Christian artists join forces; Mark Schultz's songs of hardship and humor have wide appeal.

Byline: Richard Duckett

Singer/songwriter Mark Schultz and the female trio Point of Grace are two of the biggest current names in contemporary Christian music. Probably most Christian concert-goers already know that; the curious who don't will get a chance to discover why.

Point of Grace - now consisting of founders Shelley Breen and Denise Jones with Leigh Cappillino, who came on board in 2004 - have been around since the 1990s, starting out with a definite gospel-influenced sound that has also evolved to embrace country. Schultz is somewhat newer on the scene - his musical career took off earlier this decade - and he can recall singing Point of Grace songs with his young congregation as a youth group leader in Nashville, Tenn.

Now Point of Grace and Schultz will be singing together for at least for a couple of songs on the Mechanics Hall stage Sept. 20 as their "Come Alive" tour comes to town.

Schultz and Point of Grace, touring together for the first time, will have their own sets - Schultz described his own as all new - but while he's performing, "they (Point of Grace) are gonna be coming out for one or two songs, which is kind of fun."

But it will also be music with some messages.

The tour's title points to Schultz's latest album, "Come Alive," which came out Aug. 25. He's been described as "bringing radio-friendly pop jams alongside lyrics that dig right into the heart." But as he was getting ready for the start of the 30-city excursion last week (it begins Thursday in Decatur, Ill.) Schultz said during a telephone interview that he had only started to read reviews of the new album the day before.

"I just got brave enough to go online yesterday and read reviews," Schultz said. The verdict? "People felt it was one of my best. It's always nerve-wracking to go online and read reviews." He paused. "Actually, I didn't do it. My wife did. She said it was OK to look."

Schultz comes across as having a nice, self-effacing sense of humor. He also sounds real. As in real nice, sincere in his beliefs with no superficial gloss on things. Meanwhile, his songs touch some raw-edged issues, although faith is the underpinning of everything.

He said that his concerts are like having him in your living room. He'll make you laugh and make you cry, he said. "I write about real life. Real life is funny, but it can make you cry as well."

By and large he will be among the believers Sept. 20. Christian concerts tend, naturally enough, to draw Christian audiences. Schultz said he wants to entertain and also get his faith-based message across. But could someone who is not a practicing Christian come to a Mark Schultz concert and enjoy it?

"Absolutely. That would be awesome," he said. "Here's the thing. My songs don't just play on Christian radio." Indeed, he has had hits in the mainstream adult contemporary charts with such songs as "Walking Her Home," "He's My Son" and "Letters from War."

The latter is a particularly moving song about a soldier based in Europe during World War II writing faithfully back home stateside to his mother. "Letters from War" was the centerpiece of a recent U.S. Army's "Be Safe-Make It Home" campaign. Schultz said he has seen servicemen listen to the song and cry - and cheer. The soldier makes it home in the song.

"Because my songs are based on real life experiences, they resonate with everybody," Schultz said.

Many of them come from his own experiences and observations. Schultz grew up in Colby, Kan., an adopted son raised in a good family (he has since raised thousands of dollars for widows and orphans). Still, "I would say growing up, we went to church every Sunday, but I didn't take that seriously." He graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in marketing, but music and songwriting had always interested him, so he headed to Nashville.

He was in for a shock. In the musical hustle and bustle of Nashville, he wasn't in Kansas anymore. "That was the first time I realized, `Oh man, I'm out of my comfort zone here.' I was looking to rely on something that was bigger than myself."

At First Presbyterian Church in Nashville he met a youth minister and "saw the way God is working," he said. He worked there himself with youths for eight years and found inspiration for his faith and his music.

"When I first started in college I wrote a lot of love songs. What I learned when I started writing Christian music - I learned they had a message. There was a lot of hope. They seemed to be longer lasting," he said.

On "Come Alive," the song "He Is" was inspired by two very real people Schultz met. One was a teenage girl stricken with cancer. The other was a mother who had just given birth only to find that she had cancer.

In both instances Schultz was struck by what he called the way they put their faith and trust in God despite the horrible things happening to them. The teenager told him, "`I realize there's a higher purpose than I realize now.' "

"They never said `why me?'" Rather, "`The same God who has given me so much is the same one that's in control today through this rough stuff' ... That's a pretty strong thought," Schultz said.

Now the thoughts are in words and music.

Come Alive Tour

When: 6 p.m. Sept. 20

Where: Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St., Worcester

How much: $18 in advance general admission; $20 at the door; $25 "Gold Circle." Call [phone], [phone]; visit www.mechanicshall.org; www.wycm.com

ART: PHOTOS

CUTLINE: (1) Mark Schultz (2) Point of Grace