The GMA Community Gathering & Artist Symposium took place earlier this morning. It served as the Official GMA Membership Meeting with comments by GMA President/CEO John W. Styll.

This year’s Artist Symposium, which was titled “Crossing The Border: Artists of Faith Making a Connection in the Mainstream”, was moderated by veteran freelance music writer Deborah Evans Price. It featured artist panelists Brad Arnold (3 Doors Down), Traa Daniels (P.O.D.), Cedric Dent (Take 6), Amy Grant, Dan Haseltine (Jars of Clay), Brian Littrell (Backstreet Boys), Stephen Petree (formerly of Shiny Toy Guns) and Marty Roe (Diamond Rio). These artists engaged in a candid discussion of how artists of faith can both overcome the challenges of living out their faith in the mainstream and use those platforms to impact the culture for Christ.

Beloved and respected artist/songwriter/producer/author Charlie Peacock offered closing thoughts.

Here are some images from the symposium [Click images to enlarge]:

[L-R]: Amy Grant, Marty Roe, Dan Haseltine, Stephen Petree, Traa Daniels, Cedric Dent, Michael Sweet, Brad Arnold, Brian Littrell, and Deborah Evans Price. Here Michael Sweet recounts his journey to becoming the lead singer for the legendary rock band Boston. Sweet wrote an article about Boston lead singer Brad Delp’s influence after he passed away. Boston founder read the article and asked to meet Sweet. One thing led to another and they performed together at the Station Nightclub Benefit in Rhode Island. Soon after Sweet was asked to join Boston.

Amy Grant shares that working with mainstream songwriters has helped her dispel Christian stereotypes

Dan Haseltine shares a story of how a mainstream music magazine writer found the band to be just normal people after an interview that took place on Jar’s tour bus.

Traa shared the time when he doubted why he was in the Christian music industry. Just before their first show on the OzzFest tour, P.O.D. was informed that Christian retailers were not going to carry their latest album. Their began their set with their backs to the audience. As their large backdrop with a painting of Jesus was raised to the roof and they launched into their first song, they were greeted by a sea of middle fingers. As they played on, they band slowly won over the crowd. It was then that Traa realized that P.O.D.’S music was for those unsaved souls

Charlie Peacock delivering the keynote address. He challenged us to be relevant in the world and excel in whatever we are called to do.

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