIAL OILS. YOGA PANTS. FACE CREAM. How multilevel marketing companies found the perfect mark in the American Church

BY R A C H E L G I V E N S

IF you regularly use social

Dr. Bill Keep, the interim

the growth of dozens of

media, there’s a reasonably

about the scientifically

provost of The College of

new companies that use

good chance you’ve

dubious benefits of various

New Jersey and one of the

the controversial model.

encountered it. A friend—

products from oils and

country’s leading experts

But that key element of the

maybe one you haven’t

health shakes to leggings,

on MLM companies. In fact,

business model—trust—has

talked to in years—contacts

body wraps and vitamins,

he’s been the go-to expert

also led to MLM companies

you out of the blue, wanting

but they are also promising

witness in several major

infiltrating another kind of

to catch up and then tells

something even greater: a

cases targeting multilevel

influential community:

you they have an exciting

better life. What they are

marketing companies.

the Church.

opportunity that’d be

offering is an opportunity

perfect for you. Or, maybe a

to make money, spend more

information and you

THE DOWNSTREAM

friend from church reaches

time with your family and

have to make a decision,

Multilevel marketing

out to invite you to a free

work your own hours.

there’s often an element of

companies all share

trust,” he says. “So if I trust

one thing in common: a

all but impossible to tell if

you even though I can’t

business model.

the promises being made

validate information, then

Instead of operating

can even be kept.

perhaps I’ll go ahead and

like a traditional business,

make a decision in favor of

which generates revenue

investing or joining.”

by charging customers

“class” or a meeting for some close friends.

There’s a reason why details are scarce at first.

There’s also a reason

Yes, they are preaching

“When you can’t validate

The problem is, it can be

“One of the concerns

why you may have gotten

here, when you talk about

messages from different,

multilevel marketing as a

unrelated people that, for

business model, is to what

been around for decades,

MLM companies have an

some reason, sound the

extent are the prospective

but the rise of social media

additional way of pulling

same. These people have

recruits able to validate

and the accelerated means

in money. They often

been trained. They’ve been

the information that

of communication it offers

use a workforce—whose

taught to make promises.

they’re being told?” says

communities have fueled

members are commission-

MLM companies have

051

for a product or a service,

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

only—to sell products that

start messaging a Facebook

they are mostly in charge

friend they haven’t heard

of purchasing themselves

from in years.

online groups.

“So I joined, and within a couple of

at a markup.

months, they asked SOUNDS LIKE MLM BUT OK

me to moderate the

the “multilevel” part of

Katie Young remembers

group,” she explains.

the business is where the

first attending multilevel

“After seeing all of the

But the claim goes that

real money can be made. Members are encouraged to recruit other people to join as salespeople.

If you recruit a salesperson, you then get

“More than 97 percent have made unsubstantiated income claims.”

a commission from every wholesale product they purchase and a

marketing meetings with

stories and seeing all

commission from every

her mom. They were

of the experiences, I

wholesale item purchased

always hosted by women

was like, ‘Wow, these

by anyone they recruit. The

in her church.

companies are terrible

more people you convince

“I was pretty young,

to join, the more who will

but because it was church

be in your “downstream.”

women, I didn’t really

Theoretically, the people

people’s lives.’”

What she saw was

realize what was going

people “investing”

percent have made or are

at the top of the pyramid-

on,” she says. “I never

their time, money

making–either directly or

shaped business model can

would have assumed that

and relationships into

through their distributors–

make a lot of money (as

it was any sort of scam,

businesses that failed to

false and unsubstantiated

long as their downstream

because it was like, ‘Well,

live up the promises they

income claims to promote

constantly recruits others).

these are other members

made. Many of the people

the companies’ business

However, as Keep explains,

of the church. These are

lost money—and friends.

opportunities.”

the vast majority of

intelligent people. They’re

participants fail to make

not going to join a company

by the group Truth in

her to take a deep dive

any money, and most lose

that’s trying to scam them

Advertising that found

into the world of MLM.

money because of the

out of their money.’”

how flimsy many of the

Today, she runs a popular

Her mother didn’t

promises made by the

Facebook group whose

have to purchase and basic

end up buying into the

companies are. Based

mission is to be a place to

principles like market

“opportunity,” but later,

on an investigation of

“discuss and learn about

saturation. If a church

after Young went to school

every company on the

multilevel marketing

already has one person

to become an esthetician,

Direct Selling Association

companies (MLMs) and

selling oils, guess what

she started noticing

[the trade association

their poor business

happens when four more

something. “Consultants”

affiliated with many MLM

structures, obnoxious

people start selling them?

from a popular MLM

companies] membership

marketing practices and all

The supply far outpaces the

makeup company kept

list, Truth in Advertising

around awful nature.” The

demand, and people have to

inviting her to their

“found that more than 97

group has nearly 100,000

amount of products they

MAY-JUNE

… They’re ruining

Keep points to research

052

Young’s experience led

2019

TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE? A LOOK AT THE PROMISES MLM COMPANIES MAKE There’s a reason it’s called multilevel marketing. Here’s a look at three kinds of messages MLM companies use to attract people.

1

H E A LT H A N D S C I E N C E

Many MLM consultants make unsubstantiated health promises.

The group Truth in Advertising found that most of the companies selling nutritional products “have distributors marketing their products with illegal health claims.”

members. She also hosts

2

I N CO M E A N D P R O F I TS

3

Though it’s technically possible to make substantial money with an MLM company, according to an FTC report, “less than one in 100 MLM participants make a clear profit, and at least 99 out of 100 participants actually lose money.”

A major promise MLM companies make is that participants can set their own hours and spend more time at home. However, that doesn’t add up to the truth that 90% of participants quit within the first five years.

members of the Church

allow multilevel marketing

the Sounds Like MLM But

multilevel marketing

of Jesus Christ of Latter-

companies to flourish in

OK podcast.

growth based on affinity

Day Saints. In fact, there

them. But they also stand to

groups,” Keep says. He

are more than a dozen

lose more than just money

stories of MLM companies

specifically points to

major MLM companies

when the companies they

that have ruined the lives

“women with children

headquartered in the state,

welcome in start to make

of individuals—oftentimes,

at home” and “people

and they bring in billions

promises that they have

young women.

with shared values like a

of dollars in revenue.

no way of keeping. They

church group” as primary

Utah now has more MLM

may be innocent and even

opening experience being

examples. In fact, MLM

companies per capita than

well-intentioned, but that

in the group, and seeing

thrives in religious

any other state in the U.S.

doesn’t change the results.

all of people’s experiences

communities, where trust

and seeing what these

and relationships run

backgrounds are often the

of trust. And for churches,

companies had done to

deep—and promises made

same. And, unfortunately,

that is something that can’t

everyone,” she says.

are expected to be kept.

so are their outcomes.

simply be bought and sold.

Every day, she hears new

“It was just a really eye-

But there’s a reason

“We have often seen

T I M E A N D FA M I LY

The members’

MLM is built on the idea

Though MLM companies

why the stories Young sees

have more recently spread

BOUGHT AND SOLD

are often similar. It’s the

to evangelical circles,

Churches, with their tight-

same reason why MLM

their biggest hotbed is

knit communities and trust-

is so popular in church

Utah, where more than 60

dependent hierarchies,

communities.

percent of residents are

are perfectly poised to

053

R AHCEL GIVENS is a writer and editor living in Portland

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

TARAJI P. H E N S O N The star of Empire on how her faith has made her a better actor

M

any of Taraji P.

YOU’VE PLAYED A WIDE

all in my work. A lot of my

Henson’s char-

RANGE OF CHARACTERS.

characters come from des-

acters are not,

HOW DOES THAT DIVERSITY

perate, traumatic places, so

That’s right. It’s a real under-

as she would

SERVE YOUR WORK AS

you need something to hold

standing of love because a

put it, “moral-

AN ACTOR?

onto morally, and because

lot of these characters aren’t

[sometimes] I play morally

morally correct. You have to

ly correct.” Her wide-rang-

PEOPLE’S SHOES.

ing career has placed her

I love when I’m a character

correct characters, there has

find the humanity in them so

in the shoes of a ruthless

that takes me away from my-

to be religion in me for peo-

the audience can empathize.

record mogul (Cookie Lyons

self. I tap into things I didn’t

ple to trust that.

And that’s in life. That’s how

on Empire), a sympathetic

know about myself. I tap into

sex worker (Hustle & Flow)

how closely I pay attention

THAT MORAL FOUNDATION

and a conflicted-but-none-

to people. I people-watch all

CAN BE HOPEFUL FOR

theless-effective

PEOPLE, TOO.

you change perspectives on a certain group of people.

HOW DOES BEST OF

assassin

the time. I’m the weirdo in

(Proud Mary), just to name

the restaurant looking over,

a few. While these types of

trying to figure out if those

Absolutely. For me, acting is

complex

often

people are on a first date,

very spiritual. You’re letting

overcome the actors who in-

if they’re newlyweds, that’s

these characters use your

This movie was right on

habit them, Henson deploys

me. It’s amazing how much

body as a vessel. You have to

mark and right on time.

a unique approach.

of it sticks. I don’t have a

surrender your insecurities

We’re in a tumultuous time

She is an outspoken Chris-

notebook, but I collect it all

to the truth of these char-

in history right now, and

tian, and while one might ex-

in my head, and when it

acters. You can’t judge. You

it looks like we don’t have

characters

ENEMIES ADD TO THAT CONVERSATION?

pect that to mean she sets her personal worldview aside in order to play dark roles, she actually does the opposite.

Henson says her faith is the foundation of all her roles, regardless of genre or character, and is why she can

“For me, acting is very spiritual.

You’re letting these characters use your body as a vessel.”

bring regal power to Empire, poise to Hidden Figures and honest depth to The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

comes time to use it, it amaz-

actually have to think like

hope. It’s a timely story. We

This spring, Henson plays

es me how it comes out so

Jesus and love them, and if

need it, and that’s why art is

civil rights activist Ann At-

quick. Oh, I had that in the

you love them, the audience

so important. That’s how we

water in The Best of Enemies,

storage bank? I didn’t know!

will have empathy. They’ll

learn and grow.

have a transformation and

I take my job as an artist

a film based on the real-life 1971 instance when Atwa-

HOW HAS YOUR WORK URGED

cathartic moment because

very seriously. It’s a respon-

ter worked with a Ku Klux

YOU TO THINK ABOUT FAITH

you love the character un-

sibility. If I’m not afraid of a

Klan leader to desegregate

OR SPIRITUALITY?

conditionally.

character, then I won’t take

Henson spoke with REL-

I’m very spiritual in life,

IT’S BEEN SAID ACTING IS

I’m not going to be trans-

EVANT about how acting

period. I don’t do anything

THE MOST LOVING JOB YOU

formed, and if I’m not trans-

helps her communicate her

without talking to God first.

CAN HAVE BECAUSE YOU

formed, then the audience

vision for the world.

That’s just who I am, and it’s

HAVE TO WALK IN OTHER

won’t be.

schools in North Carolina.

the job because that means

055

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

Hillsong United They defined the sound of worship for a generation but got disillusioned in the process. Here’s how Joel Houston rediscovered his passion and got the band back together.

BY J E S S E C A R E Y

W

hen Joel Houston arrived at the dilapidated house in a

remote part of the Scottish Highlands, for the first time in a while, something just felt right.

“I see this beautiful kind of Scottish farmhousetype deal with rubble everywhere and windows knocked out and walls torn down,” he remembers. “I just felt like I got a picture of what was happening.”

It was late 2017, and just months before, he and his Hillsong United bandmates had wrapped another stadium worship tour in promotion of their charttopping album Wonder.

The band got back on their tour bus one night, and the mood seemed … off.

“I just looked at everybody’s faces, and I said, ‘You know what?

Maybe we should just take some time off,’” he remembers.

“We all looked at each other and nodded our heads,” says fellow singer Jonathon Douglass (who goes by JD).

Houston remembers the moment well. “Everybody kind of started crying,” he says. After years of touring, most of the band was burned out and wanted to spend time with their families.

Taya Gaukrodger, one of United’s primary vocalists,

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

remembers it vividly, too. “I

myself out of a certain place

spend some time talking

United has had since the

remember I started crying

that was a little confusing

through his struggles.

release of their first album

because I was just kind of

for me,” he says before

Arriving at the farmhouse

two decades ago. Yes,

craving time at home,” she

pausing. “I don’t know what

was a moment of revelation.

they’ve sold millions of

says. “I opened my hands,

other words to put on it.”

put my face in my hands, and

“I saw something

Before the band’s

albums, racked up more

inspiring for the first time

than a billion streams

I just was like, ‘I need to tell

extended break, Houston

given the season that I was

and consistently sell out

you these are happy tears.’”

had written a book. After

in, in that moment,” he says.

stadiums around the world.

sending a draft to his

“I felt like I got a picture of

But the real measure

himself, Houston wanted

publishers, he remembers

my life.”

of their impact isn’t in

to go home and take a

being at home in New York

A husband and father

On the outside, the house

traditional music industry

“I just found myself in a place where, let’s be real, I kind of lost the wonder.”

–Joel Houston break too, but that wasn’t

City when the edits came

was rundown, worn by

metrics. It’s in how many

his only motive. There was

back in the mail. It should

weather and time. It was

people sing songs that

something bothering him.

have been an exciting

a shell of what it had once

Houston and his bandmates

moment.

been. But if you looked

have written in church

hard enough, you could see

services every single week.

Like everyone else in the group, he was tired and in need of an extended time off the road. But what he

he says.

that with a little work and

Houston had questions

A quick recap: United

care, it could be restored. It

started as the youth

was experiencing wasn’t

about his future, his

could, for all Houston knew,

ministry band of Australia-

just burnout.

band and even his faith.

be even more stunning than

based megachurch Hillsong

Where does the person a

the place it’d been before.

in the late ’90s. Joel

place where, let’s be real,

generation has turned to

“Sometimes, if you’re

Houston—whose parents

I kind of lost the wonder,”

for worship go when he’s

going to create something

Brian and Bobbie are the

Houston remembers.

no longer feeling inspired?

beautiful, you’ve got to

founders and pastors of the

Who does a leader ask when

get through the process of

church—has been a part of

songs sung by millions of

he has questions about

reconstruction,” Houston

the band since the beginning,

people around the world

faith? Houston needed help.

says. “And that involves

and he officially took over as

was losing sight of what

That’s what led him to

deconstruction and all the

its leader in 2003.

“I just found myself in a

The man who’d written

had inspired him in the first

that rundown farmhouse in

place. It’s still difficult for

the Scottish countryside.

him to talk about.

“I’d spent the previous couple years trying to write

MAY-JUNE

“I never opened them,”

rest of it.”

At the time, the church was best known for their

ALL THE REST OF IT

primary band, Hillsong

of a friend to go to Scotland,

It’s hard to overstate

Worship. Led by Darlene

get away from things and

the influence Hillsong

Zschech, their music

He’d taken the invitation

058

2019

Taya Gaukrodger has become one of Hillsong United’s core members.

became a global church fixture with mega-hits like “Shout to the Lord,” a song that was sung in more than 30 million churches.

Initially, United’s live albums were packaged with Hillsong Worship albums, and starting in 1999, they began releasing annual live albums that featured rotating line-ups of singers around Houston.

But something shifted in 2007 with the release of their first studio album, All of the Above. Not only did it hit the top spot on the Christian charts, it climbed all the way to the No. 60 spot on the Billboard Top 200 chart.

Not long after, Houston and the rest of United’s influence began to outpace the parent band. The song “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)” from 2013’s Zion went double platinum and sat at the top of the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart for a record 61 weeks.

Like other songs from United, “Oceans” is a Sunday worship music staple—but even that only scratches the surface of their church service influence.

Hillsong Church has a policy that says “the rights connected to having a band play our songs in a worship service is exempt from live performance licensing.” Their policy also states, “Our songs and resources are created

059

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

with the express purpose

God, can be a really

of enhancing worship,

difficult process at times

therefore, you are

to find the balance in,”

welcome to use our

Houston says. “I thought

songs, CDs, DVDs and

I’d dealt with that stuff

Split Tracks as part of

when I was 19; and I

your services with our

thought I’d dealt with

blessing.”

it when I was 25; and I

That means any

thought I’d dealt with it

church, anywhere in the

when I was 31. And I’ve

world, can play songs

got to this period of like,

from a Hillsong band free

‘Man, this is still a thing?’”

of charge—and millions do every Sunday morning.

Back in 2017, the pressure of being a face

Today, the church

of a global worship

has four primary acts:

movement—while

Hillsong Worship,

still dealing with

Hillsong United, Hillsong

the questions many

Young & Free (geared

Christians face as they

toward Gen Z listeners)

grow in their faith—

and Hillsong Kids.

finally hit a breaking

However, it’s United that

point when Houston left

consistently tops global

for the rundown cabin

music charts and sells out

in Scotland.

stadium worship concerts

“At the time, I just felt

around the globe. And

this giant hole when it

at the center of it all is

came to inspiration,”

39-year-old Houston.

he says. “I still felt like I

He’s been a part of

loved God. I was digging

United since he was a

deep into the things of

teenager, so maybe it’s

God, but when it came to

not surprising that the

stuff that had naturally

weight of influencing the

driven me—which is

global culture of worship

the creative and ideas

music was taking a toll

of the future, and

on him. Maybe it’s even

wrestling with that kind

understandable.

of dissatisfaction that’s

“For me, the tension of

the driving force toward

always trying to play that balance between being somebody people look up to, and the whole time, trying to do this in a way where you’re trying to draw people’s attention toward

MAY-JUNE

“At the time, I just felt this giant hole when it came to inspiration.”

–Joel Houston

060

2019

creating new things—I hadn’t felt it for a while. I just felt empty.”

His friend—the one who invited him to Scotland— gave him some advice: Lean into the uncertainty and do what you’ve always done. Write music.

“He said, ‘God set you up for this season and every season like it. He’s given you the gifts, the ammunition, to try to get your way out of this,’” Houston says. “ I was like, ‘OK, those things are a story and metaphor, songs and writings—the very things that you do naturally that God has given you—that’s going to help you see through to the other side.”

He got up in the middle of the darkest crisis of faith he’d ever experienced, went outside in the cold Scotland air, and started writing a song.

ALL THINGS NEW

In the months that followed his time in Scotland, Houston did the one thing he felt like would get him out of his spiritual rut: He continued to write music. Eventually, after more than a year away from the band, he From left to right: Matt Cocker, Jonathon Douglass, Taya Gaukrodger, Joel Houston, Ben Hastings and Jad Gillies

went to visit Hillsong in Sydney where he met up with the rest of the group.

For two weeks, they hung out and played through the dozens of new songs together, trying to decide which ones would make their next album.

Gaukrodger remembers hearing the new songs for the first time. “I was

061

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

“I don’t think any one of us had a plan of how this was going to look or how this was going to turn out.”

like, ‘This is so raw; it’s

It felt like the beginning of

in the future is that we

way people think inside the

unpolished; it’s very real,’”

something new.

find the means for it to

Church,” Houston says.

she says. “We’re going back

In the middle of the

open up opportunity for

Despite the season

to the roots of United and

worship service, back in

others in the same space,”

of doubt and the state

back to what it was about.”

the city where it all started,

Houston says. “What I mean

of things in the world,

Houston had a revelation.

by that is, it’s not limited

Houston has hope that the

to—certainly not me—or

thing United has helped

the middle of this night we

just the few people who

fuel will inspire a new kind

were singing these songs

represent it now. It could

of worship movement.

releases, this would not be a

and the crowd was singing,

become something that is

One that thinks outside the

polished studio album. This

and it just dawned on me,

more embracing of a whole

boxes to which the Church

would be a live worship

what God has done in a

lot of other people.”

has constrained itself.

album in front of the people

year,” Houston remembers.

who’d been there from the

“It was basically 12 months

a new collection of songs

new in us all, and that’s

beginning—since before

to the day that we recorded

that are unlike anything

not exclusive for Hillsong

the stadiums and platinum

it that I was in Scotland at

they’ve ever sung. They

United,” says Douglass. “It’s

awards—the people who’d

rock bottom. And the very

aren’t songs written at the

something we believe God is

been with Houston before

songs that started there

peak of personal successes

doing around the world and

and during his season

were here being kind of

or spiritual highs. These are

is for anyone who wants to

of doubt.

recorded in this really

songs written in the valley.

be a part of it.”

Douglass says, “I think the fruit of that break is heard and felt in the songs.”

Unlike their recent

There—not in front

“I remember basically in

They are going out with

special setting for us.”

of a huge stadium of

These are songs about the

“God is doing something

When asked if he’s

grace that sustains not just

optimistic about the future

fans, but a church full of

ALL IN

when God seems near, but

of the Church, Houston says,

worshippers—Hillsong

This summer, Hillsong

when He feels far away.

“I absolutely am. Especially

United began to sing.

United will strike out in

And to hear Houston tell

what could possibly be their

ways God used United to

it, something strange

last major world tour—at

put a voice to things that a

certainty. He wanted to know

happened. The same group

the very least, it will be the

generation was feeling, but

what would come next. He

of musicians who’d sat on

last time with the current

now he also sees how others

wanted to understand how

a bus weeping together in

version of United. They’ll

are coming after him to lead

God worked.

exhaustion months before

be singing songs from a

the Church into new places

were now singing like they

brand-new album People.

he’d never imagined.

hadn’t in a long time.

And though in some ways,

“It felt like we were

Houston can see the

“I’ve talked to these

the mystic in me.”

The old Joel wanted

Now he’s learned to be content understanding how God is. He doesn’t need

things feel as pure and as

15-year-old kids, and

to understand why grace

going back to the root of

passionate as they did back

they just think differently

exists, he just needs to

what United came out of,”

at the very beginning, there

about everything,” he says.

recognize that it does.

Gaukrodger says. “Which

will be other ways in which

“Hopefully, they’re going

“Grace is so nonsensical

was unpolished. People

this is uncharted territory

to take a small leap out of

it doesn’t play into the facts,

passionate about getting

for the band.

whatever they’ve seen in

the narrative or the truth as

us.” But he hopes they’ll

we see it,” he says.

together with one accord

“I don’t think any one of

of worshipping Jesus and

us had a plan of how this

also understand that there’s

seeing people impacted by

was going to look or how

no limit.

the presence.”

this was going to turn out,”

“It just felt like kind of coming full circle,” Houston

Gaukrodger says.

And now that

“I pray that we always for all its imperfections,” he

uncertainty is something

says. “But they break all the

giant reset.”

Houston is OK with.

right rules and smash all the

“The big hope for United

good as the tension.”

see the beauty in the Church

says. “Like a big reset, a It didn’t feel like the end.

“Even the way music works, the resolve is only as

stereotypes and change the

063

JESSE CAREY is the brand director at RELEVANT. You can find him on Twitter @jessecarey.

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

H OW TO G E T I N TO T H E B E S T M E N TA L H E A LT H S H A P E O F YO U R L I F E Seven experts on how to whip your brain into the best shape it’s ever been.

BY T Y L E R D A S W I C K

W

hat if we viewed

seven mental health “trainers” to help

area of need. This isn’t a catch-all, but

mental health

coach you on various ways you can be

it could be the right first step for you.

like fitness, and

more mentally strong this year, in all

approached how

areas of your life.

we shore up our

Whether it’s finances bringing you

But first: No matter what change you want to make, have grace with yourself. Part of mental health is

minds the same way we take care of

down, a worry over the future or

being able to engage with the process

our bodies?

a more personal struggle, stronger

of growth without coming down on

mental health means taking the right

yourself for not already being at the

encourages you to target specific areas

first step. Each of our expert trainers

finish line. This may take some work,

of growth, we’ve gathered a group of

are hand-picked to address a specific

and that’s OK. You can do this.

Just as a personal trainer

065

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

REDUCE YOUR ANXIETY

1

hard and vulnerable? Yes! But telling the truth helps us build

TRAINER: SARAH MAE,

relationships where people

A U T H O R O F TH E

can really know us, and this is

C O M P L I C AT E D H E A RT

when we experience real love

REINFORCE YOUR FAITH

3

TRAINER: BARNABAS PIPER, A U T H O R O F TH E C U R I O U S C H R I ST I A N

from others.”

1. Source your worries. “Look

for the weed that leads to the deeper root. The weed is your anxiety-filled reaction to something, and the root is where [you] learned to have

2

FIND FINANCIAL PEACE OF MIND

1. Write Scripture by hand. “Writing

does something to imprint words on my mind and heart in a deeper way.

TRAINER: CALLIE BRIESE,

It slows me down and focuses my

E X T E R N A L R E L AT I O N S

mind so I have to look at each letter

D I R E C TO R , T H R I V E N T

of the truths God has given me. I use

that reaction. What’s making you

a journal and notecards. Either allows

anxious, angry or depressed? Start

1. Start paying yourself. “When

me to revisit the passages and cling

there.”

you’re budgeting, commit a recurring

to them.”

2. Try this 15-minute worship

payment to a personal savings

2. Don’t skip Ecclesiastes. “For

playlist. “When negative voices enter

account. You can use this fund

hurting people, loud praises and

my mind, I put on worship music.

depending on your needs: emergency

bright optimism can often seem

Here are my go-to songs: ‘I Will

savings, money for a vacation or a

overwhelming or unrealistic, but

Never Leave You Alone’ by Paul Zach

way to help prepare for retirement.

Ecclesiastes speaks to us in our

(featuring Liz Vice), ‘Give Me a Song’

If possible, have this money

unhappiness and reminds us that

by Will Reagan, ‘Take Back’ by Will

automatically withdrawn from your

while so much of this life is ‘vanity of

Reagan and ‘Simple Gospel (Live)’ by

paycheck so you don’t miss it.”

vanities,’ there is a true God we can

2. For advice, turn to Proverbs.

trust in no matter what. The book’s

“Proverbs 11:24 says, ‘The world of

blunt reality reframes expectations,

“Ask yourself some questions about

the generous gets larger and larger;

wipes away false hopes and leaves

what’s the most important trait in a

the world of the stingy gets smaller

us with perspective on what we can

United Pursuit.”

3. Find a comfortable counselor.

expect from this life and from God.”

If you meet with [a mental health professional] and it’s not a good fit, it’s OK to find someone else.

3. Memorize this

prayer. “‘I believe; help my unbelief.’ This short prayer from Mark 9 is an expression of clinging to God and acknowledging He is worthy of trust. It is an expression of need and

mental health professional for you:

and smaller.’ If we manage money in

a cry for help. Jesus will help our

‘Who will I be most comfortable with?

a way that is only self-serving, we will

unbelief and give us what we need to

Someone conservative, someone

become lonely and isolated. But if we

have hope in Him.”

less conservative? A lay person, or

manage money in a generous

someone with a higher education

way—planning for the future

level?’ If you meet with someone

and sharing our treasure

and it’s not a good fit, it’s OK to find

with others—we flourish

someone else.”

personally and in community

4. Share the truth. “Telling the

with each other.”

4

BUILD STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS TR AI N E R: BAR BAR A B ROWN TAY LO R , E P I S C O PA L P R I E S T, AUTHOR, PROFESSOR

truth is always empowering. Is it

MAY-JUNE

066

2019

1. Mandate in-person connection.

your ambition is for impact, reward

Let yourself smile next to friends

“Decide how often you will enter into

or challenge, you can grow your

or family in pictures. Stand in front

physical contact with other people

ambition with each new job or title.”

of oceans and monuments and let

2. Create circles of feedback.

(Once a week? Every two weeks?)

someone snap the picture. Don’t

and make a list of [activities] on

“Institute meetings and gather

delete it. Keep it on your phone or

paper slips—going for a walk with a

groups of people with no particular

post it on Instagram without apology.

neighbor, inviting a friend to coffee,

agenda and no reporting relationship

Courage breeds courage. We are

volunteering. Put the slips in a mason

to yourself. Talk to them and

facing down the lie that our bodies

jar, and every week pull a slip from

ask questions and create a safe

are not worth being seen.”

the jar. Then do what’s on the slip—

environment where you actually

no excuses!”

want to know the answers.”

2. Understand the powers at

3. Stop failing, start making

7

OVERCOME TRAUMA

play. “When a congregation is at

mistakes. “The term ‘failure’ is

war over the color of the carpet,

problematic because it looms

that’s not about interior decorating;

large for people, but mistake-

it’s about who feels powerful and

making is part of life. After a

who doesn’t. It’s easier to criticize

mistake, pause. Ask what you would

routine. “Improving our minds and

than create, which is why knee-jerk

do differently, and learn the lesson.”

hearts after trauma is not a quick

criticism is such a cheap shot.

A community that wants to stay healthy will cultivate generosity, humility and unselfishness.”

3. Know when you’ve made

a true connection. “Is there

6

ACCEPT YOUR BODY

TRAI N ER: B ECCA STEVENS , A U T H O R O F LO V E H E A L S

1. Find peace inside your

fix, so we need to take small daily steps that offer us peace, and do those things consistently. It could be exercise,

TRAI N ER: N I CO LE M O RGAN ,

taking up a creative art form, prayer,

C H R I S T I A N FAT- A C C E P TA N C E

cooking or making lists. Find changes

A D VO C AT E A N D A U T H O R O F

that encourage healthy living.”

FAT A N D FA I T H F U L

give-and-take in your conversations?

2. Go to the pros. “If your vision

has gone blurry, you need a doctor

Are you able to be silent together for

1 . Consider all bodies. “When you can

to get glasses. So when your life

short periods of time without feeling

see the goodness of every single body

is unmanageable as it is, seek

anxious? Are you able to make each

in the world, it will make the journey

professional help! [For mental health],

other laugh? Have you found ways to

to loving your own body smoother.

some resources to explore include

play together as well as work on your

Pay attention to your neighbors and

the sexual assault center in your

relationship? When you’re in conflict

push back when someone makes a

community, the 12 step rooms of AA,

with one another, are you able to own

fat joke or says something racist or

a guide to licensed mental health

up to your role in the upset? These

xenophobic.”

professionals or your pastor.”

are good signs you are in a nurturing relationship.”

5

2. Find support on social media—

3. Repeat this prayer. “Most

really! “Look for body-positive

gentle and merciful Creator, your

hashtags like #AllBodiesAreGoodBodies

love was with me over the hard and

or #FatAcceptance and find accounts

holy ground I have walked. I pray

by people who show up in their

to feel that love surround me today,

marginalized bodies and live life with

so I never forget its healing power.

T R A I N E R : C A R LY F I O R I N A ,

purpose and intent. You can find body

Amen.”

CEO AN D 2016 PRESI D ENTIAL

positive influences within specific

C A N D I D AT E

genres as well. I enjoy hiking, and was

EMPOWER YOURSELF AT WORK

thrilled to discover #UnlikelyHikers.”

1. Tie your goals to a purpose, not

3. Be intentional about seeing

a plan. “Following a plan is always

yourself. “Look at yourself in the

going to be a disappointment. If

mirror in various states of dress.

067

T YLER DASWICK is the senior writer at RELEVANT. Follow him on Twitter @tylerdaswick.

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

the japanese T H E house Amber Bain is wrestling her demons in public—and finding healing along the way.

JAPANESE HOUSE

MAY-JUNE

068

2019

BY

TYLER HUCKABEE

A

mber Bain is not

that ascent is just a happy byproduct

given to distance.

of her own desire to create some-

In her songwriting

thing beautiful, personal and real.

and even in conversation,

there’s

THE HOUSE THAT STARTED IT ALL

a fearless intimacy

When she was young, Bain and her

that isn’t overbearing, but is studi-

family spent a week in Devon, En-

ous and deliberate. She’s generous

gland, where they stayed in a house

with her honesty, and that’s inten-

owned by Kate Winslet modeled af-

tional. She’s hoping that by being

ter traditional Japanese tea houses.

honest in her music, she’ll eventual-

She posed as a boy that week and

ly be able to figure out a little more

even netted a childhood crush from

about who she is.

a neighbor girl who was heartbro-

“I don’t like to confront issues,”

ken when she learned she’d been

she says. “So I guess there is some-

duped. The experience had an im-

thing therapeutic about writing a

pact on Bain—it’s why the house

song and confronting it, but I don’t

became her band name—and she’s

enjoy the process. I don’t feel good

been trying to figure out her identity

afterward.” She compares writing a

ever since. She’s made some prog-

song to exercising—not particularly

ress on that front, and says she’s “be-

enjoyable in the moment but full of

ing more frank.”

long-term benefits for those able to stick with it long enough.

“I think that’s just reflecting who I am as a human: being more open

“Everything hurts afterward and

with myself and with people,” she

you feel like s***,” she says. “But in

says. “That’s showing through my

the long run you know you’re doing

songwriting rather than me going,

good for yourself. That’s the only

‘Right, that’s it, I’m going to start

way I could be able to describe it.”

writing songs that are really open.’

And Bain is doing good. As The Japanese House, she has achieved a

I never made that decision. I think it just reflects me.”

rare feat—she became an exceeding-

This idea of “reflection” comes

ly buzzy artist without a full-length

up a lot with Bain. She has a keen

album to her name. Instead, a pair

sense of how external and internal

of 2015 EPs immediately cemented

things interact, and how often those

her as an artist to watch. Over the

things are more indebted to each

last few years, she released a slew of

other than we think. Good at Falling

other singles and headlined a couple

is a reflection of an extraordinarily

of international tours—even open-

difficult season in Bain’s life—one in

ing for her friends and frequent col-

which she was forced to reckon with

laborators The 1975.

a number of very difficult realities

And now, in 2019, she’s finally released her first full-length album

about the world around her and the one inside of her.

Good at Falling. The album, full of

She says that’s part of the reason

the sorts of burbling melodies and

it took such a long time for her to

lush, dreamy production that put

release a full-length album. “Obvi-

her on the map, isn’t likely to slow

ously, it would have been better had

her ascent. But to hear her tell it,

I released it quicker, but I guess I

069

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

had to wait that long,” she says. “Those

ing that you get when you’re hungover.

a much broader thing

things needed to happen.”

You wake up [and think], ‘Well, I’ve ru-

that infuses into the

ined my life and everyone hates me. I’m

way that you think

just being crap.’”

about

“It’s all about relationships,” she says, of what things needed to happen.

yourself.

Be-

cause it’s every day.

It’s not just my hang-

Maybe that’s a way in which writing is therapeutic: Other people’s reactions make me feel better about my life.

over. When you do something

enough,

it becomes you completely

and

engulfs

your frame of mind.”

Dealing with these things

hasn’t

been

easy for Bain. She says she’s not a fan of confrontation. “I don’t like to deal with things head-on very often

when

they’re

particularly painful,” she says. “When I go to therapy, I don’t feel “Whether that’s my relationship with

But then she realized the truth: “Ev-

catharsis or any sort

someone else or my relationship with

eryone didn’t hate me. I hated me,” she

of release afterward.

myself. And as I was writing the album,

says. “I was making myself feel like that

Like, I feel worse.”

my relationship with myself complete-

every day and I’m creating ideas in my

ly changed. Or, at least, I acknowledged

head of what people thought of me.”

that I had to change it.”

But she does go, and she says she’s been fortunate to have friends around

BOTTLE IT UP

her who support taking mental health

growth has been learning that the feel-

Bain says she started to seriously exam-

seriously. “Being conscious of your

ings she used to attribute to other peo-

ine her relationship with alcohol over

mental health and caring for yourself

ple were actually things she was feeling

the course of making the latest album,

is definitely a respected thing within

within herself. “I acknowledged I actu-

and what she discovered wasn’t pret-

my group of people,” she says. “I under-

ally probably hated myself quite a lot,”

ty. She says she “wouldn’t say I started

stand that in a lot of groups that’s not

she says. “There’s a song on the album

having an alcohol problem,” but ac-

the case and I think I’m really lucky to

called ‘Everybody Hates Me’ which,

knowledges that there was an “ongo-

have people like that. I always feel like

when I originally wrote it, was basical-

ing issue” that she calls “severe.” And

I would be judged more for not taking

ly a tribute to alcohol because the feel-

that issue led to a string of mornings in

care of myself than doing so.”

Bain says a big part of her recent

which she’d wake up and

G OOD AT FALLING Bain’s wildly anticipated debut charts a journey through a tough season.

MAY-JUNE

feel bad about herself and

DEALING THROUGH SONGWRITING

her actions.

If this all sounds heavy, well, it is.

“I’ve got a headache and

Bain’s most recent collection of songs

I feel bad and sad, but I’m

deals with mental health, the death of a

anxious

people’s

friend and the painful end of a serious

opinion of me,” she says.

relationship. It’s a lot for one album,

“But when you’re doing

and she admits that traveling the world

that every day, it becomes

and singing about all this every night

070

about

2019

You can feel this inquisitive assurance on songs like “Maybe You’re the Reason,” when Bain grapples with a deteriorating relationship. “I keep looking for something, even though I know that it’s not there,” she sings. “Every time I try to figure it out / You’re the only thing I can think about.”

Who hasn’t been there?

FLOWS AND PROGRESSION AND BLOCKS

While this album was undoubtedly the product of a difficult time, Bain doesn’t necessarily chart her life in simple little chapters.

“I don’t think I think of my life in terms of like eras,” she says. “I don’t think I’m suddenly going to write the next album and be a different person.”

So she acknowledges the last few months have been difficult, but it’s not as simple as calling it a difficult season.

“Maybe I do feel like that time is over,” she says. “I don’t know. I kind of hope it’s not. I like the feeling. Slow flows and progression and blocks. You know what can be “quite exhausting,” but she rec-

such detail, but it’s not exactly ground-

ognizes there might be a benefit to let-

breaking,” she says. “I think the reason

I mean?”

This is how Bain writes and this is

ting it out, too. Eventually.

the people that do connect with it con-

the kind of art she creates. A lot of the

“I think when I first write I don’t feel

nect with it is because it’s completely

feelings she’s expressing are difficult to

the initial effect of it being therapeu-

honest and natural what I’m talking

summarize. They don’t make for easy

tic,” she says. “I don’t feel that at all.

about. It’s not contrived.”

conversation. But her skilled expres-

But I think there must be some positive

And that connection, while obvious-

sionist language evokes the right mood

effect in the long run after having ex-

ly helpful for fans who feel a little less

without landing on the exact dictionary

pressed something.”

alone when they listen to The Japanese

definition. And it helps her, too.

Plus, the amount of connection

House, is also helpful for Bain. The fact

“Maybe it’s good that I’m forced

Bain’s been able to make with her fans

that people can connect with the things

to deal with a lot of stuff throughout

would suggest that no matter how diffi-

she’s singing about are a reminder that

songwriting,” she muses. “So whether

cult it might be to work through these

her experience is universal.

it’s painful or not, it’s probably better

emotions and experiences, she’s not doing it alone.

“Maybe that’s a way in which writing is therapeutic: Other people’s reactions

“Everyone I know has been heart-

to it make me feel better about my life,”

broken or had some sort of existential

she says. “Everything is just about fig-

crisis or has suffered depression or,

uring stuff out. No one really knows

like, hated themselves. I think maybe

what’s going on. We’re all questioning

it’s rare that people talk about them in

everything.”

071

to do that than to suppress it in the long run.”

T YLER HUCK A BEE is the senior editor at RELEVANT. Follow him on Twitter @tylerhuckabee.

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

A H O U S E

A S T H E

A D U L T S , W O R L D

P A R E N T S .

D I V I D E D

M A N Y

V E R Y C A N

O F

U S

G R O W

D I F F E R E N T L Y T H E

G A P

B E

T O

F R O M

S E E O U R

B R I D G E D ?

BY TYLER HUCKABEE

MAY-JUNE

072

2019

F

or almost all her life, things between Katie

me and loves me and wouldn’t ever stand for this is now

Loveland and her father, Hal, were good. He’d

saying ‘Well, I’ve been in locker rooms.’”

been a high school teacher and coach, and al-

“It kind of devastated me,” she says. “Of all the people, I

though Katie was in his class, it didn’t create the

thought my dad would understand.”

tension some people have around their parents doing double duty as their teachers. “We actually had a great time,” Love-

THE RIFT

land says. “I think both of us consider that time when I was

This rift between Katie and her father isn’t unique. The

in high school as a highlight. It was pretty great.”

two-party system in the United States has always been a

That close relationship continued after graduation. A little

source of tension, but the divide has widened in recent

while after she and her husband had moved to their home

years as the political has become more personal. Old de-

in Helena, Montana, Hal joined them to be closer to his new

bates about topics like tax plans and foreign aid have been

grandchildren. And things remained strong, although the

replaced by intensely personal arguments about the rights

first seeds of a divide had been planted after Hal sent Katie

of immigrants, abortion, the ongoing realities of racism and,

to Summit Ministries—a Chuck Colson-led seminar designed

yes, the aftermath of #MeToo. And as these conversations get

to train students in apologetics with a decidedly conserva-

more personal, they get more heated—often leading to seri-

tive bent. Hal says he was “pretty excited about” sending

ous generational divides that leave both sides hurt, confused

Katie to the program but admits that “I don’t think it turned

and strained.

out the best.”

Lynn Vavreck, a political science professor at the Univer-

“Francis Schaeffer says one of the worst things we can do

sity of California-Los Angeles, conducted a study in 2016 to

for our kids is ask them to be conservative,” Hal says. “Chris-

see just how sharply political tensions had risen. She polled

tianity is revolutionary. I really believe that and I think that

Americans on whether or not they preferred their son or

seminar caused both my children to really start questioning

daughter marry someone who shared their political views.

a lot.”

Sixty percent of Democrats said they would, as did 63% of

Whether or not the Summit seminar was to blame, Katie

Republicans.

currently runs a private sector consulting firm that works

When Gallup asked the same question in 1958, only 33% of

with a lot of politicians on both sides of the aisle and has

Democrats and 25% of Republicans said they cared. Slowly

two master’s degrees: one in social work and one in public

but surely, the politicization of our culture is changing how

health. She says she’s heavily involved in politics and while

we think about who we can have a relationship with and

her current views aren’t as conservative as the ones she was

how willing we are to break outside of our ideological bub-

raised with, there wasn’t any significant elevation of tension

bles. Those bubbles have thicker walls now than they used

with her father.

to, and it’s created gaps that can feel impossible to bridge—

Until the 2016 presidential election.

even with family members who once seemed close.

Katie says she’d experienced sexual harassment both at

Dr. Alice Boyes is the author of The Healthy Mind Toolkit.

her workplace and her church, so the infamous Access Hol-

She says the divide is significant because we overestimate

lywood tape in which now-President Donald Trump boasts

how self-evident our own beliefs are.

about sexually assaulting women triggered some particular-

“People tend to overestimate how many other people

ly painful memories for her. But when she raised the issue to

agree with them and share their outlook,” she says. “If you’re

her father, he defended Trump’s statements.

a libertarian, then you likely think more people are libertar-

“I got so upset,” Katie says. “It really upset me because it

ians than is reality. This thinking bias can lead to you being

felt like my dad who I know or at least, I thought, supported

more judgmental of people who have different views, and

073

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

CONSISTENCY IN LIBERAL VS CONSERVATIVE VIEWS

serious

For example, everyone issues,

and

agrees there should be

there’s no shame in admitting that

less poverty in the world.

they’re hard to work through. But

Nobody likes seeing peo-

“hard” doesn’t mean “impossible,”

ple go hungry. There are

and there’s good news on that front:

lots

Bridging the divide is often doable.

about how to solve those

You just have to formulate a plan and

problems, but few would

then put it into practice.

argue that the problems

of

different

exist and any serious pro-

says. “What values do you natural-

posed solutions deserve

ly share? Build a relationship first

consideration.

share values.”

M O S T LY C O N S ERVATIVE

ideas

“Find common ground first,” she

by talking about topics where you

A L W A YS C O N S ERVATIVE

MIXED

Boyes says where a lot of people go

trying to push for a spe-

wrong in these conversations is start-

cific policy proposal yet—

ing with the disagreement. Next time,

you’re building a founda-

try starting with topics you can agree

tion for a better conversation with a

“Making peace is like forgiveness in

on. You can even do this alone as a per-

shared vocabulary.

that you don’t necessarily need the

2017

sonal exercise to help foster a spirit of

In your conversation, make sure

other person to be involved,” Boyes

empathy with people who vote differ-

you’re asking a lot of questions

said. “For instance, you might make

ently than you do.

about their views. You’re not trying

peace with the fact your mother or fa-

“Approach it with genuine curiosity

to change your own mind here (al-

ther has different views than you do.”

and interest about what other people’s

though you should always be open

The political issues you’re discuss-

perspectives are and why they think

to it). You’re talking to a real person,

ing are no doubt important, but are

what they think,” she says. “Can you

and not just addressing a stereotype

they more important than the con-

agree with their concerns even if you

you’ve cobbled together in your own

nection you’re trying to maintain? For

don’t agree with their conclusions?”

head. Too many of these conversations

some people, they might be.

64

62

49

46 44 36 27

MAY-JUNE

A L W A YS L I B E RAL

Don’t get too granular

GENERATIONAL DIFFERENCE IN PRESIDENTIAL JOB APPROVAL

2001-02 BUSH

M O S T LY L I B E RAL

here just yet. You’re not

go awry because both sides

65

BOOMERS

are

GEN X

These

MILLENNIALS

more surprised by this.”

2009-10 OBAMA

SILENT BOOMERS GEN X MILLENNIA L S

For Hal, they weren’t.

are arguing past each oth-

“Your relationship with your chil-

er, addressing the straw-

dren and the people you love is more

man arguments from the

important than being right,” he says.

talking heads they’ve seen

Hal says he’s felt judged by some of

on cable news and Twit-

his peers over his children’s leftward

ter. Seek genuine under-

political drifting, but he’s learned to

standing so you can have

accept it. “I care that they stay loving

a substantive conversation

the Lord and they care about teaching

about the disagreement in-

their kids about Him and about be-

stead of the talking points

ing kind and loving and caring to the

pre-written for you by the

world around them and to each other.

echo chamber.

Those are my most important things.”

And above all, establish

So he decided to make amends. He

your priorities. If you’re

called his daughter up and said, “Let’s

having this conversation,

get lunch.”

it’s safe to assume the relationship is important to you

RELATIONSHIP FIRST

and you want to salvage it.

When Hal and Katie sat down to try

2017-18 TRUMP

074

2019

and work through their differences, it

that we don’t. We don’t talk about a lot

to get healthcare for a pre-existing

wasn’t easy.

of issues but I don’t necessarily think

condition due to Obamacare when you

it’s that important to talk about those

weren’t previously, it might be very

issues. I do think it’s important to not

important to you to share that story

“I got mad,” Katie says. “I was yelling at the coffee shop.”

offend my daughter, who I love.”

MORAL NECESSITY OF BELIEF IN GOD

BOOMERS

GEN X

MILLENNIALS

49

49 43

39 38

2002

29

2 006

2010

2014

and experience.”

But the bitter pill is that disagree-

Boyes agrees with Hal’s

ments are very rarely worked through

assessment. While the point

by one person being debated into re-

“WHAT VALUES DO YOU NATURALLY SHARE? BUILD A RELATIONSHIP BY TALKING ABOUT TOPICS WHERE YOU SHARE VALUES.” –ALICE BOYES

2017

of tension can feel like a

alizing the other person is right. Time

thorn that has to be pulled

spent donating to or volunteering for

before the relationship can

organizations working on those caus-

Hal says his goal was to apologize

mend, not every political or social ten-

es is a better investment than debating

and say he was open to listening better

sion is going to be resolved. Sometimes

with family members.

in the future. Katie says she wanted

you just disagree about an issue.

If you want to preserve the rela-

her father to understand that for her,

“Gratitude is a good antidote to lack

tionship, you have to prioritize it. That

Trump’s remarks were more than just

of acceptance,” says Boyes. “For exam-

might mean initiating some tough con-

“offensive”—they were a real remind-

ple, if you’re finding yourself being

versations or tabling some important

er that the trauma she and millions

judgmental about your parents, you

ones, but for many people, such sac-

of other victims of sexual harassment

might think about all the times they’ve

rifices will be worth it for a working,

have endured is still excused and

wiped your tears, driven you to soccer,

functional connection with people

waved away by society at large.

baked you a birthday cake and priori-

they care about.

“What I value and appreciate is that he put our relationship first,” says Katie. “That he was humble, came to me,

tized you ahead of themselves.”

In other words, it all comes down to where your focus is.

And that, Boyes says, is the big misconception about bridging these rifts: the notion that “there’s one right way

heard me and even that he let me be

One caveat here is that some dis-

to handle it. Relationships are compli-

mad because it’s been an angry time.

agreements do have a moral compo-

cated and people make them work the

He took that and he heard it and I

nent. “I think it’s important to speak

best they can.”

think that shows a lot of maturity.”

up if someone makes a comment that’s

“I offended her so I had to apologize

racist or sexist or otherwise discrimi-

for it and get our relationship right,”

natory,” says Boyes. “But you can do it

Hal says. “That doesn’t mean that we

in a way that judges the comment and

agree on some things. I definitely think

not the person. Likewise, if you’re able

075

T YLER HUCK A BEE is the senior editor at RELEVANT. Follow him on Twitter @tylerhuckabee

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

judah & the

MAY-JUNE

076

2019

e lion The band admits their new songs sound an awful lot like therapy.

There’s a good reason for that.

BY JESSE CAREY

on

the second track of

sound more like a celebration

their new album,

than a breakdown. Its first major

Pep Talks, Judah &

single “Pictures” even features

meet and greets, or that we meet,

the Lion frontman

a collaboration with Kacey

that really deal with suicidal

Judah Akers admits

Musgraves, who is coming off an

thoughts or self-harm or depression

to listeners, “All

album of the year win of her own.

and anxiety,” Akers says. His

these stories probably should be

However, in the midst of all of

that things will get better.

“We have a lot of people at our

message to them: It’s OK to not be

just for my therapist,” adding, “this

the recent professional success,

OK. They’re not alone. Things will

whole record might be a quarter-

Akers himself was hitting a

get better.

life crisis.”

personal low.

If you’ve followed the career

“From the outside looking in,

These are truths he recently had to learn for himself.

of the Tennessee indie-rock

we were playing these amazing

outfit, that might seem like an

shows—playing bigger shows than

BITTERSWEET SUCCESS

odd admission. Since their first

we ever have as a band which

Akers, who plays guitar in addition

release back in 2012, the band has

was so gratifying and joyful—but

to providing lead vocals; Brian

seen a steady rise in popularity,

internally, for me, I was just going

Macdonald, who plays mandolin;

culminating with 2016’s Folk Hop

through kind of this version of

banjo player Nate Zuercher; and

N’ Roll. Led by the breakout single

hell,” he says, looking back to

former drummer Spencer Cross

“Take It All Back”—which sat atop

writing the album.

met while they were students at

Billboard’s Top Alternative Songs

The story of that version of

Nashville’s Belmont University.

chart for a month—the album

hell—and how he’s made it out on

Combining their eclectic music

landed them on late-night talk

the other side—is a dramatic one,

backgrounds (They are one of the

shows, major festival line-ups and

but the core of Pep Talks is more

decidedly few rock bands with a

sold-out concerts around the world.

than just a heartbreaking story:

dedicated mandolin player.), the

It’s a reminder to anyone else

four friends began experimenting

who’s watching their life fall apart

with music together, and by their

Pep Talks, their first new music in three years, should

077

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

senior year they were one of the school’s most popular acts, headlining the school’s L-R

Christian music showcase

Brian Mcdonald, Judah

concert and winning the

Akers, Nate Zuercher

“Best of the Best” battle of the bands.

But in their early days, the band had a much different approach than tackling some of the heavier themes found on Pep Talks: They were a worship band. Their first EP was called First Fruits, and featured slow, folk-inspired praise music. However, after gaining more and more attention and further expanding their sound, they decided to write more personal songs that would appeal to audiences from any background.

“We didn’t want to be pigeonholed and only play for Christians,” Zuercher says, looking back on those early days. “We wanted to make music that was available to everyone, but had themes of what faith means to us, just not punching anybody in the face with it.”

As the lyrical themes began to evolve, so did the music itself. While their early releases leaned heavily on their bluegrass backgrounds, they would eventually incorporate more elements of indie-rock, synth-dance beats and fuzzed out guitars.

By the time “Take It All Back” was exploding, they’d established themselves as one of the more unique

MAY-JUNE

078

2019

bands in Nashville. But as they

around me,” he remembers. “We

time I was like, ‘It’s OK to feel these

reached new professional highs,

were out on the road, and you kind

things and process these things.’”

Akers’ personal life was crashing in

of have to have everything together

around him.

just as a performer, but internally I

GETTING HONEST

just felt like everything was kind of

Pep Talks isn’t exactly a happy

While he was touring the world,

album. Sure, there are some big, fun moments that will

“We didn’t want to be pigeonholed and only play for Christians.”

make for a great live show, but it tells a heavy story of what it feels like when a family faces trauma; what it’s like to see someone struggle with addiction; how helpless it feels to go through tragedy.

When Akers realized it’s OK to be honest about pain instead of trying to hold it back, he made an album

back home, his family was in crisis.

His aunt had just died from a

going to crap.”

that’s intensely personal and deeply

While visiting with a counselor,

heavy. But something else happened

prescription drug overdose, his mom

Akers had a revelation that would

when he got vulnerable and shared

was battling alcoholism and his

not only help change his life—but

his story with others: He realized he

parents were going through an ugly

would also shape the direction

wasn’t alone after all. He realized

divorce. Sure, he was now an adult

of Pep Talks. He was telling his

that by owning his story, he got to

with an exploding career unfolding

counselor about his aunt, his

decide how it ended.

in front of him, but he was still a kid

mother’s addiction, his parents’

from Tennessee whose family meant

divorce and the pressures of touring,

to take control of your narrative,

everything to him.

when his counselor interrupted him.

you get a lot more editorial oversight

“He said, ‘You know, it’s just really

into how the plot functions. Not total

“I grew up in kind of a southern

As it turns out, when you decide

town in Tennessee, kind of a smaller

interesting to me, you’ve said all this

control but it’s better than nothing.

town, just outside of Nashville where

stuff, but you haven’t really changed

And most importantly, it’s yours.

family is so important,” he says. “I’m

the expression on your face,’”

very, very close with my parents.”

Akers says. “And it was just this

quarter-life crisis—but also about

moment where I realized I was like

how to make it through one.

Watching his family fall apart while also balancing the pressures of trying to write a follow-up to a hit album was taking a toll on Akers.

bullsh***ing my counselor.”

The exchange led to a

The album is the story of a

“It doesn’t matter who you are, your story matters so much but your

breakthrough. Akers realized that

story doesn’t define you,” he says,

even though he would talk about the

discussing the message of the album.

compartmentalize things, burying

things going on in his life, he wasn’t

“At the end of the day you get to

the trauma of an intensely difficult

actually dealing with them.

define your story.”

For a while, he just tried to

season under layers of enthusiasm,

He’d tell people about his family

performative calm and emotional

troubles, but he never allowed

distancing.

himself to actually feel the pain of

“During this season, I kind of had a hard time being honest just with myself and what was happening

it all.

“The floodgates just kind of came rushing in,” he says. “For the first

079

JESSE CAREY is the brand director at RELEVANT. Follow him on Twitter @jessecarey.

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

You Can’t Save the World Until You’ve Saved Yourself A Conversation with

Erwin McManus The influential pastor and author beat cancer, but now he’s turning his attention to even deeper battles.

BY J E S S I C A S T E P H E N S

W

MAY-JUNE

hen Erwin McManus was

he began writing as if every

he’s aware that a new

diagnosed with cancer, his

word would be the last he

generation is fighting new

ministry took on a new

ever wrote. Fortunately, it

battles. As he writes in his

urgency. As the pastor of

was not.

latest book, The Way of

Mosaic in Los Angeles and

Surviving cancer

the Warrior, McManus is

the author of a dozen books,

gave McManus a fresh

convinced that far too many

his legacy was secure—but

perspective—one in which

people aren’t ready for the

080

2019

081

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

struggles that lie ahead because they

honestly with the dynamics and the

I feel like my life has been failure after

haven’t fully dealt with the struggles

complexity of being human. I’m just

failure after failure.

within. McManus spoke with us

trying to humanize the process of

about what he thinks people need to

moving toward holiness.

remember about saving the world,

But when a person says there’s no such thing as failure it means that they have removed themselves from the

why he only wants to hire failures and

IT SEEMS LIKE THERE’S OFTEN A

arena of genuine evaluation. And if

how he hopes Christianity is coming

DISCONNECT BETWEEN KNOWING

you don’t evaluate where you are, you

out of its age of magic.

WE’RE NOT THE KIND OF PEOPLE WE

can’t go where you want to go.

WANT TO BE AND KNOWING HOW TO WHERE DID YOU FIRST START TO COME

BECOME THAT PERSON.

ACROSS THE IDEA FOR THE WAY OF THE WARRIOR?

I remember years ago sitting in a room of young executives at a huge event that fell apart. I said, “I need

Absolutely. A huge part of the problem

to know who was responsible for the

in our culture is this overwhelming

outcome of this event,” and every

I’ve been a follower of Christ for 40

sense of powerlessness. What’s

single person in the room said, “Not

years, and I’ve seen so many people

happened in our society is that we’ve

me, not me, not me, not me, not me.”

not make it. I’ve seen so many people

created this dilemma where we don’t

And at the end of it, I said, “OK, I

crash and burn. Our community

advocate ownership for our situation,

need you guys to go find the person

at Mosaic—just thousands upon

our problems, our future, our internal

responsible for this failure because

thousands of 20-year-olds and they’re

health, our emotional stability. We’ve

that’s the person I want to hire.”

the most intelligent, gifted, talented,

begun to project externally who’s to

Because really, you don’t belong in

attractive human beings on the

blame or what’s to blame for what’s

this room if you’re not the person

planet—and they are drowning in anxiety and fear and stress and panic attacks, thoughts of suicide, attempts of suicide, people

“You only have the power to change the things you take responsibility for.”

ending their lives.

The paradox of opportunity with reality is at such a critical level of extremes that I felt

MAY-JUNE

going on inside of us.

What we don’t realize is that, if you

responsible for the failure. There’s this intimate relationship between

like I needed to speak into the cultural

don’t take ownership, you actually

what you take ownership of and how

issue that we’re losing this internal

become powerless. You only have

powerful you are to bring change in

battle. We have all this freedom, all

the power to change the things you

your life.

this opportunity, we have all this

take responsibility for. I have a lot of

wealth but we don’t have the capacity

friends who are in the world of human

LOTS OF PEOPLE IN THIS GENERATION

to get up in the morning and face

development right now and one of the

ARE MOVED BY THE CAUSES THEY SEE

the problems of the day. We’re not

really catchy things to say is “there’s

IN THE WORLD AROUND THEM, SO

just struggling. We’re tormented on

no such thing as failure.” I’ve looked

CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WORKING ON

the inside, and I actually think that

at people face to face who’ve told me

“YOURSELF” CAN SOUND SORT

we’ve done ourselves a disservice. ...

“I’ve never failed.” One of the things

OF SELFISH.

Sometimes I think Christianity’s in a

they need to realize is that the moment

transition. It’s still coming out of an era

you say failure is an illusion, you

I say those are the very ones who are

of magic, and we just added Christian

become powerless to actual change.

struggling the most. That’s the irony.

language to magic rather than dealing

My life experience is brutally different.

They end up spending way too much

082

2019

time on themselves because they’re

to have this

not dealing with how to become whole.

conversation

If you don’t deal with the stuff inside

with

of you, it will eat you away and end

themselves.

up consuming your life. You can’t give

They’re already

the world—long term—what you do

having it.

“You cannot bring wholeness to the world if you’re not whole.”

not have. You cannot bring life to the world if you’re not alive. You cannot

WHEN I WAS A

bring wholeness to the world if you’re

KID, I HEARD

not whole. You’re going to end up

THAT IF YOU WANT INNER PEACE,

using that cause to try to numb your

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS BECOME A

everything in the Scriptures. I do

own pain. I’d rather have you go try

CHRISTIAN AND POOF. IT WAS LIKE A

believe that there is a devil. I do

to change the world from a place of

MAGIC SPELL THAT WAS THE PROMISE

believe in Satan. I do believe in the

health and wholeness.

THAT WAS DELIVERED TO A LOT OF

Kingdom of God and the kingdom

PEOPLE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE

of darkness, I believe all of this. I

SO YOU’D SAY YOU CAN’T BRING PEACE

DISAPPOINTED WHEN THEY FOUND

just think that our language and our

TO THE WORLD AROUND YOU UNLESS

OUT THAT IT JUST WASN’ T TRUE.

understanding of reality isn’t biblical,

you’re supposed to take on in your life.

YOU’VE FOUND PEACE YOURSELF.

It’s odd for me because I believe

it’s actually more mythical. We need If you lost an arm and then you gave

to start helping people realize that

I’m just going to say it has proven

your life to Jesus, very few of us would

if you make bad choices, it creates a

to be ineffective. I’m not saying

believe that arm should grow back

bad future. You make a bad choice, it

you shouldn’t fight for world peace.

the moment you gave your life to

creates a crack in your soul. You need

I’m saying we’re trying to solve the

Jesus, but if you have psychological

to realize that the healing process

symptom and not the cause.

brokenness and you give your life

takes time and it takes good choices.

to Jesus everybody expects that all

Your emotional health is as real as

AND YOU WOULD SAY ONCE YOU’RE

that psychological brokenness will be

your physical health.

ABLE TO DO THAT, YOU’RE GOING TO

healed the moment you give your life

BE MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE WITH THE

to Jesus. We actually think our physical

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO SOMEONE

CAUSES THAT ARE ON YOUR HEART?

bodies are more human than our souls.

WHO HEARS ABOUT THIS BOOK AND

One of the great benefits of

THINKS, “WELL, THAT SOUNDS FINE

Well, life doesn’t give you a pause

Instagram is I get to see a lot of clips

FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE A LOT OF

button. You don’t have to choose

of a lot of Christian speakers and

STRUGGLES BUT I DON’T NEED THAT

between making the world better or

leaders, and it’s amazing to me how

BECAUSE MY LIFE’S OK”?

making yourself better. You’d better

overwhelming the language is about

find the time to do both because you

the devil. I’m in 2019 and every human

By a lot of measures in life, I’ve been

only get one life. The reality is the

problem is still attributed to the devil.

successful, but every day I’m fighting

people who actually make an impact

Just from a theological perspective

for peace. Every day I’m struggling

in the world take the time. It is odd,

the devil is not the parallel of God.

with stuff inside. I’m grappling with

have you ever noticed that a person

Satan isn’t everywhere at all times

the core of who I am as a human being.

who doesn’t use their time well never

attacking everyone, knowing our

If you actually don’t need this book, I

has time to do something meaningful

every thought. The reality is, as long as

wish you would write one and tell us

but the person who’s really busy

you’re attributing every failure in your

how you got where you’re at.

doing a lot of good, they have the

life, every struggle in your life, every

time to do everything that matters?

weakness in your life, every internal

I actually don’t worry about that

storm in your life to the devil, it

person who’s actually trying to make

actually makes you powerless because

the world better. They’ll find the time

you’re abandoning the battle that

083

JESSICA STEPHENS is a freelance writer living in Cincinnati, Ohio, with her terrier, Buffalo.

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

BEN HIGGINS HAS A PROPOSAL

How The Bachelor went from reality TV heartthrob to fighting poverty

BY TYLER DASWI CK

BEN HIGGINS WANTED A SIMPLE LIFE UNTIL HE ACTUALLY FOUND ONE. He was a 26-year-old in Denver, working in a

windowless basement cubicle writing user manuals for tech developers. It was sad. He was sad. He knows because someone told him to his face.

“You’re a sad dude,” Higgins remembers a coworker telling him. “And you shouldn’t be. I see moments of you having this attractive spirit, but you shut down. You need something more.”

That coworker was right, Higgins says. He wanted to be around people, leave a legacy, be open about his faith and his values, but he’d go into a shell, withdrawing from relationships and staying in that cycle of simplicity. Higgins’ coworker had other ideas. She signed him up to audition for ABC’s reality dating franchise The Bachelor.

It was an absurd notion: Send the straight-laced kid from Warsaw, Indiana, to the sob-soaked world of unscripted TV. Even more absurd: It worked. In 2015,

for him, Higgins boarded the plane to

Community Church: Live your life as if

Higgins found himself as a contestant

Los Angeles. His head was already in

it could be written about in the Bible.

on The Bachelorette. A year later,

Hollywood and the new stratosphere

This was his chance to do that on a far

his face was on a billboard in Times

of fame he’d be soaring in when he

grander stage than most people are

Square in New York City. He’d been

took a call from his friend Riley Fuller,

ever offered.

named the lead on The Bachelor, the

a childhood buddy who had founded a

crown prince of reality TV.

nonprofit called Humanity and Hope

Bachelor into a Bible story, but not

United five years before.

before The Bachelor would change him,

“I walked onto The Bachelorette

Higgins was about to turn The

broken and upset and not believing

Higgins told Fuller about his Times

in myself [and was] thrown on the

Square feeling and the huge head rush.

he says it was, “the first time I was ever

side of a building with 27 of the most

That wasn’t who he wanted to be.

truly exposed to the world.”

beautiful women you’ve ever seen in

Fuller asked him a question: What

too. Looking back on his experience,

“I don’t want to say it was the

your life,” he says. “You want to talk

if your time on this show was about

healthiest environment,” he says. “But

about an ego boost? It messed me up

something greater than yourself?

I believe this fully: The Bachelor acted

pretty good.”

With the mansion, the women and Bachelor host Chris Harrison waiting

Higgins remembered a mantra

like church to me, because it was a

he’d held since his software days, one

bunch of people sitting around a room

rooted in his upbringing at Warsaw

sharing their hearts with each other.

085

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

It was so life-enhancing for me. Want to see a grown man

“There’s no place on this Earth we should be scared to enter into and fearful of learning from.”

cry? Sit in on that show, and you’ll see a grown man cry

one of the most popular leads in the

this Earth we should be scared to enter

every day.”

program’s history, yet some in the

into and fearful of learning from.”

Higgins believes when you enter

faith community still criticize his

Before he was stuck working in

a place where everything is stripped

appearance on the show. Higgins says

software, Higgins was used to entering

away and all you have are your

he never anticipated the conflict.

into places. He’d go on mission trips

relational abilities, desires and

He understands why one might

with his church to Honduras growing

dysfunctions, you see people’s hopes

object to him dating multiple people

up, the same place his friend Riley

for belonging. One question he

at once, and he agrees that “only one

Fuller had focused Humanity and

remembers hearing in the mansion

name should be famous, and that’s

Hope United. The organization looks to

was: “What can I do to help myself?”

Jesus,” but the accusations that he’s

fight poverty in the region sustainably.

He has an answer.

not really a Christian don’t make sense

Inspired to help their work, Higgins

to him.

founded a for-purpose coffee company

“You can’t help yourself,” he says. “You can practice things that

“It’s odd that a portion of the

called Generous International.

encourage you and support you,

Christian community believes we

but ultimately there is a God who is

can’t put ourselves in an environment

there’s nothing OK with closing your

“Because of the words of Jesus,

desiring to be with you, and He is with

that seems counter to what we know

eyes and moving away from something

you right now.”

Christianity to be,” he says. “Are we

inhuman,” he says. “Generous

afraid that Jesus isn’t somewhere? Do

International was really started by the

HUMAN SERVICES

we actually believe Jesus is present at

anger against poverty.”

In the three years since his time on

all times within us and between us?

He’s the CEO, and though it’s his

The Bachelor, Higgins has become

If that’s the case, there’s no place on

full-time gig, he doesn’t make a cent off of it. He helped found the company in late 2016 as a way to give Humanity and Hope United consistent backing.

As Generous Coffee would generate revenue, it would pour all its profits back into nonprofits.

In its first year, the company donated $20,000.

They focused on empowering

All the money Generous Coffee makes is poured into nonprofits.

MAY-JUNE

086

2019

Honduran women to join the local workforce, efforts which yielded a 100 percent success rate.

“We’re trying to fight human injustice, poverty, sex trafficking, anything that makes anyone feel less than,” Higgins says.

“Those things are just not an option. Whatever you believe the Kingdom of Heaven is and how it’s coming to Earth, I believe we have a piece in that. We’re called to cultivate and be a part of this world and I want to be a part of

more communities in Honduras.

me or push me or add

that. I’m staying in human services.”

I want [the coffee shop in Golden,

any value. I’m still

By his own admission, Higgins is

Colorado] to be fruitful and alive,

nervous about figuring

“not a young buck anymore.” He just

where people feel accepted, loved,

out the next steps. That

turned 30, and with the benchmark

known and welcome.

transition is going to be a

Higgins doesn’t make a penny off his work for Generous.

comes a responsibility that he says is

“Spiritually, I’m in this weird season

exciting to him, but you sense freaks

where Christian mysticism is attractive

him out a little.

to me. I want to experience God. I

software salesman who was thrown

Generous will open its first coffee

challenge for me.”

Higgins remembers the sad

haven’t in a long time, and now I’m

on to The Bachelorette, and he sees

shop in Golden, Colorado, this spring,

going through seasons of doubt. I don’t

a purposelessness he never wants

and a fresh Bachelor cycle means

feel like that’s the way God desires me

to experience again. For him, a

Higgins will make a few on-camera

to live, so I’m asking for His voice and

return to the simple life would mean

cameos. It’s another period of

guidance in that.”

abandoning things like Generous, the

redefinition.

And then beneath it all, Higgins feels

things that remind him of his purpose

“I’ve enjoyed this season more than

a small tug toward home. So much has

I thought I would,” Higgins says about

changed for him since he left all those

his post-Bachelor life. “But I’m not

years ago, but Warsaw, Indiana, is still

just all the stuff I did, but how much I

walking into this next season without

pretty much the same. Higgins still

cared about the people I was around,”

some struggle. I have work to do in

feels a connection to the place he grew

he says. “I’m really proud of how hard

every category of my life. Relationally,

up, where his dad went to high school

I’ve tried to do the right thing. I care

my identity has been being single

and his mom lived just an hour away.

a ton still, and I was worried I was

for three years. I’ve gotten praise for

“It’s really odd,” he says. “I was

to follow Jesus and make an impact.

“I want to leave a legacy that’s not

going to lose that. Through all this

being single, support for being single.

able to know myself better living

craziness, I never became too big to

I’ve gotten jobs for being single. I’ve

in Warsaw than any other place

care about people.”

enjoyed the attention, and taking that

I’ve ever been. So much happens in

away has been hard.”

Denver. When I’m in L.A. or New York, everything’s moving all the time

NEVER TOO BIG

and people are scattering around.

“Professionally, I want to dive deeper.

In Warsaw, there’s a simplicity I still

In 2019, we [at Generous] want a

desire to this day.

deeper relationship with Humanity and Hope United so they can reach

“I know I’m tempted to go back to a really simple life that doesn’t stretch

087

T YLER DASWICK is the senior writer at RELEVANT. Follow him on Twitter @tylerdaswick.

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

R E L E VA N T SELECTS

FILM/TV MUSIC BOOKS

NEW RELEASES YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT

Johnnyswim The folk/soul/pop duo explores the limits of their considerable strengths.

I

T’S RARE FOR A BAND to know their

intriguing new ways to mix it.

strengths as well as Johnnyswim

This duo could write memorable

knows theirs. It’s the difference

melodies in their sleep, so it comes as

between simply copying and pasting

no surprise to find a rich number of

the stuff that’s worked well in the past and truly

them here. But Ramirez and Sudano

understanding why your music is touching a nerve.

aren’t lyrically lazy either, wedding

MOONLIGHT

Abner Ramirez and Amanda Sudano continue to

their anthemic choruses to lovely, poetic

[BRITANNIA

explore the things they’re good at with courage

tributes to the “memories, moments

ROW/BMG]

and artful authenticity on Moonlight, an album

and milestones” that have made their

The singing-

that doesn’t rewrite their refreshing cocktail of

marriage such a rewarding, fascinating

songwriting duo

soulful pop and Nashville twang so much as it finds

artistic collaboration.

proves they’re here to stay.

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2019

LÉON 1960s pop that sounds even better now than it did then.

THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF RETRO POP. The first is a

superfluous rehash that suggests whoever’s doing this is turning to the ’60s and ’70s because they’re out of ideas in the present. But the other comes from an artistic explorer who finds inspiration in what’s come before to help create something new in the future. LÉON is decidedly an example of the latter. This Stockholm native has the vocal chops to be another Halsey clone on the pop-music scene, but is instead mining far more daring material to even more daring effect, fusing disco and soul for a warm, golden sound that doesn’t sound like anything else.

LÉON [LEON RECORDINGS]

It was a long, difficult journey for LÉON to release this, her self-titled full-length debut, and it involved creating her own imprint to make sure she had complete control over the process.

She did, and it shows.

COLD WAR PAWEL PAWLIKOWSKI [AMAZON STUDIOS]

This love story will satisfy the romantic in you. Its three Oscar

EMOTIONAL

MAC DEMARCO

CELESTE

ORANGES

HERE COMES THE

LATELY

THE JUICE, VOL 1

COWBOY

[BOTH SIDES

[AVANT GARDEN]

[MAC’S RECORD

Very little is known

LABEL]

of the best foreign films of 2018.

RECORDS]

Celeste’s velvety vocals

FIGHTING WITH MY FAMILY STEPHEN MERCHANT

about the duo known as

Another eccentric rock-

are perfectly attached

Emotional Oranges, so

folk mix from the guy

to her slow, romantic

let’s talk about what we

who basically invented

melodies that brim with

do know: They churn out

the blend that launched

just a hint of melancholy.

certifiably good music

a thousand imitations.

like it’s their job.

nominations solidified it as one

Perfect for love. Even better for heartbreak.

[MGM]

Don’t care for pro wrestling?

No matter. Just try to resist this rousing, gut-busting charmer of a true story about WWE fixture Paige’s fight to make it in the world that made her a star.

089

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BILLIE EILISH

VAMPIRE WEEKEND

WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP,

FATHER OF THE BRIDE

WHERE DO WE GO?

[COLUMBIA RECORDS]

[DARKROOM]

The band’s long-awaited

Want to hear what pop music is

follow-up to 2013’s Modern

gonna sound like in five years?

Vampires is worth the wait.

BUMBLEBEE TRAVIS KNIGHT [PARAMOUNT PICTURES]

There was really no place for the Transformers franchise to go but up, but who knew it could go this far up?

Joy Williams Another introspective ode to growth from a master of the genre.

KEHLANI WHILE WE WAIT [TSNMI]

WE’VE GROWN UP WITH Joy

Williams is aware of her own

Williams and, more strikingly,

growth and change, and she’s

she’s grown up with us. From

anxious to plumb its depths in

her early days as a CCM

her writing—charting a path

chanteuse to the publicly

through new ideas and more

tumultuous Civil Wars years

intriguingly, new questions.

to where she’s at today: wiser

She’s not beholden to old

and more open, but every bit as

successes, and that makes her

gifted of a songwriter as she’s

fearless in her pursuit of what’s

always been.

next. Pull up a chair.

FRONT PORCH [SENSIBILITY]

Stripped down even by the standards of this reliably low-fi artist, Front Porch feels as intimate as a whisper.

Tender melodies that splay out over pop beats are perfect for Kehlani’s bubble gum vocals, which are so effortlessly effective you could be forgiven for not realizing just how gifted she is.

STAN & OLLIE JON S. BAIRD [SONY PICTURES]

Audiences slept on this delightful Laurel and Hardy biopic, and that’s a shame because it contains some of the better performances you could ask for from a movie like this.

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PUP Like if the music you listened to in high school was actually good

T

his Toronto quartet was clearly raised on hooky, attitude-drenched power pop of bands like MxPx and Japandroids, but they’ve got the good sense to update their influences,

swapping out the snotty “stick it to the man” sentiment for more interesting, confessional musings that seem certain to cast a net beyond disaffected teenagers. PUP knows most punk pop bands are well into their 40s, but they also know those bands were onto something.

MORBID STUFF [RISE RECORDS ]

PUP’s screeching guitar riffs and fist-pumping chants aren’t exactly fashionable, but that’s what lends this album its raggedy, blue-collar, octanefueled charm.

AMANDA LINDSEY

worship group,

MARY POPPINS

perfect stand-in for

COOK

Amanda honed

RETURNS

Julie Andrews—it’s

HOUSE ON A HILL [BETHEL MUSIC]

a gift for worship

ROB MARSHALL

music. On her own,

[DISNEY]

she showcases a

that the movie itself understands why the original worked, and

As a member of

courageous, deeply

It’s not just that Emily

stays true to its warm,

Bethel’s popular

personal lyricism.

Blunt is a practically

nurturing spirit.

Social Club Misfits THE NAME IS SORT OF a misnomer

since Fern and Marty would fit into pretty much any setting with ease. For example, their latest release Mood feels like a fun, Friday night party.

And later this year, they’ll release a darker, moodier follow-up. The idea is to capture the full spectrum of how a relationship with God can feel.

MAY-JUNE

092

MOOD [CAPITOL CMG]

The title makes it singular, but Mood actually moves through quite a few of its titular feels—all of them worth revisiting.

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of celebrity in which her album releases are capital “E” Events in that her work consistently catapults the entire genre of pop music forward several years, leaving other artists in a rush to catch up to her level of artistic vision. Solange is one of our purest

WHEN I GET HOME [COLUMBIA]

Less a collection of songs than a tapestry of moods, drifting to and fro

artists—a woman fiercely devoted to

with tremendous

her own creative identity.

weight and import.

HIGH FLYING BIRD

movies with a verve and

LEAVING NEVERLAND

subjects is less revelation

STEVEN SODERBERGH

relevance all of their

DAN REED

than indictment. Because

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own. His latest, shot on

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iPhones, all about the

we all knew the rumors about Michael Jackson.

Steven Soderbergh

business of pro sports, is

The movie that got

We just didn’t want to

is one of our finest

just more proof (as if we

America talking about

watch. Now we don’t

filmmakers, crafting

needed any).

one of its most taboo

have a choice.

FIVE

staunchly ‘80s sheen,

White Lies F

OLLOWING THE DEATH of Ian Curtis,

lots of bands have tried to take up the Joy Division mantle, from U2 to Radiohead. But maybe none have done

so as persistently and earnestly as White Lies, who have now spent five studio albums crafting the sort of goth-infused stadium rock music critics are always saying nobody makes anymore. And while Radiohead has moved on to creating quieter, more experimental music and U2 is doing whatever it is they do these days, White Lies has stayed true to their original calling: solid, radio-ready songs that are easy to sing along with despite the lingering cloud of glum melancholy that hangs over even their most energetic tunes. And those energetic tunes are exactly what keeps their whole

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thing from getting too somber and self-serious.

MAY-JUNE

094

but the lyrics about disillusionment, the

Kooky synths and dreamy

search for something of

production wash this

substance and existential

pop-rock affair with a

crisis are all 2019.

2019

LAST WORD A Thought Before We Go

We All Must Keep on Dreaming

to equip us with unique gifts,

and has given us the freedom

to encourage us and to remind

to make decisions; loving and

us of our purpose here. We

just; one God yet three all at

miss this beautiful, personal

once; and the One for whom

interaction with our living God

time doesn’t exist, yet He

if in our minds He stays only the

intentionally planned every

distant Creator of planets.

moment of it for us.

WE MISS GOD’S CREATIVITY

land somewhere, but this one

Just look around. Everything

little admonition—embrace the

about you is different from

tension—keeps me humble,

every other human on Earth. By

keeps God as God and keeps me

design. God creates generations

slightly capable of knowing a

and billions of interesting

smidgen of Him.

We hate tension. We love to

humans, and then He takes time

He is unknowable in so

to write intimate and unique

many ways, so mystery

moments for each one of them.

must be applied to our small

Ignore this side of God, and

understanding of Him and

Yes, God has big plans. But He also cares

you will miss the point: He ran

what He has revealed to us in

about dreams, even if they are small.

after you. He wrote stories for

Scripture. We often desperately

you. He numbered your days.

chase knowledge of “God’s will

He knows your thoughts before

for me” at the sacrifice of God’s

you think them and your words

will. As we look into what our

before you speak them.

dreams might be, what our

BY J E N N I E A L L E N

I

sometimes feel guilty for

God is only big and only about

He is big, and He moves into

dreaming. Is this selfish?

eternal heavenly things in our

the small. It’s God’s dichotomy

call might be, let’s embrace the tension of seeking God’s will for

Shouldn’t we just focus

minds, we miss out. We stop

that makes Him so absolutely

us, individually, within God’s

completely on God and

dreaming before we even start

mind-blowing.

revealed will for this Earth—for

not get narcissistic, thinking

because we fail to see how He

there are special things we

could be interested. And we miss

WE MISS THE MYSTERY OF GOD

eternity and for His people. We won’t ever stop searching for

should all be doing?

some key things.

My favorite professor in

purpose until God’s will becomes

seminary taught me the most

our passion.

Honestly, it is good to think about because we live in a time

WE MISS JESUS

painful and difficult truth about

in church history when we have

When we believe God is only in

following God: Embrace the

strategically justified obsessive

the big, we miss that Jesus loved

tension.

amounts of self-focus. We have

each individual deeply and met

come to treat God as if He exists

their unique needs. We miss

bloggers and theologians all

for us, rather than us existing

how creatively He pursued each

fight for various values they

for Him. As if He is supposed

of us until we believed. We miss

hold dear. But they often pull so

to fit our plans, rather than our

His vision for His church: One

hard (God is this way and not

only plan being to know Him

body, many unique parts coming

that way) that they yank away

and to follow Him.

together to make a difference

the tension that maintains truth.

JENNIE A L L EN

with their small moments.

Even humans can’t be easily

is a Bible teacher, the

boxed in. And if we can’t, God

founder of IF:Gathering

God is big, but He moves into the small. God cares about eternity, yet He cares about

WE MISS HIS SPIRIT

every second of every human’s

Jesus sent a Helper to live in

life. That is who we serve. When

and through us, to pray for us,

MAY-JUNE

I watch online as religious

certainly can’t be either.

Somehow, in His holy otherness, our God is sovereign

096

and the author of Made for This, from which this was adapted.

2019

03

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