INTERVIEW

Jeremy Camp: I Still Believe

By Chris Carpenter
CBN.com Producer

That is a nice problem to have as a young, emerging artist. However, everything hasn't always been that rosy for Camp.

With a deep, hard edged voice reminiscent of Third Day's Mac Powell, Camp delivers a sound that effortlessly bridges the gap between hook laden pop and straight ahead power rock. CCM Magazine has described him as someone who is "unexpectedly rich with hard-won wisdom of a faith that sustains in the face of difficulty and loss."

It is this faith in the difficulty of loss that has not only sustained him but in many ways has defined his musical career. For you see, at the tender age of 24, Camp has already had to overcome the death of his wife, a victim of ovarian cancer.

"When I lost my wife I had a whole different concept of her life," explains Jeremy, a native of Lafayette, Indiana. "She lived 21 years and people who knew her know it wasn't about the great things she did on this earth. It wasn't that she had money or had popularity, it was that she loved Jesus Christ more than anything else in this world. That was how she related to the world. She wanted people to know that there was so much more of a hope and a joy that only Christ can give."

Despite his wife's eternal optimism in the face of death, Camp still had to overcome the jagged, raw-boned emotion of losing her. But it was from these ashes of grief that he forged a new perspective on his music. It made him realize that music was not his life but sharing the good news of Jesus Christ was. Still, it was a difficult, sometimes painful journey through the shadows of death and into the blinding light of His limitless grace.

"When I first started to share a lot," remembers Jeremy, "I finally got to a point where it was very hard because I had to keep re-opening my heart up and talk about what I had been through. It started to become almost a burden and then I spoke to God and said 'I can't do this. This is a burden. This is a weight on my shoulders that I cannot carry.' And He said, 'Well, you are not supposed to. While we are called to carry one another's burdens, I still want you to share no matter how you feel. I am going to give you the strength you need when those questions come at you.'"

Camp's willingness to share of himself and his heart wrenching experiences are quite evident on "Stay". Displaying a tremendous amount of transparency in his songwriting, he has delivered a collection of evocative, soul-searching songs that provide a penetrating glimpse into his heart and subsequent hope through Jesus Christ. Included on the 12 song disc are "I Still Believe", a declaration of faith for someone who has journeyed through the fire, and "Walk of Faith", a song Camp composed on his honeymoon that has taken on new meaning in light of his wife's passing. The album resonates throughout with a very simple but clear message: only what we do for Jesus Christ in this life will remain.

"I know that if you don't have Christ in your life then all the hope you have and the greatest thing you can gain is what you get from this earth," explains Jeremy. "People who are in jobs are striving to gain the most they can before they die through financial means, through their flesh, the lust of their flesh and man's drive for power. But as believers we are to be the opposite. We are to be humble, not prideful. We are to think of things that are true, whatever is noble, and whatever is worthy. We should be living a life of purity."

Camp is a firm believer in these principles as evidenced by the seemingly revolving door of his back up band. Known as the "pink slip guy" around Nashville, he is adamant about having people display complete accountability to Christ in their lives as well as their playing.

"I am really sensitive on who is with me," laughs Jeremy. "They not only represent me but also the Lord and what we are doing. I want someone who I know spends time with the Lord in the morning and has a devotional life that is solid. I want a person of integrity."

Despite the lasting success of "Stay" and a relentless touring schedule that is just now beginning to wind down for the year, Camp is in constant need of support and affirmation.

"All I ask for is prayer that I stay focused on ministry," says Jeremy. "It is very pulling in different ways. Recently, I was at a sound check at a music festival and it went terrible. I was (growls loudly). I was just complaining and having a bad attitude and God just convicted me and asked 'what are you doing this for? Are you doing this to glorify yourself or to glorify me?' I want to stay focused."

As for the future, in addition to the aforementioned winter release of his worship album, Camp is set to remarry in December, when he exchanges vows with Adrienne Liesching, lead singer of The Benjamin Gate.

I STILL BELIEVE

Scattered words and empty thoughts seem to pour from my heart

I've never felt so torn before, seems I don't know where to start

But it's now that I feel Your grace fall like rain

From every fingertip, washing away my pain

I still believe in Your faithfulness, I still believe in Your truth

I still believe in Your holy word, even when I don't see, I still believe

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